Talbot Times 1984 March

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TALBOT TIMES

Newsletter of the

ELGIN COUNTY BRANCH

ONTARIO GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

VOL. 3                ISSUE I                MARCH 1984

THE ELGIN COUNTY BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

A small group of citizens made history recently in order to preserve history. For the first time in its more than 53-year history, the remembrance book at Memorial Hospital, in St. Thomas, containing the names of 2,250 men and women from the city and county who served in the First World War was removed from its protective case at the hospital and moved temporarily to another location.

The whole purpose of the exercise was to photocopy the pages of what is officially known as the The Elgin County Book of Remembrance which not only lists names of those who served during the First World War but also gives background information on each person.

The book will still be kept under lock and key, its hand-lettered pages turned one by one each day to display the records. The hospital, built as a memorial to those who served in wartime, was presented the book on Nov. 8, 1930, to be held in trust for future generations. The book made in London, England was presented by the 25th Elgin Regiment chapter of the I.O.D.E. The cover is of English oak with pigskin back and bronze bands and locks. A large bronze maple leaf, a replica of those worn by Canadian soldiers overseas, is centered on the cover, and the title page bears the Canadian coat of arms embossed in gold and silver.

The second page says:  “They served. We will remember them.” The third page is decorated in black and gold and carries designs of the thistle, shamrock, rose and maple leaf. Names and records follow, with three or four entries on a page.

Everyone handling the book wore white gloves and it took five hours to photocopy.  It was the brain child of Howard Mills (Elgin Branch Member #76), a local historian.  Congratulations Howard! This book contained a great deal of information but no one was able to look at it.

Now photocopies of the whole book can be studied at the city and county libraries and the county military museum. In an historic move, representatives of the local militia and St. ThomasElgin General Hospital removed the book from its case in the hospital foyer recently and copied each page to make the information more readily available.

THE ELGIN MILITARY-MUSEUM 30 Talbot Street, St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 1A3, have a copy and are in the process of compiling extra data on the veterans, this includes pictures. They said that not every local veteran of the 1914 War was included in the book, and they are also endeavouring to correct this.

Their purpose of the museum is to collect, identify, and display mementos of Canada’s and Elgin County’s Military past. Most material is Canadian, but some is from other countries whose military history has been linked at some time to this country’s. Many of the most treasured relics have been gifts from private persons.

The reason … since the landing of Colonel Thomas Talbot at Port Talbot in 1803, there have been few families in Elgin County who at one time or another have not had a father, son, or daughter, serving in the armed forces of Canada.

Our area has a most enviable history in the defence of Canada, both within our country and abroad. Many battle honours and awards, including the Victoria Cross, have been won by men and women of Elgin, for service in the War of 1812-14, and Rebellion of 1837-38, the Fenian Raids 1866-1870, the Riel Rebellion, the Boer War, The Great War of 1914-1918, the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam.

The Elgin Military Museum is at the same location as the Elgin County Pioneer Museum but is a completely self-contained museum on its own.

If you have any discharge papers, or obituaries, or photographs (in uniform) that can be photocopied of Elgin County World War I military personnel, the Military Museum would appreciate copies.

Museum Hours:    Tuesday to Friday    10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.                 Saturday and Sunday    2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The following article was copied from the St. Thomas-Times Journal, January 1984.

GENEALOGIST’S DELIGHT

Tracing the old family tree will be easier since the St. Thomas Public Library has obtained microfilm from the provincial archives containing Ontario Protestant and Roman Catholic marriage records from 1801 to 1870. Julie Siegel, seen looking over the new acquisition, said the library in past could order the information from the archives but there was often a wait of six months to a year. The microfilm is now available for use in the local history collection.”

DECEMBER MEETING – Our last meeting of 1983 was a dinner meeting. Suggestions for a BiCentennial project were discussed. It is very encouraging to have members willing to take on the work tasks. The following is the work party for 1984. There are many other members who are are always willing to help with almost any task but will not stand for an office on the executive and to them we say “Thank You.” Thank you to Vera Vint for her careful attention to clipping and recording Vital Statistics for Elgin from the local papers.

