A Single Line

u/k paper - courtesy of Arlene Smith Lowe collection

You wouldn't know it, but the woman in this obit was the first of eight children born to a Nova Scotian farmer.  That she married her own farmer and had 11 children.  That her husband of 50 years had died 14 years earlier and that she was laid to rest beside him at the New Annan Bell Gift Cemetery.

courtesy of Arlene Smith Lowe collection

Mary J Smith was born Mary Jane Vincent on 22 Jul 1859 in Middleboro, Nova Scotia to James 'Edward' Vincent and Nancy Annie Heather.  She married Joshua Smith in 1879. 

Of their children, James 'Henry' Smith died at the age of 14; Burton Wiley Smith died at 24  just under a year after getting married; Cassie Mae died at the age of 6; and Pvt William George Smith died in France during WWI. Minnie married Harry Sartoris; Merl married Myrtle Whidden and died as a result of a fall at the age of 35; and Annie married Ivan Slack and died in Toronto. The other 4 boys.....

Austin married a Lucy Porter - his brother Burton's widow
Unknown Paper, Jan 1952
The death occurred at Rockley on Friday morning, Jan 25th, of Austin Arthur Smith in his 65th year.  Mr Smith had been ill over a period of five years, during which time he was cared for by his wife at his home here.  On Christmas day, Mr Smith suffered a stroke and was taken to North Cumberland Hospital at Pugwash.  Two weeks ago his health was improved to such an extent that he returned home but on Thursday, Jan 24th, he became worse passing away the following morning.  Mr Smith was born in East Wentworth in April, 1886, a son of the late Joshua and Mary (Vincent) Smith.  He moved here 35 years ago.  He has always been of a kindly disposition and had many friends here and elsewhere who mourn his passing.  He is survived by his widow, the former Lucy Marie Porter, two sons, Cecil of Rockley, William of Amherst one step son Logan of Foleigh Mountain, two daughters, Minnie (Mrs Harold McKay), Rockley; Audrey (Mrs Cecil Smith), Harmony and 14 grandchildren, two sisters Anna (Mrs Wylie Slack), Oxford; Minnie (Mrs Sartoris) Thorburn; two brothers Wesley, East Wentworth and Lester, Brule, Col Co.  The funeral which was held from his late home on Sunday, Jan 27th was largely attended.

Albert married a Lillian Teed
Unknown Paper, 17 Sep 1925
Sept 9 - Mr. Austin Smith of Rockley, received word Aug 31st from the Dartmouth Hospital of the death of his brother Albert C. Smith, age 37 years, and son of Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Smith, East Wentworth.  The deceased is survived by his wife, a sorrowing mother and father, two sisters, Mrs. H. H. Sartoris and Miss Anna B. Smith of Merigomish, Pictou Co., and four brothers, Austin of Rockley, Merle of Onslow Mountain, Lester of River John and Wesley at home in East Wentworth.  Two nephews also survive, Logan E. Smith of Rockley, and Percy Sartoris of Merigomish. Deepest sympathy is expressed by a large circle of friends to the parents and family in their sad bereavement.  The remains were brought to Tatamagouche and taken charge of by Mr. McLellan, undertaker and then taken to the Presbyterian Church, West New Annan, where the funeral service was held. Rev. R. W. Bennett, D.D., of Truro , had charge of the service.  The text selected was John 14th Chapter, verses 1-4 and very comforting words were spoken.  The hymns sung were, The Lord is My Shepherd, Asleep in Jesus and Shall W Gather At The River.  The pallbearers were Walter H. Byer, Herbert Terry, Geordie Kirk, John Duncan.  The remains were laid to rest in his father’s lot in West New Annan Cemetery.

Wesley married Hattie Graham
Unknown Paper, Sep 1974
Wesley Otis Smith, 76, of Wentworth Centre, died in the Colchester Hospital Friday.  Born in East Wentworth, he was a son of the late Joshua and Mary (Vincent) Smith.  He was a life-long resident of Wentworth and served overseas in the First World War.  He was predeceased by a number of brothers and sisters.  He is survived by his wife, the former Hattie Graham; one daughter, Maizie, at home; three sons, Wyman, Wallace; Dale, Shearwater; Darrell, Halifax; one sister, Anne (Mrs Wylie Slack), Downsview, Ont; one brother, Lester, Brule; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.  The body is at the Matatall Funeral Home, Truro, from where funeral service will be held Monday at 2 pm, with Rev Morley Bentley officiating, assisted by Rev A G Kelloway.  Burial in the Upper Wentworth United Church Cemetery.

