John Walsingham Cooke Meredith
Encyclopedia
John Walsingham Cooke Meredith (1809–1881) J.P., an Anglo-Irish-Canadian office holder and businessman, best remembered as the father of the Eight London Merediths.
lawyer who divided his time between his work in Dublin and his country home, Fair View, near Avoca, County Wicklow
. The subject's father, a brother of the Rev. Thomas Meredith
, was described as 'a jolly looking, grey haired, hook nosed old gentleman... His good humoured face beaming with kindness'. Meredith's mother, Magdalene (1785–1851), was the eldest daughter of John Redmond (1737–1819) J.P., of Newtown House, Co. Wexford
and Charlemont Street, Dublin, by his wife, Anne (1743–1821), daughter and co-heiress
of John Walsingham Cooke of Cookestown (otherwise Sleanagrane), County Wexford
. As Protestant settlers, the Merediths had made their home at Templerany House, Co. Wicklow since the mid 17th century, but his mother's family were far longer and more prominently established in Ireland
, she being a descendant of the ancient Catholic
family of Redmond Hall (nb. Loftus Hall
) and after it's confiscation, Killygowan, Co. Wexford
.
On his mother's side he counted amongst his cousins John Edward Redmond (1806-1865)
M.P., the first of a famous Irish political dynasty, and John Henry O'Byrne Redmond (1825–1866) of Killoughter, County Wicklow
, Count
of the Papal States
& Chamberlain to Pope Pius IX
. On his father's side his cousins included Sir William Collis Meredith
and Edmund Allen Meredith
, who with him headed three of the four branches of this notable family in Canada
.
. On November 7, 1825, he entered Trinity College, Dublin
, coming 13th in the entry examinations out of 109 candidates. In 1828, he was admitted to King's Inns
, Dublin. He graduated with a B.A. in 1830 and spent that summer in England
, becoming a member of the 'Eccentric Club of Marz Building' in London
. Returning the following year he was admitted as a barrister
at Gray's Inn
.
is unclear, but three days after prosecuting a Mr Hyde (seemingly his first and last appearance at the bar), John sailed from London
to Dublin on July 3, 1831, before one of their children noted that on July 16, 1831, 'my father and mother sailed for Liverpool
' from Dublin. Liverpool
was then a popular port
for those choosing to emigrate to North America
, though biographers generally say that the year of his arrival in Canada
was 1834.
Sarah Pegler (1819–1900) was the daughter of Anthony Pegler (1792–1871) a farmer
(and/or butcher
) from King's Stanley, near Stroud
, Gloucestershire
, where the Pegler name has been found in great numbers since at least the mid sixteenth century. In 1811 he married Sarah's mother, Temperence Harris (1792–1873), also from the same village
. It is possible that her father was the same Anthony Pegler of King's Stanley found in the Gloucestershire
gaol register, one of four Peglers sentenced together in 1830, though the only one not to be deported to Australia
. Going by the Gloucestershire Public Records, it would seem that both Sarah's parents died there, rather than in Canada.
It would seem that John and Sarah knew each other in 1831, but owing to her age then, it is possible that young Sarah was in John's employ. Most sources emphatically state that the Peglers came to Canada separately and farmed across the river from John in the township of Westminster, Ontario, and it would seem that she had at least one brother there, also named Anthony. One way or the other they were married in Westminster (Canada
) on December 1, 1835, one year after what is generally supposed to be his arrival in Canada
, and a few months after Sarah had turned sixteen. On a visit to his cousin in 1861, the diarist Edmund Allen Meredith
recorded,
Bye the bye I should say that I formed a more favourable idea than I had before done of my cousin-in-law Mrs Meredith and of her eldest daughter - Mrs M., although not elegant appears sensible and a woman of some character. Annie also seems an amiable girl. Isabel was, I was told, enjoying herself very much in Ireland, and Uncle John had quite recovered from the effects of the over physicking he went through at London (England)
and Henry Howard Meredith (1815–1892), were then starting their legal careers in Montreal
(though Henry soon after moved to Port Hope, Ontario
where he rapidly became a successful land developer), but he passed them by and carried on out west. He stopped at the township of Westminster in Upper Canada
, eight miles from London, Ontario
, where he bought a bush farm and settled down to commence his new life.
Farming did not prove to be as profitable as he had hoped, and as such soon afterwards Meredith moved the eight miles into London itself and turned his hand to business
. He carefully bought land before selling it on for a profit
, as well as loaning money and offering insurances to new and old settlers alike. He bought and rented out buildings on London's principal street, Dundas Street, and when the much desired position of deputy collector of customs at Port Stanley, Ontario
was offered to him he readily accepted it. He also served as market clerk at London, Justice of the Peace
, and finally clerk of the Division Court, a position he held until his death.
