Knowlesville
Two: The Corey Story
by Judson M. Corey
I overheard Gram tell Mum that she would take me for
the weekend as Mum had lots of things to do in preparing for Christmas.
I hurriedly packed my little satchel and waited for the invitation. The
best part of an
overnight stay at Gram’s house was getting tucked into the big feather
bed
with the heavy wool comforter and then having her sit on the edge of
the
bed, telling me stories of the days of her childhood and all the
relatives she played with. I hoped on this visit she would relate
Christmas stories to me.
In the early summer of 1904, Ira Corey brought his one-year old
daughter Erma to visit her grandparents, Alfred and Lucretia Corey in
Knowlesville. As Tuberculosis had claimed the life
of her mother, Emily Graham, on Campobello Island, in June of that year
the very young child was in need of a home.
Throughout the years she lived with her grandparents, she heard many
stories of their life, relatives and friends.
When Erma Eleanor Corey Shaw was in her late eighties, she planted the
seed for a book to be compiled on the descendants of Alfred and
Lucretia
(Kierstead) Corey. Her talent for story telling combined with her sense
of history, a love of family and vivid memory provided many details for
a biographical publication.
For the last ten years, her brother Judson M. Corey has worked
diligently collecting and organizing material for a book titled “Knowlesville
Two: The Corey Story”.
About the year 1874, Alfred and Lucretia (Kierstead) Corey came to
Knowlesville with five children aged two to nine - Mina, Alma, Charles,
Judson Albert, and Ida May. Five other children were born to them in
Knowlesville: Sadie, Ira Thomas, Alberta, Laversa and Erminnie.
There was very little cash income connected with pioneering
homesteading, hence, Alfred sought seasonal employment outside the
community. One job
was at Forest City near the Maine border, where hemlock trees were cut
down
and the harvested bark was used in tanneries.
A letter from him to his wife, ‘Missis Corey’ was from Muskoka,
Ontario. He apparently had been considering a move to that area but had
not found anything better than New Brunswick. He instructed her, “Do
not
sell anything until you hear from me”. His PS, was, “I think I
will
be home this fall. I do not like this place.”
As soon as the children were mature enough to seek employment, the
parents watched as they left to go afield to obtain employment. The
ever open door, the lamp in the window, the love of a family and the
sense of belonging
drew them back home, time and time again.
The more than seven hundred pages of “Knowlesville Two: The Corey
Story” by Judson M. Corey chronicles the events in the lives of the
descendants
of Alfred and Lucretia (Kierstead) Corey and provides us a walk through
time with the families.
The book is available from Judson M. Corey, 543 Lancaster Ave., Saint
John, NB, E2M 2L9. Telephone 506 672-0146. Also from the Kings County
Museum in Hampton. Telephone (506) 832-6009 (Leave a message). Fax
(506) 832-6409. E-mail kingscm@nbnet.nb.ca.
****
Query 1123
McAnn: I am seeking information on the family of Lewis and Rebecca
McAnn
who came from Ireland about 1820 -1835. The family lived in Mechanics
Settlement,
Havelock, Moncton, Sussex, and Petitcodiac.
-Robert Ruth 4108 - 16th Ave, Moline, IL, 61265,
USA.
Email to robert@ruthgirls.com.
Query 1124
McFawn - McFahan: Information needed on the McFawn (McFahan)
family who
apparently lived in or around Saint John, New Brunswick in the 1830s.
-Smith, 7 Mundays Lane, Saumarez Ponds, NSW 2350,
Australia.
(02) 6775 1001. E-mail possum@northnet.com.au.
Query 1125
Phillips-Smith: Richard S. Phillips married Charlotte Smith circa
1870
and lived in Upper Woodstock, Carleton County, New Brunswick. I am
seeking
documentation of his parents, who may possibly be David Phillips
and
Mary Ann Shaw?
-Rodrigo Phillips, 11781 Cotton Mill Dr.,
Woodbridge,
VA, 22192, USA. E-mail rapwc1@aol.com.
Query 1126
Cole: My genealogical line can be traced to James Cole who landed
in
Plymouth, Massachusetts
in 1633. In 1763, one of his descendants, Jonathan Cole, immigrated to
Sackville,
New Brunswick with other "New England Planter" families. I am
interested
in communicating with any descendants of Jonathan Cole, Esterbrook or
Tower
families who married Coles during the latter part of the 18th century.
-George Cole, 3 Pinecone Circle, Carson City, NV,
89703,
USA. E-mail to g.cole@direcway.com.
