Braddish Billings
Encyclopedia
Braddish Billings was an early settler in the Ottawa
area.
He was born in Ware, Massachusetts
in 1783, but moved to the Brockville
area with his family when he was 9. He later worked cutting down the white pine
along the Ottawa River
and transporting the logs down river. He served on the Bytown Mechanics' Institute
executive.
In 1812, Billings moved to the Ottawa area and settled on a farm south of the Rideau River
in what was then the Township of Gloucester
. He married Lamira Dow of Merrickville in 1813. The couple had a son, Elkanah Billings
, who became a naturalist.
In 1830, a bridge was built over the Rideau River near the Billings Farm to make it easier to transport produce into town.
Billings died in 1864 and is buried on the Billings Estate
which has been preserved as a historical site and museum. The Billings House, on the site, was built in 1829.
The area where Billings had his farm and the nearby bridge over the river are now known as Billings Bridge
.
The City of Ottawa owns and operates the former Billings family homestead as a museum and park located on over 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) in Alta Vista. The site tells the story of the five generations of Billings family members who lived on the site before the municipality assumed ownership. The museum runs numerous programs for families throughout the year and operates a tea service on the lawn in the back gardens from May through August.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
area.
He was born in Ware, Massachusetts
Ware, Massachusetts
Ware is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,707 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Ware....
in 1783, but moved to the Brockville
Brockville, Ontario
Brockville is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in the Thousand Islands region. Though it serves as the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Brockville is politically independent and is grouped with Leeds and Grenville for census purposes only.Known as the "City of the 1000...
area with his family when he was 9. He later worked cutting down the white pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
along the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
and transporting the logs down river. He served on the Bytown Mechanics' Institute
Bytown Mechanics' Institute
The Bytown Mechanics' Institute is an Upper Canada example of knowledge transfer organizations aimed at the grass roots. These institutions were Victorian and moralistic in tone and class oriented in structure which, in part, explains their failure...
executive.
In 1812, Billings moved to the Ottawa area and settled on a farm south of the Rideau River
Rideau River
thumb|Rapids on the Rideau River opposite [[Carleton University]].The Rideau River is a Southern Ontario river which flows north from Upper Rideau Lake and empties into the Ottawa River at Rideau Falls in Ottawa, Ontario. Its length is 146 km...
in what was then the Township of Gloucester
Gloucester Township, Ontario
Gloucester Township is a historical township in Eastern Ontario, Canada.Originally known as Township B, it was established in 1792. In 1800, it was part of Russell County, but became part of Carleton County in 1838 and was incorporated as a township in 1850. The first settler in the township was...
. He married Lamira Dow of Merrickville in 1813. The couple had a son, Elkanah Billings
Elkanah Billings
Elkanah Billings is often referred to as Canada's first paleontologist. Billings was born on a farm by the Rideau River outside Bytown, now known as Billings Estate. His parents were named Lamira and Braddish Billings. His family included an older sister named Sabra and an older brother Braddish II...
, who became a naturalist.
In 1830, a bridge was built over the Rideau River near the Billings Farm to make it easier to transport produce into town.
Billings died in 1864 and is buried on the Billings Estate
Billings Estate Museum
The Billings Estate Museum is an Ottawa museum located in the former home of one of the region's earliest settlers. The house was built in 1828 by Massachusetts born Braddish Billings. It is Ottawa's oldest surviving house, though the Bytown Museum building is older...
which has been preserved as a historical site and museum. The Billings House, on the site, was built in 1829.
The area where Billings had his farm and the nearby bridge over the river are now known as Billings Bridge
Billings Bridge
Billings Bridge is a bridge over the Rideau River in Ottawa. Bank Street passes over the river by way of this bridge. The bridge was named after Braddish Billings, who settled in this area and established a farm nearby in 1812. The first bridge, originally called Farmers Bridge, was built over the...
.
The City of Ottawa owns and operates the former Billings family homestead as a museum and park located on over 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) in Alta Vista. The site tells the story of the five generations of Billings family members who lived on the site before the municipality assumed ownership. The museum runs numerous programs for families throughout the year and operates a tea service on the lawn in the back gardens from May through August.