1984  EXECUTIVE

Chairman                Anthony “Tony” Hofstee

Vice-Chairman                Stan Daugharty

2nd Vice-Chairman            Albert Auckland

Treasurer                Anna Hofstee

Recording Secretary            Brenda Edmonds

Membership Secretary            Janice Rezar

Corresponding Secretary        Margaret Daugharty

News Letter Editor            Eileen Mycroft & Joyce Locke

Librarian                Sylvia Harvey

Social Convenor            Eleanor Willson & Lloyd Smith

Public Relations            Joyce Locke & Eileen Mycroft

Cemetery/Census Co-ordinator    Tony Hofstee

Queries Secretary            Norma Smith & Kay Fowler

JANUARY MEETING – Our chairman was talking to a local group on genealogy and so Stan Daugharty, our vice-chairman ably conducted the meeting.

SHOW & TELL NIGHT was a great success as always. Beginners aired their problems and frustrations and “old-timers” gave suggestions as to where to search for elusive ancestors. Everyone told of their progress or lack of it.

At first glance it resembled a huge snowflake (the kind that children make), but it was a Pennsylvannia Dutch marriage certificate dated Mar. 31, 1800, from the Neff family brought by Nadine Gooding. Anna Hofstee translated it for her. Kay Lemon brought a marksman medal presented to Thomas Margetts by Queen Victoria. Keith Kelly read from a letter which we have published in this issue. Everyone had interesting stories to tell. Many others spoke of humorous things they had found in researching their families, quite often stemming from family feuds.

FEBRUARY MEETING– We are very fortunate indeed to have such a knowledgeable speaker as Mr. George Thorman. Military Records are an excellent source of information. Every man between the ages of 16 to 60 was required to serve in the militia from 1812 to as late as 1866. It wasn’t uncommon to see “Deserted” next to a name. Sometimes they actually did desert but more often they had simply gone home to plant or harvest crops and then come back when they were finished with their pressing business. Mr. Thorman explained that pay lists are extremely important in searching male ancestors. We hope that Mr. Thorman will find the time to speak to us again.

MARCH MEETING – David McElroy, a professional genealogist from Ireland working with the Association of Genealogists and Records Agents in London, England will be our speaker. It will be an excellent opportunity to hear of researching in Ireland.

APRIL MEETING – Gordon Hillman co-ordinating supervisor with the Church of Latter Day Saints will speak on Computer progress for genealogy and also discuss the resources and services available through their church. This should be of interest to everyone.

MAY MEETING – Rev. Canon R.C. Mills of the Anglican Church in Aylmer will speak to us about the records available to genealogists from the Anglican Church.

[Lists and notices about Elgin County cemeteries appeared here.]

QUERIES – Elgin Branch Members may have two (2) queries published free of charge in each newsletter. Non-members will be charged $3.00 per query per newsletter.

KEMP – David b 1798 Niagara d 1880 bd Staffordville, m1 Mary Tuttle, m2 Ann ? ch John, Joseph, Matthew, Ellen m? Burger. gr.ch Charles Burger b c 1863  Any info to Mrs. R.V. Kemp

MILLS – John res Bayham m 1842 Catharine Kemp res Niagara – bd? Any descendants ? Any info to Mr. R. V. Kemp

CLAUS, John F. b c 1800 in Clinton Twp settled Lot 24, Con. 4 Bayham 1836. Any info on number and names of children

CLAUS, Levi Wilson. (son of above) b 1828, Bayham d 1872, Bayham m Phoebe Jane (who?) b 1834 (where?.) d 1885 Bayham. Will exchange data. Info to O.G. Luton

BENNER-HOUSE John Benner (1789-1865) m Dorothy House (1791-1863), resided Malahide Township, ch Margaret, Christiana, Katharine, George, John Jr., Mary, Ann Delila, Augustus, Leander, Jacob Israel, Frederick and adopted daughter Susanna Rush, any info on Benner Family to #93 Evelyn Elliott

HATHAWAY-GRAHAM Eleanor Hathaway b 1832 dau of Samuel Hathaway and Martha Bowerman of Yarmouth Township, m Jesse Graham, any information on Eleanor to #93 Evelyn Elliott

