Appendix

Appendix

In this part of the account of the Canadian Valleaux are given sketches of the Conger Meeting House, and of the Benson and German families.

I. The Conger Meeting House

This chapel is a quaint, substantial old square building situated on the high banks of the Bay of Quinte, two miles east of the town of Picton. It is the oldest Methodist church now in actual use in the Province of Ontario, if not in the entire Dominion of Canada.

The "Conger Meeting House," as it was familiarly called in its palmy days, was commenced in 1809, and completed the following year. It was the fourth Methodist church erected in Upper Canada, and one of the "eleven memorable meeting houses" of this denomination existing in this Province as late as 1816.

William Moore, of Adolphustown, was the carpenter, of whom it is said, that as soon as he had completed the building of the church at that place, commenced the one at "Congers." Mr. Moore was the class leader of the first class regularly organized in Upper Canada, in Paul Huff's log house, near where the Adolphustown church was afterwards built, February 20, 1792. He was one of the first Methodist local preachers in the Province.

The old Conger chapel still stands very much as it was first erected, except the addition of the porch in front of the door, built a few years ago. It stands almost square, 36 by 30 feet, with the old style two tiers of small windows, with the 7 by 7 glass, the standard size in those days. There is a high gallery inside on the sides of the building, a square roof, the old-fashioned high square pulpit, with the large over-hanging sounding board-much resembling some immense table dish with its cover suspended overhead. While the outside of the building has been supplied with new siding and shingles, with sundry coats of paint, the inside has been, fortunately, preserved much as it was first completed, and it is the more curious and interesting on that account. The seats, gallery, ceiling and other woodwork have never been painted; the benches are loose and straight with very high tops. The boards of the panelings are of immense width; the timbers of the framework are all planed and smooth and of immense strength-15 to 18 inches square each. The old structure is still firm and sound, and if preserved as carefully, in the future, as it has been in the past, may stand in as good condition a hundred years hence. It is much to be hoped that no changes will be permitted in connection with the interior, but that it may long stand a fair type of the places of worship of the pioneer United Empire Loyalists of Upper Canada.

The old chapel was built a few years before the now pretty and flourishing town of Picton began its existence. New and larger churches were soon erected there, and this one, a couple of miles distant, soon fell into disuse as a place for Sunday worship. Had it been otherwise, it is quite probable the now venerable building would have been modernized over and over again, and out of existence years ago. The old burying-ground surrounds it, and the building has often been convenient for a funeral service; it has also been used for Sunday School and occasional week night services. The early settlers had but little money at their disposal, but they "had a mind to work," so the old chapel was largely built by the free donation of such timber as was needed, and chiefly by such work as each

willing contributor could turn in. An old memorandum book of Stephen Conger, J. P., is still in the possession of members of his family, and it gives some interesting items of information regarding the progress of the work. He was one of the most active spirits in connection with the building, and for years a leading official in the church at that time. According to this memorandum work was begun June 14, 1809, and all the leading residents for some miles around were credited with from one to several days' work, in scoring timber, boiling tar for the roof, getting lime, blacksmithing or some other department of the work. Very few were credited with the payment of money, and none of these with over one pound twelve shillings. The roof appears to have received a good coating of pine tar, and as a result it was sixty years before the shingles had to be replaced. Nails at that time appear to have been worth 20 cents per pound, and some other building materials were equally dear.

