Hi Al Found your web site while searching around trying to confirm some family history that says my ggg-grandfather (Richard Bishop) was the "paymaster" for Col. By I thought I would send an excerpt of our family history and a link to my web site which contains the full story as well as family tree data (to current generation).(under the "ancestors/siblings of John" section. Any help you may suggest in finding any further info would be appreciated. I am in the process of going to the local library to obtain copies of the books by Bruce Elliott to see if there is any mention of Richard Bishop. A gedcom file of any number of generations is available if requested. Garry Bishop Visit the Bishop Website Email Garry Bishop Excerpts from family history: Richard Bishop Sr. 1790 -1868 Richard Bishop Sr. Was born in 1790 in Kilfinnane, Ireland. Richard was educated in both England and Ireland. It is thought he joined the British Army in circa 1810. He married Margaret Dymond in 1811. It appeared he liked army life and would make a life time career of it. He was an officer in the Royal Engineer Regiment. Sometime in 1826 his former Commanding Officer, Colonel John By, requested Richard be transferred to Canada, to help in a project the British Army was involved in, the building of a canal. He and his wife Margaret and their six children set sail for Canada sometime in 1826, arriving the same year, after six weeks at sea. Upon his arrival in Canada, Richard was made Chief Army Paymaster for the troops engaged in the construction of the Rideau Canal. The canal was 130 miles long, with 47 locks. It connected Lake Ontario with the Ottawa River. The building of the canal took seven years to complete. The town in which Richard and his family resided, was established in 1827 by Colonel By and was named Bytown. The name was later changed to Ottawa in 1854. The name Ottawa was taken from the Ottawa Indian tribe, who occupied the surrounding area. As a point of interest. Thomas Mckay and John Redpath of Montreal, who were the civilian contractors, were at the completion of the canal, paid in Mexican silver dollars, which they carted back to Montreal with a team of horses and wagon. In 1833 Richard obtained his discharge from the army, after 23 years of service. He and his wife now had eight children. It is reported that he was the first teacher in Nepean Township, which is adjacent to the city of Ottawa Richard died October 6, 1868, at the age of 78 years. His wife Margaret died in 1875 at the age of 84 years. Both are buried in the Anglican Cemetery in South March, Ontario Richard John Bishop 1859-1923--son of the first Richard. Richard helped his father clear the farm of forest, also planting and harvesting the crops. As the family grew to nine children, the farm was too small and his father bought a large farm near Galetta, and later bought a 200 acre farm on the 11th concession of Fitzroy Township, known at that time as Lot 15.
Hi Garry: Thanks for your e-mail regarding your GGG Grandfather, Richard Bishop. Your website tells an interesting family story containing a lot of familiar names and places. I've checked a few of my books on the Rideau Canal. Most of them detail the construction process, etc. and do not have a lot of names in them. There are no Bishop's mentioned in Bruce Elliott's book "The McCabe List" although there are some in his book "Nepean, The City Beyond". See: bibliography for ISBN info, etc. It talks about the families who lived in the Westboro area. The Barber connection is mentioned in the Fitzroy Harbour book, also listed at the above web page. Thanks again. We're both looking for more detail on Colonel By's people and if I come across anything I'll let you know. ... Al
May 13, 2008: New e-mail address and new web site address for Garry Bishop incorporated into this page. ... Al
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