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Jean Baptiste Rousseau (1758-1812), a fur trader, merchant,
landowner and mill owner, was a founder of Ancaster, Ontario.
The Jean Baptiste Rousseau family fonds (F 493), consisting
of business and personal records of the Rousseau family, recently
has been microfilmed and is available on interlibrary loan.
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to see a larger image (91K)
Smith's Commercial and Travelling Map of
Canada
West /Compiled expressly for Smith's Gazetteer, 1846
H. & W. Rowsell, Publishers William Henry Smith
Reference Code: C 279-0-0-0-72
Archives of Ontario, I0004743
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Biographical sketch
Jean Baptiste Rousseau (1758-1812) was a merchant, landowner
and mill owner in Ancaster, Kingston and York. Rousseau served
in the Indian Department from 1775 to 1779, acting as an interpreter
and adviser on Indian affairs. After leaving government service,
he engaged in trade on the north shore of Lake Ontario, at Kingston
and along the Humber River.
In 1791, building upon his connections with Joseph Brant, he
began trading with the Six Nations and erected a corn mill near
Brantford, Ontario. By 1792 he was well established as a fur trader
and general merchant at York. In 1794 he purchased a half-share
in a grist and saw mill in Ancaster Township, subsequently moving
his family there. He opened a general store, ran an inn and blacksmith
shop, and acquired sizeable land holdings in the Ancaster area.
Active in the Upper Canadian militia, Rousseau participated in
the Battle of Kingston. He died while on business at Fort George
in 1812. Rousseau's sons, George and Joseph Brant Rousseau, continued
to operate the family businesses after his death.
Introduction
Microfilm consists of a copy of records created or collected
by members of the family of Jean Baptiste Rousseau, particularly
Jean Baptiste Rousseau himself and his son, Joseph Brant Rousseau.
Included is a family account book and a memorandum book, personal,
legal and business correspondence, and genealogical information
compiled on the Rousseau family.
F 493 is available on microfilm MS 7294,
Reel 1.
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