Enoch Wait

     Enoch Wait was born on 24 May 1776 at Canaan, Columbia Co, New York.¹ He was the son of George Wait and Elizabeth (?). Enoch Wait was baptized on 6 August 1815 at Clarenceville, Missisquoi Co, Quebec.² He married Sarah Salls, daughter of Jacob Salls and Margaret Taylor, circa 1814. Enoch Wait died on 2 October 1856 at Lingwick, Compton Co, Quebec, at age 80; His stone indicates he was 80 yrs 6 mos. old.^3,4 He was buried on 3 October 1856 at Presbyterian Cemetery, Lingwick, Compton Co, Quebec.⁴
     It is possible that the Enoch Wait, found in Haldimand Twp, Northumberland, Ontario in 1797, with George Wait, is our George and son Enoch. It is likely, given that Enoch's uncle, Benjamin, and his two sons, Jencks and Isaac, were also there at that time.⁵ At this point, it is not yet known when and where Enoch Wait met and married Sarah Salls. Once again the fact arises that the Wait and Salls families were close. It is also evident that Enoch and wf Sarah were close to the Gorham family while still in Noyan - although whether it was just a friendship or actual relation through the Wait line is, again, a mystery. While they named a daughter Hannah Paulina Gorham Wait in 1824, Jonathan Gorham and wf Sophia named a daughter Sarah Paulina Wait Gorham in 1807.
Enoch Wait served as a Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Marines along with his brother in law, Jacob S. Salls, a private. It was upon this service that Enoch applied, in 1829, along with Samuel H. Fargo, for land in the township of Bury. In a later document dated 1836 he gives further info on this grant. He was given "Lot #19 in the 6th Range in Bury and commenced settlement...in 1829; and has made it the permanent residence of himself and family since February 1832". Due to lack of proper markings, Enoch Wait made a mistake, and, inadvertantly settled on Lots 7 & 8 in the 6th Range. This came to light in 1830 and he made repeated appeals to Governor James Kempt for help. By 1836 he already had spent upwards of six years working on it and now had cultivated 30 acres, planted an orchard, erected several buildings, and had made and maintained a road through the wilderness spanning six miles. The situation became desperate when the British American Land Company began operating nearby, and even erected buildings on his cleared land, making it known their intentions to reserve the lots he had thought were his own. He was finally informed that he would be allowed to exchange or purchase the land on which he had settled at his option. As yet, no further documentation has been located as to the final outcome, or as to any other later land transactions. He appeared on the census of 1851 at Lingwick, Compton Co, Quebec; B. Enoch Wait, farmer, b. US, Episc., 78, May 26; Briggs Wait, 26, Mar 26; and Sarah Wait, 68, Apr 3rd. While thsi also gives ages and birthdays, it is interesting that Enochs is listed as B. Enoch Wait. The records do not indicate what constitutes a household, and it looks like John Young, b. Ireland, 33, Dec 25th, is listed with them. Enoch and his family may also be actually liviing with his son Abraham, who is listed directly above him.⁶