THE CRIMLESS FAMILY: A TALE OF TWO PHILIPS
Some of the people to appear in Puslinch Township in the very earliest days were a number of Irish families. Some, no doubt, were employed by John Galt in the building of Guelph and some by surveyor David Gibson. Quite a few took the opportunity to establish themselves on Clergy Reserve lots on either side of the Brock Road, just below Guelph. Among these was Philip Crimless.
Philip, born 1804, and his wife Anne, born 1817, first settled on part of Lot 5 in the rear of the 8th Concession. about 1830 or 1832. (The Annals of Puslinch). Philip was not afraid to move around in the Township and in 1839 was well established on Lot 17, front of the 9th Concession. Among his neighbors were Halligans, McGills and Cassins, all of whom probably attended The Church of Our Lady in Guelph.
Philip and Anne had no children of their own but a nephew, also Philip, was born in 1860 and eventually joined his uncle in Canada. By the time of his birth, old Philip and Anne had already relocated to lot 15 rear of the 8th Concession. At some point, young Philip joined them to take over from Philip. In 1886, old Philip sold his property, presumably to young Philip and with Anne boarded at St. Joseph's Hospital. He died in 1890 and is buried in Marymount Cemetery in Guelph.
The 1906 Wellington County Historical Atlas tells us that by then the Crumless property included lot 22 rear of the 8th Concession, close to the village of Aberfoyle . In 1918, both lots were Crumless land. Young Philip died in 1939 in his 80th year. His obituary notes that "news of his death (came) as a great shock to all who knew him". He had married Susan Grant (1860-1946) and left a big family:
James Philip, 1891-1959, unm.; Rose, Mrs. Bert Brecy; Mary, died in 1973; Cecelia; Sara J. who married Dadid McGarr and lived on Lot 21 front 4th Concession (daughter Susan Maltby); Charles J., died 1968,; Frank H., died 1959 )son Murray); and Edward Richard, 1903-1941, married Mary McNulty (1905-1981) (son Edward of Acton and daughter Marie Tousignant of Guelph).
CHARLES CRIMLESS
e
on the ABERFOYLE SOCCER TEAM