March 12, 2006:
Photo Source: Library and Archives Canada, Digital Library
Reference # C 33280 
(Rochester Street, Rochesterville and Rochester Heights)

      

Thanks to Dave Lemkay for the following:

I am pleased to have come across this email trail.  I am descendant of the Rochester 
family and have a keen interest in anything Ottawa / Ottawa River / Valley and our 
forest heritage.  Rochesterville was indeed the area defined and after its amalgamation 
to the city, was still referenced as Rochester Heights.  That area could be described 
as that height of land around Laurier and Bronson extending southward to Gladstone.  
The John Rochester clan arrived in Bytown, from Rouses Point NY, USA around 1827 and 
were engaged as provisioners to Colonel By.  They established a brewery - Dominion 
Pale Ale was one line that is named in various accounts, being popular to the troops.  
As well, they developed a tannery and John Rochester had a sawmill at the Chaudiere.  
All of this industry was destroyed in the fire of 1900.

... Dave Lemkay

(The Rochester family was also involved in the timber trade. See posting by Mr. Lemkay
on March 12, 2006 at www.bytown.net/lumbering.htm ).  

More from Mr. Lemkay:

Yes... I would be pleased to have this included on your site.  I happen to
have an extraordinary cache of early Bytown - Ottawa - Westboro information.
The Rochesters were connected through marriage(s) to the Cole family of
Highland Farm (Maplelawn) on Richmond Road, to the Bryson family of Fort Coulonge,
Peter Morris, Canada's first official auditor general, John Lorn McDougall
of Renfrew and more.  My Rochester line - George Rochester was lured to
Burnstown in 1848 after the exile of the Laird of NcNab.  He built a grist
mill on the Madawaska, married the school teacher, Marion Baillie and they
raised six sons, each who went on to significant careers in the mining,
timbering and clergy fields.  John Rochester remained in Ottawa and was
prominent as Mayor and MP for Carleton County in the 1850s - 1870s.

There is a lot of information also on the Thomas Cole clan.  There were
eleven offspring.  I would be pleased to assemble some of that for the
record.

Dave Lemkay  





July 6, 2006:
John Rochester Sr. was my 3rd great grandfather. I have done some family 
tree research and have data on the Rochester family that was provided to me 
some years ago by another descendant  of his. If you feel that any of this 
Family Tree information would be any value to you, let me know what type of 
information you are looking for and I can make it available.

I am in the Mary Ann Rochester line (b.1824). Mary married George Honey 
Preston whose daughter Mary married Edward Valentine Johnson from New Brunswick. 
Their daughter Beatrice Amelia was my grandmother. She later moved to Bermuda and
then to Sydney Australia where she passed away.

Beatrice Amelia married Francis Arthur Lightfoot and they had three 
children. I have been fortunate in getting in touch with a distant "cousin" who is a 
member of the Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City and has done a lot of work in 
documenting the Lightfoot family roots back to the 1500's in England. 

I would like to get some additional information on the ancestors of John 
Rochester of Rouses Point NY, USA. As you pointed out "google'ing" "Rochester Northumbria"
provides a lot of information. The difficulty I have is separating the
useful information from the simply interesting information from all the 
search hits. I am still stuck at bridging the Rochester part of the family tree back to 
England.

Do you have any information regarding the names and dates of the Northumbria
Rochester  ancestors that I could add to my records?

 ... Denis Lightfoot  
 (Note: Denis has a very complete family tree ... Al) 
October 29, 2006:
Hello Al, 

I will enter into this site once again to outline briefly how the Rochester 
clan from Bytown fits into the McNab story.  When Duncan McNab was basically 
exiled from the township, George Rochester was summoned to come up the Madawaska
River in Renfrew County from Bytown to help the settlers develop a much needed 
sawmill and gristmill industry at Burnstown.  Rochester was born in Rouses Point NY in 1820, moved 
to Bytown with his family (John Rochester Sr.) in 1828 as provisioners to 
Colonel By, mainly establishing a brewery of major proportion circa 1829.  
The son George moved to Burnstown in 1848 and began the construction of a 
stone grist mill by Johnson's Rock (present day Burnstown bridge).  He went 
on to build a sawmill and brewery there.  He married the school teacher, 
Marion Baillie who hailed from Motherwell Scotland.  In following years,  
two other Rochester brothers moved there, William Young Rochester, marrying 
another Baillie sister - Helen, who had been widowed with the death of her 
first husband Peter Morris.  William and another brother James also established 
commercial businesses.  (In 1876, William built the brick structure that is now 
the Blackbird Café, former Burnstown General Store, long owned by the Robertson 
family.  (It was also the home of General Store Publishing House Inc., now of 
Renfrew)  George and Marion Rochester had a family of six sons.  
(George Hamilton Preston Rochester, the third son was my great-grandfather).

