My relationship: Me > Norma Haynes (mother) > Thomas N. Haynes (grandfather) > Annie Vessie McNeil (my great grandmother) > Matthew McNeil (My great great grandfather)
Matthew McNeil was the son of John McNeil (or McNeal) and Elizabeth McLearn (or McLennan). He was born in the Douglas Township of Hants County, Nova Scotia on 7 November 1795. He married Hannah Lutches Blois (daughter of early settlers Abraham Blois and Sarah Margaret Kilcup) on 8 December 1823 in Douglas Township. They had six children: John (1824 - 1885), Lydia Jane (1826 - 1902), Lavina (1829 - 1905), Hugh (1830 - 1910), Twins Olive (1832 - ) and Oliver (1832 - 1911), and Annie Vessie McNeil (1836 - 1913) who was my great grandmother.
Hannah died at the young age of 32 (when Annie was almost 2 years old) and was buried in the Gore at the Blois family cemetery. After Hannah died in 1838, the family was broken up and Matthew moved away. I presume Annie stayed in Hants County, probably brought up by relatives, as she married Robert Hanes on December 4, 1860 in Kennetcook, Hants County.
Matthew married again (Bertha, born in New Brunswick) and lived the rest of his life in Clements, Annapolis County and Bear River, Digby County, Nova Scotia and was buried there. He had two children with Bertha: Margaret (1859 - 1947) and Willie (1861 - ). There is no record of Matthew in the 1881 Canada census, or of Bertha or son Willie.
Matthew's occupation was listed as a shoemaker in the 1871 census and in the marriage record of his daughter, Margaret McNeil, who married James Winchester on July 9, 1878 in Hillsburgh, Digby County.
Showing posts with label McLearn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label McLearn. Show all posts
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Rosella (Rose Ellen) Hennigar Laffin (1859-1930)
My relationship: Me > Norma Haynes (mother) > Lillian Laffin (mother) > Rosella Hennigar (mother) - my great grandmother
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
John McNeil (1736 - 1831)
John McNeil
My relationship: Me > Norma Haynes > Thomas Haynes > Annie McNeil > Matthew McNeil > John McNeil
John McNeil (McNeal) was born on 10 October 1766. He was of Scottish ancestry.
In the Revolutionary War, he was in the 1st Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 84th Regiment of Great Britain and listed as a Drummer under the command of Col. John Small. They mainly saw action in the Atlantic Canadian provinces, the Carolinas and Georgia.
The company was disbanded in October, 1783 at Windsor, Nova Scotia. Many of the Battalion members became the original settlers of the Douglas and Rawdon townships in Hants County. John and Hector McNeil (possibly a brother) were granted 500 acres in Douglas.
The Commissioner's Report of 1800 listed 500 acres at Nine Mile River belonging to John McNeil.. This land had a house and barn. Twenty acres had been cleared and the stock consisted of 1 horse, 4 cattle, and 10 sheep.
John married Elizabeth McLearn (born 2 November 1769) on 1 January 1789. They had eleven children - eight boys and three girls. Matthew McNeil (my great great grandfather) was born the third child and second son on 7 November 1795.
John died on June 25, 1831 in Douglas. His will was dated 2 days earlier on June 23, 1831 and the inventory of the estate was taken on August 29, 1831.
Abstract of will:
I, John McNeill, of Douglas, county of Hants do will and bequeath:
1) to my son James, the homestead farm with all my stock to be his forever with certain restrictions.
2) to my son John, if he should return home, the land west of the land now sold to Peter McDonald; and if my son should not return, then that property to the posterity of my son James.
3) to my loving wife Elizabeth, one end of my dwelling house with fireplace, and that my son James is to give her two cows and four sheep and to winter and pasture them for her and she is to have their increase, their use and benefit; to always have sufficient wood for her fireplace and to have water brought to her; to have the privileges of keeping a goose and fowls and also a pig; to have ten bushels of potatoes and five bushels of oats annually to feed them with; and my son James is at all times to provide mother with the provisions for the necessities of her maintenance during her natural life; and that my son James not sell, mortgage or convey his said estate during his mother's natural life; and if my son James should die without a lawful heir of his body, his part of the estate is to be sold and equally divided among his brothers and sisters after his mother's death.
4) to my daughter Eleanor, twenty shillings to buy her a gown to be paid by my son James.
5) to my daughter Ann, five pounds to be paid by my son James.
6) to my daughter Catharine, five pounds or one cow to be paid by James my son.
7) to my son Mathew, five pounds to be actually paid by my son James towards the Grant of his land.
