TALBOT TIMES
NEWSLETTER
OF
ELGIN COUNTY BRANCH
OF THE
ONTARIO GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
BOX 416, ST. THOMAS, ONTARIO, N5P 3V2
Volume VI Issue 3 September 1987
A TRUE STORY OF LONG AGO
Composed and written by CATHERINE STEWART STEEL/STEELE as told to her Granddaughter – Katie Green (Mrs. Arthur Green).
You asked for a story, well I want to know If you would like a true one of long ago.
Years ago, when like you, I was a little girl
I’d coax my grandmother stories to tell
She’d tell so much about this land When early settlers came, a little band And lived in log houses with bush about. Bears, wolves and wildcats howled without She could this far back herself remember. But said her grandfather, one December
He and his wife were killed by an Indian band
That roaming were thru that part of the land
And their boy, my Grandfather, you understand
Was taken prisoner, and kept for years
He was old enough to fret, and shed bitter tears
But an old squaw with a heart real kind
Undertook to shield him, and in time
She came to love him, and when warriers raged
She used to hide him, a hollow log for a cage Many times they would have been killed If in hiding him, she had not been spelled.
Years passed, and people of English tongue
Heard of the Indians with a white boy young
They sought, found and bought him
Educated, in life a start they gave him
Engaging him as an Interpreter between
The white and the Indian race
From Niagara up to where Hamilton, now is placed
Trusted and true, he always proved, ‘tis said And as years passed by, at last he wed
And his son William was my Grandmother’s father
And my grandmother was his little daughter
But to go on with my story, my grandmother said
On horseback her father would go with dread
To get meal and flour to make their bread
For rivers to ford and hills to climb
It took two days of his treasured time
For great trees he had to fell and burn
Stumps to get out, before he could turn
The furrows over, and the work was heavy
But he worked hard, sawing and cutting steadily
That soon he had cleared land enough indeed
To grow grain and hay, for bread and feed
Many hardships they endured, she told
Of the winter storms and ice and awful cold
Of the winds which roared and tore trees
Great limbs scattered around would be of these
But grandmother looked at the clock above her head, and said I am getting tired, and it is time little girls were away to bed.
Submitted by Lorene Slack Cullen.
Lorene would like to hear from anyone knowing of the Interpreter William Stewart or Katie and Arthur Green.
SCOTS COMING TO CANADA
The Scots came to Canada for the same reason many others did; which was to settle the land. Some made contracts with companies which included their passage to Canada.
In 1621 when William Alexander was given the land grant, which was in the approximate area of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, it was his wish to have this area become “New Scotland”. His attempt to colonize this area as “New Scotland” failed this time as there were not enough people willing to come to Canada and settle at this time. In 1771 parts of Scotland were too heavily populated and five and a half thousand people imigrated to Canada. For some it was a more profitable and better life. They had their own land and less poverty and disease. The houses when finially built were sturdy, not always warm but for some, it was better than the conditions, in which they had been living in Scotland.
The transportation was by ship from Scotland and the Orkney Islands to somewhere in the New land. The Scots also settled in the United States. Some came to Canada and later left for the United States.
At this time the passage took four months. Many diseases broke out on the ships because living conditions were poor and cramped. A one pound deposit was required for each adult imigrant and ten shillings for each child, this was to provide bedding and a new mattress, blankets and a small box 15” square for clothes, a knife and fork, 2 spoons, a metal plate and a drinking mug, all of this became the imigrants property.
The male had to provide: 2 suits of outside clothing
2 pairs of strong boots or shoes
8 shirts
6 pairs of worsted stockings 3 towels
The female had to provide: besides other garments, a cloak and bonnett.
Rations were given out daily and paid for by the imigrant or his parish. The total of the rations came to the following amounts, the children receiving half of the amount.