Lester married Cora Langille
Unknown Paper, Jan 1976
Lester Marvin Smith, 82, died Friday at Victoria General Hospital, Halifax.  Born in East Wentworth, he was the son of the late Joshua and Mary Jane Smith.  He is survived by a daughter Elsie (Mrs Ronald Fraser), Moncton; a sister Anna (Mrs Wylie Slack), Toronto; and seven grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his wife, the former Cora Langille, Marshville; a son, Ivan, one sister and seven brothers. The body was resting at his late residence, Brule, from where a family service was held Monday, Jan 12.  The funeral service was held at 2 pm at the Salem United Church, River John, with Rev Dan Gunn officiating.  Pallbearers were Cy Langille, Harry Tattrie, Wyman Smith, Gary Irving, harry Redmond and Bert Mertin.  Interment was held at the Lockerby Cemetery in Tatamagouche.

To Share Or Not to Share - That is the Question

Genealogy is a funny hobby, not a side-hurting laughing kind of funny, more like a dang-the-pain funny bone kind.  

Eye sore, butt sore & at times sleep deprived, we are the quacks who can spend, hours, days, weeks and months scouring resources looking for the tiniest lead on a family member.  Yelling "Yes" when we've done it! (I personally do a chair dance singing, "I did it, I did it" - but don't tell anyone)

Those of us who give a damn, who want to be respected for our work, who want to be a credible resource for others, take the time to record where we found the information; doing our best to check and double check what we ourselves are recording for other users.  

We never want to be accused of being a charleton or a copy cat and we quietly fume when see our work show up elsewhere without so much as a nod our way - which makes us secretive, possessive.    

So how much do we share? Should we share?  I have this conversation, better word - argument, with myself all the time.

And, how do we ever celebrate our achievements if we never share?  Who else is ever going to know or be excited for us, with us, join us, if we don't?

In the end - knowing that I have been copied and used and that it will happen again, and at times begrudgingly - I share for 4 reasons:

First, despite all the resources that have been digitized, there is so much information that is not published online so how does someone like me, living so very far away from the very resources I need, help myself without breaking the bank? If my efforts help those like me, that makes me happy.

Second, there is so much misinformation out there, I feel I need to post it so if another of the line finds my work, they can see the sources, go have a look for themselves and either agree or challenge me.  Together, we can work to find the 'right' answer.

Third - I WANT AN ATTA GURL!  Just kidding - but I am so dang proud of myself at times for busting thru a brick wall or finding a long lost relative, that I am chomping at the bit to tell someone.  So I post it!

Lastly, I wouldn't be where I am had it not been for the generosity of other researchers - who shared information, checked records for free for me, shared researching tips and challenged my thinking at times.   I am grateful to those who have taken the time to share with me and spend some time with me on a family member - so much of my family would still be a mystery if it hadn't been for the generosity of another - I will continue to pay it forward!  

I enjoy my hobby wholeheartedly! Now, away, I have work to do......



  

Forbes Just Means Hardworking

Forbes magazine was originally named "Forbes: Devoted to Doers and Doings".  

I didn't work this Forbes line back to see if there was a connection to the namesake of the magazine, B C Forbes, but these Forbes we doers!

A while back I wrote of  Andrew 'Andy' Forbes a Scottish born lad who landed in New York, met and married our Mary Jane Vincent in Wisconsin before settling in Iowa.  He ran a livery business until he took up mining where he made & lost a fortune.  

Their sons & their wives settled in Nevada and they worked hard for their money too...but neither boy had children so the clan ends here......