In 1846, Meredith built a substantial home for himself and his family at 565 Talbot Street, on the corner of Wellington Street and facing Victoria Park, which remained in his family for just under one hundred years before it was demolished to make way for the Centennial Hall. The Meredith family home was described as being 'rich in cultural elements'. An article on Meredith's sons appeared in the June, 1913, edition of MacLean's
magazine, which gives an account of John Meredith,
The father (JWCM), while far from being parsimonious, was a man who understood the value of money and was exceedingly careful in handling it. He lived simply, spent next to nothing on entertainment, joined no societies, and kept his nose steadily to the grindstone. When he had gathered together a little capital by the exercise of frugality, it was not difficult for him to make it grow like the proverbial snowball. In the fifties, sixties and seventies, what seems today an excessive rate of interest was commonly charged on loans and Mr Meredith was not slow to collect his twenty-five per cent on the money he advanced. He made large profits on land sold for taxes, which he bought cheap, held and disposed of later on. When he died it was reported that an estate valued at nearly a quarter of a million dollars was divided among his children.
; Toronto
and Montreal
.
The youngest son, Llewellyn Meredith (1860–1933) J.P., of London, Ontario
, was of a more retiring disposition than his seven elder brothers, but no less distinguished in his own field. He continued his father's successful business in loans and insurance, and like him also became a Justice of the Peace
. He imported horses from England
and Ireland
(one of his first cousins there was married to a niece of the famous Irish trainer Henry Eyre Linde J.P., of Eyrefield Lodge, on the Curragh
, who Llewellyn had known well) and bred them on his farm 'Ardaven', outside of London. He achieved international acclaim as a judge of thoroughbreds and twice represented Canada
at the Olympia Horse Show in London
, England. He was also a trustee of the Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario
.
Law
Four of the eight sons had careers in law, and all four of them not only took silk, but were all offered judgeships. Two of them - Sir William Ralph Meredith
and Richard Martin Meredith
- went on to become chief justices for the province of Ontario
. The other two - Edmund Meredith (1845–1921) and Thomas Graves Meredith
- both chose to decline elevation to the bench and remained as Queen's Counsel
's, the latter also serving as City solicitor for London, Ontario
. Chief Justice
Sir William Collis Meredith
of Quebec
(father of the prominent Montreal
lawyer, Frederick Edmund Meredith
), was a first cousin of the brothers' father.
Their father's first cousin, Sir James Creed Meredith (1842-1912) of Dublin, was the father of Judge James Creed Meredith
. Their uncle, William Rice Meredith (1814–1888), was President of the Law Society of Ireland
, and his sons (their first cousins) included: Richard Edmund Meredith
, Master of the Rolls in Ireland
; Llewellyn Meredith, a judge in New Zealand
; and Frederick Walsingham Meredith (1859-1924), also President of the Law Society of Ireland
and the father of Sir Herbert Ribton Meredith, Chief Justice
of the Patna High Court
.
Finance
The remaining three sons entered the financial world, the most prominent of whom was Sir Vincent Meredith
, President of the Bank of Montreal
. John Stanley Meredith (1843–1920) was the number two (General Manager) in command at what was then Canada's second largest commercial bank, the Merchant's Bank of Montreal
. The third brother directly involved in finance was Charles Meredith, President of the Montreal Stock Exchange. Another brother, Thomas Graves Meredith
, though a lawyer, was also President of Canada Life Assurance. In Ireland
, their father's uncles, Walter - the father of John Edward Redmond (1806–1865) - and John Redmond (1770-1822), founded Redmond's Bank in Wexford
.
Education
Richard Martin Meredith
was a founder, Chancellor and the first chairman of the board of governors for the University of Western Ontario
, where he endorsed the R.M. Meredith Society. Sir William Ralph Meredith
was Chancellor of the University of Toronto
and Sir Vincent Meredith
was a Governor of McGill University
. Their father's first cousin, Edmund Allen Meredith
, was the Principal
of McGill University
in the 1840s, and a nephew of the 29th Provost of Trinity College, Dublin
, Richard MacDonnell
. Their cousin, Frederick Edmund Meredith
, was Chancellor of Bishop's University
, and his son, William Campbell James Meredith
, was Dean
of the Faculty of Law at McGill University
.
