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Richard Prettie owned property in Vernonville, Haldimand Township, Ontario, and may have been a farmer.

Dennis Patrick Sears was born in Vancouver in 1925. As a young boy he moved to Saskatchewan near Moose Jaw, where he witnessed an event at the age of six which was to affect his entire life, that of the killing of the hired hand by his father. His father was never charged, and the family moved to central Ontario in Carden Township in 1933. Upon finding hundreds of books stored in his grandfather's house, Sears developed an early interest in reading. In 1943 he joined the navy, and after the World War II, became a policeman in Oshawa. He had already married and had three children, but left his family and job and moved to Calgary, where he continued a troubled life. He soon joined the army and was sent to Kingston to serve in the plainsclothes division of the Provost Corps. Years later he began operating a lift bridge in Kingston, where, in his spare time, he found a renewed interest in literary matters. Soon he was sending letters to the Kingston Whig-Standard, where a favorable response by the editors lead to a regular column, beginning in 1971. Some years later, several of his columns were combined in a book entitled "The Lark in the Clear Air". He has written other books since.(Taken from an article by Ron Base, entitled "Dennis Patrick Sears Grows Up", in Maclean's, June 1975).

Jean Shearman was born in Montreal. She was a great great granddaughter of Thomas Alexander Stewart and Frances Browne Stewart, and great granddaughter of their son, William Stewart and his wife, Louisa McNabb. She spent much of her life transcribing the Frances Stewart letters and researching the genealogy of the Stewart family and families with whom the Stewarts had some relationship. Ms. Shearman wrote A Sense of Continuity: The Stewarts of Douro along with her sister, Elizabeth Shearman Hall. She died in Toronto in 2005.

Sarsfield Sheehy was a student of the Peterborough Collegiate Institute in 1909.

Munroe Scott was born in Owen Sound, Ontario, in 1927. He studied English and History at Queen's University, and received a M.A. in Speech and Drama at Cornell University in 1950. He was well known as a documentary film writer and a drama writer for television and film, and wrote and directed several television documentaries. Scott also wrote and directed episodes for several CBC series including "The Tenth Decade", "Inquiry", and others. Scott won the 1974 ACTRA radio award for the Best Writer in Dramatic Mode, and was a finalist in the television award for the Best Writer in the Documentary Mode. He wrote the script for the "Light and Sound Show" that took place on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, in 1984.

Scott was also an accomplished playwright. His first stage play, Wu-Feng, was produced by Toronto Arts Productions in 1974. He also wrote a biography of Dr. Robert McClure, a surgeon and United Church of Canada lay moderator. Munroe Scott died in Lindsay, Ontario, 15 September 2019.

Thomas Watson was a school teacher in 1858 for the Grammar School at Port Hope, Canada West, which was established in 1853. (Taken from: Hope and its Port. East Durham Historical Society, 1992.)

Leslie Woolcott is a feminist activist living in Peterborough, Ontario.

Scott Young was born in 1918 in Cypress River, Manitoba. He started his writing career at age 18 for the Winnipeg Free Press in 1936. He was soon writing sports columns in Winnipeg, and later Toronto, and in 1949 published the first of 40 books. He has written a number of books which cover parts of his own life such as "Neil and Me"-- a book about his son Neil Young; and "A Writer's Life"-- an autobiography. His career in journalism has produced thousands of articles for "The Globe and Mail", "The Telegram", "Sports Illustrated", "Maclean's" and other magazines during the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's. Scott served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II (1944-1945). Previous to this he was sent to England by Canadian Press (CP) to cover the news of the War. He has received numerous awards and a Doctorate of Letters, Honoris Causa, from Trent University. He has been married three times (Edna Blow Ragland aka Rassy; Astrid Carlson Mead; and Margaret Hogan) and has a number of children and step-children (Neil, Bob; Deidre, Astrid; Maggie, Caitlin and Erin).

