Sergeant-Major Hill | lindaseccaspina

Richmond Pioneer Followed Her Husband into Battle

3607 McBean-Smokehouse-This particular building has long been a village landmark as local legend connects it to Maria Hill Taylor– read more here.

Mrs. Andrew Taylor who once lived in Richmond, was a remarkable woman in her way. In a story about Richmond written in 1878 or 1879 the writer said: “The only person now living in the village who was a member of the original colony of 1818 is a Mrs. Andrew Taylor, at that time wife of Sergeant-Major Hill, several times above-mentioned. She is now in her 88th year, but in possession of all her faculties to a very remarkable degree, both mental and physical, except that she is a partial cripple from the effects of being run over by a wagon of the army train during the retreat after one of the engagements in the Western Peninsula in 1813″.

Her husband belonged to the 99th regiment, which was sent west, and those who had wives were obliged by general orders to leave them behind. She, however, disregarded the order, and followed her husband’s regiment all through two campaigns, and was present with him at a number of battles, including Niagara. Chippewa and Queenston. She is an Englishwoman by birth, having come to Canada in 1799, and is a remarkable specimen of the longevity and physical and mental vigour inherent in Canadian pioneers.”

Though it will be seen from the above account that Richmond has been for many years on the declining grade, and though it has long ago reached that stage when it fails to impart an interest to the traveller or stranger, through any merits of existing prosperity or commercial Importance; yet its early associations, the causes which gave it birth, and the circumstances and influences connected with its first settlement and subsequent development, will always impart to it an historical Interest which will last, even should the spot which now knows its return again to the forest, and even should its location become as much a matter of conjecture as that of the Tower of Babel or the Holy Sepulchre. Near the Capital.

Just now those associations, together with the fact that it is connected with the Capital by a most excellent road, passing through a country which is for the major portion of the 21 miles of an exceptionally fine character, combine to make it a favourite among the many places of resort in and about Ottawa, and as such it is liberally patronized by visitors to the Capital, as well as by the citizens themselves.

Mrs. Taylor (or Mrs Hill) was a very large woman, so large that when she rode to Ottawa in a sleigh in winter she occupied a whole seat to herself in the rear. She was known as a “most capable” person. Her hotel was always well kept and scrupulously clean.