Uncle Peg’s Chronicles
August 29, 2024
“Discombobulated ”
“These were their settlements. And they kept good family records.”
Don’t
forget to look for the title which is embedded in the chronicle.
FAMILY ALBUM
GRATITUDE
SUMMER BREAK
I drove to Guelph with Marc and
his father, Mike, after they finished their vacation working on Julie’s
cottage. I spent much time on the floor with Winston and Eleanor. Winston is a
very busy little boy who attends all the (imaginary) house fires with his fire
trucks, big and small, sirens blaring we-ooo-we-ooo . . . Eleanor is a happy
girl, she sits and plays with whatever toy you give her for quite some time,
but does push them beyond reach so every so often I’d gather them into her box
and she’d start again. Winston now has a trampoline in the back yard. “Jump,
Grammy, jump.” I didn’t jump too often, but I have crossed trampoline jumping
off my bucket list.
Mike took Julie and I to an
antique mall. Couldn’t help myself; I bought two things. One was an early book
by Gene Stratton Porter. I’ve given up buying old books just for the sake of
buying old books, but there are a few authors I won’t pass up. This book, “The
Song of the Cardinal,” is dated 1912 (internet query). It is not dated in my
copy. If you’d like to read it, it is digitized at https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/533/pg533-images.html The other item is a
needle case. I need to string a ribbon through it. I purchased a replica one
years ago, and now I found a real one. Who will inherit my treasures? I know
not. I found a similar needle case on Ebay for approximately $100 Canadian. It
looks cleaner than mine. It is made of bone. https://www.ebay.ca/itm/156182816964? Advice on a Government
of Canada website suggests a very simple, sparce cleaning, and leave the patina
as is. Bone is very porous and easily damaged.
I am now back at home, and back
to working on my article for Generations about Daniel. I’m also working on my
White family in the evenings. They are on my Moore side of the family, so I
won’t go into their genealogy.
MY GENEALOGY GOALS
- Chronicle
several times, and publish on Thursday morning.
- Keep
writing my next article for Generations, which is about the will of
Daniel Holmes.
- Spend
a bit of time on Moore family research: “Three Peas in a Moore Pod.”
- In
the evening, after chores are done, edit the Daniel and Charlotte family
genealogy.
- Index
old newspapers for NBGS.
- Manage
the NBGS Social Media Facebook page.
1924 to
1928
Those
are the years that our great or great-great grandparents spent renewing relationships
that had somehow fallen by the wayside but with organization, letter writing,
and challenging travel – by hook or by crook – they managed to come together
again. They reacquainted and rediscovered their family ties. And then, one by
one, they died, and many of those ties died with them.
2024 to 2028
I
feel quite discombobulated after only writing once a month. I totally forgot
the work I did on Zorobabel Holmes before my trip, which you will find in the
family history lesson at the end. I have been busy, though, and I don’t know
how I could have written weekly. I’m thinking of changing to writing every two
weeks. We shall see. I
spent some time in Guelph with my cousins, Nancy and Cynthia, on Dad’s side of
the family. Nancy’s condo is a ten-minute walk from Julie’s house. We dined in
(Nancy’s husband loves to cook, yum) and out. We visited a used book store in
downtown Guelph that I hadn’t been to before, and yes, sigh, I did buy a few
books to stuff into my suitcase. We watched the Downton Abbey movie where the
dowager died. I
don’t travel often as some of you do, but I do enjoy it. I also enjoy returning
home to my routine. I think reconnecting with cousins is a great thing to do,
and I often think about our ancestors getting together in the 1920s. The
challenges of planning are as difficult as herding a bunch of cats, Karl told
me. Yes, they are. The rewards of reconnecting are worth it though, at least to
me. That first gathering in Lincoln, Maine, in 1924: how exciting that must
have been. Can you imagine the chatter and catching up around the table? The
modest bathing suits they wore as they swam in the lake? The children playing?
It was probably no different than a reunion nowadays – just looked a bit
different. Photo is
courtesy of Elizabeth Steeves and it’s of one of the camps on the Mattanawcook
in Lincoln. Not sure if they are all our family, but the scenery would be
typical of the place and era, and the activity one they enjoyed. I wish I could
go briefly back in time, don’t you?
MUM’S MEMOIRS
I
remember Uncle George & Aunt Jewel on one visit when he would come to the
table he always wore his hat. He did it on purpose. He would take it off after
we were all seated, spin it around on his finger several times & let it go
& hang on a hook by the kitchen window. Bryce was in awe & wanted to do
it so badly. I don’t think he ever conquered it. His family were a lot older
than I was. I do remember when Catherine & her husband came down & had
a meal with us. I think we took them to
the airport. Uncle Don & Aunt May weren’t home a lot. I remember her being
cross at Jim. The table was set outside for supper & he was going around
counting the plates, putting his finger on each one, then one day Bryce locked
her in the toilet & went away & left her but she liked Bryce so he got
off Scott free that time. She used to bring Mum some of her dresses &
shoes. One time when I was out to Uncle Cecil’s [in
Massachusetts], he & Aunt Margaret took me to visit them. We were just
sitting talking when Uncle Dan asked who I was Uncle Cecil just said You should
know that I was his niece. He never did tell him! Think he was a carpenter. Uncle
Cecil went to the States to work after Dad came home from war. He met &
married Aunt Margaret there. They were older when they were married. Uncle
Buell married them. They came home to live about 1940 or so. I was in High
School. When they were married they came home on their honeymoon. Of course in
those days they always had a “Chivaree.” The community would gather old tubs
guns or any thing you could bang. I remember a big saw which they would beat
with iron pipes they would make this racket until the bride & groom
appeared. They weren’t supposed to know anything about it. Then the people
would be invited in for a treat. I remember Uncle Cecil had brought oranges a
real treat. He used to carry me around saying The best little girl who ever
licked a spoon! After he went to Boston he would save the funny papers and roll
them up with a dollar in each bundle. One time Bryce would get them & the
$1 was his, next time mine and I got a dollar. Mum bought material and made me
a plaid skirt (still like them). Aunt Margaret made my graduation dress – Its
hanging in the closet. It was beautiful! She also made me a suit which I wore
for years. Think Uncle Cecil & Dad got in quite a lot of trouble in school.
