Cecil was born February 1, 1898 in Rutherglen, Ontario, to Eliza (nee Pennell) and John “Jack” James.
Cecil married Marie Tremblay and had two sons. From his will below, I can only make out the name of his 2nd son, Leonard.
He fought in World War I in the 12th Reserve, 1st Corp., 75th Battalion CEF, D Co., #3035764 and held the rank of Private. He was discharged May 12, 1919 and returned home in June of 1919 on the R.M.S. Mauretania.
UK World War I Service Medals and Awards RollMarriage of Cecil to Marie Tremblay
In 1950, Cecil was living in Kapuskasing, and later in New Toronto. He died February 12, 1959.
James was born December 27, 1889 to Mary Ann Pennell and William James of Rutherglen, Ontario. He married Margaret I. McDonald and died October 12, 1976. James served in World War I. In 1953, he lived in Englehart and operated Tray Express Company.
John was born December 29, 1887 in Rutherglen, Ontario. He served in the 59th Battalion during World War I. He was a member of Branch 23 of the Royal Canadian Legion in North Bay where he received a 50-year pin. He was also a member of the Orange Lodge and a founding member of the Elk Lake Masonic Lodge No. 507. John also spent some time in jail and he worked for the ONR as an engineer.
He married Annie Gertrude “Gerti” Smith, who was the daughter of Willard Smith and Mary Johnson on Rutherglen. Gerti was a widow, having married William Daniel Smith, and had one some “Billy”. Gerti and John had two daughters: Eleanor James and Ruth James. Gerti died in 1926.
John then married Julia McNulty and had three sons: Jack James, Dale James, Darwin James. All three of these sons spent time in jail and were known to be part of the notorious “Kelly Gang” of North Bay.
St. Margaret’s, Rutherglen was built around 1855. In 1891, St. Margaret’s was entirely rebuilt after being blown down in a storm. The church was consecrated by Bishop Charles Hamilton on October 30, 1896. In 1951, construction of a new St. Margaret’s began and the church was consecrated by Bishop Robert Jefferson on July 6, 1952. The log frame of the old church was torn down and removed. St. Margaret’s is part of the parish of Mattawa.
Source: http://archeion-aao.fis.utoronto.ca/ , March 9, 2009
St. Margaret’s Cemetery
Plot #
Markings
Plot #
Markings
1
JAMES
2
In memory of
In loving memory of
Phyllis JAMES
Courtney W. JAMES
Died Aug. 26th, 1915
1907-1961
Aged 4 Yrs.
At Rest
Deeply Mourned
3
JAMES
4
SMITH
In loving memory of
In memory of
Mary Ann PENNELL
Elmo
Beloved wife of
1907-1950
William C. JAMES
Gone but not forgotten
Died Oct. 3, 1937
Aged 69 Years
Beloved husband
William C.
1858-1947
5
FARMER
6
Thy will be done
John 1859-1907
In loving memory of
Charles 1896-1957
Richard PENNELL
Jemima 1863-1936
Died Nov. 24, 1916
B. FARMER
Aged 82 yrs 9 mos
Died June 15, 1899
Also his wife
Aged 12 years
Rachel S. CREW
W. FARMER
Aged 81 yrs. 5 mos
Died March 6, 1904
Aged 10 mo’s
7
In memory of
8
In loving memory of
Elize CREW
John JAMES
Wife of
Died Aug. 21, 1942
James HONE
Also a son
Died Mar. 7,1897
Escar John
Aged 73 yrs
Eliza JAMES
Blessed are the dead in the Lord
Born Sept. 3, 1872
Died Mar. 6, 1955
9
PENNELL
10
Jas. R. MCNAMARA
George PENNELL
Died July 12, 1888
Born Apr. 27, 1858
Aged 15 yrs & 3 mos
Died Aug 31, 1930
He Giveth His Joy
His wife
Elizabeth MCNAMARA
Charlotte E. EDMONDS
Died June 14, 1888
BornFeb 2, 1858
Aged 9 yrs 11 mos
Died Feb 17, 1909
Ann C. MCNAMARA
Their daughter Rachel S.
