Chapter XXXII: More Tories of Rebellion Times

EDWARD G. O'BRIEN.

My first introduction to this gentleman was on the day after I landed at Barrie, in 1833. He was then living at his log cottage at Shanty Bay, an indentation of the shore near the mouth of Kempenfeldt Bay, at the south-west angle of Lake Simcoe. I was struck with the comparative elegance pervading so primitive an establishment. Its owner was evidently a thorough gentleman, his wife an accomplished lady, and their children well taught and courteous. The surrounding scenery was picturesque and delightful. The broad expanse of the bay opening out to Lake Simcoe--the graceful sweep of the natural foliage sloping down from high banks to the water's edge--are impressed vividly upon my memory, even at this long interval of fifty years. It seemed to me a perfect gem of civilization, set in the wildest of natural surroundings.

I was a commissioner of the Court of Requests at Barrie, along with Col. O'Brien, in 1834, and in that capacity had constant opportunities of meeting and appreciating him. He had seen service as midshipman in the Royal Navy, as well as in the Army; was an expert yachtsman of course; and had ample opportunities of indulging his predilection for the water, on the fine bay fronting his house. At that time it was no unusual thing in winter, to see wolves chasing deer over the thick ice of the bay. On one occasion, being laid up with illness, the Captain was holding a magistrate's court in his dining-room overlooking the bay. In front of the house was a wide lawn, and beyond it a sunken fence, not visible from the house. The case under consideration was probably some riotous quarrel among the inhabitants of a coloured settlement near at hand, who were constantly at loggerheads with each other or with their white neighbours. In the midst of the proceedings, the Captain happened to catch sight of a noble stag dashing across the ice, pursued by several wolves. He beckoned a relative who assisted on the farm, and whispered to him to get out the dogs. A few seconds afterwards the baying of the hounds was heard. The unruly suitors caught the sound, rushed to the window and door, then out to the grounds, plaintiff, defendant, constables and all, helter skelter, until they reached the sunken fence, deeply buried in snow, over which they tumbled _en masse_, amid a chorus of mingled shouts and objurgations that baffles description. Whether the hearing of the case was resumed that day or not, I cannot say, but it seems doubtful.

His naval and military experience naturally showed itself in Colonel O'Brien's general bearing; he possessed the polished manners and high-bred courtesy of some old Spanish hidalgo, together with a sufficient share of corresponding hauteur when displeased. The first whispers of the Rebellion of 1837, brought him to the front. He called together his loyal neighbours, who responded so promptly that not a single able-bodied man was left in the locality; only women and children, and two or three male invalids, staying behind. With his men he marched for Toronto; but, when at Bond Head, received orders from the Lieutenant-Governor to remain there, and take charge of the district, which had been the head quarters of disaffection. When quiet was restored, he returned to Shanty Bay, and resided there for several years; occupying the position of chairman of the Quarter Sessions for the Simcoe District. After the erection of the County of Simcoe into a municipality, he removed with his family to Toronto, where he entered into business as a land agent; was instrumental in forming a company to construct a railroad to Lake Huron _via_ Sarnia, of which he acted as secretary; afterwards organized and became manager of the Provincial Insurance Company, which position he occupied until 1857.

In the year 1840, died Mr. Thos. Dalton, proprietor and editor of the _Toronto Patriot_ newspaper; the paper was continued by his widow until 1848, when Col. O'Brien, through my agency, became proprietor of that journal, which I engaged to manage for him. The editor was his brother, Dr. Lucius O'Brien, a highly educated and talented, but not popular, writer. Col. O'Brien's motive in purchasing the paper was solely patriotic, and he was anxiously desirous that its columns should be closed to everything that was not strictly--even quixotically--chivalrous. His sensitiveness on this score finally led to a difference of opinion between the brothers, which ended in Dr. O'Brien's retirement.

