World War Wednesdays: History People Problems #2



    If I had a dollar for every time that I've heard how unemployable a history degree is, I could have it paid off already. I feel like people in this field get a really bad rap and I'd like to try to set the record straight! My goal isn't to write a big boo-hoo defense of history people, but to hopefully add some perspective to the situation and air out some of my thoughts.

     By now, I feel like I've heard all the jokes and opinions out there about how weird historians are and how irrelevant, outmoded, and useless their studies are. I even found this word online courtesy of Urban Dictionary:
historisist

one who knows much history, but only lets out small amounts to either (a) annoy people or (b) try to make themselves seem intellegent/funny/cool.

    

 Now, I would be lying if I said that I haven't encountered a few individuals who fit this description (and there really is nothing more annoying). But, I think it's wrong to paint all of us with the same brush, and I believe there is a good explanation for it. I feel that the root of it is that historians are extremely lucky, and take every opportunity to demonstrate this. To pursue an education in history and then assume a position in the field is to live your dream and be able to harness your passion for your career. There aren't many other fields that allow you to take what you have read about and watched all the movies and shows possible about since you were a young child and apply that knowledge to a job, with the same enthusiasm as when you first found that piece of history that triggered your passion. At the same time, though, it is unreasonable to assume that the rest of the world will share that same passion, or even be remotely interested in it. All through school, we history students see the groups of science, engineering and math students gathered together studying and discussing their class material. Unfortunately for us, we just can't do that in the same way, and I find that the subject can be very isolating at times. Since we mostly have to write long papers on a very specific topic, we are constantly faced with a major concentration of minutely specific facts over an extremely rushed and stressful period in which to organize it into an essay. This makes it difficult to share the burden and partake in a group effort. In a professional setting, the jobs can be just as specific, which leads to the realistic assumption that history jobs are limited. I think that similar to any other field, if you love it enough, you will want to pursue it as much as possible, which ultimately makes you a more qualified prospect for the jobs that do exist.

 

     But what about those people who decide not to make history their career, but still decide to use their free time to learn more about the past? It is absolutely possible to care about interesting events and information without making it your whole life (and without using it to annoy people). This past weekend, I had the opportunity to experience this concept while volunteering as the upstairs tour guide at the Backus-Page House's Road to Culloden event.

A group of re-enactors at the event

 

     Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to encounter people from across the entire spectrum of History People. I met the die-hard re-enactors who travel far and wide to camp at events and live and act completely as though it were the 18th century. I also met a number of people from the surrounding area who have an interest in history in general and wanted to support a great event without really knowing what to expect. I can say with full honesty that there was not one single person I encountered who was anything less than cheerful, enthusiastic, and happy to be there. Nobody tried to wow me with their knowledge, not one person undermined what I was telling them, and I did not have a single closed-off or unfriendly visitor. It truly did prove wrong all of the typical perceptions of people interested in history and I was so beyond happy to be a part of it. What I wish people would know about the history field is that it is made up of a group of passionate people who are determined to keep pieces of the past alive and accessible for all of us. Yes, they may seem obsessive, but it is impossible to put together such great events without the drive to make it happen and realize the dream. As long as we have History People to care, think, write, and do, history is accessible to those who are interested. To me, that's worth it.

     Thanks for reading,

 

      Delany

Memory Mondays: Colonel the Honourable Thomas Talbot

Colonel the Honourable Thomas Talbot 1771-1853
By Sandra Sales

On July 19, 1771, Thomas Talbot was born into an Anglo-Irish aristocratic family, on ancestral lands in Malahide, Republic of Ireland, which the Talbots had owned since the 12^th century. He was the fourth of twelve children. At the age of 11, he was commissioned ensign in the 66^th Regiment of Foot, British Army. By February, 1792, at 20 years of age, he was in Montreal with the 24^th Foot when he was named private secretary to John Graves Simcoe, the first lieutenant governor of the new province of Upper Canada. With Simcoe, and later on Simcoe’s behalf, Talbot traveled extensively between York and Detroit, an area bounded by the Thames River and the Lake Erie shoreline.