A few words may not be out of place here in regard to the Conger family, on whose lot the old chapel was built. A number of their descendants still reside in the immediate locality, whilst others are well known all over the Dominion. David Conger, the head of the family, was among the early United Empire Loyalist settlers on the Bay of Quinte. He was a native of Piscataway, N. J., born August 17, 1731. He was a loyal adherent of the British flag during the American Revolution, and resolved to make his home in British territory after the war was over. The first company of United Empire Loyalists settled along the Bay of Quinte nearby, in 1784. David Conger appears to have followed them the next year, when he selected and purchased the lot upon which he afterwards lived and died. He returned to the States and brought his family to Canada the ensuing year, 1786. It is said that they, and others of their neighbors, were three months making their long and tedious journey through the then great wilderness between the Hudson near New York and the shores of Quinte Bay. David Conger died six years after he had located on his new farm, and there was a grave selected for him on his own lot of land. Here others of his early neighbors and friends also have their last resting place, and it has become the most historic burial place in the whole county. It was on this plot that the chapel was afterwards built a few years later. Now all around the old building, in that memorable "God's Acre," lie the best known of the early pioneers, and some generations of their descendants. At first, slabs of red cedar were lovingly placed at the heads of most of these graves, and they were suitably inscribed, but that timber, lasting as it is, has not proved endurable enough to see this century out, and in many cases these are standing yet, but the inscriptions have become indecipherable. In some cases slabs of gray limestone were used, and the letters rudely carved thereon, but it would now require the careful hand of some "Old Mortality," such as Sir Walter Scott tells about, in order to make even these inscriptions traceable. Of late years white marble slabs have been supplied to many, and on these are the names of many heads of families now well known nearly all over Canada. Among them are the Congers, the Van Blaricombs, the Bensons, Petersons, Millers, Valleaux, Ryckmans, Van Horns, Sniders, Goldsmiths, Brickmans, Woods, Merrills, and others.*

2. The Benson Family

"Years ago just how many I have been unable to learn-Matthew Benson

*This sketch has been compiled from one on the "Conger Meeting House," by Thomas W. Casey, in the Picton "Gazette," Ontario, Canada, Thursday, September 17, 1896.

and his bride, Mary Berdon, crossed the ocean from clean little Holland, and settled in New York City. This Matthew Benson was the founder of the Prince Edward County family of Bensons."

"To this couple in New York were born nine children, all of whom, except the eldest, named John, came to Canada. These were Garret, Albert, Jacob, Cornelius, Eve, Betsy, and Richard and John, twins."

"John, the eldest son, a dragoon in the army during the Revolutionary War, was killed at that time. The story has been handed down that on the day of his death, his mother sitting beside a window in her home, saw him ride past; and overjoyed at the sight of her boy, she ran and called her husband only to learn that her son had not been seen by any one except herself. She grieved very much for the brave boy she had given to fight for England's cause, and when the twins were born, could not refrain from bestowing the loved name, John, on one of them. When these twins were four years of age, the harsh summons was issued commanding all Loyalists to quit New York City, and Matthew Benson and his family were then obliged to abandon their home, and migrate to the great Canadian wilderness. With them journeyed, among other old Dutch families, the Van Blaricombs, and also the Valleaux, who were of French extraction. It may be said that, perhaps, no other three families can be found in the county that have intermarried as often as have these. Indeed, one of Matthew Benson's sons, Albert by name, had already married a Van Blaricomb before coming to Canada" "In Canada-: Matthew Benson first settled in 'Yellow Hook,' as the second town, or Ernest Town, was for many years denominated, and it was not until the twins had attained their 18th. year that he finally took up land on the High Shore. He was a blacksmith and millwright, and worked at his trade in the first Napanee mill, and also at the first one built at Glenora. During the 'Scarce Year'about 1793 or 1794-when the settlers would have famished to death, but for an unusual abundance of fish-people used to visit the mill where Matthew Benson worked, and sweep the floor for the sake of the flour dust."

"At the second town, Mary Berdon, his wife, died and was buried, and later on he married a widow named Schermerhorn. No children, however, resulted from this latter marriage. Matthew Benson and his second wife now sleep their long, last sleep, in the little graveyard surrounding the old White Chapel."

"No doubt it would interest many of the descendants of this man, to know whom his children married, and also the names of their children. I cannot, however, arrange their names according to age. Albert married a Van Blaricomb. His children were: John, David, Matthew, Garret, Peter, Margaret, and Sophia.” "Cornelius married Sarah Dempsey, and their children, were: Mary, Catharine, Elizabeth, Thomas, and Matthew."

"Eva married a Richardson. Names of their children not known.” "Garret was never married."

"Betsy, or more properly, Elizabeth, married a man named Steel, and her children, were: Abraham, William, John, Elizabeth, Jane, Mary, Rachel, and Jacob who died in childhood."

