Toponymie | Canton de Potton | Place Names

“ Mansonville is distinguished by the presence of a Round Barn in the middle of the village, opposite the Church.  Its major distinguishing feature, however, is still the small square bordered by houses, businesses, a hotel, the Townhall, a bank and an old masonic lodge.  Few public spaces within the MRC are as well defined.  … »^[1]

Place Manson, located opposite the Town Hall, was known as “The Common” until July of 1991, when its name was changed to include that of the donor of the land.  The designation of a large green space as a “common” was not an unusual practice in the early Townships.  Another lovely example is found next to the Anglican Church in Hatley, built in 1829. It is a practice of British origin: in feudal times, the poorest, least productive soil in a parish was designated as common land available for parishioners to graze animals and cut turf and timber for fuel.  Members of this community with these rights were known as “commoners”. 

Around 1840, the land for the “Common”, now Place Manson, was given to Mansonville for a park by William Blanchard Manson, grandson of Robert Manson, founder of the village and brother to David A. Manson.  Wm. Blanchard Manson's middle name (and the one by which he was commonly called) is in honour of his maternal grandmother as she was the grand-daughter of Captain David Blanchard, who came to Potton around 1800 and settled in the area of West Hill.

“ It is said he loved trees and planted them all around the park thus creating a beautiful green space for all the villagers to enjoy. »^[2] 

For those interested by such details, Place Manson is rectangular in form, measuring 30 x 100 meters.  This oasis of nature welcomes all to Mansonville, and over the years has seen many a celebration, parade and fair.  Potton's militia, active from 1812, mustered there.  In peaceful times to follow, many a child skated on the rink that was built there each year. 

The Common was given a new name and a face-lift in 1991.  Its original bandstand was replicated and now stands in the place of the first one built over a century ago.  Place Manson is a fitting tribute to the man who loved green spaces and had the foresight to provide one for his fellow citizens.  Likely he would be very impressed with the current appearance, since the trees are well established and the area is a pleasantly welcoming oasis. 

Place Manson is depicted in Plates 26 & 27 of Potton d'antan, Yesterdays of Potton.  William Blanchard Manson and his wife, Fannie Merry, are buried in the Mansonville Cemetery.

It is appropriate at this juncture to write a bit of Robert Manson, venerable predecessor to the illustrious descendants, Wm. Blanchard, and David Ames, about whom you will have read.  It was he who, in my opinion, did the “heavy lifting” in the pioneer world that was Potton in the early 1800's.

His son, Joseph, writes: “ In 1802 or 1803, Robert Manson bought from Mr. Chandler the water power mill of Mansonville.  The purchase included a saw mill poorly constructed. »  “ Father (Robert Manson, senior) remodelled the saw mill, improved the dam and built a grist mill at the east end of the dam.  When father and mother moved to Potton, I have no knowledge how they did it, except that mother carried her third and then youngest child in her arms on horseback. »^[3] 

The “mother” referred to above was Patience Andrews, born 1782, in Saratoga, New York, wife of Robert Manson.

Taylor continues to quote Joseph Manson.  “ My mother told me of many incidents of her settlement in Potton.  She rode on horseback and carried her third child, James, in her arms and forded the Missisco at or near the head of the rapids, some four or five miles above Richford.  My mother told me she dreamed she was crossing the river again and had fallen into the water and would be drowned, but could throw the babe out onto the ground and save his life, which she did, only to be waked by the fierce screams of the little heavenly cherub in distress – out on the cold floor. »^[4]

Because little is written, and even less known, of the brave pioneer women of Potton, I feel it entirely appropriate to speak of this lady, because her story leapt at me from the pages of Taylor, Volume I:

“ Now there lived a man at Saratoga named Robert Andrews, a Baptist minister by practice and a sea captain by profession.  He had two daughters, named Ruth and Patience, born respectively in 1780 and 1782.  Their mother died when they were little girls.  Their father placed them in a family by the name of Palmer where they were raised to womanhood.  He visited them between voyages at sea.  When the eldest was about twelve years of age, he sailed away and was never heard of again.  In about 1796, Ruth married William Manson, and about two years later, in 1798, Patience married Robert. »^[5]  The author of that letter was Joseph Manson, born 1820, the sixth son of Robert and Patience Manson.  Later in his letters, he quotes his mother: “ Sister Ruth and I had many a bitter cry on leaving Saratoga for Canada.  It seemed like leaving home forever and living in a wilderness. »  Robert Manson and his wife Patience Andrews, William Manson and his wife Ruth Andrews all settled in Potton.  William and Ruth brought up ten children.  Robert and Patience had eleven children.  They certainly increased the early population numbers here quite nicely!

“ The first store opened in Mansonville was in 1824 by Wm. Manson, brother of Robert, and his son. »^[6]

Robert Manson (1776-1874) was the first of the Manson family to live here, who, collectively, left legacies of buildings, farms, and community pride.  Robert Manson died on September 4, 1874 and lies in Mansonville Cemetery beside his wife, Patience Andrews, who died in 1866, at age 88.