New Tecumseth in Simcoe County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

St. Margaret of Scotland, Tuam

Photographed by Andrew Sebastian, October 24, 2025

1. St. Margaret of Scotland, Tuam Marker

Inscription. This 10 acre site, originally purchased from James Doyle on April 11, 1834 for 37 pounds and 10 shillings, marks the location of the first Roman Catholic Church and Cemetery in Tecumseth Township. In 1834, under the supervision of Father Murtagh Lalor, the construction of a classical style wooden church, approximately 40' x 20', was begun. The church was completed in 1838 by Father Hugh Fitzpatrick. By 1840 St. Margaret of Scotland Roman Catholic Church served approximately 500 parishioners, mostly poor emigrants from the south and west of Ireland. by the mid-1850's, St. Margaret's was at its height of influence with a resident pastor, Father Patrick Rattigan, living just across the road. With the establishment of St. Patrick's church and parish at Schomberg in 1876, St. Margaret's became its mission church. In 1878 Father David Sheahan sold 8 surplus acres south of the cemetery to James O'Brien for $690. Mass continued to be said at St. Margaret's until 1952. The cemetery remains as a testimony to the Catholic pioneers of this area.

This plaque was blessed and dedicated on Sunday, Sept. 14, 1997, by most Rev. Anthony

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

G. Meagher, episcopal vicar for the northern region of the Archdiocese of Toronto.

An historical plaque of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto

Erected 1997 by Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures.

Location. 44° 0.732′ N, 79° 43.872′ W. Marker is in New Tecumseth, Ontario, in Simcoe County. It can be reached from 2 Line 0.3 kilometers west of 15th Sideroad, on the right when traveling east. In the middle left of the St. Margarets of Scotland, Tuam Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5550 2 Line, New Tecumseth ON L0G 1T0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Ontario Cottage Country

and specifically in Georgian Bay Country.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s

Photographed by Andrew Sebastian, October 24, 2025

2. St. Margaret of Scotland, Tuam Marker

Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 18 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lloydtown (approx. 3.8 kilometers away); Turner Park (approx. 5.1 kilometers away); Sir William Mulock (approx. 9.5 kilometers away); Sir William Osler (approx. 9.5 kilometers away); The Scotch Settlement (approx. 12.7 kilometers away); Masonic Arms Hotel (approx. 14.8 kilometers away); The Dutch Settlement of Holland Marsh (approx. 17.2 kilometers away); Kinghorn School (approx. 17.5 kilometers away).

Also see . . .
1. St. Margarets-of-Scotland-Tuam.

St. Margaret of Scotland, Tuam Pioneer Catholic Cemetery is located on the south side of the 2nd Concession of New Tecumseth Township (formerly Tecumseth Township, Simcoe County and also formerly South Simcoe County), Ontario and about 1 kilometre west of the 15th Sideroad.

Tuam is the name of the four-corners country hamlet that no longer exists save for this graveyard.

The only other municipal structure was a wooden schoolhouse. Both were destroyed in the 1970s for safety reasons because they had fallen into disrepair. St. Margaret's held its first
Paid Advertisement

church service in 1834 and its last church service in 1952 (122 years later).

The cemetery currently falls under the immediate care of St. Patrick's in nearby Schomberg and more largely by The Archdiocese of Toronto.

A photo of the derelict church and some information can be found at this family plot website: http://www.mccabeclan.com/obrien.htm

(Submitted on November 11, 2025, by Andrew Sebastian of Tottenham, Ontario.)

2. Did you know there's a long-lost village in southern Simcoe County?.

Named for a town in Ireland, Tuam included a general store, a post office, and a Catholic church with around 500 parishioners

(Submitted on November 11, 2025, by Andrew Sebastian of Tottenham, Ontario.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2025, by Andrew Sebastian of Tottenham, Ontario. This page has been viewed 73 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 11, 2025, by Andrew Sebastian of Tottenham, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.