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Alexander Burn
Dr. Robert Scott
Elizabeth Chalmers
David Burn
Helen Scott
(1758-)

William Scott H. Burn
(1797-1851)

 

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Spouses/Children:
Mary Field

William Scott H. Burn

  • Born: 8 Mar 1797, Beaver Hall Edinburgh Scotland
  • Marriage: Mary Field on 14 Jul 1830 in St. George's Church, Bloomsbury, London, England
  • Died: 28 Sep 1851, Hamilton Ontario Canada aged 54
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bullet  General Notes:

He came to Canada from Scotland in 1832 and built the historic "Chedoke House" on 18 acres overlooking the downtown in Hamilton, Ontario in 1837. William Scott Burn at the time was in the business of purchasing wheat.

One of the letters he wrote in 1836 to his father, David Burn of 6 Huntly Street Canonmills, Edinburgh, is as follows;

" Hamilton, U. Can.,
10 April 1836.
My Dear Father:

Your and Davie's letters of 10 December only reached me the end of last month owing to their having again gone by Halifax - I wish you would manage to get your letters sent by way of New York as I would get them in less than half the time, and for half the postage - which is of less moment.

I am very uneasy my Dearest Father about the fall which you have had and the long confinement consequent upon it - I do trust that you have quite recovered and that you have written to me frequently to say so - for I am very anxious - Pray do write me often, and not such short letters, but let me know my Dearest father all your plans.

Here business is going on as well as I could possibly expect under all the circumstances - and my arrangements have all told so well that I have a complete power of selection - my neighbours though of old standing in the country being able to buy only what I have refused - This surprised and chagrins them not a little - and the more so that my plan being laid open to them at the beginning they ought to have foreseen the effect, and that I manage to secure all the fine wheat without raising the price of the average qualities, which alone they have hitherto dealt in. I have every reason to think that wheat purchasing will continue a profitable branch - and also that from what I have written to London I shall get consignments, so that in time I might be able to make out a general commission business.

I have purchased and partly paid for about eighteen acres of ground upon the top of the mountain above this town and made a contract for a frame building 18 x 28 ft. which will shelter us during the summer until we get a house put up and will afterwards answer for a stable and barn. For the ground I pay 100 pounds cash - The situation is most beautiful, and the views as magnificent as I have almost ever seen - yet nobody thought of going there till I purchased, when the very next week the Presbyterian Clergyman bought about 27 acres next to mine but not nearly so beautiful or well situated for which he pays 237.10 pounds, so that mine is a good purchase. The situation will make it a very lovely place with a little time and trouble - and then my Dearest father I hope to see you with my little ones on your knee - if fortune should not favour me so far as to offer you a home in our own country.

I thank God that we are all well and have continued so during the winter - My Mary holds out famously indeed I never saw her health better - though we shall have a little Canadian sometime before next winter - May heaven preserve and help her - she is well worthy of it. Our two little ones grow and thrive famously - I was quite struck and delighted yesterday when I went home to dinner to see our little Boy walking in the passage with hold only of his sister's hand. He had begun to walk in this way only yesterday and I hope will soon run alone - The little things looked so happy.

We have had rather a singular winter - only about three weeks sleighing and the remainder very changeable. The roads in consequence have been horrible and retarded business much. I have got a Pony and a light pleasure wagon in which I can drive out my whole family - the whole set out cost only 30 pounds - of which the new London saddle, bridle and harness come to over half. In some places the mud is so deep on the roads that I have it up to my feet as I sat on horseback - but a few months will amend that. The building which I propose to up will cost me about 25 pounds. It is astonishing that shelter can be procured so cheaply with rents so high as they are. The saving on fuel alone would be considerable the interest of money expended on ground and buildings on my little place: and when there, with my pigs and poultry, our expenses will be very very little. I bought the two hind quarters of a deer about a fortnight ago at about 6S. Stirling - they weighed 40 lbs. - poultry is cheap and for a good fowl - but then one can get them occasionally. The wild geese are very fine.

Do pray my Dear Father you and Davis will write often. My kindest love to Davis - and you ever

Your most affectionate

(signed) W. Scott H. Burn

If you will put your Newspapers in the Post Office within a week after publication and pay a penny with each, I shall get them free of expense - and will be a great comfort."


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William married Mary Field, daughter of Isaac Field and Unknown, on 14 Jul 1830 in St. George's Church, Bloomsbury, London, England.




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