Politics
Unlike their Irish cousin William Archer Redmond (1825–1880) and his family, in politics the London Merediths, as a group, did not feature as prominently. Sir William Ralph Meredith
was a Member of Parliament
and leader of the Ontario Conservative Party. He was honorably retired after a series of electoral defeats, but later declined the invitation of Prime Minister
Sir Charles Tupper
to join his Cabinet. Edmund Meredith (1845–1921) was both an Alderman
and Mayor
of London, Ontario
, but as a conservative he unsuccessfully contested for the seat of North Middlesex, Ontario
. Other Merediths were encouraged to enter politics but declined.
Legacy
Only five of the eight Meredith brothers married. Adding to the family's wealth and influence in Canadian society, Sir Vincent Meredith
married a niece of Sir Hugh Allan
, President of the Allan Line
and the Merchant's Bank etc., etc. Charles Meredith married a daughter of Richard B. Angus
, President of the Bank of Montreal
etc., and Thomas Graves Meredith
married a daughter of The Hon. Sir John Carling
P.C.
, President of the Carling
Brewery. But, of these five brothers who married, only three of them had children, and within only one generation of the eight brothers, all of the male descendants of this family were dead. In 1916, Sir Vincent Meredith
had been created the 1st Baronet
of Montreal
for his wartime services to Canada
, but as one of the five brothers who died without children this title became extinct. The remarkable family of John Walsingham Cooke Meredith
is survived today through the female descendants of Sir William Ralph Meredith
.
. On May 24, 1881, he died along with nearly two hundred others in the disaster that struck the Victoria steam-boat at London, Ontario
. His son, Richard Martin Meredith
, presented a chime of eleven church bells along with the tower clock to St. Paul's Cathedral (London, Ontario) in memory of his parents. The bells were cast in conjunction with the clock by Messrs Gillett & Johnston
of Croydon, Surrey
, and were first rung on Christmas Day, 1901. The inscription on the bells reads, In memory of John Walsingham Cooke Meredith, born 9 May 1809, died 24 May 1881; and Sarah, his wife, born 4 July 1819, died 12 September 1900.
Along with most of his family, John and his wife were buried at the Meredith Monument at Woodlands Cemetery in London, Ontario
, the plot being marked by a tall [celtic cross]. There are also four memorial windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany
in St. Paul's which feature the names of all of Meredith's family, donated by another son, Sir Vincent Meredith
, and his wife.
One of the buildings at the Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario
, is dedicated to his eldest daughter, Isabella Magdalene Meredith (1841–1907), and Meredith Avenue, also in London, is named after his sixth son, Thomas Graves Meredith
. In Montreal
, Charles Meredith House now serves as part of McGill University
, named for his seventh son, and similarly, Lady Meredith House is named for the wife of his fifth son, Sir Vincent Meredith
. The family is also remembered through a number of trophies, cups, scholarships and endowments donated by them.
Background
Born at Dublin, May 9, 1809, he was the eldest surviving son of John Meredith (1784–1866), an Anglo-IrishAnglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
lawyer who divided his time between his work in Dublin and his country home, Fair View, near Avoca, County Wicklow
Avoca, County Wicklow
Avoca is a small town near Arklow, in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated on the River Avoca.The Avoca area has been associated with its famous copper mines for many years and the valley has been immortalised by Thomas Moore in the famous song The Meeting of the Waters...
. The subject's father, a brother of the Rev. Thomas Meredith
Thomas Meredith
The Rev. Dr Thomas Meredith D.D., F.T.C.D. was an Anglo-Irish clergyman and mathematician, best remembered for his association with the poet Charles Wolfe, and as the subject of a ghost story related in True Irish Ghost Stories and Memorials to the Dead-Background:Born at Templerany House, Co...
, was described as 'a jolly looking, grey haired, hook nosed old gentleman... His good humoured face beaming with kindness'. Meredith's mother, Magdalene (1785–1851), was the eldest daughter of John Redmond (1737–1819) J.P., of Newtown House, Co. Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
and Charlemont Street, Dublin, by his wife, Anne (1743–1821), daughter and co-heiress
Beneficiary
A beneficiary in the broadest sense is a natural person or other legal entity who receives money or other benefits from a benefactor. For example: The beneficiary of a life insurance policy, is the person who receives the payment of the amount of insurance after the death of the insured...
of John Walsingham Cooke of Cookestown (otherwise Sleanagrane), County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
. As Protestant settlers, the Merediths had made their home at Templerany House, Co. Wicklow since the mid 17th century, but his mother's family were far longer and more prominently established in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, she being a descendant of the ancient Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
family of Redmond Hall (nb. Loftus Hall
Loftus Hall
Loftus Hall is a large mansion house on the Hook peninsula, County Wexford, Ireland that is said to have been haunted both by the devil and by the ghost of a young woman....
