Mr.
Jacob Sovereen, of Delhi, is one of the oldest and most prominent of the
rapidly diminishing number of Norfolk county pioneers. He is of
American descent. His father, Henry B. Sovereen, came from New
Jersey to Upper Canada about 1796, and settled on lot 10, concession 6,
Charlotteville. The maiden name of Mr. Sovereen's mother was
Margaret Brown.
Henry B. Sovereen came to this country at a time
when there was a considerable exodus of persons of American birth to the
British possessions in consequence of the American revolution, and the
bitter state of feeling that existed in the republic against that portion
of the American inhabitants, who had remained faithful in their allegiance
to Great Britain.
Henry B. Sovereen moved to lot 11 Charlotteville
Centre, where Walsh is now located, soon after settling upon lot 10.
From that place he moved to Middleton about 1819 and
settled on lot 45, concession 1 ntr. This lot was in a state of
nature. Upon it Mr. Sovereen built a plank house and put up a barn
30x50. He did settlement duty upon the land, which was a government grant,
and paid a nominal sum for the patent, about $16. The lot contained
200 acres. Later, he bought 200 acres more adjoining it. He
was on this property about eight years, and went back to Charlotteville.
In 1831 he returned to Middleton and settled upon
lot 42, concession 1 ntr. He brought this 200 acres upon which a
saw mill had been erected for $600. This mill was situated upon
North Creek where the Talbot road crosses the stream. He remained on
this place until 1854 and during that time he ran the mill and teamed the
best quality of lumber to Port
Dover. After 1854 he left the mill
and moved into the village of Frederickcsburg [sic], and remained
there the rest of his life.
Jacob Sovereen was born in
Charlotteville, September 10rh, 1816, and he received that excellent
practical education which a training upon a farm affords, and became
acquainted with and able to do all kinds of farm work required in those
days.
