David Pattee
Encyclopedia
David Pattee was a businessman, judge and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Goffstown, New Hampshire
in 1778. He studied medicine but never practiced. In 1803, he left New Hampshire for the lower Ottawa River
in Upper Canada because he was in debt and accused of forgery
. He set up a farm and formed a partnership with Thomas Mears
to operate a water-powered sawmill
near the Long Sault Rapids on the river. This was the first sawmill on the western side of the Ottawa River. They established a contract to supply lumber to George
and William Hamilton
; when they were unable to repay advances, the Hamiltons took over the operation of the mill and Pattee returned to farming. He was named justice of the peace in the Eastern District
in 1812 and in the Ottawa District in 1816. In the same year, he became a judge in the Ottawa District, serving until 1849. He also served in the local militia.
In 1820, he ran against William Hamilton for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
for Prescott
. Hamilton was elected mainly because an associate of his brother was the returning officer. When electoral fraud was uncovered, Pattee was declared elected in 1821. The Hamiltons had uncovered the original accusations of forgery against Pattee and attempted to unseat him on that basis. Pattee was able to defend himself against these charges. He died at his home near Hawkesbury
in 1851.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He was born in Goffstown, New Hampshire
Goffstown, New Hampshire
Goffstown is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 17,651 at the 2010 census. The compact center of town, where 3,196 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Goffstown census-designated place and is located at the...
in 1778. He studied medicine but never practiced. In 1803, he left New Hampshire for the lower Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
in Upper Canada because he was in debt and accused of forgery
Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
. He set up a farm and formed a partnership with Thomas Mears
Thomas Mears
Thomas Mears was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in the Thirteen Colonies in 1775. He settled in West Hawkesbury Township. He set up a sawmill and gristmill on the Ottawa River in that area with David Pattee, which later became the basis for the town of Hawkesbury...
to operate a water-powered sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
near the Long Sault Rapids on the river. This was the first sawmill on the western side of the Ottawa River. They established a contract to supply lumber to George
George Hamilton (lumber baron)
George Hamilton was a lumber baron and public official in Upper Canada.Hamilton was born at Hamwood House, in County Meath, Republic of Ireland in 1781 and came to Quebec City sometime before 1807. He was a descendant of the Hamiltons of Killyleagh Castle, Co...
and William Hamilton
William Hamilton (lumber baron)
William Hamilton was a lumber merchant and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Ireland and came to Quebec City with his brother George sometime before 1807. They were originally in the business of importing goods but later became involved in the timber trade...
; when they were unable to repay advances, the Hamiltons took over the operation of the mill and Pattee returned to farming. He was named justice of the peace in the Eastern District
Eastern District, Upper Canada
Eastern District was one of four districts of the Province of Quebec created in 1788 in the western reaches of the Montreal District and partitioned in 1791 to create the new colony of Upper Canada. Known as Lunenburg District until 1792, it was abolished in 1849...
in 1812 and in the Ottawa District in 1816. In the same year, he became a judge in the Ottawa District, serving until 1849. He also served in the local militia.
In 1820, he ran against William Hamilton for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
for Prescott
Prescott County, Ontario
Prescott County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.It was created in 1800 from a portion of Glengarry County. It was named in honor of Major General Robert Prescott, Governor of Canada at that time. First settlers were Americans, but not all were Loyalists...
. Hamilton was elected mainly because an associate of his brother was the returning officer. When electoral fraud was uncovered, Pattee was declared elected in 1821. The Hamiltons had uncovered the original accusations of forgery against Pattee and attempted to unseat him on that basis. Pattee was able to defend himself against these charges. He died at his home near Hawkesbury
Hawkesbury, Ontario
Hawkesbury is a town in the Eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada, on the Ottawa River, near the Quebec-Ontario border.It lies on the south shore of the Ottawa River about halfway between Downtown Ottawa and Downtown Montreal in Prescott and Russell Counties. The Long-Sault Bridge links it...
in 1851.