Big day for the Canadian Flag!

“How often I have felt my spirits rise when I have seen Canadian students travelling abroad, identifying themselves by wearing the Canadian Flag on their cars, bicycles, and packsacks.  It showed their confidence in themselves and in their country.  The maple leaf forever!”
Dr. George F. G. Stanley, 24 December 1994

This week, my middle school child reminded me that the Canadian flag is celebrating a milestone this year.  It was at noon on 15 February 1965 that the red ensign was lowered on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and the new Canadian flag hoisted.  Our fabulous flag turns 50 today!

Designed by Dr. George F. G. Stanley, Canada’s House of Commons approved the maple leaf flag on the 15 December 1964 and it was quickly followed by Queen Elizabeth’s approval on Christmas Eve.  Dr. Stanley was born in 1907 in Calgary and after a distinguished academic career, retired in Sackville, New Brunswick where he had been working at Mount Allison University.  Stanley served as New Brunswick’s Lieutenant Governor from 1982 until 1987.  He and his wife were Life Members of the York Sunbury Historical Society and regularly attended society lectures and events at the museum.

To learn more about our flag, check out this YouTube video by Canada’s History.

Seeking Information about Samuel Yorke and Family of Sunbury County

The Fredericton Region Museum office is seeking assistance with a research enquiry received yesterday.

“Dear York Sunbury Historical Society,
I am researching my ancestors who settled in Sunbury, New Brunswick in the mid to late 1700’s.  My 4th Great Grandfather is James Yorke who married Lucy Nevers.  She was born in Feb 15, 1766 in Sunbury and is the first child of Samuel and Ann Nevers.  I am trying to find birth or baptism records, marriage records, land records, etc. for my 4th Great Grandmother and their children.  More specifically, their son Samuel Yorke who is my 3rd Great Grandfather.  Does your museum have any of these names in their archives?  If not, could you direct me to someone who could help me with my research?

Kindest regards,
Patricia”

Any help with Patricia’s questions would be greatly appreciated.  Please leave your answers in the comments below!

References found in the York Sunbury Historical Society MC300 Finding Aid
These records belong to the York Sunbury Historical Society and are stored in the Provincial Archives storage facility. Copies of records can be obtained by contacting the New Brunswick Provincial Archives.

References to “Nevers”
MC300 MS5 Burpee Family Papers #46, Letter from Samuel Nevers to Charles Burpee asking to have the lighthouse position occasioned by the death of James K. Hazen; Burton, February 16, 1878.

MC300 MS12 Benjamin Atherton Records #5, Invoice of goods sent to Benjamin Atherton via Jabez Nevers from Simonds & White; October 21, 1774.

No references to “Yorke” were found.

Seeking Information About the Caretakers for Rookwood House

P4-2-59 Odell House, Rookwood – Fredericton

Ms Murgatroyd,
I am seeking information about the caretakers for Rookwood House, which was the name given to their estate by the Odell family.

I believe that a family relative, Ann Foley, AKA Mrs. James Abram(s), was caretaker there around 1896. Her husband had died in 1889, at the age of 61, but I do not know how old Ann was at any particular point in time, but if she was born in the same year as he, she would definitely be on in years in 1896. I suspect that she was younger. I am seeking any information on her personally.

I am also seeking information on the role of caretaker for the house. She was given a cottage separate from the family dwelling, so she may possibly have been head of a number of servants, but that is only guesswork.

Around 1896, Mrs Abrams brought to Fredericton a ‘niece’, by the name of Anna Marie Lillian Keating of Charlestown (Boston), who was a ten-year-old orphan. She was given away in marriage to Matt Malone in 1911 by G.A. Lannigan, as recorded in the press in 1911.  Might you have any record of her?

Matthew Malone was a local manager at the Yerxa Grocery Co. which may have been the Xerxa & Yerxa on Queen Street. Do you have any information on this grocery company? They later sent him to Woodstock, perhaps to start a branch there.

Thank you for any help in this.
Walter Hughes

Any help with Walter’s questions would be greatly appreciated.  Please leave your answers in the comments below!

P4-2-18 Caretaker’s cottage (early Acadian), Rookwood – Fredericton

From Our Collection: Wedding Invitation

Juge John Campbell Allen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Managing a large collection can be an overwhelming job.  At the Fredericton Region Museum, we are fortunate to have had several amazing summer students and volunteers over the years.  Our volunteer, Brian, has been working with our archival collection now for a few years and he has done an incredible job organizing it and unearthing many treasures.

Last week, he dropped by the office with a several items that need to be researched.  I don’t have a lot of time to do the research, though I would dearly love a chance to work on it, so I told him that I would try to tackle a file a week and see if I can do to improve the provenance of the files.

Item number one on my list is a wedding invitation donated in 1973 by a Miss Malloy.

Wedding Invitation (1973.7.1)

Transcription:

Sir John & Lady Allen
request the pleasure of your
company at the marriage of
Mrs. John Allen
To Mr. Hedleigh E. Bond
On Wednesday the 20^th August
At twelve o’clock
Christ Church Cathedral
Fredericton

Reception at
“The Willow”, 292 King Street
Immediately after the ceremony
R.S.V.P.

