In May, when you drive west on County Road 9, before you get to the Mad River bridge, you will pass a lot bursting with lilac blooms. When you see this grand sight, thank Granny Royal. These lilac bushes sprang from her lilac bush on the corner of the lot. Who is Granny Royal, ancestor of many local people?
Recently I came upon her obituary in an old scrapbook kept by a local woman. Unfortunately it is not dated and there is no record of her burial in Creemore Union Cemetery records. I estimate her death to be between 1900 and 1905.
“A Long Life Ended. As anticipated last week, old Mrs. Royal, who was near the divide, passed away on Saturday morning, and thus another link with the past is snapped. Mrs. Royal was born in Edinburgh Castle, in September 1819, and was therefore but a few months younger than the late Queen Victoria. Her father, Sergeant McDonald, of the 78th Regiment, was a British soldier for 44 years and had 36 medals for each of the engagements he had participated in, and which were buried with him. Her grandfather, Captain Angus McDonald, also a British soldier, served under General Wolfe at the taking of Quebec.
“She came to this country with her parents about 1831, her father having been awarded by the Government, a plot of land where Allandale now stands, then called Kempenfelt. Having been a soldier so long, he did not take too kindly to clearing up the bush, and so without a thought of the future value of his lands he let it slip out of his hands very cheaply.
“Mrs. Royal came as a girl to this section with the family of the late Captain Walker, who had a large section of land where Glencairn and Avening now are. She was first married to Robert Seaman, who died five years later. She afterwards married Francis Royal at Richmond Hill, and lived for a number of years in Whitchurch.”
With her husband and children she came to Nottawasaga around 1858, and settled on the farm now owned by F.E. Webster (along the east end of Riverside Drive). Mr. Royal died in 1876, since which time Mrs. Royal continued to reside in the same vicinity the remainder of her life. She raised a family of seven children, five of whom survive her: Robert S. of Nottawasaga; Frank of Manitoulin; John of Collingwood; Mrs. R. Woods and Mrs. Alex Matchett of Creemore.
In religion the deceased was formerly a member of the Disciples, but as that body had no place of worship here for many years, she has been connected with the English Church. The funeral took place from the Matchett House on Sunday, Rev. Canon O’Mearaofficiating in the absence of Rev. Miles. Six of her grandsons were appointed to act as pallbearers, Frank, Robert and Stanley Royal and Robert and Kenzie Matchett and George Royal, but the latter being unable to be present, his place was taken by Fred Johnston.”
Helen Blackburn is a retired teacher, avid gardener and a long-time contributor to the Creemore Echo. She writes about local history.