1859: W.S. Light, North Oxford

 W.S. Light, North Oxford

Born in 1815, William Smart Light emigrated to Upper Canada with his father Col. Alexander Whalley Light and family in 1883 and settled in North Oxford Township. A bachelor his entire life, he lived in the family home, Lytes’ Carrie, north of the Thames River. He served as a Lieutenant in the Oxford Militia during the Mackenzie Rebellion and was one of the Canadian soldiers, in December, 1837, responsible for burning the rebel ship, Caroline, which went over Niagara Falls. He also, served as Inspector of Schools for North Oxford from 1844-1850. 

William S. Light first served on the District of Brock Council, beginning in 1846 and serve as Reeve from North Oxford Township between 1852 and 1962. He was elected as Warden in 1859.

In 1863, he became Commanding Officer of the Oxford Rifles and would pass away a year later, in 1864. He is buried at Old St. Paul’s Anglican Church, in Woodstock.