America 'Mary' Burfitt Groce
An Original Settler

America "Mary" Burfitt was born in Upper Canada in the year of 1837 the Rebellion to Emily and Norris Burfitt. Mary came with her family to the Buxton Settlement in 1852 and lived on the Ninth Concession. Mary met and married Richard Groce, a local settler. Mary and Richard settled at Lot 8, 13th Concession. Mary and Richard had eleven children (Robert, Mary, Emily, E.A., J.R., Thomas, Lucinda, Harriet, Lolabelle, George & Victoria), between the years 1856 and 1882. Tragedy struck in 1865, when their house caught on fire and four Groce children died. The only surviving child of the fire was their daughter Emily. However, Mary and Richard overcame the ordeal and had six more children. America "Mary" Burfitt Groce died on November 25, 1894.

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website created July 2008; updated November 2009; by Lori Gardner