What an honour . . . or was it?
Were your ancestors freemen of the City of Saint John?
Years ago, I was going through index cards searching for information on the Cusack family. I found reference to William, James and Timothy Cusack being made freemen of the City of Saint John. This certainly was a thrilling piece of news to me.As I rode the bus home, I was smiling from ear to ear. My husband was never going to believe this!
I cooked supper, anxiously waiting for him to arrive. When I heard his car in the driveway, I rushed to meet him, with the exciting information of his ancestors.
During supper we discussed the possibilities of what important positions they had held to be given this great honour. As the weeks progressed, we told and retold the relatives about their three prestigious ancestors being made freemen of the City of Saint John.
Facts have a way of breaking our bubbles. Imagine my surprise, when I found out that William Cusack had paid money to obtain a freeman's certificate that classified him as a cartman in the City of Saint John. James and Timothy paid for a certificate to be draymen.
If you are interested on more information on this topic, I suggest you read the book "Saint John, The Making of a Colonial Urban Community" by T.W. Acheson.
For family history researchers, the thrill of finding lists of names is akin to that felt by kids in a candy store.
The "Register of Voters for the Purpose of the Elections of Mayor, Aldermen, Councillors and Constables of the City of Saint John" gives hundreds of names.
The list was prepared by the common clerk of the city, from the records of the "City Freemen" and from the last "General Assessment List Files" in the common clerk's office. The city freemen records include the years 1785 until 1861.
Two other great lists of names are published in "A Schedule of Real Estate on the Western Side of the Harbour and in the Parish of Lancaster belonging to the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Saint John with a statement of the Annual Income and at present arising therefrom. Prepared by order of the Common Council September 1860," and "A Schedule of Real Estate on the Eastern Side of Harbour, belonging to the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty, of the City of Saint John, with a statement of the Annual Income, at present arising therefrom. Prepared by Thomas Coram, Land Agent. Published by order of the Common Council, August 16, 1861."
These lists are available for viewing at the Library and Archives of the New Brunswick Museum, Douglas Avenue.
- Query 98-399
McIllwraith - Hamilton: William McIlwraith came to Charlo when he was about 6 years old. He settled on Heron Island, Restigouche County. He may have been born about 1834, possibly in Paisley, Scotland. He married Isabella Hamilton. They had three sons: John; William and Peter. The daughters were Agness and Mary. William died between 1900 and 1910 in Dalhousie and is buried in Balmoral. I am seeking information on his parents.
Mowat McIlwraith, 9930 153 St., Edmonton, Alta., T5P 2A9. Or E-mail to mowat@telusplanet.net.
- Query 98-400
Howe - Dunlap - Greer: I am looking for information on the ancestors of John Howe and his wife Esther of Springfield Parish, Kings Co. I would also like to know about the ancestors of James Dunlap and the Greer family, who lived in St. John County.
- P. Richardson, 288 Marshall Hill Rd., Wards Creek, N.B., E4E 4M9. Or E-mail to rich_pat@hotmail.com.
- Query 98-401
Murray - Ingledew: I am searching for the family of Ottis Small Murray born in Scotland in 1848 and his wife Susannah Ingledew, who was born in New Brunswick in 1861. They lived in Queens County, Parish of Johnston in New Brunswick. They had several children. Their names are: Sarah, Sadie, Otty, John, Fredrick, William, Margaret and Margaret.
Brenda Williams, 718 Old San Francisco Rd. #127, Sunnyvale, CA, 94086. Phone (408) 530-9448 or E-mail to brendaw51@aol.com.
- Query 98-402
Smith - Ward - Lingley: I am looking for descendants of Bliss Smith (1880-1940) of Saint John. He and his wife Lena (Ward) Smith had daughters Jean and Marjorie. One of the daughters may have married a Lingley. Any help would be appreciated.
Bruce Estabrooks, 49 Ellesmere Dr., Moncton, N.B., E1C 9L6. Or E-mail to bestabro@nb.sympatico.ca.
- Query 98-403
Howe - Silliker: My Grandfather, Cyril G. Howe (1905-1988), lived at Nerepis, Kings Co. He was the son of John T. Howe (1882-1959). I am seeking information on the Howe family as well as the Silliker family of the Miramichi area.
Eric Howe, 20 Richardson Dr., Fall River, N.S., B2T 1E7. Or E-mail to ehowe@ns.sympatico.ca.
- Query 98-404
Chesley: My great-grandfather, Orlando Warwick Chesley, was born in Saint John. He later moved to Wilmot in the Annapolis Valley, N.S., where he had two sons: Harold R. Chesley (my Grandfather) and Ronald. Orlando Chesley died in Nova Scotia, but was buried in New Brunswick. I would appreciate any information on the names of the parents of Orlando Warwick Chesley. Jason Clifford Chesley, RR#2 Kingston, N.S., B0P 1R0. E-mail to jchesley@glinx.com.
- Query 98-405
Chaisson: Maxime Chaisson was born in Tignish, PEI, in 1843. He lived in St. Lous, PEI, and sometime between 1888 to 1903, he moved to Chatham. Any information would be appreciated.
Maggie Gaudette, 67 New Portland Rd., Gorham, ME, 04038-1519. E-mail to GrammieG@webtv.net.
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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