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A Tribute to Our Founding Family

The Coppings of Rawdon is a tribute to one of the founding families of the Township of Rawdon. The Coppings family settled here in 1821, carving out their lives in a thickly forested landscape. Their remarkable journey reflects the resilience and determination that defined early settlers in Lower Canada. This website serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in exploring the rich history and stories of the Coppings family and their contributions to the community.

  Background for the Early Sketches

Before the advent of photography, sketches and drawings were the only visual record of history. Professionals and senior members of the British Army were taught to sketch as part of their training at the Royal Military Academy as they were expected to augment their reports with sketches. Military draftsmanship focused on representation of objects, scenes, and places, as they actually were rather than the then popular inclination to elaborate and decorate to render the picture more pleasing. Sketches of the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Death of Wolfe and of Montcalm are examples of this practice.

Our Legacy

The Coppings are not just a name; they represent a legacy of perseverance and familial bonds. Through challenges and triumphs, the family has remained interconnected, with each member contributing to the tapestry of their shared history. This website aims to honour those who came before us and keep their stories alive for future generations.

Prior to the British presence there were very few sketches of Lower Canada. Thanks to British officers stationed in the Canadas for their proficiency in recording the early history of the Canadas with scenes and incidents witnessed during their stay. 

The majority of sketches used here were taken from a collection of sketches from the Sigmund Samuel Canadiana Collection at the Royal Ontario Museum and reprinted in The Early Face of Canada.  

Much of the information I have used describing the S S Lively’s sail approaching and entering the St. Lawrence River is based on George Heriot’s 1807 publication, “Travels Through the Canadas”. 

George Heriot was sent to the Canadas in 1792 to take a post in the paymasters department. In 1800 he was made Deputy Postmaster General of British North America. In this capacity he travelled throughout the area of the British holdings in the new World. He recorded all he saw as well as making several sketches of various areas and activities. I have included some of his sketches as well.

The third source of illustrations was J W Jeffries’ drawings of early days in Canada. Unfortunately I have found no record of this artist.

The Law in Lower Canada

This painting by Linda Blagrave shows the building in Ste Julienne that housed the court records following a fire had destroyed all the records in the office at Berthierville.

In accordance with the 1757 agreement, Quebec Civil Law was based on the French Legislation, but Criminal Law was of English origin. Lower Canada was divided into five legal circuits, Berthierville being the seat for the Rawdon area.

At this early stage, the Church of England in the Canada’s was governed by the Lord Bishop of Quebec. In Lower Canada, the Lord Bishop had one archdeacon with some 30 clergymen and a like number of churches under his jurisdiction.

The Church of England was supported by parliamentary aid as well as the Church Missionary Fund. The Rev. Burton, the first clergyman in Rawdon, was sent by the Missionary Society.

In the new country, government funding through taxes and duties were minimal. There was a 2% import duty, and a 5% duty on liquor. Anyone selling liquor, tavern keepers, and pedlars were subject to an annual licensing fee. Other government revenue was from fines and the sale of crown lands.

Treaty of Paris

In the Treaty of  Paris, signed in 1763, England was given sovereignty over the St Lawrence River. To confirm her presence, and guard against an invasion from the newly found United States  England was encouraging settlement in the New World. 

Stringent conditions at home also induced many to take to the seas in search of new products and new markets, or even a new and better life in a developing country where land was not only available but relatively cheap. Some were just looking for adventure.

George Heriot, deputy postmaster general of  British North America had published a book of his observations in the colonies during his twenty years of service there. ‘Travels in the Canadas’ was published in London in 1807. The publication not only describes the country but gives details on the climate and productions of each area as well as detailing the people and their habitations. It, as well as many other such publications, was meant to stimulate emigration to the Canadas. 

Men, such as Heriot, who had personal knowledge of the New World, travelled to the various areas giving talks on the benefits and advantages of emigrating. Might this not have been an influence on George’s decision to go to the New World? A few years later just such an event caught the fancy of the Parr sisters’ husbands, Thomas Traill and John Moody.