Issue 3 - Kent Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society

KENT BRANCH OF THE ONTARIO GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
2014
ISSN 0831-5930
VOLUME 38, ISSUE 3
2014 Kent Branch Executive
CHAIR - Judi Bouchard
[email protected]
LIBRARY - Diane French
SOCIAL COMMITTEE - Donna Reinhardus
VICE-CHAIR - Vacant
WEBSITE - Jill Johns
[email protected]
PAST CHAIR - Marg Eberle
TREASURER - Valerie Butterfield
RECORDING SECRETARY - Donna Dickson
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP CO-ORDINATOR - Fran Barko
[email protected]
PROGRAM CO-ORDINATOR - Cindy Robichaud
[email protected]
PUBLICATIONS - Jerry Wilson
[email protected]
Inside this issue:
Branch Meetings
33
Meeting Recaps
34
Busy Summer
35
WWI Grave Markers
36
From the Newspaper
39
Queries
45
Members’ Surname Interests
46
COMPUTERS - Gordon Dickson
[email protected]
PUBLIC RELATIONS - Linda Paterson
[email protected]
MEMBER-AT-LARGE - Vacant
NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE - Cindy Robichaud,
Frank P. Vink, Carol Marcelle, Tom Mountain
Janet Vanderiviere, Donna Colby, Goldie Howes
[email protected]
Our regular monthly meetings are held on the second Friday of each month (except July and August)
at 7 P.M. at St. Andrew’s Residence, 99 Park Street,
Chatham, Ontario. Everyone is welcome!
Our research room is located on the second floor of
the Main Public Library in downtown Chatham at
the corner of Queen St. and Cross St. Staffed by our
volunteers, Tuesday - Saturday, 1 P.M. - 5 P.M.
Our mailing address is ~
Kent County Branch
Ontario Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 964
Chatham, Ontario CANADA
N7M 5L3
Or email us at [email protected]
www.ogs.on.ca/kent/
Please join our Facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/kentbranchogs/
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VOLUME 38, ISSUE 3
KENT BRANCH
Look to our website under Events for details on how to join us live at www.ogs.on.ca/kent
OCTOBER 10, 2014 - ALL ABOARD!!
Take a trip back in time with the folks from the Chatham Railway Museum as we explore the history of the
railway in Kent County and its impact on local families.
NOVEMBER 14, 2014 - LOCAL HEROES
Let’s honour our Kent County military heroes and pay tribute to some local heroes in this presentation.
All meetings will be held at St. Andrew’s Residence, 99 Park St., Chatham at 7:00 P.M.
ESSEX BRANCH
OCTOBER 14, 2014 (note day change - TUESDAY) - ENROLLED PENSIONERS OF AMHERSTBURG
During the 1850s the British government came up with a plan to have old soldiers with good conduct settle
in areas of the colonies where they might be needed to defend the settlers. Some plans failed but the plans
in Amherstburg and Penetanguishene were successful. What records are available and why did these two
areas benefit from the program. Presented by Debra Honor
NOVEMBER 10, 2014 - TAKING FLIGHT
The Canadian Historical Aircraft Association will take a look back at the WWII Air Training Program that
was held at the Windsor airport.
All meetings held at the Windsor Public Library, 850 Ouellette Ave., Windsor, lower level, at 7:00 P.M.
LAMBTON BRANCH
Look to our website under Meetings for details on how to join us live at www.ogs.on.ca/lambton
OCTOBER 14, 2014 - THE GREAT STORM OF 1913
Presented by David Yates of Goderich, Ontario.
NOVEMBER 11, 2014 - LOST UNCLE
John Collins will explore the question, “Where did Uncle Harry go during the Great War?”
All meetings held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1400 Murphy Rd., Sarnia at 7:30 P.M.
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Wow!! … was the response to our June meeting. Goldie Howes shared the story of how an 85-year old WWI
manuscript, belonging to a Belgium spy, was written, transcribed, stored and passed along to the Kent County Branch, whcih finally found its way to local family members. Above photo - Rita Lobzun (keeper of the
transcript), Goldie Howes and Kyle Hendricks (great-great-grandson found by Goldie)
Over 50 people attended our September meeting! John Skakel discussed the use of cemetery “dowsing” and
demonstrated this often controversial technique. Initial responses of skepticism and disbelief soon turned to
interest and amazement at the “dowsing” theory and John’s experience and successes using it. John discussed his website which continues to document the Chatham-Kent Cemetery Restoration/Preservation Project. The website has become a commonly used resource for genealogists and archivists. To visit the website
go to http://ckcemeteries.ca/pmwiki/index.php
John’s presentation can be viewed on our website under Publicity and then Past Events.
