George Benson Hall Jr. (1810 – September 4, 1876) was a businessman involved in the Quebec lumber business. On his death, the Quebec Morning Chronicle described him as "one of Quebec’s most prominent and enterprising citizens".[1]
George Benson Hall Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1810 |
| Died | September 4, 1876 (aged 65–66) |
| Resting place |
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| Spouse | Mary Jane Patterson |
He was born in Amherstburg, Upper Canada, the son of George Benson Hall and Angelica Fortier.[1] In 1843, he married Mary Jane Patterson, the daughter of Peter Patterson, and the couple had 10 children together.[2] On the death of his father-in-law, he became seigneur for Beauport, the last person to hold that title.[3] Hall established a milling complex at the Montmorency Falls in 1851, which eventually grew to employ members of 800 families at Beauport.[4] He served as an alderman for Quebec City from 1853 to 1862. Hall died at Montmorency, at the time one of the richest lumber operators in Canada. He was also known for his generosity to the under-privileged of his community.[3]
In The storied province of Quebec, the Hall sawmills at Montmorency are described as "the greatest in the world".[5]
References
edit- ^ a b Désilets, Andrée (1972). "Hall, George Benson (1810-76)". In Hayne, David (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. X (1871–1880) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
- ^ Société des établissements de plein air du Québec. "History — Parc de la Chute-Montmorency". SEPAQ.com. Retrieved 2019-01-25.
We know very little about Mary Jane, the daughter of Peter Patterson. Her date of birth remains unknown, just like her mother's. On the other hand, we do know that in 1843 she married George Benson Hall, a lumber merchant from Amherstburg in Upper Canada (Ontario). And it was the mysterious Mary Jane who made many changes to the estate.
- ^ a b "rue Benson-Hall". Répertoire des toponymes (in Canadian French). Ville de Québec. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
- ^ Légaré, Denyse; Labrecque, Paul (2010). Montmorency ou le Bas-du-Sault : Arrondissement de Beauport (PDF). Histoire de raconter (in Canadian French). Coordination : Mylene Gauthier, Caroline Thibault et Mariève Bernier, Division de la culture, du loisir et de la vie communautaire. Conception graphique : Laframboise Design. Division de la culture du loisir et de la vie communautaire de l’Arrondissement de Beauport. p. 7. ISBN 978-2-89552-069-6. Retrieved 2019-01-25.
Au plus fort de la production, l'entreprise procure du travail à environ 800 familles de Montmorency et des alentours.
- ^ Wood, WCH (1931). "The storied province of Quebec". OurRoots.ca. p. 402. Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2008-12-04.