Browsing big reds

 Journals of the House of Assembly of  New Brunswick  

     

 
 Just about everybody has a "to-do" list. I am no exception. And despite my efforts, my list seems to grow and grow each year:

I am going to finish my Cemetery project; I am going to organize all my research material; I am going to sort those boxes of papers; I am going to house clean; I am going to spend an entire day browsing the Journals of the House of Assembly of New Brunswick.

Organizing, sorting and housecleaning are familiar subjects. But the Journals of the House of Assembly of New Brunswick, now they're something else. Have you heard about them? Listen and I will tell you about my experience with the big red books.

While visiting the Saint John Free Public Library, I had often noticed a row of shelves lined with large red books, but they did not interest me as I knew nothing about them.

One day, my friend, Vivian, took me back to the stack and said, "Ruby, you will find answers to many of your questions in these red books."

Vivian was one of the most meticulous researchers I knew. I listened carefully as she gave me a guided tour of those volumes that began in 1810.

Some of the topics covered: Great roads and bridges; bye roads; receiver general accounts; reports of the Crown land office; treasury accounts; education including Inspector's supplementary reports; mining leases; railways and the list goes on and on.

Oh! I should tell you, the Journals of the House of Assembly of New Brunswick remind me of the old surprise candy bags we bought for a nickel. You never know what you are going to find inside the covers.

I was really surprised to find the year and the cost of building the Cusack Bridge, a list of inmates at the Lunatic Asylum, the names of the students attending the Deaf and Dumb Institute and a petition for extending the road from the Kilpatrick's property at Upham to Salt Springs.

You can view these Journals at the Saint John Free Public Library at Market Square or at the library and archives of the New Brunswick Museum on Douglas Avenue.

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Query 98-326
Mofford - O'beline: I'm searching my family roots for Mofford, specifically my grandparents, Cuathbert Lawrence Mofford and Mary O'beline. They lived in East Saint John from about 1933 to 1966. Cuathbert Mofford was very active in politics (he ran for the CCF in 1930s) and served as president of the Credit Union. He attended the Roman Catholic Church and was one-time president of the Red Chevron Club (First World War veterans). I am hoping someone can give me information, such as pictures, newspaper clippings or stories on my grandparents for my family tree. My Web page is www.geocities.com/~glenalan.
- Glen Mofford, 411-1791 Rockland Ave., Victoria, B.C., V8S 1X1. Or E-mail to loriglen@netcom.ca.
 

Query 98-327
Armstrong: I am researching a branch of Armstrongs that is supposed to have come from Ennenskillen, Northern Ireland, around the 1850s. There were four brothers: Christopher, Robert, Edward and John. Christopher was supposed to have left Saint John and gone to Baltimore to become the editor of a newspaper. Robert and Edward built houses side by side in Saint John. John went to Ontario, but no one heard from him. If anyone has information on any of these brothers I would greatly appreciate it.
- Charlene H Chadband, 228 Wimberly Dr., Trussville, AL, 35173. Or E-mail to Char897@aol.com.
 

Query 98-328
Simpson: I am seeking information on John Simpson, who was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He was a former pupil of Robert Gordon's Hospital, Aberdeen. In the early to the mid 1800s, he was the editor of the St. John Gazette.
- Rod Richmond, Robert Gordon's College, Schoolhill, Aberdeen, AB10 1FE, Scotland. Or E-mail to rod@rgc.Aberdeen.sch.uk.
 

Query 98-329
Sailing Schedule - Laughy: Was there a regular sailing schedule for passengers between Saint John, New Brunswick, and the ports of Maine? Recently, I located my grandfather's, John Patrick Laughy, Declaration of Intention paper in Wisconsin. It stated that he emigrated from New Brunswick and landed at the port of Bangor, Me., in April, 1888. Also, the Declaration of Intention paper for his brother, William Forrest Laughy, stated that he emigrated from New Brunswick and landed 1890 at the port of Portland, Me. Any information regarding the passenger schedule will be greatly appreciated.
- LaVonne Geesey, 13041 N. Ajo Lilly Place Marana, Arizona  85658-4052  USA  E-mail to gdavid1336@msn.com
 

Query 98-330
Hickey - Bradford: I would like information about the ancestors and family of Mary Emma Hickey. She was born in 1856 in St. George. She married Benjamin F. Bradford in 1875 and she died in 1899.
- Pat Richardson, 288 Marshall Hill Rd., Wards Creek, N.B., E4E 4M9. Or E-mail to reconley @nbnet.nb.ca.
 

Query 98-331
Harrison - Scarborough: I am interested in gaining information on William Primrose Harrison. His birthplace was Calais, Me., on March 20, 1841. He married Basheba (Bathsheba) Scarborough in Saint John, N.B., in 1841. Any information on the Harrison and Scarborough families would be appreciated.
- Ann M. Glover, P.O.Box 361, Cameron Park, CA, 95682. Or E-Mail to gtlost@pacbell.net.
 

Query 98-332
Patterson - McDougall - Trites - Steeves: I am interested in the families of Patterson of Turtle Creek, Albert County and Dryden, McDougall, Trites and Steeves of Moncton, N.B.
- Donald Wayne Patterson. E-mail to jetrecords@sympatico.ca.

Ruby Cusack is a genealogy buff living in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Readers are invited to send their New Brunswick genealogical queries to Ruby at rmcusack@nbnet.nb.ca. When E-Mailing please put Yesteryear Families in the Subject line. Please include in the query, your name and postal address as someone reading the newspaper, may have information to share with you but not have access to E-mail. Queries should be no more than 45 words in length.

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