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VOLUME 38, ISSUE 3
We had a very busy summer! We met and spent the day with a UEL group from Hamilton. We visited Fairfield Museum, the Tecumseh Monument, where “John and Martha McGregor” made a surprise appearance,
and Uncle Tom’s Historical Site. We had lunch at the Retro Suites where Anne Gilbert, representative from
the City of Chatham, and Michael Matteis, from Chatham-Kent Tourism, welcomed the group.
We also participated in the Selkirk History Faire, the Buxton Homecoming, the Dresden Senior Fair, and the
LDS History Fair in Windsor. Photos and videos of these events can be viewed on our website under Publicity then Past Events.
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Original World War One Grave Markers at the Blenheim & District Freedom Library and Museum
The following article was researched and submitted by Donna Cofell-Dickson and Mary Lou Little.
As you enter the Blenheim and District Freedom
Library and Museum in Blenheim, Ontario, your
eyes are drawn to the three crosses that are
mounted on the wall.
The faded photos beside them each tell a story of
dedication, sacrifice and service that we can only
imagine from the few pages of history that remain
after 100 years.
These crosses were originally on the graves of
Whitney Glenn (Paddy) ROBERTSON, Edwin
Charles SMITH and James Peter PEGG in France,
all killed in the “War to End All Wars.”
Paddy ROBERTSON’s descriptive letters home gave a glimpse of
what life was like in the trenches. Although paper was scarce, he
improvised using “pieces of heavy fibre paper he took from the ruins of an enemy aeroplane.” He wrote home to his sister in January
1918, “Our platoon is down in a dug-out 15 feet below surface.” In
April he writes, “At present they are strafing pretty hard and thousands of shells are in the air at once. This is a new front to us and a
rather rough one…you can guess what No Man’s Land and our wire
looks like with death Huns – fine business for the Kaiser’s fat factory!” In another letter dated August 19, 1918 he states, “Our battalion was the first over the top and we sure had a lot of good sport
with the Fritzies.”
Nine days later Paddy’s luck ran out. He was on the front line with
two other local soldiers but they were separated. Paddy was hit and
died instantly from a high explosive shell on August 28, 1918.
Paddy’s military career began when he enlisted with the 186th
(Kent) Battalion in November 1917. He trained in bomb throwing
at Bramshott in England. An injured ankle delayed his being sent to
the front until 1918 when he joined the 18th battalion in France.
Whitney Glenn (Paddy) ROBERTSON died about 14 miles from
Arras and is buried in the Dury British Cemetery in France.
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Whitney Glenn (Paddy) ROBERTSON was the son of William Fraser ROBERTSON and Mary Ann DUCK.
William and Mary Ann were married at Thamesville, Ontario on March 24, 1881 but resided in Morpeth, Ontario. His occupation was a tailor and they later moved to Blenheim, Ontario where he lived on Talbot Street
and had a tailoring business. His ROBERTSON grandparents were both born in Scotland according to the
various Ontario census records.
The story of the DUCK family has been told in the book A s the Story is Told: a history of Morpeth and community. Mary Ann was the daughter of Henry and Harriet DUCK. “Henry DUCK married Harriett COLL in
1858 and they settled in Michigan, USA. Their children were William J., Fred and a sister. After their mother
died the children were brought back to the Morpeth area.”
Charlie SMITH was determined to serve his country. Enlisting with
the 186th battalion in February of 1915, only to be discharged after
seven months as medically unfit for service. After several more attempts, he reenlisted with the 186th (Kent) Battalion in February
1917. Charlie was sent to France in May of 1918 attached to the
18th Battalion and later transferred to the Machine Gun Section of
the 2nd Canadian Battalion. On the first day of the Battle of Amiens, Charlie was hit and received a gunshot wound to the back. He
died the same day in the Field Ambulance Depot Canadian Corps
Main Dressing Station. Charlie is buried in the Longueau British
Cemetery in Somme, France.
Edwin (Edward) Charles SMITH was born 1 April 1893 to Elizabeth Caroline SMITH in Raleigh Township, Ontario. Elizabeth Caroline SMITH was born 7 January 1877 in Tilbury East Township,
Ontario, daughter of Charles SMITH and Jane YATES. Charles
and Jane emigrated to Canada in 1875 according to the 1901 census. Jane’s death certificate lists her father as William YATES and
her birth date as 14 April 1845. Elizabeth married William Henry
EMBURY. Pte. E. C. SMITH was survived by his mother and his
EMBURY siblings.
