Transcription Tuesday- James Parker

Good Morning bloggers! Welcome to this week’s Transcription Tuesday! Now this week we will be jumping ahead to a page in the ledger addressed to James Parker. Although the entries before the one we will be discussing today were difficult to investigate. There was no information about their lives in any other entries in any books or online sources. The names of these individuals are George McBath, George Cutter, and Donald McWilliams. Again we would appreciate the help with finding out more about these individuals, so feel free to contact us.

James Parker is the entry in the blacksmith ledger that we are going to be looking at for this week’s Transcription Tuesday. All the information retrieved for this entry is from The book composed by the West Elgin Genealogical and Historical Society, The Early History of Dunwich Township, 2004.

“Dunwich Pier Company” 1861

The Stock Book

The Dunwich Pier Company according to the provisions of a certain Act of parliament of Province entitled and Act 16^th Victoria Chap 124. An Act to provide for the formation of Joint Stock companies for the construction of piers, wharves, drydocks and harbours in Tyrconnell for the purpose of constructing a pier.

The Stockholders list was signed by each individual stock holder and was often difficult to read. Though fortunately Mr. James Parkers name was legible and was recorded in the 1861 Census. According to this list Parker had 3 stock shares and according to the book other references to James Parker include one to Concession 10 Lot 16.

That’s it for this week’s Transcription Tuesday. Have a wonderful week and don’t forget to stop in at the Backus-Page house museum for a visit. Bring the kids out and enjoy a picnic, the weather and the local history!

Mon 

Memory Mondays: John Pearce

John Pearce

by Sandra Sales

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Personal Information of 1812 Veteran

Vet ID: 373	Pearce, John
Family Member?	No
Relation to other Vet ID:	brother-in-law
United Empire Loyalist?	No

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Place of Birth

Rhode Island, United States

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Place of Death

Tyrconnell   Ontario, British N. America

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Location of Grave

St. Peter's Anglican Church Cemetery
Lakeview Line
Wallacetown   Ontario, Canada

Reason for Death:

Approx. age of 73

Date of Death:

23 July 1850

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Veteran History

Last Rank Attained: sergeant

Last Regiment, Unit or Faction: 1st Regiment of Middlesex Militia

Report to Officer, Name and Rank: Capt. Leslie Patterson 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815; Capt. David Secord 1812; Capt Gilman Willson 1814

Veteran Biography:

Sergeant John Pearce

John Pearce was born in 1777 in Rhode Island. He moved to Erie Pennsylvania sometime before 1800 and married Frances Patterson. In 1808, he and his brother-in-law Leslie Patterson made a trip to Upper Canada when they learned that tracts of land were opening for settlement. They found the Talbot Settlement on the shore of Lake Erie to be to their liking and Thomas Talbot gave them lots. They brought their families the next year. A worker for Colonel Talbot had already begun to grow crops on Pearce's land prior to their arrival.

In 1822, the Pearce home was used as one of the first schools in the vicinity. The teacher was Thomas Gardiner. Supposedly, Fanny Pearce vacated her large kitchen for the classes. (from "Vanished Villages of Elgin County" by Jennifer Grainger)

It is documented that John Pearce saw action as a member of the militia when it was called out to repel a raid on 20th May, 1814. Because the Talbot Settlement was raided 6 times between November 1813 and November 1814, Pearce was probably called out numerous times.

It is also documented that the Pearce family suffered losses during raids on Port Talbot: a horse, saddle, bridle, harness, sheets and table linen, bedding, beds, coats, wearing apparel, household items, razors, and cash.

John Pearce died 23 July 1850 and is buried in St. Peter's Cemetery, Dunwich Township

More information about the family and the settlement in Dunwich Township can be read in the bio on Colonel Leslie Patterson Veteran number 369 and Thomas Talbot Veteran number 345

Thank you to Sandra Sales for her research and work in honouring our War of 1812 veterans.  

