Clippings from a History of Leeds and Grenville
by W. H. Leavitt,
(Recorder Press, Brockville, 1872,
and reprinted by Mika, Belleville, Ontario 1972)
It is likely that the information in this book was
supplied to the author (complier) by Phineas Baldwin Webster.
p. 53: "In 1783, John White, the great Grandfather of the the present
gaoler for the United Colonies, and Asa Webster, father of P.B. Webster,
came through the woods from Vermont, striking the St. Lawrence at Morristown.
They made a raft, and crossed the river, examined the land in the vicinity,
and then journeyed down the river to Montreal. This was one year previous
to the arrival of the first actual settlers. The next year they returned
with their families. Asa Webster drew the land now owned by the son of the
late Richard Dyre. Phineas Baldwin and Stephen Baldwin cam a short time
after and settled near Mr. Webster. The late E. [Ephraim] Webster, Collector
of Customs at Brockville, was the eldest son of Mr. Asa Webster."
p. 127 in a chapter which discusses the village of Gananoque: "Among
the first settlers of the village was Ephraim Webster, who was afterwards
Collector of Customs at Brockville; at one time he carried on a small store
in Gananoque." [This is the Ephraim mentioned above as the eldest child
of Asa and Sally].