Talbot’s duties with Simcoe throughout Upper Canada seemed to influence the rest of his life. On Christmas Day in 1800, now-Major Talbot sold his commission with the British Army and determined to become a settler in Upper Canada. He had been given a field officer’s grant of 5,000 acres in which to establish a settlement, and on May 21, 1803, he chose a spot at the mouth of what is now known as Talbot Creek in Dunwich Township on the north shore of Lake Erie. He later referred to this as “impenetrable wilderness”, but there, over time, he built up his estate and took on the role of selecting settlers, extending roads, and allocating land. His initial intent was twofold: to bring in settlers from Britain and Europe that would be loyal to Britain, "and to make hemp a major crop supplying Britain with rope for ships’ rigging. In order to encourage settlement, he built a sawmill, gristmill, blacksmith shop, cooper shop, distillery and barns. Later his priorities changed, but writing to Major Halton in the lieutenant-governor’s office, June 1, 1811, he said, “I have infinite pleasure in stating for his Excellency's information that I have been very successful in procuring settlers and am filling this part of the Province with a most industrious description of inhabitants."

In Talbot’s early years there, he enjoyed considerable political power in public office and a position of influence. Despite raising the ire of the provincial government at York for his autocratic methods and his tendency to go over their heads to Lord Bathurst, the colonial secretary in London, Talbot eventually extended his settlement from the Detroit River to Delhi. He placed 3,000 settlers in 29 townships in southwestern Upper Canada.

Talbot’s settlement was barely six years old at the beginning of the War of 1812. Talbot was commissioned colonel by Major-General Sir Isaac Brock in 1812 and made commander of the London District which was made up of the militias of Middlesex, Norfolk and Oxford. In 1812, Colonel Talbot began to recruit volunteers for the Middlesex Militia from the Norfolk Militia and Oxford Militia. At first, recruits were hard to find and only 60 men were willing to leave their young families and new farms during harvest. Nevertheless, by August 10, 1812, Talbot mustered upwards of 350 men who boarded a small fleet of boats at Port Dover that transported the volunteers to Detroit. On August 16, Major General Isaac Brock with British forces and Talbot’s recruits captured Fort Detroit. Later the Middlesex Militia participated at the Battle of the Thames and at Lundy’s Lane.

At first, the community of Port Talbot was not greatly affected by the conflict. However, after an initial success, the British position weakened. Following the Battle of Lake Erie, September 10, 1813, the Americans had control of Lake Erie. After the Battle of Longwoods in March of 1814, the area of western Upper Canada was basically undefended. American forces were sent in to destroy the settlements in an attempt to reduce the ability of the region to support the British Army. Between March and September of 1814, raids were unrelenting as American soldiers and sympathizers marauded along Lake Erie. Some of these marauders were residents of the Talbot Settlement who defected to the American side and were employed as scouts and guides for the American raiding expeditions. Two, Andrew Westbrook and Simon Zelotes Watson, were known to have vendettas against Talbot. Watson had hoped to partner with Talbot in settling the area. Talbot had refused. On September 9, 1814, General McArthur accompanied by Andrew Westbrook, invaded Port Talbot. In the absence of Talbot and the militia, the settlement was completely plundered.

In Colonel Thomas Talbot’s own words:

On the 16th of last month (August, 1814) the enemy, amounting to upwards of 100 men, composed of Indians and Americans painted and disguised as the former, surprised the settlement of Port Talbot, where they committed the most wanton and atrocious acts of violence by robbing the undermentioned fifty heads of families of all their horses and every particle of wearing apparel and household furniture leaving the sufferers naked and in the most wretched state.

Petition of Colonel Talbot to the Loyal and Patriotic Society, 2 September, 1814

The vagabond enemy, not being satisfied with the plunder they carried off from Port Talbot on the 16th August, returned in greater force about the middle of September, when they burnt my mills and other buildings, destroyed all my flour and killed my sheep. Poor Burwell’s house and barn were likewise sacrificed; thence the enemy extended their violence down my road fifteen miles. . . . My mills having been burnt the farmers will be obliged to take their grain at least 120 miles to have it ground, the expenses attending the transport in these hard times will be heavy indeed.

Thomas Talbot, Letter to Chief Justice Scott, 24 October, 1814

Though the raiders on Port Talbot hoped to take Talbot prisoner, he was never captured. He was either away at Turkey Point, or evaded capture. At home, Talbot dressed the same has his neighbours. Legend has it that one time he was able simply to walk away because the enemy was told he was the man who looked after the sheep.

Thomas Talbot remained at Port Talbot for 50 years, occasionally visited by members of the British gentry, but seemingly content in his isolation. He had no offspring and left half of his 50,000 acre estate to his nephew Colonel Richard Airey and the other half to his trusted companion/estate manager George Macbeth. Talbot died in London with George Macbeth’s family on Feb 5, 1853 at the age of 82. Part of his legacy is the Talbot Road (Highway 3) that opened up southwestern Upper Canada to travel and settlement.

