It began innocently with finding this great article called:
To Hoods Corners by Way of Watsons Corners.
By Ed Somers 1985 edited 2005
Where, on the map, is Hoods Corners? Watson’s Corners is on the map. Both of these places are located in Ontario. To be even more specific they are in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County in Ontario, just a little to the southwest of Ottawa. It takes about one and one half hours to drive from the Ottawa airport. At least that is how long it took me to drive back from Hoods Corners after I had found the place.
Author’s Note–So then I became hooked and started to do research about this forgotten hamlet is north of Watson’s Corners. It is a little known place settled by families that arrived in Canada on the ship *”Prompt” and settled in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, in the area known as Hood Corners.
The came from Perth by wagon, arriving on September 15th; and then on to “Lanark” which they so named on their arrival on September 30, 1820. Lots were drawn for the acreage, the Hood land being some six miles to the west. The area around Lanark abounds with natural lakes, some swamps and much granite out-croppings on the hillsides — a difficult place indeed for these early settlers to establish a new home.
A shipboard romance developed while crossing the ocean between Will Hood and Martha Park and they were later married. Martha Park came to Canada from Scotland on the “Prompt” in the company of her 3 brothers and their families–William, John and David.Will Hood had been educated in the University of Glasgow, and so became the teacher at Hood’s Corners School in the new world.
*Hood’s School– Photos–see in historical section for info- Photos from-Mary Beth Wylie-(daughter of Eileen Paul, granddaughter of Ray and Minnie Pretty Paul and so on… )
Will and Martha Hood had 10 children, 4 girls and 6 boys. Most of their children settled in the western part of the Province of Ontario, where they found much better agricultural opportunities.
That first winter at Dalhousie Township, the school teacher hired and brought over by the name of George Richmond, died when a tree fell on him. He was the first death in the Dalhousie settlement (“The Lanark Society Settlers” by Carol Bennett p. 16). This is probably the teaching position that William Hood took over. It has been said that William had had two years of college before emigrating to Canada. The school house was located at an intersection called Hood’s Corner. The school is still standing today, but is a private residence. The Common School Report for 1827 (From the Journal of Assembly of Upper Canada – 1928) shows that William Hood was one of six teachers in Dalhousie Township. William Hood had 12 boys and 10 girls in his classroom.
The soil in Dalhousie Township was quite rocky, causing many of the original emigrants, and many of the first generation children, to relocate to western Ontario where the soil was better. William and Martha did not leave, probably because William had his teaching pay (whatever he could collect in money or other things such as food) besides his farm to supplement his income. However some stayed and have descendants in the area today. The 2 Hood girls married Hill brothers and moved to Salt Lake City.
There is a hill called Jack Hill on the farther side of Hood’s Corners (where the school and the home of William Hood still exists) from Watson’s Corners. The Jack family lost their first home to fire. Apparently they also lost their important papers as well.
Mary Jack–12 Jul 1868 – 11 Nov 1963
WILLIAM JACK and MARY HOOD
Of Dalhousie Township, Lanark County.
In 1820, William JACK and his wife, Mary HOOD, who were married on the 30th of January 1811, in Barony, Lanark, Scotland; along with James HOOD and his second wife, Margaret BISLEN, and other members of the Jack & Hood families arrived in Canada on the ship “Prompt” and settled in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, in the area known as Hood Corners.
William JACK relinquished his land in Lanark County and resettled in Innisfil Township, Simcoe County.
John White JACK, 2nd son of William and Mary married Jane HOOD, daughter of James Hood and his 1st wife, Elizabeth Jones; was Velda Leask’s great grandfather.
Would appreciate being in contact with other descendants of these families to share information.