Imagine your nearest park reduced to a cold quagmire of mud, craters filled with water, bodies half buried in
the mud, no trees or vegetation. That is what faced Peter PEGG at dawn on the morning of November 12,
1917 at Passchendaele, France. The attack on the Germans had been stalled by the battlefield conditions.
Wounded men drowned in the water filled crater holes unable to get back up out of the mud. You might be in
an underground bunker when a shell exploded and you were buried alive. The battlefield conditions could be
just as dangerous as facing the enemy.
Peter PEGG was sent up to the front line where he was slightly wounded in the left arm and was making his
way back to a dressing station. It is not known what happened to him after that. He was buried by the Germans and the cross at the museum is the original cross placed on his grave.
Peter PEGG lived a short life, born 1 June 1897 in Harwich Township, Kent County, Ontario, the ninth child
and seventh son of Peter PEGG and his wife Keziah JACKLIN.
The paternal grandfather of J. Peter was James PEGG, born in Saxthorpe, Norfolk County, England, from a
line of PEGG family who were house and stack thatchers. As adults, James with his brothers, Thomas, John
and William and their sister Mary Ann all came to Ontario in 1835, settling near Burlington, Ontario and
marrying near there. James married Elizabeth WHARTON in 1849 and started a family. In 1852, he traveled
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on foot to Harwich Township near Blenheim, cleared the timbered land, placed it under cultivation and erected buildings
before bringing his family to live there. There was no railroad
and no luxuries. The family traveled by wagon with all their
belongings. James and Elizabeth had a daughter Frances Ann,
followed by three sons, Peter, Henry J., and William Thomas.
All of the local PEGG descendants today come from the lines
of Peter and William Thomas and Frances Ann as Henry relocated to New Mexico for the rest of his life and then spelled his
last name PEGUE.
James PEGG from Saxthorpe, Burlington, and now Blenheim,
had purchased 139 acres on Lot 9, Concession 2, West Communication Road, Harwich Township on 17 November 1848.
Today, descendants of this family still remain on seven acres of
the land. My sister Judith and her husband Hank DERKZEN
have a home and nursery of shrubs and trees there.
Local OGS members with PEGG connections are:
1. Jewel (PEGG) BROWN, Albert E. PEGG, Peter PEGG, James PEGG
2. Pauline (PICKERING) DEVRIES, Harvey PICKERING, Thomas Pegg PICKERING, Susanna PEGG,
Thomas PEGG
3. Arthur P. PEGG, Albert P. PEGG, John Arthur PEGG, Peter PEGG, James P. PEGG
4. Rosemary (Pegg) MITTON, Leonard A. PEGG, John Arthur PEGG, Peter PEGG, James PEGG
5. Mary Lou (Attridge) LITTLE, Wm. H. ATTRIDGE, Lydia E. PEGG, Wm. Thomas PEGG, James PEGG
Submitted by Mary Lou LITTLE
Sources
Unsourced newspaper article on file at the Blenheim & District Freedom Library and Museum
Blenheim News Tribune Jan 26, 1918
Blenheim News Tribune May 15, 1918
Biographical information on file at the Blenheim & District Freedom Library and Museum
http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/24900/DURY%20MILL%20BRITISH%20CEMETERY
Elizabeth Caroline Smith. Ontario birth registration 011814 (1877) digital image www.Ancestry.ca.
Jane Smith. Ontario death registration 019324 (1929) digital image www.Ancestry.ca.
Whitney Glenn Robertson. Ontario birth registration 016735 (1888) digital image www.Ancestry.ca.
William Frazer Robertson and Mary Ann Duck. Ontario marriage registration 004999 (1881) digital image www.Ancestry.ca.
This is a community history edited by Mrs. Marjorie Giddis, privately printed and bound by the Bookshelf Bindery, Ridgetown, Ont
From our Facebook Group
A member of our Facebook Group posts, “Members from the Kent Battalion 1865. I found this article (by
local historian John Rhodes) while looking for something else and thought I would share here. Lots of surnames in the article and the link to the page is http://eedition.chathamthisweek.com/doc/Chatham-ThisWeek/chatham-this-week-12-24-13/2013122401/7.html#6
Be sure to join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/kentbranchogs/ to be part of this
ever-growing genealogical resource tool.
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Chatham Daily News - 25 February 1930
Pte. Cecil Holmes of Chatham Was First Casualty From Kent
Nominal Roll of the Men Who First Went Into the Trenches Contains the Names of the Earliest Veterans to Enlist from Chatham – They were Members of the First Canadian Battalion Under Major
George Smith.
Fifteen years ago on the 18th day of February, just past, the little contingent, which left Chatham on August
19th, 1914, moved up into the Front line trenches in France for the first time.