Bruce LeCouffe is the great grandson of Walter J. Francis, engineer and bridge builder. Francis worked together on the construction of the Peterborough Lift Lock with Richard Birdsall Rogers. During that time, Francis was field supervisor and was responsible for the superstructure drawings.

Bruce Hodgins was born in 1931. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario; his Master's degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and his Doctoral degree from Duke University in North Carolina. Before he became a professor at Trent University he was a history professor for 3 years at the University of Western Ontario. He taught at Prince of Wales College at Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island. While he was in Charlottetown he met Carol, his future wife. By 1963 they had two sons. In 1965 he joined the faculty of Trent University and he taught Canadian Politics. From January to June of 1979 he was an Acting College Head. From 1980 to 1984 he was the Department and Program Head of History and from 1986 to 1992, and 1995, he was Director of the Leslie M. Frost Centre. Bruce's parents established the Wanapitei Wilderness Camp on Temagami. He became the camp's director in 1971 and played a major role in running and developing it. Bruce is an active member in a canoeing organization in Peterborough that also includes other members of the Trent and Wanapitei communities.

Thomas H. Stinson was born February 26, 1883, at Minden, Ontario, the son of T. Stinson and Victoria Henderson. He was educated at Minden Public School, Lindsay Collegiate, University of Toronto, and Osgoode Hall. He married Ella E. Robson, daughter of Lindsay lawyer William Robson, on July 14, 1910. Stinson was a lawyer and conservative politician. He was the Crown Attorney for Victoria and Haliburton Counties from 1913 to 1921; the solicitor for the two counties, as well as the town of Lindsay; Governor of Ross Memorial Hospital, Lindsay, Ontario; Director (later President) of Victoria and Grey Trust Company; Director of Cole Manufacturing Company; and Director of Penny Bank of Ontario. In his political career, he was elected M.P. for Victoria riding in the general elections of 1925, 1926, and 1930, losing in 1935. He also served on the provincial campaigns of Leslie M. Frost. He died in 1965.

Maureen H. Martin is a Professor of Law at Carleton University.

Thomas Need (1808-1895) emigrated from Nottingham, England to Upper Canada in May 1832 and settled in Verulam Township in Victoria County in 1833 around Sturgeon Lake. He had graduated from University College, London, in 1830 and rejected the idea of becoming a member of the clergy. This contributed to his decision to leave England.

While in Upper Canada, Need was a member of the government commission that oversaw the construction of what became the first lock of the Trent-Severn Waterway, founded the Village of Bobcaygeon in 1834, and served as a magistrate for the Court of Requests from 1835 to 1837.

Need anonymously published his book Six years in the bush or extracts from the journal of a settler in Upper Canada (London, 1838) on his experiences in Upper Canada. The book was based on his journal entries he made in his personal journal which he called the “Woodhouse Journal.” Need returned to Nottingham, England permanently in 1847 and died in 1895. His authorship was confirmed with the publication of John Langton’s letters in 1926 and he was subsequently recognized as a contributor to early Canadian literature.
Source: Biography – NEED, THOMAS – Volume XII (1891-1900) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/need_thomas_12E.html. Accessed 11 Jan. 2024.

Ian Lachlan Campbell (1927-) was born in Ottawa, Ontario and married Marion Isabel Wellwood (1926-) in 1950. He attended graduate school at the University of London and studied political and social philosophy. Campbell taught at Mount Allison University (1954-1965), where his research interests concerned criminal behaviour. He served as alderman and Mayor of Sackville, New Brunswick, and as Dean at Bishop's University, Sir George Williams University, and Concordia University, and was commissioner of the Government of Canada's Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs (the LeDain Commission). Campbell was also Principal of Renison College at the University of Waterloo, and president of the Canadian Heraldry Society. He is also a Fellow of several societies and serves on many university associations.

Robert George Barclay was the Chief Insurance Officer of the Unemployment Insurance Commission from its inception in 1941 until his retirement in 1956.