Died June 13, 1888
Born Mar 9, 1890
Aged 3 years & 4 mos
Died Aug 28, 1890
John MCNAMARA
Died June 28, 1883
11
JAMES
12
Hugh SHIELDS
In loving memory
Died Oct. 10, 1910
Eric Alexander
Aged 76 yrs
Died June 25, 1950
At Rest
Age 48 yrs
Some day we will understand
13
In memory of
14
HONE
Anne TREMBLE
James Wm.
Beloved wife of
1883-1957
Peter DOERE
Florence A.
Died Jan 9, 1895
1882-1971
Aged 63 yrs
Native of County Down, Ireland
I tried to find out the full list of burials at St. Margaret’s Church. I was told that there were way more than the head stones showed. So I wrote to the Anglican Church Diocese. Since it cost (at the time) $40/hr for them to do a search for all burials at the cemetery, I gave them a date range of when I thought the church was built to when I was told burials there had ceased and asked only for the surnames of Pennell and James. The following is what they were able to find.
“D” are Deaths/Burials; “B” is Baptisms; “M” is Marriages
B/D/M
Surname
Name One
Name Two
Parents
Year
Parish
Register Ref.
B
Pennell
? [Edna Eliza]
Richard & ? [Rachel]
1905
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/20
B
Pennell
Abigail Amanda
(Adult Baptism)
1916
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/29
D
Pennell
Alex Cecil
1945
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/252
B
Pennell
Alexander Cecil
George & Charlotte
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/8
B
Pennell
Alexander Cecil
Richard W. & Mary Ellen
1916
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/29
M
Pennell
Alice Maria
Adoniram Smith
1904
St Alban’s, Mattawa
237/18
B
Pennell
Alice Maria
Richard & Rachel
1885
Parish of Petawawa
149/39
B
Pennell
Annie Seeley
Geo. & Charlotte Emily
1886
Parish of Petawawa
149/50
B
Pennell
Carrie Margaret
Richard W. & Mary Ellen
1917
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/30
D
Pennell
Cecil Murray
1929
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/249
B
Pennell
Charlotte Emma
Richard W. & Mary
1920
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/31
B
Pennell
Earl Robert
Austin G. & Mrs
1940
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/41
M
Pennell
Eliza Jane
John James
1894
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/71
B
Pennell
Francis Iva
Obadiah & Abagail
1917
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/30
B
Pennell
Gabrielle Mary
Alexander E. & Dorothy G.
1922
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/32
D
Pennell
George Matthew
1930
St Alban’s, Mattawa
B
Pennell
George Matthew
Richard W. & Margaret
Parish of Petawawa
149/39
B
Pennell
George Matthew
George & Charlotte Emily
1886
Parish of Petawawa
149/50
B
Pennell
George Matthew Austin
Richard W. & Carrie M. E.
1906
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/20
B
Pennell
Herbert Gordon
George & Charlotte E
1899
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/16
B
Pennell
James Victor
George & Charlotte E
1890
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/4
M
Pennell
Linda Charlotte
James Clifford Russell
1961
St Alban’s, Mattawa
610/35
B
Pennell
Melville Jerome
Obadiah & Abigail
1919
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/31
B
Pennell
Abadiah
George & Charlotte Emily
1888
Parish of Petawawa
149/64
D
Pennell
Rachel Sarah
1916
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/248
B
Pennell
Rachel Sarah
George & Charlotte
1889
Parish of Petawawa
149/11
D
Pennell
Rachel Sarah
1889
Parish of Petawawa
149/313
D
Pennell
Richard
1916
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/248
M
Pennell
Richard William
Mary Farmer
1909
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/89
B
Pennell
Richard William
George & Charlotte
1996
Parish of Petawawa
149/49
B
Pennell
Velma albiena
George A. & Mary Velma Riley
1935
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/38
B
Pennell
William Henry Esca.
