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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-06-29, Page 36Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, June 29, 1983—Page 12 Websterfamily related to almost everyone in Lucknow area DANIEL WEBSTER Daniel Webster was one of the younger children born to Thomas Webster I. who lived in the Parish of Kilcooly, Townland, of Blackcom- mons, Barony of Sliever- dagh, Co. Tipperary, Ire- land. As far as we know he was one of the second gen- eration of Websters living in Ireland. So far no records of this family have been found in Ireland. We know he did his apprencticeship as a cooper (making barrels) and has this trade to fall back on. It must have beetr his wish to be a farmer and as there were little opportunities in Ireland and several of the neighbours had come to Canada he came too. His older sister, Mary Louise Webster, married to William Cantelon and their family came to Canada in 1831. It is interesting to note that Benjamin Pearson mar- ried Rachael Cantelon ar- ound this time in Kilcooly. Daniel, his wife Susan Pearson and three small children left Ireland in 1837. Four of Daniel's brothers and also at least one sister came to Canada around this time. Crossing the ocean took at least six weeks. They finally arrived at Hamilton harbour and from there went to Streetsville, the neighbour- hood where the William Cantelons lived. Streetsville had at that time one store, one hotel and a few settler shanties. Unfortunately, this was the fall of the McKenzie Rebellion (1837) and all able bodied farmers were called on to help. Daniel took an active part in the militia under Col. Ramson of Street- sville and when the hostilit- ies ceased he moved to Churchville. it is very likely Daniel Webster came to Ashfield looking for farmland Determined to procure farm land for their children, Daniel and Susan Webster left Halton County where they had first settled after coming to Canada from Tipperary, Ireland in 1837, to come to Ashfield Township in 1854. Webster took up 400 acres of land that extended north from Greenhill Cemetery to what became Lucknow's main street. The first Webster home, a log shanty, on what is now Carl Bale's farm, was iocated near the Webster Cairn at Greenhill Cemetery and became the centre of hospitality for travellers and other pioneer settlers seeking land in this virgin forest. Daniel engaged Samual Alton of Belfast to build the shanty after having viewed the site, while he returned to bring his family to this community, where sixth generation descendants still reside. Daniel Webster underbrushed a road from Belfast and built the first log bridge across the Nine Mile River two miles south of Lucknow. The Webster arrived in Ashfield Township in 1854, two years before Eli Stauffer built a sawmill because the settlers of Ashfield, West Wawanosh and Kinloss had long journeys to obtain their grist. In the summer of 1858 James Somerville purchased the Stauffer mill and his land rights and proceeded to have the south halves of lots 57, 58, 59 and 60 of the First Concession of Kinloss, surveyed into village lots. The Websters were the first settlers to own land which eventually became the village of Lucknow and they were already settled before the Father of Lucknow, James Somerville arrived to survey the original lots. While Daniel and Susan did not reside on land which' eventually became village lots, their farm included all Village lots south of the main street along Ross Street. Their daughter, Lizzie lived in the house now owned by Vernon and Anna Mae Hunter and her two nieces, Ada and Hazel lived with her. Following Lizzie and Hazel's death, Ada moved to the Sepoy Apartments and the house was sold to Hunters. Their daughter, Janet lived for a time in a house across the road from the homestead when she was a widowed grandmother. Her grandson, Grant Helm is currently living in the house which is now owned by Carl Bale. Daniel and Susan had ten children and many of their descendants still live in the surrounding area. There is always one admonition to newcomers: You can talk about everybody except the Websters. Everybody is related to them. Indeed the Webster family tree extends to the Andersons, the Aitons, The Helms, the Morrisons, the Reids, the Blakes, the Ritchies, the Andrews, and of course those who carry the surname, Webster. that because of his participa- tion in the rebellion he lost his farm. He resorted to his trade of coopering in Churchville. Later in 1839 the Daniel Webster family was living in Norval andthen moved to a farm in Chinquacousy Town- ship, Peel County. Census of 1851: Chinqua- cousy Township, Peel Coun- ty: Webster, Daniel, 53; yoeman from Ireland; Web- ster, Susan, 43; Webster, James, 20; Webster, Robert, 19; Webster, Thomas, 16; Webster, Daniel, 4; Web- ster, Richard, 1; Webster, Rachel, 14; Webster, Mary Ann, 12; Webster, Eliza, 10; Webster, Margaret. 