BASTEDO-JEWELL Ebenezer Washington Bastedo (Malahide) b 1823 Canada West d 1898 Dunboyne, ON m Jane Jewell Nov. 14, 1861 of Yarmouth, widow of Thos. Jewell. Jane Jewell b 1833 Yarmouth Twp. d 1924 Dunboyne, Ontario

TEEPLE-WALLACE James Nelson b 1851 d Jan. 21, 1904 Yarmouth Twp. Wallace b 1845 d 1921 buried Orwell. (m?) Wallace – Brandow? All inquiries Janice Rezar

WHITE, James & Ann – of Crosby County, Leeds and Grenville Cty (Kingston Area) – 5 ch Benjamin and Joseph came to Jaffa, Elgin Cty, John went to Markdale, ON  Further info needed on WHITE, Martha A. b 1832 d 1905 m? Sterling D. Pennock b 1832 d 1883 Town of Elgin, son of Sterling and Irena Deming Pennock ch Sarah Ann (Murphy), Alice L., Milicent, Sterling, George, William, John, Matilda, Hestor, Irene. Only known desc. living 1942 Mrs. James Staton, Elgin.

WHITE, Mary Grove(s) b 1833 d 1914 m? Enoch Barker b 1833 c ? Town of Westport, son of Wm. Barker of North Crosby Twp (Leeds & Grenville) c John W., Sarah (Alan Girden) (both went out west?) Wm James (Anna & Almeda Asseltine) Eli (Sarah Asseltine) Thomas, (?Bedour?) Martha Ann (Harmonios Sickler) Mary, Huwena, (Christopher Eaton), Charlo H (Nelson Rice), Enoch Jr. Info to #19 Brenda Edmonds

ROCHE-CARTER – Any information on William Elliott Roche, lived Springfield 1877-1883, m MARIA CARTER c 1856, any information on Maria Carter – to Shirley P. Rawlinson

BABCOCK – GOODING James Gooding 1846-1909 m Annie (?) 1848-1921. Adopted or raised ch surname Babcock. Moved to Vienna, ON c 1833. William Valentine Orlando b 1875 m Nellie Butcher, Archie m Dolly (?), Lew in Saskatchewan in 1947, Courtney Vancouver B.C. 1947, Cora m D. Lackey, Saskatchewan. Any info to Mrs. Guy Gooding

CAMPBELL, John C. , Blacksmith, Aylmer area, m Margaret Ellen Summers; ch 1 Frederick Dufferin, b Mar. 3, 1885, d Aug. 20, 1929, m Carrie Maude Purdy; 2. Louise, m ? Mabee, ch.Margaret, Robert, Campbell; 3. Nell, m ? Lemon, to Chicago;  4. William. Any info to #65 S. L. Sabourin

SMALL, Edmund – b c 1816, Devonshire, England ml Mary?, m2 Julie (?) m3 St. Thomas lady. He was killed by a train in St. Thomas, but still living 1881 – on Osh Twp census. ch Edward William, Charlotte, Susannah, Elizabeth, Diana and Mary J. Any info to #197 Mona Aitken

WILSON, Abner m Margaret Drummond, Westminister Twp. 1837, resided there for some time. Apparently moved to South Dorchester when it was opened up. Abners’ & Sons’ names appeared in H.R. Page’s Historical Atlas of Elgin County – 1877, listed in “Directory of 1872” and also on the County Map. I am also researching the wife of Abner–

DRUMMOND, Margaret, Emigrated from Perth, Scotland 1830; settled in Westminister Twp. Had a sister Elizabeth, married to Alexander Rose of Warwick. Had a brother John Drummond of Muskoka (1901). Any school or church records of WILSON family? Who were parents and other siblings of Margaret DRUMMOND WLSON, my gr. grandmother. Info to #174, Mrs. Maida O. Barnett,

MOORE, Mary d 2 Jan. 1888, m to Thomas Zavitz. Also Sophia MOORE, dau of John Moore, m to Abel Stafford, Info to #98 Patricia Haller,

