Son of William Lucas and Elizabeth Edwards.
Thanks to contributor Stewart Smith for the following:
While still living in Beckwith Township, Andrew heard rumours from the Indians of some type of black liquid that was oozing from the ground in the extreme western part of Upper Canada, being described as lying about 20 miles east of the St. Clair river and 20 miles south of Lake Huron. Being interested, he decided to investigate. The date of his trip is not certain, but was probably in 1830.
He travelled on foot and by boat until he reached the point where the City of Hamilton is now situated. From there westward he followed an Indian trail to where Brantford is now situated, and from there he followed the east branch of the Thames to the forks of that river where London is now located. From there on, he had the assistance of Indian guides who led him to what was afterwards known as the "Gum Beds" or the "Pit Hole" where oil was oozing out of the ground. He spread an old blanket over the softest part that he could find and had the Indians tramp it down with their bare feet into the oily substance. In the morning a sufficient amount of oil had filtered through the blanket to enable him to fill several containers that he had brought with him.
He then began his return journey. When passing through London, he was offered a free grant of a 5 acre block at the northwest corner of what is now known as Richmond and Dundas Streets, if he would settle there and open a blacksmith shop as the village was badly in need of such an artisan. He declined the offer and continued on home to Beckwith.
The discovery of the oil beds created no special interest, he considered it valuable only as a lubricating oil and as a medicine, but while he was at the "Gum Beds" he also found out that the land was much better than in Beckwith, and these were the chief reasons why he went back to Beckwith and then brought his family back to Brooke Township, where they stayed and are buried.
-http://www.visualheritage.ca/lambton/lastfrontier.htm
Thanks to contributor Stewart Smith for the following:
While still living in Beckwith Township, Andrew heard rumours from the Indians of some type of black liquid that was oozing from the ground in the extreme western part of Upper Canada, being described as lying about 20 miles east of the St. Clair river and 20 miles south of Lake Huron. Being interested, he decided to investigate. The date of his trip is not certain, but was probably in 1830.
He travelled on foot and by boat until he reached the point where the City of Hamilton is now situated. From there westward he followed an Indian trail to where Brantford is now situated, and from there he followed the east branch of the Thames to the forks of that river where London is now located. From there on, he had the assistance of Indian guides who led him to what was afterwards known as the "Gum Beds" or the "Pit Hole" where oil was oozing out of the ground. He spread an old blanket over the softest part that he could find and had the Indians tramp it down with their bare feet into the oily substance. In the morning a sufficient amount of oil had filtered through the blanket to enable him to fill several containers that he had brought with him.
He then began his return journey. When passing through London, he was offered a free grant of a 5 acre block at the northwest corner of what is now known as Richmond and Dundas Streets, if he would settle there and open a blacksmith shop as the village was badly in need of such an artisan. He declined the offer and continued on home to Beckwith.
The discovery of the oil beds created no special interest, he considered it valuable only as a lubricating oil and as a medicine, but while he was at the "Gum Beds" he also found out that the land was much better than in Beckwith, and these were the chief reasons why he went back to Beckwith and then brought his family back to Brooke Township, where they stayed and are buried.
-http://www.visualheritage.ca/lambton/lastfrontier.htm
Son of William Lucas and Elizabeth Edwards.
Thanks to contributor Stewart Smith for the following:
While still living in Beckwith Township, Andrew heard rumours from the Indians of some type of black liquid that was oozing from the ground in the extreme western part of Upper Canada, being described as lying about 20 miles east of the St. Clair river and 20 miles south of Lake Huron. Being interested, he decided to investigate. The date of his trip is not certain, but was probably in 1830.
He travelled on foot and by boat until he reached the point where the City of Hamilton is now situated. From there westward he followed an Indian trail to where Brantford is now situated, and from there he followed the east branch of the Thames to the forks of that river where London is now located. From there on, he had the assistance of Indian guides who led him to what was afterwards known as the "Gum Beds" or the "Pit Hole" where oil was oozing out of the ground. He spread an old blanket over the softest part that he could find and had the Indians tramp it down with their bare feet into the oily substance. In the morning a sufficient amount of oil had filtered through the blanket to enable him to fill several containers that he had brought with him.
He then began his return journey. When passing through London, he was offered a free grant of a 5 acre block at the northwest corner of what is now known as Richmond and Dundas Streets, if he would settle there and open a blacksmith shop as the village was badly in need of such an artisan. He declined the offer and continued on home to Beckwith.
The discovery of the oil beds created no special interest, he considered it valuable only as a lubricating oil and as a medicine, but while he was at the "Gum Beds" he also found out that the land was much better than in Beckwith, and these were the chief reasons why he went back to Beckwith and then brought his family back to Brooke Township, where they stayed and are buried.
-http://www.visualheritage.ca/lambton/lastfrontier.htm
Thanks to contributor Stewart Smith for the following:
While still living in Beckwith Township, Andrew heard rumours from the Indians of some type of black liquid that was oozing from the ground in the extreme western part of Upper Canada, being described as lying about 20 miles east of the St. Clair river and 20 miles south of Lake Huron. Being interested, he decided to investigate. The date of his trip is not certain, but was probably in 1830.
He travelled on foot and by boat until he reached the point where the City of Hamilton is now situated. From there westward he followed an Indian trail to where Brantford is now situated, and from there he followed the east branch of the Thames to the forks of that river where London is now located. From there on, he had the assistance of Indian guides who led him to what was afterwards known as the "Gum Beds" or the "Pit Hole" where oil was oozing out of the ground. He spread an old blanket over the softest part that he could find and had the Indians tramp it down with their bare feet into the oily substance. In the morning a sufficient amount of oil had filtered through the blanket to enable him to fill several containers that he had brought with him.
He then began his return journey. When passing through London, he was offered a free grant of a 5 acre block at the northwest corner of what is now known as Richmond and Dundas Streets, if he would settle there and open a blacksmith shop as the village was badly in need of such an artisan. He declined the offer and continued on home to Beckwith.
The discovery of the oil beds created no special interest, he considered it valuable only as a lubricating oil and as a medicine, but while he was at the "Gum Beds" he also found out that the land was much better than in Beckwith, and these were the chief reasons why he went back to Beckwith and then brought his family back to Brooke Township, where they stayed and are buried.
-http://www.visualheritage.ca/lambton/lastfrontier.htm
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