The McWilliams family history in the Moose Jaw area consists of several generations beginning with Thomas Edwin McWilliams (Tom). He was born in Kingston, Ontario in 1840. He married Martha Jane Dunseith and had six children - Eliza Jane, Margaret Ann, Mary Victoria, Samuel Henry, George Edwin and William John. He spent from 1879 to 1882 in Fort Garry, returned to Ontario and then headed west to the Moose Jaw area in 1883. His family followed in 1884. He rented several properties in the Pasqua/Drinkwater area including a railway section house and E½ 10-16-25 W2. He worked away from the farm at various jobs including as a freighter of supplies for the military during the Riel rebellion.
In July 1886, Thomas discovered the hills south of Drinkwater contained deposits of a clay suitable for ceramics and brick. By 1887, he had registered a homestead claim for the property containing the deposits. He and his family moved to Moose Jaw and lived there for several years. Martha leased the Queen’s Hotel and operated it as a boarding house for a number of years.
By 1889, Thomas was in danger of forfeiting his homestead claim as he had not abided by the rules requiring habitation and agricultural development. He and his son, Sam, moved to the property - Thomas living there for six months of the year and working elsewhere the rest and Sam staying there year round while the rest of the family stayed in Moose Jaw. They cared for cattle on the property to help fulfill the agricultural requirements.
There are several different sources providing conflicting timelines re: the early development of the clay deposits. One states that after trying unsuccessfully to interest investors or raise capital to start manufacturing, Thomas sold the property to a group of businessmen in August or September, 1899. They then started what is known as the Claybank Brick Plant.
Another source suggests that McWilliams hauled clay from his property to Moose Jaw for sale to various manufacturers in Moose Jaw until he partnered with the Moose Jaw Fire Brick and Pottery Co. from 1904 until they reorganized into Saskatchewan Clay Products and bought out his shares in 1912.
Thomas was also a founding member of the Moose Jaw Orange Lodge and was recognized as being one of the longest serving members of the lodge in the Canadian west.
He died on River Street in Moose Jaw at age 78.
Samuel Henry McWilliams (Sam) was the son of Thomas E. McWilliams. He was born in Muskoka, Ontario ca. 1874 and moved with his family to the Assiniboia territory in 1884.
At the age of 15, Sam worked as a water hauler for the people of Moose Jaw. All the water used in the construction of Victoria School was hauled to the site by Sam. He attended the school the following year.
In the Fall of 1889, Sam moved to Claybank, Saskatchewan to help fulfill the residency requirements for his father’s homestead claim.
In June, 1892, when he turned 18, he filed for his own homestead on NE 1/4 24-15-25 W2. He purchased SE 1/4 31-14-24 W2 in 1904.

He married Bessie Ann Coventry of Coventry, Saskatchewan and had five children - Leslie Earl and William Henry who later rented the family farm from their father when he retired to Moose Jaw, Harry Hector who worked for the CPR, and daughters Fern Louise (who married an Englishman in the RAF and moved away) and Olive Jane.
Sam was active in the community and was an original member of the Moose Jaw Agricultural Society and was also a member of the Saskatchewan Grain Growers and the Moose Jaw Museum Committee.
He retired to Moose Jaw in 1939. He died November 13, 1962, age 88.
Leslie Earl McWilliams (Les) had one son, James Leslie (Jim). William Henry McWilliams (Bill) had three sons - David, Ronald and Murray and one daughter, Sandra.
A number of family members were involved in the St. Andrews Society and Scottish pipe and drum bands.

A family tree included in the fonds relates a portion of the genealogy of Robert Metcalf a Methodist preacher. He had two brothers Thomas and Edward Metcalf. He married Elizabeth Cradock and had ten children.
Thomas Metcalf died in infancy, Mary Metcalf married William Kirby, William Metcalf married a "Miss Thompson," John Metcalf married a "Miss Haskins," Robert Metcalf married a "Miss Faulkner," Elizabeth Metcalf married William Brownbridge, Ann Metcalf married Ephriam Keeler, Martha Metcalf married Richard Stockdale, Anthony Metcalf (1824-1908) married Catherine Haley (1826-1887) and Abraham Metcalf married, but the name of his bride is absent.

The family tree continues by following the line of Anthony and Catherine Metcalf. There are only seven children defined, however the line seems to extend further as over one hundred descendants are stated to exist as of January 1, 1939. These are the defined descendants:

Louisa Metcalf (1849-1934) married William Langford (1852-1935) and had two children, Catherine Ida Langford (1876-1891) and William Herbert Langford (1881-1884).

Elizabeth Metcalf (1852-1896)

Josephine Metcalf (1854-1925) married Leonard Paisley (1846-1920) and had seven children, Laura Mattie Eveline Paisley (1876), Bertha Maud Paisley (1881), Herbert John Leonard Paisley (1883-1936), Edna Catherine Paisley (1886), Harry Paisley (1891), Clifford Thomas Paisley (1893) and Elsie Mildred Paisley (1897).

Martha Metcalf (1857-1921) married Enos McRobert (1855) and had five children, Catherine Hope McRobert (1890-1928),Burton Clair McRobert (1886), Olive Pauline McRobert (1890), Lulu Evelyn McRobert (1893) and Paul Redvers McRobert (1899).