REYNOLDS – CRANDALL– request info prts & fam Susannah & sister Serena REYNOLDS b 1822 Kent Co (?) Serena ml Crandall, m2 Aaron Kilbourne Jr at Delaware. #29 C. W. Sadler,

LYONS Lawrence, UEL, w Susanah ? 1749 – 1842 lived Fredericksburgh, Lennox and Addington, known children, Thomas, Timothy, Mary, Esther (John Price), Sally or Sarah (George Loucks). UE grant in Dorchester Twp (north or south?) willed to son Thomas bc 17751829, possibly another grant willed to son Timothy bc 1780-d pre 1829. Require birth, death and marriage dates and places for Lawrence and Susannah. Did he or descendants ever settle on Dorchester grants? All info welcome to Mrs. Kellie M. Love.

NORTH, John d c March 1884, believed to have died as a result of an accident in Fingal.  He was said to have been living in Aylmer at that time, m Elizabeth Russel, ch John (Jack), William, George, and Annie Laura.  Any help would be appreciated on the above to #169, Mrs. Ruth Robertson,

BERDAN-HUNTER, Jacob Berdan B c 1832 d c 1916 Aylmer, m Lucinda Hunter (parents unknown) b c 1833 d 1900, buried Luton Cemetery, ch – Ellis (c 1861), George (c 1862), Mary c 1871 married John Roberts), Ruth (c 1874), Lydda (c 1878). Need info on Jacob’s parents, date of death and place of burial, also Lucinda’s parents and birth date. Tony Hofstee #35,

HAVENS, DECKER – Researcher wishes to correspond with anyone having information on

HAVENS family in Canada. Also anyone with information on descendants of Richard Decker, 80 years of age 1861 census, Beverly Twp, Wentworth County. Keith Kelly, N0L 2C0

WISHES TO EXCHANGE RESEARCH

“Anyone wishing to trade research help?  I have access to university, public & L.D.S. libraries etc. in Vancouver area. Am interested in getting information on ancestors who lived in St. Thomas 1885-1910. Please write to #153, Mrs. Lynne Charles,

LETTER OF THANKS

—“Second, to thank you for publishing my name as a new member and listing the family names

I am researching. As a result of this, I now have begun corresponding with a fourth cousin, Keith Kelly of Rodney. I was not previously aware of his existence.” #91 Donald F. Gray,

SUGGESTION

—“Wish to make a suggestion re NAME being research list. In the case of very common names could not the area of search be put in brackets after the name. Having 2 of these very common names I know whereof I speak. I welcome any letter from anyone on these but hate to send a disappointing reply. I do reply. o.k.

e.g. SMITH & SINCLA1R – mine came from Shetland Is. and 25% of Shetlanders were

SMITHS and about 14% SINCLAIRS in early 1800’s.”

Ed. Note: This is a valid suggestion, but one must be careful not to narrow themselves down too much to one location. Our ancestors did know how to travel, some of them seemed to be constantly on the move.

BI-CENTENNIAL FAMILY REUNION– On June 16th, 1984 the descendants of John

GERMAN, late Sergeant in Jessup’s Rangers, and Christopher GERMAN Shoemaker of New York who landed with Van Alstyn at Adolphustown on June 16, 1784 are invited to a “GREAT

FAMILY REUNION” to be held in the McCaulay Park, Picton, Ontario. Picton is close to Adolphustown where a major event in Ontario’s Bi-centennial Celebrations –“a re-enactment of the, “Loyalist Landing” will be staged on Saturday, June 16th, 1984. Participation in this event will be included in the reunion program as will the Loyalist Memorial Church Service on Sunday, June 17th. For further information contact: #83 Beverly Craig, 2540 Centre St., RR I, Ridgeville, Ontario L0S lM0 tele: (416) 892-3420.

   GOOD LUCK BEVERLY!

We would very much like to hear about your Giant Reunion and how many attended.

FAMILY BIBLES TO BE CLAIMED – We have in our possession Family Bibles that can be claimed by showing family relationship.