8) to my sons William, Alexander, Daniel and Hugh, five shillings each to be their full share and portion of my property forever.
I do ordain and constitute my beloved wife Elizabeth to be my executrix and my beloved son James and my friend Alexander McPhee to be my true and lawful executors.
Will dated 23 June 1831.
Inventory of estate - Total value: 392 pounds, 16 shillings, 6 pence.
Included:
Farm and crops - 300 pounds.
1 pair oxen
Steer, cows and calves
1 old mare
14 sheep, 11 lambs
7 hogs and 9 small pigs
Cartwheels, harrow, dung fork, pitch fork, 2 old axes
Crockery, pots, shovel and tongs
3 tables, 5 chairs, beds
Books
My relationship: Me > Norma Haynes > Thomas Haynes > Annie McNeil > Matthew McNeil > John McNeil
John McNeil (McNeal) was born on 10 October 1766. He was of Scottish ancestry.
In the Revolutionary War, he was in the 1st Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 84th Regiment of Great Britain and listed as a Drummer under the command of Col. John Small. They mainly saw action in the Atlantic Canadian provinces, the Carolinas and Georgia.
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| (Image courtesy of British Drums and Colours) |
The company was disbanded in October, 1783 at Windsor, Nova Scotia. Many of the Battalion members became the original settlers of the Douglas and Rawdon townships in Hants County. John and Hector McNeil (possibly a brother) were granted 500 acres in Douglas.
The Commissioner's Report of 1800 listed 500 acres at Nine Mile River belonging to John McNeil.. This land had a house and barn. Twenty acres had been cleared and the stock consisted of 1 horse, 4 cattle, and 10 sheep.
John married Elizabeth McLearn (born 2 November 1769) on 1 January 1789. They had eleven children - eight boys and three girls. Matthew McNeil (my great great grandfather) was born the third child and second son on 7 November 1795.
John died on June 25, 1831 in Douglas. His will was dated 2 days earlier on June 23, 1831 and the inventory of the estate was taken on August 29, 1831.
Abstract of will:
I, John McNeill, of Douglas, county of Hants do will and bequeath:
1) to my son James, the homestead farm with all my stock to be his forever with certain restrictions.
2) to my son John, if he should return home, the land west of the land now sold to Peter McDonald; and if my son should not return, then that property to the posterity of my son James.
3) to my loving wife Elizabeth, one end of my dwelling house with fireplace, and that my son James is to give her two cows and four sheep and to winter and pasture them for her and she is to have their increase, their use and benefit; to always have sufficient wood for her fireplace and to have water brought to her; to have the privileges of keeping a goose and fowls and also a pig; to have ten bushels of potatoes and five bushels of oats annually to feed them with; and my son James is at all times to provide mother with the provisions for the necessities of her maintenance during her natural life; and that my son James not sell, mortgage or convey his said estate during his mother's natural life; and if my son James should die without a lawful heir of his body, his part of the estate is to be sold and equally divided among his brothers and sisters after his mother's death.
4) to my daughter Eleanor, twenty shillings to buy her a gown to be paid by my son James.
5) to my daughter Ann, five pounds to be paid by my son James.
6) to my daughter Catharine, five pounds or one cow to be paid by James my son.
7) to my son Mathew, five pounds to be actually paid by my son James towards the Grant of his land.
8) to my sons William, Alexander, Daniel and Hugh, five shillings each to be their full share and portion of my property forever.
I do ordain and constitute my beloved wife Elizabeth to be my executrix and my beloved son James and my friend Alexander McPhee to be my true and lawful executors.
Will dated 23 June 1831.
Inventory of estate - Total value: 392 pounds, 16 shillings, 6 pence.
Included:
Farm and crops - 300 pounds.
1 pair oxen
Steer, cows and calves
1 old mare
14 sheep, 11 lambs
7 hogs and 9 small pigs
Cartwheels, harrow, dung fork, pitch fork, 2 old axes
Crockery, pots, shovel and tongs
3 tables, 5 chairs, beds
Books
Comments: Many of my Nova Scotia ancestors were British Loyalists and fought for the Crown in the Revolutionary War. After the British defeat they were rewarded with land grants in Hants County, Nova Scotia.
John McNeil had a large family and appeared to have been a successful farmer in this primitive area. I especially like item # 3 above in his will outlining his bequests to his wife, Elizabeth.
John McNeil had a large family and appeared to have been a successful farmer in this primitive area. I especially like item # 3 above in his will outlining his bequests to his wife, Elizabeth.
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