Williams first farm?

Williams first farm? C 1851

The agricultural census for Hamilton Twp, Northumberland Co Ontario lists William on page 135 #20.
He is listed next to land holder [Robert] R Weir who has 40 acres on con 2 lot 8. It appears as though the census taker was confused and started to list Wm as holder of the 40 acres....Could R. Weir have sold a small piece of his land to Wm to farm?

Wm Rayborn cons 2 lot 8. / 5 acres held & under cultivation / 1-1/4 a under crops & 3-1/4 a under pasture / 1 a of wheat & 6 bushels produce / 3/4 a of potatoes & 50 bushels produce

A very small farm, but a start. R Weir held the land next to Wm, but Edward Weir lived on the land and is recorded so in the personal census. Robert lived close by.

Ireland family connections; Edward Weir is brother to Margaret Weir Reburn, who married John Reburn and lived in Corvacken Townland, Aughnamullen Parish in Monaghan Ireland.

Quebec the first stop

Where in Quebec did the Raeburn's first go? William & Margaret Raeburn's daughter Mary was born in the "Montreal area" c 1844.
Their daughter Margaret Ann was baptised in Chatham, Argenteuil Co Quebec in 1846.

Then there is Margaret Raeburn Livingston b c1786 Ireland.
She married John Livingston in Carrickmacross, Magheross Parish, Monaghan in 1818, close to the proposed townlands of Ireland William & Margaret lived-
It appears that the Livingstons were in Quebec by 1826 per census recording daughter Mary Livingston as born Quebec.
They lived in Terrebonne Quebec 1851 per census, next door to Patrick Hamill.
Patrick Hamill was listed as joint tenant with Wm Reaburn in 1824- Drumcunnion townland, Monaghan Tithe record.

Are the Livingston/Hamill families related to William Raeburn? Did William first bring his family to the "Montreal area" of Terrebonne Quebec to be near the Livingston's?

Reflections of the Captain

Friday sadly was my daughter in law’s father’s funeral. She and her family lost their rock, a much loved and cherished man. Ray was a resident of our small community all of his life, and was well known all around by all. He was a good man, and raised a family of five with his wife JoAnn of forty years. I watched Ray’s grandson, Torin [also my grandson of course] on Friday while they paid their respects. As I looked after Torin now almost two years old, and watched him play, it reminded me…..

I was five years old when my Grandpa Raeburn died. Not old enough to form vivid lasting memories of my own. Very, very few cameo appearances flash within my mind of him. I must rely on family members to tell the story of our very interesting patriarch. Many of those folks that could tell the story have come and gone, and few remain that can still tell me about the Captain. Miscellaneous photographs, newspaper clippings and a little oral folklore are what remain. No scrapbook of his life, or written accounts of his tales on the lakes. I am, a witness in the third person to his life, but will try in any event to put together a recollection of who this man was. In time. Not all to be done in just a day…..

Ernest Ferrier Raeburn died April 6, 1965 at his home in Sault Saint Marie, he was 82 years old. A then retired Great Lakes captain, father of five grown children, and husband to Ethel for fifty-two years; he was also granddad to eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was a grand story teller and weaved stories of adventures on the lake when he came home in the winter to his children, perhaps the townsfolk when he took his daily winter strolls around town. Ernest was raised on a farm in Ontario near Collingwood, and came to the Michigan Soo with his parents at age 16. He may have developed a love for the water visiting relatives in Collingwood, near the shipyards. I have been told he left home and joined an academy for sailing in Ontario, and as we know now later became a captain after a few years as a shipmate.

As I am told a large funeral was attended by not just his family and local friends, but also old lake captains and shipmates he knew. Remembrances of lake tales, and events of old times. Someone told me that my father, who was 46 years old at the time, was pacing back and forth (for what reason I am not aware) baring a ‘striking resemblance’ to Ernie. In my mind I tried to picture my grandfather, at 46 years old, in his captain’s uniform. I really should have written down the stories I was told, but at the time never thought I would want to be recalling the details. I was young, and we all know the young are foolish. I need someone to wave their magic wand and make those stories reappear! I have some work to do…perhaps, more to come : )

My sister Kim, my Dad and I, and Grandpa Raeburn at grandpa's house in the Soo.