) and after it's confiscation, Killygowan, Co. Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
.
On his mother's side he counted amongst his cousins John Edward Redmond (1806-1865)
John Edward Redmond (1806-1865)
John Edward Redmond was a banker and magistrate, Liberal M.P. for the city of Wexford from 1859-1865.- Family :John Redmond was the son Walter Redmond Esq. of Newtown Lodge and afterwards Ballytrent House, Co. Wexford. Walter and his brother John Redmond were well known in banking and shipping...
M.P., the first of a famous Irish political dynasty, and John Henry O'Byrne Redmond (1825–1866) of Killoughter, County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
of the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
& Chamberlain to Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
. On his father's side his cousins included Sir William Collis Meredith
William Collis Meredith
The Hon. Sir William Collis Meredith, Kt., Q.C., D.C.L. was Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec.-Early life:...
and Edmund Allen Meredith
Edmund Allen Meredith
Edmund Allen Meredith LL.D., was Under Secretary of State for Canada; a prison reformer, writer, and the third principal of McGill University from 1846 to 1853.-Early life in Ireland:...
, who with him headed three of the four branches of this notable family in Canada
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...
.
Dublin and London
From 1819 to 1823, John was educated at 'Hamilton's school' before attending Dr Behan's (or Behane's) with other members of his family in Co. WexfordWexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
. On November 7, 1825, he entered Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, coming 13th in the entry examinations out of 109 candidates. In 1828, he was admitted to King's Inns
King's Inns
The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland...
, Dublin. He graduated with a B.A. in 1830 and spent that summer in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, becoming a member of the 'Eccentric Club of Marz Building' in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Returning the following year he was admitted as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
.
Marriage
Whether he met his future wife, Sarah Pegler, in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
is unclear, but three days after prosecuting a Mr Hyde (seemingly his first and last appearance at the bar), John sailed from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Dublin on July 3, 1831, before one of their children noted that on July 16, 1831, 'my father and mother sailed for Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
' from Dublin. Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
was then a popular port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
for those choosing to emigrate to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, though biographers generally say that the year of his arrival in Canada
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...
was 1834.
Sarah Pegler (1819–1900) was the daughter of Anthony Pegler (1792–1871) a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
(and/or butcher
Butcher
A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat or any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments...
) from King's Stanley, near Stroud
Stroud
Stroud a town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England.Stroud may also refer to:*Stroud, New South Wales, Australia*Stroud, Ontario, Canada*Stroud , Gloucestershire, UK*Stroud...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, where the Pegler name has been found in great numbers since at least the mid sixteenth century. In 1811 he married Sarah's mother, Temperence Harris (1792–1873), also from the same village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
. It is possible that her father was the same Anthony Pegler of King's Stanley found in the Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
gaol register, one of four Peglers sentenced together in 1830, though the only one not to be deported to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Going by the Gloucestershire Public Records, it would seem that both Sarah's parents died there, rather than in Canada.
It would seem that John and Sarah knew each other in 1831, but owing to her age then, it is possible that young Sarah was in John's employ. Most sources emphatically state that the Peglers came to Canada separately and farmed across the river from John in the township of Westminster, Ontario, and it would seem that she had at least one brother there, also named Anthony. One way or the other they were married in Westminster (Canada
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...
) on December 1, 1835, one year after what is generally supposed to be his arrival in Canada
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...
, and a few months after Sarah had turned sixteen. On a visit to his cousin in 1861, the diarist Edmund Allen Meredith
Edmund Allen Meredith
Edmund Allen Meredith LL.D., was Under Secretary of State for Canada; a prison reformer, writer, and the third principal of McGill University from 1846 to 1853.-Early life in Ireland:...
recorded,
Bye the bye I should say that I formed a more favourable idea than I had before done of my cousin-in-law Mrs Meredith and of her eldest daughter - Mrs M., although not elegant appears sensible and a woman of some character. Annie also seems an amiable girl. Isabel was, I was told, enjoying herself very much in Ireland, and Uncle John had quite recovered from the effects of the over physicking he went through at London (England)
Canada
Whether with his future wife or without her, John discarded his career at the English bar and emigrated to Canada c.1834, according to the London Free Press 'seized with the wander-spirit of youth to seek his fortune farming'. Two of his first cousins, William Collis MeredithWilliam Collis Meredith
The Hon. Sir William Collis Meredith, Kt., Q.C., D.C.L. was Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec.-Early life:...
and Henry Howard Meredith (1815–1892), were then starting their legal careers in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
(though Henry soon after moved to Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
where he rapidly became a successful land developer), but he passed them by and carried on out west. He stopped at the township of Westminster in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
, eight miles from London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, where he bought a bush farm and settled down to commence his new life.
