Toronto Township was home to the Evans and Might Families from about 1873 to 1900. As far as is known, George Ryerson Evans was the last child to be born in Emily Township. The youngest of the children, Ira Dwight was born in Derry West in 1876. His brother, William George ("Wille"), was kicked in the head by a horse and died on the farm in Derry West in 1882 at the age of 16 years. He was initially buried in the graveyard of the church in Britannia (see map below). George E. Evans died at the age of 69 in 1899 and was also buried at Britannia. (I was able to examine the original handwritten church burial register some 30 years ago).
When the Evans family moved to the west end of the city of Toronto around 1900, a new family plot was started at Prospect Cemetery after the death of Laura Emma in 1914. On June 5, 1915, the bodies of George E. and William George were removed from Britannia and reburied in the new family plot. Ann Jane Might and William Eric Evans also died in October of that year and both are also buried in the family plot.
Historical Atlas of Peel County 1877
The Historical Atlas for Peel County (1877) shows the two family farms of George Evans and J. Wesley Might, to the west and east of Centre Street (Hurontario Street, present day Highway 10 in Mississauga). No farms or houses remain today as these properties are now the intersection of highways 401 and 10. The village of Derry West is located north of the farms, while Britannia can be found to the south.
The property of James Hunter is highlighted as his son, W. D. Hunter, married Jenny Evans. They in turn had two sons, Gordon and Horace, the founders of the MacClean Hunter Publishing empire.
"Derry West is situated on the centre road, 4 miles south of Brampton, and 1 1/2 miles from Meadowvale, in the Township of Toronto. It possesses two churches, one school house, temperance and orange halls, post office &c. The Derry West Hotel which is a good stopping place, is kept by Charles Wesley Armstrong."
"Britannia is a small hamlet on the centre road, 4 miles from Cooksville and 8 miles from Brampton. It has a post office, wagon shop and blacksmith shop, a large brick school house and a fine brick church. Population about 100."
A sketch of the farm of Josiah Oliver, circa 1877, just up the road, will give you an idea of how the family farms may have appeared.