A quick search in the Daniel F Johnson’s New Brunswick Newspaper Vital Statistics database found on the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick website gave me a date for the wedding.  Note that “Hedleigh” is spelled “Hedley”.

Daniel F. Johnson : Volume 75 Number 2940
Date:  August 20 1890
County:  York
Place:  Fredericton
Newspaper:  The Gleaner
The wedding of Hedley E. BOND, Toronto to Mrs. Nellie ALLEN daughter-in-law of Sir John C. ALLEN, Chief Justice, took place at the Cathedral this morn at 12 o’clock.  The Rev. the Metropolitan of Canada officiated, assisted by Rev. Alexander, sub-dean. The bride was assisted by Miss Maggie ALLEN. Fred St. John BLISS was groomsman.  (see original for names of guests)

It was interesting to notice that this was Nellie’s second marriage and it looks like her in-laws looked after the wedding.  Where was Nellie’s family?  I scrolled a little further and found another mention of Nellie in the newspaper two years later.

Daniel F. Johnson : Volume 82 Number 300
Date:  July 13 1892
County:  York
Place:  Fredericton
Newspaper:  New Brunswick Reporter and Fredericton Advertiser
Death has removed, Richard ESTEY, Sr., a resident who a quarter of a century ago was one of the foremost business men on the St. John river. He died at the Regent Street residence of his daughter, Mrs. Wm F. FOWLER, Sunday morn. 5 o’clock. Deceased had been in poor health for some time past. Mr. Estey was born at Douglas (York Co.) in 1810. He at one time carried on an extensive lumber and milling business at what is now known as Victoria Mills, two miles below the city. About twenty years ago he retired from business and has since resided on his farm and in the city. Deceased was twice married. By his first wife he had a large family, who, with the exception of his eldest son, survive him. They are Richard A. ESTEY, Mrs. Wm FOWLER, Mrs. David HATT of Fredericton, Lemuel ESTEY of Grand Falls (Victoria Co.), Mrs. E.E. PHAIR, Nelson, B.C. and Mrs. Hedley V. BOND, Toronto. His second wife, a sister of Ald. BLIZZARD, St. John, survives him. Deceased was in his 82nd year. The funeral took place Monday afternoon. The exercises at the house and cemetery were conducted by Rev. Weddall, assisted by Rev. Payson. The remains were interred in the Fredericton cemetery.

I did not have a lot of luck searching the online Vital Statistics from Government Records (RS141) database for Hedleigh Bond and Nellie Estey (or Allen).

I did find a Hedleigh and Nellie in the 1891 Census of Canada in Toronto’s St. Thomas Ward (Ontario).  This would be one year after they were married and there are three children with the surname “Bond”.  Did Nellie have children with her former husband?  What happened to her first husband?  Was Hedleigh a widower?  So many questions.  I could do this for hours!

The children are Carleton (12 years), Jane (11 years) and Nellie (9 years).

Census of Canada, 1891. The “bond” family is at the bottom of the page and continues on to the next page.

Census of Canada, 1891. The “Bond” family listing continues on this page.

Nellie’s first husband was the son of Sir John Campbell Allen, descendant of Isaac Allen.  Sir John C. Allen married Margaret Austen Drury in 1845 and they had about nine children.  The Allen’s were a prominent family in New Brunswick during the 18th and 19th century.

If anyone knows more about these families and their genealogy, we would love to know more.  Please share your findings in the blog comments below.  Thank you!

How old is this flag remnant?

Lieff, the Development Manager from Science East, has been preparing the attic space in the building for an office and while cleaning found the remnant of an American flag under the floor boards. She sent me a few pictures and asked if I knew how old the flag remnant was. I’m not an expert on American flags but thought that some of our blog followers might be able to assist us.

Do you know how old this American flag is?

Another good question is, why was this flag remnant stored underneath the attic floor boards?

Leave you comments below!  Thanks!

Thank you for your feedback!

Last of its Kind Research

Got a call from Rachel yesterday ….

… she is researching about people or things or places in the Maritimes that are “Last of its Kind”. Would anyone know of anyone or anything that are the ‘last of its kind.’  This could be related to industry, agriculture, fishing, pioneer lifestyle, education etc. And although there are many wonderful working museums, it would be great to find people and places that aside from museums. She is making this broad as any ideas are welcome.

www.inthesameboatdocumentary.com
www.willowproductions.ca
Twitter – rabower

Post a comment if you have any suggestions for her!

Looking for Gladys Mary Mills ….

Birth certificate for Gladys Mary Mills

Hi everyone!  I was visited today by Peter Jones who is searching for his aunt Gladys Mary Mills.  She moved to Canada in about 1942 or 1943 and as far as we know, has not been heard from since!  Her last known home was South Hampton (England).  She was born in 1 January 1922, daughter of John Frederick Mills and Florence Mary Mills (Notley).