Farming did not prove to be as profitable as he had hoped, and as such soon afterwards Meredith moved the eight miles into London itself and turned his hand to business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
. He carefully bought land before selling it on for a profit
Profit (accounting)
In accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
, as well as loaning money and offering insurances to new and old settlers alike. He bought and rented out buildings on London's principal street, Dundas Street, and when the much desired position of deputy collector of customs at Port Stanley, Ontario
Port Stanley, Ontario
Port Stanley is a community in the Municipality of Central Elgin, Ontario, Elgin County, located on the north shore of Lake Erie at the mouth of Kettle Creek.-History:...
was offered to him he readily accepted it. He also served as market clerk at London, Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, and finally clerk of the Division Court, a position he held until his death.
In 1846, Meredith built a substantial home for himself and his family at 565 Talbot Street, on the corner of Wellington Street and facing Victoria Park, which remained in his family for just under one hundred years before it was demolished to make way for the Centennial Hall. The Meredith family home was described as being 'rich in cultural elements'. An article on Meredith's sons appeared in the June, 1913, edition of MacLean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
magazine, which gives an account of John Meredith,
The father (JWCM), while far from being parsimonious, was a man who understood the value of money and was exceedingly careful in handling it. He lived simply, spent next to nothing on entertainment, joined no societies, and kept his nose steadily to the grindstone. When he had gathered together a little capital by the exercise of frugality, it was not difficult for him to make it grow like the proverbial snowball. In the fifties, sixties and seventies, what seems today an excessive rate of interest was commonly charged on loans and Mr Meredith was not slow to collect his twenty-five per cent on the money he advanced. He made large profits on land sold for taxes, which he bought cheap, held and disposed of later on. When he died it was reported that an estate valued at nearly a quarter of a million dollars was divided among his children.
The Eight London Merediths
John and Sarah's daughters were said to be 'remarkable for their beauty', but all four of them died unmarried. One son, Albert Allen Meredith (1858–1863), died at a young age, but the others grew up to be collectively remembered as the Eight London Merediths, remarkable for the success they individually earned in legal, official and financial roles in London, OntarioLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
; Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
The youngest son, Llewellyn Meredith (1860–1933) J.P., of London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, was of a more retiring disposition than his seven elder brothers, but no less distinguished in his own field. He continued his father's successful business in loans and insurance, and like him also became a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. He imported horses from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
(one of his first cousins there was married to a niece of the famous Irish trainer Henry Eyre Linde J.P., of Eyrefield Lodge, on the Curragh
Curragh
The Curragh is a flat open plain of almost 5,000 acres of common land in County Kildare, Ireland, between Newbridge and Kildare. This area is well-known for Irish horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is located on the edge of Kildare town, beside the famous Japanese Gardens. Also...
, who Llewellyn had known well) and bred them on his farm 'Ardaven', outside of London. He achieved international acclaim as a judge of thoroughbreds and twice represented Canada
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...
at the Olympia Horse Show in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England. He was also a trustee of the Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
.
Law
Four of the eight sons had careers in law, and all four of them not only took silk, but were all offered judgeships. Two of them - Sir William Ralph Meredith
William Ralph Meredith
The Hon. Sir William Ralph Meredith, Q.C., LL.D. was Leader of the Ontario Conservatives from 1878 to 1894; Chancellor of the University of Toronto from 1900 until his death, and Chief Justice of Ontario from 1913 until his death...
and Richard Martin Meredith
Richard Martin Meredith
Chief Justice The Hon. Richard Martin Meredith Q.C. was a founder of The University of Western Ontario; vice-chancellor of Ontario; President of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Ontario and Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.-Family:Born at 565 Talbot Street, London, Ontario, he was...
- went on to become chief justices for the 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....
. The other two - Edmund Meredith (1845–1921) and Thomas Graves Meredith
Thomas Graves Meredith
Thomas Graves Meredith K.C. , Canadian lawyer and businessman; President of Canada Life Assurance and President of the Middlesex Bar Association...
