Edward L. Patchell

Edward L. Patchell and Mary Gilray
Pioneer Settlers of King Township

Edward L.¹ Patchell, 3 October 1778 ¹-26 May 1854. ² The inscription on Edward’s gravestone states that he was “a native of the parish of Glendermott, County of Derry, IRELAND.” ³ Patchell is a French Huguenot name. They were a notable family that lived near Vassey. Edward’s paternal ancestors had emigrated to the northern part of Ireland in 1568, four years before the massacre of St. Bartholomew. ⁴ Edward married Mary Gilray in Ireland. ⁵ Mary was born about 1780 and probably died between 1851 and 1861. ⁶ Edward and Mary had at least one child in Ireland. ⁷ Then they emigrated to Saint John, New Brunswick in about 1819. ⁸ They had at least two more children after arriving in the Maritimes. ⁹ Some time afterwards, probably in the 1840’s, Edward and Mary moved to Canada West (Ontario). Two of their sons, who may have preceded them, were married in the Newmarket area in the early 1840’s. ¹⁰ By 1852 Edward and Mary were living with their son David on Concession 3 of King Township, York County. ¹¹ The Edward Patchell family were Presbyterian. Edward and at least one son, David Clarke Patchell, are buried in what is now known as “Pioneer Burying Ground” on Eagle Street in Newmarket, Ontario. ¹² His gravestone is cemented into a cairn next to the stone of one son-in-law; George Hamilton. Edward Patchell had at least four children; the last three are known to have been born to Mary Gilray. ¹³ There may have been others who remained in the Maritimes.