DAMUDES

[History of the Village of Fonthill, 1944]

A history of Fonthill would scarcely be complete without mention of another family of United Empire Loyalist stock. The name Damude has long been a familiar one in the village and vicinity, and the ancestry is of particular interest. Branches of the family appearing under other names such as Brown, Klager, Haist, Howell, Williams, Carter, Lundy, Buckley and Bouck can join with those who still retain the original name in pointing back to over 150 years of history since the first settled of the family came to Canada.

The Damude’s came to Pennsylvania from Switzerland because of religious persecution. No Particulars are on record as to the year of their migration nor the length of time spent in Pennsylvania.

The three brothers, Henry, David and Samuel, came to Canada the year before the end of the American Revolution. They returned, and the next year Henry and David came to Canada to live under British rule. David settled at Lowbanks on Lake Erie where many of his descendants still live.

Henry Damude took up land in the Short Hills on Lots 153 and 154 of the Township of Thorold. The road which ran through the farm, later known as McSherry’s Lane, was deeded as a public road by his son John Damude, Sr. The homestead was in the family for four generations. Part of it still owned by Henry Damude’s grandson, John Damude, Jr., of Fonthill.

The migration of this family into Canada took place in the year 1788, the year before the great Hunger Year. Supplies did not come from England and the U.E. Loyalists were obliged to make use of beech nuts, bark, acorns, grass and anything that was edible. They followed the cows, knowing the herbs and grass eaten by them would not be poisonous.

Mrs Geo. Haist has heard her grandmother, Mrs John Damude, Sr., daughter-in-law of Henry, say that they came with a span of horses and spring wagon. On reaching the Niagara River they took the wagon box off the wheels. The horses swam across with it, then later with the wheels. The price of a horse was in those days according to its swimming abilities. They also brought two cows, a yoke of oxen, seeds, pits of fruit and whatever was needed for starting garden and grain-growing. The winter overtook them before they could get their house finished, so they made a dugout in the side of the hill. With logs felled over it they had warm quarters for themselves, and also one for the horses and cattle. Though settling there in the year 1788, it was not until 1808 that they received from George III their Crown deed. This is in possession of Arthur Damude, son of Daniel F., who was grandson of John Damude and great grandson of Henry Damude, original settler.

Early in 1800’s before schools were built, teachers came from outside points and held school in different homes. Religious services were also held at the homes of Henry Damude, later his son John, Andrew Hansler, John Brown and Henry Rinker turn about.

Henry Damude married Anna Howsley Winger, who with her family left Switzerland because of danger of losing their lives for their religion. The Wingers escaped to Holland and came to America in a Dutch sailing vessel, settling in Pennsylvania. This family came to Canada about the same time as the Damude brothers and settled in Pelham. Anna Winger’s father, Bishop John Winger, was the first to be given the right to marry people in this country. They were Tunkers. A few years ago the 150^th anniversary of Bishop Winger’s coming to Canada was celebrated in Ridgeway. We suppose it was he who married his daughter Anna to Henry Damude, also of Tunker faith.

The children of this union were eight in number, and intermarried into the families of Climenhaga, Brown, Howell, Burkholder, Fretz, Miller, Ostrander and Misener. The youngest son, David Damude, was married twice. His first marriage was to Eleanor Ostrander and they had eight children. The eldest was Jacob and his son, Jacob W., was father of A.B. Damude, former Reeve of Fonthill. During his terms as Reeve he was instrumental in bringing about many improvements in the village. Also he was M.P. for Welland County for two terms with the highest majority ever polled. Hardy and Harley Damude, brothers of A.B. Damude, are property owners in the village of Fonthill. David Damude’s second marriage was to Nancy Catharine Misener. Their children are Anna E., John, Mary Williams and Cora M. Of Fonthill. Their father lived to be 93 years of age.

Other descendants of the Damude family living in or near Fonthill are  Mrs florence Williams, Mrs Eva McCombs and Mrs Merle Howell.