Thomas Saunders

Born in Buckinghamshire, England on the 28th of February 1795. He married Lucy Anne Willcocks, daughter of Sir Richard Wilcocks in 1829, and shortly afterwards went to Bombay, India. While in Bombay, he resided at a property known as Ridgeway Cottage. A drawing of the cottage is contained in the diary of Thomas Saunders, currently held at the Wellington County Archives in Guelph, Canada. The Saunders had some business interests in India, probably stemming from their business relationships with the Prinsep family. Some of Thomas and Lucy Anne's children were evidently born in India. After several years, Thomas & family returned to Europe, residing for a time with Thomas' father in France where he was British Vice-Consul at St. Valery Sur Somme.

Thomas had made up his mind to emigrate to Canada, perhaps at the recommendation of the Haldimand Family. Sir Frederick Haldimand, who had served as Gov. of Lower Canada was related to the Saunders' by marriage. The Willcocks family also had a branch in Upper Canada. William Willcocks, a cousin of Lucy Anne's father had emigrated to Toronto as early as 1792, and had distinguished himself as a judge and office holder. Lucy Anne's uncle Joseph, had also emigrated from Ireland to Upper Canada in 1799.

Thomas Saunders emigrated to Canada in 1832 and settled on a farm in Puslinch Township he named Woodlands. Woodlands still stands as a private residence. The farm encompassed approximately 600 acres. After the farm had been established and was productive, Thomas Saunders devoted himself to public service in Upper Canada. Saunders was a colonel of the militia for the counties of Wellington, Waterloo and Grey. During the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, he took part as a loyal soldier and gentleman in the defense of his adopted country. In those early times, Thomas Saunders filled the important role as crown prosecutor, and Clerk of the Peace for Wellington from 1840 until his death.

In 1860, he moved to the outskirts of Guelph and built a stone house called Summerhill (now at 25 Harcourt Drive). He died in 1873 when a team of runaway horses collided with his buggy on Paisley Street in Guelph.