TALBOT TIMES
Newsletter of
ELGIN COUNTY BRANCH
of the ONTARIO GENEALOGY SOCIETY
BOX 41 6 ST. THOMAS ONTARIO, N5P 1 1N4
Volume VII Issue One March 1988
MEETINGS: Elgin County Branch, O.G.S., meetings are held on the Second
Wednesday of each month in the Carnegie Room of the St. Thomas Public Library on
Curtis Street, EXCEPT – June (reserved for cemetery transcription); December (reserved for a social evening) -locations to be announced; July and August NO meetings held.
TALBOT TIMES is published quarterly. (Mar. June Sept. Dec.). Articles and news items are invited. Submissions should be made at least one month before publication, to be published if space allows, or held for subsequent publications. The TALBOT TIMES makes every effort to provide accurate information and disclaims responsibility for errors or omissions. Articles do not necessarily reflect the views of branch officers or newsletter staff.
QUERIES: Elgin County Branch members are allowed two queries published free of charge in each newsletter. Additional queries per newsletter or queries for nonmembers are $3 per query. Queries should be submitted at least one month before publication directly to Mrs. Norma Smith, R.R.4, St. Thomas, Ontario, N5P 3S8.
GREETINGS FROM THE CHAIRMAN
It gives me great pleasure to welcome members and friends to our group in 1988. I am pleased to have all the former members back this year and happy to welcome new members. Tracing one’s family history is a great challenge and is much easier with the help of others. The fellowship with others does a great thing for everyone.
I am anxiously looking forward to the work in the cemetery as we just have one cemetery left to transcribe. With MANY HANDS we should complete it without too much trouble.
The plans for a good program during the spring are almost completed. We hope you will be able to join us for these get togethers.
Good luck with your search in the coming year. If I can assist you in any way please feel free to contact me at any time.
Happy Searching
Norma Smith, Chairman
BURNED TO DEATH
Copied from St. Thomas Daily Times, dated May 14, 1887.
A lighted pipe sets a woman’s clothing on fire and she is fatally burned.
Mrs. AURELLA TOZER, of Malahide, who is 70 years of age, was going on a visit to Mr. WILLIAM ADAMS, a near neighbor, yesterday, and in crossing a field placed her lighted pipe in her pocket, which set her dress on fire. She commenced running, which only increased the flames, and every particle of clothing was burned from her person. When found her body was burned to a crisp and her hair singed off. DR. McLAY was summoned and saw that nothing could be done except to alleviate the sufferings of the old lady. The doctor asserts that there is no hope, and he has telegraphed to the unfortunate lady’s daughter, Mrs. T. W. EDGE, of London his fears that Mrs. Tozer cannot possibly survive many hours.
Helen Pincombe submitted this from Mrs. Glen Bell, Librarian of the Waterford Library.
This journal was brought to Waterford area in Townsend Township from Sussex, New Jersey, recounting the journey of Moses Bevans in 1810 from New Jersey to his Collver relatives in Townsend, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
THE TRAVELS OF MOSES BEVANS
Containing accounts of some of his journeys and the costs of them from journals that were very imperfectly written and that need some amendments.
— Started from my father’s house in Sandyston, Sussex County, New Jersey on Monday morning SEPTEMBER 29, 1810.
— Then to Dingman’s Ferry across the Delaware River 1 mile
Got a pinte of Brandy which cost I suppose at least 25 cents in cash. To Frederick Shoaf’s (or Shaw’s) 7 miles
To dinner (free)
To Blooming Grove at Bingham’s Tavern. The first night 22 miles
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1810
— Paid for horse and lodgings: 25 cents To Pawpack settlement 6 miles
To Stryker’s in the beechwoods.
Paid for breakfast: 12 1/2 cents 9 miles
To Asa Stanton’s Second night 10 miles
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1810 22 miles
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1810
— Paid for pasture, supper and bed . . . 34 cents.
To McCarter’s 7 miles
To Great Bend of the Susquehannah River: Paid for breakfast, 1/2 bushel of oats: 37 1/2 cents
To Chenango Bridge in Broome County. For tole: 6 cents 7 miles To Ross’s Inn Fourth night 32 miles
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 thru FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1810 (???)
Paid for last nights hay, milk and bed 22 cents
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1810
— Paid this morning for supper, lodging and horsekeeping 37 1/2 cents.
To Isaac Carmer’s in Dridon Township, Cayahoga County.
Here I staid for a visit with said Carner and went no further for this day which brings me to the end of my first week on the road by the sixth night. From home to Carmen’s in 5 days and a breakfast spell 136 miles.