It might be recalled here, that the Department of Militia made a call on the Canadian Militia Regiments in the
early part of August for volunteers for over-seas in aid of the British Arms. There was a hope that Canada
might send a Division, but when noses were counted at Val Cartier on Aug. 23rd, 1914, there was enough for
two Divisions. Consequently the men were handpicked. Only the best were accepted and of these 33,000
men went over-sea.
Chatham sent 98 men to Val Cartier. But after volunteers had been selected for the [illegible] Canadian
Reg’t. and others had been sent to England as reservists and some sent back as medically unfit, there were
only about 60 left to go over-sea.
The Chatham men were finally put in as No. 13 Platoon of D. Company of the First Can. Infantry Battalion.
Major George J. L. SMITH was in command of the Company, and Lieut. D. E. DOUGLAS of the platoon.
The following is a true copy of a nominal roll which was turned in at Meriss on the morning of Feb. 17th,
1915 before marching off for the Front line:
First Can. Inft. Bn. D. Company No. 13 Platoon, Feb. 17th, 1915.
6640 Sgt. WARD H. S., 6646 Corpl. ANSELL E., 6647 Corpl. SHEFF J., 6644 Corpl. SMITH G., 6748 L.
Corpl. TAYLOR W., 6651 L. Corpl. ASH J., 6727 L. Corpl. PYNE F., 6745 L. Corpl. TRUDELL A. 6708
L. Corpl. MURDOCK J. 7116 Pte. ALVEY H. 6638 Pte. BURGIN J. 6666 Pte. BLAIR r., 7235 Pte.
BIGLEY W., 6657 Pte. BUTLER E. H., 6659 Pte. BATES., 6668 Pte. CROZIER R., 6671 Pte. CROUCHER
C., 6674 Pte. DINNINGTON J., 6678 Pte. DENNIS R., 6677 Pte. DYE A., 6678 Pte. EDWARD E., 6679
Pte. FOX J., 6688 Pte. HEATHER, W, 6689 Pte. HAWKINS S. E., 6690 Pte. IVISON Joe., 7155 Pte.
HAWKINS A., 6692 Pte. JOINER J., 6699 Pte. LING P., 6160 Pte. MURPHY Tim, 6712 Pte. MOORE Geo.
W., 6714 Pte. MARDLING F., 6711 Pte. MEEHAN M., 6703 Pte. MORRIS S., 6707 Pte. MURDOCK W.,
6720 Pte. MILLS R, 6710 Pte. MOORE J., 6708 Pte. MORRICE C. J., 6715 Pte. McINTOSH J. S., 6722
Pte. NICHOL J., 6723 Pte. POPHAM W., 6724 Pte. PITT F., 6729 Pte. RYAN J., 6734 Pte. RABBITT J.,
6732 Pte. ROBINSON J., 6737 Pte. SEXTON T., 6736 Pte. STRINGER C., 6740 Pte. STONEFISH Geo.,
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6742 Pte. SKEGGS W., 6743 Pte. SPURGEON F., 7243 Pte. TORNEY W., 6744 Pte. TOCK H., 6718 Pte.
MEADOWS J., 6752 Pte. WATKINS F., 8461 Pte. WIGLE H., 18775 Pte. HALL A.
ATTACHED
R. Q. M. Sgt., A. C. McCLYMONT, Q. M. Sgt. BUTLER, W., Corpl. EASON, W.
With the Can. Army Medical home, there is reality of the war and increased hatred for the Hun.
That night the Battalion took over a sector from the Royal Scots and for several weeks enjoyed an outing in
the front line, like rats in a sewer. For the trench was merely a ditch half full of slime, with an occasional
duck board.
When the news of Pte. Cecil HOLMES’ death came to Canada it caused a deep gloom to spread over this
community. Kent County people thus received their first experience with casualty lists, which unfortunately
became so common afterwards as the war progressed.
He was only fifteen or sixteen years old having been under age when he enlisted, but of tall and strong physique, and therefore quite able to pass the examination. The circumstances surrounding his death were particularly tragic.
Pte. HOLMES was a brother of Mrs. W. H. MOODY who resides at 32 Poplar Street. The fatality occurred
before her marriage and at the time she was residing in England. Among her most precious possessions are
the newspapers containing the reports of her brother’s most unfortunate ending and glowing tributes to his
manliness and patriotism.
Wednesday Afternoon - Old Boys’ Reunion
A very interesting feature of Wednesday afternoon’s program was the presentation of medals to the men who
have been overseas. General SHANNON of London, Col. H. D. SMITH of Chatham, Mayor Martin and Capt.
