Stonehaven Life
Rebecca Leaman has a 'Reading Room' in her Web site
that tells
stories of the past
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| Rebecca Leaman's grandparents – Gertrude (Pendleton) and Morton Leaman, with their two older sons, Collin and Douglas. The photograph was taken at Lord's Cove, Deer Island, about 1918. These are the 'Aunt Gert,' 'Uncle Mort' and 'Coll' who appear in Hazel Pendleton's memoirs in the Reading Room of Stonehaven Life. |
| Photo courtesy Rebecca Leaman |
Mum was not exposed to any parenting courses or magazines that gave suggestions on, "How to Raise Children" but she had some very definite ideas on the role of a parent. One of these being a nightly ritual of reading to us. I really enjoyed snuggling next to her while she read the fairy tales. I never tired of hearing about Goldy Locks and the Three Bears but the best stories were the ones she told us of her childhood. One of our favorites was the baptizing of the young turkeys by Ida and Willy.
It seems I was not alone in this thirst for stories from the past that were told by relatives. Rebecca Leaman, growing up in Fredericton, found the recollections of her relatives to be every bit as fantastic and entertaining as any fairy tale.
This interest has grown with her, and she finds the sharing of enthusiasms and New Brunswick history information between individuals to be quite fascinating and exciting. Furthermore, she feels that the old stories are vital to the sense of place and identity that can anchor us in this big world. From these beliefs came the idea to grow a garden of stories in the Reading Room section of her "Stonehaven Life" website at http://www.crosswinds.net/~stonehaven.
By the way, Stonehaven is the name she and her husband have given to their home in Keswick Ridge.
Rebecca's intention is to continue to add to the "Reading Room" as she comes across more diaries, memoirs, transcribed interviews, whatever the form -- compelling and entertaining stories that evoke the "ordinary" life of New Brunswick's past.
At the present the Reading Room includes the diary of Violet Goldsmith, which gives a glimpse of life in New Brunswick, a century ago. These excerpts take Violet, the motherless daughter of a Presbyterian minister, from the Provincial Normal School, Fredericton, to teaching school near Bathurst, and finally to the University of New Brunswick in 1903. Also included is a link to a memoir of Violet's later homesteading years in western Canada, with more Diaries and Accounts from the 1900s.
The Tales from the Border by Rendol Whidden Ganong (1906 - 2000) include interesting details of Crossing the St. Croix Border, living and smuggling on the United States - Canada border, W.F. "Will" Ganong, and Col. Charles R. Whidden.
James O'Neill remembers the last Railroad Circus in Fredericton on June 28, 1950, when the Dailey Bros. circus train rolled out of the York Street freight yard, bringing to an end an era.
Hazel B. Pendleton (1912 - 1986) shares her memories of life in the West Isles with vivid details of the Fishing Life of Deer Island, Pendleton's Island, old Boats of the Bay, expeditions in the Utopia and the social life on Deer Island.
The Reading Room of Stonehaven Life holds a little history, a little genealogy and a touch of east-coast humour, and is an ever growing archive of memories of old New Brunswick. Call it "folk history" or "life writing," or call it what you will -- the stories of our elders are an enduring part of Maritime Canadian culture. Thanks to Rebecca and the internet, these stories will blossom and bring forth memories.
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Query 836
Eager: I am trying to locate who exactly the Irish-born parents are
of Richard Eager, who was born 1819 in New Brunswick. Family oral history
leads us to believe he was born in Saint John. The first documentation
of Richard that we actually have is from1860 Illinois, U.S. Census,
where Richard eventually lived and died in Kingston of Adams County in that
State. We have been at this "brick wall" for months, so if anyone has any
knowledge of the Eager family in New Brunswick, we would like to hear from
you.
-Diane Eager, 446 Hawkinson, Galesburg, IL., 61401. E-mal eagerone@galesburg.net.
Query 837
Maclauchlan - Gibbs: I am searching for family of Henrietta Elizabeth
Marie Moore Maclauchlan who was born in Saint John, New Brunswick about 1816.
She was married at Ampthill, Bedfordshire England in 1836 to Robert Gibbs.
-Dorothy Jones, 1836 Dublin Street, New Westminster, BC., V3M
3A3. E-mail Domojones@telus.net.
Query 838
McLean - Grandville: I recently obtained a copy of a Burial Permit
for my Grandfather's maiden aunt. Her name was Eleanor J. McLean. She died
in the Provincial Hospital on Nov. 18, 1915. The place of Interment is listed
as: Grandville, Queens County, N.B. I would like to find out where this is
and if Grandville is the name of a town or cemetery. Archibald F. Mclean,
Eleanor's father, died in Chelsea, Massachusetts in 1891 and his body was
sent back to New Brunswick for burial. Perhaps he and his daughter are buried
together. Any information on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
-David W. Oram, 37 Addison Ave., Lynn, Ma., 01902, USA.E-mail
doram@bellatlantic.net.
Query 839
Glass - Mitchell: I am looking for any information on the Rev. Charles
Glass who was instrumental in the establishment of the settlement of Glassville
in New Brunswick. Charles was born in Birse, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in1813
and was ordained a minister of the Free Church in 1845. He married Isabella
Mitchell in1847. I believe he brought settlers to the Glassville area in
1861 on a barque called the "Irvine". I also think he was Principal and Administrator
of the Collegiate School in Woodstock. I would appreciate hearing from anyone
who has information on this gentleman.
-Sharon Jameson, 3 Fox Place, Kingswood Park, NSW 2750, Australia.
E-mail sharonj@optusnet.com.au.
Query 840
Cochrane - Perry: William Cochrane was born in New Brunswick, Canada
in 1833 to probably James and Margaret Cochrane. In1858, while a member of
the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Companies as a drummer, he was married to
Hester or (Esther) Perry, Newfoundland by the Rev Thomas Woods, Captain
to the Forays Forces. I am interested in finding information on the Cochrane
family.
-Ruth West, 124 Steury Ave., Goshen, IN., 46528. USA. E-mail drwest@skyenet.net.