  1. SHOEMAKER- MacMULLEN
  2. FOLEY- MICKLEBOROUGH-HATHAWAY JELLY-MELLOR.

The following letter was written by James McKinlay of Aldborough to his brother John McKinlay of Callander, Scotland, October 24, 1819. James McKinlay was the great great grandfather of Keith Kelly #107. Keith has several of this type of letter and he plans publishing them, but he let us have this letter for the Talbot Times.

Aldborough, October 24th, 1819.
Dear Brother,

I received your letter favoured by Captain McDonald. I was happy to hear that you were all well and that Catherine has a son.. I understand you have received the letter I wrote concerning my Mother’s marriage. Duncan, Peter, Jennet and I came here in April 1817 and left our Mother

Mary and Robert with our Uncle John. In the fall of that year I received two letters from my Mother telling me that one Alexander Fraser wished her to be his wife and that her brothers wished her to accept of the offer but that she would do nothing till she would get her Children’s consent and that she very much wished me to go over to see her. I went to see her the distance of two hundred and fifty miles. I was desired by my Brothers and Jennet to tell her that they, would not give their consent to her marriage which I told her at my arrival and that they thought it better for her in her old age to lived with her children which she agreed to. Word was sent to Mr. Fraser that she would not accept of the offer. I stayed about three weeks and was returning home. She would be acquanting me several instances of Mothers being badly used in their son’s houses when they would get wives and that she was among her old acquaintance and near Church in Calladonia. A day or two before I was to go away she desired me to go to Uncle Donald’s house that John was with him but she did not tell anything of the business. I went to Donald’s house and my Uncle told me that Fraser was coming with proposals of marriage to my Mother and that it was all that was asked my consent. I told them if she would please herself that she would please me and to do her own will. The contract was made. If she was to out live Fraser she was to have sixty dollars, a cow keeping summer and winter a rum and closet of his house, firewood and a suitable piece for a graden per annum. I went to the wedding. Mary my sister would not go. I stayed one day after the marriage with her. I have not seen her since. Mary and Robert arrived here next summer after that. Alexander Fraser is from Invernesshire, is a respectable rich man had by his first wife three sons and two daughters above the age of eighteen years and two boys and a girl between seven and twelve years. We hear from our Mother often. Jennet my sister married last winter to one Malcolm Downie from Glenurcha by trade there a shepherd. They live about a mile and half from us. Mary keeps house to us. We received the tartan sent us by Catherine and is much obliged to her for her kindness. My Mother acquainted me that her sister Catherine sent her five Guineas but if she had been married to give them to me. I wrote her to keep the money herself but have not heard from her since. Give my best respects to Mrs. McCall, Drummondernoch and tell her that I am much obliged to her for her kindness. I heard of Alexander McCall’s death. I feel sorry for his mother and Friends. We have all enjoyed good health since we came to this country, some of the people had the Feaver and Egue this quarter the year more so than for many years back. We have eleven or twelve acres clear each of us. The crops was midling good here this year. We have not drawn government land yet. You did not acquaint us whether you inquired or not if we was intitled to land for our Father being a military man. I would wish you, if you come here to bring Ralph Erskin’s Sermons Book to me or if you would see any sure person coming here or to Calladonia State of New York to send it with him. You would much oblige me. We have on Robertson that gives us a discourse every sabath. We got a good deal of good news in your letter but the general complaint amoung us was that there was too much clean paper. It is long since we did not get any letter before. In a letter from Captain McDonald he came within twenty miles of us. He returned down the country but expects to draw 800 acres of land in this quarter. Land is to be surveyed next year in the spring in this quarter. About 150 person from Argyleshire came here two weeks ago. There is about 200 Scotch people taken up land here. We all join with best respect to you and to Catherine, Margaret and son, Robert McLaren and all enquiring friends, etc.

I remain you loving Brother

James McKinlay

I intend to write James McLaren some time this winter. I would wish to know how his mother is getting her health. Remember me to my Uncle and Family and Ants and Familys. I though to hear from James Buchanan Trean before this time.

We wish to thank everyone that has contributed to our Library. It still is not a huge Library, but it certainly has come a long way in the last year.