8 History of Valleyfield and Congregation

St. Mary’s Road (Glenmartin) Whim Road.

Whim Road Cross (Kilmuir) Head of Montague.

Victoria Cross.

Cardigan.

Georgetown. Grand River.

Dundas.

Commercial Cross.

It is needless to name the country that sired the early settlers of the Valleyfield district. It is universally known, though, that the world’s best citizens come from north of the River Tweed, and they came here by ships sailing from Liver- pool, Glasgow, Skye and other points: Ships bearing the names of “Annabella”, “Alexander”, “Washington” and “Ocean”.

Many of the settlers of Brown’s Creek came by the last named ship. ' Brown’s Creek

This district is now known as Heatherdale and derived its name from a man named Brown who held a timber permit from the Scottish proprietor. As he was the first man to use the creek to drive his timber, the stream was named after him. He built a small dam where MacRae’s Mill now stands. The first child born in Brown’s creek settlement was Mar- garet, daughter of Norman and Rachael MacPherson and she

lived to the good old age of ninety—two years.

Green Marsh

Formerly known as Green Marsh, Bellevue was first settled in 1838 by two families named MacDonald and Mac- Beth. In 1840 a shipload of immigrants arrived from In- verness-shire and settled in this district.

The Disruption in Scotland

In the year 1843 decisive steps were taken in Scotland to end the old private patronage system obtaining in the Nat- ional Church. Out of 1203 ministers in the Church, 451 left and proceeded to form the Free Church of Scotland. This new movement so pleased the settlers in the new districts of Douse’s Road, Brown’s Creek and vicinity that they sent a letter and out of their meager savings, a sum of money to the funds of the new church. So pleased were they in Scotland