STEINHOFF presented the medals, while T. B. Dundas addressed the soldiers and people. The following is a
list of the men who received medals:
D. ASHTON, W. E. ALLAN, Henry A. ALLAN, Arrin ASKIN, L. AUSTIN, J. ALEXANDER, T. H. ANDERSON, Von AYRES, Roy ABRAMS, R. ARMSTRONG, F. ARMSTRONG, J. ALTRAN, P. ALTRAN,
W. BACHELOR, R. BROWN, Leo. BORDEAU, Allen BRANDER, Ross BOURNE, F. W. BARNES, B. M.
BURGESS, Jack BACUS, Thomas BUSHA, Andrew BUSHA, Norman BROAD, Arthur BROWN, E. BECHARD, Roy BARNIER, H. BUTTERMAN, John C. BOURNE, W. H. BENNIGER, A. J. BENNIGER, P.
BECHARD, C. CROUCHMAN, E. CARROLL, Roy CONLIFFE, Ray CONLIFFE, Harry CARPENTER,
Cecil COX, J. P. CROOKS, J. COCHRANE, J. CHRISTIE, J. CRADIMANA, H. CHRISTIAN, G. CHRISTIAN, William CADOTTE, Martel COVENY, E. COVENY, Dr. S. CATHCART, J. CARROLL, J. COULAN, H. W. DEWOLFE, Gordon DUNDAS, D. J. DUNLOP, Bert DUBEAN, Allan DELL, Grand DEAN,
Geo. DEAN, D. S. DEMONEY, Thomas DAVIS, Captain DUNNING, E. W. DANIELS, E. DANSON, F. L.
EMERY, Daniel FOX, W. FORD, James FISHER, E. A. FRANKLIN, Allan FRASER, H. C. FALCONER,
R. S. FALCONER, L. H. FITZGERALD, J. A. FULLER, Helson FISHER, L. H. GORDON, D. A. GORDON, G. GORMERLY, E. GREENSHIELDS, P. GLENDENNING, John GALLERNO, Steve GRIFFIN,
James GAMON, H. GONYOU, C. GROOMBRIDGE, Glen GALLOWAY, D. GRAHAM, Charles GRANT,
P. GENDREAU, J. HANDSOR, Louis HEARD, Elmer HEATH, Fred HARRISON, E. HARRISON, William
HALL, Roy HERBERT, A. HILL, T. HAVERS, F. HANNING, W. HARDY, Floyd HARRINGTON, John
HUNT, John HUNTER, Albert HOSTE, Dave HANDSOR, E. HYATT, W. ISAAC, J. JAMES, William
JUDSON, T. JOHNSON, Sira JOHNSON, Lyle JOHNSON, J. JOHNSON, Alonzo JOINER, G. JOHNSTON,
B. JOHNSTON, R. JOHNSTON, E. JACKSON, Kalvin KELLETT, Mike KEATING, J. KEYES, F. KENDALL, D. KENNEDY, T. KISICKY, E. KICKNOSWAY, A. LAID, W. LUCIER, G. LABADIE, E. LA-
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BADIE, B. M. LILLIE, S. LOZON, S. MOSES, A. MOSES, J. LABADIE, John LADD, E. MONETTE, G.
MAYNARD, J. MARTIN, L. MARTIN, A. MILLWARD, J. MILLWARD, H. MACDONNELL, R. MILLS,
J. MOORE, C. MASEFIELD J. MITCHELL, C. McCARRON, H. McCARRON, Don McGREGOR, L. N.
McKEL, G. McLEAN, F. McGUIRE, M. M. McGUIRE, W. J. MURDOCK, A. MARCHAND, J.J. MONNEY, M. A. McLEAN, C. MOORSE, Harry MURPHY, Hugh MURPHY, P. L. MAUL, W. L. McALLISTER, H. W. MACKLIN, L. McINTYRE, M. McDOUGAL, J. McDOUGAL, Lloyd MOORE, J. McINTYRE,
H. McDOUGALL, W. McGREGOR, H. McRAE, F. McRAE, J. McRAE, Dan A. McRAE, B. W. McKAY, J.
MURPHY, H. NIGHTINGALE, E. NAHDEE, E. NUHWAKODO, J. F. O’BRIEN, W. PHILIPS, B. PARKER, R. PURSER, V. PURSER, F. J. PICKING, J. PEERS, J. PARROTT, H. A. PENPRASS, G. POTTER,
A. J. PEATE, Chas. PEARSON, M. PINNANCE, L PETERS, E. ROWE, F. ROBINSON, C. ROSE (still in
England), C. ROSE, C. REYNOLDS, J. A. RONSON, H. RALPH, M. ROBINS, J. REED, J. ROTHERY, L.
