Magwood Court

Thomas Magwood

One of the city few courts is named for Thomas Magwood (1851-1933), the third sheriff of the Perth County, from 1907 until his retirement in 1928. Of Dutch heritage, he was two years old when his family arrived in Mornington Township. In later years, Magwood recalled how in those early days in the "Queen's Bush," it was difficult to keep wolves away from the door, literally. Wolves were numerous, and they would look into the windows of the Magwood shanty, and paw at the door. 

Thomas followed his father into municipal politics, becoming deputy reeve of Mornington Township. He served on Perth County council from 1883 to 1888, and from 1891 through 1894 was, as a Conservative, the North Perth member of the Ontario legislature.

Magwood moved his family to Stratford in 1904 so his children could get a good education. In 1881 he had married Elizabeth Magwood 1861-1958). Ed. note: her maiden name was Magwood. Six of their eight children were girls, two of whom lived to be 101 and 102.

As well as becoming sheriff, Thomas was elected a Stratford alderman in 1907. He was also one of the founders of the Perth County Children's Aid Society in 1911, and served for 22 years as its first president until his death .

In 1909, Sheriff Magwood presided over the only hanging to take place in the County. In recalling the event, Magwood said he hoped that there would never be another one in this district.  Source: Streets of Stratford 2004