1785-1885
Nashwaak Families
I
couldn’t figure out the reason for Gramp and Dad building a
bonfire on the sandbar by the brook. It was too late in the season to
be burning grass and too early to be thinking of roasting wieners.
Mum really added to our bewilderment when she asked us to take the
black cast iron frying pans and griddles down to where the fire was
burning. Although this was housecleaning days, Mum was not one to throw
anything away.
Things became more confusing when Dad placed the pans in the middle of
the fire. When they turned red, Gramp put on heavy leather gloves and
with a long poker pulled them out. He waited a few minutes, took the
largest frying pan, kept turning it, while rubbing with dry beach
gravel. When it cooled, he covered it with lard.
After the treatment was done to each one, we were sure surprised at the
results. Mum now had “like new” grey cast iron cookware.
I wonder if the Sutherland children on the Nashwaak watched the
cleaning and curing of the cast iron cooking utensils? Their father
John Sutherland was born in White Chapel, England, served in the 42nd
Highland Regiment during the American Revolutionary War and in 1783
landed in Saint John with the disbanded regiment. He received land in
the Dugald Campbell grant on the Nashwaak River and died there in 1822.
His wife was Abigail Sewell, daughter of Dominicus Sewell and Sarah
Thorndike of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. In 1838 she applied to the Old
Soldiers’ Pension for relief as she was 63 years old and very infirm
and unable to support herself. Her son had died the previous Fall and
the only son living had a family of his own to support.
There are more details on the Sutherlands in the publication “1785 -
1985 Nashwaak Families” that was published in the 1980's by the
Nashwaak Bicentennial Association. In fact, the 219 page book is filled
with biographical information on the many families who called this area
“home”.
Solomon Whitlock was born at Danbury, Connecticut and served with the
New Jersey Volunteers. He settled at Penniac. His second wife was Mary
Horton, the widow of John Horton.
Charles Galen was born in Ireland. He was married in 1846 to Sataria
Jane, the daughter of James McNeil and Jane Sullivan. Their son,
Charles Jr. married Ann Sweeney.
Marven Dunphy and family moved to the Nashwaak area in 1877 on land
formerly owned by William Manzer.
Angus MacBean was born in Inverness, Scotland. His wife was Mary
Church. One of his sons married Isobel MacLaggan, the daughter of
Margaret and Cpl. Peter MacLaggan.
James Robert Somerville, son of John Somerville and Elizabeth Thompson
was born in Musquash. In 1871, he married Mary Elizabeth Carrigan. They
settled in Zionville.
Rev. John Magee, a Baptist Minister, chose Elizabeth Peters as his
wife.
The eight pages of photos, give faces to the early settlers.
If you have roots to the Nashwaak, the “1785-1885
Nashwaak Families”
book is an excellent starting point. It is available at several
libraries in New Brunswick.
***
Hampton
- Upham - St. Martins Railway: I
am seeking information on the Hampton - Upham - St. Martins Railway
that
was commenced in 1871 and ended in 1940. I would like to have pictures
of the train, trestles, crew and passengers as well as newspaper
clippings with accounts of
events of any nature and personal memories. Material will be copied and
returned. A publication is being considered. Contact Ruby M. Cusack at rmcusack@nbnet.nb.ca
Query 1471
O’Blenis: Seeking
information on John O’Blenis, Loyalist whose New York
land was confiscated. He received a land grant in 1785 in New
Brunswick. Also need information on his wife’s Travis line.
VERNA
E-mail verna2k5@shaw.ca
Query 1472 removed
Query 1473
Morton - Babbit: Samuel
Morton married Miss Babbit in the Gagetown area
of New Brunswick circa 1796. She may have died about 1810 and could be
buried in a cemetery there. What is the connection to Samuel
Morton, son of Elkanah Morton, born Cornwallis, Nova Scotia in 1767 and
died 1812 and possibly buried in the cemetery at Chipman's Corner, near
Kentville, Nova Scotia?