George & Charlotte
1894
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/11
B
Pennell
William Herbert
Richard W. & Mary Ellen
1916
St Alban’s, Mattawa
236/29
B/M/D
Surname
Name One
Name Two
Parents
Year
Parish
Parish Ref.
B
James
? [Elizabeth Francis “Lizzie”]
William & Mary
1894
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/11
M
James
Alice Eliza
Hughes, Gerald Allen
1960
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
610/31
B
James
Alma Alice
John & Eliza
1906
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/20
B
James
Bernice Marie
Christopher R. & Mary Jane
1925
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/34
B
James
Betty Edna
Ross C. & Edna Mary J. Hill
1935
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/38
M
James
Betty Edna
Whalley, Keith Elmer
1955
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
610/14
B
James
Cecil Francis
John & Eliza Jane
1897
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/15
B
James
Christopher Richard
William & Mary Ann
1886
Parish of Petawawa
149/41
M
James
Clifford Russell
Pennell, Linda Charlotte
1961
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
610/35
B
James
Eric
John & Eliza Jane
1901
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/18
B
James
Florence Flossie May
William & Mary Ann
1897
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/15
B
James
Francis Elmer
George & Martha
1929
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/36
B
James
George Matthew
William J. & Mary
1902
St. Aban’s, Mattawa
236/18
M
James
Georgina May
Nitsehkie, Cecil Alfred
1952
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
610/9
B
James
Grenvill Campbell
Christopher & Mary
1921
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/32
M
James
Grenvill Campbell
Sullivan, Irene Sarah
1952
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
610/8
B
James
Hilda Beverley
Russell S. & Mrs
1938
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/40
M
James
Hilda Beverley
Sullivan Kenneth William
1957
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
610/20
B
James
Irene Dagmar
Christopher & Mary
1921
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/32
D
James
James Norman
1944
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/252
B
James
James Richard
William & Mary
1890
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/2
M
James
John
Pennell, Eliza Jane
1894
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/71
B
James
John Thomas Victor
William & Mary Ann
1888
Parish of Petawawa
149/64
M
James
Joycelyn Yvonne
Conning, Murray Carman
1951
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
610/6
B
James
Lanny Ross
Ross C. & Edna J.M.
1940
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/41
B
James
Marshall George
Christopher R. & Mary Jane
1924
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/34
M
James
Mary
Duffy, Isaac
1886
Parish of Petawawa
149/208
D
James
Phyllis
1915
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/248
B
James
Phyllis Eliza
William & Mary Ann
1911
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/27
B
James
Rachel Sarah
William & Mary Ann
1891
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/7
B
James
Reta Janet
Russell S. & Yvonne Bellaire
1936
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/39
B
James
Reta Janet
Russell & Yvonne Bellaire
1941
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/43
B
James
Robert Manley
Christopher & Mary
1921
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/32
B
James
Ross Christopher
Christopher & Mary Jane
1912
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/24
B
James
Russell Sylvester
William & Mary
1904
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/19
B
James
Stanley William
ChristopherR. & Mary Jane
1916
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/29
M
James
Stanley William
Marshall, Hazel Emma
1946
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/155
B
James
Violet Louise
William & Mary
1909
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/22
M
James
Warren Alexander
Prescott, Valerie Edith
1962
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
610/36
B
James
William Henry
William J. & Mary
1900
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
236/17
1900 – St. Margaret’s1909 – English Church, Rutherglen1926 – Anglican Church MinisterVery centre person is Georgena Buchanan (nee Smith)
Phillip Gallson was the son of John Gallson and Florence Peters. He was born in Zolpho Springs, Florida in 1927. Phill spent most of his life in the US Army and served in Korea and Viet Nam.
