A Handshake Honoured Across Three Generations

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The enduring story of the Crone and Farr/Watson families in East Gwillimbury, Ontario

Some agreements are written in contracts. Others are sealed with a handshake and remembered for generations.

A Simple Agreement

In April 1912, the Crone family purchased farmland in Sharon, Ontario, from the Farr family (Dr. Watson is a descendant). At the time, the two families made a simple but meaningful agreement: if the Crone family ever decided to sell the farm, the Farr/Watson family would be given the first opportunity to own it again.

A Promise Carried Forward

The Crone family’s roots in East Gwillimbury span six generations. Over the decades, the original handshake agreement passed from one generation to the next — not as a legal formality, but as a family commitment to be remembered and respected.

Then, in 1985, three generations after the agreement was made, the Crone family decided to part with the property. They approached the Farr/Watson family first and offered the farm back at its original purchase price.

A Farm Returned Home

The Farr/Watson family accepted the offer, bringing the land back into their family’s care. Today, members of the Farr/Watson family continue to live and work on the farm.

The story of these two families is part of East Gwillimbury’s local history. It shows how a promise made in one era can shape the choices of generations that follow, and how trust can endure when people choose to honour their word.

Scott Crone continues his family’s tradition of trust, reliability, and honour. 

A handshake made in 1912 became a promise kept in 1985 and a legacy that continues today.

View Scott Crone and Dr. Keith Watson’s full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCJ4H1cDsFY