George Leask – e-mail – geoval@direct.ca
November 17, 2000
Biography for William Hood and Martha Park
Received from: Jan Darbhamulla
Photo from Sandwalk: A Mormon Tale
William Hood was born July 6, 1799 at Barony Parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the oldest (and only surviving) son of James Hood. His mother, Elizabeth Jones, died when William was a young child, and so his father eventually remarried. William left from Greenock, Scotland with his family on July 4, 1820 and sailed on the Prompt for Canada. It has been said that he met his future wife, Martha Park, on board this ship and that theirs was a shipboard romance, but there is no documentation to support that Martha came to Canada at that same time. Martha was born Dec. 31, 1799 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the daughter of James Park and Marion Allen. Martha’s father did come to Dalhousie Township, Lanark County early on, but so did several other people with the same name.
That first winter at Dalhousie Township, the school teacher hired and brought over by the name of George Richmond, died when a tree fell on him. His was the first death in the Dalhousie settlement (“The Lanark Society Settlers” by Carol Bennett p. 16). I believe that this is the teaching position that William Hood took over. William had had two years of college before emigrating to Scotland. The school house was located at an intersection called Hood’s Corner. The school is still standing today, but is a private residence. The Common School Report for 1827 (From the Journal of Assembly of Upper Canada – 1828) shows WIlliam Hood as one of six teachers in Dalhousie Township. William had 12 boys and 10 girls in his classroom.
William and Martha had a large family of ten children, although many of their children moved to western Ontario where the land was better for farming. The soil in Dalhousie Township was quite rocky, and making a living as a farmer proved to be difficult. Their oldest child was Marion who was born in 1826. Marion married John Baird and is buried at Hopetown Cemetery, Lanark County. James came next, born in February 1828. James moved to western Ontario and lived in several counties, but is buried at Harriston Cemetery, Minto Township, Wellington County. Elizabeth, born May 1, 1830, married Robert Ferguson and moved to Hay Township, Huron County. Martha married William Rodger on Apr. 22, 1856. She died on Feb. 20, 1917. William, born Aug. 5, 1834, was the first son to move to western Ontario. Per his diary, on his way west he stopped at Simcoe County to visit his grandfather James Hood. He also stopped at his aunt’s to visit Isabella who was not expected to live, plus other relatives in the area, before settling in Howick Township, Huron County. William died Apr. 1, 1922 and is buried at Clifford Cemetery, Huron County. Margaret, born in 1836, married Archibald Penman, and is buried at St. Andrew’s Cemetery at Watson’s Corner, Lanark County. Andrew, born in November 1837, also moved to Howick Township, Huron County, and lived and worked there as a farmer until 1902. Several of Andrew’s children had moved to North Dakota, so Andrew, his wife, and two youngest children also relocated to North Dakota, where Andrew and his wife, Ann Scott, ran a boarding house in Devil’s Lake. Even though he died in North Dakota, Andrew and his wife are buried, per their request, at Harriston Cemetery, Minto Township, Wellington County. John, born in 1841, lived in many Ontario counties, but is buried at Huntsville, Chaffey Township, Muskoka District. Gemmill, born two years after John, died when he was only twenty. He had moved to Howick Township, Huron County, and died when a tree fell on him. David, the youngest child, born in 1846, also moved to western Ontario, but eventually settled in Duluth, Minnesota, where he was a successful builder.
William and Martha lived their remaining lives in Dalhousie Township, and are buried at St. Andrew’s Cemetery, Watson’s Corner, plot 187, Lanark County, Ontari
Biography for James Hood
Received from K Jan Darbhamulla
James Hood and his family emigrated to Canada in 1820 aboard the Prompt. In “The Lanark Society Settlers” by Carol Bennett, p. 51, it is written that “A story handed down says that the Prompt was formerly a battleship which had been sunk during the Napoleonic war and later raised and used as an emigrant ship.”
Not a lot is known about James Hood’s early years as a boy. It is documented that James (of Bridgeton) Hood was born in Kelso, Roxburgshire, Scotland in April 1775/76. His parents were William Hood and Hannah Clarke/Clerk. William worked as a weaver and when James was still a young boy, sometime after 1779, the family relocated to the Glasgow area.
