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M Matthew William Pruyn

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Famous People, Brantford Public Library web pages.
Mayors of Brantford, Town of Brantford:
Matthew William Pruyn (1858)
Born: 22 October 1819 in Fredericksburgh Township, Lennox County, Ontario.
Died: 10 March 1898 in Napanee, Ontario.
Buried: Riverside Cemetery, Napanee, Ontario.
He was a member of the House of Commons for Lennox and Addington in 1885-1886.

1851 personal census, Brantford, Brant Co., ON, North Ward, p. 119:
Pruyn Matthew W., Merchant, born Canada, Ch of England, 33, M, Married;
Mary M., born Canada, Ch of England, 28, F, Married;
John Ross, born Canada, Ch of England, 7?, Single;
Kirby William, Gentleman, born Canada, Ch of England, 60, M, Married;
Margret, born Canada, Ch of England, 60, F, Married;
Abram, born Canada, Ch of England, 25, M, Single.

1871 personal census, Napanee, Lennox Co., ON, 2-63:
Pruyne M. William, M, 51, born Ont, C of England, origin: German, Deputy Sherrif, Married;
Mary M, F, 47, born Ont, C of England, origin: German, Married;
John R., M, 25, born Ont, C of England, origin: German, Merchant, Married;
Alice, F, 24, born Quebec, C of England, origin: Scotch, Married;
William H., M, 18, born Ont, C of England, origin: English;
Kirby William, M,, 80, born Ont, C of England, origin: Irish, Widowed;
Abraham, M, 46, born Ont, C of England, origin: Irish.

1881 personal census, Napanee, Lennox Co., ON, LDS 1881 Census Household Record:
Pruyn M. W., M, Married, 62, born Ont, origin: German, Merchant, Church of England;
Mary M., F, Married, 57, born Ont, origin: Scottish, Church of England;
William K. Pruyn, M, Married, 28, born Ont, origin: German, Merchant, Church of England;
Annie E., F, Married, 19, born Ont, origin: Scottish, Church of England;
Abram Kirby, M, 55, born Ont, origin: Scottish, Merchant, Church of England.

Obituary, Napanee Beaver, Friday 11 March 1898:
Matthew William Pruyn - An old and respected resident of Napanee, passed over to the great majority on Thursday morning, 10th instant, after a brief and painless illness. He was at his place of business until closing time Saturday afternoon in apparently his usual good health. On rising about 6 o'clock Sunday morning he remarked that he did not know when he had enjoyed such a good night's rest. Almost immediately afterwards he fell to the floor unconscious, and never rallied, passing peacefully away yesterday morning.
He was born on the shores of the Bay of Quinte, on the first lot in the Township of Fredericksburgh, October 22nd 1819, the youngest son of William Pruyn of that place, one of the pioneer U.E. Loyalist settlers of this County. He spent his early days on his father's farm, where he received his education in the schools of that locality. When a young man he went west and was always in mercantile life. From 1836 to 1840 he lived in Woodstock. He then moved to Brantford, then a small town, and spent the next 22 years there. He became a large and successful merchant there and one of the leading citizens. For years he was a member of the Brantford Council and served for one term as its Mayor. While there he married Miss Mary Margaret Kerby, Dec. 13th 1843, a daughter of the late William Kerby, Esq., for years one of the most prominent residents of that place. Mrs. Pruyn, with their two sons, John R., of Chicago, and William K. of Napanee, survive him. The latter gentleman has been for many years associated with his father in business here.
Meeting with some business reversals at Brantford, Mr. Pruyn went west to the Pacific Coast in 1862 and was for a time a resident of British Columbia. In 1864, when the County of Lennox and Addington was set apart from Frontenac, Mr. Pruyn was invited to return to his native county and accept the situation of Deputy Sheriff, which office he fulfilled for seven years. He has been a resident of Napanee ever since. Soon after settling here he established a large grocery and liquor store, in connection with his sons, and has been in business ever since.
In politics Mr. Pruyn was a Conservative and an ardent supporter and personal friend of the late Sir John Macdonald. When Sir John was elected in Lennox in 1882, Mr. Pruyn was one of his warm supporters. When that election was declared void, a year or two later, and Sir John retained his seat for Carleton County, Mr. Pruyn was the nominee of the Conservative party as his successor; a very hardly contested election was held and he was defeated by David W. Allison, Esq., by only four votes. That election was, in its turn, protested and made void and Mr. Pruyn was again the Conservative candidate defeating Mr. Allison by a majority of 58. He then represented the County until the election of 1887 when Mr. Uriah Wilson received the party nomination. Those were stirring times in the political history of this County. During the four sessions of the Fifth Parliament we had three elections and two protests and three separate representatives in the House: Sir John in the session of 1883; Mr. Allison in the session of 1884, and Mr. Pruyn during the sessions of 1885 and '86.
Mr. Pruyn was a life-long member of the Church of England and one of its regular communicants. In his death the community has lost a respected and enterprising citizen, the church a faithful member and the sons a kindly father and his aged wife an affectionate and much loved companion. The funeral will take place tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.