TiCayuga Village in Surillus Township.
Across the ferry to Union (?) in Seneca County. Ferriage 25 cents.
This ferry is the crossing of the old bridge place where I saw the old frame wreck of the old bridge just above at the left hand as I crossed the outlet of the lake.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1810
— Paid in Buffalo this morning for last night’s fare as follows, viz.
2 quarts oats . . . 16 1/4 cents, 1 pint beer . . . 9 cents, For hay stamped in the racks so that my horse could not get it out between the narrow rack rounds.
For lodgings . . 6 1/2 cents. For one horse set and for fastening it on . . . 12 1/4 cents.
For one sheet of writing paper . . . 2 cents,
Amount in all for last night in Buffalo 67 1/2 cents
Amount of distance travelled 46 miles
Then to Blackrock Ferry. 4 quarts of oats and ferriage 62 1/2 cents.
Across the Niagara River to Upper Canada 1/2 bushel oats: 25 cents
20 miles
To Holly’s Tavern 13 miles
— To Uncle Ebenezer Collver’s
Here I staid for a visit and a resting spell for my horse and myself and lived free while I staid here. Having travelled from Isaac Carmer’s there in 5 days and so in the account bringing it to five nights since I left there 176 miles
— Travelled on to Aron Collver’s which is in Townsend Township amoung my mothers kindred. Found my mother’s aged father and mother yet alive on earth and a host of their children grandchildren and two families of their great—grandchildren all having a full supply of lands and other things needed for a living and I a poor stranger among them, and considered an unwelcome visitor. My mother 22 years dead, my father estranged and hardened against me by my step—mother and her savage crew of young ones, and miles from me as I find in the recording of my journey in this little book. — TOTAL DISTANCE 392 miles DAYS TRAVELLED 12 1/4:
COST PAID IN CASH $6.29
Note: Moses Bevan eventually returned to CANADA with his wife and family but eventually settled in Rochester Genasee area of upper New York State.
A & P in ST. THOMAS
By Steve Peters c. 1987
The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co., A & P, was established in in 1859. In 1927, A & P opened its first store in Canada. Across the country the The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company of Canada Limited is celebrating its 60th Anniversary.
In late 1929 A & P opened its first store in St. Thomas at 373-375 Talbot Street, previously the site of A.A. Housley’s Grocery Store (1987 The Manx Arms) A second store was opened in 1931 at 557 Talbot Street. It was expanded to include 555 Talbot Street in 1933. This building is located immediately to the east of City Hall.
A & P consolidated their St. Thomas operations in 1937 with the purchase of the Eaton Groceteria at 495 Talbot Street. (See photograph Circa 1950) Tom Nelson came from Windsor at this time to manage the store, a position he held until his retirement in 1966.
A & P Advertisements in the Times-Journal (1937) urged customers to get the thrift habit, help yourself to savings, where prices hit rock bottom.
Prices 1937 1987
Aylmer Tomato Juice (10 1/2 oz.) 3 for .13 .73
Jello .06 .59
Round Steak(lb.) .17 3.79
Oranges (dozen) ,25 2.99
Grapefruit (each) .05 .35
Coffee (Bokar)(lb.) .28 3.19
Coffee (8 o’clock)(lb.) .24 2.99
In 1941, A & P purchased Boughner’s China Shop, located immediately east of A & P. Arnold Strong who started with A & P in 1949, (retired 1984), remembers that the floor in the Boughner Shop had to be lowered 14 inches. The expansion doubled the size of the store; there were 9 aisles, at the front of the store 7 cash registers and at the back door, two registers. It was at the back of the store that you had your coffee ground by one of the employees (today A & P offers grind your own coffee service in its stores.)
In 1954, a new store was constructed in the former Michigan Central Railway Park, 780 Talbot Street. The Times-Journal described the new store as notable in the line of St. Thomas business advancement. The store offered good parking and access and also offered customers 13,000 square feet of shopping space.
In May 1962, the store opened with an additional 7,000 square feet. A & P offered “the years biggest savings on scores of high quality groceries and products plus many bonus features for budget-wise shoppers.” The wire-rack display equipment in the baked goods section was the first of its type in any Canadian A & P store. Also added to the store was a new front parcel pick-up conveyor system.
The A & P underwent further expansion in 1979 at which time the store was brought up to modern standards with enlarged produce, frozen, meat and deli services. There are currently 100 employees and it is managed by Mr. Wayne Mader.
[Picture compliments of St. Thomas Public Library.]
