| 4. | James Templeton, Sr. was born on 16 Dec 1804 in Kilmarnock Parish, Ayrshire, Scotland; died on 17 Jul 1900 in Almonte, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Auld Kirk Cemetery, Mississippi Mills, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada. Other Events and Attributes:
- FindaGrave Memorial ID: 178635970
- _UID: E78EFBC90D3441199CBDB260BD994D311395
Notes:
FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178635970
Died:
Jas. Templeton, of Almonte, Served in Black Watch
- Lived 95 Years.
Almonte, July 20 - The funeral of the late James Templeton took place from his residence on Farm street to the Eighth Line cemetery on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock and was attended by a large number. The deceased gentleman was one of Almonte's oldest and most respected citizens. He was ninety-five years and seven months at the time of his death. With the exception of being somewhat hard of hearing, he preserved his faculties and was hale and haearty until a short time before his death. He was an enthusiastic curler for seventy-five years, fifty of which were connected with the Almonte club and the local curlers showed their respect for him by turning out in a body to his funeral.
The deceased was born at Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, Dec 16th. 1804, and in youth followed the occupation of his father that of a carpet weaver. At twenty-one years of age he went to Glasgow and enlisted for seven years in the famous Black Watch, or 42nd. Highlanders. He was first sent to Ireland and from there to Giblralter and finally Malta at all of which places he performed garrison duty. He had many strange tales to tell of his experience as a soldier in the latter two places. His term of service having expired, he returned to Auld Scotia and in 1842 immigrated to Canada with his family in Renfrewshire. It took them two months to reach Montreal. They took the boat to Smiths Falls thence by wagon to Almonte.
He was employed by Mr. Wylie. He purchased part of lot 19, concession 8, Ramsay and began his labours in the new country. At that time there were only six or eight houses in Almonte. For about forty years he worked on the farm when he retired to spend the rest of his days as a citizen of our town. His wife died about seven years ago in her ninetieth year. They had eight children, seven of them survive, one having died when coming to Canada, when an infant, from the fatigue of the journey.
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Almonte's Oldest Citizen
Passes to his Rest and Reward
The Late James Templeton
Short Sketch of His Career - Almost Centenarian
Keen sorrow was created in hundreds of hearts in town on Wednesday when the announcement was made that Almonte's oldest citizen, Mr. James Templeton, had entereed the land of shadows, after a pilgrimage on Mother Earth extending over ninety-five years and seven months. The patriarchal gentleman had been confined to his home the greater part of the past year, and for six months past was confined to bed. His mind was clear till near the last, though the venerable frame had been growing weaker by degrees for some time - a veritable wearing-out of the system owing to age.
The funeral took place today (Thursday) at two o'clock, and was attended by a large number of our citizens, as well as by many out of town, all anxious to show the last tribute of respect to a worthy man. The members of the curling club turned out in a body. Rev. Mr. Hutcheon conducted the service.
The late James Templeton was one of our best known and most prominent townsmen, and his death is deeply regretted. He was born at Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, Dec. 16th, 1804, the son of a carpet weaver who bore the same name. At the age of fourteen James was apprenticed to his father's trade, spending several years at it. In 1821 Mr. T. began his experience as a curler, and was an adept at the game until his strength prohibited a few years ago. He was an active curler for seventy-five years - fifty or more years identified with the Almonte club - and was probably the oldest curler in Canada - perhaps in the world for that matter. When he was nineteen years old he was married at Kilmarnock to Agnes Parker Lindsay, who was younger than himself.
A Member of the Black Watch
Mr. Templeton had his share of soldiering in his time. When he was twenty-one he went to Glasgow and took the King's shilling, enlisting in the old "Black Watch" Regiment - the 42nd Highlanders - then stationed in Ireland, near Cork. (During the South African war last winter the old gentleman watched the actions of his old regiment with keen interest.) The recruits were shipped to Belfast, and marched down through Ireland to the barracks. They stayed over a year at different stations in Ireland, then were ordered to Gibraltar, and embarked on the 'Albany', a 74 gun man-of-war. It took seven days then to make the passage from Queenstown to Gibraltar. Speaking to a Gazette scribe a few years ago, Mr. Templeton gave an interesting and graphic description of Gibraltar, that fortress rock which guards the entrance to the Mediterranean, rising a quarter-of-a-mile above the sea level, and so honeycombed with caverns and subterranean passages that it has earned the title of the "Hill of Caves." Many amusing tales, too, he told of barrack life and of the tricks and thefts perpetrated by the little Barbary apes which then swarmed about the neighbourhood and in some of the caves; and other experiences, As the Black Plague twice visited the troops, killing men by the scores, and to lessen the danger of infection, the whole garrison and town left their barracks and houses to live in tents - a motley camp, wherein nineteen different nationalities were represented; or when the powder magazines in one of the rock chambers exploded during artillery practice and thirty poor fellows were blown into eternity; or when a comrade for some offence was courtmartialled and sentenced to be shot, and the doomed man was forced to march to the place of execution behind his own coffin, borne shoulder high by four soldiers, and there to kneel on the ground behind it until the fatal command was given and his lifeless body fell, pierced through and through by bullets from the muskets of his comrades.
