Melville Presbyterian and United Church Cemetery
Also known as: White Church
Location:
15962 Mississauga Road, Caledon, Peel Region, Ontario, Canada.
Concession 5W, lot 3, Caledon Township.
GPS:
Latitude: 43.7715°N
Longitude: -79.9729°W
History:
The area of Rockside in Caledon Township was settled in the early 1820’s by settlers, many of them from Islay, Scotland. By 1827 they were still without a Presbyterian minister. Sermons were given once a month by a Methodist minister in the home of John McDonald.
Finally, Rev Andrew Bell, a Presbyterian minister, came from Toronto Township into the Chinguacousy and Caledon areas and held occasional services. It was he who organized the Presbyterian congregation of West Caledon as it was known at that time in 1831. A congregation was also begun in East Caledon. In 1831 Rev Duncan McMillan a native of Islay was ordained
and inducted as minister of the two congregations. He also travelled throughout Caledon, Erin and parts of Mono Township.
For several years, services were held in a log building near the present site that also served as a school. Part of the east half of Lot 3 Concession 5 west was purchased for a church and burying ground by the trustees of Melville Church from Daniel McLachlan. In 1837, Dan McMillan of Erin and brothers built the wooden church and it was painted white. The church also became known by a second name “White Church”.
In 1843, Melville Church separated from the Established Church and joined the Free Church of Canada. Burns Presbyterian Church, Erin was added to the two Caledon churches. Later, Caledon East was removed leaving Melville and Burns to form a charge. In 1925 the congregation united with the United Church and Melville became a three-point charge along with Erin and Ballinafad United Churches.
The Church officially closed in 1964 and eventually the Credit Valley Conservation Authority became the owner. For many years, this church has held a special thanksgiving service.
The first interment in the cemetery was William Campbell although no monument was laid. The next two were in the year 1834, Margaret Kirkwood wife of John Crichton and Archibald McNaughton. Margaret Kirkwood and John Crichton were the first to be married in the area in 1822.
Perkins Bull mentions in his history, written in the 1930’s, that the cemetery had become overgrown and many monuments broken but a programme of improvement had been undertaken. Today the old cemetery is fairly well kept. Some monuments remain broken, while others have been removed. A few burials continue to take place.
A burial register pertaining to the cemetery has not yet been found. However, there could be records in churches associated with Melville over the years or others in surrounding areas. The following churches could be pursued for such records: Mayfield Presbyterian (Chinguacousy Twp), Union Church (Esquesing Twp), Mount Pleasant (Chinguacousy Twp), Caledon (once Charleston, Caledon Twp), Stone Kirk (St Andrews, 4th line East Caledon), The First Presbyterian
Church of Albion and 6th Line of Albion, now with Bolton Presbyterian Church, Burns Church (Erin), Streetsville Presbyterian Church (Toronto Twp), Ballinafad Presbyterian, now United (Esquesing Twp) and Aloa (15th sideroad W Chinguacousy).
Books of Reference:
1) 50th Anniversary of Cheltenham UC 1908-1958 (formerly Presbyterian).
2) Mayfield Memories 1830-1980 (formerly Presbyterian).
3) Belfountain and the Tubtown Pioneers by Mary Whiteside.
4) Cataract and the Forks of the Credit by Ralph Beaumont.
5) Early History of the Township of Erin by C J McMillan.
6) The Rockside Pioneers by Robert Crichton.
7) Perkins Bull Melville Cemetery – Peel Archives.
8) Belfountain Caves and Castles by Bernice Trimble.
9) Remember when by Bernice Trimble
(The last two are the best and give good history of many families listed in the cemetery.)
Related Information:
1) 1820 – Alexander Pattullo arrived Rockside.
2) Daniel McLaughlan had a large family. A brother Charles had a son Alexander McLaughlan who was a well-known poet.
3) Gilbert Rowan was the first schoolteacher.
4) Mrs Rowan, nurse and midwife, died 1846. Many little girls of that era were named Euphemia after her.
5) Rockfort – the name of a farm on the east side of sixth line west north of #34 sideroad. It was originally a McDonald farm and later purchased by a Kirkwood son-in-law.
6. Tweedhill – name of a farm on east side of sixth line west, south of #5 sideroad.
Elva Davis; edited by Trudy Mann
Transcription purchase:
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