Welcome to the Ontario Drury Family History
Dear Family & Friends,
The Drury family has been part of Ontario's history since 1819. Farmsteads in Crown Hill, Oro Township, Ontario, were originally established as Kenilworth Farm by Joseph Drury and his two sons, (Thomas and Richard) who came from Kenilworth in Warwickshire, England.
The legacy of the Drury family is impressively rich and highlighted by significant contributions within the spheres of politics and agriculture by many Drury descendents including E.C Drury (Ernest Charles), better known publicly as Ontario's Farmer Premier.
The remarkable heritage of the Drury Family along with their pride of ownership of the original homestead over these past two centuries, are reasons for much celebration!
A weekend long anniversary commemoration will take place on the original family farms owned by 6th generation Robert (Bob) Drury and 7th generation Craig Drury at 661 and 763 Penetanguishene Road, Barrie, ON.
External Resources
Kenilworth Drury Family History: Visit Derek Drury's website at www.drury-family.co.uk
Share Your Photos: Post memories on our Facebook page at facebook.com/drury200
The Drury Family Story
The enclosure of common fields by Parliament and the economic depression following the Napoleonic Wars took their toll on English yeoman farmers. Many were forced to give up their land and emigrate to North America. Although Joseph Drury owned a small freehold farm near Kenilworth in Warwickshire, he decided that Upper Canada would provide better opportunities for his family. Joseph and two of his sons (14 year old Richard and 16 year old Thomas) made the long and dangerous voyage to Crown Hill, on the newly constructed Penetanguishene Road. Joseph's other children and his wife remained in England while the forest was cleared and buildings erected on the first of two Drury farms – what came to be known as Kenilworth Farm. Both properties remain in the family two centuries later.
Conditions in pioneer Canada were difficult and Joseph died in a raging snowstorm in 1823. Richard and Thomas continued with the hard work of homesteading. Their mother and younger siblings stayed in Kenilworth – where some of their descendants still live. Brother Edmund later moved to Canada. In 1831 Richard returned to visit his family and married Elizabeth Bishop, who joined him in Upper Canada.
The Drurys of Crown Hill had much in common with other settlers who came to Canada in the early 1800s. They created thriving farms from virgin forests. They lived without basic necessities in order to make a better future for their children. They worked cooperatively with their neighbours to build a caring rural society. But Joseph Drury's descendants were also exceptional in many respects. They were often the first to question conventional wisdom and pioneered new farming techniques. They were leaders in their community, spearheading the development of public schools, promoting higher education for farm children, founding farmer organizations and cooperatives, fighting against the abuses of big business, and harnessing the tools of government to make a better society for farmers and working people.
Thomas and Richard Drury
Joseph Drury's sons, Thomas and Richard, were hard working farmers of their homestead lands but also visionary leaders in their community. Thomas became an Oro Township councillor and reeve and for many years Sheriff of Simcoe County. Richard was the first reeve of Oro Township and was appointed as a County Magistrate, holding court for minor offences in the front room of his home. He established a public school at Crown Hill and made sure that his son Charles went on to high school in Barrie (a rare thing for a farmer's son in those early days).
Charles Alfred Drury
Charles was born in 1844. He and his siblings were strong advocates of free trade and temperance. Charles was reeve of Oro Township for 13 years and served for a decade as Liberal Member of the Provincial Parliament. In 1888 Premier Oliver Mowat appointed him as Ontario's first Minister of Agriculture and he played a key role in expanding the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC). In 1890 he built a large, beautiful brick home on Kenilworth Farm, currently occupied by great-grandson Bob and his wife Laura.
Ernest Charles Drury - Ontario's Farmer Premier
Charles' first wife (Mary Varley) died in 1878 following the birth of their son Ernest Charles Drury. Ernest graduated from OAC with a BSA degree in 1900. In 1910 he helped to found the first national farm organization - the Canadian Council of Agriculture. The United Farmers of Ontario (UFO) was founded in 1914, with Drury as President.
By 1917 it became clear that big business had made huge war profits, while the incomes of farmers had shrunk. The farmers and labour unions ran candidates in the 1919 provincial election. They elected enough MPPs to replace the Conservative government and Ernest Charles Drury was asked to become Premier.
In four years the Drury Government brought in dozens of progressive measures including allowances for widows and children, minimum wage for women, broadened workers compensation, extended hydro-electricity to rural areas, began the first major reforestation program in North America, initiated construction of the modern highway system, funded Banting and Best's discovery of insulin, and created the Ontario Provincial Police force.
The UFO lost to the Conservatives in 1923. E.C. Drury returned to the family farms and wrote extensively on history and agriculture. He died in 1968 at the age of ninety.
The Next Generations
Ernest and Ella had five children who carried on the Drury traditions. Their descendants have made important contributions as teachers, pilots, nurses, entrepreneurs, IT professionals, managers, lawyers, geologists, and elected public officials. Bob Drury, current owner of Kenilworth Farm, served as an Oro councillor, reeve, and first mayor of the amalgamated Oro-Medonte municipality, and as Warden of Simcoe County.
The Drurys have made important contributions to the history of Ontario. This is the real legacy we celebrate at this 200 year mark.
Drury Family Tree
Click any family tree to view full size. These genealogical charts trace the Drury lineage from England through seven generations in Canada.
🌍 Additional Resources
For detailed information about the Drury Family history in Kenilworth, England, visit Derek Drury's comprehensive research website: www.drury-family.co.uk
Historical Family Photos
Historical photographs documenting the Drury family and their contributions to Ontario. Click any photo to view full size.
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Additional historical photos and documents are preserved in local archives and family collections. Contact us if you have photos to share!
An Ode To Freedom in Canada
From the darker night of slavery,
Through the night they journeyed far,
In their hearts was the flame of freedom,
And their guide was the pale Pole Star.
Northward, and northward ever
To the land of Liberty,
Where no man need say, "Master"
For every man was free
Honour to these, the lowly,
Like cattle bought and sold
For they ventured their all for Freedom,
And venturing, they were bold.
To brave the whip and shackle,
To brave the noose and stake,
That they might be men, not chattels,
They ventured for Freedom's sake.
O Canada, be this your pride,
As the changeful years succeed,
That under your flag, a man's a man,
Whatever his race or creed,
Whatever his rank or station,
His poverty or pelf,
A man's a man, with a man's proud right,
The right to own himself.
2019 Celebration Weekend
The Drury Farm 200 Year Celebration was successfully held on August 3-4, 2019.
The weekend featured family reunion activities, tractor and wagon tours of the Drury Farm, speeches from government dignitaries and community leaders, historical displays, tree planting opportunities, and brought together Drury family members from across Canada to celebrate two centuries of heritage.
Thank You!
Thank you to all our family and friends for helping make our Drury 200 Year Celebration a huge success!!
The following 130 photos were taken by our photographers over the course of the weekend.
Special thanks to Clare Mullen, Harald Gaul, and Anita Varden for capturing these wonderful memories.
Click any photo to view full size. Use arrow keys or navigation buttons to browse the gallery.
Memories & Memoirs
Family members have shared their stories, memories, and reflections spanning seven generations. From the earliest days of settlement in Crown Hill to modern times, these personal accounts preserve the rich tapestry of family history, humor, and heritage.
📖 Read Family Stories
Explore memoirs from E.C. Drury's recollections of Red Monday in 1881, tales of the two Drury homes, and many more family memories.
View All Memories & Memoirs →Share your stories and photos on our Facebook page!
📧 Contact Us
Bob Drury: bobedrury@yahoo.ca
Craig Drury: Craig.drury@vermeercanada.com
Joey Drury: joey@twentyfiftysix.com