Rations for 1 week
4 2/3 lbs. bread 1/2 lb. preserved potatoes
1 lb. beef 1 oz. tea
1 1/2 lbs. pork 1 1/2 oz. roasted coffee
1 lb. preserved meat 3/4 lb sugar
1 3/4 lbs. flour 6 oz. butter
1/2 lb. raisins 5 gal. and 1 qt. of water 6 oz. suet 1 gill pickled cabbage l pt. peas 1/2 gill vinegar
1/2 lb. rice 2 oz. salt
This was their weekly diet for four months.
The lack of proper diet and cleanliness, due to the living conditions brought on diseases, colera, ship’s fever and the black death were only a few of the problems of travelling at this time. Although disease control was a problem so was the weather, icebergs, wind storms and rain were always treacherous for the passengers and crew.
CHART OF SCOTS WHO IMIGRATED TO CANADA FROM 1773 – 1974
1773 — 1775 1,680
1871 545,946
1881 699,863
1901 800,154
1911 1,027,054
1921 1,173,625
1931 1,346,350
1941 1,403,974
1951 1,547,470
1974 1,786,000
RELIGION: Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Protestant, mainly the same as they had been in Scotland.
The following information was extracted from the Weekly Dispatch, St. Thomas – Microfilm at the St. Thomas Public Library.
February 15, 1853.
BIRTH
In Toronto, on the 5th instant, Mrs. T.H. O’Neil, of a son.
In the city of Hamilton on the 3rd instant, the wife of R.G. Barret, Esq., of a son.
February 22. 1853.
MARRIED
On the 17th instant at the St. Thomas Church, by the Rev. St.
George Confield, Mr. Thomas Page to Miss Anna Elizabeth Cantwell, both of the Township of Southwold.
March 1, 1853 MARRIED
On the 16th instant at Five Stakes, by Rev. David W. Rowlands, Mr. Richard Evans, to Miss Jane Irons, both of Southwold.
On the 21st instant by the same, Mr. John M. Mitchell to Miss Hannah Hopkins both of this town.
MARRIED
Mr. James Cushing Nation. Esq., Toronto, to Eliza Findlay, relict of the late John Findlay, Esq., Morpeth and daughter of Lieut. Waring, of London, C.W., 16th February, by the Rev. R.H. Holland.
DIED
Suddenly at his residence, Brantford on Thursday, the 10th inst., at about 4 P.M., John Steele, Esq., proprietor of the Colonial Tribune.
March 29, 1853. BIRTH
In this Town on Monday the 28th instant, the wife of John White, Tailor, of a daughter.
April 12, 1853.
MARRIED
In this Town by Rev.D.W. Roland, on the 10th ult., Mr. Edward Fergusson, of Westminister, to Miss Christina Walker, of Yarmouth.
By the same, at Salty Creek, on the 31st ult., Mr. Duncan Fergusson, of Westminister, to Miss Isabella Patterson, of Yarmouth.
April 26, 1853.
BIRTH
In the Township of Yarmouth on the 21st instant, the wife of John Scanlan, of a son.
DEATH
In this Town on the 25th instant, Zephier, son of Mr. Lewis Sanagan, aged two weeks.
May 3, 1853.
BIRTH
In Cayuga, on Sat, the 2nd ult., the wife of Mr. T.A. McNamara, Printer, of a son.
In this Town, on Sunday the 1st instant, the wife of G.W. Morgan, Esq., of a son.
In London, C.W., on Friday the 22nd instant, the wife of Mr. H. Chisholm Merchant, of a son.
MARRIED
At Ingersoll by the Rev. W.Smith, Mr. W. Hodgson to Mary Ann, eldest daughter of Henry Hearn Esq., late of Langtree, Devonshire, England.
By the Rev. R. Whiting, on the 28th ult. at the residence of the Bride’s Father, Mr. T.S. Sharon to Miss Charlotte, only daughter of Mr. King all of Southwold.
By the same on the 18th ult., Mr. Henry Rogers, of St. Thomas, to Mrs. McGuier of Southwold.