Death Announcement, Napanee Beaver, Friday 11 March 1898:
Pruyn - At his late residence, John Street, on Thursday, March 10th, Matthew William Pruyn, aged 79 years. (Funeral on Saturday at 10 a.m.)

Obituary, Napanee Express, 13 September 1901:
On Monday evening last an aged and highly respected resident passed away in the person of Mrs. M. W. Pruyn. Deceased's maiden name was Mary Margaret Kirby. Her late husband Matthew William Pruyn, ex-M.P., died in March 1898. The late Mrs. Pruyn came to Napanee from Brantford over 30 years ago and had been a constant resident ever since. Two sons, Wm. K. of Napanee and John of Chicago, also a brother Abraham Kirby, are left to mourn. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock and was largely attended.

Obituary, Brantford Courier, 11 March 1898:
Old Resident of Brantford - Mr. W. M. Pruyn, Ex-M.P. Dies at Napanee.
A telegraphic note elsewhere in this issue records the death of Mr. Matthew W. Pruyn, ex-M.P., one of the oldest and best known residents of Brant county. Deceased's family were among the pioneer settlers in the Midland District, who brought slaves with them and held them for many years. Deceased was for years in business in Brantford, and was one time Mayor of this place. He married here a daughter of the late Wm. Kerby, one of the then prominent men of the town. In 1863 he was appointed deputy sheriff of Lennox and Addington, and came back to his native county, where he had ever since resided. He held this position for several years. In 1884, when the election of Sir John Macdonald for the representation of Lennox was voided Mr. Pruyn was the Conservative nominee as his successor, and was defeated by David W. Allison, of Adolphustown, Liberal. That election was also voided and the next contest Mr. Pruyn was elected and held the seat until the end of the fifth parliament, when Uriah William, the present member, became his successor. During that parliament Lennox had three Dominion elections and two protests, and was represented by three different men in the House. It had also tow provincial elections and two protests and was represented by two different men. Mrs. Pruyn and two sons, John R., of Chicago and Willam K., of Napanee, survive him. The funeral takes place on Saturday.

Canadian News, Brantford Expositor, 11 March 1898:
Napanee, March 10 - Matthew William Pruyn, ex-M.P. for the county of Lennox, who was taken ill at his residence here on Sunday last, died this morning at 7 o'clock, having never rallied. Mr. Pruyn was born on the Bay of Quinte on October 22nd, 1819. He represented Lennox as Conservative member at the Dominion parliament for two seasons, had been engaged in mercantile life for thirty-seven years and was highly respected for his many sterling qualities. He leaves a widow and two sons, one son, William K., being engaged in business here, and the other, John R. Pruyn, being secretary at Chicago for the Guarantee Company of North America. The funeral will take place on Saturday.

The Canadian Directory of Parliament, 1867-1967, by J. K. Johnson, The Public Archives of Canada, 1968.
Pruyn, Matthew William, M.P., born in Fredericksburgh Township, Upper Canada, Oct. 22, 1819; son of W. T. Pruyn and Mary Church; married Mary Margaret Kerby, Dec. 13, 1842; attended common school in Fredericksburgh Township; became a merchant at Brantford, Ont. and later at Napanee, Ont.; Deputy Sheriff, Lennox and Addington County, Ont., 1864-1871; was Councillor of Brantford and Mayor, 1858; was Councillor and Mayor of Napanee; a candidate at a federal by-election, Nov. 6, 1883, for Lennox, Ont., but defeated; elected to the House of Commons at a by-election, Jan. 8, 1885, for Lennox; sat until the dissolution of the 5th Parliament, but was not a candidate, 1887; Conservative; died in 1898.

History of Lennox and Addington, Biographical Sketches, by Walter S. Herrington, K.C.:
...The first sheriff of the county was Oliver Thatford Pruyn, who delegated his duties to his brother M. W. Pruyn for a few years and afterwards to his son, Thomas Dorland Pruyn. He died in 1895 at his farm in the front of Fredericksburgh where he had continued to live after his appointment, and was succeeded by the present sheriff, G. D. Hawley.

