“Alexander Park joined the Merchant Navy as a young man. Deciding that this was too tame, he joined the British Army in the hope of seeing some action, but on learning that he had been chosen to act as a servant to one of the officers he returned to the merchant navy. On returning to shore after making several voyages he was caught by a press gang and soon found himself serving on the battleship Tiger, as a member of the Royal Navy. Following the Napoleonic War he was discharged from the navy and returned home. He married Mary MacDonald in 1820.” From a story related by a descendant and shared by Ruth McCall.

In 1820 Alexander and Mary (McDonald) Park came to Quebec City and Lanark County, Ontario on board the ship “Prompt”. Their first daughter Mary was the first child born among the settlers of Dalhousie Township.