Heritage York Research Guide
William Pearce Howland, Canada. Patent and Copyright Office / Library and Archives Canada / PA-028629
The Howland Family
of Lambton Mills
The Howlands were originally a New York Quaker family, coming to York circa 1830. Several Howland family members would go on to be extremely influential throughout York/Toronto, but no one more so in the mid-19th century as William Pearce (pictured left). W. P. not only became Lieutenant-General of Ontario, but also branded the Lambton Mills area with its name. Previously named Cooper's Mills, after the Cooper Family, W. P. changed it to Lambton Mills after leasing the land and properties on both sides of the river from Thomas Cooper in the 1840s. This name change was in support of Governor General John George Lambton and the part he played in the Reform Act of 1832, on responsible government.
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For more information on William Pearce and other Howland family members, please continue below.
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To view a list of primary sources found during the research for this guide, including addresses of residences and businesses, titles, and Howland family member roles in various associations and industries, please click here.
Linked here is a map showing the land associated with the Howland family in the Lambton Mills area, as they were in 1860:
Family Members
William Pearce: b. 1811, New York, d. 1907, Toronto
Moving from NY to Mississauga in 1830, W.P. worked as a labourer until leasing Cooper's Mills in 1840 and some surrounding land, sometime thereafter renaming the area to Lambton Mills. At a later, unknown date, he would purchase the land new the Humber River and elsewhere, enlarge the mills, and construct new buildings (see Industry & Commerce), which allowed him to amass significant wealth.
W. P. would quickly come to reside in downtown Toronto, where he ran several business, participated in politics and political change, gained a number of titles (MP, MPP, Hon.), and became affiliated with many organizations and charities. His brothers Frederick and Peleg took over the milling and merchant business in Lambton Mills, while W. P. focused on politics and finance.
William Pearce outlived all his brothers and both of his sons. He was survived by his daughter, and his third wife, Elizabeth Mary (née Rattray).
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To view a list of all known appointments and titles received by William Pearce,
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Mary Anne (née Blyth): m. 1843, d. 1860, Toronto
First of W.P.’s wives and mother to his three children (two sons, one daughter).
Susanna (née Shrewsbury): m. 1865, d. 1886, Toronto
Second of the three wives of W. P., and W. P. being her second husband, Susanna was involved in several charities across York, such as the Orphans Home, Boys Home, and Female Society.
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Elizabeth Mary (née Rattray): m. 1895
Third wife of W. P., Elizabeth survived her husband.
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Peleg:
Brother of W. P., Henry S., and Frederick A., Peleg maintained a residence in Chinguacousy (modern day Brampton) and in Toronto proper for several years before joining his brother Frederick in the mill business in Lambton Mills, Etobicoke. He eventually became involved in banking and the Toronto Corn Exchange, among other ventures, within downtown Toronto.
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Frederick Aiken:
Brother of W.P., Peleg, and Henry S. Once in York, Frederick lived most of his life in Lambton Mills as a miller and as the town's postmaster. He was partnered with his brother Peleg in the business of milling and sales, holding a downtown office on Church St., however, unlike his brothers, he does not seem to have become involved in finance or politics.
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Henry Stark: b. 1824, New York, d. 1902, Toronto
Brother of W. P., Peleg, and Frederick A., Henry also owned a stake in his brothers' milling business, but lived primarily in downtown Toronto, with property in Vaughan. He was a merchant, banker, insurance director, and owner of H. S. Howland & Sons Co., a wholesale hardware business.
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William Holmes: b. 1844, Lambton Mills, d. 1893, Toronto
Son of W. P. and his first wife Mary Ann (née Blyth). Beginning as a cashier and clerk at the Ontario Bank, William would become a commission merchant in his father's downtown business W. P. Howland & Co. William would continue to move up the ranks in banking and on various boards (such as President of the Board of Trade) and was Mayor of Toronto from 1886-1887.
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Oliver Aiken: b. 1847, Lambton Mills, d. 1905, Toronto
Son of W. P. and his first wife Mary Ann (née Blyth), Oliver was a barrister, an MPP, and Mayor of Toronto from 1901-1902.
William Holmes Howland, 1844-1893. Photograph, 1880. Baldwin Collection of Canadiana, TPL. Public Domain.