Pioneers of the Eastern Townships [Quebec]

By C. M. Day

This book contains many pioneer sketches of the first settlers in this area, as well as a very good description of the condition that they encountered while establishing a life for themselves in the Eastern Townships of what later became the province of Quebec.  The author writes "the object of the book is to bring a more lively remembrance of the hardships and privations suffered by the early settlers of these townships."

This edition includes a new Index by noted genealogist Ryan Taylor.  Browse the new Index 

About the author

Catherine Matilda Day (1815 - 1899) wrote two influential books about the Eastern Townships, this book in 1863, and History of the Eastern Townships in 1869.

Original title of the book

Full and correct title reads Pioneers of the Eastern Townships: A work containing official and reliable information respecting the formation of settlements; with incidents in their early History; and details of Adventures, Perils and Deliverances.

Background: 'Eastern Townships' (Quebec)

"Eastern Townships", is the name used for those townships in the province of Quebec lying south of the St. Lawrence River which were surveyed soon after 1791, to distinguish them from the Western Townships, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence and about the bay of Quinte, surveyed in 1783-4.

In 1791 the English law of free and common socage was introduced by the Constitutional Act into Lower Canada ; and consequently the country south of the St. Lawrence was surveyed in townships, and granted in free and common socage, rather than in accordance with the seigniorial tenure that prevailed in the older parts of the province.

Details

181 Pages
6.25 X 9.25"
Index (new Index by Ryan Taylor, 2000)
Originally published by John Lovell, Montreal, 1863
This edition published by Global Heritage Press, Milton 2000 ISBN 1-894378-45-8 (hardcover)