DEATH
In Toronto on the 14th April Mr. John Lysaght aged 48 years, an old and respectable inhabitant, and on the same day Ellen Lysaght, daughter of the above – aged 10 years.
May 10, 1853.
BIRTH
In Toronto on Sunday morning, May 1st, the wife of Mr. J.C.Spragg, of a daughter.
MARRIED
On Thursday the 28th ult at the residence of John Gartshore, by Rev. M.Y.Stark, James Leslie Esq., of Toronto to Jacqueline Jamieson, Daug. of the late James Moir, Esq., Aberdeen, Scotland.
At the res. of the bride’s Mother, by the Rev. Dr. Burns, Wm. Proudfoot, Esq., Barrester, of Hamilton, to Ann Howatson, only daughter of the late John Thompson, Esq., merchant, in Toronto.
May 17, 1853.
BIRTH
At Port Sarnia, on the 4th instant, wife of the Rev. E. White, of a son.
MARRIED
By the Rev, R. Whiting, at Smith’s Hotel, St. Thomas, on the 10th inst., Mr. Duncan McNab, of Southwold, to Miss Catherine McBride, of Dunwich.
July 19, 1853.
MARRIED
At San Francisco, California, by the Rev. S.H.Willey, Dr. Donald McMillan to Miss. Sarah Miller, daughter of Mr. George Miller, of this Town.
In the city of Toronto on Tuesday the 12th July at the res. of Mr. John Dempsey, by the Rev. Vincent Philip Mayerhoffer, Grand Chaplin Royal Orange Association
B.W.A., Richard Dempsey of Toronto Esq. Barrister – at – law, to Victoria Mary, daughter of the late John Kid Esq., Toronto.
By the same in the town of London on Tuesday, on the 19th inst. Mr. Jonas Dingman to Miss Rachel Adams, both of Westminister.
The following appeared in several editions of the Weekley Dispatch in 1853.
INFORMATION WANTED
Of any of the family of Richard Stackpoole of Ennis, County of Clare, Ireland, who sailed from Limerick during the summer of 1848, for the United States. Their names are
FRANK, RICHARD, AGNES, CATHERINE, MARIA, AND GEORGINA, If any one of the above should notice this, they would bestow a great favor on their cousin Maria STACKPOOLE, who resides at St. Thomas, County of Elgin, Canada West.
N.B. American Papers copy.
QUERIES
HARRIS – Interested in desc of Francis & Rachel ( ? ) HARRIS of Bayham. Francis d ae 59 in 1847. Ch were Stephen, Nelson, Holland, Francis, Sidney, James, Caroline, Mary Ann, Sarah, Eliza Jane, & Charlotte. Info to R.W. McCurdy.
NEVILLS/McCURDY – Mary Ann of Bayham m 30 June 1867 Richard NEVILLS, s/o John & Mary (______) NEVILLS. Known issue: Richard, Leonard, and a dau. Wish to contact desc. Info to R.W. McCurdy.
BURNHAM – Joshua b ca 1802 N.S. m Sophia ? b ca 1802 also N.S. Ch include Hannah b 1832 m Henry DAVIS 3 Sept 1860, Mary Elizabeth b ca 1842 m Henry STOKES Naomi b ca 1843 m Peter MARR, Ebenezer b ca 1843 m Amelia
GARNER, Cynthee Ann b ca 1835 m John PRITCHARD, Maria b ca 1838 m Joseph TEDFORD, Sarah b ca 1835 m Benjamin PRITCHARD. Also Mary Elizabeth and James H. died as ch. Seek any info on this family. contact Nancy BROWN.
KIRK, Eliza, d/o ? b ca 1837 in Ireland m William GOODHUE ca 1851 in Elgin Co? seek any info. Contact Nancy BROWN.
