The Duncombe House Heritage Centre formerly the Elgin County Pioneer Museum has been occupied by the Elgin Military Museum for approximately two years. This was the historic home and office of Dr. Elijah Duncombe. Dr. Duncombe and his brother Charles (pictured above) were some of the first doctors in St. Thomas. It is in the Canadian Naval Centennial Room and the Jumbo Room where the Dr. Duncombe had his office and the rest of the main floor and second floor was occupied by family rooms. Duncombe's history is not important only to the community as he did set up the first medical school in Upper Canada known as the Talbot Dispensery. His brother Charles best known to Canadians through his involvement in the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837.
Dr. Charles Duncombe (Dr. Elijah Duncombe's brother ) was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1830 and quickly became allied with the radical reform movement of William Lyon Mackenzie. It was clear to the reformers after the 1836 election and the subsequent unsuccessfull challenge in Britain that dramatic action had to be taken. Duncombe raised a local band of rebels to march on Toronto and defeat the government in what would become known as the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837. He and his band of rebells got as far as Scotland,Ontario and then disbanded because of news of militia troops heading towards their location.
Charles Duncombe and several other rebels fled to the Northern United States where most of them lived out their lives. Others including Joshua Doan a Quaker from Sparta continued their rebel activities. Doan was later tried and hanged for treason in London and is buried in the Quaker Cemetary in Sparta.