James married his first wife, Elizabeth Jones/Jonnes in May 1798 in Bridgeton, Barony Parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Their first child, William, was born July 6, 1799. He would end up to be the only surviving son that James had. William eventually married Martha Park and lived the rest of his life in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario. William died in Feb. 1874, and he and Martha are buried at St. Andrew’s Cemetery, Watson’s Corner. Jane came next. She married John Whyte/White Jack, her cousin, and it is reported that she died in 1862 in Simcoe County, Ontario. Elizabeth was born next, in 1801. Her first husband’s last name was Graham. It is not known if he was related to Dr. William Hood’s wife, Jean Graham. After his death, Elizabeth married WIlliam Allan, and also died in Simcoe County, Ontario in August 1875. A girl named Hannah may have been the next child born, but nothing is known about her except for her birth date, so she may have died while still very young. Another daughter, Jean, may also have died young, one year later in 1803. Elizabeth Jones also died during this same time, so her death may be linked to childbirth complications.
Almost five years later James married Margaret Bisland/Besland in October or November of 1808, again at Bridgeton, Barony Parish. Nothing is known about the early years of either of James Hood’s wives. James and Margaret went on to have a large family. Their first child was Jean, born in August 1809, who married her cousin James Jack. They are buried at Tiverton Cemetery, Bruce Township, Bruce County, Ontario. Agnes was born next on March 4/5, 1811. She married Alexander Hill, Jr. Alexander eventually became an early Mormon and they were on that first wagon train to Salt Lake City. Agnes died at Mill Creek, Utah. It is recorded that James Junior, born on Jan. 31, 1812, died in June of 1827 at the age of 15 in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County. He was mistaken for a deer or some sort of animal and shot to death. Decades later, a man on his deathbed confessed to this accidental killing. It has been said that becasue of the grief that James and Margaret suffered at James Jr.’s death, that the family did not want to stay in Dalhousie Township any longer, and that caused them to relocate to Simcoe County. Margaret came next, born on Nov. 24, 1813. Her first husband was her cousin Davidson Todd. After his early death, she married another cousin, James Graham Hood, son of Dr. WIlliam Hood and Jean Graham. Margaret was quite a bit older than her second husband, but he must have been quite fond of her, because he included her on his own headstone many years later after her death, even though she was buried at a different cemetery. Isobel was the next daughter, born in September 1814, but she seems to have died when she was just a toddler. Robert, their next son, died on September 20, 1820, not long after the family arrived in Lanark County, Ontario. He was about four years of age. A second Isabella/Isobel was the next chiild and she also married into the Hill family like her older sister. Isabella was the first child of James and Margaret to be born in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario. Her husband was Archibald Hill. Archibald also became an early Mormon, but Isabella died in Nebraska, while on the wagon train to Utah. Annie came next in 1823. She married Gilbert McArthur and died at Stayner, Simcoe County. Another daughter, Mary, died at 1 1/2 years of age in 1826. After Mary’s death, another Mary came along and she married a farmer who may have been named Edward Beecroft(?). She died in April 1910 at Nottawasaga Township, Simcoe County. The youngest child was Janet/Jennet who died not long after she had her first birthday in 1830.
It has been said that James was very active in the Disciple of Christ church in Simcoe County. Both James Hood and Margaret Bisland are buried at Creemore Cemetery, Notttawasaga Twp, Ont.
Biography for William Hood and Hannah Clark
Received from Jan Darbhamula
William Hood was born September 24, 1744 and christened September 30th in Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland. William was a weaver by trade, and married Hannah Clark/Clarke on November 25, 1769. Probably some time after 1779 the family moved from the borderlands (Scottish lands near the border of England) to the Glasgow region. William may have been buried on June 1, 1810 at Carlto-Ramshorn and Friars Cemetery, Lanarkshire County, Scotland. Nothing more is known about Hannah.
Their oldest child, Agnes, was born May 1770. Nothing is known about Agnes, except that she may have died in 1822 in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada.
