James Urquhart was probably born sometime between 1756 and 1766. He married Genevieve Drouillard, daughter of Francois Drouillard and Marie-Anne St. Louis about 1786. She was born on the South Coast of Detroit (now Windsor, Ontario) on 8 November, 1766.
James and Genevieve had ten children:-
1. John Urquhart, born on May 19, 1787.
2. James Urquhart, born August 03, 1788.
3. George Urquhart, born October 03, 1789.
4. Margaret Urquhart, born January 17, 1791.
5. Edward Urquhart, born August 17, 1792.
6. Frances Urquhart, born December 31, 1795.
7. Alexander C. Urquhart, born April 01, 1798.
8. Marie Ann Urquhart, born August 13, 1801. She died on March 18, 1804.
9. Frances Agatha Urquhart, born August 14, 1801.
10. Archange Anne Urquhart, born July 24, 1803.
James Urquhart's origin is still veiled in that mist of obscurity surrounding the turbulent times of the American Revolution. His name does not appear on any list of United Empire loyalists so one cannot assume that he was born in North America. One thing is certain however, and that is that either he or his ancestors were born somewhere in Scotland, the origin of the Urquhart surname.
James first shows up on record
in that geographical area which is now Windsor, Ontario in John
Askins' Ledger of 1787. John Askin, also of Scottish descent, was a
prominent merchand in the area. - This entry shows
that James was a Shopkeeper.
Genevieve is listed in the first record as James Urquhart’s wife. No
marriage records have been located and it can only be
assumed that the marriage must have occurred shortly after her husbands
(Edward Ridley) death. Edward Ridley was a English merchant and died
sometime before December 1886, the date on which his
account as a merchant was settled in Montreal.
Genevieve was born on November 08, 1766 and became a widow (at age 20) with a young daughter (Elizabeth Ridley) born on December 31, 1783. An earlier record records the birth of Genevieve's daughter, but no record of Edward Ridley’s marriage to Genevieve has been found, however records indicate that he lived on Hog Island (now Belle Isle) in about 1771 and owned a lot in Detroit. On 11 July 1779 Edward Ridley and Bennet are listed as creditors of Laventure Toucher and brother. In 1780 Arent S De Peyster records the theft of goods from Ridley, who the same year signs with others, a petition to De Peyster seeking laws to assure collection of debts. On 28 March 1781 Ridley signed a similar petition. In July of 1786 Ridley and Hands are recorded as having five bushels of Indian Corn. Whether or not Edward Ridley was alive at the time of this record has not been determined but on 27 December, 1786 creditors of the partnership of Ridley and Hands of Detroit, Merchants, refer to the partnership as being dissolved because of Edward Ridley’s death.
There is a $1,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of the ancestors of James Urquhart of the River Thames.