Thanks to Ron Bos for the following pictures of the Lockmaster's house
at Kilmarnock (between Merrickville and Smiths Falls on the Rideau Canal.
The pictures span 3 centuries:

Painting by John Burrows (1789-1848)
Kilmarnock Lock, 1835
Source: Library and Archives Canada, REPRODUCTION:  C-092892 
 

The following two photographs were taken in 2004 and the early 1900's.



May 7, 2005:

Hi
 
I was wondering if anyone had any details on a George Newsome, Kilmarnock Lockmaster 
(Rideau canal lock station #24) 1846-1871, or his son William Newsome, Kilmarnock  
Lockmaster 1871-1921. 
 
George Newsome took over lockmaster duties from the original lockmaster appointed 
by Col. By,  Sgt. James Maitland , 90th Regiment. 
 
George Newsome was also the postmaster in the early 1900's for Kilmarnock.
 
Ron Bos
rcbos@sympatico.ca
______________________
Good Morning, Mr. Bos:
 
Thanks for your e-mail regarding George and William Newsome. The following family 
is probably your Newsomes.
This is from the 1881 census:
 
1881 Census Place: Wolford, Leeds & Grenville North, Ontario, Canada
 Source: FHL Film 1375867  NAC C-13231  Dist 107  SubDist C  Div 1  Page 26  Family 125
 Sex Marr Age Origin Birthplace
George NEWSOM M Married age 76 Irish born in Ireland
 Occ: Farmer Religion: Church of England 
Ann NEWSOM F Married  29 Irish Ireland
   Religion: Church of England 
William NEWSOM M Married  33 Irish O 
 Occ: Lock Master Religion: Church of England 
Charlott NEWSOM F Married 26 English O 
   Religion: Church of England 
 
According to Robert Passfield's book Building the Rideau Canal, A Pictorial History,
the waterfalls where the Kilmarnock Locks were built were called Maitland's Rapids.
The rapids may have been named for Sgt. James Maitland or possibly for Sir
Peregrine Maitland, who was the Lieutenant Governor for Upper Canada.

On page 93 of the book is a pencil sketch by John Burrows, showing the
rapids, lock and weir in 1832. (National Archives, drawing # C11166).

If it is OK with you, I'll start a new web page on our site for this family. 
Please let me know if this is OK with you.
 
Thanks again for this. 
... Al
______________________________
Hi Al
 
Yes ! Thats the right famiy and by all means go ahead with the web site !
Thanks for the info.
 
I have since spoken to Mr. Phil Newsome of Brockville and he provided me with a 
few missing pieces. 
 
George Newsome was born in Cork Ireland in 1805. He married Anne Oconnor born in 
1822. Together they had 8 children. 
 
Their son William Newsome born in 1842 and died in 1922 married Carole Phillips. 
William went on to be the longest serving lockmaster on the system (50 years). 
 
Their son Albert Edward Newsome born in 1852 married  Margret Moir born in 1856 
and died in 1926.
 
Also of interest is the fact the lockmaster in 1901 was making $400.00 a year.
 
Some of the Newsome family now rests at the Hillcrest cemetery in Smiths Falls.
 
Thanks again Al!
 
... Ron Bos
May 11, 2005:
Hi Al.
 
Here is some info supplied to me by Barbra Sprigings, a direct decendant of George Newsome.
 
Re: George Newsome. 
Rideau Canal Lockmaster (1846-1871)
Kilmarnock, Lock #24.
 
Marriage:   
George Newsome and Anne O'Connor 
Married in County Cork, Ireland 4th of November, 1840   
 
George Newsome was born 26th of February 1805 near Arklow in the County of 
Wicklow, Ireland  

Anne O’Connor was born 21st September, 1821 in the City of Cork, Ireland

Their children: 

- John Newsome, was born 14th January, 1843
- George Newsome, was born 18th October, 1844, died: Dec 13 1927
- Thomas Newsome, was Born 24th November, 1846
- William Alfred Newsome, was born 12th, December 1848, died: April 15 1922
- Benjamin Newsome, was born 27th September, 1850
- Albert Edward Newsome, was born 31st August 1852 

Deaths:
George Newsome (Senior) : Died at Kilmarnock, Ont September 13th 1881.  
Buried at Smiths Falls. 