Their second child, Isabella/Isobel, married John White/Whyte who died in the Battle of Waterloo. Isobel came to Canada on the Prompt in 1820, and eventually married again. Her second husband was William Duncan who had also come on the Prompt with his first wife, Philadelphia Stubberfield, and their children. William had been in the Battle of Waterloo and had survived without getting hurt. He was 6’6″, while his son James was a mere 6’2″. James also married a Hood, Margaret Hood, who was the daughter of Dr. William Hood and Jean Graham. The Duncan’s eventually moved to Simcoe County in the early 1830’s, and many from this line are buried there at Sixth Line Cemetery. A large group of people from the Dalhousie Township, Lanark County region moved to Simcoe County, Ontario. This group was called the Dalhousie Settlers, and are mentioned in the early pioneering history of Simcoe County. Many people found it very difficult to farm successfully in the rocky soil of the Dalhousie region, and so eventually moved to other places.
Their third child was Elizabeth who married a widower, John Todd. The John Todd family came to Canada on board the Prompt, and also moved to Simcoe County in the early 1830’s.
James was born next. His first wife was Elizabeth Jones. After Elizabeth died, James eventually married Margaret Bisland. The James Hood family came over on board the Prompt with the rest of the family. James and Margaret are buried at Creemore Cemetery, Simcoe County.
Next came Hannah. Nothing is known about her except for her christening date, so it is assumed that she died while still young.
The date of birth for the last two children, William and Mary, is confusing, and their exact birth years are not known for sure. William first studied theology, but later switched to medicine and became a doctor and stayed in the Glasgow area. He married Jean Graham, who may have been the daughter of a minister. After having five children, William and Jean died within days of each other during a major cholera outbreak in Glasgow. Their five children were left orphaned. Eventually these five children went to Simcoe County, to their Aunt Mary (Hood) Jack to finish raising. Three of these children married into her own family. The oldest child (of Dr. William Hood and Jean Graham), Joseph Gemmill Hood, married Isabella Jack. Hannah Graham Hood married William Jack Jr. Margaret Hood married James Duncan (as mentioned above). James Graham Hood married Margaret Hood, the daughter of James Hood and Margaret Bisland and the widow of Davidson Todd (from the John and Elizabeth [Hood] Todd line). The youngest child was Elizabeth Graham Hood who married Thomas Jack.
The final child (although maybe not the youngest) was Mary Hood who married William Jack and who also came with her husband and children on the Prompt. They eventually moved to Simcoe County.
Perth Courier, Sept. 15, 1876
To Manitoba—Mr. John Hood, Dalhousie, set out from here last Monday morning on his way to Manitoba whither he has gone on an inspection tour. If the country suits him, he intends selling his farm in Dalhousie and settling there.
*Prompt Ship-The British government then had the townships of Ramsay, Dalhousie, Lanark and North Sherbrooke surveyed and laid out for the immigrants. The village of Lanark was to be the grand stopping place for immigrants when they arrived. So early in the year of 1820 a ship was sent up called the Prompt and set sail from the Clyde in the month of April and after a journey of about three months they were landed at Lanark Village or rather where Lanark Village was supposed to be as it was then an unbroken wilderness. They suffered much and I have been told that the snow was on the ground before some of them got into their shanties. But as we did not come out until the following year I will confine my remarks principally to what took place under my own knowledge and what I have been told by my parents and others I can rely on.
