In Armageddon’s Shadow
The Civil War and Canada’s Maritime Provinces
Since there was no television in our childhood, Cliff and I had to come up with our own activities to entertain ourselves on a rainy day visit to Gram’s house. Today, Aunt Sadie had allowed us to go to the attic where barrels and boxes of clothes and shoes of days long gone were stored. She even told us we could wear our dress-up costume to the supper table.
I was delighted to find a nurse’s uniform and hat that had probably belonged to Aunt Nell. Cliff chose a pair of high riding boots, a coat with brass buttons and a leather cap.
When Aunt Sadie called us to come eat, we went clambering down the back stairs and almost knocked Gramp over as he was making his way through the hall. When we walked into the dining room, he announced, “Clara Barton has dropped in for a meal, some water and will probably borrow the team to drive her ambulance to the Field Hospital.”
Then he pointed to Cliff, “I think this is one of the fellows from Loch Lomond who was involved in the hijacking of the Chesapeake”
As usual we didn’t know what he was talking about as he went on to say that many men from New Brunswick enlisted to serve in the Civil War in United States. Some wore the grey uniform of the southern Confederates while most fought for the North and were called Union soldiers in their blue uniforms.
Since Gramp lived quite near to John Harvey Sederquest of Cassidy Lake, I wonder if Mr. Sederquest told him about his days in the Civil War when he served with the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry Unit?
I certainly gained lots of information from reading ‘In Armageddon’s Shadow - The Civil War and Canada’s Maritime Provinces’ by Greg Marquis.
One of the very interesting chapters to me was the capture of the Chesapeake vessel and the connection of several men from Saint John and Loch Lomond area who were supporters of the Confederates - David Collins, Robert Clifford, Linus Seely, George Robinson, Gilbert Cox, Robert Cox, George Wade, Isaac Treadwell and James McKinney.
Another interesting incident was the ‘downing’ of Constable Hutt on the Halifax wharf by Dr. Almon, Alexander Keith and Dr. Peleg Wisiwell Smith to give the rescuers of George Wade, who was also involved in the Chesapeake affair, time to make their escape in a whaler.
At least 2500 residents of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland fought for the North with the Maine State regiments from 1861 to 1865.
They may have had their beliefs for being willing to risk their lives in another country and yet for some of these young men it was a chance to earn a decent wage.
War is always tragic and the Civil War was no different. Men, many of them only boys, were wounded, lost limbs, were imprisoned, were killed and those who survived lived with the memories of war. At the end of the war, some warriors stayed in the United States while others returned to Canada to raise their families. American government pensions helped a bit to overcome hardships and declining health.
William McQuinn, after service with an artillery unit, returned to Sackville to his trade as a shoemaker.
Samuel Raymond of Woodstock was captured during the Cold Harbour campaign, and after being released from the Andersonville Prison lived for fifty-four years, dying in Perth.
Greg Marquis, the author of In Armageddon’s Shadow - The Civil War and Canada’s Maritime Provinces states, “This book is about recapturing memory. For New Brunswickers, Prince Edward Islanders and Nova Scotians, the Civil War was an event of North American, not simply American significance. For nearly five years, Maritimers lived in Armageddon’s shadow and it touched many of their lives deeply.” This 1998 publication of nearly four hundred pages is available in several research institutions in New Brunswick.
The memories surrounding the life of one Civil War Veteran will be recaptured on Saturday, October 23, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. when members of the Maritime Civil War Living History Association will hold a grave side memorial service for John Harvey Sederquest at the former Sederquest family homestead at Clover Hill near Cassidy Lake, which is now part of Camp Tulakadik.
The United States Veterans Affairs has supplied a grave marker for Pvt. Sederquest who served in the Civil War with the 1st DC Cavalry from Jan 5, 1864 through to Lee's surrender and was not discharged until Oct 26, 1865. During his service he participated in many campaigns and battles and was present at Appomatox Courthouse during the Confederate surrender there. He was the son of James Sederquest and Elizabeth Pickel and his death occurred 22 May 1911 at the age of 85.
Earlier this summer, John Harvey Sederquest’s 92 year-old grandson, Louie Sederquest of Sussex, revisited the farm of his childhood. He was able to guide Terry Middleton through the woods to the location of the unmarked burial site which he had not seen for sixty years.
It is anticipated that for the ceremony on October 23 there will be several descendants in attendance from Saint John, Sussex and some even flying in from the United States.This ceremony is open to family, friends and the public.
Inquiries can be directed to Terry Middleton 849-6433, or E-mail termid@nbnet.nb.ca.
A Glimpse at the Family of John Harvey Sederquest
- Ruby M. Cusack, 2004
John Harvey Sederquest was the grandson of John Sederquest, who was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1754. He fought for the Loyalist side in the American Revolution and came to New Brunswick as a Loyalist. In 1785, he was made a Freeman of the City of Saint John with occupation as tailor. For some reason John Sederquest, the Loyalist moved to Granville, Nova Scotia and it is said he married the widow Harvey who had two sons George and Norman.
