On March 26, Mary Friesen introduced the Society to the Goring family of Niagara.
Francis Goring was born in England in 1755. On the eve of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Goring arrived in Quebec. He soon moved to Fort Niagara where he worked as a clerk in the fur trade. Through surviving letters and journal entries, it is apparent that Francis enjoyed living in the Niagara area. He settled permanently and raised a family.
One of Francis’ children was Abraham Hamilton Goring who also settled in the area and had a family including a son – Ransom Goring (born in 1842). Like his grandfather, Ransom was a dedicated journal writer. He would comment on the day’s events regularly and would even take extra time on Sundays to reflect on the previous week and add to his entries. Mary Friesen found three years of Ransom’s journals in the Niagara Falls Library and was compelled to transcribe and publish his words. The journals span the years 1867 to 1869 – critical years in Canada’s history. Not only does Ransom’s works chronicle the daily life of a Niagara resident but it also sheds light on a number of other interesting topics such as Canada’s militant feelings following the Fenian Raids, the spas of St. Catharines, weather, the social culture of the area, politics, education, courtship and marriage, and shipbuilding. What better way to understand the past than through the words of one who experienced it.
Friesen’s book is entitled “Renascentur: The Datebooks of Ransom Goring”. Renascentur was the family’s motto and means “They will rise again” in Latin.
The Historical Society of St. Catharines 