More on this family in future missives. 

Dave Lemkay 
April 7, 2008:
James ROCHESTER and Anne FROST

I am trying to find some information about James Rochester who married Anne Frost 
(daughter of John Frost – Bytown).  I am actually interested in the Frost family.  
Does anyone have any information about John Frost?  He owned quite a bit of land 
in Lower Town during the 1830s.  Anne Frost and Harriett Frost are mentioned in 
letters I am transcribing (from the 1840s).  James Rochester is mentioned in one of 
the letters.  If anyone has a photograph of Anne Frost or John Frost I would 
appreciate a copy.  I have a photograph of Harriett Frost.   She married Alexander 
Graham (merchant – Bytown). 

Thank you,

... Mary 
________________________
Hello Mary,
 
I have some basic information on James Rochester and Ann Frost.  James was the second 
child of John Rochester and Barbara Young.
 
James was born in Fenham Hill, near Berwick on Tweed Dec 15, 1814.  He married 
Ann Frost of Devonshire on July 7, 1842.  She was born in 1813 and died in Ottawa 
May 2, 1900.  From this union, there were seven children, three of which died in 
infancy.  Living children were: Martha, Harriet Augusta, Margaret Ann and James Anderson.
 
There is a footnote on the parents of Ann Frost:
Elizabeth Frost, wife of John Frost, who was married in the church at Kentisbeare, 
Devon England on April 7th 1806.  From the Book of Marriages: "John Frost of this 
parish and Elizabeth Chic of the same were married in this church by Banns this 7th 
day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and six by me, John Kingdon Cleeve, 
Curate.  Witnesses: Charles Francis Bampfylde, John Frost."
 
There is no other information that I can readily see that pertains to later life of 
any of these people, other than the extension of the offspring, which is outlined in 
Lloyd Rochester's "The Rochester Family Tree".
 
Dave Lemkay 
February 3, 2009:

Hi Dave,Denis,Mary and Al,

Tripped over  www.bytown.net/rochesterjohn.htm

I am descendant of James Baillie former Mayor of Aylmer.....his sisters

Marion married George Rochester

Helen[Ellen] married 2nd time William Young Rochester

I have a copy of Lloyd Rochester's 1976 publication   "The John Rochester Family in Canada"

Just thought I would connect!

Cheers,

... Bryce




May 8, 2009:

Hello, 

I write to forward an excerpt from the Rochester Family History compiled by Lloyd B. Rochester.  
This article appears to have been written circa 1872, maybe as an obituary for John Rochester 
Sr. who passed away that year.  It nicely outlines denizens of Rochesterville at that time.  
Rochesterville was annexed to the City of Ottawa in 1897.

... Dave Lemkay (descendant of the George Rochester line) 

                                 Rochesterville
 
This important suburb lies to the west of the city, being mostly connected with it. The 
"ville" is located entirely on lot 39, of the Township of Nepean and at present has a 
population of some 1100 as near as can be estimated. The late John Rochester was the original 
settler and when the "ville" sprang up, it was christened Rochesterville, and it will stand 
in worthy commemoration of a worthy man, who did much by his industry and enterprise to make 
Ottawa what it is today. He was one of the historic 27 who first laid the foundation of an 
embryo city in the hamlet that was soon known as Bytown in 1827 or thereabouts. At that time 
he was engaged in baking, butchering and brewing to supply the troops of Colonel By. Later he 
moved to Bellis' Point, just where the slides at the Chaudière is now located, and subsequently 
took up the section of land southwest, where the suburb named is now located. In those days 
the Wright family flourished on the Hull side of the river, and George Patterson, Jacob 
Dennison, Isaac Smith (one of whose sons now runs the river ferry), John Burrows, The Thompson 
brothers, the Travellers, Peter Aylen, Charles Sparrow, Watson Lytle, Dr. Stewart and the old man 
Birch, were among the leading residents, while the Shiners soon grew and flourished in 
Bytown. These have about all passed away with the exception of Mr. Sparrow who resides in Lower Town.

