Canada's History

Inspired reading

-

Canada’s History always has something within it to look forward to, such as Nancy Payne’s article on the Old Hay Bay Church in Adolphusto­wn Township in Ontario (Destinatio­ns, April-May 2021). The church and its surroundin­gs are familiar to me because I spent my first years as a boy in the lush farmlands and small towns and villages of the county, one of the loveliest parts of southern Ontario.

As well, one of those subscribin­g to the building of this Methodist church in 1792 was my maternal ancestor, Captain Peter Ruttan (1742–1829), who served with the Fourth Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers — one of the Loyalist regiments raised in the American Revolution­ary War. Ruttan and his family escaped from New York City on the sailing ship Hope in 1783 and made their way with other refugees to the then Province of Quebec and ultimately to their new home in Adolphusto­wn in 1784.

Payne’s article inspired me to think about a visit to the church, which I have seen only from the outside. So, when the pandemic relaxes its grip, I will head east and sit in the wooden pews, close my eyes, and imagine Captain Peter worshippin­g there. Robb Watt, North Vancouver, B.C.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada