Queries

Summary of Research Requests – 2021

Lorilie Atkinson of North Dakota re her 3x great grandfather Francis McCutcheon (1788-1866),
Concession 7, Lot 24, Morris Township, Huron County, seeking his will. Ms Atkinson was provided with a
link to the land abstract book through OnLand and a link to the will found at Family Search.

Peg Hagan of Williston, North Dakota re her grandfather Edward Jordan Hagan (1871-1928) born in
Zurich/Hay Twp concerning her grandfather and the Jack Smith Collection in the Members Only section
of our Huron website plus other questions that fell outside of Huron County. Ms Hagan was given
information on membership, suggested contacts for the questions she had that were outside of Huron
County and finally a link to the London Free Press obituary of Jack Smith.

Robert Knight of Florida re his great grandparents William Drew & Mary Holman and Charles Knight &
Carolyn Wiltshire
and his 2X great grandparents Lewis Holman and Jane Baily/Bailey.


Nicole Nicholls of Alberta re her great grandfather John William Midwinter and his connection during
1915-1917 to a Jane McNaughton of near Kippen. Mr Midwinter was a British orphan who worked on a
McNaughton farm prior to enlisting for service in WWI. Ms Nicholls was given information on the
McNaughton families that resided in the Kippen area, contact was made to the Brucefield United Church
as there is a definite connection of Mr Midwinter and that church. No positive proof could be found as
to which McNaughton family was connected to Mr Midwinter however the most likely candidate was
the John and Susan McNaughton family from Concession 3 LRS Lot 23 McKillop Township, Huron
County.

Leo Wright re his great aunts, twin babies Alberta Ann and Victoria Marie Wright. Mr Wright was
looking for the gravesite of these babies who died in 1899 and 1900. Mr Wright had already checked
with the Town of Goderich regarding Maitland Cemetery and St Peter’s Church regarding the R.C.
Cemetery in Colborne Township. It was suggested Mr Wright could look at the digitized newspapers.

Helen Thornitt of Alberta re her ancestors W (George) Ireland and Jane Mackie and their children. The
Ireland and Mackie families were from Howick Township, Huron County. Several emails were sent to Ms
Thornitt with land abstract information, newspapers clippings, census and other documents.

Ian Pearson of Australia re his grandfather Arthur Richard Pearson, who was primarily from Middlesex
County however the family did have a connection to the Mt Carmel area of Stephen Township. Mr
Pearson was referred to the Huron County digitized newspapers and the Lake Huron Catholic Family of
Parishes – Ontario re Mt Carmel church and cemetery. Unfortunately, physical research could not be
completed at the log cabin (newspaper clippings) due to construction at the museum.

Nicole Nicholls

I am trying to identify a Jane McNaughton who lived in the Kippen area 1915-1917, and learn whether Jane was a widow or was married to John McNaughton. My gr-grandfather, John William Midwinter (b.1895), an orphan who came to Canada in 1912 through the Hamilton Children’s Home, was placed with the McNaughtons and stayed with them until he came of age, thus finishing his contract. His WWI attestation papers listed his occupation as farm labourer; records alternately identify Jane or John/Jno or James McNaughton (all listed as address Kippen ON) as his next of kin; a portion of his monthly wages was assigned to John McNaughton. J.W. Midwinter is identified on the Brucefield Church honour role, confirming that he was a member of that community. John W Midwinter was discharged in 1918 and apparently went back to the McNaughton farm (likely Lot 23 Concession 3 London Road Survey in Tuckersmith) prior to moving to Alberta in 1919. Military file, census, and newspapers have been checked. Thank you.

Blair (Blare, Bleir)

Looking for information on the family of James Blair and wife Jane (Donaldson, 1805-1883) who emigrated from Ireland with children (not in birth order) John, James, William, Samuel, and Lydia. James Blair Sr supposedly drowned about 1836 in the Maitland River at a grist mill at/near Goderich. 1842 Assessment & Population Return shows Jane Blare on Con.3 Lot 27 Goderich Twp. The Blair sons later had farms on Con.1, 2, & 3 between Goderich and Bayfield, at the Cut Line. In the late 1840s widow Jane married widower John Colwell, Con.6 Lot 31 of Goderich Township.
James Blair Jr (b.Ireland ca.1827) married Eliza Jane Peacock (b.Ontario ca.1832/35), farmed in Hullett Twp, then emigrated to Minnesota, supposedly 1866/67, definitely there by 1872.
James Blair, wife Eliza Jane, and 6 children listed in Hullett in 1861. In 1871 Mrs Jane Blair and 7 children were listed; for Jane, the M for married stroked out and W for widow inserted. Land abstracts indicate that James Blair received his deed for Con.8 Lot 22 of Hullett from the Canada Company in January 1862; in November 1862 he sold the east half to Alexr Smith and the west half to Samuel Blair. 1871 neighbours’ names indicate that Mrs. Jane Blair must have been renting/living on Con.6 or 7 about lots 20 to 23; Blair name not on land abstracts there.
Listed in Goderich Twp in 1861 & 1871: William Blair, wife Lydia and children; also Samuel Blair, wife Elizabeth and children; also John Colwell and wife Jane. John Colwell died 21 Aug 1879; Jane Colwell died 01 Feb 1883; both were buried in Maitland Cemetery, Goderich.
John Blair, sister Lydia – no further information
Resources checked: 1842 Assessment, Hermon’s 1862 map, Sutherland’s 1863 directory, 1861 census Goderich & Hullett; 1871 census Goderich & Hullett, death registrations for John and Jane Colwell, Colwell story in Goderich Township Families, Maitland Cemetery transcriptions, land abstracts for Blair farm in Hullett
Please contact Charlotte Curtis (descendant of James Blair Jr) at [email protected]

Gilpin & Milne

Researcher is looking for records re John Courtney Gilpin, sons William James Gilpin and Thomas Ridgeway Gilpin, and son-in-law David Scott Milne in Howick Township. Although the Gilpin family was listed in Howick in 1861, the Crown Patents were not issued until 1869 and 1870. Were there papers or rental agreements prior to patent issuance; if so, where would one access them? Researcher has land abstracts and Crown Patents for Howick Con.4 lot 13 and Con.5 lots 6 & 7. Also interested in any information on the ancestors of Charlotte Elizabeth Gilpin Milne who married David Scott Milne in Howick on 20 Mar 1862; Charlotte died 21 Mar 1896, buried Fordwich pioneer cemetery.
[email protected]

KELLY
Seeking information about the family of (Protestant) Robert KELLY (b.ca.1836/37 Stoneykirk, Wigtownshire, Scotland) and his wife Margaret WATTERS/WATERS (b.ca.Oct 1842/43 Scotland) who in 1869 were living on Lot 15 Con.13 of Hullett Twp. Robert died 16 Mar 1877, buried in Burns Cemetery, Hullett Twp., Huron County, Ontario. There were 5 known children, all born in Hullett: Henry/Harry Waters Kelly, William W Kelly, Mary Ellen/Helen/Nellie Kelly, George W Kelly, and Robert Warren Kelly. (1) Henry b.28 Mar 1863, married 1891 in Hullett to Agnes Brown; Henry murdered Jan 1908 in Bastrop, Louisiana, & buried there; Agnes buried in Blyth (2) William Kelly b.ca.Feb 1868/69, married 1900 in Hullett to Catherine Margaret/Maggie Ross; daughter Margaret Hilda Kelly; William still in Louisiana in 1910, by 1916 in Humbolt, Saskatchewan (3) Mary Ellen/Helen/Nellie b.ca.1870/72, married 1906 in Toronto to Joseph Chambers; son Robert John, daughter Mary Margaret; family in Winnipeg 1907 to 1916, in Qu’Appelle Saskatchewan in 1921; Mary Ellen died 1940, buried Regina (4) George W Kelly b.ca.Nov 1873/74, married ca.1907 to Alice __?__ (born Louisiana); son Robert, daughter Margaret; family lived in Franklin Parish, Louisiana (5) Robert Warren Kelly b.26 Apr 1876, married Mary Mildred/Millie Carse (later separated); in BC as CPR telegrapher by 1898; died 1917, place of death unknown, residence Armstrong BC; daughter Beryl Thelma Kelly (16 March 1898 – 28 Sept 1980) married 1920 in Enderby BC to Norman Graham Kincaid. In 1900 US census, HW Kelly, WW Kelly, & GW Kelly all living in Franklin Parish, Louisiana, and running a lumber mill. After Henry’s death, wife Agnes remained in Louisiana for a time, running a general store, before returning to Blyth. William Kelly, foreman in a planing mill, remained in Louisiana until sometime 1910-1916. George Kelly, carpenter, stayed in Louisiana; his two children remained single. Robert Kelly in BC before 1898. Margaret WATTERS/WATERS KELLY apparently went west ca.1906/07 with daughter Mary Ellen/Nellie and family, died after 1921, likely in Saskatchewan. Would very much like to know where Margaret WATTERS/WATERS KELLY is buried, what became of William & family, and any more information about Robert – when he left home, when & where he married, why he went to BC, and place of death. Please contact Janis Vodden at or at Box 492, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0.