Sharlene Buszka wrote an amazing memorial to her mother, Aunt Marian, which contains a lot of information about Uncle Phill. Click the button below to see that memorial.
Alexander Pennell, b. 1892, son of George Matthew Pennell (Gramma Smith’s brother) and Charlotte Edmunds. This Alex served 4 years in WW1 as a gunner. He was severely wounded twice and sent to England where he met his future wife, Dorothy Rhodes, a nurse. Alex worked as a Game Warden in Gravenhurst. He had one child, Gabriel Pennell. Alexander’s brother was Herb Pennell, who also served in WW1.
Alexander Pennell’s brother, Richard William Pennell married Carrie Sullivan (Melvin’s sister). He was a Fireman. Their children were Walter Pennell and Austin Pennell. Then Richard married Mary Ellen Farmer (Aunt Hazel’s sister). One of their children was Alex Cecil Pennell who would be the Alex Pennell who is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Squatters in Bonfield in the register of “Free Grants” under “The Free Grants + Homestead Act” Dated November 22, 1882
Richard Pennell (SR) (lot-26)(Conc 8&9) took claim 200 acres with 16 cleared, length of occupation 2 years, value at $400
Richard Pennell (JR) (lot-25)(Con-9) took claim 100 acres with 8 acres cleared, length occupation 2 years, valued at $200
The Railroad came through Rutherglen in fall 1879, Bonfield – January 1, 1879. First train to arrive in North Bay August 1882… I believe it would be safe to say the Pennells worked their way to Rutherglen by rail and took up land by these grants. James & Andrew Rose held the 1st squatters of these parcels were long gone ahead searching for more land for rail construction by 1881-82, North Bay, Ontario.
From the collection of Mike Brophy passed onto Elmer Rose – December 5, 2020.
Here is a Lot and Concession map from MY memory. Amazing since I was 11 when we moved from Rutherglen. I think Wayne helped me fill in some blanks, but that Hwy. 17 here looks weird. 🙂
A. W. Smith moved the road because it ran between his two 100 acre lots so he had two fences to fix where he could have one or none. This fencing was no simple chore once you got into the bush at the back of the lots.
Main reason – the old road ran up the granite mountain that is beneath Carl Sullivan’s hill beside the red brick school house. It was almost impossible for the horses to get any traction on this polished granite so they would slip and get hurt, along with their passengers and/or cargo. Also hard to dig post holes in granite.
(from Wayne’s Storyworth memories) These events happened a lot on our farm in the 60’s. Mom was terrified of them. She would get us all out of bed and down to the living room. Often the power was out so we all sat in the dark till it has over. In the dark you could look out the window and watch the lightning racing across the sky. You would often see Beatrice, Melvin and Randy Sullivan driving around in the middle of the night. Beatrice was so afraid she wouldn’t even stay in the house. The belief was that… Read more: Thunderstorms and Lightning
(Wayne’s Storyworth) Before the government decided that only their supporters could sell milk , farmers had a way of making a few dollars by selling milk, cream and butter.(More on this in a future story about Chester). We had many chores on the farm in the 60’s . I was six years old in 1960 and was expected to contribute to the vast enterprise of dads farm when I was able to walk and carry something. Often what I had gladly done to be more like dad quickly turned into something that I wished I had never learned how… Read more: Making Butter
Answering the question, “What motivated you to go to graduate school?” Well it is the 60’s . It’s Christmas. I wake up and wait for dad to light the fire in the wood stoves. There was one in the kitchen and one in the living room . An annex and a box stove. After the down stairs warmed up a bit we were allowed down stairs to see what Santa had brought. Dad had to wait for Santa to come down the chimney before he lit the stoves or Santa wouldn’t come. There it was – an electric train… Read more: Higher Education (Wayne’s Storyworth)
