Mapping the Campbell Heritage: An Exploration of Land Ownership in Beckwith Township, Lanark County, Upper Canada/Canada West

When we look at an old map, we're presented with an opportunity to trace the paths of our ancestors, uncovering the terrain of their lives and stories of their struggles and triumphs. Recently, I was fortunate enough to have such an experience, armed with an map of the concessions and lots of Beckwith Township in Lanark County, Ontario and land indentures in FamilySearch. This map became my time machine, enabling me to trace the land holdings of my ancestors, Duncan Campbell and his son, John Duke Campbell.
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Duncan Campbell, my 4x great-grandfather, was an early settler in Lanark County, who set his roots down by acquiring his first 100 acres through a land grant in 1824, after first settling the land in 1818. This was a period when the government of Canada was encouraging the settlement of the Canadian frontier by offering land grants to individuals who were willing to clear and cultivate the land. Duncan must have proven himself worthy of this grant, and this marked the beginning of his journey as a landowner.

Duncan's land acquisitions didn't stop there; his portfolio expanded through purchases, until he had gathered an impressive total of 450 acres by the time of his death in 1850. Within this expanse, there were 250 acres situated in concession 4, lots 11 and 12, located just above Franktown. This piece of land was bequeathed to his son, Archibald Campbell, through land indentures before Duncan's death. The remaining 200 acres, located in concession 10, lots 10 and 11, were left to another son, Donald Daniel Campbell, also known as Daniel.

1880 map of Beckwith Township, Lanark County, annotated with the land of Duncan and John Campbell

Tragedy struck the Campbell clan when Daniel and his wife, Janet Duff, passed away soon after in 1852. Their land was inherited by their children, Donald Daniel Campbell Jr. and Margaret. The children, still too young to manage the land themselves, moved in with family members – Daniel Jr. went to live with John, and Margaret was placed under the care of her mother's parents.

The story of Duncan's eldest son, John Duke Campbell, my 3x great-grandfather, also stands as a testament to the determination and hard work of the era. Following in his father's footsteps, John acquired his first 100 acres through a land grant in 1844. Over the next 18 years, through acquisitions and purchases, he amassed an impressive estate of at least 700 acres.

John's journey as a landowner wasn't static, however. He sold some of his land prior to his death in 1888. After his passing, his wife Elizabeth and his executors sold much of the remaining land, providing inheritances to their children, including my 3x great-grandfather, Peter Campbell, who farmed near Prince Albert in the North West Territory. 
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The journey into my family's past, marked out in rectangles on an old map, has been a profound experience. These lands, skillfully cultivated by my ancestors, served not just as their homes but also as their livelihoods. These tracts of land represent the physical legacy of the Campbell family – a testament to their hard work, perseverance, and enduring presence in the history of Beckwith Township.

Though the lands may have changed hands over time, the memory of my ancestors' steadfast resilience remains, encapsulated in the folds of an 1880 map and the heart of their descendant.