Paul James Delaney was born in 1944 and lived at Gore's Landing, Lakefield and Midland. He was a student at Trent University from 1964 to 1968 and is listed in the first student register. A member of Trent University’s first graduating class, Delaney became a teacher and went on to win numerous awards, including the Alumni Spirit of Trent Award, TVOntario Teacher of the Year, Pope’s Medal, YMCA Peace Medal, and the Governor General’s Award for Excellence in Teaching History. He was the first Director of Ste. Marie Among the Hurons and taught summer courses in India and Sierra Leone. “Uncle Paul”, as he became known to Trent University's international students, served as Alumnus-in-Residence at Trent, volunteered his time with the Trent International Program, and became a mentor to hundreds of Trent students. Delaney died in 2012.

Lieutenant Colonel J. Deacon was a military officer with the Midland Regiment during the Riel Rebellion in 1885. He was born in 1824 in Ireland and settled in Victoria County in 1866. He was on County Council and was Mayor of Lindsay, 1878-80 and 1886.

Joyce Beaton ([1932?]- ) was co-founder of Early Canadian Life, a Canadian heritage and history magazine, along with business partner, Janice Johnston. The magazine was published from 1976 to 1980 and Beaton was its editor. She also wrote for Milton, Ontario's weekly newspaper, Canadian Champion and freelanced for an arts and crafts publication. She has written articles for the Toronto Star and Hamilton Spectator and has published books, including When Lightning Strikes... The Life of Evelyn M. Kennedy 1890-1985. Beaton lives in Baysville, Ontario.

John Bee owned Lot 16, Concession 1 in Cavan Township in the 1850's. His family owned and operated a grist and saw mill on the Ganaraska River near Port Hope from the 1850's onwards. John was also a cobbler from 1847 onwards. Hiram Bee had a store and at some point the Bees married into the Austin family.

Janet P. Bews was a Professor in the Ancient History and Classics Department, Trent University, from 1966 to 1999. She received her BA from Queen's and her MA and Ph.D. from Royal Holloway College, London. Her scholarly interests included Tacitus and Vergil, Julian of Norwich, Hildegard of Bingen, Dante, C.S. Lewis, Gilgamesh, and Charles Williams. Bews was Senior Don (1966) and Senior Tutor (1982, 1986) at Traill College, and was Chair of the Classics Department (1974-1978). Bews retired from Trent University in 1999 and was awarded Professor Emeritus at that time. She died on August 27th, 2000.

Pat Bolger ( - 2007) was a teacher/librarian at Renfrew Collegiate.

Kathleen (Kay) Richmond Barclay Bowley was born in 1922 in Ottawa, Ontario, and was one of four children born to parents Robert George Douglas Barclay (1895-1969) and Sarah Richmond Stovel (1900-1977). Raised in western Canada, she later lived in Toronto where she married Robert Eric Bowley in 1954; together they had two children and moved to Peterborough in 1963.

Kathleen Bowley was as a member of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS or “WRENS”) and served in England and Belgium during World War II, from 1942 to 1945. She earned a B.A. in English and History at Queen’s University, graduating in 1949. Throughout her life, Bowley was an advocate for the higher education of women.

Bowley was an active volunteer in the Peterborough community serving in many capacities with several organizations and clubs: Kawartha Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, Peterborough Historical Society, Lang Pioneer Village, St. John Anglican Church, Peterborough Symphony Orchestra choir, and the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Peterborough Club. Bowley was also an avid genealogist. She died in Peterborough in 2010.

Robert E. Bowley was born in Hagersville, Ontario and moved to Peterborough in 1963. He married Kathleen Richmond Barclay and was a chemistry teacher, author, and historian. Bowley had an avid interest in stamp collecting and postal history, and was a volunteer postmaster in 1980 at Lang Pioneer Village, Keene. He was also president of the Peterborough Historical Society, and established Rebel Publishing in 1995 in order to publish his version of Mutiny on the Bounty.