James Northey & The King's Highway

James Northey born on July 15, 1841 in Ashwater Parish, Devonshire, England, married Mary Ann Reed, the daughter of Richard Reed and Matilda Green on October 17, 1867.  Mary Ann Reed was born in 1848 in Wiltshire England, and died in Peterborough County, Canada on May 08, 1906. They had fourteen children including Isabella or Nana, my great grandmother.

As a child James Northey immigrated to Canada in the mid 1840’s with his parents William Northey (II) (born on March 24, 1816 in the Parish of Germansweek, Devonshire, England) and Anne Perkin, (born on June 09, 1816 also in the Parish of Germansweek, Devonshire, England).  They were joining James’ grandparents William Pengelly Northey and Margaret Gordon who had already immigrated to Canada in the summer of 1842.  Other people's research show that most of William Pengelly Northey's children joined he and his wife on this new venture of settling the forests of Peterborough County.

Records at Trent Valley Archives confirm that James Northey purchased 200 acres at Lot 40 Concession 13, in Smith Township from the Canada Land Co. on October 16, 1873, for $1000.  The property was located northeast of Young’s Point and stretched north of Concession 13 (now Clear Lake Rd.) and slightly south toward Clear Lake.  Directly beside (or east of) James, was his father-in-law Richard Reed who owned Lot 41 that bordered the west shoreline of Clear Lake.  The records further show that in the years to come James would sell land to the Ministry of Transportation for the official annexation of Burleigh Falls Rd (or what is now known as The King’s Highway 28).  

With his family, James Northey would build a shanty house and painstakingly carve out a crude living on a farm in Smith Township beside his father-in-law Richard Reed.  The paths he traveled and that crossed his land from Young’s Point to Burleigh Falls would later become roads that his great grandchildren, and many others would naturally take for granted.  Nor would he live to realize the value of his land and hard work, when a century later the fortunate would pay a million dollars for a second home on 100 linear feet of waterfront, that he and Richard Reed had pioneered on Clear Lake.

North on old Hwy 28
 at the Old Youngs Point Bridge
 completed in 1885

It's likely that while traveling from Burleigh Falls to Young's Point, that my great grandfather Bernal Harvey first met Jame's daughter Isabella Northey, the women that won his heart.  A young Bernal was probably more than glad to tag along with his parents (Joseph and Ann Maria Harvey) when they made the trip past the Northey homestead to Young's General Store.  It's also imaginable that when the Northey's and Harvey's crossed paths they chatted about the weather and the events at the church, and mused about the amount of new traffic traveling up and the road.  I'm sure Bernal's pining for Isabella only made for more treks and furthered the need of an improved highway.

Now as I travel to Algonquin, Silent Lake or High Falls, or simply fill my vehicle with gas at the Ultra-Mar station north of Young’s Point, I realize that I stand on ground settled by my great-great grandfather James Northey, and follow trails worn by my great-great grandfather Joseph Harvey.  I am deeply grateful that I regularly travel the paths of my forefathers.  It gives me and I am sure many others, an immense sense of appreciation for their faith in God and physical perseverance that helped shape the Kawartha Lakes that many of us enjoy today.

by Stephen Best, April 13, 2011 (great-great grandson of James Northey)

The Old Youngs Point Bridge
 completed in 1885