Fonds F1064 - Tett Family fonds

The founder of the family, Benjamin Tett (1798-1878) was born at Hinton-St. George, Somerset, England, and came to Canada in 1818 settling first at Perth and later at Isthmus (now Newboro). Benjamin Tett was contracted to apprentice with James O'Hare, Surgeon and Apothocary of Perth for four years from 1818 to 1822; it is not likely that he fulfilled the contract. He also had a teaching position with Reverend Harris during his time in Perth. He had business dealings with Samuel Chaffey at Chaffey's Locks and opened a sawmill at Buttermilk Falls (now Bedford Mills). When he moved to Isthmus he held a variety of positions including postmaster, justice of the peace, coroner and government land agent. He was a member of the district council for Johnstown and later for Leeds-Grenville. He became reeve in 1855 and a member of the Assembly of the united provinces in 1858. In 1867 he was a member of the Ontario Legislature. Besides the sawmill at Bedford Mills, Benjamin Tett was engaged in buying timber, having it transported along the Rideau Canal and was the owner of timber limits. He was official lumbering agent for the Crown and Clergy Reserves Land in South Crosby. He also operated stores at Bedford Mills and at Newboro. In 1833 Benjamin Tett married Julyanna Poole and they had two sons, John Poole Tett and Benjamin Tett, Junior; and three daughters. The sons continued their father's enterprises and formed a partnership, J.P. Tett and Brother. Their business activities included a grist mill, flour mill, sawmill, stores and a boarding house.They also owned several barges and tugs which plied the Rideau to Ottawa or Kingston. Later, they established an electric plant which provided the area with electricity and at one period operated a canning factory. The electrical plant, until it was taken over by the Ontario Hydro Commission, was run by Edmund J. Tett, grandson of Benjamin Tett.