The late Mr. Rochester raised four sons to perpetuate his name and these are pretty well known
to the people of the city and valley generally being much respected. They are as follows; 
John Rochester Jr, lumberman, mill owner and member of parliament; James and William Rochester, 
brewers; and George Rochester, mill owner on the Madawaska. The business of the village is 
concentrated in its two breweries, the sash, door and blind factory of Mr. Woodland, and the 
tannery of Messrs May and Foster, all of which drive a good trade. Stores are run by Joseph 
Evans, J. Blais, S. Stitt and Mrs MacKechney / Mackechnie. The latter is also post-mistress. 
Mr. G.L. Gibson is the resident butcher. At the French village, the southern section, E. 
Dorion keeps a tavern and store. It is in this section that the people let houses burn down 
if the owner is well insured. This place is the great home of the mechanic and labouring man, 
many of the mill hands residing in this suburb. Few new buildings have gone up of late years. 
Of the residents Messrs James Rochester, John Rochester, J.R. Booth, Wm Bunting, and Mrs William 
Hinton (Hintonburg) have fine stone mansions, with beautiful surroundings. Among the other prominent 
property owners and residents of the village are Messrs Pratt, D. Martin, George King, 
Levi Crannel, J.A. Parr, Leander Booth, John Pennock, William McGillvary, Wm Rochester, Wm 
McLaughlin, Levi Booth, Joseph Johnston, B. Fisher, J. Kennedy, J. Marks. The buildings are 
mostly frame but the sprinkling of brick is fair. The Public School has been converted into 
a Model School as well; Mr Duncan is the principal, miss Andrews, assistant teacher. 
The Separate School is taught by the Nuns and public service is held on Sundays by the 
Christian Brothers. The Presbyterian body have a neat frame church of which the Rev Mr White 
is pastor. The Episcopal church is under the rectorship of Rev Mr Gemmel. Sabbath Schools 
are conducted with each of the churches.                                              

August 22, 2009:
New e-mail address for Mary Cox is bytownmary@hotmail.com (incorporated in the list below).


March 1, 2010:

Image Source: Ottawa Citizen, May 25, 1917
Advertisement for Rochester Drug Store, Ottawa, Canada

      


August 26, 2010:

Hello, 
  
For many years I have been researching the Young family, of which I am a descendant, through Barbara Rochester’s (nee Young) brother, 
James Young, who was “sent out to help build the locks of the Shubenacadie Canal System”. I had the great pleasure of 
speaking with Gordon Rochester, who very kindly passed on a copy of the Rochester Family Tree to me. 
  
Recently, I met with Robin Smith, a descendant of both the Rochester and Young lines. He is still actively pursuing research on the 
Rochester family, and also has a copy of the Rochester Family tree.  We were lamenting the loss of a diary which was referred to in 
Lloyd Rochester’s Family tree version, which detailed the trip of Thomas Rochester, to the George Young Family, of Sunderland, England.  
As we know so much more about our families past, and with the tremendous benefit of the internet at our disposal, we were wondering 
if by some slim chance anyone had any idea as to what happened to such an important source document… 
  
Looking forward to hearing from you! 
  
Warm regards, 
  
William D. Nelson
__________________________________________

Hello all,
 
I happen to now have the cache of Rochester files that originated from Lloyd and Gordon Rochester's early work.  
I haven't had time as yet to go through all of the dozen or so banker boxes.  Robin and I had emailed in recent 
times with discussion of this diary.  I will try to get into the boxes through this fall to see what I might find.  
Interestingly, I have come across a booklet that was given to Edward Cole in 1832 by his community church group 
or some such thing as a gift on his leaving Devon England for Canada.
 
As you will know, much of Lloyd's files have been accepted years ago by the National Archives.  I can't recall 
if that cache has been searched for the Thomas Rochester diary or not.  Either way, I will be back to you as soon 
as possible with any news.
 
Dave Lemkay (great nephew of Gordon R.)  

New e-mail address for David Lemkay is dlemkay@bell.net (incorporated in the list below)


 June 26, 2011:

Hello Allan,
 
Rochester cousin Morgan Holmes has sent a wonderful image of his great-grandfather's drug store dispensing labels. He has suggested that 
you might add this to the information and image already on the site referring to J.L Rochester's Drug Store. 
 
Dave


Note the 4 digit telephone number. I don't remember this far back. In the 1950's, our phone number was five digits -- 23745. 
Then as Ottawa expanded the city was divided into zones and our number became CE-233-2745. (The CE was for the Central Zone).
Then they dropped the "CE" and replaced it with strictly numbers - 233-2745 - seven digits. Today, this number would include the 
area code and it would be 613-233-2745, a total of ten digits. (I'm long gone).

 
E-mail Dave Lemkay, Denis Lightfoot, Mary, Bryce Hunter, William D. Nelson and Al Lewis


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