In December 1987, A & P will open a new 38,000 square foot Supermarket in the Elgin Mall. This will be the most up-to-date A & P in Canada. It will offer customers in the St.
Thomas area greater convenience and improved services (in-store bakery and the new I.B.M. scanning system at the checkouts) plus the usual “good buys” expected all year round at all A & P outlets. The store will be managed by Mr Joe Hall and will employ 75 to 100 people.
A & P – we’re building a proud new feeling in St. Thomas.
We would like to thank Steve Peters for his permission to publish this article in the TALBOT TIMES.
CALENDAR OF MEETINGS
JANUARY MEETING: Mr. James Broadfoot, Minister of St. John’s Anglican Church, St.
Thomas spoke of his family and the history of Broadfoots.
The Broadfoots are an old boarder family which seems to have originated in
Scotland, a name which goes back to 800’s as Brodfot and the 1100’s as Bradfute. As a boarder family the name appears in England and with the boarder wars the name also appears in Ireland. In the 1600—1700’s there are three spellings —Bradfute — Bridfot — Broadfoot. In 1774 seven families immigrated to the U.S. and in 1780’s some to Australia. In 1820 & 1830’s five families appear to settle in Canada but no family connection can be put together but they all seem to be from the same shire in Scotland — Dumphrieshire.
Rev. Broadfoot’s own family is from the South Maine Estates, Sanklahar,
Dumphrieshire, Scotland and first appear in Canada in 1883 in the Huron Track (Galt to Goderich area) then settled in Tuckersmith Township, Huron County. In 1834 the mother and four of her family followed Alex Broadfoot to Canada.
FEBRUARY MEETING: Mr. Don Campbell spoke on his family publication of Malcolm Campbell, who originated in Roseneath Scotland. In the early 1800’s Humphry and
Alexander came to Canada and worked on the Welland Canal, later settling in Dunwich Township, Elgin County. Several family trees have been done in his family which aided in preparing his tree. Campbell reunions in Elgin County started over 100 years ago.
MARCH MEETING: Brian Gilchrist will be the guest speaker. Brian has now completed the Inventories of Ontario Newspapers, 1793—1986 — Over 3,000 titles of English and French Community Newspapers with holdings data.
APRIL MEETING: Social night and silent auction of genealogical articles. Proceeds to be given to the branch. (Please bring along a genealogical item — e.g., map, book, etc. to be put up for auction.)
MAY MEETING: To be announced.
JUNE MEETING: Transcription of cemetery stones — details to be announced.
[Pages 7 & 8 missing.]
QUERIES
GRAHAM/McFADYEN/McFADGEN/McFAYDEN— Mary McFAYDEN, b c 1843 in Islay, Scotland d/o Neil McFAYDEN and Mary GRAHAM — was unmarried — lvd at Lot 19, Conc 2, Dunwich Twp, Elgin Co., d c Nov 19, 1927, ae 84 at Aged People’s Home, London. Funeral was at home of J. M. CAMPBELL of Cowal— pallbearers were John D. Thompson, James Campbell, Kelly Campbell, Robert Little, George Murray and Archie McTavish. Was she bd in Cowal—McBride cem? Does anyone remember her? Any info greatly appreciated by David Graham.
GRAHAM/McFADYEN/McFADGEN/McFAYDEN – am interested in receiving info on family of Neil McFAYDEN of lot 19, conc 2, Dunwich, b in Scotland, d ca Feb 10, 1902, bd where? his wife Mary Graham, b Islay, Scotland about 1822, d July 31, 1873, bd Murray cem, Ekfrid Twp., their son John b Scotland, d ca Dec 1884, bd where? AND THEIR DAU Mary (see above) Info to David Graham.
ZAVITZ—DURDLE— Cordelia DURDLE, b 1864 in Yarmouth Twp, d 1949 in Columbus, Ohio, resided in Broadhead, Wisconsin for several years. Any info to Stephen Lawton Timm.
DURDLE—PINEO — prts of Cordelia Durdle. No other info known. Any info to Stephen Lawton Timm.
SKINNER — Mary SKINNER married William HARDY 1835 in Bayham Twp. A marriage was witnessed by John P. SKINNER in Bayham in 1832. Are these two people related? Seeking prts, names of children, places of residence. Willing to share. Info to Patricia Lundy.