At that time, as a matter of course, the _Patriot_ and the _Globe_ were politically antagonistic. The _Colonist_, then conducted by Hugh Scobie, represented the Scottish Conservatives in politics, and the Kirk of Scotland in religious matters. Therefore, it often happened, that the _Patriot_ and _Colonist_ were allied together against the _Globe_; while at other times, the _Patriot_ stood alone in its support of the English Church, and had to meet the assaults of the other two journals--a triangular duel, in fact. A spiteful correspondent of the _Colonist_ had raked up some old Edinburgh slanders affecting the personal reputation of Mr. Peter Brown, father of George Brown, and joint publisher of the _Globe_. Those slanders were quoted editorially in the _Patriot_, without my knowledge until I saw them in print on the morning of publication. I at once expressed my entire disapproval of their insertion; and Col. O'Brien took the matter so much to heart, that, without letting me know his decision, he removed his brother from the editorship, and placed it temporarily in my hands. My first editorial act was, by Col. O'Brien's desire, to disavow the offensive allusions, and to apologize personally to Mr. Peter Brown therefor. This led to a friendly feeling between the latter gentleman and myself, which continued during his lifetime.

On the 25th of May, 1849, the great fire occurred in Toronto, which consumed the _Patriot_ office, as well as the cathedral and many other buildings. Soon afterwards Col. O'Brien sold his interest in the _Patriot_ to Mr. Ogle R. Gowan.

I have been favoured with the perusal of some "jottings" in the Colonel's own hand-writing, from which I make an extract, describing his first experience of the service at the age of fourteen, as midshipman on board H. M. 36 gun Frigate _Doris_, commanded by his father's cousin, Capt. (afterwards Admiral) Robert O'Brien:

