Robert Colquhoun is my great-great-great-great grandfather on my paternal grandmother’s side. He came from Glasgow Scotland to New York in 1801 and then to Charlottenburg, Ontario (Glengarry Township) in 1803 where he settled and became a merchant and the local Indian Agent. Robert was one of four sons sent abroad by his father Walter Colquhoun Sr. Robert and his wife Elizabeth McNairn leased land along the waterfront of the St Lawrence River on what was called the Nutfield Tract Indian Reservation. When Robert died in 1828 he left 5 lots of land on the Nutfield Tract to his various sons.

Almost all of the Settlers in Glengarry Township were of Lowland Scottish descent – racial and religious segregation was considered when newcomers were settled. Most (unlike Robert) were British Loyalists who had left the Mohawk Valley. Loyalists were given “free grants” of land by the Crown for their loyalty in the American Revolution. Elizabeth was a DUE (Daughter of a United Empire Loyalist) and was also granted land for this status, despite the fact that women could not own property at this time. She was granted a lot in Reach Ontario, but I don’t think anyone in the family ever went there. Elizabeth was the daughter of John and Elizabeth McNairn and was apparently the first white baby born in this region.