Gram pulled Ethel’s discarded plaid
blazer from the rag-bag and started cutting. Her mission tonight was to
make me a tam. She whistled while she pedaled the sewing machine. I
watched as my beautiful tam came into being.
When it was finished, I placed it on my head and stood admiring myself
in the mirror.
Gramp came walking into the upstair hall and asked, “Where did you
get the glengarry?”
I thought he was making fun of me. Therefore I burst into tears and
buried my head in Gram’s apron.
Probably the Scots who had their first gathering in 1795 on St.
Andrew’s Day in Saint John wore their glengarries for the special
occasion.
In compiling the “
History of St. Andrew’s Society of St. John
1798 to 1903", I. Allen Jack collected detailed biographical
information on many of the presidents.
James Macfarlane, who was born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, on
the 18 of May 1819 was the president of the Society in 1859 and 1860.
His father had come to Saint John in 1832. In the Spring of 1835, Mr.
Macfarlane sent word to his wife, son and daughters to join him. A
mixup occurred in Glasgow and instead of sailing to Nova Scotia, the
family secured berths on a vessel bound for the Miramichi. From here
they went by schooner to Pictou and thence by oxcart across the
Cobequid Mountains to Chignecto, where they secured passage in a
schooner for Saint John.
They experienced foul weather and were driven on the rocks of West
Beach. Young James’s mother was swept from his grasp and drowned.
He never saw his sisters again.
Another president of the Society was Robert Jardine, the youngest son
of Alexander Jardine. He was born in Saint John in 1854, and was
educated at Sheffield, New Brunswick and Ayr Academy, Scotland. In 1881
he married Florence A. Smith, daughter of E. J. Smith, of Shediac.
Hugh Johnston was born on 04 January 1756 in Morayshire, Scotland.
About 1784, he came to Saint John in his own ship that was laden with
merchandise. He was one of the owners of the ‘General Smythe’, the
first
steamboat built in New Brunswick, which ran on the river between Saint
John and Fredericton. He was married twice and had eight children.
Adam Jack was born at Innerkip, near Greenock, Scotland on 21 November
1800. He lived for several years in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He came
to St. Andrews and married Miss Dorothy Mowatt before settling in Saint
John.
The “
History of St. Andrew’s Society of St. John 1798 to 1903"
by I. Allen Jack holds photos of thirty-five of the presidents of the
society as well as the names of the resident members, past and present
and a list of Officers from 1798 to 1903. Detailed information is given
on many of the presidents, meetings, programs and projects of the
society.
When I. Allen Jack compiled the two hundred and fifty-eight page
history of the St. Andrew’s Society in Saint John, one hundred years
ago, he was probably not aware of the genealogical gold mine he created
for future
generations who wished to learn more of Scottish ancestors and
the
society that kept them close in heart to their beloved
homeland.
* * Dr. J.S.S. Armour of Quebec is seeking information on
the
above mentioned, James Macfarlane and his children, William, Wallace,
Ewen
and Annie. He would also like to learn more about the father of
James
Macfarlane. If you have any information, please contact him by E-mail
at
jss@magma.ca.
* * *
Query 1066
Rupert: Christopher Rupert's children - Henry, William, Frederick,
Christopher and Elizabeth - were mentioned in a will in Kings County of
New Brunswick. Can anyone provide information?
-Frank Rupert, 8564 Haldibrook Rd., Caledonia,
Ontario, Canada, N3W 2G8. E-mail
kkrupert@interlynx.net.
Query 1067
Suffolk - Sable Island - Tomilson: According to family lore my
great grand father Robert Tomilson was shipwrecked on Sable Island, and
was picked up by a ship headed for Ireland. The next year he returned
to settle in
Tay Creek in Douglas Parish in York County. He applied for a land grant
in 1826. It is possible he was on board the ‘Suffolk’ that was
carrying
settlers to New Brunswick from Ireland in June of 1821. Can anyone
provide
information on this shipwreck or any others in the area of Sable Island
in the early 1820s?
-Margaret Caughey, 223 Grandview Road, Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada, K2H 8B9. E-mail
mecaughey@cyberus.ca.
