Stuart, George Okill

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: A. J. Anderson, “STUART, GEORGE OKILL (1776-1862),” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 9, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/stuart_george_okill_1776_1862_9E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Church of England clergyman; b. 29 June 1776 at Fort Hunter (near Amsterdam, N.Y.), eldest of the eight children of the Reverend John Stuart and Jane Okill; d. 5 Oct. 1862 at Kingston, Canada West.
    • George Okill Stuart’s family came to Canada as loyalists in 1781 and settled in Montreal. His education probably began in his father’s school. John Stuart moved to Kingston as a missionary in 1785 and established another school, where George’s education continued for a few years. George entered Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1789 or 1790, then attended King’s College at Windsor, N.S.
    • In 1812 Stuart left York, to succeed his father as incumbent at Kingston. He was himself succeeded as incumbent at York and master of the grammar school by John Strachan, who had hoped at first to take over at Kingston instead. When Stuart was appointed to Kingston he also became bishop’s official in Upper Canada, and thus could act on the bishop’s behalf and, when requested, as his legal representative. In 1821 he became archdeacon of York; when the archdeaconry was divided in 1827 he was named archdeacon of Kingston and Strachan was made archdeacon of York. Stuart continued as archdeacon of Kingston after the diocese of Toronto was created in 1839. King’s College, Windsor, conferred on him an honorary dcl in 1827.
    • Stuart’s archdeaconry extended from Newcastle in the west to the eastern borders of the province, and his incumbency at Kingston included for some time the chaplaincy to the Mohawk Indians at Tyendinaga. He also assisted in setting up parishes in eastern Upper Canada, such as Brockville, Augusta, and Prescott, as well as in his home centre. At Kingston he oversaw the building of the second St George’s Church which was consecrated by Bishop Charles James Stewart in 1828. Stuart encouraged and helped train a number of candidates for holy orders. He looked mainly for men born in Canada at a time when many more clergymen were sorely needed for new parishes. He remained a missionary of the SPG until 1857 and was active in the Church Society of the diocese of Toronto and in synod affairs. He was also one of the original members of the council of Trinity College in 1851.
  • Son of Proven United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=8220
  • Find a GRAVE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156134221/george_o’kill-stuart