July 7, 2011:

The area around Blakeney was settled primarily by Lowland Scots starting about 1820.

Photograph by Lynne Wilson
Historical Plaque, July 2011



Surnames mentioned on the Plaque: Glover, Fenlon, Marshall, Coxford, Gomersall (see July 28, below) and Littlewood Brewery, 
Merilee, Peter McDougall, Usher, York, Harry James

Map Source below: McGill University Digital Map project (search for Lanark County, Ramsay Township)
Rosebank / Blakeney area in 1879



Names on the map above: (also from the McGill Digital County Atlas Project)

Last Name First Name County Township Town Occupation Birthplace 
Barker  James  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Ramsay Tp., Canada  
Barker  James  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Ramsay Tp., Canada  
Black   James   Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer; Deputy Reeve of Ramsay Tp.  Glasgow, Scotland  
Bond    J.H.  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte Tinsmith  Lanark Co., Canada  
Bowland  John  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Wicklow Co., Ireland  
Coffey  John F.  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte Roman Catholic Priest  Ottawa, Canada  
Fumerton  Archibald W.  Lanark  Ramsay  Appleton General Merchant; Hotel Proprietor, Appleton  Ramsay Tp., Canada  
Galbraith  Daniel  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte Member of Parliament  Glasgow, Scotland   
Gemmill  James D.  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte Retired Merchant; Major of Militia  Lanark Co., Canada   
Gilmour  John  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte Butcher  Lanark Co., Canada   
Gilmour  William  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Scotland  
Kitson  William  Lanark  Ramsay     
Lang  John  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Ramsay Tp., Canada  
Lynch  D.P.  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte Physician and Surgeon  Allumette, Quebec, Can  
Marshall  Robert  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer; School Trustee  Lanark Co., Canada   
McCreary  Joseph  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Ireland (McCreary's Beach on Mississippi Lake?)  
McDougall  Peter  Lanark  Ramsay  Blakeney Woollen Manufacturer, RoseBank; Postmaster, Blakeney  Perthshire, Scotland  
McFarlane  David  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Glasgow, Scotland   
McIntosh  John  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Perthshire, Scotland   
McPhail  Donald  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Argyleshire, Scotland  
Metcalf  James  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Renfrew Co., Ontario, Canada  (Metcalfe)
Miller  Duncan  Lanark  Ramsay  Appleton Carriage Manufacturer  Lanark Co., Canada   
Mostyn  William  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte Physician and Surgeon  Ireland   
Naismith  Peter  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Lanarkshire, Scotland  (Dr. James Naismith invented the game of Basketball)
Patterson  Henry  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte Chief Constable, Counties of Lanark, Renfrew and Carleton  Sligo, Ireland   
Patterson  James  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte Physician and Surgeon    
Patterson  John  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte  Glasgow, Scotland   
Paul  John  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer; Lime Burner  Ramsay Tp., Canada  
Rae  James  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer; Tax Collector  Ireland   
Raines  Thomas W.  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte Dentist  Alabama, United States  
Robertson  James Jr.  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer; former School Trustee  Lanark Co., Canada   
Robertson  W.P.  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte School Teacher  Stirling, Scotland   
Scott  James  Lanark  Ramsay   Manufacturer of Carriages, Buggies  Prince Edward Island, Canada  
Scott  John  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte Retired from Business  Glasgow, Scotland   
Scott  William  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Armagh Co., Ireland  
Shirreff  Archibald  Lanark  Ramsay  Almonte Formerly Superintendent of Rosamond Woollen Co.  Scotland  
Sneddon  Alexander  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer; ex-Township Councillor  Ramsay Tp., Canada  (Snedden) 
Sneddon  James  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer; Lumberman  Lanark Co., Canada  
Steel  John  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Renfrewshire, Scotland   
Stewart  Duncan  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Perthshire, Scotland   
Syme  Peter T.  Lanark  Ramsay   Farmer  Dunning, Scotland  
Teskey  W. Rufus  Lanark  Ramsay  Appleton Manufacturer; Township Councillor  Lanark Co., Canada  (Palatine family) 
  The Teskeys came in 1823 from Rathkeale, County Limerick, Ireland, as part of the Peter Robinson group settlement.
Teskey  Wilton  Lanark  Ramsay   Proprietor, Appleton Flour Mills, Appleton  Ramsay Tp., Canada  
Usher  John  Lanark  Ramsay  Blakeney Proprietor, Rose Bank Mills  Antrim Co., Ireland 




Another photo by Lynne Wilson
On the map, you will see that there are a lot of mills on this stretch of the Mississippi River. The Scots chose this
location to settle because of the availability of the rapids in the river to supply power to their textile mills.
The Mississippi Valley in the 1800's was one of the textile centres in Canada. 



 July 28, 2011:

Hello,
 
I was excited to see the photograph of the historical plaque 'Blakeney, Ontario: Over 150 years ago' on the Bytown or Bust 
web site. My great grandfather was George Gomersall who married Ann Haley and they lived in Fergusons Falls, Ontario. 
I'm sure that he is the Gomersall that established the tannery shown at number 11 on the plaque. I know that George was in 
the tannery business but I am unaware of him being involved in brewing business (number 9) though he may have been. 

The Gomersall family left Canada in 1868 and settled in Australia after returning briefly to England. Both George and Ann 
were born in England. My grandfather Seymour Gomersall, and his siblings, were born in Canada. 
 
Thank you for putting the photo on the website. Do you have any further information or photos related to the plaque or history 
of the area that you would be willing to share?

It's fine for you to add my e-mail address to your web page and I will locate some pictures of George and Ann Gomersall for you. 
Unfortunately I don't have any photos at all of the tannery or their home in Canada. 

I will keep an eye on your web site too. 
 
Regards,
Brian Gomersall, Australia
____________________________

Brian: Here are two more photos taken by Lynne at Blakeney.
... Allan