![\"\"](\"http:\/\/actonclan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Maria-RobertActon-copy1-1024x517.jpg\")
<\/a>Maria and Robert Acton<\/p><\/div>\n
During the 1850’s the railway line from Montreal reached Smith Falls, then\u00a0 continued on to Toronto, and finally reached Guelph in western Upper Canada. From Guelph, a wagon road ran north to Mount Forest on the edge of Grey County near the newly opened land called the Queen’s Bush.
\nIn July of 1859 Robert J. married Maria Holliday and soon moved with her
\nand her entire family to settle some of this new land near Mount Forest, Normanby Township. By 1861 Robert J and his family appear on the census for Normanby Township, Grey County,Upper Canada.<\/p>\n
Robert J. settled on Concession 2\u00a0 Lot 60 and his father-in-law George Holliday settled on Concession 2 Lot 64. This is about 3 miles by road from Mount Forest.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/actonclan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/MVC-004F-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a>The original Acton homestead, still in the Holliday Family<\/p><\/div>\n
The Township of Normanby, named after the British nobleman of
\nthat name, lies at the S. W. corner of Grey County,
\nhaving the Township of Bentinck on the North, Egremont on the
\nEast, the Township of Minto (in Wellington County) on the South,
\nthe Township of Howic (in Huron County) at the S. W. corner, and Carrick
\n(in Bruce County) on the West.
\nAt the time, Normanby was considered to be one of the best townships
\nin the County, one of the newest, and by the census of 1861 the most populous.
\nGarafraxa Road (forming Normanby’s Eastern boundary) was surveyed in 1841.
\nAt that time only one parallel Concession on each side was laid out, but in 1845,
\na second and third tier of lots were laid off on each side.
\nThese constitute what may be called the “Old Survey” in Normanby and other townships.
\nThe front lots were given in 50-acre “grants” to actual settlers, and the road soon
\nbegan to be lined with a thin fringe of settlements.\u00a0 In 1851 (or early 1852)
\nthe survey was finished.\u00a0 The “New Survey” lots were\u00a0 first offered for sale
\nby the Government in 1856. \u00a0For a year or two before that date, however, there
\nhad been a great influx of German immigrants, filling up Carrick, and parts of Normanby,
\nBrant and Bentinck.
\nAn early description of the area stated: “The Saugeen River, in its passage from Mount Forest to Hanover, divides the township diagonally into rather unequal parts, the N. E. being the larger. The part S.W. of the river is the finest part of the township, and is chiefly in the hands of the Dutch.\u00a0 While there are some beautiful lands at different points on the Garafraxa Road, the Eastern part of the township has a considerable amount of swampy and gravelly land. The prevailing soil in Normanby is clay”.<\/p>\n
In 1861, Population was 3,963 persons; of which 708 were from Ireland and 628 were Dutch or German.
\nThere were 18 schools with 416 pupils.
\nCrops raised:\u00a0 Fall wheat, 1,902 bushels; Spring Wheat, 78,378 bushels;
\nBarley, 3,448 bushels; Pease, 8,261 bushels; Oats, 39,160 bushels;
\nPotatoes, 37,905 bushels; Turnips, 171,360 bushels;
\nHay, 1,862 tons; Maple Sugar; 14,694 lbs; Wool, 3,921 lbs.;
\nButter, 62,062 lbs.; Cheese, 865 lbs.; Pork, 830 brls.<\/p>\n
Robert J. lived here for most of the rest of his life.
\nHis last years were spent living with his daughter Sarah Emily and her husband George Whetham in Toronto, where Robert died.
\nRobert, Maria, Sarah and George share a headstone in the Mount Forest cemetary.<\/p>\n
There are no Actons living in Mount Forest today.
\nThere are however Hollidays, Kirks, Lamonts and Whethams.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/actonclan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/MVC-003F.jpg\")
<\/a>Gravestone Mount Forest Cemetery<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
During the 1850’s the railway line from Montreal reached Smith Falls, then\u00a0 continued on to Toronto, and finally reached Guelph in western Upper Canada. From Guelph, a wagon road ran north to Mount Forest on the edge of Grey … Continue reading