Robert Fairbairn

Mr. Charles Bowman who acquired the property on which a good portion of Bowmanville now stands, was a Scotchman, possessing in a large degree the natural characteristics of the race prominent among which are caution, foresight, perseverance and frugality. His headquarters were at Montreal. He met my father the late Robert Fairbairn, J. P. at Port Hope. He had recently arrived there from Scotland. Pardon me if I allude slightly to my father and his career. He was born near Dunce in Berwickshire, went at an early age to learn the dry goods business with a brother in Haddington. After serving his apprenticeship he started in business on his own account at Pennycouick, where a large number of French prisoners taken in the Napoleonic wars were confined, I think there was more pleasure than business in the place. I know from what I have heard him say that social life and consequent amusement greatly prevailed. Not finding it meeting his expectations, he moved to Forfarshire and after a short residence there he quit the business and decided to try his fortunes in the New World as it was then known in the Old Countries.

It is hardly credible but is a fact nevertheless, that it took three months to cross the Atlantic. They had a drunken captain in charge, were several times on the point of starvation and on two occasions were relieved by passing vessels. They at last reached Norfold, Virginia, more dead than alive.

What small events apparently, have a controlling influence over our destiny. Among those who came out in the same vessel was a Mr. William Wallace of Edinburgh, writer of the signet - a position equivalent to our degree of barrister. He was a brother-in-law of Mr. David Smart of Port Hope. A friendship sprang up between them and he accompanied him to that place. Mr. Smart at that time was doing a large extensive business and my father went into his employment. Mr. Bowman being in want of a man to come to Darlington held out inducements to him to undertake the new enterprise which he wished to foster. They came to an agreement, he reaching here in 1823. For seven years he took charge but for some reason he could not work satisfactorily with his employer and threw up the position. In the meantime he had built a large frame store and dwelling on the brow of the eastern hill, on the lot now owned by Mr. Wm. G. Glover , on which the present billiard room is situated, near Mr. W. H. Williams' West End Smithy. He opened a general country store and not succeeding he retired, rented first to Wm. Warren , afterwards to a Mr. Sadd , of whom more anon. The premises were destroyed by fire in 1845 and were a total loss with no insurance. Mr. Bowman had other branch stores one being at Colborne. Mr. Steele , father of the well known Mr. J. Clarke Steele of Toronto went about the same time to Colborne in a similar position. Mr. Bowman spent a good deal of his time in the old country purchasing supplies. He had extensive means and knew how to buy to advantage.

I have in my father's handwriting a statement showing the population of Darlington in April 1827, 31 adult Baptists and 124 under 16 years of age; Methodists 45 and 180; Presbyterian 18 and 72; Church of England 7 and 28; Roman Catholics 10 and 40; professing no religion 61. Total 666. This reveals two interesting facts; first he exceedingly slow increase of the people of that date; second, the large number of children in proportion to the whole. Those hardy old pioneers must have believed in the command given "to multiply and replenish the earth." If they had lived in the present fast age the figures would have been reversed no doubt.²