8. it is not known when or how the property in Ashfield was claimed but the first mention of the family going there was when three neph- ews of Daniel, Jim, John and Henry went there in 1849. The nephews returned to Georgetown in 1851. Then it is known that Uncle Daniel, himself, went to the area and had 41/2 acres cleared for a shanty in the spring of 1854. The nephews, Jim, John, and Little Dan also went early that year so most likely they went together with Uncle Dan. Arrangements were made with Sam Alton to have the shanty built and ready for the family to move in by fall. In the fall all the family except Robert left thehome in Chinquacousy Township for the new home in Ashfield Township, Huron County. They made their way over rough roads, some of them corduroy and through the wilds of western Upper Can- ada. Mother Susan was jolted off the lumber wagon. injuring her hack and never 'again enjoyed her former health. For most of the way she held the baby in her arms. With the oxen pulling the wagons and the older sons driving the livestock the family finally arrived at their new home in the woods, Lot 12, Concession 14, Ashfield Township, Huron County. When Daniel asked Sam Alton what he owed him or what he would like for building the shanty, Sam's reply was, 'All the pay I want is your daughter Rachel'. Sam and Rachel were mar- ried in October 1855. Quoting from a newspaper article of 1913 written by Mr. E. S. Caswell: "At that time there was only a foot patch opened through the 'bush' from Belfast to Lucknow, with a log across the Nine Mile River. obliging the incoming settlers to make a detour of four or five miles to reach their destination, From Glen's Hill there was a great deal of swamp land. Many a settler coming this far and surveying the forebidding landscape turned back from his quest of land. Subequent- ly Mr. Webster underbrush - ed a road to where Belfast now stands, and was one of the foremost to undertake the construction of a log bridge across the Nine Mile River, where the gravel road crosses that classic stream. The original (Daniel) Web- ster home was a log shanty of one and a half stories with a lean-to, "the walls inside," writes Miss . usan Webster, "were hewed logs and there was a big fireplace in the comfortable living room and a stove at the other end. In those days we had far more visitors than now, for our shanty was always thrown open to the stream of people looking for homes up north. Frequently the women of the settlement, four or five together, would walk to Mr. Sommerville's mill at St. Helens and carry flour home on their shoulders. Very close acquaintances were formed between scattered neighbours. The boys worked at logging -bees and chopped together. There was no lack of game then; bears, wolves and deer. My brother Tom has shot two deer in the course of one afternoon. We went to a log school at Hackettstown, and , some years later a log school and church were built at Zion, on the twelfth concession, where our father preached. When your father and moth- er and mine got into the sleigh, there wasn't much room for the rest of us. The oxen would run downhill and one could hear the folks singing for a mile." The following records are in the Goderich Registry Office: March 3, 1862, from the Crown, Daniel Webster, Lot 12, Concession 14, Ash- field Township, 200 acres; March 3, 1862, from the Crown, Daniel Webster, Lot 8, Concession 13, Ashfield Township, 200 acres. Daniel later got another 100 acres in Kinloss Town- ship, Bruce County for son Daniel K. Webster. The influx of immigrants in Ashfield and Wawanosh was mostly after the Famine period in Ireland 1845. Daniel and Susan Webster were held. in high regard in the community, a much loved couple. They were concerned about the needs and prob- Turn to page 17. This picture of the members of the Webster family was taken on e occ cion of Robert and Flora (Patton) Webster's 50th wedding anniversary In eithe 1911 or 1912. Front, from the left, are Tom Helm, Olive Helm, Robert Helm, Lenora Webster, Tracy Webster, Percy Webster, Harvey Webster, Malcolm Webster, Margaret Webster, Robert Andrew, Flora Andrew, Hazel Webster, Frances Webster and Mrs. Robert Webster with Bill on her lap; centre row, from the left, Mrs. George Andrew [Mary Elizabeth), Mrs. Joseph Helm (Janet), Mrs. Richard Webster and Charles, Robert Webster Sr., and his wife, Flora, Mary Ann (Webster) Anderson; Lizzie Webster, D. K. Webster, back row, from the left, George Andrew and Alex, Mary Anne Alton, Thomas Webster, Mrs. George McKinley, Robert Webster, Joseph Helm, Mrs. Fred Anderson, Mrs. D. K. Webster, Mrs. Susan Webster, James Webster, Debbie Reed, Mary Ann Webster, Richard Webster and Ada Webster. Standing in the doorway are Richard Webster on the left and the minister, Rev. George McKinley. [Contributed by Harvey Webster]