Answering the question “Have you ver feared for your life?” Dads tractor had no brakes among other broken stuff . Learning to drive this way was truly dangerous. Its funny how it became normal to expect things to suddenly go from boring to near death in a few seconds on the farm. We were haying in the back field which required going over a hill to get to and from the field. The normal setup was Dad on the tractor pulling the baler with Emmett on the wagon behind the baler stacking the bales. The second tractor sat idle.… Read more: Flying Emmett (Wayne’s Storyworth)
Lets see. Getting my Electric Train. Getting my Mold Master. Using Wendy’s Easy Bake Oven. Getting my Red Tractor when I was two(That I still have) Christmas in General Phillip coming for a visit in the summer (we built the tree house together) The sound of rain on the roof (I could sleep in, didn’t have to work) Hiding in my tree house (having a smoke). Building the tree house. Learning to drive the tractor ( I was about 5 ) Going swimming at Joe and Jake’s Going swimming at Edna and Cliff’s Going swimming at Champlain park and… Read more: Favourite Childhood Memories
My bedroom from when I can remember till we moved away from Rutherglen when I was 13 in 1967. It was on the second floor north-east corner of the old farm house. Part of the ceiling was slanted to match the roof of the house. It had one window facing east. Had bunk beds with wagon wheels on them on the North side. Had a tall dresser on the south-west corner. Book shelf on north-east corner. Closet with a door north-west corner. I can remember catching fire flies and letting them go in my room at night. I could… Read more: My Childhood Bedroom
Oh yes . I was there several times. I can remember four. It was a 20 mile drive from Rutherglen to the Civic Hospital in North Bay Ontario. Once for stitches on my right knee. Caused by a peace of glass on the ground and wearing short pants . Once to get a sliver ( it was very large ) removed from beside my right eye. Caused by following Buster under a spruce tree without paying attention. Once to get a burn on my back bandaged up. Caused by reaching across the kitchen table and bumping moms arm that… Read more: My Hospital Adventures
In the beginning I tried to take piano lessons from Aunt Edna. This didn’t work out. I couldn’t sit still long enough. Music was all around me however when I was little. Uncle Emmett was an excellent fiddle player . He competed in fiddle contests in Mattawa and won a few. He also played at square dances . Its a shame he didn’t make use of this skill when he retired. I think he tried giving some lessons .I guess living in Rutherglen wasn’t a great place for a music teacher. Elmo’s wife Marie was a fiddle player too.… Read more: Music in My Life
Yes we moved in 1968. I Was 13 and living in Rutherglen ,Ontario GPS co-ordinates 46.256409, -79.080538. Dad and his brother Emmett ran 400 acres as partners . Dad also drove school bus to make ends meet. Dad slipped a disk in his back throwing hay ,around the summer of 1966. The building they where putting the hay into was an old brick school house. It was never intended to store hay in . The windows where too small and too high off the ground. They should have knocked a bigger hole in the school house. It was difficult… Read more: Childhood Moves
The best Christmas we had was when I rented the chalet on Sylvan Lake in Alberta. But I already told that story. Most Christmas’s we managed to get together some where. Red Deer , Bentwood Bay, Saskatoon . It depends a lot on the weather . Last year 2023 was great there was no snow believe it or not. We drove to Red Deer no problem. I can remember when we lived in Blind River we would load the kids into the car and head for Timmins then load them up again and head from Timmins to North Bay.… Read more: Christmases
I grew up on a farm so my world was full of animals. Not many were considered pets however ,even my dog Buster had a job to do . We had 1 dog, 13 cats , 20 cows , 1 bull, 2 horses , 50 chickens , 1 rooster, 20 sheep and 1 pig. Busters was the same age as me and was sort of my brother. He was a white and orange border coley(Heinz 57) .His job was to bark like crazy if any wild animals came around . He saved my life once by attacking the bull… Read more: Pets I Had
