James Bell Forsyth (1802-1869)
James Bell Forsyth, M.P., of Cataraqui, Quebec
He was born at Kingston, Upper Canada, and was educated both there and in England. He was a nephew of John Forsyth, of the influential import-export firm of Forsyth, Richardson & Co., of Montreal. In 1821, he went into the lumber business in partnership with William Walker M.P. and they succeeded Forsyth's father as the agents at Kingston for Forsyth, Richardson & Co. In 1828, he married Frances, daughter of Mathew Bell, M.P., of Trois-Rivieres, Seigneur of Champlain etc., by his wife Anne Mackenzie of Montreal. By doing so, he became the brother-in-law of not only William Walker (moving their business to Quebec), but also of Lt.-Colonel John George Irvine and Edward Greive M.P. In 1846, he bought "Redcliff" on Cap Rouge from William Atkinson, selling it in 1852. In 1831, he built the Cottage Cataraqui on the Chemin Saint-Louis, Quebec. His sister, Eweretta, married their first cousin, William Forsyth-Grant, and lived at Ecclesgreig Castle in Scotland. He is the grandfather of General Sir Henry Edward Burstall, R.C.A., Commander of the 2nd Canadian Division, WWI.
