Inscription

As recorded in Young’s Parish Register of Kingston (pg 44), the Forsyth grotto had a plaque:

In memory of Joseph Forsyth, Esq., born in Huntley, Aberdeenshire,
North Britain, June 24th, 1764, and died in Kingston, Upper
Canada, September 29, 1813.

Blessed by nature with a kind and liberal disposition, he was
courteous and engaging in his manners. His ear was ever attentive
to the call of distress, and his hand always open to the poor and
needy. His memory, endeared to all who knew him, will be cherished
as long as any survive of that society of which he was one of the
brightest ornaments.

According to Long (1937) the plaque was probably stolen in the mid-1930s.

The current plaque states:

IN MEMORY OF
JOSEPH FORSYTH, ESQ.
BORN IN HUNTLEY, ABERDEENSHIRE,
NORTH BRITAIN JUNE 24TH, 1764
AND DIED IN KINGSTON, UPPER CANADA
SEPTEMBER 29,1813.

 

Further Information and Sources

Listed as “Esq.” in burial record.

Death notice in Kingston Gazette, 23 September 1813, pg 3, col 3.

Entry for Joseph Forsyth in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography.

There is a discrepancy on the date of death.  The plaques state 29 September whereas the newspaper dated 23 September (see above) provides an earlier date which is used in the DCB entry.