CHAPTER II.

1780-1805.

BEGINNINGS IN LOWER AND UPPER CANADA.

Quebec-Tuffey-The Hecks-Augusta-Niagara-Neal-Warner -Bay Quinte-Lyons-McCarty-Losee-U. E. LoyalistsErnestown Prince Edward The first class - RoblinClasses Napanee-Detlor-First church-Dunham-Cataraqui Augusta General Conference Coleman - Woolsey-Wild beasts-Keeler-Ostrander-First loaf-Hungry year Incidents - Coate- Wooster - Quarterly meetingWildfire Jewell - Dow Sawyer Anson Herron Pickett Vanest Madden Tomkins - Rideau Member:-Draper-Crowell-Others-Bangs-Mohawk

Woods

-Bay of Quinte-Dance-Whiskey-Indians-Fever-Conference Thames - 600 miles - Oxford-Delaware-Mush and milk-Fever and ague-Long Woods-Detroit-Montreal-Mervin-Sawyer-Ruter-Quebec-Madden

Others Slavery.

Howe

IN 1780 a commissariat officer of the 44th Regiment, stationed at Quebec, a local preacher whose name was Tuffey, held services among the immigrants. He continued his efforts till 1784, when, the war being over, his regiment was disbanded and he returned to England. Many of his comrades remained in the country, and probably continued his work.

Paul and Barbara Heck, John Lawrence and his wife -the widow of Philip Embury-and her son, Samuel Embury, part of a small company of persecuted Protestants from the valley of the Rhine who found refuge in Ireland and accepted the teachings of John Wesley. In 1760 they crossed the Atlantic and assisted in founding Methodism in New York. After a few years there, a short stay and some good work near Lake Champlain

a

with Samuel Embury as leader. Near his home. church was built, since known as the "Old Blue Church."

Another British soldier, George Neal, a major of cavalry, after the example of Webb in New York and Tuffey in Quebec, opened his commission at Niagara. He had been most wonderfully spared when his regiment was all cut off, and promised the Lord that he would serve Him. After the war, by the preaching of Hope Hull, he was reminded of his vow. In a dream a two-edged sword, bearing the name of Wesley, was given him. He joined the Methodists, began to preach, and was received on probation for the ministry in the United States. But his health failed, and he was obliged to desist. In 1786 Major Neal crossed the Niagara to take possession of lands granted him as a British officer. As a true Methodist and a zealous local preacher, he visited the scattered inhabitants, preached in their houses and continued his efforts for some years. So earnestly did he denounce prevailing vices that some of the baser sort, exasperated, resorted to violence. Many, however, were converted, and the way was prepared for the regular ministry. Among the many young converts gathered into classes and well reported of in after years. was Christian Warner, who had entered the army in 1777 and drawn land in the township of Stamford. He was made a leader, an office he worthily held until his death in 1833-" a pious, useful and steadfast man."

The Rev. George Ferguson tells of meeting many persons in 1812 who ascribed their conversion to Major

THE HOUSE AT BALLINGRANE, IRELAND, IN WHICH
BARBARA HECK WAS BORN

From the original now in the possession of Victoria University

Neal; others, also, on the Long Point circuit, where he had the great pleasure of meeting the venerable man who was the first to raise the Gospel standard on the Niagara frontier, and who, though in his seventieth year, with silver locks, was still eloquently proclaiming the heavenly message.

As these pages were going through the press we received the following particulars from the Rev. William H. Garnham, B.A., of Port Rowan:

"It was only on April 1st I discovered that Major Neal spent a considerable portion of his life and died in this neighborhood.

"After receiving your letter I walked out to what is called the Backus Burial-ground, and found his grave and also that of his wife. The inscriptions on the tombstones, which are unpretentious, are quite plain. The graveyard is very much neglected, but I hope to have it put in better shape.

Major George Neal was born in South Carolina in 1750. He joined the British Army at the time of the Revolutionary War and became a major. At the close of the war he returned for a time to his native State and was engaged as a school-teacher. One night in his sleep he imagined he was giving orders to his men at the front, and was overheard by the people with whom he boarded. He soon found it expedient to leave that region. He proceeded first to Halifax, thence to Dundas and subsequently to Lyons' Creek, where he bought or built a grist-mill. Then, feeling it was his duty to preach the Gospel he rented the mill and started his work. After the taking of Fort George by the Americans he sold his mill and came westward to what was formerly, Cope's Landing, on Long Point Bay, now the village of