William Robert Metcalf (1860) married Jennie Stewart and had five children, Grace Metcalf (1888), Floyd Metcalf (1889), Edna Metcalf (1893-1927) and twins Laura and Loren Metcalf (1895).

Mary Metcalf (1862) married Frank E. Yahn and had four children, Willard F. Yahn, George M. Yahn, Lois Yahn and Milton M. Yahn.

Homer Anthony Metcalf (1865-1953) married Sarah Ellen Frymire (1863-1937) and they had six children, Harold Haley Metcalf (1890), Donald Leslie Metcalf, Paul Whitaker Metcalf, Ray Clifford Metcalf, Edith Mae Metcalf (Reddin) (1900) and Winfield Homer Metcalf (1903).

Another brother is mentioned, one Samuel Herbert Metcalf and Aggie Annie Metcalf, however they do not appear on the family tree.

This family is cited as partial pioneers of Macrorie Saskatchewan. Homer was also revered as a councilor, School Trustee, President of the Telephone Company, Member of the Board of Trade, Reeve of the municipality, and Church elder. He also was selected to represent the Independent Party at a Provincial Election. Mrs. Metcalf (Sarah) served the community and the Church where she was the President of the Ladies' Aid. Homer served for a time as County Auditor of Roberts County, South Dakota. Defending actions he took in 1904 in reference to the filing of nominations for certain offices to be put forth by the Republican Party of Roberts County, South Dakota.

Winfield Metcalf was the donor of the material and married Ellen Louis Peeters (1903) and they had two children, Harold Homer Metcalf and John Pierre Metcalf.

The Metcalf family was a pioneer family of Macrorie, Saskatchewan, whose members, particularly Samuel Herbert Metcalf and Aggie Annie Metcalf, held various community positions throughout the years there. This fonds includes extensive information on the Metcalf forbears. A family tree included in the fonds relates a portion of the genealogy of Robert Metcalf, a Methodist preacher. He had two brothers Thomas and Edward Metcalf. He married Elizabeth Cradock and had ten children. Thomas Metcalf died in infancy, Mary Metcalf married William Kirby, William Metcalf married a "Miss Thompson," John Metcalf married a "Miss Haskins," Robert Metcalf married a "Miss Faulkner," Elizabeth Metcalf married William Brownbridge, Ann Metcalf married Ephriam Keeler, Martha Metcalf married Richard Stockdale, Anthony Metcalf (1824-1908) married Catherine Haley (1826-1887) and Abraham Metcalf married, but the name of his bride is absent. The family tree continues by following the line of Anthony and Catherine Metcalf. There are only seven children defined, however, the line seems to extend further as over one hundred descendants are stated to exist as of January 1, 1939. These are the defined descendants: Louisa Metcalf (1849-1934) married William Langford (1852-1935) and had two children, Catherine Ida Langford (1876-1891) and William Herbert Langford (1881-1884). Elizabeth Metcalf (1852-1896) Josephine Metcalf (1854-1925) married Leonard Paisley (1846-1920) and had seven children, Laura Mattie Eveline Paisley (1876), Bertha Maud Paisley (1881), Herbert John Leonard Paisley (1883-1936), Edna Catherine Paisley (1886), Harry Paisley (1891), Clifford Thomas Paisley (1893) and Elsie Mildred Paisley (1897). Martha Metcalf (1857-1921) married Enos McRobert (1855) and had five children, Catherine Hope McRobert (1890-1928),Burton Clair McRobert (1886), Olive Pauline McRobert (1890), Lulu Evelyn McRobert (1893) and Paul Redvers McRobert (1899). William Robert Metcalf (1860) married Jennie Stewart and had five children, Grace Metcalf (1888), Floyd Metcalf (1889), Edna Metcalf (1893-1927) and twins Laura and Loren Metcalf (1895). Mary Metcalf (1862) married Frank E. Yahn and had four children, Willard F. Yahn, George M. Yahn, Lois Yahn and Milton M. Yahn. Homer Anthony Metcalf (1865-1953) married Sarah Ellen Frymire (1863-1937) and they had six children, Harold Haley Metcalf (1890), Donald Leslie Metcalf, Paul Whitaker Metcalf, Ray Clifford Metcalf, Edith Mae Metcalf (Reddin) (1900) and Winfield Homer Metcalf (1903). Another brother is mentioned, one Samuel Herbert Metcalf and Aggie Annie Metcalf, however, they do not appear on the family tree.This family is cited as partial pioneers of Macrorie Saskatchewan. Homer was also revered as a councillor, School Trustee, President of the Telephone Company, Member of the Board of Trade, Reeve of the municipality, and Church elder. He also was selected to represent the Independent Party at a Provincial Election. Mrs. Metcalf (Sarah) served the community and the Church where she was the President of the Ladies' Aid. Homer served for a time as County Auditor of Roberts County, South Dakota. Defending actions he took in 1904 in reference to the filing of nominations for certain offices to be put forth by the Republican Party of Roberts County, South Dakota. Winfield Metcalf was the donor of the material and married Ellen Louis Peeters (1903) and they had two children, Harold Homer Metcalf and John Pierre Metcalf.

Family gathering at the 1980 provincial celebration for the 75 years in 1980