- both chose to decline elevation to the bench and remained as Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
's, the latter also serving as City solicitor for London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
Sir William Collis Meredith
William Collis Meredith
The Hon. Sir William Collis Meredith, Kt., Q.C., D.C.L. was Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec.-Early life:...
of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
(father of the prominent Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
lawyer, Frederick Edmund Meredith
Frederick Edmund Meredith
Frederick Edmund Meredith K.C., D.C.L. was a Canadian lawyer and businessman, the 8th Chancellor of Bishop's University, Lennoxville; honorary President of the Montreal Victorias for three of their Stanley Cup championships in the late 1890s, and Chief Counsel to the CPR at the inquest into the...
), was a first cousin of the brothers' father.
Their father's first cousin, Sir James Creed Meredith (1842-1912) of Dublin, was the father of Judge James Creed Meredith
James Creed Meredith
James Creed Meredith K.C., LL.D. was an Irish nationalist of the early 20th century, who upheld Brehon Law. He was President of the Supreme Court of the Irish Republic, Chief Judicial Commissioner of Ireland and a Judge of the High Court and the Supreme Court of Ireland...
. Their uncle, William Rice Meredith (1814–1888), was President of the Law Society of Ireland
Law Society of Ireland
The Law Society of Ireland is the educational, representative and regulatory body of the solicitors' profession in the Republic of Ireland...
, and his sons (their first cousins) included: Richard Edmund Meredith
Richard Edmund Meredith
The Rt. Hon. Richard Edmund Meredith PC, QC , was the Master of the Rolls in Ireland, a Privy Councillor, Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland and Judicial Commissioner of the Irish Land Commission.-Career:...
, Master of the Rolls in Ireland
Master of the Rolls in Ireland
The office of Master of the Rolls in Ireland originated in the office of the keeper of the Rolls in the Irish Chancery and became an office granted by letters patent in 1333. It was abolished in 1924....
; Llewellyn Meredith, a judge in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
; and Frederick Walsingham Meredith (1859-1924), also President of the Law Society of Ireland
Law Society of Ireland
The Law Society of Ireland is the educational, representative and regulatory body of the solicitors' profession in the Republic of Ireland...
and the father of Sir Herbert Ribton Meredith, Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Patna High Court
Patna High Court
Patna High Court is the High Court of the state of Bihar. It was established on 3 February 1916 and later affiliated under the Government of India Act, 1915. The court is headquartered in Patna, the administrative capital of the state.-History of Court:...
.
Finance
The remaining three sons entered the financial world, the most prominent of whom was Sir Vincent Meredith
Vincent Meredith
Sir Vincent Meredith, 1st and last Baronet of Montreal , was a Canadian banker and philanthropist; President of the Bank of Montreal, the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts...
, President of the Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
. John Stanley Meredith (1843–1920) was the number two (General Manager) in command at what was then Canada's second largest commercial bank, the Merchant's Bank of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. The third brother directly involved in finance was Charles Meredith, President of the Montreal Stock Exchange. Another brother, Thomas Graves Meredith
Thomas Graves Meredith
Thomas Graves Meredith K.C. , Canadian lawyer and businessman; President of Canada Life Assurance and President of the Middlesex Bar Association...
, though a lawyer, was also President of Canada Life Assurance. In Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, their father's uncles, Walter - the father of John Edward Redmond (1806–1865) - and John Redmond (1770-1822), founded Redmond's Bank in Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
.
Education
Richard Martin Meredith
Richard Martin Meredith
Chief Justice The Hon. Richard Martin Meredith Q.C. was a founder of The University of Western Ontario; vice-chancellor of Ontario; President of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Ontario and Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.-Family:Born at 565 Talbot Street, London, Ontario, he was...
was a founder, Chancellor and the first chairman of the board of governors for the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, where he endorsed the R.M. Meredith Society. Sir William Ralph Meredith
William Ralph Meredith
The Hon. Sir William Ralph Meredith, Q.C., LL.D. was Leader of the Ontario Conservatives from 1878 to 1894; Chancellor of the University of Toronto from 1900 until his death, and Chief Justice of Ontario from 1913 until his death...
was Chancellor of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and Sir Vincent Meredith
Vincent Meredith
Sir Vincent Meredith, 1st and last Baronet of Montreal , was a Canadian banker and philanthropist; President of the Bank of Montreal, the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts...
was a Governor of McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. Their father's first cousin, Edmund Allen Meredith
Edmund Allen Meredith
Edmund Allen Meredith LL.D., was Under Secretary of State for Canada; a prison reformer, writer, and the third principal of McGill University from 1846 to 1853.-Early life in Ireland:...
