William Dixon Pollock1
M, b. circa 1815, d. before 31 March 1890
William Dixon was born circa 1815 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He left Scotland in the 1840's on a merchant ship of war. He was first in Nova Scotia before moving on to Toronto. William married Lydia Ann Jeffery, daughter of John Matthew Jeffery Jr. and Eunice Travis, circa 1849 in Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada.
William & Lydia resided in Bronte, Halton County, Ontario. Their home was located on Lake Ontario. William was a stone-hooker. A stone-hooker gathered flat dark stones from the Lake Ontario shoreline and then hauled them on their ship to Toronto where the stones were used to build buildings in what is now the old part of the city. 1861, William and his wife, Lydia, were listed on the Canadian Census at the Village of Bronte, Trafalgar Township, Halton County, Ontario, Canada. Enumerated in this household were William Dixon Pollock [46 Scotland][mariner - Church of Scotland], Lydia Ann [38 LC][EM], George [11 UC][EM], Mary Ann [8 UC][EM], Elizabeth [5 UC][EM], William [2 UC][EM]. The next family on the census is that of Thomas & Eliza Colton. home was a one story frame house built in 1852.2 1871, William and his wife, Lydia, were listed on the Canadian Census at Trafalgar Township. Enumerated in this household were William Pollock [56 Scotland - Presbyterian], Mary Ann [48 NS], George [21 Ontario], Mary Ann [19 Ontario], Margaret [16 Ontario], William [12 Ontario], Eunice [8 Ontario], Agnes [5 Ontario]. William and George are sailors.3 1881, William and his wife, Lydia, were listed on the Canadian Census at the Village of Bronte, Trafalgar Township. Enumerated in this household were William Pollock [70 Scotland - Presbyterian, Scotch, sailor], Ann [52 Nova Scotia, Methodist], William [22 Ontario], Agnes [15 Ontario]. [Division 1, page 35]4 William departed this life in 1890 after an illness of six weeks in the Village of Bronte, Trafalgar Township. The actual day & month were not listed on the death record, but it was registered 31 March 1890.5 He was buried there in the Old Bronte Cemetery. There is no marker on his grave.
William & Lydia resided in Bronte, Halton County, Ontario. Their home was located on Lake Ontario. William was a stone-hooker. A stone-hooker gathered flat dark stones from the Lake Ontario shoreline and then hauled them on their ship to Toronto where the stones were used to build buildings in what is now the old part of the city. 1861, William and his wife, Lydia, were listed on the Canadian Census at the Village of Bronte, Trafalgar Township, Halton County, Ontario, Canada. Enumerated in this household were William Dixon Pollock [46 Scotland][mariner - Church of Scotland], Lydia Ann [38 LC][EM], George [11 UC][EM], Mary Ann [8 UC][EM], Elizabeth [5 UC][EM], William [2 UC][EM]. The next family on the census is that of Thomas & Eliza Colton. home was a one story frame house built in 1852.2 1871, William and his wife, Lydia, were listed on the Canadian Census at Trafalgar Township. Enumerated in this household were William Pollock [56 Scotland - Presbyterian], Mary Ann [48 NS], George [21 Ontario], Mary Ann [19 Ontario], Margaret [16 Ontario], William [12 Ontario], Eunice [8 Ontario], Agnes [5 Ontario]. William and George are sailors.3 1881, William and his wife, Lydia, were listed on the Canadian Census at the Village of Bronte, Trafalgar Township. Enumerated in this household were William Pollock [70 Scotland - Presbyterian, Scotch, sailor], Ann [52 Nova Scotia, Methodist], William [22 Ontario], Agnes [15 Ontario]. [Division 1, page 35]4 William departed this life in 1890 after an illness of six weeks in the Village of Bronte, Trafalgar Township. The actual day & month were not listed on the death record, but it was registered 31 March 1890.5 He was buried there in the Old Bronte Cemetery. There is no marker on his grave.Family | Lydia Ann Jeffery b. 5 Jun 1824, d. 31 Mar 1899 |
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Citations
- [S506] Note: Lake Shore Road July 1.2.3 ( I believe this is 1893) but it only shows the 3 Oakville + Bronte. Note characteristic style of old village architecture. Each locality has a convention of its own- The fashion of village carpenter or builder- a certain prevalent type if porch or verandah or roof. Open fields, feathery barley, wheat- swaying + swinging purple veined corn flower this it- thistles on edge. Some yields grow, shirt edge of bank overlooking lake, bordered wild Lavender or Bergamot dried but holding last years fragrance.Road bare straight fenced monstorous sultry + unshadowed for long stretch. Come to shady wayside places under trees, where traveller stops to rest + look out over lake waiting with the breeze that always lingers here. This little place, where I've never been before, which I knew not, waiting here years + years till this day for you, like a maiden for her lover. Homesickness for a home that is not, that might be. Rose bushes with apple scented blossoms by roadside. Approach Bronte village silhouette varied, long + straggling. Orchard boughs cutting stry + chimney or a gable, then poplar upspringing, windswept + ragged, beyond, masts of vessels in small harbor at creek mouth. Typical arrangement of houses this neighborhood – lake village. wood clap. board unpainted or white stumpy chimney ( as though storm by lake wind). set round by balm o' Gilead + apple. occas. Lombardy poplar, over door = near seat rose bushes. Peonies in every garden. Village faces south + west looks over lake + dist. South shore. Strong in color, blue distance. gleams of yellow fields wheat or showing clear in evg sunlight. 12 mile creek flows steadily this marsh bends into lake. Sand pit- few piles reeds of marsh. Harbor fringed + crowded large old rowboats laid up, o'er grown tall sedges + grass. Net reels creaking in breeze, occupy all bare available spaces_ shanties cluster close, stove pipes projecting, smell of fish. Shores full of loose flat stones, clanking beneath feet. Village crowded- street at edge of land looking out to lake through all its windows like old seaman gazing, shows that her its principal interest + occupation.
A second paragraph later on in the book:
Still 1893?
Night at Bronte, This paragraph looks like he went back to Bronte on his back back to New York.
All the world still under the stars. Only the sound of the lake washing, pouring ceaseless upon the beach, sad, monotorious, weary, village like lonely sleep walker, stands on edge of cliff and gazes vacantly out over dim lake- as though on the verge of space, so far away seems all rest of world. The folk are asleep, the boats rock with gentle sway of waves, not reels creak in night breeze + leaves of the poplar by my window whisper in darkness.
Transcribed from Charles W Jeffery's Journals by his grandson's wife Marja Allen and location of picture courtesy of Marja Allen - 1/21/2016. - [S1943] 1861 Canadian Census: Villiage of Bronte, Trafalger Township, Halton County, Ontario - District 5, Page 26, Line 26.
- [S1944] 1871 Canadian Census: Trafalger Township, Halton County, Ontario - District 38, Sub-District B, Page 29, Line 7.
- [S1945] 1881 Canadian Census: Trafalger Township, Halton County, Ontario - District 150, Sub-District A, Page 35, Line 21.
- [S578] Halton County, Ontario Death Record: William Dixon Pollock - died: [only listed the year] 1890; cause: old age - ill about 6 weeks; registered: 31 March 1890.