Born in Enfield, Massachusetts, Tillson came to Upper Canada in 1822, where he operated the Normandale Iron Foundry, Norfolk County, in partnership with Hiram Capron and James and Benjamin Van Norman. In 1825, he sold his holdings in that pioneer enterprise and bought some 600 acres of land, including a mill site, in this vicinity. Here, in partnership with Benjamin Van Norman, he built a new forge and a sawmill. The settlement that grew around these industries was known at first as Dereham Forge, but following the survey of the town plot in 1837, it was named Tillsonburg in honour of its founder.

Location

At the pull-off at 3-27 Old Vienna Road, Tillsonburg

Themes

• Communities
• Industry and trade
• People