Born June 26, 1855 in Greenwich, England, Richard was the 2nd oldest child of Richard and Rachel Pennell. Richard immigrated on the S. S. Niger with his family from Liverpool to Quebec City May 11, 1871. He married Margaret “Mag” McLaren in 1879.
According to the 1891 Census, Richard Jr. lived at the property next to (across the road from) Richard Sr.
In 1901, Richard Jr. was in Langford, Manitoba; 1916 and 1921 Marquette, Manitoba;
Edna Ollivier remembers her Uncle Dick cutting all the cherry trees down on the maple hill on the Pennell lhomestead. His mother, Rachel, was enraged and there was a “blow-up” and Dick left. Edna doesn’t remember if he ever came back.
Margaret spoke Gaelic and was supposedly from the Renfrew County area. Her family apparently was financially secure, more so than the Pennell’s. She also smoked a clay pipe, which her mother-in-law, Rachel, found to be very disagreeable.
Dick and Mag lived in Rutherglen for a while, then moved to Manitoba, living in Erickson, Eden, Neepawa and Portage-la-Prairie, in between each place possibly moving back to Ontario.
“Descendants of Richard Pennell and Rachel Crew”, Wendy Smith, page 7, original source Edna Ollivier
Richard died around 1940 in Neepawa, Saskatchewan and is buried there.
Richard and Mag had one son:
- George “Georgie” Pennell, b. ca. 1880, m. “Beckie”, then after Beckie’s death, when Georgie was in his 80’s, he remarried, but they didn’t stay together. He moved to Rutherglen while in his 80’s. Edna Ollivier remembers that he was still quite a handsome man.
- Margaret Pennell, b. 1906, m. Mr. Nicholas (NOTE: While living in Eden, Margaret commuted to Neepawa to help her sister Evelyn wit her laundry work. Later she worked as a live-in housekeeper, about 15 minutes from Portage-La-Prairie.
- Evelyn Pennell, m. Mr. Smyth
Eden July 22/31
Well Alice we are sending you a parcel today containing a piece of my 83rd birthday cake made by a friend and a piece of Dick’s scone that the promised you.
Well Dick says he hasn’t forgot the time he took you out of bed when you was crying to quiet you and also the time he took you into the Lake at Graswels point to baptize you.
So you see we haven’t forgot you folk yet.
Yours
Dick & Mag
Eden June 2/38
Dear Sister & all
I received your very welcome letter some time ago but have been very slow about answering as I have nothing to write about. I am getting so hard to hear, no one can talk to me without shouting, so I sit here all day only at mealtime but I had a long car drive last Sunday, over 30 miles. It was very nice.
Well Margret is home from Ontario & is away back to the Hospital in Neepawa to help Evelyn with her laundry work. George is at home now. O Alice I only wish you could see …
… their garden. It is a pretty place. Geo & Beck spends a lot of hard work on it but they are well rewarded for their work. Everything growing lovely. I do wish you could take a trip out to see us some time. Well that is all I can think of.
Hoping to hear from you again when you find time to write as I can see to read good yet.
I will finish with love to all from your
Old Sister Mag
I don’t know if you can read this or not
Eden June 24 [1940]
With love from all, Beckie
Dear Aunt Eliza and Alice
Just a line to let you know Grandpa passed away last night at might in the Neepawa Hospital. He was only there 3 days. We took him in Wednesday morning and this is Saturday morning. He took the turn on Tuesday and we had the Dr. here and he had to draw off the urine. It seemed to affect the bladder and bowels. At last
up till then he was able to get around and sit outside every day. So we did not have much trouble with him. He was only 3 days in bed. Granny is very well and is so glad he did not last long after he got bad. He will be buried in Neepawa by Canon Roy, the English church minister on Sunday. I am writing Aunt Mary and Aunt Frances. We all fee it very much but Margaret seems to take it worst of any. Its nice to know he is in the hands of a righteous God. It reminds us that our own time is coming too.
My Dear Auntie [Alice]
Really I am getting worse at writing. I cannot remember if I have answered your last letter or not. Anyway, I hope you keep reasonably well. I’m sure you are never very well. Did I tell you we live in Portage. Moved from Eden last May. The address in case you do not have it is 53 10th St. N.E., Portage La Prairie
Dad heard from Aunt Eliza. I hope she keeps reasonably well. Its so sad to think of her away from her own. [Eliza died in 1955] The mother in the home where I live (keep house) died last July from T.B. She had spent most of her married life in the San [sanitorium]. They have a little girl who will be 12 yrs next week.
My work is to care for the grandfather who is over 80 and not too well. They all three plan on going to B.C. for Xmas. I wonder if the old man will stand the trip.
Mom and Dad are not too bad. Mom had an attack of stone in the kidney not long ago. The rheumatism is very bad too.
Now dear Auntie excuse my short note. I’d love to hear from you. Be sure to tell me news of all the family. My sister Evelyn was home for a week last fall. Her little girl is 8 yrs. old now. No more.
Love Margaret
I work 15 miles from Portage in a little village. So I don’t get in home so very often. I’ll be going home while the folks are away in B.C. though.
In 1993, Aunty Jo wrote in a letter to me…
George Pennell (Uncle Dick’s son) lived at Portage Le Prairie, and I understood he owned the house. Uncle Dick (Pennell) died I think before we were married and as they had only old age pension, about $35.00 a month to live on, I don’t think there would be a marker for his or his wife’s grave. Mother wrote to them faithfully and I remember at Xmas she always sent him “Old Chum” tobacco. They were “homesteaders” and had a hard life.
Letter from Georgena Buchanan, July 20, 1993