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by MARY (QUICK)
TADMAN
"Break, Break,
Break Alfred Lord Tennyson
In the early 1800's William Rankin Quick sailed from
Amsterdam, Netherlands to Massachusetts Bay and eventually
across Lake Ontario and settled at Brighton Bay (also known
as Presqu'ile Bay or Gosport). It was there with his wife
Charlotte VanHorne that they raised their family.
Gleaned from the Brighton Sentinel, April 22,
1853:
"Our enterprising and persevering neighbour Captain
Quick, has erected an extensive wharf and store house at an
expense of three thousand one hundred dollars. It extends
sixty rods into the bay. The main wharf is 85 ft x 133 ft,
the store house 24 x 44 ft and three stories high. It is
fitted up in the most convenient way for storing grain.
Captain Quick is also the Proprietor of the two vessels in
the harbour: This William John and the Sarah Jane. Last
season about fifteen hundred thousand feet of lumber passed
over his wharf, and one million shingles. I understand he
intends building a vessel of two hundred tons during the
coming winter."
From the original copy of the Evening Telegram ,
dated Saturday November 24th 1954, Amanda (Quick) Covell
told the following story to the reporter 75 years later. She
was fifteen when the following excursion took place:
"Her father Captain William Quick built a beautiful new
schooner on the Bayshore, and called her the Amanda, after
her. The Amanda measured 118 tons register. She could carry
one hundred thousand feet of lumber. She was white with
green trimmings and red petticoats, and she has a
half-clipper bow. Captain Quick often took Amanda sailing
with him. Even though she had to stretch to reach the Kings
poke of the wheel, she was a good Helmsman. They used to
trade to Dundas. She and her father and a crew of five or
six men loaded lumber there for Charlotte on the south shore
of Lake Ontario."
On one of these excursions when they finished unloading
the cargo, the crew disappeared believed to have
"bounty-jumped" to become soldiers for Uncle Sam during the
Civil War. Not to be defeated, he was quoted to have said,
"Well, I still have two Amandas". The other Captains at
port, with their deserted crews helped them hoist their big
sails which required a full crew. They crossed the fifty
miles of Lake Ontario in a day and night and sailed into
Presqu'ile Bay while the day was still young. Old Captain
Lesley, the customs officer sauntered down to receive
Captain Quick's arrival report. "Any American Cargo?" asked
he, as a matter of form. "No" said Captain Quick equally
formal, "nothing but a cargo of timber, loaded in Canadian
waters." "Humph," laughed Captain Lesley, "Where are your
crew?" "That little lass there," said Captain Quick, "Is all
six of them." and as the story goes Amanda became known as
Six Men Lassie. According to Folklore my great great great grandfather
"Captain Billie" as he was fondly remembered became quite
wealthy. In later years he became disgruntled with his sons
and buried his treasure somewhere on High Bluff. It has
never been discovered.
Captain Billie's son John and his wife were farmers in
the Gosport area. Their son Adelbert (DIBB) married
Catherine Frances (Frankie) Purtell. She came from Ireland
with her parents during the potato famine.
Legend has it that "Frankie" was alone with her small
family on the homestead on Harbour Street very pregnant and
working on her garden. "Her time had come" so she took
herself to the house, delivered her baby, tended to the
infant, and then went back outside to finish her garden.
This infant was named Grant, who married Helen Faulkner and
eventually resided in this same homestead until his death.
Around 1918 he was sole proprieter of the Quick Fish Market
and also owned the Presqu'ile Hotel and Pleasure Palace.
Grant and his wife Helen managed both the Hotel and
Pavilion and rented out cottages until Grant's death. After
his death both places were demolished and an era that had
been so popular with so many people had ended.
A very interesting and amusing book could be written
about the happy times spent at the Presqu'ile Hotel and
Pleasure Palace. Some famous people stayed at the hotel. The
late Prime Minister Lester Pearson, and Cabinet Minister
Judy LaMarsh lodged there, and also some infamous people
like Ben Kerr who was a very colourful character. He ran his
boat, the Polywog, from the Point across to Rochester,
winter and summer. He was a rum runner and a very successful
one, until he met his death coming back from Rochester one
winter night. The book Whisky and Ice by C.W. Hunt is
a very good read. Guy Lombardo's was probably the most
famous band that played at the Pavilion, but there were many
more. I have some of the receipts for the bands of that
time.
Anyone who resided in the area and for many miles around,
have happy memories of their times at the dance hall.
Mention that you are a Quick and that Grant was your uncle
and the stories pour out.
Grant's brother Royal managed the Brighton Public
Utilities Commission (PUC). Grant's brother Harry, was a
commercial fisherman who married Mary Ellen Fenton. Harry
was Reeve of Brighton from 1932 to 1935. They resided at 162
Baldwin Street where Purtell and Luguarda eventually became
residents. Luguarda resides there with her son William.
Grant's brother William (Pete) married Mary Catherine Fenton
(cousin to Mary Ellen). They resided on Price Street and the
home is still there today. Pete was a commercial fisherman.
Purtell who was given his name from his grandmother's maiden
name was also a commercial Fisherman and managed the Fish
Market. His brother Wilfred also was manager and fisherman.
Elwood and Donald too, were fishermen. Purtell's father and
Uncles Harry, Grant, and Royal were very involved in the
Annual Presqu'ile Regattas of which they raced their boats
for prizes.
Glen Quick, Purtell's son is now owner and manager of
Quick Fisheries. He is presently the Reeve of Brighton and
has served on Council since 1977. His brothers William and
Harry still fish the waters surrounding the area, as do a
couple of their sons.
Tragedy struck October 31, 1980 when Foster Quick's (my
brother) boat capsized while fishing the waters of the Bay
of Quinte. My other brother Garfield, who died in 1977, was
also a fisherman.
So, from the early 1800's until the dawning of the
Millenium, Gosport has been home and workplace to a great
many of the Quick descendants of William R. Quick.
On the cold grey stones, o sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me."