The passengers of the Prompt remained in Perth until Sept. 30, 1820 when the government paid an installment of one third of their bonus money. Then they set out for their new home in Lanark Village in wagons. Near there, on a hill top overlooking the Clyde, they were deposited with their baggage and they located a short distance to the west of the present site of McDonald’s Corners. Prominent among the original members of the community were James Martin, William Barrett, Charles Bailey, James Watson, George Brown, Thomas Easton, George Easton, Edward Conroy, Peter Shields, John Donald, John Duncan, Andrew Park, James Park, John Todd, William Jack, James Hood, Alexander Watt, and Robert Forest.
| Aug 31 | Ship Prompt | Nairn | 4 July | Greenock | 370 settlers | to Geo. Ross (Larnark county settlers) |
Perth Courier, April 13, 1906
Mr. and Mrs. James Crosbie celebrated their Golden Wedding on the evening of the 28th ult. Mr. Crosbie is a native of Scotland. When a child, his parents came to America settling in Dalhousie where he has since resided. Mrs. Crosbie whose maiden name was Jane Richmond, was also a native of Scotland. She with her sister Isabella, orphans, aged respectively 12 and 10, came to live with their aunt near Middleville. Mr. and Mrs. Crosbie were united in marriage by Rev. James Geggie(?) in the manse at McDonald’s Corners and then took up residence at Isadore(?) where they have ever since resides, their industry and frugality gaining for them a beautiful home and every comfort in their declining years. On the evening of their anniversary they were surrounded by their children and grandchildren and a few acquaintances who, after partaking of a sumptuous repast, spent a very pleasant evening in music and dancing and well rendered recitations by the children, and games. The many and costly presents which they received testified to the love and esteem in which they are held. Their children are as follows: James, their eldest son and George their youngest son are still under the parental roof; Mrs. David Horn at Middleville and Mrs. Robert Horn at Hood’s. The whereabouts of their second son William are unknown. Mr. Crosbie will be 80 years old and Mrs. Crosbie will be 71 if spared until their respective birthdays.
*Hood’s School Info–Anyway, you posted some information about Hoods School ( by the way this school was just outside of Watson’s Corners at the corner of Sugar Bush Way and concession 3 – across from St James Church.) This school was attended by my mother and her siblings as well as her father and his siblings. The Paul family ( my mother’s family) still lives on Sugar Bush Way.
I thought you might like these pictures. One is of the school ( undated) the other self explanatory.
Thanks for letting me share.
Mary Beth Wylie
(daughter of Eileen Paul, granddaughter of Ray and Minnie Pretty Paul and so on… )
Biography for James Hood by Jan Darby
Easton, George – Private Burial Site – Lot 16W, Con 3, Dalhousie Township west of Hood.
Easton, Matthew George – Private Burial Site – Lot 15E, Con 4, Dalhousie Township, west of Hood.
St. James Church & Cemetery – Lot 16, Con. 3, Dalhousie Twp., at Hood, Ont
James HOOD and James PARK
Families – Lanark County.
HOOD: Descendants of James Hood, (b. 1776 Scotland) and his wife Elizabeth Jones (b. May 1798 Scotland), who settled in Lanark, Ont., in 1820. They arrived on the ship the Prompt.
Other surnames attached to this family are;
PARK, WAIT, FERGUSON, PENMAN, NOLAN, NAIRN, GALLAGHER and BALLANTINE.
PARK: Descendants of James Park, (b. 1766 in Scotland) and his wife Marion Allen (b. 1788 in Scotland) immigrated to Canada aboard the ship the Prompt in 1820.
Other surnames attached to this family are;
WALLACE, UPHERSTON, KNOX, CAMPBELL and PENMAN.
I’m interested in locating other researchers for these families. Willing to share information. Thanks.
Sue DeLuca-LeGresley – e-mail legresleydeluca@home.com
The Lanark Era
Lanark, Ontario, Canada14 Apr 1909, Wed • Page 5
When the Hood’s church was sold in 1971 the last service was held in September 1971 in honour of the pioneers.
I am including as well a picture from the 102 anniversary of the church. Sadly I no longer can identify all the people, although the faces I remember, the names I have forgotten. However my grandparents Ray and Minnie Paul are there with their neighbours and friends.
Mary Beth Wylie
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Tracey McNicol
Arthur and Winnie were my grandparents. The last name is McNicol. Their son, my father, was Ray McNicol and was a member of the O.P.P. not the Ottawa police. So great to read this story. Thank you for sharing !
lindaseccaspina 