16, EARLY HISTORY OF SETTLERS. 
most unlimited credit, thus affording them the necessary means to 
prosecute their daily avocations, and agricultural pursuits. § Dur- 
ing a long continued business, embracing half a lifetime, this firm 
rarely or ever, resorted to legal measures to adjust claims. There 
are many persons now living, in easy and affluent circumstances, 
who can trace the foundation of their prosperity to this cause. 
In a record, kept by Mrs. David Burke, widow of the late Da- 
vid Burke, of Darlington, it is shown that her ancestors, along 
with a number of other families, emigrated from Hamburg, Ger- 
many, in 1794, under the guidance of a person named Boursey. 
Instead of taking them to Canada, as he agreed to, he brought 
them to Genesee Valley, N. Y., where they remained two years, 
before making the discovery that it was not British territory. Be 
ing dissatisfied, they then applied to Gov. Simcoe, who gave them 
grants of land in Markham, and compelled Mr. Boursey to tulfil 
his agreement. He conveyed them by ox-sleighs, during winter, 
around the lake. 
In 1841, the principal part of the village was on the west side 
of the creek :—A large hotel, two or three stores, a blacksmith 
shop, cabinet shop, and several fine residences. Had the adjoin- 
ing real estate been put into the market, the town would, in all 
probability, have been built on that site. 
One of the customs very much in vogue, was the Charivar;. 
On the occasion of a wedding, the young men of the neighbor- 
hood, provided with horns, bells, tin-pans, c., &c., always made 
their appearance, @ /a masgue. This custom first originated in the 
French rural districts, and it is probable that, at first, it was pro- 
ductive of more good than harm, as it was only resorted to when 
public decency was considered to have been outraged, through 
some ill-chosen or disgraceful match. But this feature in charivari 
companies was soon lost sight of, after its introduction into the 
upper province. No distinction was made between a wedding, 
every way proper and unimpeachable, or one of an opposite char- 
acter. Many of these demonstrations were indulged in by the 
early settlers, and there are many holding honorable positions 
among us to-day, who will remember, with regret, the part they 
took in them. 
One of these charavaris occurred on the occasion of the mar- 