BURWELL—McINTYRE— Bridget Minerva, dau of James and Margaret McINTYRE m Samuel William BURWELL, 24 May 1870 by Rev. J.H. Starr, Methodist, St.Thomas. They had 4 ch: Mary b 1871, Walter b 1873, George b 1875 and Frederick b 19 Feb 1879 at Pt Stanley. Bridget d Pt. Stanley 12 March 1880 at ae of 28. Her death cert. lists Dr. H. Meek an Informant, Rev. J.H. Paradis, Presbyterian, Pt. Stanley. Did Bridget die as a result of childbirth? Where is she bd? any info to Lloyd H. Burwell.
SHERWOOD—CALCUT— Mary Ann CALCUT m Norman A. SHERWOOD Dec 19, 1901 in Strathroy, Ontario. Hoping to find descendants, any info to Mrs Barbara Ferguson.
CALCUTT— Chester d Mar 11, 1911 — 58 yrs old. Bd at Strathroy cem. Could also have been a relative of same name who sang on the local radio (London area) around 1938. Any info to Mrs.Barbara Ferguson.
ATKINSON—REED — Wish for the names and birthplaces of the siblings and prts of my grandmother, Eliza Marilla REED. She was b 2 June 1865 in Sandytown,
(Straffordville) in Bayham Twp, Elgin County. (Her father is supposed to have returned to Scot. after birth of all her children) She spent her childhood in Eden which is also in Bayham Twp. Eliza was married to Silas ATKINSON in Tillsonburg ca 1883. All info to Albert M. Atkinson
PURCELL/MULLIGAN/McLEAN — Any info on Hector PURCELL, b 31 Oct 1840 Albra, d 3 Nov 1925, bd Rodney cem., m Margaret J. MULLIGAN b 19 Feb. 1844, d 22 Aug 1922, bd Rodney cem. Ch: Alex, Alma, Alonzo, Archie, Kate, Ernie, Gar, Maude, Bill, George. Hector’s prts Archibald PURCELL b 1815 Scotland, d 14 Dec. 1898, bd Purcell cem., m Catherine McLEAN b March 1825, d 26 Sept 1905, bd Purcell cem. Ch: 13. Archibald’s prts: John PURCELL b 1785 Scotland, d 1 Feb. 1859. bd in Wardsville, m Florie ? b 1788 Scotland, d 17 May 1842, bd Wardsville. 4 ch. 2nd wife: Nancy Leitch, d 12 Apr 1877 bd Wardsville. All info to Mrs. Shirley Mills. — Mrs. Floyd Leitch is a dau of the late Archie Purcell!
MULLIGAN/HUNTER — Any info on Henry MULLIGAN b 1817, m Mary Margaret HUNTER b 1827. Ch: Martha, John, Margaret J., James, Sarah, Caroline, Wm. H., David. Believe he received a Land Grant Zone Twp., 29 Oct. 1840. All info to Mrs. Shirley Mills.
JOHNSTON — Wish to correspond with someone with knowledge of a JOHNSTON family in Ontario. Malcolm JOHNSTON and wife Sarah resided in St. Thomas, Elgin county. He died 12 March 1851 leaving wife and children Malcolm and Sarah. He had bro John J. b 1818 Scotland who went to USA from Ontario and d 1855 in Ohio. The mother of these boys also lived in Brantford, Ontario, names unknown. Possibly had a sister Jennet/Janet. All info to Mrs. Joann Hampton.
CHASE — Walter and Ann CHASE lived in Pt Stanley, Elgin County, where he purchased Lots 11 and 12. Walter and Ann were born in 1802 in New York. Son Alfred was also b in New York. Son David, b November 1829 and Walter Jr., were b in Canada. What was Ann’s maiden name? What part of New York did they come from? All info to Martha Weldon.
WHITE – Info required for James WHITE, b Ireland ca 1800, wife Nancy or Martha Ann Scott, b Scotland ? ca 1800. Emigrated ca 1836 to Leeds Grenville County, resided In Westport area, North Crosby Twp. Ch: Joseph b Ireland 1826, Martha A. (Mrs Sterling Demming PENNOCK) b Ireland 1830. Mary Groves (Mrs Enoch BARKER) b Ireland 1833, Benjamin b possibly on High Seas 1836, William “John” b Yonge Twp, Leeds Grenville co 1838. All info to Mrs Brenda EDMONDS
WHITE-POWERS – any info on Benjamin WHITE, b 1836 on High Seas? m Christie Ann POWERS b 1838, Elgin county. Ch: William James, Mary Agnes (LIDDLE), Benjamin “Franklin”, John Adolphus, Edward Joseph, Leticia Albertha (FLEMMING), Laura Ann (CHURCHILL), Elmore Clarke. All info to Mrs Brenda EDMONDS.