History of the Counties of Argenteuil, Quebec & Prescott, Ontario

By Cyrus Thomas

The historical and family sketches in this 700+ page book contain a wealth of names and genealogical information that is very helpful for those interested in the history and families of the region.

Thomas wrote this comprehensive history of neighboring counties in 1896. It remains the foremost published history of the settlement and early development of both counties.

Browse the new Indexes 

Beginning with a chapter on the Ottawa River, the river that divides the two counties, Thomas continues with sketches on numerous topics including:

• Local government
• Militia
• Churches
• Religious and fraternal societies
• Business and industry
• Manuscripts
• Oral tradition

Background information: Argenteuil County, Quebec: 

Argenteuil Regional County Municipality is located in southern Quebec, Canada, part of the Laurentides region. The Regional County Municipality seat is Lachute. In January 1983, the Argenteuil Regional County Municipality succeeded the County of Argenteuil

Communities include:

• Lachute
• Brownsburg-Chatham
• Grenville-sur-la-Rouge
• Mille-Isles
• Saint-André-d'Argenteuil
• Grenville
• Gore Township
• Harrington Township
• Wentworth Township

Background information: 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. It later merged with Russell County to form Prescott and Russell United Counties.

Historic Townships

• Alfred - Named in memory of Prince Alfred, son of King George III, who died as a child of two-years old. Earliest patent was granted to John McKindlay on August 10, 1801. The Township was later merged with North Plantagenet, now Alfred and Plantagenet Township
• Caledonia -Earliest patent was to Joshua Hall on April 30, 1808. The township was first part of Longueuil and was organized in 1810. It is now part of the Nation Township
• East Hawkesbury - still exists today. Crown patent granted to Hon. W.O. Powell, February 10, 1797, Col. William Fortune, March 10, 1787 and Sir John Johnson, May 16, 1798.
• Longueuil - If was a fief held under the seignorial system of the French regime by the descendants of Charles le Moyne de Longueuil et de Châteauguay. In 1796 the township was purchased by American Nathaniel Hazard Treadwell, who declined to take an oath of loyalty and was deported, in 1812, to the United States. In 1830, he returned and his son Charles Platt Treadwell became sheriff of Prescott and Russell. The Township was later merged with West Hawkesbury, now Champlain Township
• North Plantagenet - Opened in 1798, first land grant was to Peter Lukin on July 10, 1801. Township was merged with Alfred, now Alfred and Plantagenet Township
• South Plantagenet - Now part of the Nation Township
• West Hawkesbury - Opened in 1798 it has now been merged with Longueuil, and is now known as Champlain Township.

Details

709 pages
6.75" X 9.25"
Index of Names (new)
Index - General (new)
Index - Topics (original)
Originally published by John Lovell & Son, Montreal, 1896
This edition reprinted by Global Heritage Press, Milton, 1999 ISBN 1-894378-06-7 (hardccover)