I know they went in the school house and wrote on the boards Foster loves
Gussie (the teacher).
George, Dan, and Cecil – children of
Charles R and Phoebe McMonagle Holmes. Catherine was a daughter of George.
Buell was the husband of their daughter, Bertha. Foster Davis lived down the
road across from the church.
FAMILY HISTORY LESSON
I worked a bit on Zorobable Holmes, a son of Samuel Holmes Sr and
Elizabeth Fountain. I located his land petition in the Nova Scotia archives,
digitized on FamilySearch. There are several variations of the spelling of his
name. I discussed this with Caroline Brown, his descendant, and we decided to
go with the spelling on his tombstone. In the petition, his name was spelled
“Zebural.” Zorobable (c. 1775 New York to 1854 Nova Scotia) arrived in Nova
Scotia with his parents in 1783. I
placed my transcription in “Colossal Collection of Cousins” for the section
called “Cumberland.” For now, I only transcribed the handwritten parts.
Zorobable Holmes
I was able to get one copy here, but the rest are "not supported for upload." If you want the complete article with pictures of documents, please request an email.
Film
number 008540529
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QM-PSR7-9?i=441&cat=82415
What
is typed I will copy and put here. I am only transcribing the writing, at least
for now
Warrant
Zebural Holm’s
(of Cumberland farmer)
400 Acres
24 March 1814
Original No 126
Several lines of typing
Zebural Holms of Cumberland
Farmer/Two Hundred Acres of Land Within the Province and Two Hundred Acres of
Land in addition ~
. . . this 24 Day of March
1814
J. C. Sherbrooke
Image 444
No 653 . . .
The County of Cumberland .
. .
Four Hundred Acres . . .
Zebural Holmes . . .
15th day of the
present month . . .
21st day of
March 1815
Mich. Wallace
No 126 Petition
of Zebural Holmes – Cumberland
24th March 1814
Recommended for 200 acres in addition
MW
In Council 16th
March 1809
Voted 200 acres
Initials
A Warrant ____
26 April 1809
Initials
No 126
Recd & Regd
31 Dec 1808
____ 25 Mar 1815 in
addition
Approved J.C. for 200 acres
Image 446
To
His Excellency Sir George Prevost Lieut. Governor and Commander in Chief in and
over His Majestys Province of Nova Scotia and its Dependencies &&&
The Petition of Zebural Holmes
Humbly Sheweth
That your petitioner is an
inhabitant of the County of Cumberland in this province. That he imagrated with
his Parents in the year 1783 from New York on account of his attachment to His
Majestys Government. Your petitioner is now Married and has a wife and two
Children He never had a grant of any
Lands but a few years ago received an order of Survey for 400 Acres Which was
laid out to him by W. Baker the Deputy Surveyor
Your petitioner has Cleared and improved about ten Acres on the said
lands, Which are situated on the Macan River in the above County is continuing
to make further improvements Your
Petitioner is willing to take the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy when ever he
may be called upon Your Petitioner prays
that your Excellency Would take his Case into Consideration and Grant him the
land he has so improved and as in duty bound will ever pray
__________________________________
Personally
appeared the above named
Zebural Holms
and made oath to the
Facts stated
in this petition. Thos Roach J. P. October 27th 1808
Image 447
Charles
Morris
S
Genl
As I find
upon enquiry that the Petitioner is an industrious useful Setter and has been
put in possession of the Lot on which he is setted by order of Government which
contains four hundred acres I therefore by ____ to recommend that two hundred
acres be allowed him in addition to the above in order that a grant of
enfirmation (?) my ____ of the Land pray’d for.
24 Mar 1814 Charles
Morris
S
Genl
I recommend the above
Report of the Surveyor
General
M. W.
In Obedience to the Annexed
Warrants I do Certify that there has been Surveyed and laid out unto Zebural
Holmes of Cumberland farmer four hundred acres of land and to same is Situate
lying and being on both sides the East branch of McCan River in Cumberland
County, and is abutted and bounded as follows Viz. Beginning at a Pine tree
marked Z. H. Standing on the South
Eastern angle of lands Granted Barnabas Gilderoy from thence to run East on
ungranted lands thirty two chains or until it meets the South Western Angle of
David Hunters lands thence North along Western side line of said lands one
hundred and twenty five chains or until it meets the place of beginning
containing four hundred Acres according to the annexed plan Charles
Morris
NB The above
described tract of land is in general covered with an intermixture of hard and
soft wood timber, the Soil an excellent quality, will produce all kinds of
grain and Vegetables being properly cultivated
Charles Morris
S Genl
It’s back to school time in the USA; we will follow suit here after the
Labour Day weekend. I love this time of year – all new school supplies and
perhaps a few new duds that my mother made for us.
Now, I go down to Staples and buy up some multi-coloured pens, loose
leaf and Hilroy notebooks for genealogy purposes. I also went to LLBeans and
bought a bookbag for Winston – for next year, when he goes to pre-school.
Imagine, he was just born yesterday. Julie had an LLBean bookbag, and she loves
to find things reminiscent of her childhood. Just as I do. This
chronicle seems to be nearly all about me. Please, feel free to send me your
family news, stories, pictures, obits, etc. This chronicle can be about you, as
well.
This ends
week thirty-six of
our centennial virtual celebration.
