TORONTO BRANCH - for United Empire Loyalists

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Obituary: Zella Lee Parks Robertson UE
rs. John Reid Robertson, a conscientious and able worker in the Toronto Branch for many years
passed away in November.
Mrs. Robertson, formerly Zella Lee Parks UE, was a direct descendant of Cyrenus Parks UE, whose grant
of land consisting of 2,200 acres, was on the shores of Hay Bay. Some of the land was still owned by
Mrs. Robertson at the time of her death.
Surviving the late Mrs. Robertson are two daughters, Mrs. Basil R. P. McGillivray and Miss Isobel
Robertson, valued members of the Toronto Branch. There are also two sons, Mr. James Park Robertson
and Mr. Gilbert Hugh Robertson, as well as eleven grandchildren and three great grandsons.
1970 Autumn
A
t a regular meeting we heard Mr. Bert Pratt of East York, speak on the restoration and development
of the historic park in the ravine by Pottery Road. This nucleus of old buildings on old Don Mills is
called Todmorden Mills. The three pioneers who are remembered in their homesteads are Hallowell,
Skinner and Terry. Parshall Terry who was an ancestor of the late Melissa Glassford was a Loyalist from
Wyoming, New York, who first served in a key position of rangers, and in 1792 was a member of the legislature
in Simcoe's parliament. Mr. Pratt pointed out that Terry led a group of soldiers back into his own
hometown in revenge for his earlier sufferings. He caused a successful massacre, but opposite to popular
propaganda did not kill his parents and brothers, but brought them to the local stronghold for safekeeping.
At the same meeting, Ruth Bishop played works by Brahms and a Nocturne by Chopin.
At a Spring meeting, Mrs. Eula Lapp from Mississauga spoke to us on values learned as an amateur
researcher, for her new book: TO THEIR HEIRS FOREVER.
This book follows the travels of eight families from the German Palatine, by way of Ireland to Manhattan
and then inland, until finally they reached the frontiers of Loyalist Ontario. The book thus tells of
Methodist friends and cousins of Barbara R. Heck. Mrs. Lapp said that a person wishing to do an honest
job of writing any local history book must be persistent, objective and must have some imagination. To
simplify the work of writing keep a filing system rather than a finished notebook. Mrs. Lapp becomes so
engrossed in her hobby that to visit the archives is better than a game of golf. Pianist, Anita Brown played
works by Bach, Ravel and Chopin--The G. Minor Ballade.
During the April meeting of the Toronto Branch, Mrs. Robert Kirk and assistants, Mr. Arless Flint, Mrs.
Basil McGillivray and Mrs. Lorna Laughton (nee Flint), told the regular meeting of progress and future
plans in the filing system recently set up in our offices. Mrs. McGillivray stressed making a file of
portraits and groups of families showing two such example collections. Mrs. Laughton explained how we
can assist better in academic levels. Joseph Peleg, a violinist who has spent some time in Israel, played
mature works of Brahms, Kreisler and Ravel.
Gaynor Jones and David Low, soloist and pianist (Mr. and Mrs. D. Low) presenting entertainment at a
Toronto Branch dinner in the Saint Lawrence Hall.
We lost through death, former president, Dr. Stanley Clark. We have no new members recently though we
have some filled applications, for Mrs. Kirk was busy chairing the By-law Committee for the past three
months.