Peter would love to know what became of his aunt.  If you can be of any assistance, please contact him at:

54 Charlton Park Drive
Cheltenham
Gloucester
GL53 7RX
England

Please, let us know if you find her!
Cheers!
Ruth

Thomas Mowatt (1809-1892)

Entry found in Daniel F. Johnson’s New Brunswick Newspaper Vital Statistics pertaining to Thomas Mowatt.  Thanks to the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick for making this database available on-line!

Volume 85 Number 1168 
Date December 21 1892
County Saint John
Place Saint John
Newspaper The Daily Sun

Harvey (York Co.) Dec. 18 – Thomas MOWATT, who died at Harvey 13th inst., was born in the village of Ford in the North of England on May 4th, 1809 and thus in the 84th year of his age. Before emigrating to New Brunswick he was in charge of a grist mill. He joined a colony of emigrants who sailed from Berwick-on-Tweed in the “Cornelius” in May 1837 and landed in St. John in July and was located at Harvey at that time an unbroken forest. He had charge of a grist mill at Woodstock for two years, but after that he joined the pioneers at Harvey and shared with them their struggles. The 13th saw the last remains of Wm PATTERSON, sr., aged 81, laid in his last resting place. Mr. MOWATT and Mr. Patterson were fellow emigrants and lived as neighbors. Mr. MOWATT was the father of Rev. A.J. MOWATT, late of Fredericton, now stationed at Montreal.

Miss Belle Moore & George Taylor

Found this interesting story in Daniel F. Johnson’s New Brunswick Newspaper Vital Statistics.  A big thank you to the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick for making this database available on-line! 

Transcribed by Daniel F. Johnson.

Volume 98 Number 2359
Date February 19 1895
County Saint John
Place Saint John
Newspaper The Daily Telegraph

Fredericton Herald: A marriage is to be celebrated at Boston on Wednesday next under peculiar circumstances. Nearly eleven years ago Miss Belle MOORE of this city was married to George TAYLOR, employed with George A. BURKHARDT as an assistant in his photographic studio and Mr. Taylor went to the Moore residence on St. John street to live with his wife as an inmate of her mother’s household. But the couple did not agree very long, and not long after a son was born to them. Mr. Taylor went to Boston, his wife remaining with her mother. Mrs. Taylor after a time went to Calais, where she resided long enough to secure a divorce under the U.S. law and returned to Fredericton free. It will be eleven years ago nect Wednesday since the first wedding, the re-marriage being planned to celebrate the eleventh anniversary of the former event. For a number of years the parties did not correspond nor have anything to do with each other, but recently, during the past year, through the intervention of mutual friends at especially at Mr. Taylor’s request, letters have regularly passed between them, he urging another trial of matrimony. Mrs. Taylor at last consented, and if all goes well she will leave St. Mary’s, her present home, and on Wednesday husband and wife will be united. The boy, issue of the first marriage, will accompany his mother to Boston. Mr. Taylor is said to occupy a good position in Boston.

Volume 61 Number 367 
Date March 1 1884
County Saint John
Place Saint John
Newspaper The Daily Telegraph

m. At residence of bride’s mother, Fredericton (York Co.) 20th ult., by Rev. A.J. Mowatt, George M. TAYLOR / Belle MOORE third d/o late Richard MOORE, formerly of Brooklyn, New York.

Sheffield United Church

If you think you can help us please leave your comments here.  If you have any research queries that you would like posted here, let me know by filling out the form found on our website.

Question:
“Hi there,
I was wondering if someone at the museum might know details about the church´s rebuilding in 1840. (originally built c. 1775 in Maugerville). There seems to be a dearth of solid info on questions like:  why was it rebuilt ?  How closely does it resemble the 1775 church ?  Was the original structure simply remodeled, or was it built from scratch in 1840 ?  How much of the original church, if anything, got re-used in the rebuild ??

Any details would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark”

One of my board members responded with the following:
“I was put in touch with someone who had the following information.

The original church was built in Maugerville in 1775.  It could seat 500 people.  It was decided to move the building to Sheffield in 1789 (100 oxen needed).  The building deteriorated so they decided to rebuild in 1840,  salvaging what they could use from the original building.  It is not an exact replica but it does incorporate some of the original design.  It was dedicated in 1842.”

Reply from Mark:
“I guess what I was really asking was whether the Sheffield church was essentially a 1775 building that was slightly remodelled, or, an 1840 structure that merely used some fragments from the previous church. The answer to that question is of great importance to NB b/c there are only two 18th c. churches in the whole province(as far as <I know).  And it would be the only pre-Revolutionary church in the province (and one of the few extant pre-Revolutionary buildings in NB, period.). I wonder if there was ever any dendrochronology done on the church ? And I wonder just how much of the original church was used in the 1840 rendition?

I did read the book mentioned in one of your emails (John Leroux – about a year or two ago).  My memory is fading on that book but I seem to remember the author using the word remodelled when he described the church. The use of the word “remodelled” is a bit unfortunate in that the reader is still left trying to figure out what that really means – hence my questions about the crux of the church’s origins. To me, “remodelled” seems like a term used to signify relatively minor changes, and not a total rebuilding of something.

I look forward to learning more about the built heritage of NB, and >I am especially interested in any surviving pre-Loyalist heritage that still may exist. “