George A. Wallace ^{3 4 5 6}

  General Notes:

Donald Wallace (1816-1902) letter to Ed H. Wallace dated 4 Jun 1896 has b. 9 Jan 1775:

"His [Alexander's] oldest son, Lachlin, was my great-grandfather; his son John was my grandfather; one of his sons, George, was my father. He [George] was born January 9th, 1775. He married Barbara Munro, 6th March, 1806. He was a factor for Culrain, a wealthy man, then he went as overseer for a gentleman. On the 7th Oct 1825, he and wife and 4 sons left Scotland for South America. There he tried farming, but he did not like it. He left his [son] John there. He and family went to Canada West. He arrived at Guelph 26 September 1827. He settled on a farm there. On the 19th of next August he died. His wife [Barbara] was born in Ross[-s]hire 18 Aug 1737 [sic]. She died at Woolwich, Feb. 4, 1844 He had four sons--John, Donald, Hugh, Alexander. John was born at Ross[-s]hire, 13th of April 1813. He died in South America 11th of March, 1848. Donald was born 14th of February 1845. Hugh was born in Sutherland, 8th July, 1819. Died. Alexander was born in Sutherland on the 3rd of February, 1822. Barbara Wallace and her three sons removed from near Guelph to Woolwich 20th April, 1833. On a genealogical tree of the family of Wallaces in Ross[-s]hire, by a cousin of mine, I saw 88. Some more might be added since. One of them, Lachlin, had 10 children. One of them was John, my grandfather."
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Narrative by Don Wallace (Donald C. Wallace, III) on 1 July 2010, in email to Karen (Johnson) Fish:

Wallace origins in Scotland with immigration story to Canada via Colombia ca. 1815-20. It's a doozy: the entire clan worked under the Earl of Cromartie up on the Northeast coast for about 200+ years. The head Wallace was The Grange, or clan leader, and in the custom of the time that meant full employment and housing for the rest of the family.

All was going well when [George] Wallace married Barbara Munro, whose brother was a notorious cattle rustler, aka The Black Drover. Barbara got her husband to temporarily borrow the entire year's budget for the estate, about 300 pounds sterling, to finance buying (rustling, probably) cattle on the English border for sale elsewhere in Northern England. Instead, the Black Drover kept the money and said he'd been ripped off. This made [George] W an embezzler, and he and the family were forced to leave the estate.

He took them to the far north to start a Gaelic school--a revolutionary act at the time of the Enclosures, which were forcing crofters off the Highlands down into the textile mills of England or overseas as immigrants. The school failed. He petitioned the church to resettle the family, about 17 people, and they took what was offered: a missionary settlement in the highlands of Colombia, which was a vast ungoverned breakaway country, including Venezuela and Panama. The idea of introducing Protestantism in an overwhelming Catholic country didn't go over well. After a neighbor led a stray cow up to their front porch and plunged a knife into its heart, [George] petitioned the church again for resettlement. They were sent to Canada, landed in Guelph, Ontario, around 1822. And [George], totally burnt out by then, up and died [in 1828].

I gathered all of this from a box of letters handed down, the oldest dating from the 1640s. I found the box while spending the night in grandfather Don Wallace's house the night after his death. I spent a few hours reading everything and made my father open a safe deposit box to safeguard it. And then--it's so sad as to be unbelievable--at some point the deposit was closed and the box just thrown out. It just about broke my heart then, and does now, telling you. (And that's why I'm telling you. Those of us who care are few and far between.)

The family [of John D. Wallace] followed the Red River south into the Dakota territories, founding Drayton, and maybe another town or two. We still have the homestead from the 1870s--on the "bad" side of the Red River--though there is only one person left alive who has seen it, we lease it to a hay farmer. The reason all of the Wallaces headed West (or East, one brother helping to incorporate Suffolk County in New York State) was the land was in such poor condition. If we'd picked land on the other side of the river, where the sediment was, we'd probably still be there...

One final thought for today: all of the family left Colombia except for the eldest son, Alexander [John?], aged 16, who stayed, and later ended up in Costa Rica, where it is said he married a princess. I thought this story was a fable until my mother and father began reminiscing about visits from a very snotty Costa Rican lady when they were young, who insisted she was a royal. This would probably have been a Bourbon dynasty line of descent, if it wasn't a case of putting on airs.

  Research Notes:

Lorna Wallace family tree has "George (John?) Wallace." Was John his middle name? His brother? Father? Also has b. 8 Jan 1775. Transcription of Donald Wallace letter of 4 June 1896 to Ed Wallace has 9 Jan 1775, but his gravestone and the family Bible say 8 January 1775 in Culrain.

