James Montgomery
Tegart
1800-1881

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James Montgomery TEGART(1800-1881)

James Montgomery Tegart was born in Ireland, County Armagh in 1800, the son of Sergeant James Tegart and Jane Montgomery. According to the marriage records of Ireland, he married Margery Anderson in County Armagh in 1819. Their first son, Alexander was born there in 1820.

In A History of Simcoe Co. by A.F. Hunter, it says that James M. Tegart arrived in Canada in 1823. However, the gravestone of their second son, James in the Mt. Tegart Cemetery at Tottenham says he was born in County Armagh, Ireland, on February 29, 1824, so it would seem the family did not leave Ireland until after that date. James Montgomery took up land in Ontario in the neighbourhood of what is now Tottenham on Lot 8, Concession 4. He built a log house on a knoll just north of the stream that runs through the property. Later this log house was replaced by a finer dwelling.

"James Tegart, whose money was almost gone by the time he had cleared three acres, hired out, and for three months work got $24.00, with which he bought back a cow, a bag of flax and a [spinning] wheel for his wife, and she after six weeks had spun the price of another cow. Such were some of the straits and struggles of pioneer life"

"Tegart, J.M., retired farmer and Justice of the Peace. Mr. Tegart, whose father was one of the earliest settlers in Simcoe Co., was born in Ireland in 1800, and removed with his parents to Simcoe Co. 1823. Owns S½ Lot 8, Con 4, 100 acres, valued at $6000. P.O. address, Tottenham."

As early as 1828, a travelling Methodist missionary held services in the Tegart home, and about the same time a cemetery was started at his place. It became the primary burial place of the various generations of family members as well as of many old settlers. It is called the Mt. Tegart Cemetery and was affectionately referred to as God's Acre by James Tegart.

One family story has it that James Montgomery Tegart was a leader of Simcoe County battalion which rallied under William Lyon Mackenzie in the rebellion of 1837. He led the battalion across the country to Yonge Street and made his stand with Mackenzie in his efforts to obtain responsible and representative government for the country.

He and his wife, Margery, had five sons and one daughter: Alexander, James, Edward, Anderson, Jane, and George. His wife died on March 1, 1849 and is buried in the Mt. Tegart Cemetery.

James Montgomery later married a Mrs. Jennet Sydie of the Penville vicinity. She died June 23, 1874 and is also buried at Mt. Tegart. James M. died March 7, 1881 at the age of 80 years and six months.

1. see Biography of James Tegart, Sgt. (1768-1830); Tegart Treeclimbers, Vol.1, No. 1, p.2.
2. Historical Atlas of Simcoe County; 1880
3. Biographical Directory of Simcoe County Subscribers

Notes: The main portion of this biography was supplied by Pat McKinley of Texas. Thanks, Pat