Hay, Thomas

(from J. Smith and E. Nielsen books)

Thomas Hay (1803–1886), a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, was considered a master mechanic, after having served a seven year apprenticeship as a general smith. He married Jane Allan; they had six children, one of whom died in Edinburgh. About the year 1830, as a result of a depression in Scotland, Hay and his family decide to give up his business and settle in the new world.

After spending some time in New York, Hay settled in the village of Errol. His family joined him there in 1834. At the outbreak of the Rebellion of 1836–1838, he was appointed armourer general and was actively employed in repairing muskets and making weapons.

A few years later the Hay family moved to Warwick Village. His smithy was the second local industry, Freer’s mill being the first. Thomas Hay set up a shop at the front of the property known as the McKenzie Place (in 2008 just west of the Warwick General Store). His wife died shortly after; his children were married by this time. He remarried, but his second wife died shortly after as well.

In 1842 he reported that there were no blacksmith shops within 12 miles. A fire three years after he first set up his business forced him to rebuild. The 1851 Assessment Roll shows that Thomas Hay and John George Clarke held Lot 11, Con. 1 NER.

By the 1860s two more blacksmiths came to Warwick— Morris Falloon and William Prangley.

Thomas Hay was active in the Warwick community. He was repeatedly elected to Township Council; he also served as Reeve. In 1849 Thomas Hay was one of the petitioners requesting that Anglican church property — Lots 7, 8 and 9 north of Mereden St. — be added to the adjacent burying ground.

Thomas Hay died at the Strathroy home of his daughter, Mrs. Auld. His grandson was W. H. Auld of the Forest Free Press.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Hay, Thomas

Back Next