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tincanman&id=I110374
Has b. 1775 in Cromarty, Scotland.

Cromarty is very near to Rosskeen.
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See also George's brother John, whose second marriage was to Catherine Munro. Barbara's sister? Is this John the reason for confusion about his name?

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From Discussion Board at http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=2255&p=localities.britisles.scotland.roc.general :
Re: Looking for George Wallace-1775 and Barbara Munro-1789 of Rosshire
1 Mar 2009
pachinkoisforlovers

I am related to George Wallace and Barbara Munro through their son Donald.

here is the information that i have:
George Wallace, his Wife and their four sons left the port in Cromarty, Scotland and sailed on the vessel "Planet" in 7 Oct 1825 for South America. they went on the promise of land and other concessions that were never realized. In Carracas (LaGuayra), Venezuela and 18 mo. (1827)later arrived in Guelph Tp. CAN and were alloted land on the Elora Road (Scotch Block)and became known as the LaGuayra settlers. George dies Aug. 18 1828 and was the second body to be buried in the old cemetary behind Chalmers church.

From what i can find i believe that George, Barbara and three of their sone (George, Alexander and Hugh) went to Canada. I have mixed reports but have come to believe that their son John stayed in Carracas where he died some years later.

Hugh Wallace (b. 1819 Scotland-5 Sept 1881 Wellington co. ON) married Margaret Metcalf. they had 9 children.

I have your relative Alexander Wallace (b. 28 Feb 1822 Scotland - 29 Sept 1892 ON) marrying Mary Ann Elizabeth Cunningham. they had 11 children.

My G-G Grandfather Donald Wallace (b.14 Feb 1816 Scotland- d.1902 Pasadena, CA) married Harriet Lasby in 1838. they had 9 children.

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Email from Jeanine Wallace 20 Jan 2010 :

My grandparents have a wooden chest that came across with George and Barbara where they keep a lot of family stuff, in it is a Gaelic bible with inscriptions of birthdates and deaths. Below is what is written inside the bible - thought you might be interested.

George born at Culrain Parish of Ropskeen Ropshire, Scotland January 8 1775-August 19, 1828

Barbara born at Arshrop Parish of Ropskeen Ropshire Scotland August 18, 1789-February 4, 1849

Married March 6, 1806

John born in Soniskile Parish of Ropskeen April 19,1813-March 11 1846

Donald born Ropshile Parish of Ropskeen February 14, 1816 -

Hugh born in Creech Sutherland July 9, 1819

Alexander born in Creech Sutherland February 3, 1822 - September 29,1892

Just a side note - Alexander died in Port Elgin, Ontario - he moved there as Donald and Hugh took over the farm

Barbara died at the home of her son Hugh in what was then Woolwich Township, but was later named Pilkington Township in 1852 and has since been amalgamated to be Centre Wellington Township

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According to Jeannine Wallace 10/18/10, "George, husband to Barbara came to Canada with a wooden chest, I think I've mentioned this before. That chest has George's name on it with the middle initial 'A'."
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The following letter mentions the La Guayran settlers, among whom were George and his family.

From Lack Family Genealogy (http://www.lackfamily.net/genealogy/names/wallace_name/d1.htm#i2030):

General Notes: Letter from Catherine Ross (by then married to Young) about the death of her brother John

To: John Wallace
Sun Office 112 Strand London
Jan 29 1827
My dear Uncle,
I fully intended to have written to you two months ago, in the first place I was waiting to hear more satisfactory accounts from Colombia and since I received the melancholy intelligence of my poor brother's death I felt little disposed for writing.
Mr Young has sent you a paper with an account of him in it written by Mr Young which he has copied into all the newspapers here.

I saw a gentleman yesterday that has just arrived from Lagunyea who gives a most dismal account of the people's distress, but I suppose you have heard from George all the particulars. Their chief wish is to come home, or to be sent to North America, but the Association will do nothing for them. It has proved a most unfortunate course and has brought impossible misfortune on our poor family. Mrs Ross and her family are left quite destitute. She has three children, two boys and a girl. The mother and the youngest have gone to live with her father in Edinburgh and we have taken the other two. It would be rather hard that his poor children would be left friendless after what he had done for his father's family. With all his failings he had a most affectionate warm heart.

All the accounts we have had of his illness and death are in the Sun. It is strange that we should have been so long without hearing of is the heard from the consol at Philadelphia who sent an inventory of all John's things. We have written to him to get all the particulars he can relate to his illness and of course you have heard that he paid Walter a visit in Demerara. He was just after parting with him a fortnight when he died. He was very unlucky in all his undertakings but in my opinion the Association have behaved most infamously.

