"James Hurren of the Centre Road held the first deed to this lot, dated August 11, 1857; the same day that William Hurren and William Stewart received their deeds for halves of Lot 8. However, for about 11 years before then, Edward (Ned) McCarthy had been clearing and working on Lot 9 and, in 1850, had built a 1 1/2 storey house.

In the early '1860's, and perhaps earlier, the farm was occupied by Francis and Harriet Hurren (both born about 1829) and their children, Lila and John. Francis' parents, William (born about 1809) and Charlotte also lived there. This Francis Hurren should not be confused with James' son, Francis, an infant at the time.

David Anderson bought the property in 1866 and sold to William H. Forsyth in 1869. The initial "H" must have been an error, since it was William A. Forsyth who negotiated with the Credit Valley Railway when they took a bite out of the north corner of the lot; and William A. who in 1877, sold to William Forsyth who had been a tenant most of the time since the Hurren ownership. This latter William was the Baptist minister from 1860 to 1869 (see Lot 9, N.W., Conc. 13, re Forsyth).

The Rev. William Forsyth was married twice. A known daughter, Margaret (Mrs. John Wingrove) was born in 1850 and is presumed to have been a sister to "Joseph (1852-1865), son of William and Amelia",.. buried in the Baptist Cemetery. The second wife was Mary Wingrove (daughter of Thomas). She had two sons, Thomas and Albert. The Rev. William died in 1878 and, in 1880, his estate sold the farm to Richard Nelson Moore. In 1890, it passed on to Richard Tief (Taafe) who was married to Margaret Ann Cartwright, a neighbour. They had no children, and continued to live there until selling to George F. Smith in 1919. Mr. Tief had been a Township councillor for 4 years, 1916-1919.

Lot 10, southeast, Concession 13 Brock Grant
. ..
A small, weathered, frame house once stood near the road, at the east corner of the farm. The family built it about 1880, -for their daughter, Mary, after the death of her husband, Rev. William Forsyth. It was a pretty, little house surrounded by lilacs and trees. Mary had $1,000 which, invested at 6%, provided a comfortable living for herself and two tiny sons, Thomas and Albert Forsyth. What a difference a century makes! The house remained on the site about 30 years. Betsy Laking, daughter of .Joseph, with her husband, Oscar Hood, and son, Mervin lived there for a time in the early 1900's.

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           LOT 4, CONC. 1. BY Mrs. William K. Dunham

 

     Lot 4/1 passed from the Crown Patentee to John P. Fisher who bought the south half in 1853.  It was then owned by three or four absentee owners.  Mr Fisher died the following year and his five children:  Edward, John, Charles, Emile FY and Sarah inherited one fifth each.

      The Rev. William Forsyth (1815-1878) bought the south half of lot 4/1 in 1854.  He was born in Dyke Parish, Elgin County, Scotland, of a wealthy family, and had been a lawyer in England, but after coming to West Flamboro he became a Baptist minister.  He married twice, Mary Winger (Wingrove), and Amelia Templeman, and had fifteen children:  Amelia, Janet, William A., James, Mary Ann, John G., Margaret, Joseph, Jesse and six others who died young.  James and Jesse worked the farm for a while, then sold to Benoni Mannen Jr.  Charles James from Beverly lived there for a while, but Louis Pevec and Mr Piwtorah now owns this 100 acres.

     The north half of lot 4/1 was bought in 1814 by Benjamin G. Baker but nothing is known of him except that he died in 1844.  Matthias Smith bought this 100 acres in 1846 and lived there until his death.  His first wife, Jane Elizabeth Vandecar died in 1852.   He had ten children:  Ruth, Joseph, Lewis, twins Mary and Ellen, Andrew, Frances, Franklin, Elizabeth, and Emerson.  Later owners were Mr Cudmore and George Webb, the present owner. "