Reno Evening Gazette, 23 Jul 1943

D F Forbes Dies Today
Resident of Reno for twenty years, Don Francisco Forbes died today at his home on Washington Street.  He had been in poor health for several years.  Mr Forbes was born in Sioux City, Iowa and for a time lived in Morgan Park, Ill, where he was associated with the Clay-Robinson Corporation, a livestock commission business.  In 1919 he came to Nevada to become accountant for the Jensen Land and Livestock Company and later joined the [Unson] Land and Livestock Company in the same capacity.  Four years ago he retired from active work because of failing health.  For many years he was a member of the Baptist Church and for eight years was treasurer of the church, retiring from the position two years ago.  Surviving are his widow, Mrs Matie Forbes of Reno, and a brother, George W Forbes of Fallon.  He was a member of the Masonic Order at Morgan Park, Ill.  Funeral services will be held at two o'clock Monday afternoon at the Ross-Burke Chapel under the direction of Reno Lodge No 13, F and AM.  Burial will be in the Masonic Cemetery.

Reno Evening Gazette, 8 Nov 1963
George W Forbes Dies in Fallon
George W Forbes, 88, prominent Fallon resident, died Wednesday in the Churchill Public Hospital.  Mr Forbes was born Nov 28, 1875, in Sioux City, Iowa.  Previous to moving to Fallon, he had engaged in the brokerage business in San Francisco, and had a mining mill in Seven Troughs near Lovelock.  Mr Forbes established a real estate and title guaranty business in Fallon in 1918.  A member of the Fallon Rotary Club, the Navy league Council and the First Baptist Church, he is survived by his widow, Mrs Sarah W Forbes, Fallon, a niece, Mrs Maude Thompson and a nephew, Walter Anderson, both of Denver, Colo.  Funeral services were to be held at 2 pm today from the Austin Funeral Home, Fallon.  Rev David Wuth of the First Baptist Church was to officiate with burial in the Fallon Cemetery.

Henry Swan

"Your fences need to be horse-high and pig tight"

Henry Swan, the son of Andrew ‘Mitchell’ Swan and Sarah Vincent, was born at Millbrook, Nova Scotia in 1877 and married Grace Woodbury Bonnyman.  Like his father, Henry was a farmer and remained on the family farm after marriage.

Unknown Nova Scotia Paper, Jun 1940

New Annan, June 4 - The sudden death of Henry Swan, one of the most highly respected citizens of the community, came as a great shock to his many friends. Entering Victoria General hospital just one month ago, he underwent an operation from which he seemed to be progressing favorably, when suddenly he took a turn for the worse and passed away on Wednesday, May 29th. His death has caused a vacancy that will be hard to fill both in the home and community life. He leaves to mourn a family of eight, four daughters, Edna, Marion, Dorothy and Kathleen and four sons, James, John, Laurie and Raymond. The funeral was held from United Church on Saturday afternoon, June 1st, and was very largely attended. The pallbearers were P.A. Vincent, D.H. Vincent, W.M. Campbell, George Aitchison, Norman and Sidney Bonnyman. Remains were laid to rest in the family lot in Bell Gift cemetery beside the remains of his wife who predeceased him a few years ago.

James Edwin Vincent & Nora O'Brien

James Edwin Vincent, the son of William Vincent & Jane Swan, was born at West New Annan, Nova Scotia in 1885.   

With a sense of adventure, he left home after 1901 and by 1910 he had landed in Massachusetts and was working at the mill.  In 1912, he married an English girl by the name of Nora O’Brien and they went on to have three children - Clifford, Phyllis and Eileen.  

James had a variety of jobs from working as an electrician at the mill to being a teamster at the milk company. Without knowing the family, it is hard to say what drew the family to Brattleboro, VT but by 1930 they had settled in and James was working as a stockman at a wholesale shoe company.  

Nora died in 1940 and James in 1961.  Clifford married a girl named Arline Rogers, had two children and they lived in Massachusetts.  Eileen married Archibald Augustus, had one child then married Earl Jaycox and had 2 more children – she lived in Massachusetts as well but died in Connecticut.  Phyllis never married.

I did find the following year book picture of Cliff and Phyl and it looks like Eileen was in the drama club. 

Unknown Nova Scotia Paper - 1962
PHYLLIS VINCENT - West New Annan - Miss Phyllis Vincent, 48, of Battleboro, Vermont, died recently at Hanover Hospital, New Hampshire.  Born at Battleboro, she was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James E. Vincent, formerly of West New Annan.  Often a visitor to New Annan, she was well known for her amateur photography.  Besides her sister, she is survived by one brother.  Interment was at Battleboro, Vermont.