"The _Doris_ joined the outward-bound fleet at Portsmouth, where
about 1700 vessels of all sizes, from first-class Indiamen of
1400 tons to small fruit-carriers from the Mediterranean of 60
tons, were assembled for convoy. At first, and along the more
dangerous parts of the Channel from privateers, the convoy
continued to be a large one, including especially many of the
smaller men-of-war, but among them were two or three
line-of-battle ships and heavy frigates under orders for the
Mediterranean. The whole formed a magnificent sight, not often
seen. After a while the outsiders dropped off, some to one
place, some to another, one large section being the North
American trade, another the Mediterranean, until the _Doris_ was
left commodore of the main body, being the West Indiamen, South
American traders, and Cape and East Indiamen, and a stately
fleet it was. With the _Doris_ was the _Salsette_, a frigate of
the same class, and some smaller craft. This convoy, though
small apparently for such a fleet in that very active war, was
materially strengthened by the heavy armaments of the regular
traders in the East India Company's service in the China trade,
of which there were twelve, I think. These ships were arranged
in two lines, between which all the others were directed to keep
their course; the _Doris_ leading in the centre between the two
lines of Chinamen, and the _Salsette_ bringing up the rear,
while two or three sloops of war hovered about. My berth on
board the _Doris_ was that of signal midshipman, which was
simply to keep an eye on every individual craft in the
fleet. . . . . On reaching the Canaries, the fleet came to an anchor
in Santa Cruz roads, at the island of Teneriffe, for the purpose of
filling up water, and enabling the Indiamen to lay in a stock of
wine for the round voyage. The _Doris_ and larger ships outside,
and the _Salsette_ and smaller ones closer in, and an uncommon
tight pack it was. The proper landing place, and only place
indeed where casks could be conveniently shipped, was the mole,
a long, narrow, high pier or wharf, with a flight of stairs or
steps to the water. This was generally one jam from end to end,
as well on the pier as on the water, crowded above by casks of
all sizes, wine and water, every spare foot or interstice
between the casks crammed with idle, lazy, loafing Portuguese,
the scum and chief part of the population of the town, assembled
there certainly not to work, but amazingly active and busy in
looking on, swearing, directing and scolding--terribly in the
seamen's way, and by them very unceremoniously kicked and flung
aside and into the next man's path. Sometimes there was a
scuffle, and then a rare scrimmage caused by a party of soldiers
from the mole rushing in to keep the peace. They were
immediately pitched into by the blue jackets, who instead of
rolling their casks towards their boats, tacked as they called
it, and sent the barrels flying among the soldiers' legs. More
than one cask of wine in this manner went the wrong way over the
pier, down among the boats below, where there was, in its own
way, much the same state of confusion, with a good deal more
danger. Ships' boats, from the jolly-boat manned by lads,
hurried ashore to seek stray pursers' clerks with their small
plunder, or stewards and servants with bundles of washed
clothing--to the heavy launch loaded with water casks pushing
out or striving to get in--each boat's crew utterly reckless,
and under no control, intent only on breaking their own way in
or out, so that it was marvellous how any escaped damage. And
the thing reached its climax, when at daylight on the last day,
the signal was made to prepare to weigh anchor. I had been
ashore the day before, with a strong working party and three of
the frigate's boats, under the command of one of the
lieutenants, assisting the Indiamen in getting off their wine
and water; and so, when sent this morning on the same duty, I
was somewhat up to the work. I had therefore put on my worst
clothes; all I wanted was to have my midshipman's jacket as
conspicuous as possible, having discovered in the previous day's
experience the value of the authority of discipline. Our work
this day was also increased by the sure precursor of bad
weather, a rising sea; and as the town is situated on an open
roadstead, the surf on the beach, which, though always more or
less an obstruction, had been hitherto passable, was now
insurmountable; all traffic had to be crowded over the pier,
including late passengers, men and women, and more than one
bunch of children, with all the odds and ends of
clothes-baskets, marketing, curiosities, &c., &c. What a scene!
We naval mids found ourselves suddenly raised to great
importance; and towards noon I became a very great man indeed.
The _Doris_ being outside, she was of course the first under
weigh, and around her were the larger Indiamen, also getting
under sail--the commodore constantly enforcing his signals by
heavy firing. But big as these ships were, and notwithstanding
their superior discipline, they had nearly as many laggards as
the smaller fry. . . . All the forenoon the weather had been
getting more and more threatening, and the breeze and sea rose
together. About 11 o'clock a.m. we all knew that we were in for
something in the shape of a gale, and the _Doris_ made signal
for her boats and the working party to return to the ship; and
soon after, for the _Salsette_ and the inshore ships to get
under weigh. Our lieutenant, however, seeing the state of things
ashore, directed me to remain with one of the cutters and three
or four spare hands; and if the frigate should be blown off
during the night, to get on board a particular vessel--a fast
sailing South Sea whaler, that had acted as tender to the
frigate, and whose master promised to look after us, as well as
any others of the _Doris's_ people who might still be on shore.
Thus I was left in sole command, as the _Salsette_ had also
recalled her boats and working parties. Although she would send
no help ashore, she remained still at anchor. Capt. Bowen, her
commander, contenting himself with sheeting home his top-sails,
and repeating the commodore's signal to the inshore ships. We
afterwards found out the secret of all this. Bowen disliked the
idea of playing second fiddle, and wanted to be commodore
himself, and this was a beautiful opportunity to divide the
fleet. But as matters got worse, and difficulties increased, we
succeeded in getting them more under control. The crowd, both of
casks and live stock on the wharf, and of boats beneath,
gradually diminished. The merchant seamen, and especially the
crews of the larger boats of the Indiamen, worked manfully. The
smaller boats were taken outside, and regular gangs formed to
pass all small parcels, and especially women and children
passengers, across the inner heavy tier to them. This, the
moment the seamen caught the idea, became great fun; and a
rousing cheer was raised when a fat, jolly steward's wife was
regularly parbuckled over the side of the pier, and passed,
decently and decorously (on her back, she dare not kick for fear
of showing her legs) like a bale of goods, from hand to hand, or
rather from arms to arms, to a light gig outside all. This being
successfully achieved, I turned to a party of passengers
standing by, and who, though anxious themselves, could not help
laughing, and proposed to pass them out in the same manner;
making the first offer to a comely nurse-maid of the party. I
was very near getting my ears boxed for my kindness and
courtesy, so I turned to the mistress instead, who however
contented herself by quietly enquiring whether there was no
other way; of course another way was soon found; a few chairs
were got, which were soon rigged by the seamen, by means of
which, first the children, and then their elders, men and women,
were easily passed down to the boats below, and from thence to
the boat waiting safely outside. In all this work I was not only
supported in authority by the different ships' officers and
mates superintending their own immediate concerns, but also by a
number of gentlemen, merchants and others, most of whom came
down to the pier to see and assist their friends among the
passengers safe off. By their help also I was enabled, not
knowing a word of their language myself, to get material help
from the Portuguese standing by; and also got the officer in
command of the guard at the mole-head, to clear the pier of all
useless hands, and place sentries here and there over stray
packages, put down while the owners sought their own proper
boats among the crowd. And so at length our work was fairly
pushed through, and though late, I managed to get my party safe
aboard our friend the whaler, who had kept his signal lights
burning for us. Long before, the _Doris_ had bore up, and under
bare poles had drifted with a large portion of the fleet to the
southward; and I saw no more of her, until some months
afterwards I joined her in Macao Roads."