McCULLOCH / McCULLOUGH / McCULLOUCH / McULLOCH / McKELLOCH
Seeking information on the family of William McCULLOCH b.ca.28 Mar 1800 Stoneykirk Scotland, died 19 Nov 1870, burial Egmondville Cemetery; William farmed on Lot 13 Con.7 McKillop Twp. William’s wife Jane McGINN b.ca.20 Aug 1803 Kirkmaiden, Wigtownshire, Scotland, apparently died 25 Jan 1899 in Huron County. William and Jane immigrated to Canada ca.1849 with some of their children, including son William (b.ca.1836, d.04 July 1896; buried Maitlandbank Cemetery; farmer, m.1875 Maria SAGE of Howick), and daughters Mary (b.ca.1842; m.1865 James McVITTY of Tuckersmith), Ellen (b.ca.1843; m.1860 John MURRAY of Harpurhey) & Euphemia (b.ca.1848; m.1864 George GRASSIE of Tuckersmith). Have information from 1861, 1871, & 1881 census for McKillop, 1861 census for Tuckersmith, 1891 & 1901 census for Seaforth. Please contact Kevin Brown at [email protected]

PARISH

Richard James, born Holsworthy, Devonshire, England in 1850, son of William Parish and Elizabeth Haydon who emigrated to Canada in 1852. Richard James also had 3 sisters: Mary Jane, who married George Cornish; Eliza, who married John Cornish, and Elizabeth who married Thomas Heywood in Usborne Twp., Huron County. William later remarried, to Emily Lamb: the 1871 census lists 2 sons: James, aged 10, and William, aged 8 months (b.ca. July 1870). Richard Parish married Agnes Strang, who was born in 1854, at Lumley, in Huron County. They later moved to Tilbury West, Essex County, Ontario. Richard died March 31, 1917 at 1st concession of Usborne Twp., Huron County, having moved back there 5 years previous. Seeking any information on the descendants of James and William Parish. Please contact: Mrs. Robert Farquharson, 4018 Pollard Line, R.R. 1, Tilbury, Ontario NOP 2L0 or e-mail [email protected]

POOL/POOLE

Seeking information on Mary Johnstone Wallace Poole born 1821 Castle Milk, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. George Poole born 1819 and Margaret Poole born 1828, and Helen Poole born 1812. They were the children of John Pool or Poole. They were baptized at Tundergarth, Dumfries, Scotland. There were other children: William born 1816, David born 1814, and John born 1823 (what happened to them?). Helen married William Shankland in Lockerbie, Scotland in 1831. In 1835 Helen and her husband William Shankland and their two small children John and Margaret Shankland came to Canada. Helen’s three siblings George, Mary and Margaret Poole came with them and they settled in Harwich Twp, Ont. (possibly had a 3rd child). Helen’s husband William Shankland died and she married William Mowbray of Howard Twp. August 27, 1839. They had a son William in 1840 and then Helen died in 1841. Mary Poole married James Wiley/Wylie who came to Canada in 1835 from Poyntzpass, County Down, Ireland. James and Mary settled in Tilbury West Township on Crown land. Mary died in 1875 and James in 1890. George Poole married Elizabeth __?__ and they settled in Tilbury West Twp. on Crown land. Please contact: Mrs. Robert Farquharson, 4018 Pollard Line, R.R.# 1, Tilbury, Ontario, NOP 2L0 or e-mail [email protected]

READ
Seeking information on the Charles Read family, particularly the birthplace for daughter Lydia Sophia Read (b.ca.1853, supposedly in Wawanosh or Kincardine) and the death date and place for wife Mary Sophia (Day) Read. Charles and Mary married 05 June 1843 in Bastard Twp, Leeds County. The family is recorded in 1851 census in Bastard Twp; in 1861 census in Wawanosh Twp (Huron Co); in 1863 directory in Wawanosh Twp on C.2 Lot 34; in 1867 directory in Huron Twp (Bruce Co) on C.12 Lot 4; in 1871 census in Kinloss Twp (Bruce Co); in 1881 census in Mattawan (Thunder Bay District); in 1891 census in Polling District 16 (Murillo in Algoma District, now Thunder Bay District); and in 1894 directory in Kaministiquia (24 miles west of Thunder Bay) where Charles died in 1898. Land abstracts indicate that Charles Read purchased the Wawanosh property in May 1860, sold it in Jan.1863, purchased the Huron Twp property in Apr.1863, and sold it in Apr.1868, purchased part lots 19 & 20 Range 2 SDR (South of Durham Road) Kinloss in May 1869 and sold them Sept 1871. The “et ux” notation indicates that Mary Read was still living in April 1868, but no “et ux” notation with a Mortgage in May 1869, and Charles was listed as widowed in 1871, so Mary must have died between April 1868 & May 1869. Charles Read was recorded at various times as being Baptist, Presbyterian, and Church of England. Have the info from Kinloss history book. Please contact Trudy Archie by mail at 420-2580 Langdon Street, Abbotsford BC V2T 0A9 or email [email protected] .