I had a letter from Walter am Saturday dated 1st November the poor fellow did not then hear of his loss. He will feel it the more on account of so recently having seen him. Indeed I dread the consequence upon his health. He says he expects to hear from you shortly. I saw a gentleman who came from Charles last summer. He was in the enjoyment of very excellent health but has so of riches. But we must hope for the best. I must now conclude for I do not feel disposed to enter into long particulars of my own affairs at present.

The Sun is doing wonders I believe I wrote to you time the birth of my youngest daughter who was born 9th of last October and is a fine little girl called Catherine after her mother.
Give my compliments to all my relations and friends. Mr Young writes with me in fondest regards to you and Mrs Wallace and I remain, my dear uncle, your affectionate niece
Catharine Young

I shall be glad to hear from you as soon as possible as I am going to write to Charles and he will feel interest in all the Roshkeen news. Write fully and if George says anything of John let me know. C.Y.

I shall expect your answer in a fortnight.
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From geni.com (added 25 Apr 2009):

7th child of John Wallace, was a tenant of Nonikiln until 1813, when he moved to the farm of Mossfield. There he failed in 1816 owing to his becoming security of John Munro, husband of his sister Mary and lost all he had. He was factor or land agent for many years for the Estate of Culrain, for some time grieve or farm manager for Major Juniston of Criech and then became parish schoolmaster at Alness where he taught Gaelic. He went in 1826 with many others, led by his nephew Rev. John Ross, to Colombia, South America. This nephew died the same year, December 31, 1826, on passage to Philadephia. He tried farming, but that did not answer his expectations so he remained only 18 months. George soon thereafter settled on a farm in the Scotch Block in Upper Canada West in 1827 with his wife and three young sons. His eldest son, John was born in February, 1813. The other 3 sons, Donald, Hugh and Alexander are still in Upper Canada (1894), two married. George died August 19, 1828 leaving a widow who died February 1, 1849.

Above data from Rosemarie Mackenzie, Tain, Scotland gathered by Barrie Todd, sent to Patricia Wallace Norvell on 4/27/94. George died in America.

Pilkington, Aug. 13th, 1866: George Wallace was born Jan 8, 1775, at Culrain. He married Barbara Munro March 6th, 1806, first farmed at Nonikill til 1813, then became factor for Culrain, but signing a bill with he brother-in-law, John Munro, who failed in a 3,000 pounds, he lost all he had - about 600 pounds. He then went as greave to Creich, next to Ardross. Afterwards he taught a Gaelic school, and on October 7, 1825, together with his wife and 4 sons left Scotland for South America. He there tried farming, but that not answering his expectations, he only remained about 18 months, and leaving his son John there, came to Canada West, arrived at Guelph, September 26, 1827, and settled on a farm there (in Scotch Block).

He died August 19, 1828, leaving a widow whodied February 4, 1849 and 4 sons John, Donald, Hugh and Alexander.

  Birth Notes:

Birthdate and place from the family Bible of George & Barbara Wallace:
George born at Culrain, Parish of Rosskeen, Ross-shire, Scotland January 8, 1775 (as on the gravestone).

  Death Notes:

http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mkallan&id=I00003 has d. 29 Aug 1828 in Guelph, Ontario instead of Donald Wallace's 19 Aug 1828. Headstone at Woodlawn says 19 Aug 1828.

  Burial Notes:

Block E
WE-4322

Now Woodlawn Memorial Park
762 Woolwich Street
Guelph, Wellington, ON

From Jeanine Wallace (email 12 Jan 2010): "George and Barbara have their own headstone. Originally George was buried downtown Guelph, he was the second person to be buried in that cemetary. The cemetary has since been moved to the Woodlawn cemetary were most of the family is buried now. When George passed away he and the family were living in the Scotch Block just outside of Guelph, now a little intersection called Marden. Grandpa says that he heard that Barbara and her sons were quite a burden on the neighbours after George died because they certainly didn't have much."
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From "Bethany History" (http://www.bethanyuc.org/Sub/bethany_history_1.htm):
"Another early settler was Mrs. George Wallace who with her husband and four sons, John, Alexander, Donald and Hugh, in the year 1825, left Scotland on the sailing vessel "Planet" for South America where they landed at Carracus, Venezuela. Eighteen months later they arrived in Guelph known as the LaGuayra settlers. George Wallace died August 18, 1828 and was the second body buried in the old cemetery behind Chalmers Church which is now a city parking lot. Mrs. Wallace and her four sons then settled in Pilkington where the sixth generation is still residing."

