Person Record

Metadata

Name

Burgess, William

Born

1845

Birthplace

Scotland

Deceased

Aug. 9, 1923

Deceased

Burgoyne

Father

William Burgess

Mother

Ann Noble

Spouse

Christina Rowand, of Dunblane, daughter of James Rowand (M. 1889)

Children

Elizabeth Oliver Burgess
James Rowand Burgess
William Noble Burgess

Relationships

Siblings - Alfred, Annie and Harold.

Education

He entered a 5-year law course at Osgoode Hall, Toronto in 1878 and was called to the Bar in 1883.

Occupation

a) Both William Sr. and William Jr. taught school at different times after settling on the farms. William (Jr.) was a teacher for about 5 years in King Township;
b) In Burgoyne, worked at pioneer farming: clearing land, fencing the farms, putting up barns;
c) After enrolling in law school in 1878, and being called to the Bar in 1885, William worked as a lawyer in Port Elgin. His office was upstairs on the W side of Goderich St., in what was then called Commercial Buildings. Around 1897, the law office was moved to the east side of Goderich St., in what was the south half of Avis' Jewllery Store in 1974.

William was active in community work, including Farmers' Union, Temperance Society, and School Boards. He was a member of the Order of Foresters. He was a member of the Dunblane Presbyterian Church.

Places

Immigrated to Canada in 1858 and moved near Burgoyne, Con A., Lots 13 & 14, Arran Township in the winter of 1867. The 2 lots were worked as one farm until sometime after William Sr.'s death in 1890.
Attended law school in Toronto 1878-1885.
In 1885, boarded in a private house on Mill St. E, Port Elgin, walking home to Burgoyne most weekends.
In 1897, purchased a big double house at east end of Mill St., Port Elgin. He and his family would spend a month or 2 in the big farm house at lot 13, Con. A. In 1915, his children moved out to live on the farm, and around 1917, William and Christina moved there too. William still kept in touch with his office, kept open by his new partner, Mr. Newman.

Sources

Sources:

a) Morphet, Georgina. "William Burgess." "Year Book 1972." Tiverton: The Bruce County Historical Society, 1972. Print.

b) Saugeen History Hunters. "Roots and Branches of Saugeen, 1854-1984: a history of Saugeen Township." [Port Elgin, Ont.]: Saugeen History Hunters, 1984.

c) Burgoyne Women's Institute Tweedsmuir community history, A2016.044.043.