, was the Principal
Principal (academia)
The Principal is the chief executive and the chief academic officer of a university or college in certain parts of the Commonwealth.-Canada:...
of McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in the 1840s, and a nephew of the 29th Provost of Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, Richard MacDonnell
Richard MacDonnell (scholar)
The Rev. Dr Richard MacDonnell LL.D., D.D., S.F.T.C.D. was the Reformist 29th Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, and the projector of Sorrento Terrace, Dalkey, which is today famous for being the most expensive row of houses in Ireland.-Family:...
. Their cousin, Frederick Edmund Meredith
Frederick Edmund Meredith
Frederick Edmund Meredith K.C., D.C.L. was a Canadian lawyer and businessman, the 8th Chancellor of Bishop's University, Lennoxville; honorary President of the Montreal Victorias for three of their Stanley Cup championships in the late 1890s, and Chief Counsel to the CPR at the inquest into the...
, was Chancellor of Bishop's University
Bishop's University
Bishop's University is a predominantly undergraduate university in Lennoxville, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Bishop's is one of three universities in the province of Quebec that teach primarily in the English language...
, and his son, William Campbell James Meredith
William Campbell James Meredith
William Campbell James Meredith Q.C., D.C.L., often known as W. C. J. Meredith, was a Canadian attorney and Dean of Law at McGill University. He was born in Montreal, Quebec the son of Frederick Edmund Meredith and Anne Madeline VanKoughnet Meredith...
, was Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Faculty of Law at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
.
Politics
Unlike their Irish cousin William Archer Redmond (1825–1880) and his family, in politics the London Merediths, as a group, did not feature as prominently. Sir William Ralph Meredith
William Ralph Meredith
The Hon. Sir William Ralph Meredith, Q.C., LL.D. was Leader of the Ontario Conservatives from 1878 to 1894; Chancellor of the University of Toronto from 1900 until his death, and Chief Justice of Ontario from 1913 until his death...
was a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and leader of the Ontario Conservative Party. He was honorably retired after a series of electoral defeats, but later declined the invitation of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Sir Charles Tupper
Charles Tupper
Sir Charles Tupper, 1st Baronet, GCMG, CB, PC was a Canadian father of Confederation: as the Premier of Nova Scotia from 1864 to 1867, he led Nova Scotia into Confederation. He later went on to serve as the sixth Prime Minister of Canada, sworn in to office on May 1, 1896, seven days after...
to join his Cabinet. Edmund Meredith (1845–1921) was both an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
and Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, but as a conservative he unsuccessfully contested for the seat of North Middlesex, Ontario
North Middlesex, Ontario
North Middlesex is a municipality in Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada.The restructured municipality of North Middlesex was incorporated on January 1, 2001. This amalgamation joined five municipalities — the townships of East Williams, West Williams and McGillivray, the town of Parkhill and the...
. Other Merediths were encouraged to enter politics but declined.
Legacy
Only five of the eight Meredith brothers married. Adding to the family's wealth and influence in Canadian society, Sir Vincent Meredith
Vincent Meredith
Sir Vincent Meredith, 1st and last Baronet of Montreal , was a Canadian banker and philanthropist; President of the Bank of Montreal, the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts...
married a niece of Sir Hugh Allan
Hugh Allan
Sir Hugh Allan, KCMG was a Scottish-born Canadian shipping magnate, railway promoter, financier and capitalist...
, President of the Allan Line
Allan Line Royal Mail Steamers
The Allan Shipping Line was started in 1819, by Captain Alexander Allan of Saltcoats, Ayrshire, running dry goods from Greenock to sell in Montreal and returning with Canadian produce to sell back in Scotland, a route which quickly became synonymous with the Allan Line...
and the Merchant's Bank etc., etc. Charles Meredith married a daughter of Richard B. Angus
Richard B. Angus
Richard Bladworth Angus was a Scottish-Canadian financier, banker and philanthropist.- Early life :Angus was born at Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. Educated at Bathgate Academy, as a young man he was employed by the Manchester and Liverpool Bank. By 1857 he had secured a position with the Bank...
, President of the Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
etc., and Thomas Graves Meredith
Thomas Graves Meredith
Thomas Graves Meredith K.C. , Canadian lawyer and businessman; President of Canada Life Assurance and President of the Middlesex Bar Association...
married a daughter of The Hon. Sir John Carling
John Carling
Sir John Carling, PC, KCMG of the Carling Brewery was a prominent politician and businessman from London, Ontario, Canada...