With out a doubt it was CJ97. Thanks to the support from companies like Esso , Flint , etc. in Whitecourt we raised $30,000 selling sand bags to the oil patch. We rented a grey hound bus and sold the empty seats to other scout troops (Kitscotty , Marthorp ) . We took 30 kids from Whitecourt. The Jamboree went off without a hitch thanks to the premium planning by scouters and Thunder Bay city officials, and countless helping citizens. Over 13,000 scouts, parents, volunteers, and leaders made this event into one that is still remembered fondly today, and… Read more: Favourite Scouting Memory
Start with Amy .. watching her and her friends jumping around in the wreck room dancing to “Girls Just Want to have Fun”. Joey .. Having the doctor wrap his whole head in a bandage after he burned his face with gun powder in Powell River. Thank god he had his glasses on. He went trick or treating with the bandage on that night. He didn’t really need the bandage. It was a joke between me and the doctor. Darren .. tracking him down at CJ93 in Kananaskis Alberta. It took me a while to find him. He was… Read more: My Children
Dad was a farmer who quit farming when he was 50 because he hurt his back. To go from farming to being an hourly paid employee took a lot of courage. With some help from his friends he pulled it off. One of dads sayings was “If you can’t say anything good about somebody don’t say anything at all” . Dad was a past master of the Mattawa Masonic Lodge 268. Much of what dad did was because he was a Mason. I know they helped many people that were in trouble. Dad was a supporter of the United… Read more: Admiration for My Dad
Helmcken Falls, in Wells Grey Provincial Park in BC. Desolation Sound Marine Park , Lund , BC. I’ve been to Europe , Australia , Arizona all over Canada but the two above are pretty unbelievable. To see Wells Grey properly you need a canoe and tent . You can see the falls with a car but not the volcanoes and true wilderness of the park . Candle Lake Sask .. Northern Lights Candle Lake Sask .. 50 teenage Canada Geese with 5 mothers all in one flock on the beach. The mothers were watching me very carefully but they… Read more: Most Beautiful Places
What was my mom like? My mom was awesome. She always had my back . Even made my sisters angry because she spoiled me so much. She was a city girl who had to become a farmers wife and she did most things better than the farm girls like. Knitting , CREWEL EMBROIDERY, CROCHET, QUILTING , SMOCKING , she made shirts and pants too. I learned knitting , embroidery and sewing from her. She was into many crafts too like copper tooling, paint by numbers. Mom was a leader / member of the 4H , UCW(United Church Women) and… Read more: What was Mom like (from Wayne)
A drink of iced water. When doing hard work like loading and unloading wagons full of hay-bales on a hot summers day there’s nothing better. Camping . watching the fire burn and tending it. Going for a bike ride through the camp ground. Meeting different people at the camp ground. They all seem to have interesting stories about why they are at the camp ground. Like: just got divorced. Looking for a job in Alberta (They were from New Brunswick). Installing wind turbines in the summer and living in Florida in the winter. Watching the wild life . The… Read more: Simple Pleasures
My favorite store was “The Joke Shop” on main street in North Bay , Ontario. Why? You could buy itching powder and little fire crackers to put in cigarettes. The itching powder was sprinkled down my sisters back . The little fire crackers were pushed into the end of a cigarette . When somebody bummed a smoke you would give him the one with a fire cracker in it. When you lit the smoke for him it would blow up. The smoke ended up looking like a peeled banana. The store had many neat things in it. (Originally written… Read more: Wayne’s Favourite Childhood Store
There’s a few things to point out in this picture. Dad had a push-lawnmower that he obviously hadn’t used in awhile. The tub was our “swimming pool”. My memories of it were very exciting. As you can see by my face I was totally happy. The “playhouse” is behind us. I’m told, it used to be the chicken coop and it was in a different location. But Dad moved it here for us to use as a playhouse. It also was very exciting. And then there’s Buster!! Our fantastic, great dog. Half collie, half husky. The best dog ever.… Read more: Random Memories of Wayne and Wendy
