Settler of township lots: Lots 29 & 30, Conc. 3, Stanhope

Location: Map point is the approximate location within the 100 acre Lot 30, Conc. 3 on the west side of 30th Line Road.

Land acquisition: 

• 1873 These 101 + 100 acre lots were registered as a Free Grant through the Free Grant and Homestead Act of 1868 under the locatee name Thomas Sisson.
• 1873 Lands Liable to Taxation: Township of Stanhope Patent Register - 101 & 100 acres to Thomas Sisson.
• 1873 Patent from The Crown. Ontario Land Parcel Register - Stanhope (Images 469 & 471)
• 1901 Residence: Guilford, Harburn and Bruton, Peterborough (east/est), Marital Status: Widowed; Relation to Head of House: Father-in-law

Other land: Lot 19, Conc. 1, Stanhope: 1895 from Joseph Beatty B&S for $15

Dates of residency:

• 1881 Census of Canada, Stanhope:
  - Lot 29, Conc. 3: Thomas Sisson & sons Albert & Alfred 
  - Lot 30, Conc. 3: Jane Sisson (wife) 
• 1883 called for mail in Carnarvon
• 1883 Stanhope Voters List: Thomas Sissin, owner, Lots 29 & 30, Conc. 3
• 1907 Death: Haliburton

Other residents: 1911 Stanhope Post Office List: Stephen Sisson (son, Thomas died in 1907), Carnarvon Lot 19, Conc.1

Interesting facts:

In the spring of 1869, Thomas Sisson and his eldest son, Albert, came north to clear a few acres near the 30th line between Peterson Road and the present United Church, in Stanhope Township. In the fall they built a log cabin, without windows or doors, before returning to Cavan. Just before the spring breakup in 1870, the family loaded their household goods on a sleigh and travelled up the lakes on the ice accompanied by their cows, sheep and chickens. It was thus an unmarried daughter, Agnes, was able to bring north her most prized possession, a bureau constructed by a cabinet maker in cavan, with 2 small drawers and 3 large ones; it was a twin to one already brought north by her sister, Mrs. Richard Sisson. One of Tom Sisson's first acts on reaching his new homestead was to chop a hole in the frozen earth and plant an apple tree and briar rose from Cavan. The cabin is long gone but the roses still bloom every spring. Source: In Quest of Yesterday by Nila Reynolds. Published by The Provisional County of Haliburton, Minden, Ontario 1973. pg 152

In the spring of 1872, Tom Sisson, his son Albert, and 7 year old Stephen, paddled to Boshkung for seed potatoes from the Barnums, then living near the Peterson. Unloading their cargo below the present Maple Lake Bridge, Tom Sisson and Albert slung the  heavy sacks over their shoulders and started up the wooded trail. Since Stephen was familiar with the route, he was left to follow at his own pace so some time elapsed before he was missed. A search that lasted two weeks, but Stephen Sisson was never seen or heard of again. Jack Henderson of West Guilford, who is familiar with the terrain, suggests that the might have stumbled into quicksand which occurs not far from the landing. Agnes Sisson (daughter of Thomas Sisson), met her husband, Eugene Packard, while searching for her lost brother. They married three years later and build a log home beside the river. Source: In Quest of Yesterday by Nila Reynolds. Published by The Provisional County of Haliburton, Minden, Ontario 1973. pgs 152-153

The years before 1885 saw a steady influx of homesteaders to West Guilford, including Thomas Sisson (moved from Stanhope). Source: In Quest of Yesterday by Nila Reynolds. Published by The Provisional County of Haliburton, Minden, Ontario 1973. pg 155

Preceding landowner: The Crown

Succeeding landowner:

• Lots 29 and 30, Conc. 3: 1880 Edmond Boyd-north half of both lots for $250 each
• Lot 29, Conc. 3:
  - 1901 Henry Crarey from Mun. Stanhope
  - 1914 Adam Henry Sawyer all 100 acres of Lot 29; listed at this lot on the 1911 Stanhope Voters List
  - 1957 Charles Alfred Sawyer
• Lot 30, Conc. 3:
  - 1888 Durlan Demill South half
  - 1944 Ross Henderson North half

Link to Settlers of Algonquin Highlands family tree

• Thomas Sisson, b. 13 Mar 1821, England d. 09 Nov 1907, Haliburton, (Age 86 years). COD: Old Age Arth Heart Failure
• Jane Wilkinson, b. 12 Apr 1819, England d. 12 Jan 1891, Durham, Ontario, (Age 71 years)
• Children:
  1. Mary Sisson, b. 12 Feb 1847, Durham, Ontario, d. 26 Mar 1917, West Guilford,   (Age 70 years)
  2. Ann Sisson, b. 07 Oct 1848, Durham, Ontario,   d. 1931, Haliburton, (Age 82 years)  
  3. Thomas Sisson, b. 29 Aug 1849, Durham, Ontario,  d. 05 Aug 1850, Durham, Ontario, (Age 0 years) 
  4. Agnes Sisson, b. Abt 1850, Ontario, d. 22 Mar 1931, Haliburton,(Age ~ 81 years)  
  5. Margaret Jane Sisson, b. 19 Jul 1856, Ontario, d. 08 Feb 1928, Haliburton, (Age 71 years)
  6. William Albert Sisson, b. 1858, Ontario, d. 04 Jul 1925, Northumberland, Ontario,(Age 67 years)
  7. Isabella Sisson, b. 25 Aug 1860, Durham, Ontario, d. 24 May 1914, Stanhope,  (Age 53 years)
  8. Stephen Sisson, b.1867, Durham, Ontario