References:

The Talbot Papers, ed. James Coyne, 1908

Talbot, Thomas. Dictionary of Canadian Biography http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/talbot_thomas_8E.html 

Through the War of 1812 Graveside Project, Colonel The Honourable Thomas Talbot 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 #2

Chamber Pot, Bed Pan & Commode

The Chamber Pot 

·         Chamber pots with lids were preferred because of the fumes and moisture of the waste material and were kept under the bed or in a nightstand.

·         Chamber pots were mostly used during winter months when the family members did not want to walk through the snow to get to the outhouse and during the night when they did not want to light a candle.

·         The shape of chamber pots made it convenient for women to squat or stand and was able to be hidden under the large skirts.

·         In the late 1800’s chamber pots were sometimes built into cabinets with closeable covers. 

·         Chamber pots are still used today in countries that lack indoor plumbing. 

The Bed Pan 

Was for the bedridden, whether ill, elderly, or injured.  The porcelain one shown here was mass produced in the late 1800’s.  The hollow handle could be used by the men, but it’s main function was for emptying the contents of the pan.

The Commode 

·         Replaced the chamber pot and the design became classier. 

·         The word commode is French for convenient or suitable.

·         In the United Kingdom commode often refers to a chair that may or may not be on wheels, enclosing a chamber pot.

·         Other terms used are the convenience, necessary stool, night stool, night commode, or toilet chair. 

 

Pictured is a commode from the Backus-Page House Museum

Family History Friday: The Wight's

  

These beautifully framed portraits have been donated to the Backus-Page House Museum collection by Ron Leitch.

Transcribed from the back: "Elizabeth Wight"

Transcribed from the back: "John Wight

Ayrshire Scotland

(Herb Wight's father)"

This is the same Herb Wight shown in last week's post of Largie Photographs.  

John H. Wight was born on October 2, 1839 in Ayrshire, Scotland and married Elizabeth Lock who was born, also in Scotland, on January 5, 1844.  We have yet to find their marriage date.  The couple arrived in Canada in 1870.

On their son Herbert James Wight's birth certificate it shows John and Elizabeth living in Southwold Township, but future census records sight Dunwich Township as their place of residence.  On the Ontario, Canada Voter List up to 1900, Polling Sub-Division No.4 John Wight is a tenant on the North half of Lot 11 on Concession A B F, which front onto the Thames River.  It's possible the family was a tenant of the Thompson's.  

In the 1891 Census of Canada, John (a farmer) and Elizabeth have 10 children living with them (Alexander 18, William 16, John 13, Robert 11, James aka Herb 7, Thomas 5, Edwin 3, Jessie 19, Maggie 14, Elizabeth 19).  Their neighbours are Duncan and Jennett Leitch and nearby families are McMillan's, Smith's, Leitch's, McPhail's, McCallum's, and others.  

May 16, 17 & 18, 2015 at Backus-Page House Museum

 

Monday, May 18 we are open for tours from noon-4:30pm.  The Elgin Historical Society is having the annual Talbot Toast at St. Peter's Anglican Church Cemetery at 2pm.  On display in our Textile Arts Room is a winding sheet used when transporting Colonel Thomas Talbot after his passing.  

World War Wednesdays: The Elgin Regiment and the Second World War

 

"Everywhere. Whither Right And Glory Lead"

 

 

     One of our area's most significant contributions to Canadian military effort in general is the Elgin Regiment, which has been a proud representation of the area in numerous conflicts throughout history, beginning before the nation was even confederated.

     On 14 September 1866 the 25th “Elgin Battalion of Infantry” was authorized to be formed from five existing independent marine, infantry and rifle companies which had previously been established on the following dates:
'No. 1 Company' (The 1st Volunteer Militia Rifle Company at St. Thomas, 17 July 1856),
'No. 2 Company' (Volunteer Marine Company at Port Stanley, 31 January 1862),
'No. 3 Company' (Volunteer Militia Company of Infantry at Vienna, 29 October 1862),
'No. 4 Company' (Tilsonburg Infantry Company, 13 July 1866), and
'No. 5 Company' (Aylmer Infantry Company, 8 June 1866)