Anne O’Connor (wife of George Newsome) 
Died at Kilmarnock, Ont March 17th 1904.
Buried at Smith Falls.  
___________________
Re: William A. Newsome 
Rideau Canal Lockmaster at Kilmarnock (Lock #24)
(Longest serving lockmaster on the Rideau Canal system, 50 yrs) 1871-1921 
 
William Alfred Newsome and Charlotte Phillips married at the residence of brides 
father in Wolford (Ont) January 5th, 1881 
 
Births: 
1st George Newsome born 18th October 1881
2nd James Harvey Newsome 29th April 1884
William Alfred Newsome, was born 12th, December 1848, died on April 15th, 1922 at 
Smiths Falls. Buried in Public Cemetry.
Charlotte Phillips (wife of William A Newsome) died August 22, 1929
Charlotte Phillips was born November 30 1855
... Ron 
also posted on May 11, 2005, from Barb Sprigings:

Ron Bos has contacted me.  My great great grandfather was the lock master at Kilmarnock.  
How might I obtain a copy of the photograph of the stone house by the lock so that 
I could get some copies for our family.  I have never seen it until Ron sent it 
electronically.. (those may be my descendents in the photo). 
I am not technically "advanced" but can figure out most jargon or can obtain some help 
from co-workers if you provide me with some suggestions .. thanks. 

Barb (Newsome) Sprigings
_____________________
Hi Barb:
 
I just noticed that there is another picture in Robert Passfield's book (page 90). 
It is a 6" by 10" watercolour painting of Maitlands Rapids / Kilmarnock painted on 
August 19, 1830 by J.P. Cockburn. It shows two log structures, one a house and the 
other a smaller shed. This painting is now in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto 
but I don't know it's catalogue number.
 
I have not seen the picture of the stone house which Ron sent to you. If it is a 
standard photographic format, either a .jpg or a .gif file, you should be able to 
get your graphics people to print it off for you. They may also touch it up a bit 
and improve the quality if necessary.
 
Another possibility is to save the image onto a floppy disk and just bring it to a 
photographic store and they should be able to print it for you. To save it to a 
floppy or to your hard drive, put your cursor over the photo on your computer screen 
and then Right Click with your mouse.
One of the options on the menu will be "Save Picture As" ... Choose this option and 
then save it to your A: drive (the floppy) or to your C: drive (the hard drive).
 
This photo sounds as if it would make a nice addition to the Newsome page at Bytown 
or Bust. Also, if you like, I could add your e-mail address to the page as a contact 
for other researchers. Just let me know.
... Al
_____________________
Thanks for the information. Yes, add my name as a contact to your website 
(Barbara Sprigings) 
email  bsprigings@shaw.ca
Barb
May 30, 2005:
Hi Al
 
I was speaking to the current lock master at Kilmarnock, (Steve Fielding) and 
he gave me the attached list of the all the previous lock masters at Kilmarnock.
 
1st. James Maitland        (1832-1846)
2nd. George Newsome  (1847-1871)
3rd. William Newsome   (1872-1921)
4th. Jim Dalton                  (1922-1941)
5th. Fred Dawe                 (1942-1945)
6th. Dick Marshall           (1946-1963)
7th. Ted Moncrief            (1964-1972)
8th. Ken Bygrove            (1973-1977)
9th. Stan Irvine                 (1978-1995)
10th. Steve Fielding        (1996-Present) 
 
Ron....
____________________
Hi Ron:
 
Thanks for this. Is it OK for me to put it on the Newsome / Kilmarnock web page?
I guess that Maitland's Rapids was named after James Maitland.
 
... Al
____________________
Hi Al
 
No problem with entering the info on the web site....
 
The lock was named after James Maitland because he donated the land used for 
the canal without asking for compensation. He settled there before the canal was 
built. The rapids there were called "Maitland's rapids" ...named after James Maitland
as well, and the Maitland family ran a ferry service from the the mainland to 
"Maitland's Island" which is now known as "Kilmarnock Island" . It was reffered 
to as "Maitland's Lock" until about 1866, when the name Kilmarnock became the more 
common name.
James Maitland was a Sgt. in the 90th Regiment and the first lockmaster at Kilmarnock, 
having been appointed by Colonel By himself.
 
This information is found on this web site: 
www.rideau-info.com/canal/history/locks/h24-kilmarnock.html
 
The author is Ken Watson   kwatson@kos.net 
 
Thanks
... Ron
______________                                                               
Hi Al
 
This is a picture of the tombstone of William A. Newsome and his wife Charlotte 
Newsome that I took a few weeks ago. They are resting at the Hillcrest cemetery 
in Smiths falls.
The significance is, that William A. Newsome was the longest serving lockmaster 
on the Rideau Canal system, with 50 years of service (1871-1921). A record that 
still stands today. 
Ron


October 10, 2005:
Hi Al
 
Here are two pictures for your web site. One is the tombstone of George Newsome, 
lockmaster at Kilmarnock from 1847-1871, who is resting at the St. John's Anglican 
Cemetery in Smith Falls, and the other is the tombstone of Sgt. James Maitland, 
lockmaster at Kilmarnock from it's opening in 1832 to 1846 , he is resting at the 
Wolford Chapel Cemetery.
 
