Rowsom Family

The Rowsom Farm had been in the family for over ninety years. It was drawn from the government by a family of Bolton’s. The original seal is in the possession of Mr. McCelland, the present owner.

The Rowsom family moved from Wiltsetown, near Athens, where two of their children were born. For the first years they lived in the old house near the Morrison lane on the Howard Road. In fact, the remainder of the family were born in this house, and the cellar is still in evidence. This old house was at one time a tavern.

Henry Rowsom was one of five sons who, with a widowed mother, came from Ireland. In his early day e followed the occupation of a carpenter and builder. His wife, Maria Horton, was born near New Dublin, the daughter of Squire Horton, also a native of Ireland. It is said he, Squire Horton, often acted as a doctor, setting broken bones etc. Two of his sons were lawyers and it is said Mrs. Rowsom rode horseback into Brockville leading an extra horse to bring her brother home for weekends while he was studying there. These two men practised law, one in St. Thomas and one in London, going there when these cities were just hamlets. A park in St. Thomas is called Horton Park, since he donated the land. These men were half brothers of the late Dr. Horton, of Brockville, Dr. Horton practised in Lyn for some years.

The present Rowsom home was built about seventy years ago, at a cost of about $3000. There are beams in the cellar large enough to hold up an apartment house, Plans for the house were drawn up by a Mr. McNish, uncle of Harris McNish. As the owner of the house was a carpenter, the contractors were watched pretty closely.

When the oldest son, Erastus, was married, the present Hudson house was built for him. He lived there for some years, then moved to a farm on the front road, now occupied by Firman Eyre.

When the second son, Harry, was married, the farm was bought back from Erastus for him. His wife was Floreence Sherwood, who died when her daughter was born. This child married Dr. Kilgore of Toronto. Harry did not stay long there, and the farm was sold, Horton Rowsom retaining the back fifty acres. The farm remained in his possession until 1931, when it was sold to the present owner, Mr. Albert McClelland.

The piece of land was sold at the death of Harris wife, to Andrew Booth, who sold it to Mr. Moore and then to Joseph Hudson. At his death it was left to Arthur Hudson and is now occupied by his son Grant Hudson.

For years a plot of ground on almost the best field of the farm was reserved as a cemetery. Many of the Bolton’s and two of the Rowsom babies were buried there. They were marked by native boulders only, and now all traces of the plot have disappeared.

(author unknown, date written unknown)