This was in the year 1814; soon afterwards the peace with America put an end to our midshipman's prospects of advancement in the navy, to his great and life-long regret. He obtained a commission in the Scots Greys, and exchanged into the 58th Regiment, then under orders for service in the West Indies, where his health failed him, and he was compelled to retire on half-pay. But his love for the sea soon induced him to enter the merchant service, in which he made many voyages to the East. This also, a severe illness obliged him to resign, and to abandon the sea for ever. He then came to Canada, to seek his fortune in the backwoods, where I found him in 1833.

Mr. O'Brien's relations with his neighbours in the backwoods were always kindly, and gratifying to both parties. One evening, some friends of his heard voices on the water, as a boat rowed past his grounds. One man asked "Who lives here?" "Mr. O'Brien," was the reply. "What is he like?" "He's a regular old tory." "Oh then, I suppose he's very proud and distant?" But that he was either proud or distant, his neighbour would not allow, and other voices joined in describing him as the freest and kindest of men--still they all agreed that he was a "regular old tory." The colonel was the last man in the world to object to such an epithet, but those who used it meant probably to describe his sturdy, uncompromising principles, and manly independence. A more utterly guileless, single-hearted man never breathed. Warm and tender-hearted, humble-minded and forgiving, he deplored his hastiness of temper, which was, indeed, due to nervous irritability, the result of severe illness coupled with heavy mental strain when young, from the effects of which he never entirely recovered. He was incapable of a mean thought or dishonourable deed, and never fully realized that there could be others who were unlike him in this respect. Hence, during the long course of his happy and useful, but not wholly prosperous life, he met each such lapse from his own high standard of honour with the same indignant surprise and pain. His habitual reverent-mindedness led him to respect men of all shades of thought and feeling, while to sympathize with sorrow and suffering was as natural to him as the air he breathed.

A neighbour who had had a sudden, sharp attack of illness, meeting one of the colonel's family, said very simply, "I knew you had not heard that I was ill, for Mr. O'Brien has not been to see me; but please tell him I shall not be about for some time." The man looked upon it as a matter of course that his old friend the colonel would have gone to see him if informed of his illness.

And if Mr. O'Brien's friends and neighbours have kindly recollections of him and of his family, these latter on their part are never tired of recalling unvarying friendliness and countless acts of kindness from all their neighbours.

Before leaving this subject, it may be appropriately added that Mrs. O'Brien (his wife) was his guardian angel--a mother in Israel--the nurse of the sick, the comforter of the miserable; wise, discreet, loving, patient, adored by children, the embodiment of unselfishness. To her Toronto was indebted for its first ragged school.

A few years before the colonel's death, his foreman on the farm, living at the lodge, had five children, of whom three died there of diphtheria. Mrs. O'Brien brought the remainder to her own house--"The Woods,"--to try and save them, the parents being broken-hearted and helpless. It is said to have been a touching spectacle to see the old Colonel carrying about one poor dying child to soothe it, while Mrs. O'Brien nursed the other. Of these two, one died and the other recovered.

The selfish are--happily--forgotten. The unselfish, never. Their memory lives in Shanty Bay as a sweet odour that never seems to pass away. It is still a frequent suggestion, "what would Mrs. O'Brien or the Colonel have done under the circumstances."

