October 28, 2002:

Am wondering if you know of any books/newspapers that make reference to the 1815 
incident at Chaudiere Falls, Hull, in which 4 or more persons drowned while going 
over the falls in a boat or raft.  
Thank you. 
Renee Levesque
Note: See posting dated February 21, 2007 ... Al

October 28, 2002:
Renee:
    As you know, 1815 is very early in the history of our area. The only real settlement 
at that time was that of Philomen Wright on the Hull side of the Grand (Ottawa) River.
It's probable that a drowning incident was not reported in any newspapers at the time,
unless Montreal had a newspaper then. I remember reading in one of the Bytown 
newspapers from c. 1840, about the deaths of nine timber workers who drowned while 
freeing a logjam on the Madawaska River above Arnprior. The names of the victims were 
published - a mixture of French and Irish names, but no other details were given. I was 
struck by how matter-of-factly the incident was treated in the newspaper - as if this 
sort of thing was routine.

    I remember also reading about a rescue of some persons who went over the Falls, maybe
in the 1830's. A boat or raft upset and the occupants became stranded on a small island
surrounded by a whirlpool which prevented onlookers from shore from reaching them. Finally,
a rope was strung over them and they were pulled to shore. A Mr. Sullivan was involved in 
the rescue. If the rescue attempt had been unsuccessful, the men would have died of 
exposure/hunger in full view of the townspeople.

    The National Library on Wellington Street has some copies of old Bytown newspapers.
There is also an archives located in Hull. I haven't been to it yet, but it is apparently
very good.

... Al
October 29, 2002:
Hi Al,
 
Thank you for your prompt response and setting up a new page. I know for sure that 
Benjamin Moore was one of the victims. He was a member of the Moore family who was 
prominent in the area in those days. There are conflicting reports as to who else 
drowned.  William Wright, Asa Young and Adam Romaine may have been among the others who 
drowned.  Anson Gard has an account of this incident in his book, Pioneers of the Upper 
Ottawa, but it is many years after the drownings and may not be  completely accurate. Also, 
the drowning was mentioned in the Historical Atlas of Carelton County, but I don't know 
their source.  I was thinking that perhaps there may have been a newspaper account of the 
drowning, especially because there weren't that many people in the area in 1815 and 
because the Moore family was so prominent.
 
Renee

Note for search engine users: PW will return names of settlers who came with Philomen Wright.



Early Activity at Chaudiere Falls

Two books, Ottawa: An Illustrated History by John Taylor and Nepean: The City Beyond
by Bruce Elliott, have a lot of information on early land speculation, Richmond Landing,
mills and power development at the Falls and industrial development at Lebreton Flats.
See bibliography.

See also Philomen Wright settlers in 1800.
Note for search engine: PW

November 22, 2002:
and Michael Davidson's pages regarding the history and architecture of the Chaudiere.
September 29, 2004:
My gggg Hugh Conley was killed in a snowstorm crossing Lac du Chene in 1830 
with a Moore.  Do not know if this is the same Moore who died at the same time 
or not.  The record of the death is in Pinhey's diaries.
Please note that Hugh Conley's (various spellings) death record is in Phiney's journals.  
The date of death is 26 January 1830. I have copies of documentation in this regard. 
I have quite a bit of several families of the Ottawa Valley who were there as early 
as 1824.  One of their children said their parents attended St Andrews Presbyterian 
Church.  Do you know where I could locate the records.  
P.S.  There was a Lewis family associated with Hugh Conley Senior died in Snow Storm 
on Lac Chaudiere his son Hugh Conley who drowned in 1862 married the widow 
Catherine Lewis and had a connected family.  Hope this helps others.  
I understand but do not have proof some took the Conley name.

Barbara Hadden
April 22, 2006:
I don't know if this is one of the individuals you are interested in. James Hawley 
died in a canoeing accident at Chaudiere Falls on June 1, 1836.
 
He was the first husband of Margaret Waugh Buckham. Margaret's sister, Isabella, 
was my 2nd great grandmother. I believe James was originally buried in the Sandy Hill 
cemetery (most likely the Scottish Presbyterian one). I have found his headstone 
along with Margaret's and her second husband Robert Bell, along with her parents 
George and Jennet Buckham in the St. James Cemetery in Hull where bodies and 
Headstones from Sandy Hill were moved to in 1911. The Buckhams were the first 
civilian settlers in Torbolton and Buckham's Bay is named for John Buckham son of 
George and Jennet who secured the original land grant. 
 
I got James Hawley's death date from his headstone.

I have more info on the Buckham's if you'd like to have it. I 
have Doris Hope's book "Torbolton Township: It's Earliest History". John 
Buckham, in particular, was very involved in the community. 
 
Shirley MacNutt
April 23, 2006:

Drowning Deaths at the Chats (Fitzroy Harbour) in the 1830's

2 Jul 1831     
Burial in the Catholic churchyard of Bytown of Joseph Dany / Danis? / Denis? of 
St. Benoit, Lower Canada, aged 29 yrs. who was drowned 20 June last at Lake of the 
Chats (Fitzroy Harbour) (see next)
Witnesses: Benj. Dany and Benoni Soucy     
Angus McDonell, Priest

2 Jul 1831     
Burial in the Catholic Church of Abraham Thibault of the parish of Sorel, 
Lower-Canada, aged 17 yrs. who was drowned on the 20th of June last at Lake of the 
Chats (see previous)
Witnesses: Michael Lessard, Francois Leclerc and Etienne Lapointe  

Source: Notre Dame Cathedral records (Thanks to Ellen Paul).

February 21, 2007:
Thanks to Mary for the following, in reference to above posting dated October 28, 2002:

Hi All

I was at the Ottawa Public Library today doing research and while reading – 
The Historical Atlas of Carleton County by H. Belden I came across the names of 
the men who drowned and they are listed as:  Benjamin Moore, Asa Young, and 
Adam Romaine.  There is also mention of a James McConnell who survived.  
For those of you who are interested I found this on page XXXIV. 

Hope this helps. 

Mary
 March 8, 2007:
Thanks to Wes Cross who has sent in a link to his web page of pre-1901 photographs
of the Lebreton Flats and Chaudiere Falls area. Duke Street was familiar to me in the 1950's.
We used to travel by car to pick up ice for our ice-box.
... Al

Hi Al-

I have just completed a new page on my site which provides photos and maps 
of the Lebreton / Chaudiere districts, pre-1901.

Perhaps some of the Bytown or Bust devotees might find helpful. The link is:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~crossroads/help/lebreton/

There are about 40 photos and a couple of maps. I might be adding more material later.
Hope all is well with you.

Regards

Wes

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