While at Gibraltar
Mr. Templeton was promoted to be corporal, and subsequently - sergeant. The regiment was transferred to Malta after a stay of over five years in Gibraltar. The petticoat soldiers caused quite a sensation among the Maltese, who had never seen a Highland regiment before. A few months in Malta finished Mr. Templeton's military experience. The seven years for which he had enlisted expired, and he was homesick for Scotland, so after a fair voyage from Malta to London, he boarded the "List Smack" and sailed round to Leith, went by the canal from Edinburgh to Glasgow, and took the coach from that city to Kilmarnock, where he met his wife and parents, whom he had not seen since his enlistment. The next ten years were spent in Kilmarnock, where Mr. Templeton took up his old trade. Then in 1842 he determined to emigrate and try his fortune in Canada. The family sailed from Greenock in the "Renfrewshire," and it took
A Voyage of Two Months
to land them in Montreal. They came up the canal to Smith's Falls, and from that place Mr. Templeton walked to Almonte, leaving his wife and children at the Falls. Here he presented letters of introduction to Mr. Wylie, father of Mr. J.H. Wylie, the present postmaster. By Mr. Wylie's advice teams were hired from Mr. Davis, of the 8th line of Ramsay, and Mrs. Templeton and the children, the youngest an infant in arms, were brought from Smith's Falls. But the long journey had been too much for the baby's strength, and she died within half-an-hour after the family's arrival - the only death that has yet occurred among the children.
Mr. Templeton found employment with Mr. Wylie, who was engaged in furnishing supplies to the North-West Company. He also bargained for the purchase of a farm - part of lot 19, concession 8, Ramsay - for which he agreed to pay Mr. Wylie 100 guineas. He put up a house on the farm, mostly with his own labor. The house is still standing. For his work in Mr. Wylie's store Mr. Templeton's salary was $8 per month the first season and $10 per month the second. In the summer he bought oxen and worked at clearing his farm.
Almonte 58 Years Ago.
There were then six or eight houses where Almonte now stands. The log schoo-house stood at the corner of Bridge and Country streets - opposite Mr. M. Patterson's residence. Thos., Stuart, a shoemaker, had his house and shop on the corner now occupied by the establishments of Messrs. Conn & West and Timmins & Co. Stuart wanted to sell the property to Mr. Templeton for $75, but the price was thought too high, and the deal fell through.
For about forty years Mr. Templeton remained on the one farm, working and improving it so that when he retired it was one of the finest in the neighbourhood. These were years of quiet work, cheered and brightened by the sight of children and children's children growing up to share in the parents' prosperity. In 1871, at Alma Place, Shawlands, Scotland, Mr Templeton's father died in his ninety-first year. His aged mother had predeceased her husband by about five years.
Eight children were born to Mr. Templeton, of whom seven are alive, namely: Mrs. Wm. Young and Jas. Templeton, jr. of Almonte; Mrs. Jas. D. Lindsay, of Kars; Mrs. A. A. Gilmour and Mrs. Arch. McKillop, Renfrew; Mrs. D. Ledgerwood, of Arnprior; and Wm. Templeton, of Emerson, Manitoba. His
Descendants Number about 150
and of these several are great-great grandchildren. After a married life which covered a period of seventy years Mrs. Templeton died about seven years ago, in her ninetieth year. She was highly respected by all who knew her, and beloved by her family.
The family circle has, however, been singularly free from berevements. But in a life which may have said to have begun with the century, what changes have occurred! How many tried and trusted friends of youth and manhood have dropped from the ranks!
"The mossy marbles rest
Ont he lips that he has prest
In their bloom.
and the names he loved to hear
Have been carved for many ayear
On the tomb."
James married Agnes Parker Lindsay in 1823 in Kilmarnock Parish, Ayrshire, Scotland. Agnes was born on 29 Dec 1804 in Kilmarnock Parish, Ayrshire, Scotland; died on 22 Dec 1893 in Almonte, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Auld Kirk Cemetery, Mississippi Mills, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1868 - 1959 (91 years)