RICHARDSON, J. BABBITT, E. ROBERTS, E. ROSE, E. RICHARDSON, C. J. ROBERTS, G. RODGERS,
H. ROSS, J. SCOTT, R. SUTHERLAND, J. SUTHERLAND, R. SAUVEY, E. SHERWOOD, W. SHERWOOD, B. SHARON, S. W. SANDS, W. SCOTT, G. SIMPSON, P. STEWART, C. S. STONEHOUSE, T.
SHERWOOD, Mac SHERWOOD, F. SHIELDS, J. B. SHEARMAN, C. SOUTHGATE, S. Sam
SOUTHGATE, W. J. SUDDS, J. H. STANLEY, C. SHANLEY, E. SMITH, R. TEETER, E. TAYLOR, S.
TAYLOR, J. TAYLOR, J. TREMBLEY, P. TREMBLEY, W. TIFFIN, W. THOMAS, B. THOMAS, T.
WALLACE, S. WILLIAMS, R. WRIGHT, J. WEBB, W. A. WALKER, A. WALKER, M. WITMARSH, M.
WELDMAN, E. M. WICKENS, C. WARWICK, H. R. WADDELL, M. WHITE, H. WILLIAMS, W.
WRIGHT, A. WRIGHT, I. YOUNG, A. YATES, E. YOUNGMAN, William YATES, A. ZAVITZ.
U. S. Army – Bert CROTHERS, Harry CLARKE, H. COLEMAN, L. POWERS, J. LOCKHART, H. TEETER, B. CLANCY, E. CLANCY, C. COYLE, R. DOYLE, J. HURLEY.
Nursing Sisters – Eva REID, Lottie KENNY, Helen PALMER.
Blenheim News Tribune - 18 January 1900
The Pioneer Supper and Entertainment in the Methodist Church
“For the old King gave them bush lands and they had to tend bees”
On Wednesday evening the Methodist Church gave its pioneer supper and birthday party to Mr. James
PEGG. After the oyster supper had been served by the ladies in the basement, the program began in the auditorium above.
Dr. McCULLY in the chair; Mr. PEGG on the platform; beneath him in a white bearded row, the old men
who with him hewed homes out of the wilderness; Messrs. Jno VESTOR, Arch HUNTER, Thos.
COATSWORTH, Jas. GREENWOOD, Wm. MANN, Wm. REYNOLDS, Hugh McPHERSON, Thos.
HICKS, Robt. STERLING, Jas. SNOBLEN, Amos BIGGAR, Jerome BEST, Andrew PARDO, Jas. FUCE;
the audience completely filled the church.
The chairman read a letter of regret from Addison SMITH, Rondeau and proposed a “toast to Canada, to the
land we live in.” John VESTER was the first to respond. Thirty-eight years ago he met the guest of the evening. Those were stirring times. The local preacher’s day began to wane when circuits were divided. The clerical tramp began to come, the modern evangelist, who takes the revival away in his pants pocket.
Mr. A. HUNTER came next with a long look-back to the old logging bees when stakes were set, the best men
picked first and then they raced for the jug at the end of the row.
Mr. MANN sang the “Cottage by the Sea” in an ancient tenore robusto, that brought him a more vigorous
recall than any other virtuoso ever heard in Blenheim.
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Mr. GREENWOOD delivered the next response and made a dramatic allusion to his pioneer days when he
drove from Harwich to Toronto in a wagon. He repudiated Goldwin SMITH for his annexationist sentiments.
He was born a British subject and would die one. The need of Canada was true men to people it. “The old
time Methodist meeting” was re-enacted in a very ancient, quavering trio. “Sweet-bye-and-bye” by Messrs.
Ira SHAVER, Amos BIGGAR and Jerry BEST. The next toast was “The Pioneers.” Father HICKS was the
first to respond, he went back 63 years to when Chatham was a frame house, rented by four families. He
came to the Ridge through mud and water, bought land at $2.50 per acre, carried his wife across the Beaver
Dam, over the Little Marsh. The preacher rode a horse with saddle bags; a time when they had mush for
breakfast, pea soup for dinner and Johnny cake for supper. Granny GREEN made everyone merry with her
quaint old song “Three wise old women.” Mr. T. B. SHILLINGTON on behalf of the church expressed some
kind words and then presented Father PEGG with a gold-headed cane. Father PEGG had mortgaged his farm
for the Methodist Church. He publically burned the mortgage on January 31, 1901.
