Algonquin Highlands Heritage Map

Hugh McPhail

Settler of township lots: Lot 24, Conc. 5, Stanhope

Location: Map point is the approximate location within irregular waterfront 29 acre Lot 24, Conc. 5  running north from Maple Lake off the east side of Dawson Road.

Land acquisition: 

  • Lot 24, Conc. 5: 1883 Patent from The Crown. Ontario Land Parcel Register - Stanhope ( Image 178).

Other land:

  • Lot 24, Conc. 6: 1873 Patent from The Crown (46 acres). Ontario Land Parcel Register - Stanhope (Image 122).
  • Lot 23, Conc. 6 (south 46 acres): 1873 Patent from The Crown; 1904 to Duncan McPhail. Ontario Land Parcel Register - Stanhope (Image 116).

Dates of residency:

  • 1881 Census of Canada, Stanhope: Hugh & Sarah McPhail with 2 children at Lots 24, Conc. 5 & 6
  • 1883 Death of Wife Sarah Jane Wessells (1820–1883) Maple Lake
  • 1883 Stanhope Voters List, Legislative Assembly only: Hugh McPhail, Maple Lake, Lots 23 & 25, Conc. 6 & Lot 25, Conc. 5
  • 1899 Stanhope Directory: Lot 24, Conc. 6. Son Duncan McPhail was listed at Lot 26, Conc. 5.
  • 1890 Stanhope Voters List: Hugh McPhail, no location; H. A. McPhail, owner, Lot 24, Conc. 5 & Lots 23 & 24, Conc. 6
  • 1901 Census of Canada, Stanhope: Hugh McPhail with son Duncan at Lots 24, Conc. 5 & 6
  • 1903 Business Directory, Stanhope: Hugh McPhail, Winston, Lot 24, Conc. 6
  • 1903 Stanhope Voters List: Hugh McPhail, farmer, Lots 23 & 24, Conc. 6
  • 1908 Death: Lot 29, Conc. 6, Stanhope, owned by Duncan McPhail, his son

Other residents:

  • 1861 Agricultural Census Minden and Stanhope: James Melvin 100 acres

Interesting facts:

Hugh McPhail, an Episcopalian Methodist and lay preacher preferred to settle in an already established neighbourhood. He moved to Lot 23, Conc. VI on the Parish Line with a family of three. Source: Fragments of a Dream by Leopolda z L. Dobrzensky. Published by the Municipality of Dysart 1985. pg. 198

In 1895, Hugh McPhail was the leader of the 22 Methodists at Maple Lake. McPhail was on the 1900 committee that merged the Maple Lake Church with the 21 member congregation at Pine Lake Church, both of which met in school houses, to build the frame Maple Lake Church at Clarke’s Corners. Source: In Quest of Yesterday by Nila Reynolds. Published by The Provisional County of Haliburton, Minden, Ontario 1973 pg.  326

The road [to John Billings' Blagdon Hill] was blazed out by Billings and later followed by the various lumber firms who had limits around Hawk Lake. The first road to the area cut off near St. Peter's church at the Owen Wessel place, running between the hills west of the present right of way, and crossing the McPhail farm. Source: Ibid. pg. 317

Preceding landowner: The Crown

Succeeding landowner:

  • Lot 24, Conc. 5:
    - 1904 Isaac Wesley Boice
    - 1916 Richard Henry Dawson for $175
    - 1923 Dawson family
  • Lot 24, Conc. 6, North 50 acres:
    - 1886 Charles Wesley McPhail
    - 1894 William Liscombe for $150
    - 189? Peter Frederick Dawson
    - 1902 Hiram Barry
    - 1906 Harry Barry: 1911 Stanhope Post Officer List at Lots 24, Conc. 6 & 7, Stanhope
    - 1917 Milton L. Dawson: 19129 Stanhope Post Officer List at Lots 24, Conc. 6 & 7, Stanhope
  • Lot 24, Conc. 6, South 50 acres:
    - 1905 Joseph Fader Jr
    - 1915 Laura Fader (wife)
    - 1943 Leslie J. Coulter

Link to Settlers of Algonquin Highlands family tree

  • Hugh McPhail, b.15 Sep 1818, Scotland d. 5 Feb 1908, Stanhope, (Age 89 years). COD: Old age. Buried: Maple Lake Cemetery
  • Family 1: Sarah Jane Wessels, b. 20 Jul 1820, Northumberland, Ontario, d. 21 Jan 1883, Maple Lake, (Age 62 years)
    1. Annie McPhail, b. 24 Mar 1838, Northumberland, d. 25 Jan 1925, Peterborough, (Age 86 years) Married Allan Horsley
    2. Eleanor McPhail, b. 04 Mar 1841, d. 13 Sep 1904  (Age 63 years)
    3. Margaret McPhail, b. 26 Jan 1844, d. 26 Jun 1845  (Age 1 years)
    4. Catherine "Kate" Sarah McPhail,  b. 05 Jun 1846, Northumberland, d. 03 Oct 1902, Stanhope, (Age 56 years) Married: William B. Jones
    5. John McPhail, b. 8 Aug 1848, Northumberland, d. 10 Mar 1916, Stanhope, (Age 67 years)
    6. Mary McPhail, b. 16 Dec 1851, Northumberland, d. 06 May 1891, Stanhope, Age 39 years) Married: Durlen Demill Redner
    7. Elizabeth "Libby" Ann McPhail, b. 18 Oct 1856,Northumberland, d. 6 Mar 1933, Dysart, (Age 76 years) Married: Emerson Burleigh Austin
    8. Duncan McPhail, b. 7 Dec 1858, Northumberland, d. 2 Apr 1907, Stanhope, Age 48 years)
    9. Wesley Charles McPhail, b. 18 Sep 1859, Northumberland
    10. Hugh Alfred McPhail, b. 27 Jul 1868, Northumberland, d. 26 Oct 1943, Stanhope, (Age 75 years)
  • Wife 2: Catherine Ann DeLong, b. Abt 1822, Canada. Married 13 Jul 1892  Minden

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