STEEL, Mary b Brantford Twp, Brant Co m Harvey CORNELL; had son Frederick. Seek dates b,m,d, and where lived of the above. Any info appreciated. Postage refunded. Lorene SLACK CULLEN.
STEEL, John William, s/o Jacob STEEL and Catherine STEWART m Elizabeth (Bessie) LITTLE; 3 ch: Catherine(Katie) m Arthur GREEN; Willena Jane (Jean) m Charles
CHAMBERS- 1 dau Virginia; Frederick William m Mabel GIEGEL; Ch grew up on old STEEL farm called “Vine Cottage”, built in 1849 Brantford Twp. Brant County. John d as a young family man. Bessie remarried a McNair, seek dates and where they lived, gratefully refund postage. Contact Lorene SLACK CULLEN.
GEROW – Earl GEROW b ca 1889, s/o Peter V. GEROW and Melissa BULL, living in Dunwich Twp 1891. Seek contact with desc. Info to Mary E. YOUNG.
PARKS – John H. PARKS, b ca 1875 Dunwich Twp, Elgin Co., s/o Samuel PARKS and Caroline BULL. Seek contact with desc. Into to Mary E. YOUNG.
CRAWFORD-CHRISTIE– Looking for family of Viola CRAWFORD who married Jim CHRISTIE of Moose Jaw, also Harry CRAWFORD of Saskatchewan. Info to Susan GIACHERIO.
WOOLY-NEWELL-McINTOSH-MAYBE-SUMMERS-LONGFIELD– Looking for family of Charlotte WOOLY who married Mr NEWELL of Springfield, Ontario, also Louis McINTOSH married Miss MAYBE of Aylmer, Ont., and his daughters Mrs. Murray SUMMERS and Mrs. LONGFIELD. Info to Susan GIACHERIO.
PATTEN– Richard b 1816 Yarmouth, Nova Scotia m Elizabeth RADCLIFFE in possibly Bayham Twp, Elgin Co, Ontario in 1850. 3 ch ages 2-6 years died within 3 days in February 1860. Was there an epidemic disease at this time? All info to Mrs. Kathleen McMAHON.
TAYLOR– Daniel and Elizabeth- came from Devonshire, England in 1832, settling around the Katesville area. Daus Darina Anne & Caroline. Any info on them or other desc please contact Mrs. Barbara FERGUSON.
EMERICK:EMERIC – Darina Anne nee TAYLOR b July 6, 1836, m Peter EMERICK on Aug 30, 1852 at St.Mary’s Church, Napier Ont, Metcalfe Township. Any info to Mrs. Barbara FERGUSON.
HARE-MclNTYRE – Hugh HARE of Yarmouth Twp b in Scotland ca 1825 d 6 Sept 1898. Married to Jane McINTYRE b Scotland ca 1829. Need info on their parents. Had sons, Colin, John & William b in Ontario, believed to have moved to U.S.A.
Daughters: Sarah, believed to have married a BROWN, Flora J., m John FISHBACH Janet believed to have married a McCUTCHEON, believed to have moved to MI, had a son who worked for C.N.R. and held a good position in London, Ont. Mary whose 1st husband was W. HANDFORD, was mother of John HANFORD a one time Mayor of St.Thomas, 2nd husband was a WALTERS and lived on Manitoba Street, Chris tea m Fred MAILING, another girl that married a Harry WALLIS and perhaps another who m a MCNALL, Would appreciate any info on these people. Joan R. ABEL.
MAILING-MOODIE– Thomas MAILING of St.Thomas, b England Sept 1838, d 12 June 1903. Married to Mary Ann MOODIE b England 1844, d 3 Oct 1921. Her father’s name was Charles MOODIE. Need info on their prts, and birthplace. Had sons, James, Fred, William, Charles, Frank, Arthur, Earnest, Manly and Norman. Daus- Sarah and Emma(M Alex McINTYRE) 2 of her ch b England. Any info to Joan R. Abel.
