New Ross
New Ross was named in honor of the Ross family, specifically the descendants of Thomas Ross, a United Empire Loyalist. Thomas Ross was a member of the King's Royal Regiment of New York who settled in Williamsburg Township after the American Revolution (c. 1784). Like many local settlements, the "New" was likely added to distinguish the specific cluster of Ross family homesteads or to denote a newer expansion of the family's original land grants.
If you visit Upper Canada Village (a living history museum in South Dundas), you can see the Ross Farm, which was moved there from its original location nearby to preserve the history of this specific family and their contribution to 19th-century farming in the region.
New Ross was part of the original "Royal Townships" granted to soldiers who remained loyal to the British Crown. The land was divided into concessions, with New Ross emerging as a social and agricultural hub for the families living in the interior concessions of Williamsburg. By the mid-to-late 1800s, New Ross was known for its prosperous farming. The Ross family and their neighbors were instrumental in the local economy, particularly in cattle and crop production.
The post office at New Ross was established in 1867. William Johnston served as the postmaster for the community. Official postal guides record that the post office was closed on October 15, 1913. This closure was part of a larger regional trend where many small offices were shut down following the inauguration of rural mail delivery.
New Ross was the site of S.S. No. 17 Matilda, located on the east side of Lot 34, Concession 6, near the center of the road. The school closed in 1963. Following the closure, students from this section were sent to Nationview Public School (after 1971). The school section had previously joined the Mountain Township School Area (MTSA) in 1946.
New Ross was located far enough north of the St. Lawrence River that it escaped the flooding caused by the St. Lawrence Seaway project in 1958. While several "Lost Villages" along the shore were submerged, New Ross remained intact as a rural community.
Sources:
Uppercanadavillage.com
Chesterville Record
Canadian Official Postal Guide
SDG Counties History
Upper Canada District School Board
Dundas County Directory