Through the War of 1812 Graveside Project, John Pearce and others will be remembered with a ceremony in St. Peter's Anglican Church Cemetery on Sunday, July 12 at 1pm during Backus-Page House Museum's Living History Weekend July 11-12, 2015

Behind the Scenes of Beds, Baths & Beyond #9

Washing

·       Being presentable was generally accomplished by washing the face and hands and otherwise showing a neat outward appearance with emphasis on the smartness of clothing. Such hand and face washing usually took place in one's bed chamber, with a basin and a relatively small amount of water.

·       The stand-up wash was the main form of personal hygiene and the start of most people’s daily routine.  For men and upper and middle-class women it happened as soon as they rose from bed.

·       All a person needed was a bowl, a slop pail, a flannel, some soap and a single jugful of hot water.  Cold water was also an option and many used it, hoping to improve their circulation. 

·       With a single jug of water it is perfectly easy to wash and rinse the whole body.  A little water is poured into the bowl and the flannel is dipped in and then wrung out.  Some soap is applied and scrubbing the body can begin.  When this first bowl of water became murky, it is emptied into the slop pail and freshly filled from the jug. 

·       Body washing could be done in sections and it also allowed a person to remain mostly dressed throughout.  Once the last drop of clean water was used finally to rinse out the cloth and washing bowl, the slop pail was taken out and disposed of.

Pictured is a wash stand from inside the Backus-Page House Museum.

Seedy Saturday- Sage

Happy Saturday everyone!  Today is about a well-known herb.

 

Sage is native to the Mediterranean area, which includes France, Italy, Turkey and Greece.  It was considered sacred by the ancient Romans and was collected with a special ceremony in which the special sage gatherers, dressed in white, would bring sacrifices of bread and wine as they took the sage. 

 Sage has been used since ancient times for warding off evil, snakebites, increasing women's fertility, and more.  It also had a high reputation throughout the Middle Ages for its healing properties, sometimes being called “sage the savior.”  It was also one of the ingredients of Four Thieves Vinegar, which was supposed to ward off the plague in Europe. 

It was recommended by Culpepper, a 17^th century herbalist in England, for use in helping one to urinate, helping one’s hair to turn black and for helping cure pains in the joints and head.  In reference to the head, he also thought it would help memory. In North America, this herb was most commonly grown to flavour food, with the leaves most often found with turkey stuffing, but was also used to help medically treat gastrointestinal upsets and mouth ulcers.

Have a great upcoming week,

Catie Welch

Family History Friday: Children's Photographs with No Names

A photo album has just been donated to the museum collection and none of them are labelled.  The only writing we can find refers to Johnny Sloan, 1887.  If you have any idea who these people are or what family they may belong to (most likely Sloan, McArthur, Allen and others), please contact us.  The photo album is full so we will be posting more photographs over the next few weeks for Family History Fridays.  

Angela Bobier 519-762-3072  info@backuspagehouse.ca 

  

  Possibly says "PA Baker"

Events to attend @ the Backus-Page House Museum

It's hard to believe that July is already upon us! With the arrival of July comes the arrival of lots of fun and exciting events! 

Be sure to come out to the museum for a tour of the 1850 house and to experience our Homestead Days, which run Tuesday through Friday. Receive a tour of the barn full of interesting tools and farm equipment. 

This Sunday, July 5 is our first Victorian Tea for the summer. Enjoy tea and baked goods in the Parlour of the museum as well as a tour of the house for only $10/person. Come out to the museum to experience a Victorian tea party any Sunday in July and August. 

St. Peters Church will also be offering tours every Tuesday and Friday in July and August! Operating hours are 10:00 until 4:30pm. Tours cost $2.00/person.

History Day Camp runs every Thursday in July and every Wednesday in August. There are lots of fun activities planned for each day. Pre-register your child(ren) today! Themes include; Neutral Indians, Talbot and the Early Settlers, Confederation, The Railroad, WW1, Roaring 20's, Dirty 30's, WW2, We Love the 50's and 60's, the Fur Trade and the 70's and 80's! 