In his declining years, failing health, and disease contracted in India, dimmed the cheerfulness of Mr. O'Brien's nature. But none so chivalrously anxious to repair an unintentional injury or a hasty word.

He and his wife lie side by side in the burial ground of the church he was mainly instrumental in building. Over them is a simple monument in shape of an Irish cross--on it these words:--

"In loving remembrance of Edward George O'Brien, who died
September 8, 1875, age 76: and of Mary Sophia his wife, who died
October 14, 1876, age 78: This stone is raised by their
children. He, having served his country by sea and land, became
A.D. 1830 the founder of the settlement and mission of Shanty
Bay. She was a true wife and zealous in all good works. Faithful
servants, they rest in hope."

JOHN W. GAMBLE.

"Squire Gamble"--the name by which this gentleman was familiarly known throughout the County of York--was born at the Old Fort in Toronto, in 1799. His father, Dr. John Gamble, was stationed there as resident surgeon to the garrison. The family afterwards removed to Kingston, where the boy received his education. It was characteristic of him, that when about to travel to York, at the age of fifteen, to enter the store of the late Hon. Wm. Allan, he chose to make the journey in a canoe, in which he coasted along by day, and by night camped on shore. In course of time, he entered extensively into the business of a miller and country merchant, in which he continued all his life with some intervals.

In manner and appearance Mr. Gamble was a fine specimen of a country magistrate of half a century ago. While the rougher sort of farming men looked up to him with very salutary apprehension, as a stern represser of vice and evil doing, they and everybody else did justice to his innate kindness of heart, and his generosity towards the poor and suffering. He was, in the best sense of the phrase, a popular man. His neighbours knew that in every good work, either in the way of personal enterprise, in the promotion of religious and educational objects, or in the furtherance of the general welfare, Squire Gamble was sure to be in the foremost place. His farm was a model to all others; his fields were better cleared; his fences better kept; his homestead was just perfection, both in point of orderly management and in an intellectual sense--at least, such was the opinion of his country neighbours, and they were not very far astray. Add to these merits, a tall manly form, an eagle eye, and a commanding mien, and you have a pretty fair picture of Squire Gamble.

As a member of parliament, to which he was three times elected by considerable majorities, Mr. Gamble was hard-working and independent. He supported good measures, from whichever side of the House they might originate, and his vote was always safe for progressive reforms. His toryism was limited entirely to questions of a constitutional character, particularly such as involved loyalty to the throne and the Empire. And in this, Mr. Gamble was a fair representative of his class. And here I venture to assert, that more narrowness of political views, more rigidity of theological dogma, more absolutism in a party sense, has been exhibited in Canada by men of the Puritan school calling themselves Reformers, than by those who are styled Tories.

Perhaps the most important act of Mr. Gamble's political life, was the part he took in the organization of the British American League in 1849. Into that movement he threw all his energies, and the ultimate realization of its views affords the best proof of the correctness of his judgment and foresight. About it, however, I shall have more to say in another chapter.

Mr. Gamble, as I have said, was foremost in all public improvements. To his exertions are chiefly due the opening and construction of the Vaughan plank road, from near Weston, by St. Andrew's, to Woodbridge, Pine Grove, and Kleinburg; which gave an easy outlet to a large tract of country to the north-west of Toronto, and enabled the farmers to reach our market to their and our great mutual advantage.

He was a man who made warm friends and active enemies, being very outspoken in the expression of his opinions and feelings. But even his strongest political foes came to him in full confidence that they were certain to get justice at his hands. And occasionally his friends found out, that no inducement of personal regard could warp his judgment in any matter affecting the rights of other men. In this way he made some bitter adversaries on his own side of politics.

Among Mr. Gamble's public acts was the erection of the church at Mimico, and that at Pine Grove; in aid of which he was the chief promoter, giving freely both time and means to their completion. For years he acted as lay-reader at one or other of those churches, travelling some distance in all weathers to do so. His whole life, indeed, was spent in benefiting his neighbours in all possible ways.

He died in December, 1873, and was buried at Woodbridge.