James PEGG died on February. 11, 1907 aged 90 years and is interred in Evergreen Cemetery
James Peter PEGG our main subject enlisted at St. Thomas, Ontario and in May of 1917 is at Bramshott
Camp, London, England when a dozen of the men take the train to Edinburgh, Scotland for several days visit.
J. PETER writes home about how much they like Edinburgh; so much more than London; “the people there
treat the Canadian and Australian soldiers so well, can hardly do enough for them.” “Next to Canada this is
the home for me. Will be hard getting down to work again when we get back to camp. It is drill there not
play like we had in Chatham.” In another letter he mentions, “knowing some of the men who have returned, a
rough bunch, but believe me one could not want better friends, if needed they would stick to you to the last.”
In a letter dated 10 July 1917 from Bramshott: “Most of the boys have been transferred from C, the training
company into H. the draft company so we expect to be transferred soon and the sooner the better for us.”
“Received a box from Mary DENT on Saturday so we had a bun feed that night. She sent the stuff in a tin
box, the same as Mother did, but if anyone would have wanted to open it they would have had to use an axe.
It was soldered around the lid. But we have a tin cutter and it didn’t take long to open it.” In an August of
1917 letter he mentions his brother, “Albert has a sprained ankle and Paddy has a fractured ankle. A bomb
struck his foot (Paddy) when they were practicing throwing, so he went to the hospital and is being treated
very well.” In perhaps his last letter on October 26, 1917 from “France, Somewhere,” he writes that, “Hal has
received a five dollar bill in a letter, but is having a hard time to get it changed into francs. They are sleeping
in tents at present, just fifteen to one, just like sardines, but we have a good time. Have been in huts, but we
are just like a rabbit (Home wherever we stop).”
In a letter from Roy GRAY, a great friend of J. PETER, writes 18 April 1918 from France: “since Peter has
been away from us, I have thought of him and you folks almost continually and have been trying to find
some trace of him and when the boys came out of the line at different times they would always ask me if I
had heard anything of Pete and sorry to say I could not seem to find any trace of him until I heard he was officially reported missing and then I was rather doubtful of this report. I was down to the battalion yesterday
to visit the boys and while there news came in that Pete was a prisoner of war in Germany and although we
boys were tickled to know that he is still alive, we were rather grieved to think he is in the Germans hands
but I think from now on our prisoners in Germany will be well treated and I do think they will be released as
this war is almost to a close.”
Blenheim News Tribune - 24 April 1918
Pte. Peter PEGG Died a Prisoner
Last week the following message was received by Mr. Peter PEGG concerning his son, about whose disappearance from the lines on Nov. 12th there appeared to be a great deal of mystery: “Deeply regret to inform
you 189868 Pte. Peter PEGG, infantry, previously reported through German sources died, now officially reported died of wounds whilst a prisoner of war at Iseghem, Belgium, Nov 19, 1917. Just how Pte. PEGG fell
VOLUME 38, ISSUE 3
Kn-43-2014
into the hands of the enemy after he left the dressing station where he was traced to, is a mystery, but it is
possible that he might have been dazed and wandered in the wrong direction. According to previous letters
from the boys in the battalion he was not wounded seriously, so he must have suffered other wounds before
he became a prisoner.
Pete was one of the noblest of all the noble young soldiers who left Blenheim, and no one who knew him
can have any doubt but that he fills a brave soldier’s grave. His grave was located in Belgium and later his
body has been exhumed and buried in a British Cemetery, Tyne Cot near Ypres.
Blenheim News Tribune - 11 March 1925
Blenheim Lady dies at Lansing
Mrs. Peter PEGG, Keziah PEGG had a record of four sons and a son-in-law serving in the Great War. Three
sons in the Canadian Army, Peter, Albert and Charles while William served with the United States. The
widow passed away on Saturday at the home of her son George in Lansing, Michigan. Funeral held at her
son Arthur’s home on McGregor Street, Blenheim and burial is in Evergreen Cemetery.
Submitted by Mary Lou Little
The Blenheim Freedom Library & Museum
The Blenheim Freedom Library & Museum has collected over 1100 biographies of local service men and
women from World War One to date. The research library contains over 1500 books. It also has a varied
collection of photographs, personal papers, medals, uniforms and other memorabilia.
Open hours may be limited so please check before visiting. Located at 27 George St., Box 2309, Blenheim,
Ontario N0P 1A0 phone 519-676-4222.