     In 1915 the Regiment, answering Europe’s call to arms, had details placed on active service for local protection and augmenting the Canadian Expeditionary Force with volunteers for overseas service. Among providing soldiers to other locally raised battalions of the CEDF, the Elgin Regiment was instrumental in the raising of the 91st Overseas Battalion, CEF. This unit was authorized on 22 December 1915 and sailed for England on 29 June 1916, its personnel were absorbed by the '12th, 35th, 36th, 37th, 38th and 39th Reserve Battalion'(s) on 15 July 1916 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. Perpetuation of the 91st Battalion, CEF, is still carried by the Regiment today.
     In 1920, as part of the general reorganization of the Militia, the Regiment was redesignated “The Elgin Regiment.”
     On 24 May 1940, the regiment mobilized 'The Elgin Regiment, CASF', for overseas service in the Second World War, and recruitment began in early June. In one month the entire 962-man wartime strength for the battalion was achieved. After extensive training, the Elgins moved to Toronto in 1941 where they were placed in the 12th Brigade.  This unit was converted to armour and redesignated the '25th Armoured Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), CAC' on 26 January 1942. Later that year, on 29 September 1942, the unit embarked for Britain as part of the 3rd Armoured Brigade, 4th Canadian Armoured Division.

Elgin Regiment at Thames Valley Training Camp, August-September, 1940. Elgin County Photograph Collection, C4 Sh4 P9

     The '1st Canadian Tank Delivery Squadron' was formed from "B" Squadron, 25th Armoured Regiment (The Elgin Regiment) on 6 May 1943. This Squadron landed in Sicily on 16 July 1943, and in Italy on 14 September 1943.
     The Regiment was converted and redesignated '25th Canadian Tank Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), CAC' on 15 September 1943, and on 21 October 1943 the 1st Canadian Tank Delivery Squadron was redesignated "A" Squadron, 25th Canadian Tank Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), CAC.
     On 15 March 1944 it was redesignated '25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment), CAC'. One squadron of the unit landed in Normandy on 8 June 1944, followed by Headquarters and other squadrons in July 1944. The detached squadron in Italy moved to North-West Europe in March 1945 to rejoin the Regiment. The overseas regiment was disbanded on 15 February 1946.

Welcome Home from the St. Thomas Times-Journal, January 26, 1946.

     After their return to Canada in 1945-46 the Elgin Regiment returned to an infantry role. Later, in 1954, The Elgin Regiment returned to the Armoured Corps where it remained until 1997. On 14 August 1997, The Elgin Regiment (RCAC) was disbanded for the purpose of conversion to an engineer unit the same day, becoming 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins).
     Currently, the Elgin Regiment remains the 31 Combat Engineer Regiment and is headquartered in St. Thomas.

    The Elgins are associated with some of the biggest operations of the Second World War, and our local boys made a name for themselves in Europe and beyond in a number of different conditions.
     Do you know someone who served with The Elgins? We'd love to hear your stories!

Thanks for reading,

    Delany

Information courtesy of elgincounty.ca and forces.gc.ca


Connect, Inspire and Share at Historic House Museums

From an article by George W. Daniel, titled "At Historic Houses and Buildings: Connecting Past, Present and Future" in the Public Programming course I am currently taking.

"We are called to strive to connect people with their history and to help them thereby achieve a sense of belonging to a larger community, of belongonging to those who came before and to those who will come after.
My belief is that historic house museums can play a central role in supporting this effort and can both educate the public about history and inspire them to become engaged in the study and preservation of history.  If they set their sights high, house museums can communicate an authentic sense of place about their region and help people develop a sense of connectedness to others and strengthen the sense of worth and responsibility that goes with that.
Historic house museum can do these things because they bring history to people in both tangible and abstract ways and thereby meet a deeply felt human need."

This sums up everything I believe about our beloved Backus-Page House Museum, outbuildings, and gardens.  When you visit I'm hoping you make a connection to the land, the house, staff, volunteers, items in the house or the stories we show and tell.  I want you to feel that you belong.  That the connection you get here inspires you to be closer to past and present generations and become involved in preserving all forms of history for future generations.

A quote I love is "In the end all history is personal."  You may visit here and be inspired to pass along an important personal object and its story to a family member or friend, which is just as important as being inspired to donate objects to a museum, volunteer your time, research your family tree, write a book or make a historic documentary.  

May what we do here at Backus-Page House Museum and Tyrconnell Heritage Society, give you a sense of belonging and inspire you to pass your personal history on.

Angela Bobier, Cultural Manager