ELLISON-ALLISON-DYER– Elizabeth ELLISON, sometimes ALLISON, b 1776,
Northfield, N.H. m Edward DYER b 12 Feb. 1759, Canterbury, N.H. d London, Ont. 31 Jan. 1852, in Salisbury, N.H. 2 Dec 1792; they moved 1797 to Stanbridge, Lower Canada: moved 1825 to London, Ontario. Part of Elizabeth’s family moved to Elgin Co: brother Richard WLLISON and wife Susanna SMITH and their ch., perhaps others. In 1855 John ELLISON of Elgin Co. certified that Elizabeth was widow of Edward, to their marriage, their residence in Salisbury, Stanbridge, London. Was Elizabeth’s father Joseph of Holderness N.H.? Was John her brother or Richard’s son? All info to Helen Dyer BARTON.
CAMPBELL-McINTOSH-McARTHUR– Alexander CAMPBELL of Southwold Twp, Ontario, Canada, Lot 4, John McINTOSH lvd Lot 3. Alexander b 1795 or 97 in Nairn, Argyleshire, Scot. d 21 May 1884. Alexander m Nancy Anne MCARTHUR, hamlet of Stirling, St. Thomas, m 24 April 1828. Nancy b Isle of Mull, Argyleshire, Scot. d 7 May 1901. Both bd in Dunboyne cem. Ch: Alexander McIntosh CAMPBELL m Lucretia SAUNDERS. Margaret Rose m James TAYLOR, Mary Anne m Thomas Wm
SAUNDERS, Barbara m Isaac SAXTON, Sarah m Asa Porter MARR, John m Ella SUMMER, Nancy-single? Hannah Belle single, Eliza Jane m James FRAZER, James J., single, James Duncan? Info to Laverne M Elliott.
GREETINGS FROM THE CHAIRMAN
I hope all our Members and Readers have had a great summer! Now it is time to settle down to some real interesting work again. I am sure many of you spent some summer hours travelling to various places, checking cemeteries and research centres. I hope you were successful in your efforts! Even one piece of info can get exciting. Now we are on our last lap of the calendar year I hope some of you are considering volunteering to take some task to assist a genealogical group in your vicinity, wherever you live. Some very hard working volunteers are frequently wishing for a much needed change and rest. Do you have a little time that you could give? It’s such fun once you get started!!
The Program Committee have several goodies lined up for fall. Anyone within reasonable travelling distance would find it well worthwhile to try to share our meetings with us.
HOPE TO SEE YOU SEPTEMBER 9th
NORMA
October: Mary Lou Bacon, will be the guest speaker, She has been a member of the Flint Genealogical Society for 15 – 20 years and is now Treasurer. She is one of two delegates to the Michigan Genealogical Council, which runs an annual Conference similar to Seminar. She has almost completed indexing 1860 Sanilac Co. census on her own, and is a member of the Michigan Historical Society and Sanilac Co. Historical Society. Mary Lou is an Executive Secretary graduate of Baker College and has been employed in several secretarial and librarian positions. Her topic will be “Researching in Sanilac County”, and will include some history of the territory and location of various local and state records and reference books.
November: Beginners night with Jean Bircham in charge.
December: Christmas Dinner 1987
Once again we are planning a Christmas Dinner. Last year we were guests of the Elgin County Historical Society. This year the Elgin Branch is hosting the Christmas Dinner with the Historical Society as our guests. This event will be held again at Trinity Anglican Church Hall on Wednesday evening, December 9th at 7:00 p.m. Tickets will be $10.00 each. Please contact Lloyd and Norma Smith for tickets at your earliest convenience so we can give our number to the caterer in good time. Please join us for an evening of fun and fellowship, call us at 519-633-0543.
Newsletter Editor: Joyce Locke
September Newsletter Contributors: Lorene Slack Cullen, Norma Smith, Lore Bailey, Joyce Locke.