"John married Mary Valleau. Their children, were: Jane, Polly, Elizabeth, Ann, Peter, Eve, Cornelius, Hildebrand, Richard, and Charity-now Mrs. G. P. Van. Blaricomb of Picton, the last surviving member of this family."

"Richard married Elizabeth Barton, and of their children: Andrew, Garret, Matthew, Henry, Phoebe, Polly, Jacob, John, Elizabeth, and William Henry,

the last three mentioned are still living. Elizabeth is Mrs. Richards of Landon's, and William Henry resides in Wellington. He is the father of Mr. A. Bristol & Son's popular book-keeper, Mr. W. E. Benson."

"In Matthew Benson's household the Dutch language was always used, and I am told that when the late Dr. Pruyn first settled in Picton he found it very difficult to master the English language, and used to say that he was always delighted to get among the Bensons, where he could talk Dutch to his heart's content."

"Apropos of medical men, Dr. Stickney, who settled on, or near the Marsh Front, and was probably the first physician to practise in Prince Edward County, treated Richard Benson-the twin-during a severe illness. He bled his patient only (?) six times, and the neighbors assembled to see the man die. He had strength enough left however, to motion for water, and his wife, contrary to the doctor's orders fed it to him, a teaspoonful at a time, and he recovered. Is it any wonder that a physician in those days, was known by no other title save that of 'leech'?"

"Many amusing stories are told of the twins, Richard and John Benson, who are said to have been as like as two peas. All through life they delighted in deceiving people as to their identity, and even when grown old with years, have been known to laugh heartily with one another concerning times when they fooled their own children. I might add that upon questioning, I was assured, that their wives, however, knew 'tother from which.' Rather pathetic, too, are the stories of their devotion to one another-a devotion that never abated one iota during life-a devotion that caused John Benson when stricken with age, to desire his son Peter, [the father of Messrs. Richard and Caleb Benson of Picton], to lead him to the bedside of his dying brother, where he could sit for hours at a time, and gaze on the beloved face."

"The Old Dutch Bible:-Matthew Benson brought with him from Holland, the curious old Dutch Bible, that is now in the possession of his great-grandson, Portland Benson, who resides on a portion of the land that was granted to his Loyalist progenitor. This Bible has long been an heirloom in the Benson family, having been owned by no fewer than seven successive generations, the youngest son always falling heir to it. It is now 281 years old, and is no pocket edition, being 14 inches long, 9 inches wide, 6 inches thick and weighs 14 pounds. It is printed in the Holland-Dutch language, the Dutch style of letters having been used. It is very antiquated in appearance-this book which tells the story of a life not ended with the conquering of a corner of Canadian forest.”

"Matthew Benson loved this priceless, old Bible, and when old and almost blind, he sat day by day with it open beside him, on a rough little stand, that had been constructed for the purpose."

"This is my story of the Bensons. More might be added, but it is, at this time, unnecessary. No great wealth or worldly honor do they possess; but in the old times, they suffered and dared for principle, and what they considered the right, and in these latter days, wherever you find a genuine Benson, he is standing on his merits or demerits, without any shams, pretensions or apologies."*

*This sketch of the Benson Family is given as it was written by Mrs. Portland Benson, January 14, 1900, and published in the Picton "Times."

The following extracts relating to the origin of the Benson family are from Jas. Riker's "History of Harlem," revised edition of 1904: Richard Benson, or Dirck Bensingh, as commonly called, the ancestor of the Bensons, was not a Hollander, but a Swede, according to the tradition in the family. Perhaps, to be more exact, Dirck was a Dane. He came from Groningen to Amsterdam, where he lived and married Catalina, daughter of Samson Berck and Tryntie Van Rechteren. Dirck and his wife came out from Holland to New Amsterdam about 1648. Here he bought a house near the fort, August 23, 1649, and the next year another on Broadway. In 1654 he went to Fort Orange [Albany] and built upon a lot granted him in 1653. He died February 12, 1659. Dirck Bensingh's children were, Dirck, born 1650; Samson, born 1652; Johannes, born February 8, 1655;