Also happening this month is the Food Fight at the Arts and Cookery Bank in West Lorne! Check out the flyer and links below for more details!

We hope you can attend these exciting events as you won't want to miss out on the fun to be had! 

http://bit.ly/1eXW2Ea

For more information call the Backus-Page House Museum 519-762-3072 or email info@backuspagehouse.ca

World War Wednesdays: The Day the Greatest Country in the World Proved It

     Happy Canada Day! The day we celebrate being citizens of the greatest country in the world. How fortunate we are to have the ability to enjoy the countless freedoms afforded to us by a nation renowned for its goodwill. Of course, as we all know, this has not come without a price. Countless people have given their lives in order to uphold the significance of this day, making it well worth the recognition. One day in particular stands out when we think of Canadians making a name for themselves in times of war, and will be the topic of today's post: April 9, 1917 at the capture of Vimy Ridge.

Canadians searching captured German trenches for Germans still hiding on Vimy Ridge, April 1917
Library and Archives Canada

     At 5:30 a.m., April 9, 1917, Easter Monday, the creeping artillery barrage began to move steadily toward the Germans. Behind it advanced 20,000 soldiers of the first attacking wave of the four Canadian divisions, heavily laden with 32 kilograms of equipment per soldier. There was some hand-to-hand fighting, but the greatest resistance, and heavy Canadian losses, came from the machine-guns in the German intermediate line. Overcoming this resistance, three of the four divisions captured their part of the Ridge by midday, right on schedule. In the final stage, the 2nd Canadian Division was assisted by the British 13th Brigade, which fell under its command for the operation.

     The 4th Canadian Division's principal objective was Hill 145, the highest and most important feature of the whole Ridge. Once taken, its summit would give the Canadians a commanding view of German rearward defenses in the Douai Plain as well as those remaining on the Ridge itself.

German front line from the Canadian trenches Vimy Ridge Hill 145 

     

     Because of its importance, the Germans had fortified Hill 145 with well-wired trenches and a series of deep dug-outs beneath its rear slope. The brigades of the 4th Division were hampered by fire from the Pimple, the other prominent height, which inflicted costly losses on the advancing waves of infantry. Renewed attacks were mounted using troops that were originally scheduled to attack the Pimple. Finally, in the afternoon of April 10, a fresh assault by a relieving brigade cleared the summit of Hill 145 and thus placed the whole of Vimy Ridge in Canadian hands. Two days later, units of the 10th Canadian Brigade successfully stormed the Pimple. By that time, the enemy had accepted the loss of Vimy Ridge as permanent and had pulled back more than three kilometers. Ultimately, Vimy Ridge marked the only significant success of the Allied spring offensive of 1917.
     The Canadian achievement in capturing Vimy Ridge owed its success to sound and meticulous planning and thorough preparation, all of which was aimed at minimizing casualties. But it was the splendid fighting qualities and devotion to duty of Canadian officers and soldiers on the battlefield that were decisive. Most of them citizen-soldiers, they performed like professionals.

Canadians attacked German machine-guns, the greatest obstacles to their advance, with great courage. They saved many comrades' lives as a result. Four earned the Victoria Cross for their bravery in such dangerous exploits, among them Wallacetown's own Ellis Sifton. Of these, three were earned on the opening day of the battle.

Lance-Sergeant Ellis Sifton of the 18th Battalion 

    The Canadian record, crowned by the achievements at Vimy, earned for Canada a separate signature on the Versailles Peace Treaty ending the war. Back home, the victory at Vimy, won by troops from every part of the country, helped unite many Canadians in pride at the courage of their citizen-soldiers, and established a feeling of real nationhood. That pride is still felt today every time we reflect upon our country's contributions in times of war. As we celebrate this great nation today, it is important to do it with gratitude for those who gave us the true reason to be proud. 

   Cheers, thanks for reading, and enjoy your Canada Day!

      Delany

Supplementary information courtesy of veterans.gc.ca.