Rose Ellen Hennigar was the 5th of eight children born in Upper Kennetcook, Nova Scotia to John Anthony Hennigar and Letitia Densmore. She went by "Rosella" and was married at age 30 to Asa Laffin (age 27) on July 10, 1890 in Upper Kennetcook.
Asa was a bachelor farmer in nearby Northfield (also known as "Hennigar"). He had inherited his father's farm when he died in 1880. Asa and Rosella made their home and raised their family in Northfield. The farm consisted of 400-500 acres. The family lived in a large wooden frame house (which is no longer standing) consisting of a living room, dining room, parlor, kitchen, pantry, and one bedroom on the main floor with three bedrooms upstairs. Asa grew oats, wheat, barley, and vegetables on the farm and had a small orchard. He also had a dairy herd as well as pigs, sheep, chickens, and horses.
Rosella was described as quiet and peaceful, asking for nothing nor wanting nothing, and a good friend to everyone.
They had 7 children (6 daughters and 1 son):
Minnie Laffin (1891 - 1965), married Alfred Anthony
Nada Laffin (1892 - 1988), married William Turple
Amy Laffin (1894 - 1974), married (1) Alexander McLearn, (2) Harry McCulloch
Lillian Laffin (1895 - 1984), married Thomas Haynes
Ruby Laffin (1898 - 1986), married George Densmore
Adeline Laffin (1901 - 1901), only lived 10 days
Addison Laffin (1903 - 1982), married Evelyn McKeil
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Asa and Rosella Laffin with their children (L to R):
Ruby, Nada, Lillian, Amy, Minnie, Addison
Life on the farm for a farmer's wife is better described from this excerpt provided by the East Hants Nova Scotia Historical Society:
It seems that there is little written about the lives of women who lived on the farm. Most of the records are of the lives of their men. Yet they worked from dawn past dusk to feed, clothe and care for their families. They churned and made their own butter; gathered eggs from the hens; raised water in pails from the well, before there were pumps in the kitchen; they spun the wool, knit, darned, sewed and wove the cloth with which they made the clothing. Clothes were washed in the tub by hand and hung on the line. The stove in the kitchen, and the furnace, had to be stoked with wood frequently. Candles were made or oil lamps cleaned and filled. They picked berries and made jams, jellies, and preserves; pickled vegetables and dried fruit. Making soap was a tedious task. Most women worked in the vegetable garden, and had a flower garden also. She fed the hens, ducks and geese and assisted in many farm chores. Ten days were spent in bed following the birth of a child. Childbirth brought risks to the life of the mother and child. The families were very large. The oldest daughter(s) assisted in the raising of the younger children. Women of the neighborhood assisted those who were ill or in need. Religious faith helped them through their trials and tribulations. Rosella died at home peacefully with her daughter Minnie and Asa by her side (and Nada and Ruby downstairs) of congestive heart failure on August 27, 1930. My grandmother Lillian, living in Arlington, Virginia, was notified by Asa with a telegram. She is buried in the Anglican Church cemetery in Northfield with Asa, who died in 1947.  A tribute written by the family was published in the newspaper: |
There is someone who misses you sadly
And finds the year long since you went
There is someone who thinks of you daily
But tries to be brave and content.
So we shed a tear that is silent
And breathe a sigh of regret
For you were our dear mother and we'll remember
If all the world should forget.
Deep in our hearts you are fondly remembered
Sweet happy memories cling round your name
Fond hearts that loved you with truest affection
Always will love you in death just the same.
God saw that she was weary
The hills were hard to climb
So he closed her weary eyelids
And whispered Peace be Thine.