Check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BDFLMM
<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0; URL=/
Photos courtesy of Blenheim Freedom
Library & Museum
Kn-45-2014
VOLUME 38, ISSUE 3
Sherri COLLINS ([email protected])
Kent Branch member, Sherri, is looking for information on Loyd or Lloyd Blanchard WILLIAMS. It is believed he was married to Annie Bluenettie NICHOLS (nee COX) perhaps in 1928-1929. They had eight children and he is believed to have died in December of 1943.
If anyone has any knowledge of where Mr. WILLIAMS is interred it would be greatly appreciated.
Please contact me at [email protected]
I am seeking death or cemetery records for Adam VANVALKENBURG and his wife Anna DIAMOND.
Adam and Anna were married in Fredericksburgh, Lennox-Addington County, Ontario on 2 April 1811.
Their children were: John Diamond born about 1816, Catherine born 5 April 1816, Henry James born about
1830, and Maria birth unknown.
They both filed, and were granted, Crown Land Grants. Anna, as daughter of John DIAMOND, UE in 1830
and Adam, as a private in the 1st Regiment Addington Militia in-service 1812 in 1850.
They lived in Fredericksburgh, Kingston Township, Ontario, Portland, Oregon and Ridgetown, Ontario. I
found Adam (aged 63) on Tax Rolls in Ridgetown from 1851 – 1858. His son Henry James lived in Ridgetown as well. By the 1861 census, Henry James and his family are listed; however, Adam and Anna are not.
Henry James moved to Bosanquet Township, Lambton County, Ontario soon after and shows up on the 1871
census in Lambton County. I have not been able to locate Adam and Anna on any census in Ontario for any
year.
Adam was a stonemason by trade. I would think it unlikely that they did not have a stone marking their
gravesite.
Any information would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Mark Van Valkenburg
[email protected]
Congratulations Rev. Jackman
Rev. Edward Jackson has been a member of OGS for 40
years! He has been awarded the OGS 40 Year Pin and we
wish to congratulate him and thank him for being a longtime member.
Kn-46-2014
VOLUME 38, ISSUE 3
Linda Paterson ([email protected])
ALEXANDER, ANDERSON, ARNOLD, BROWN (LeBRUN), JENKINS and WEAVER
Cindi Foreman ([email protected]) ALLEN, ANNAL, ARNEL, BARRY, BONDY, BOWLER,
BOYLE, BRENNAN, BRODERICK, CAMPBELL, CAMPEAU, CARR, CASEY, COUGHLIN, DEMARSE, DENNETT, DUFFY, DUFOUR, DUPLESSI, FINN, FLANNERY, FOX, GIGNAC, HARRISON,
HEARLIHY, HESS, HUSSEY, JESSOP, JOBIN, KINSEL, KNAPP, KUEHNE, LABADIE, LANGLOIS,
LASSALIN, LAUZON, LEFAIVE, LENNON, LESPERANCE, LYONS, McHUGH, McINTYRE,
McKEON, McPHARLIN, MORKIN, MOYNAHAN, MURRAY, NEVEUX, NICHOL, OLEARY,
PAQUETTE, PARENT, PEGUEGUOT, PETIGNY, POWER, REAUME, ROACH, RUSSETTE, RYAN,
SANSONE, SCHOFIELD, STODDARD, SUTHERLAND, SWEENEY, VAN HUYSE, WALES, WALSH,
WHALES, WHEELER, WOOD, WOODS, WORKMAN and WYLIE
Cindi also has a genealogy blog at http://moynahangenealogy.blogspot.ca/
Janet CLARK ([email protected])
CLARK, GATZKIE and SAUNDERS (SANDERS)
Fay Robinson-Brugger ([email protected])
HILL, NIXON, ROBINSON and ROSS
Dian & Carl Haskell ([email protected])
BELL, BLUE, HASKELL, MIFFLIN, MILLWARD, OSMON, RIVARD, SHERRAH, TASKER and WILKINSON
We would like to welcome the following new members to the Kent County Branch!
Cindi MOYNAHAN-FOREMAN Ottawa, ON
Dian and Carl HASKELL Merlin, ON
Janet CLARK Mindemoya, ON
Fay ROBINSON-BRUGGER Neebing, ON
Cathy Roberts Missisauga, ON
2015 is going to be a great year! As an initiative to increase our membership, we will be offering our current Kent Branch OGS members the reimbursement of their branch fees when they get a new member to
join OGS and the Kent Branch... save $15 in 2015. November is the best time to become a new OGS
member. Pay after October 31 for the 2015 year and the benefits of membership begin immediately. This
is the best bang for your buck! Pare this with the OGS Member-Get-A-Member initiative for an additional
$5 off your OGS membership.
(The $15 in 2015 offer will last only for the 2015 membership year and only apply to new memberships)