... Ron Bos

Tombstone of George Newsome



Tombstone of James Maitland


September 23, 2007:

Dear Family Members and Friends,

The Beek Family History Book is back from the printers a few days ago.  It 
is ready to be mailed out. The book exactly as stated was $12. per copy for 
printing. It is 8x11'', 180 pages with pictures.  Generalizes all the Beek 
offspring of Joseph Beek b. 1776 in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland.(daughter Eliza 
married a Maitland).

The biggest expense is the cost of mailing the book which more than doubles 
the cost for a single copy. It is probably close to $16. mailing costs to 
the  US or CA per copy.  If you get more than one copy the price of mailing 
goes down per unit. (CA and US $ at par).

I am trying to find the most economical way of getting this book to you.

Further delay has occurred because I slammed a garbage container lid on my 
head two weeks ago and with concussion and possible vertebrate fracture, I 
have been kind of limited.  Beyond all that, I am determined with my 
husband's help to get this book to you ASAP.

What I need now is specifically how many copies you want and what is your 
mailing name and address.   As soon as I receive that info, your book(s) 
will be on their way.  I will include in your package exactly how much the 
postage was.  Do not send a cheque payable to "Gloria Beek" until you have 
received your book(s).  I am in no rush.

One further statement about this book, it is experimental in nature, with 
various formats and use of photos that I have not seen tried before.  I hope 
that it will be a benchmark to change the way genealogy is presented in 
future.

Thank you all again for your input and co-operation.

Sincerely,

Gloria Beek
Merrickville, Ontario, Canada
Canada
E-mail: glorbeek@hotmail.com
__________________________

Hi Gloria:

Thanks for your e-mail regarding your new book.

Another possible means of distribution of your book would be to try and get 
the bookstore in Merrickville (it's an Art Store now) but they have some local 
history books as well.

Last weekend I bought a terrific book regarding Harry McLean, (PEI to Glengarry 
County to North Dakota, USA and finally to Merrickville), there. The store is on the
left as you enter the Hardy Arcade.

Just a thought.

... Al
February 26, 2009:
John Allan LONG, born Kilmarnock, 1850
Hello Folks
I have communicated with Al Lewis before concerning family members in Bytown 
(Ottawa). And now I have run across correspondence that you all have had concerning 
Kilmarnock Lock on the Canal. I am particularly interested in Kilmarnock, as my great 
grandfather John Allan Long was born there 24 June, 1850. And I suspect that John 
Long age 55 at the 1871 census, resided in or near Kilmarnock. As on the 1871 census 
his is in Lanark South, Montague. My family, through the Long and Locke (no pun intended) 
names has connections to Merrickville also. Any little tidbits (not "timbits") that 
you could provide would be most greatly appreciated.
 
Sincerely
Gary Long

Town Crier for Middleton & Berwick, Nova Scotia, Canada since 1984

February 27, 2008:
Well, Al: I was happy to find on your Newsome page, beside the info. that though 
George Newsome was married in Cork, that he came from Wicklow:
 
George Newsome was born 26th of February 1805 near Arklow in the County of 
Wicklow, Ireland  

Here's George's death certificate, Al, showing him as a "retired soldier."


 
Record Summary 
Scope and content GEORGE NEWSOME 
Born ARKLOW, Wicklow
Served in Royal Artillery
Discharged aged 43 
Covering dates 1826-1848 
Availability Open Document, Open Description, Normal Closure before FOI Act: 30 years  
Held by The National Archives, Kew  

... Anne Burgess 

 June 15, 2010:

Dear Friends,

In 1881, my Great Grandfather Warren Y. Soper married Ann Newsom, daughter of the late Lieut-Col. Newsom, 
in Ottawa Ontario Canada. Do you know if this is a relation to the Ann Newsom or perhaps the lady who 
is the Irish Immigrant, 29 years old, in the 1881 census? 

Yes you may post this email about Warren Y. Soper and Annie Newsom.  As it turns out, my research in 
the Archives of Canada shows that Annie was in fact a nickname for Martha Susannah Newsom.  Her father 
was the late LCol Thomas Newsom.  In fact, Annie was born in Franktown and due to its remoteness at 
the time, this family wasn't included in the 1881 census.

Annie's mother was Amelia Howell.  Research from the 1891 census may indicate that she as a widow, remarried.

Warren was named after his mother Ellen Young, hence the middle name.

I would love to know a little bit more about Thomas.  I do know from the 1991 census, when she was Mrs. Soper, 
she put down that her parents emmigrated from Ireland.

I would love to know if he was a soldier here in Canada or in Ireland.

Thank you,
... Laura Soper-Gosset