Toponymie | Canton de Potton | Place Names

A prunier in French is a plum tree in English and may well be the reasoning for the name.  I suspect however that the name relates to its geographic situation on the slope of Plum hill. 

Found off Chemin Sargent Hill in Dunkin, Plumtree Hill is not a new designation, although the name Chemin des Prunier is.  Gore's map of 1839, a military map, shows the hill west of the Ruiter Brook as Plum Tree Hill.  Additionally, another map “Frontier of Canada East 1863” shows “Plum Mountain” in the area of “Sargent Village”, because many of the Sargent family lived along the road.  “ One of the earliest frontier roads in Potton passed through West Potton (Dunkin), called “Old King's Road”. (...)  In the days of Colonel Ruiter, “he being one of the four Lieutenant Colonels under Col. Sir John Johnson, in charge of the Eastern Townships Militia during the War of 1812 », must have had scouts and patrols guarding the lines (…) »^[1], using Plum tree hill as a lookout point for reconnoitring purposes.  At one time, Sargent Hill Road continued beyond its present “end” to large farms at the height of land, belonging to the Woods and Dutton families among others, before then descending on the other side to meet Eastman Road in Glen Sutton.  Chemin Sargent is no longer a through road.

With regard to Chemin des Pruniers, the Muncipal records simply say there was a plum orchard there.  On the off chance that Plumtree Hill received its name due to an abundance of Plums – (doubtless useful to the Military) – here's a little thumbnail about that deliciously juicy purple (or red or yellow) plum!  The definite answer should come from residents of the area, for the blossoms in spring would be spectacularly beautiful, if plum trees still exist on Plumtree Hill!  On a recent visit, I must say that the only ones in sight were those recently planted by the proprietor!

Prunus is the botanical name for a large group of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs.  These popular plants are greatly valued for their delicious, edible fruits, gorgeous spring blossoms and some, for their colourful foliage; some varieties are grown for decoration alone, since not all produce edible fruits.  They are among the most beautiful trees and shrubs.  As a non-cultivated variety, we have the Canada Plum or wild plum.  It is a small tree, from 7 to 10 meters tall, with black bark, which scales as the tree matures.  The fruit has a thick red, reddish or yellow skin, with yellow flesh, juicy and sour!^[2]