History of Lennox and Addington, Biographical Sketches, by Walter S. Herrington, K.C.:
Mathew W. Pruyn, Member of the House of Commons, 1885-6.
M. W. Pruyn was born of U.E.L. parents in Fredericksburgh on October 22nd, 1819; but the farm had few attractions for him. He was educated at the common schools, and when a mere lad went to Woodstock, where he lived four or five years and acquired a knowledge of the grocery trade. In 1840 he set up in business for himself in Brantford and did well until 1862, when his entire stock was destroyed by fire upon the day following the expiry of his insurance policy. While residing in Brantford he was twice elected to the town council and in 1858 was mayor. After the loss of his stock he set out for the West, going by way of Panama and up the Pacific coast to British Columbia, where he spent two years in the mountains prospecting for gold which he never found in sufficient quantities to induce him to continue the search. He returned to his native province in 1864 just as the separation of counties took place; and as his brother, O. T. Pruyn, was appointed sheriff of the new corporation of the county of Lennox and Addingtion he chose M. W. Pruyn as his deputy. This position he continued to fill until 1871, when he embarked again in the mercantile life and followed it until his death in 1898.
In the years following the general election of 1882 Lennox passed through a political maelstrom in which both political parties appear to have completely lost their heads. Election followed election, protest followed protest, corruption was rampant; and there are some who maintain that the evil influence of those campaigns has not yet been wiped out. It was through such an atmosphere that Mr. Pruyn entered politics. He had no sins to answer for, as he had not taken an active part in the other elections, and was returned with a majority of fifty-eight votes over the Liberal candidate, and held his seat for the balance of the parliamentary term. He was a courteous and refined gentleman, cautious never to give offence, yet capable of defending himself if he felt his position was unjustly attacked. He was just the type of man to bring before a set of electors whose blood was aroused, for his quiet, easy manner would have a tendency to soothe the hysterical element that is so much in evidence on both sides during a hot election. He never offered himself again as a candidate, in fact took very little part in subsequent elections, but devoted himself to his own affairs.

Rev. Robert McDowall's Register (Presbyterian Minister, Bay of Quinte District), from Bill Martin's site.
Originally published by the Ontario Genealogy Society
McDowall Marriage Register:
Wm. Thatford Pruyn, Mary Church Fredericksburgh, 3 Apr., 1807
The parents of the late sheriff of Lennox and Addington, Oliver Thatford Pruyn, and the late M. W. Pruyn, M.P., of Napanee.
Fredericksburgh Baptisms, 1808:
Mar.21 William T. Pruyn, Mary Church - Martha 14 Jan., 1808.

History of Brant County, Warner and Beers, 1883, from the Brant County GenWeb:
Profiles of Brant County Companies, Banks, Societies, & Churches:
Doric Lodge No. 121 A.F & A.M., was instituted November 25, in the year of Masonry 5859 (A.D. 1859), with seven members. The first officers were: Matthew William Pruyn, W.M.; John Orr, S.W.; Thomas Cheesman, J.W.; Reginald Henwood, Secretary. The lodge met in the Brant Lodge room, and with that lodge lost its property in the fire of 1868. This lodge now has a membership of about sixty...

Historical Sketch of Brantford Churches by S. F. Passmore, Brantford Expositor, 1 July 1927:
...
It was 1832 before any place of worship was erected in the village, a frame structure, afterwards designated "Grace Church," having been located on lots which were the gift of A. K. Smith and his sister, Mrs. Margaret Kerby. The corner stone of a brick edifice was laid with Masonic honours, on October 14, 1856...
"...This corner stone of Grace Church, in the parish of Brantford, and County of Brant, and Province of Canada, was laid with ample Masonic honors...in the presence of...Thomas Botham and Henry Racey, church wardens. John Turner, architect of the church, on Tuesday, the 14th day of October, A.D. 1856...
The building committee consisted of Matthew William Pruyn, George Samuel Wilkes, Alexander Bunnell, Alexander Green, Thomas Botham, Henry Racey...

History of the County of Lennox and Addington, 1913, W.S. Herrington, K.C., Chapter XXI, Biographical Sketches:
D.W. Allison, Warden of Lennox and Addington, 1881, Member of the House of Commons 1883 and 1891.
...In 1883 the same contestants again entered the field, and Mr. Allison was victorious; but held his seat for only one session, as he was called upon to pay the same penalty for the folly of his friends as his redoubtable opponent had paid, the year before. In the bye-election which followed Mr. Allison was again defeated by Mr. M. W. Pruyn of Napanee. In 1887 Mr. Uriah Wilson was returned to parliament for the first time, defeating Mr. Allison by twenty votes...

Fredericksburgh & Area Deaths/Obits,
Pruyn, Elizabeth R. Newpaper clipping from the J.J. Watson Scrapbook:
Mrs. O.T. Pruyn. Elizabeth R. Dorland, relict of the late Sherriff Oliver Thatford Pruyn, died on Sunday morning at the residence of her son, Thomas Dorland Pruyn, ex-Mayor of Napanee, at the advanced age of 82 years. ... She married Oliver Thatford Pruyn, then a young farmer residing on the front of South Fredericksburgh, just west of the boundary line of Ernesttown, where all their married days were spent. Mr. Pruyn was a prominent and much respected man and was appointed Sheriff of this county at the time of its separation, a position which he held until the time of his death, a little over six years ago. He was much attached to his farm, however, and never left it to take personal charge of the Sheriff's office, which was first filled by his brother, the late Matthew W. Pruyn, and later on by his only son, Thomas Dorland Pruyn. ... Like her husband, she was a member of the Church of England, and they now have their last resting place, side by side, in St. Paul's church yard at Sandhurst - a church of which they were regular attendants for many years...

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William Thatford Pruyn   Mary Church
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Matthew William Pruyn ca 1819-1898