This picture is one that I had developed from a box of negatives that I found in the old Pennell home in Rutherglen. This clothesline stand is a big memory for me and was still there beside the porch door when we moved from house in 1968. Although I can’t make out her face well, I’m assuming this is my grandmother, Alice Pennell. This stand was Buster’s (our family dog) summer home. Off to the left, you can see someone on a ladder, likely picking apples from the small crab apple tree that was beside the house. It was… Read more: The Clothes Line Stand
We moved from the farm in 1968. Its hard to believe I was close to being 12 years old – I seemed so much younger. This is my “childhood” memory of the layout of the farm. Aunt Liza’s (Eliza Pennell) house is no longer there and our house burnt to the ground some years after we moved. The “Pioneer Baby Graves” (“Indian Baby Graves”) were not graves – that’s just what Dad said they were. They were just different shaped mounds. Wayne built a fabulous tree house in the Forest (bottom right). The “Lamb Pasture Hill” (bottom centre) was… Read more: Our Farm
Introductory Memory from Wayne of the fields in front of the house: I can close my eyes and visualize just about any part of the farm. Its all still there. Getting a little foggy but still in pretty good shape. So let’s take a look at the front fields… On the left I see hay which also called timothy. It blows in the wind like waves on the ocean. In the middle on the field there was a rock with a sharp edge on the top of it. Dad had Fielding McLaren dig it out one year. There is… Read more: Living in Rutherglen
Throughout my childhood, I had no idea I was related to the Hones, much the same as I was totally naive to the fact I was related to Alice McLaren and her family. Yet I knew I was related to Alice’s sisters out west because I didn’t clue in that they were all siblings. Stupid. Alice and Kenny McLaren were always at all the family functions and I always wondered why.
HOWEVER, the Hones were never at family functions. I guess once relatives get too many times removed, they stop being invited or an imaginary line is drawn. I seem to remember Jim Hone telling me at some community function that we were cousins. In my mind, it was so distant that it was a gossamer relationship.
James Hone’s wife, Eliza Crew, was Rachel Crew’s (my great-grandmother) sister. The Hones and the Pennells came together to Canada on the S. S. Niger in 1871. They opened a brickmaking business in Carlton Place, but it didn’t work out. So they applied for land grants in Nipissing District and moved to the Rutherglen area to farm and built log homes. They were from London, England and could not have had any idea how to farm, as I suppose was the case with most British pioneers.
Hone Log Home in Rutherglen
1. Bill Hatton 2.James Hone, young 3. Sarah Hone Wallace, 4.Maria Hone Carpenter, 5. Susan Hone Hatton, 6. Dick Carpenter and the 7. other – not sure. 8. Effie, Euphemia Hatton Scott (Frank Scott’s Mother)
Gathered at Pinelake to build the newer Hatton/Hone farmstead. The old log house where George Hone was born is in the background. George, son of James and Florence Gooderham Hone. They built the new cedar farmhouse that we all visited and which is still standing at Pinelake.
I just watched a series on TV call 1883 – it was one of the most depressing depictions of pioneers trying to settle in American that I’ve ever seen. The Europeans who had such dreams and hopes for freedom and land ownership, so few actually made it to their destinations. They just didn’t have a clue what they were doing. I would hope that my pioneer ancestors didn’t have to deal with cold hearted bandits who would shoot you dead for your supplies and horses. At least I like to think Canada was a better place – naive?
One of my good friends in primary school in Rutherglen was Susie Hone. She was a petite little thing and super sweet. How I wish I’d realized she was my cousin! I remember my parents talking about George Hone, but really it was never “H”one, it was always George ‘Own – the H was always silent to my ears – funny to think that with an thick English accent, the H would be dropped and the phonetics was handed down for future generations outside of England.
Its only when I began the huge task of laying out the Hone family and their descendants that it is evident that the Hones are interwoven within the fabric of Rutherglen more so than the Crews or the Pennells. Their children’s, children’s, children’s, children still live in Rutherglen.