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Factor, Bef 1813, Culrain, Rosskeen Parish, Ross-shire (Ross and Cromarty, Highland), Scotland. "Factor of Culrain" (estate overseer?)

• Occupation: "overseer for a gentleman," Abt 1813, Ross-shire (Ross and Cromarty), Scotland. ⁸ Likely the same as "for some time grieve or farm manager for Major Juniston of Criech," frrom geni.com

• Occupation: tenant farmer, until 1813, Nonikiln, Rosskeen Parish, Ross-shire (Ross and Cromarty), Scotland. ⁹

• Occupation: farmer, 1813-1816, Mossfield, <Rosskeen Parish>, Ross-shire (Ross and Cromarty), Scotland.

• Occupation: parish schoolmaster, Abt 1816, Alness, Easter Ross, Ross-shire, (Ross and Cromarty, Highland), Scotland. ⁸

• Sailed: from Scotland for La Guayra, on the seacoast near Caracas, Gran Colombia (Venezuela), South America on the ship "Planet," 7 Oct 1825, Cromarty, Ross-shire (Ross and Cromarty, Highland), Scotland. ⁸ Emigrated with his wife and four sons. his son John probably remained in Colombia (Venezuela) when the rest of the family sailed to Canada in 1827.

In 1825, Caracas and La Guayra were part of Gran Colombia. Venezuela split from Gran Colombia on 13 January 1830.

According to geni.com, the party was led by George's nephew Rev. John Ross, who subsequently died on 31 December 1826 on passage to Philadelphia.

"[George] tried farming, but that did not answer his expectations so he remained only 18 months."

• Immigration: to Canada West, 26 Sep 1827, Guelph, (Wellington), Upper Canada (Ontario), Canada. with his wife and three or four sons. (John may have remained in Venezuela.) They, and other Scottish immigrants, became known as the La Guayra settlers (La Guairan settlers) in Ontario.

• Allotted: land on the Elora Road in the Scotch Block outside Guelph, 1828, (Marden), Guelph Twp, (Wellington), Upper Canada (Ontario), Canada. Settled on lots 10, 11 con 1.

The original farm was located at the present-day intersection of King's Highway 6 and Wellington Road 30, in Marden, Ontario, northwest of Guelph. From Jeanine Wallace (email 2 Jan 2010): "I selected two points on the map. The first is Marden, Ontario. This intersection that I marked is where George and Barbara first settled in the Scotch Block with the other settlers from Venezuala."
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=King's+Hwy+6&daddr=Wellington+Rd+7&geocode=FTwSmQId-Lk2-w%3BFbnImQIdzqw1-w&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=13&sll=43.601527,-80.331688&sspn=0.055691,0.110035&ie=UTF8&ll=43.618182,-80.364647&spn=0.055675,0.110035&z=13&dirflg=d

George married Barbara Munro, daughter of <Donald> Munro and Unknown, on 6 Mar 1806 in Rosskeen, Ross-shire (Ross and Cromarty), Scotland.^{1 2} (Barbara Munro was born on 18 Aug 1789 in Arshrop/Arshross <Ardross?>, Rosskeen Parish, Ross-shire (Ross and Cromarty), Scotland,^{10 11} died on 4 Feb 1849 in Woolwich Twp (Pilkington/Centre Wellington Twp), Wellington, Canada West (Ontario), Canada and was buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park, Guelph, Wellington, Ontario, Canada.)

  Marriage Notes:

Email from Jeanine Wallace 20 Jan 2010 :

My grandparents have a wooden chest that came across with George and Barbara where they keep a lot of family stuff, in it is a Gaelic bible with inscriptions of birthdates and deaths. Below is what is written inside the bible - thought you might be interested.

George born at Culrain Parish of Ropskeen Ropshire, Scotland January 8 1775-August 19, 1828

Barbara born at Arshrop Parish of Ropskeen Ropshire Scotland August 18, 1789-February 4, 1849

Married March 6, 1806

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Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910 at FamilySearch.org has:
George Wallace + Barbra Munro married 20 Jan 1806 Rosskeen, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. Why would this be a different date?
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FamilySearch:
"Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYQK-GN5 : accessed 08 Sep 2013), George Wallace and Barbra Munro, 20 Jan 1806.
On this same film are birth records for children of Lachland Wallace and Margaret Ross, and the marriages of John Wallace and Catherine Duff, Charles Wallace and Elspet Ross, Alexander Wallace and Elspet Grant, plus many other Wallace birth records.