Glengarry County, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Glengarry County an area covering 288688 acres (1,168 km²), is a county in the Canadian
province of Ontario
, and is historically known for its settlement of Scottish Highlanders
due to the Highland Clearances
.
Glengarry was founded in 1792 by Scottish loyalists, mainly from Clan MacDonnell
, and other Highland Scottish emigrants from Mohawk Valley
. The county was named after the Scottish Glen where the MacDonnell family was based. The original territory of Glengarry also included Prescott County
, which became a separate county in 1800.
Canadian Gaelic used to be a common language in this region. Though the number of speakers has steadily decreased over the past years, those wanting to learn Canadian Gaelic are able to from classes throughout Glengarry.
Glengarry later united with Stormont
and Dundas
to form the regional government United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, and is historically known for its settlement of Scottish Highlanders
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
due to the Highland Clearances
Highland Clearances
The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
.
Glengarry was founded in 1792 by Scottish loyalists, mainly from Clan MacDonnell
Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry
Clan MacDonell of Glengarry is a branch of Clan Donald taking its name from Glen Garry where the river Garry runs eastwards through Loch Garry to join the Great Glen about 16 miles north of Fort William...
, and other Highland Scottish emigrants from Mohawk Valley
Mohawk Valley
The Mohawk Valley region of the U.S. state of New York is the area surrounding the Mohawk River, sandwiched between the Adirondack Mountains and Catskill Mountains....
. The county was named after the Scottish Glen where the MacDonnell family was based. The original territory of Glengarry also included Prescott County
Prescott County, Ontario
Prescott County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.It was created in 1800 from a portion of Glengarry County. It was named in honor of Major General Robert Prescott, Governor of Canada at that time. First settlers were Americans, but not all were Loyalists...
, which became a separate county in 1800.
Canadian Gaelic used to be a common language in this region. Though the number of speakers has steadily decreased over the past years, those wanting to learn Canadian Gaelic are able to from classes throughout Glengarry.
Glengarry later united with Stormont
Stormont County, Ontario
Stormont County area is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario.Stormont was created in 1792, however, it was settled seven years earlier in 1785. Veterans of Loyalist regiments were among the first settlers...
and Dundas
Dundas County, Ontario
Dundas County is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario.Dundas was created in 1792 by the area's first settlers: German Loyalists who had fought with Sir John Johnson in the American Revolutionary War. The settlers, descendants of the Palatine immigrants to America in 1710, had immigrated to...
to form the regional government United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
Historic Townships
Glengarry was originally divided East and West into Charlottenburg- and Lancaster-townships, and then eventually divided into four townships, and only recently has it been divided into North and South Glengarry,- Charlottenburgh - now in South Glengarry TownshipSouth Glengarry, OntarioSouth Glengarry is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada on the St. Lawrence River in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.The township was created on 1 January 1998, by amalgamating the townships of Charlottenburgh and Lancaster with the independent village of...
and was named in honour of Queen CharlotteCharlotte of Mecklenburg-StrelitzCharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III...
. - Kenyon - now in North Glengarry TownshipNorth Glengarry, OntarioNorth Glengarry is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada, in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. It is a predominantly rural area located between Ottawa-Gatineau, Montreal and Cornwall-Massena....
. Kenyon Township was separated from Charlottenburg Township in 1798, and was named from the English Chief Justice Lloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron KenyonLloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron KenyonLloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron Kenyon, PC, SL, KC was a British politician and barrister, who served as Attorney General, Master of the Rolls and Lord Chief Justice. Born to a country gentleman, he was initially educated in Hanmer before moving to Ruthin School aged 12... - Lancaster - now in South Glengarry Township. Surveyed in 1784, it was first settled in 1785.
- Lochiel - now in North Glengarry. Lochiel Township separated from Lancaster Township on November 24, 1818. Lochiel was named after the chief of the Clan CameronClan CameronClan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands is the mountain Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The chief of the clan is customarily referred to as...
. This Clan had many representatives among the veteran settlers.
External links
- Glengarry Highland Games (accessed October 25, 2009)
- Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame (accessed October 25, 2009)
- Glengarry County GenWeb (accessed October 25, 2009)
- Glengarry County Map (1879) (accessed October 25, 2009)
- Glengarry County