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The first known Scottish immigrant to Pickering was George Barclay, a graduate of St. Andrews University and an ordained Baptist minister. He jointed the little colony of United Empire Loyalists on the Brock Road in 1817; and was followed by his wife, Janet Tullis, and his family. They settled on the back half of Elizabeth Matthews' grant, Lot 19, Concession 6. Elder Barclay, as he was called, had completed the purchase of this property as early as 1819. The family was energetic and seemed to have a little money so that they could buy a few crude implements, horses, cows and oxen. Elder Barclay's sons, George, James, William, David and Eli, worked the farm while Father, ministered to the Baptists for many miles around. He traveled on horseback from his home on the Seventh Concession and Brock Road, to Uxbridge, Claremont, Markham and south to Duffin's Creek. In 1821, he became Minister of the first Baptist Church in Markham, where the following interchange with his flock took place: "Saturday, 4th August, 1821. Minutes of the Proceedings of a considerable number of Baptist brethren who were separated from the first Baptist Church in Markham...The disorderly talk for which Br. Amos Wixon and Sister Rachel Wixon were excluded was contending against paying a salary to Elder George Barclay, which had also been opposed by Brother Joshua Wixon, as an unscriptural practice, as Christ says that an hireling careth not for the sheep because he is an hireling and not the owner of the sheep. In opposing this idea a sharp debate ensued in which Br. Amos and Sister Rachel Wixon were degraded for lack of knowledge, called ignorant persons, and at length ordered to a total silence by Elder Barclay, who appeared to be angry. R. Wixon." (ref; "Past Years in Pickering", by W. R. Wood.) The Barclays were members of the Reform party and since they were active non-conformists, opposed the King's College grants very strenuously. Elder Barclay, an ordained, university-trained clergyman from Scotland, must have bitterly resented the power and privileges of another Scottish immigrant, of poorer family than he, John Strachan.. Barclay was not allowed to marry his own parishioners who either traveled to Squire Leys" house in Pickering or invited the good-natured Justice of Peace, up to their homes to marry them. He obligingly furnished his young couples with a tiny "Marriage Certificat". The one photostated here was a scrap of paper 3 ½ x 5". The Forsythe family, who lent us this certificate also had one, a little larger, dated 1845, signed George Barclay, so that the good Elder was recognized as a clergyman by this date. The Barclays felt most strongly about the injustices not only of an established Church, but also the poor local school, provided entirely by the settlers, the overbearing attitude of William Allan, the lakefront absentee who assessed the settlers' farms carved out with so much blood, sweat and tears; Who collected the taxes and made up the voters' lists for York East, and who in 1835, imported Orangemen tenants on his farm, Lot 18, & 19, Range 3. Unquestionably, George Barclay, a deeply religious man of strong character, must have felt morally right in taking an active part in the rebellion. He, like all the other rebels who were fighting for an executive responsible to the Assembly for a vote by ballot, education for all, was not pro-American and was British and not pro-republican. There does not seem to be any evidence in any of the many family records consulted in this book, of the pro-Americanism Mackenzie adopted in later life. The fight in Pickering seemed to be local, against the Family Compact, who had swallowed up so much of the land. (See map).