P.C.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, President of the Carling
Carling
Carling brands are currently owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company. In South Africa it is distributed by SABMiller.Carling Black Label is the name of a brand of Canadian lager in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and South Africa...
Brewery. But, of these five brothers who married, only three of them had children, and within only one generation of the eight brothers, all of the male descendants of this family were dead. In 1916, Sir Vincent Meredith
Vincent Meredith
Sir Vincent Meredith, 1st and last Baronet of Montreal , was a Canadian banker and philanthropist; President of the Bank of Montreal, the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts...
had been created the 1st Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
for his wartime services to Canada
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...
, but as one of the five brothers who died without children this title became extinct. The remarkable family of John Walsingham Cooke Meredith
John Walsingham Cooke Meredith
John Walsingham Cooke Meredith J.P., an Anglo-Irish-Canadian office holder and businessman, best remembered as the father of the Eight London Merediths.-Background:...
is survived today through the female descendants of Sir William Ralph Meredith
William Ralph Meredith
The Hon. Sir William Ralph Meredith, Q.C., LL.D. was Leader of the Ontario Conservatives from 1878 to 1894; Chancellor of the University of Toronto from 1900 until his death, and Chief Justice of Ontario from 1913 until his death...
.
Memorials
John Meredith bore an unmistakable resemblance to his mother's family, most notably seen in his cousin's grandson, John RedmondJohn Redmond
John Edward Redmond was an Irish nationalist politician, barrister, MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918...
. On May 24, 1881, he died along with nearly two hundred others in the disaster that struck the Victoria steam-boat at London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. His son, Richard Martin Meredith
Richard Martin Meredith
Chief Justice The Hon. Richard Martin Meredith Q.C. was a founder of The University of Western Ontario; vice-chancellor of Ontario; President of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Ontario and Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.-Family:Born at 565 Talbot Street, London, Ontario, he was...
, presented a chime of eleven church bells along with the tower clock to St. Paul's Cathedral (London, Ontario) in memory of his parents. The bells were cast in conjunction with the clock by Messrs Gillett & Johnston
Gillett & Johnston
Gillett and Johnston is a clock and formerly bell manufacturing business in Croydon, England.-History:William Gillett started a clock making business on Union Road in Croydon, England in 1844. Charles Bland became a partner in 1854 and the company became known as Gillet and Bland. In 1877, Arthur...
of Croydon, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, and were first rung on Christmas Day, 1901. The inscription on the bells reads, In memory of John Walsingham Cooke Meredith, born 9 May 1809, died 24 May 1881; and Sarah, his wife, born 4 July 1819, died 12 September 1900.
Along with most of his family, John and his wife were buried at the Meredith Monument at Woodlands Cemetery in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, the plot being marked by a tall [celtic cross]. There are also four memorial windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
in St. Paul's which feature the names of all of Meredith's family, donated by another son, Sir Vincent Meredith
Vincent Meredith
Sir Vincent Meredith, 1st and last Baronet of Montreal , was a Canadian banker and philanthropist; President of the Bank of Montreal, the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts...
, and his wife.
One of the buildings at the Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, is dedicated to his eldest daughter, Isabella Magdalene Meredith (1841–1907), and Meredith Avenue, also in London, is named after his sixth son, Thomas Graves Meredith
Thomas Graves Meredith
Thomas Graves Meredith K.C. , Canadian lawyer and businessman; President of Canada Life Assurance and President of the Middlesex Bar Association...
. In Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Charles Meredith House now serves as part of McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, named for his seventh son, and similarly, Lady Meredith House is named for the wife of his fifth son, Sir Vincent Meredith
Vincent Meredith
Sir Vincent Meredith, 1st and last Baronet of Montreal , was a Canadian banker and philanthropist; President of the Bank of Montreal, the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts...
. The family is also remembered through a number of trophies, cups, scholarships and endowments donated by them.
Related newspaper articles
- Victoria Steamboat Disaster, May 24, 1881
- The Irish Standard Bearer, The Irish Canadian, May 28, 1879
- The Meredith Family, Montreal Gazette, May 22, 1934
- Two Fine Canadian Families taken from the Toronto Daily Star, Oct., 31, 1945.
- One of Noted Family, T.G. Meredith Dies, Toronto Daily Star, October 29, 1945
- Complex Personality of Ontarios Chief Justice (William Ralph Meredith), The Toronto World, July 27, 1913
- Member of Family of Noted Brothers R.M. Meredith Dies, Ottawa Citizen, May 21, 1934
- Obituary of Sir Vincent Meredith, Montreal Gazette, February 25, 1929