110 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. I. 



other, in the old volume which lies before me, the interesting business 

 records of almost a century from 1794, if not of so romantic a nature, 

 still shewing the sterling metal of this people, telling of bright days and 

 dark days, of prosperity and adversity, of lightning stroke and tornado, 

 as well as of " conflagration pale," of patient and strenuous efforts b\- 

 appeals to Governor and Queen from this almost the first Presbyterian 

 Church in Upper Canada. It may be questioned if any other churhes in 

 our land can shew such interesting records. 



Now, that the modern tourist has invaded our quiet town and learned 

 of the beauties with which we are so familiar, I am always pleased to re- 

 member that as a child I loved and admired St. Mark s, that it was my 

 ideal of an old English parish church, and churchyard, and in those days 

 the tourist had not come to tell us what to admire. When the late 

 lamented Dean Stanley visited St. Mark's he said, " this is a piece of old 

 England, do not allow it to be altered." The register of St. Mark's is 

 unique in this particular, that in almost a century that has elapsed there 

 have only been three incumbents, one with a record of '^^'j years, another 

 27, the third, the Rev. Archdeacon McMurray, by whose courtesy I have 

 had access to this record, of thirty-four years. Its value is shewn by the 

 fact that permission was obtained some years [since to copy all the earlier 

 pages, and this has been placed in the archives of the Historical Societ}- 

 of the City of Buffalo. The Rev. Mr. Addison must have had a vein of 

 quiet humor, as shewn by the quaint remarks interpolated here and there 

 alike at baptism, wedding or burial. He was evidently a scholar and 

 a lover of books, for his library of several hundred volumes, now in the 

 possession of the church would bring from far and near the lover of rare 

 and curious old books. Here is a Breeches Bible and Prayer Book in 

 which prayer is offered for Henrietta Maria, the wife of Charles L, and in 

 dull dusky leather many rare and valuable books to rejoice the heart of 

 the bibliomaniac. 



The first entry is " Aug. 23, 1792, Henry Warren, bachelor, to Cathe- 

 rine Aglor, spinster. Aug. 24th, Capt. James Hamilton, to Louisa, his 

 wife." The remark appended to this tells a tale of a new country. " They 

 had been married by some commanding officer or magistrate and thought 

 it more decent to have the office repeated." "April 12, 1794, William 

 Dixon, bachelor, to Charlotte Adlem, spinster. May 15, Col. John But- 

 ler of the Rangers buried, (my patron)." Here is a pathetic entry, 

 "July, 1794, buried a child of a poor stranger called Chambers. Sept. 9, 

 buried a soldier surfeited by drinking cold water. Baptisms, Sept. 3, Cloe, 

 a mulatto. Married, John Jacks and Rose Moore, negroes." These must 

 have come to their new homes slaves, but to the honor of Canada, be it 



