McDonald Family Farm Cemetery
Location:
15586 Creditview Road (Rockside), Caledon, Peel Region, Ontario, Canada.
Concession 4W, lot 1, Caledon Township.
GPS:
Latitude: 43.77409°N
Longitude: -79.95235°W
History:
The first Presbyterian services in this area were held in the home of John McDonald on Concession 4W Lot 1. His home appears to have also been used by ministers from other religious denominations as they passed through the area.
Perkins Bull’s history of the cemetery has some conflicting information such as a “white frame church beside cemetery” – it is believed that this information has been confused with Melville Presbyterian Church, also known as “White Church”.
The land on which the cemetery stands belonged to the original settler, John McDonald. Many of the early pioneers are buried here. The cemetery is surrounded by an iron fence with stone pillars. A copper or bronze plaque is set in the stone gatepost, with the inscription – “MacDonald – Settlers of Caledon – 1820”. It should be noted here that at some point “MacDonald” came to spelled “McDonald”.
The first burial record is for John McDonald who died June 20, 1840.
For further information on the area and its settlers:
1) The Rockside Pioneers by Robert Crichton
2) Belfountain – Caves, Castles and Quarries in the Caledon Hills by Bernice Trimble
This cemetery was recorded in 1983 by Elva Davis and checked to the Perkins Bull recording of the 1930’s and Bill Britnell in 1974.
Trudy Mann, February 1984
Transcription purchase:
Transcriptions of this cemetery are available for digital download from the OGS website – click here to order via credit card.