James and Eliza Hone are buried in St. Margaret’s Anglican Church cemetery in Rutherglen. When they immigrated to Canada, leaving their oldest, Elizabeth, behind, but bringing with them: Sarah, Susan, Job and Maria, then they had 4 more children in Canada: George, Elizabeth, Annie and James. My notes (from Myrtle Connolly) say that James “had a brickyard at Greenwich before moving to Estney Street, London”. Their oldest, Elizabeth married William Charles Higgs Owen on April 23, 1871, about 2 weeks before the S. S. Niger set sail. Myrtle’s notes say that Elizabeth moved into the Hone home (77 Estney Street?) when they left for Canada.
James and Eliza Hone’s children were:
Elizabeth b. 1849 m. William Owen
Sarah b. 1854 m. Edwin Nolan
James Hone (not a Nolan) (father: Best)
Susan b. 1856 m. William Hatton
Eliza “Effie” b. 1896 m. Henry Scott (lived on Hwy. 17 next to Aunt Sadie “Sarah”)
Sarah “Sadie” m. Frank Wallace 1905 Andover, Maine
Robert Wesley b. 1920 m. Stella Sawchuck
James b. 1922 m. Edith Hone (cousins)
Stanley b, 1947 m. Sharon McClellan
Lois m. Wayne Graham
Dawn b. 1957
Frank b. 1935
Job b. 1860
Maria b. 1862 m. Richard Carpentor
George
Annie d. infancy
James d. infancy
Sarah Hone had an illegitimate son in 1883 – James William Hone. Sarah then married Edwin Nolan, but Edwin Nolan refused to raise young James, so Eliza and James Sr. continued to keep him.1 Kaye Edmonds found out from Iva Hone that the biological father of James Hones was Best who could have been from the Perth area.
1 Kaye Edmonds, Email, January 13, 2001 “I know that they tell me in England that he was referred to as ‘a boy they where raising’. You know how it was in those days.”
George’s dad had no father, his mother was Sarah who married Noland after. He was raised by is grandfather James Hone and his grandmother Eliza Crew.
September 1994 Letter from Irene Hone
James married Florence Gooderham and they had the following children:
George b. 1913 m. Irene Tyler
James Harvey m. Dorothy Oglestone
Ruth m. Wesley Sullivan
Reuben b. 1914 m. Iva Livingston
Joyce m. George Cook
Judy
Linda m. Wayne Green (son of Andy Green)
Danny w. Patsy Backer
Susan (Susie) m. Randy Furlani
Edith b. 1920 m. James Scott (her cousin)
Stan m. Sharon McLellan
Lois m. Wayne Graham
Dawn never married
Valerie (Edith’s obit says Valerie was her daughter)
Florence b. 1916 m. Gordon Donaldson
Ann
Lynn
Irene b. 1922 m. Kenneth Prescott
Richard m. Anna Foley
Valerie m. Warren James (son of Christy James, so distance cousins)
Ken
Kaye m. William Edmonds**
** Kaye is a brilliant amateur photographer and an avid genealogist. She’s done and shared a lot of research into the Hones, Prescotts and Edmonds. You can find Kaye on Facebook (20+) Kaye Edmonds | Facebook
Below are some memories of Jim and Dorothy’s wedding. As of this year (2023), they will have been married 60 years. Beautiful couple – beautiful people.
Below are memories of George and Irene Hone’s 60th Anniversary. Irene provided a lot of genealogy data to me.
Below is an article about Danny Hone from 2003. Danny is the son of Reuben Hone, nephew of George Hone above, and great-great-grandson of James and Eliza Hone.
Iva Hone (nee Livingston) – wife of Reuben Hone, great-grandson to James Hone and Eliza Crew
Thanks Mom for all the years of always saving the newspaper clippings at first for yourself and then for me.