Old Clifford Cemetery – Researcher is looking for transcriptions or any details about the “old” Clifford Cemetery (alternate names Brown Cemetery, Methodist Cemetery), originally located within Clifford village (Wellington County) ca.1873; by 1936 the bodies had been removed and relocated to the “new” Clifford Cemetery in Howick Township (Huron County). The ancestor being researched apparently died “in Clifford” during the time when the old cemetery would have been in use; however, the name does not appear in the current Clifford Cemetery transcriptions. Interested in the name Wickens.
[email protected]

SPROUL

On page 99 of the local history book Reflections of West Wawanosh is found a picture of pioneer David SPROUL and his wife Margaret LINDSAY. I am trying to determine who provided this picture for publication in the book in the hopes there may be more pictures of the children of this couple, in particular, their son John Sproul who is a great-great-grandfather to my husband. As outlined in the history book David SPROUL (1803-1870) and Margaret Thomson LINDSAY (1808-1895) had a family of six: Caroline (1839-1919, Mrs James WALKER, then Mrs William McGRATTEN); Andrew Matthew SPROUL (1841-1913, married Agnes Nancy REID); Alexander John SPROUL (married Elizabeth ROUAT/ROUATT, then Mary WILLIAMS); Margaret SPROUL (1844-? is reported to have married a John MEYERS); Mary SPROUL (1846-1912, Mrs William KILPATRICK); and Jannet Mary “Janet” SPROUL (Abt 1845/1851-1940, Mrs Robert MITCHELL). Caroline McGratten, Matthew Sproul and Mary Kilpatrick raised their families in the Wawanosh & Ashfield Twp area of Huron County; John Sproul was a stone mason who made his home in Goderich; Janet Mitchell ended up in the Algoma District of Ontario; no information can be found regarding their sibling Margaret Meyers. John SPROUL and Elizabeth ROUAT had a family of two children: David (1869-1949, married Jennie DRENNAN and lived in the John Sproul house in Goderich) and Margaret Elizabeth (1870-1949, Mrs William John BLACK). The large (16) Black family lived in Ashfield Township. After Elizabeth Rouat died in 1871, John married Mary WILLIAMS. To this marriage there were seven more children: Mary SPROUL (1873-1959, Mrs Wallace John BLACK); William Lindsey SPROUL (1875-1956, married Alice Jane ARMSTRONG); Sarah Ann SPROUL (1878-1931, Mrs Albert MITCHELL); John SPROUL Jr (1881-?, married Millie Christine ?); Grace Elizabeth SPROUL (1883/5-1925, Mrs Henry POTTS, then Mrs Thomas CARROLL); Matthew SPROUL (1888-1957, married Mary Evelyn MONK); and Martha SPROUL (1890-1959, married Wilbert E BENGOUGH). Anyone having information or pictures of this Sproul family that they are willing to share would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Anne McIsaac at 312 Martha St, Goderich, ON N7A 4N1, or 519 524-9478, or [email protected] .

WYLIE/WILEY

James Wylie, born June 11, 1807, Poyntzpass, County Down, Northern Ireland, emigrated to Canada in 1835. James served in the militia during the Rebellion of 1837. He went to Michigan but later settled in Tilbury West Township, Essex County, Ontario. James married Mary Pool/Poole born 1821, Castle Milk, Dumfries, Scotland. Mary died in 1875 and James in 1890, leaving 6 sons and daughters: Christopher, George, John, Margaret (married Sam Palmer), Mary (married McLaren J. Thomas), and Jessie, (married James Cavanagh). George married Kalista Honsberger and they had 11 children, 2 died young. Christopher and John never married. Apparently James Wylie was related to Martha Wylie who married William English and emigrated to Kent County Ontario in 1834 from County Down Ireland. Were James and Martha brother and sister or cousins? Seeking any information on the families above. Please contact: Mrs. Robert Farquharson, 4018 Pollard Line, R.R.#1, Tilbury, Ontario, NOP 2L0 or e-mail [email protected]