The MacKerchers of Beckwith

The foundation and settlement of Dundas begins at New York, where persecuted German United Empire Loyalists known as the Lutheran Palantines made there way to Montreal following American independence in 1774. In the spring of 1784 they made their way west to the banks of the St Lawrence where they were settled on lands alloted to them in Dundas County. Amongst them were the Strader and Shaver families.

At the outbreak of hostilies that began the War of 1812, a young 22 year old native of Montreal named Duncan McKercher enlisted with His Majesty's Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry. He would end up serving 4 years and 111 days before being discharged when the unit disbanded in 1816.

Alexander and his wife left their highland home in 1832, making their way to Canada with 7 children where they initially settled at Saint Andrews, Argenteuil in Quebec. There they had a daughter before moving to Roxborough, Ontario in 1834.

John was assigned to the North East Half of Lot 3 of the 6th Concession of the Township of Bathurst on October 28th, 1820 by the Settling Department. On the 21st of April 1828 he petitioned the government for the deed for the land as he had demonstrated that he fulfilled the requirments for improving the land. It was approved on the 23rd of June that year, but the government accidently filed the patent under the name of James McKercher. He had to petition for the patent to be corrected on the 28th of February in 1829.

On the 27th of November 1829 he would purchase parts of Lots 6 and 7 of Concession 5 and sell his original lot later in 1837. The new farm land was much better situated and of better quality. They lived adjacent to his wife Janet McGregor's brother Peter McGregor's Lot. The community of Brooke would form on the north end of the farm, with two churches and a school.

John's 1st wife Janet died young in 1837. They would have 8 children with 7 surviving infancy. He remarried in 1839 to Mary Ann Warwick, the daughter of Benjamin Warwrick and his wife Elizabeth. Benjamin was a Private in the 19th Dragoon Guards. His son William would farm the lot north of John's and the McGregor's.

John and Mary Ann would have 8 children together. John died in 1888 at the age of 91. His 2nd wife Mary Ann would precede him sometime after 1861.

DUNCAN MCKERCHAR

Born the 20th of December 1781 at Revucky, Kenmore, Perthshire. Son of John McKercher and his wife Catherine Campbell. Died the 23rd of August 1852 at Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario.

wife ESTHER FENNELL

Born 1795 in Ireland. The couple married the 5th of August 1822 at Perth, Lanark, Ontario. Esther was a widow of Thomas Garland. Died the 5th of May 1849 at Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario.

son JOHN MCKERCHER wife MARY ANN RANKIN

Born the 17th of October 1823 at Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario. Died the 12th of May 1897 at Enniskillen, Lambton, Ontario.

John married Mary Rankin of Dunipace, Stirlingshire on the 9th of February 1839 at Lanark, Ontario. She was born the 16th of July 1830 to William Rankin and Ann Comery and died the 16th of November 1911 at Carleton, Onatrio. They had 10 children.

• Duncan McKercher b. 1851 d. 1930 at Lambton, Ontario.
• James McKercher b. 1855 d. 1940 at Edmonton, Alberta.
• Esther Ann McKercher b. 1857 d. 1939 at Smiths Falls, Lanark, Ontario.
• John McKercher b. 1858 d. 1946 at Mayord, Lambton, Ontario.
• Alexander McKercher b. 1862 d. 1941 Edmonton, Alberta.
• Hugh McKercher b. 1863 d. 1890 at Petrolia, Lambton, Ontario.
• William McKercher b. 1865 d. 1948 at Petrolia, Lambton, Ontario.
• Thomas McKercher b. 1867 d. 1948 at Olds, Alberta.
• Donald McKercher b. 1869 d. 1943 at Peace River, Alberta.
• Arthur McKercher b. 1872 d. 1944 at Lansing, Ingham, Michigan.

dau ELIZABETH MCKERCHER husband THOMAS BOXWELL

Born 1827 at Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario. Died the 31st of May 1898 at Micksburg, Renfrew, Ontario.

Elizabeth married Thomas Boxwell of Wexford, Ireland on the 5th of February 1885 at Beachburg, Renfrew, Ontario. He was born in 1820 and died 1896 at Micksburg, Renfrew, Ontario. They had 5 children.

dau CATHERINE MCKERCHER husband THOMAS GRIFFIN WARD

Born the 6th of July 1829 at Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario. Died the 14th of July 1908 at Neillsville, Clark, Wisconsin.

Catherine married Thomas Ward of Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario in 1853 at Lanark, Ontario. He was born the 26th of July 1832 and died 1915 at Enniskillen, Lambton, Ontario. They had 9 children.

son JAMES MCKERCHER

Born 1831 at Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario. Died the 23rd of March 1852 at Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario.

dau ESTHER ANN MCKERCHER husband JOHN NESBITT

Born October 1836 at Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario. Died the 23rd of April 1886 at Plympton, Lambton, Ontario.

Esther married John Nesbitt of Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario on the 11th of March 1858 at Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario. He was born the 15th of August 1829 and died 1912 at Plympton, Lambton, Ontario. They had 5 children.

son ALEXANDER MCKERCHER

Born at Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario. Died at Beckwith, Lanark, Ontario.