Smith, Ron: Early Cobourg Settler

Early Cobourg Settler

by Ron Smith

Hiram Ash was born in northern US in 1791. His parents George and Hannah and four older brothers James. George Jr, Joseph and Samuel crossed Lake Ontario about 1797 and received five of the first land grants in what became Cobourg. in May 1802.

Hiram and the rest of his family came over once the households were established. He served in the 1st Northumberland Battalion in the War of 1812 and was awarded the first land grant (100 acres) in Emily Township, Victoria County in 1822 for his military service.

Hiram was baptized at St Peter's Church on Sept 1 1826 at the age of 35 or as the church described "of riper years". He ran a tavern in Cold Springs until it burned down in 1836. After that he became a farmer and remained in Cold Springs for the rest of his life and died there at age 90 years on March 23 1881; his wife Mary had died just 12 days earlier.

Mary and Hiram had three children, two of which stayed in the area while the other moved to Iowa and established families there.

Hiram and Mary Ash are both buried in the Congregational / Pioneer Cemetery in Cold Springs.

Hiram Ash was my great great grandfather.