Last week, 199 years ago on March 12, 1825, Tillsonburg’s founder George Tillson left Normandale, about 5 km northeast of Turkey Point, to build his own town.
These excerpts from his diary follow George’s trip to Dereham Forge, which was renamed Tillsonburg in 1836.
On March 15, 1864, 30 years and three days after setting out from Normandale, he died.
THE OLD DEREHAM RECORD
March 12, 1825: “Satterday George Tillson began to load his waggon for Deerham furnace. Finished loading and started, went by Brinings and took on three meet barrels and from thence to Mr. Fairchild, and left 2 barrels and keeping half bushels of salt. Took on board some help and proceeded to Mr. Blanys and put up. Monday morning left Blanys and proceeded to Frederick Saverien, bated with hay and took 2 bundles of oats along. Got Mr. Lassing to help unload and load at big creek hill (Delhi) and help up at north creek gave him a peter (pewter?) kettle. Proceeded to Vanalstines and put up. Tuesday morning started on, got 2 armfuls of hay at Ronsons (Courtland) and took to the woods. Called at Panlyey and Tisdales sugar camp… and got Ronsons Bay and Steens to go through all the mud to the pine land, from thense proseeded to the end of the road, choped some road and put up under my waggon.
“Wednesday morning rained before day and it sleeted, chopped some more road… drove my oxen down to Valley, and stayed till Thursday fore noon – got old Mr. Hawley and his son Daniel, Mr. Smith and his brother in law to come up with me to cut out the road. Fetched up half bushel potatoes from old Mr. Hawley, chopped road in after noon and got the waggon in Deerham. Went to site, built a camp, cooked supper and slept.
“Friday morning went to cutting road again and some time in the after noon arived at the site with the waggon and cut and piled under brush till night. Old Mr. Hawley went down to his son Williams and fetched up a bushel of oats for the oxen Satterday morning. Cleaned off a building spot, chopped some logs and began a house and got it up three logs high on two sides and my men went home -let Mr. Smith have half bushel salt…
“Sunday morning… took a direct southwesterly direction and come out to Hawley road. A little afternoon started from Mr. Hawleys in the west settlement, and Wilcoxes to see about some hay axes and to Arianills to seabout boards. Found good ground for road on a Strate line from the mouth of Stoney Creek to south west corner of Dyer and Wilcox Lot, got my ax fixed by Dyer and Wilcox got half bushel potatoes of Agive Healy, got 26 ½ lb flour of Schooley and Norwich mill. Got a second bushel of oats of William Hawley.”
When George stopped at someone’s house, probably for the night, he gave them something. Trading was the currency.
“18th of April B. Van Norman & H. Tillson began fixing waggon, started from Air Furnace 19th and got as far as F. Saverigns, at night wednesday came to Furnace Site Deerham without help.
“On Thursday B.V. went to Hawleys Louks. H. T. went to Norwich after Boards etc.
“On Saturday Flo Miller A. + B. Gilbert came at noon and went home on Sunday after noon after Raising house.”
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George Tillson’s pioneer trail from Normandale to Dereham Forge
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18.03.2024
Last week, 199 years ago on March 12, 1825, Tillsonburg’s founder George Tillson left Normandale, about 5 km northeast of Turkey Point, to build his own town.
These excerpts from his diary follow George’s trip to Dereham Forge, which was renamed Tillsonburg in 1836.
On March 15, 1864, 30 years and three days after setting out from Normandale, he died.
THE OLD DEREHAM RECORD
March 12, 1825: “Satterday George Tillson began to load his waggon for Deerham furnace. Finished loading and started, went by Brinings and took on three meet barrels and from thence to Mr. Fairchild, and left 2 barrels and keeping half bushels of salt. Took on board some help and proceeded to Mr. Blanys and put up. Monday morning left Blanys and proceeded to Frederick Saverien, bated with hay and took 2 bundles of oats along. Got Mr. Lassing to help unload and load at big creek hill (Delhi) and help up at north creek gave him a peter........
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