Fortune Street is named in honour of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Fortune, member of the Prescott County Militia and original surveyor of the town of Richmond.
Joseph Fortune was born in 1773 in Fairfield District/County, South Carolina. His father, William Fortune had emigrated to North America in 1767 and had been granted land in Fairfield County. Following the American Revolution and the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the family lost its land holdings and the Fortune family returned to England. In 1788, they returned to British North America, landing in Quebec City.
In 1797, William Fortune was granted 1000 acres of land, near the present day Ontario-Quebec border, and his son Joseph lived in the area for much of the early 1800’s. By 1803, both William and Joseph were officers in the Prescott County Militia though William returned to England shortly after the outbreak of the War of 1812 while Joseph participated in the conflict.
With the establishment of military settlements following the cessation of the war, Joseph Fortune lead the survey of the town of Richmond, Ontario. He died in 1836 and is believed to be buried in Richmond.
