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Samuel Retallack Harris
The Harris Family
Excerpt found in the book, "A History of
Toronto and County of York" thought might be
of interest to researchers of these families:
"SAMUEL RETALLACK HARRIS", a York
Pioneer, and a well-known and highly-respected
citizen of Toronto, was born at Lesneague, the
parish of St. Keverne, near Helston, Cornwall,
England, in 1816.
He was the youngest son in a family of eight
children*, two boys and six girls, born to John
and Mary (Retallack) Harris. His father was a
farmer, who lived on his farm for about
seventy-five years, and died in 1873, in the
eighty eighth year of his age. There is now only
one sister living at St. Keverne. Mr. Harris left
home when thirteen years of age to learn a trade,
and remained away about three years - until his
mother's death, which took place in 1824 -
and the same year he took passage on a sailing
vessel bound for the New World.
The time occupied in the voyage was five weeks
and three days, from the point of departure to
the arrival in Quebec, and the journey from that
point to Toronto was accomplished in two weeks.
The mode of locomotion was in Durham boats, drawn
by oxen, and the route lay through the Rideau
Canal. From Kingston they took the steamer
William IV, by which means they journey was
completed.
The description given by Mr. Harris of the
appearance of Toronto at that time (1834) is
worth recording. He says: "Well do I
remember going from the market up King Street to
Yonge, jumping from one stone to another, there
being no sidewalks. From King up to Yonge Street
was a better sidewalk on the west side, laid down
by our old and esteemed friend, Jesse Ketchum,
with tan bark. There were no brick buildings as
now. There was an old fence covered with hides
drying for the tannery. In this same year",
continues Mr. Harris, "William Lyon
Mackenzie was elected Mayor of Toronto, not by
the people but by the Council". Mr. Harris
did not remain long in Toronto on his first visit
but returned to Kingston and entered the employ
of John Collar, a boot and shoe merchant, with
whom he stayed four years, and it was during this
period that the Rebellion broke out.
Mr. Harris became a volunteer in Captain James
Jackson's Company and was under arms six
months, but never saw much active service; he was
a Sergeant in his corps. In 1838 he once more
found his way to Toronto, and although work was
plentiful there was hardly any money in
circulation, wages being chiefly paid in store
goods. In 1838 T.D. Harris first issued his
twenty-five and fifty-cent
"shin-plasters", which currency passed
as good as gold in those days. Mr. Harris also
records the fact that not many improvements were
made in the city until 1840. "When you see
the large brick buildings fast taking the place
of the old shanties on King Street; who would
have thought", he exclaims, "that the
Toronto of 1834 would be the Toronto of
to-day?"
Mr. Harris was married in the year 1850, his
wife being Ann, daughter of Richard Hocken, of
Montreal. The family were of English extraction,
and came to Canada in 1818. By his marriage he
has four sons living, and one daughter, Mrs.
J.H.A. Taylor, living in Toronto. His youngest
son resides in the city, and is book-keeper to
Messrs. Mason & Risch; the other three sons
are in the United States. Mr. Harris has taken an
active part in the affairs of mutual benefit
societies and brotherhoods, and was initiated in
the City of Toronto Lodge of Oddfellows in 1844,
and is now the oldest initiated Oddfellow of good
standing in the city. He was elected Grand Master
of the Order in 1870, and retired the following
year. Mr. Harris was presented with a gold watch
and chain, and his wife with a silver tea service
by the brethren of Toronto. He is now a member of
the Ontario; the Dominion; the Alma and the
Purple Encampment (Hamilton Orders).
On March 18th, 1862, he joined the Wilson Lodge
(No. 86) of Freemasons, and is still a member of
good standing. He was elected and held the office
of Treasurer of that Lodge for ten years, and at
the end of five years' service in that
capacity he was presented with a Mason's gold
ring, and on his retirement from the same,
received a testimonial taking the form of a
gold-headed cane. Mr. Harris filled the position
of postmaster at Yorkville for one year in 1862;
which position he resigned.
In religion he belongs to the Church of
England.
(Vol. II, p. 61)
*Notes: John Harris' eight
children
| Mary Ann |
1804 |
| John |
1806 |
| Mary |
1808 |
| Nancy |
1812 |
| Jane |
1814 |
| Samuel Retallack |
1816 |
| Eliza |
1821 |
| Charlotte |
1824 |
Of John Harris' children, Eliza, Charlotte
and Samuel, they are mentioned in his will of
1873.
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