Picton in Prince Edward County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Rev. William Macauley

1794-1874

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 31, 2026

1. The Rev. William Macauley Marker

Inscription. In 1803 William Macauley, son of a United Empire Loyalist, received a crown grant of some 400 acres of land in this vicinity. Born in Kingston, Macauley was educated under the Rev. John Strachan and at Oxford University. Ordained in 1818, he used his own funds to finance the construction of this church, St. Mary Magdalene, which began in 1825. Macauley also donated land for the District court-house and gaol. The resultant settlement, which through his influence was named Picton, after Sir Thomas Picton, a distinguished British soldier, was incorporated with the adjacent community of Hallowell in 1837. Macauley is buried in this churchyard.

Erected 1963 by Archeological and Historical Sites Board of Ontario.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1803.

Location. 44° 0.424′ N, 77° 7.939′ W. Marker is in Picton, Ontario, in Prince Edward County. It is at the intersection of Church Street and Union Street,

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on the right when traveling north on Church Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 28 Church Street, Picton ON K0K 2T0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeastern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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 Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The County Buildings (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); North American Hotel (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Bank of Montreal (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); John A. Macdonald in Hallowell (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); The “Conference Church” (approx. one kilometer away); Letitia Youmans 1827-1896 (approx. 1.2 kilometers away); The White Chapel (approx. 3.1 kilometers away).

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 31, 2026

2. The Rev. William Macauley Marker

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene in 2026 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 31, 2026

3. The Church of St. Mary Magdalene in 2026

Macauley house in 2026 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 31, 2026

4. Macauley house in 2026

The Rev. William Macauley ca 1870 image. Click for full size.

5. The Rev. William Macauley ca 1870

(public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 12, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.