JIM MORTON
209 Northcliff Avenue
Beaconsfield, Quebec
Canada, H9W 6C3
E-mail jnmrtn@sympatico.ca
Revised
queries
Jones -
Wheatley - Biscoe: Caleb
Jones born abt. 1743 in Baltimore, MD. He married Elizabeth
Wheatley on
Feb. 11, 1773, in Coventry Parish, Somerset Co., MD. While being a
Captain in the Maryland Loyalists, he kept an "Orderly Book" which was
later found and published. I would like to find a copy of this book.
Only 250 were printed in 1891. He was on the ship Martha when it was
shipwrecked on its way to Canada. He received 900 acres, within his
regimental block at Nashwaak, York County, N.B., in 1784. In 1786,
he
took up farming in N.B. His children: Thomas born 1775 in
Maryland and
Mary Belle (my ancestor) born 1787 at St. Mary's, N.B. There are 12
years between these two children. Were there more
children? Caleb died
21 Dec 1816 in St. Mary's, York, N.B. Elizabeth died Feb. 14,
1812, in
Douglas, N.B. I would like to find out where they are buried.
Caleb's
parents were William Jones d. 1759 Somerset, MD and Ann
Biscoe d.
1794. If anyone knows anything about Capt. Jones and his
family please
contact me.
Green -
Yerxa - Sisson - White:
Barbara Green was born in 1780 or 1781, possibly in New York. She
married Abraham Yerxa on July 10, 1796, in Queensbury, York County,
N.B. I descend from their son Daniel Yerxa, who was born in 1797 at
Douglas, N.B. He married Hulda Sisson. Barbara may have been the
daughter of Henry Green, who was the son of Elizabeth Green of Cortland
Manor, N.Y. Henry Green may have had a dau. Elizabeth (Betsey),
who
married Jacob White, the son of loyalist Thomas White, who served in
the New York Volunteers. They were granted land on Madame Keswick.
Abraham Yerxa's parents, John and Catherine Yerxa, were witnesses to
Thomas White's will in 1796. Henry Green was given settlement on lot 85
of the West bank of Madame Keswick in 1788. Barbara Green died Nov. 10,
1857, in Keswick, N.B. Her husband, Abraham Yerxa, died Sept.10, 1857,
also in Keswick. He is buried in the Keswick Cemetery. I would like to
know when and where Barbara was born, died and is buried. If
anyone
knows anything about Barbara Green or her parents, please contact
me.
I know very little about Abraham and Barbara (Green)
Yerxa's children
and would like to know more.
Yerxa - Miles - Pickard:
Gabriel Yerxa born abt. 1829 Douglas, N.B. and
Martha Pickard born abt.
1831 Douglas, married 25 Oct 1854 York Co., N.B. They had the
following children: Gabriella b. 1856, Charles E. b. abt. 1857,
Phebe b. abt. 1859, Mildred b. abt. 1861, Mary
b. abt. 1862, John b. 28
Jun 1868, Miles b. Mar 1869 and Attred b. 1874. I would like to
know
when Gabriel and Martha (Pickard) Yerxa died and where they are buried.
I would like to know more about their children. Gabriella
(my
ancestor) married Charles Abraham Miles b. 1846 in Stanley.
They were
married 1875 in York Co., N.B. Charles A. Miles was a
postmaster,
teacher and accountant. I have a copy of a couple of pictures of his
students and one of the girls is supposed to be Gabriella. Would anyone
know which one she is? If anyone knows anything about this family,
please contact me.
McKeen - Miles - Yerxa: Jacob
McKeen was born 5 Sep 1794 in New Brunswick, Canada. He died 10
Aug
1787 in N.B. He married Jemima born about 1822
in N.B. She died after
1891 in N.B. I would like to find out what Jemima's maiden name
is and
who her parents are. Plus any other information on her and her
family. Jacob and Jemima McKeen had the following
children: Hetty A.
McKeen born 8 Nov 1823 in Douglas, N.B. She married Elijah
Miles.
Abraham McKeen b. 1823 in N.B. He married Martha Yerxa.
William
McKeen b. 1828 in N.B. He married Nann C. ----.
