From The Settlement of Prince Edward County by Nick and Helma Mika. Transcribed here by Linda Herman

Pioneers of Prince Edward County 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

JOHN BRISTOL

Left New York state in 1793.

"Bristol" is a family name associated with the development of industry in Prince Edward County during the 1800s. The Bristols were of Welsh or English lineage, but the family came to Canada via the United States.

In 1793, John Bristol and his wife Elsie, who was better known as Alice, left New York State to reside in Ernestown, near Bath, Ontario. John Bristol fought for Britain during the American Revolution. John and Elsie stayed in Ernestown for the remainder of their lives, but some of their children ventured to Prince Edward County to live and work.

Benjamin Bristol was the fifth of John and Elsie's eleven children. He was born in Bath, Ontario on May 3, 1797. Benjamin married Ruth Spencer, who was born in Picton in October 1797. His marriage to a Prince Edward County native combined with expanding business opportunities in the Picton area led Benjamin into the tanning industry. His tannery, which he established one mile east of Picton, was one of the first in the country.

Benjamin's younger brother Norris, married Mary Anderson and moved to Ameliasburgh. Norris was born on November 17, 1807. Norris also established a tannery; his was one mile south of what is now Rednersville. In 1845 he sold the tannery to William Stafford, who subsequently sold it to another prominent Prince Edward County resident, Isaac Eaton.

John and Elsie Bristol's other children and their respective spouses were as follows: Elsey married a blacksmith, John Campbell; Esther married Lewis Fretz; John Wesley married Catherine Fretz; Coleman, a farmer, married Catherine Way; Sarah married Joseph Rose; Susanna married Daniel Way; Joel married Rachel Deynes; Elizabeth married John Boothe; and Lorina, who died at a young age, never married.

Almon Briston was born to Benjamin and Ruth Bristol on September 18, 1820, in Picton. There were also three daughters in the family. It appeared that Almon would follow in his father's footsteps when, as a young man, he worked in the tanning business, but he later became a schoolteacher. Almon left teaching to establish a dry goods store A. Bristol and Son of Picton. He should also be remembered for having maintained a family record which traces part of the history of Prince Edward County.

Some of the Bristols were farmers who helped to clear and develop the land of Prince Edward County.