Known children of John Sederquest: James, William, John, Christinia and Catherine.
James and William Sederquest petitioned for and received land in Kings County, New Brunswick in 1815. James remained in New Brunswick but William returned to Nova Scotia.
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James Sederquest (son of John Sederquest, the Loyalist,) was married twice. First wife was Elizabeth Pickel and his second wife was Mary Wiggins. James Sederquest died in Hampton, New Brunswick. His children were: William, Elizabeth, James Henderson, Joseph, Ruth Ann, Francis, John Harvey, Sarah Catherine and George Sederquest.
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John Harvey Sederquest married Amanda Jane Emerson Keen of Maine, USA. John Harvey Sederquest fought in the Civil war. He lived with his family for several years at Cassidy Lake, Clover Hill, New Brunswick on the land granted to his father and uncle.
His children were: Ida A , James A, Mira E, Gertrude E, Harriet T, Albert E, Olivia P, Grace E, Cashes (Cassius), Lorne, Harry and Edgar E. Sederquest
.
***
On Monday, May 22nd, 1911, John Harvey Sederquest, one of the oldest and best known residents of Clover Hill passed away, aged 87 years. Mr. Sederquest was a well known farmer and is survived by his wife and a large family of adult children. The sons are James, Wakefield, Mass.; Albert, Greenwood, Mass.; Cassius, Clover Hill; Ernest, Maine; and four daughters, Mrs. Henry Chatterton, Greenwood, Mass.; Mrs. Hattie Auburn, Bartlett, N.H.; Mrs Arthur James, Quincy, Mass.; and Mrs. John A Odell, Sussex. The funeral took place on Wednesday and was largely attended. Rev. Mr. Allton officiated. Interment was in the family plot on the Sederquest homestead.
26 May 1911- Kings County Record
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Any information on the family would be appreciated. Contact dnat@ledger.cc or rmcusack@nbnet.nb.ca
Query 1216
Goodwin: Looking for information on Bulmer Goodwin, born in Hastings, Nova Scotia around 1841. He was the brother of Christopher and Stewart Goodwin. It is reported that he moved to Saint John, New Brunswick (date unknown). There is no other record of him. His parents were Samuel and Katherine (Brundage) Goodwin.
BREE MURDOCK
2 Marshview Estates Apt. 8
Truro, NS
Canada, B2N 6Z8
E-mail bree_murdock@hotmail.com or sabrinamurdock@eastlink.ca
Query 1217
Cox - King: I am seeking information on Sophia Amelia Cox, possibly born in Fredericton or Saint John. Her parents were probably John Cox (born in Kingston, Kings County) and Isabella Eliza King, who was the third daughter of John King of Fredericton. Sophia married Charles William Marter on 13 June 1846 at Trinity Church, Digby, Nova Scotia. After his death, she remarried Alexander Adams in 1863 who had a dry goods store (Kemp & Adams) in Saint John. After his death, she lived in Halifax with one of her sons. Her mother, Isabella King (Cox) married George Whitfield Hartt on 9 Oct. 1856 after the death of her first husband and records show she married a third time to Sylvester Wood. Sophia may have had a sister, Eliza Cox who married James Berton, a Barrister. I have been searching for several years, attempting to document Sophia’s parents and siblings. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
BEVERLY MARTORANO
P.O. Box 1598
Sutter Creek, CA
95685 USA
E-mail to martor@cdepot.net
Query 1218
Tripp - Ogden: Peleg Tripp, a British Empire Loyalist arrived in Saint John in 1783, supposedly with 48th and Cpt. Spragg. He founded Tripp Settlement. His wife was Jane Ogden. I am seeking information on their place and date of birth and death, parents, siblings, descendants as well as any other family stories.
ANN TRIPP KEY
3790 Canvasback Ct.
Marietta, GA
30062, USA
E-mail Key.g@comcast.net
Query 1219
Dobson – Price: I am trying to locate information on the ancestors of Samuel Leggett Dobson and his wife Sarah Price of Havelock, New Brunswick. The names of their children were Myrtle Dobson - 1882, Ernest Allen Dobson -1887, Irvine Dobson and Samuel Dobson.
SHERYL SIKET
2318 Butterfly Palm Drive
Naples, Florida
34119, USA
E-mail asiket@swfla.rr.com
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Ruby M. Cusack is a genealogy buff living in New Brunswick, Canada. Send your New Brunswick genealogical queries to her at: rmcusack@nbnet.nb.ca. Include your name and mailing address for the benefit of the readers of the newspaper who do not have access to E-mail but could have information to share with you. Please put "Yesteryear" followed by the surnames in your query. For more information on submitting queries, visit http://www.rubycusack.com/Query-Instructions.html