Ethel, Ernie & the Titanic

Ethel and Ernie were just a few months away from getting married. The anticipation and excitement was in the air, the dress, the church, the dream of a life beginning. This was certainly a consuming vision in any bride’s dreams. Ernie would have to take time away from his job for the wedding, as he worked a bit far from their soon to be home in the Soo. They were to be married in St. Luke’s Cathedral in Sault, Ontario on July 6, 1912.

As the couple both worked through the months to the wedding, they woke to news one morning that would rattle the nerves of many, and send them to despair and grief. The world was small, and this was the kind of news that would reach around it quickly and hard.

The biggest ship ever built, with a reputation as the ‘Unsinkable’ dove to an icy grave at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, on its virgin voyage. Just a few days after it set sail from Southampton, England, the Titanic did the unthinkable. It sank on April 15, 1912 and took over 1500 of its passengers with it, only some 700 managed to survive the horror. We can only imagine the terror that went through the minds of those fated people that night. The frightening knowledge of fate of those left on the ship. The grief and pity of those who had to leave their loved ones behind as the lifeboats floated them away in the frigid night air.

What was the sentiment of the people around the world? Outrage, most definitively, the builders of the ship never had enough life boats to accommodate all of its passengers. The wealthy lives were regarded higher than any other passengers. People beginning new lives had them preempted by way of arrogance.

What was the sentiment of my grandparents, I wondered. Ethel, was a feisty outspoken young suffragist about to marry…. a steamship captain of the Great Lakes. Ernie, who had been sailing on the Great Lakes since 1905 as a first mate took his first command in that ill-fated year of 1912. Captain Ernest Raeburn took the helm of the City of Chatham, a passenger ship that sailed between Sault Saint Marie and the Blind River. He went on to sail the Great Lakes from The Superior through to the St Lawrence Seaway to Montreal for 46 years. The Great Lakes may not have been the treacherous Atlantic Ocean, but the lakes could take the lives of those who rode the waves just as cruelly.

Did Ethel wish Ernie had picked a different profession? Did the fate of the Titanic spark conversations of prudence, safety and….arrogance of man? Would they weather this life with strength and courage? Absolutely! Did I say Ethel was feisty? Outspoken? A strong woman that was able to keep up with this salty ol’ character….who would have never given up this love of the water, it flowed through his veins. Observances were made and lessons were learned and taught. She kept any fears in check. She lived their married life on land and raised a family, and when the ice froze the path he came home to her, every winter. And they never sank.

Tombstone Tuesday, Wm Jr & Melissa Jane

I wonder....were thse stones once standing?





William Raeburn & Melissa Jane Lillie Raeburn
Pine Grove Cemetery in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan

William Stewart and Family, Queries and Theories

William Stewart the son of Samuel Stewart was born abt 1800 and lived in County Monaghan Ireland. Susan McCormack was born abt 1800 in Ireland and the two married sometime about 1818, the year their first son was born, Samuel born 1818 County Monaghan Ireland. The couple had a total of 8 children born in County Monaghan Ireland; Samuel, John, William, George, Mary, Alexander, Margaret and Richard.

William took his family to Canada around 1850, and first lived in Toronto area near a Stewart relative. He later moved the family to Grey County, Ontario in the Maple Valley region of Osprey Township. Here they were members of the Presbyterian church and were neighbors of William Raeburn and family.

Williams son Richard married Mary Raeburn the daughter of William Raeburn & Margaret McCormack. They lived on the farm that Richards father established in Maple Valley. Richard and Mary had 7 children; Two twin sons that died after birth, Margaret, William, James, George and William all grew to adulthood.

William Stewart died in 1876, his wife Susan died in 1860 and they are buried in the Badjeros Cemetery in Osprey Twp.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Theory ~ William Stewart and William Raeburn knew each other in County Monaghan. Perhaps attended the same Presbyterian church, along with the McCormack families. If so there are quite a few Stewarts listed in the
Tithe Applotment Book for 1829/30 in Monaghan:

Ematris Parish ~ Samuel and William Stuarts as well as McCormacks.
Aughnamullen Parish ~ Samuel and other Stuarts and one [McCormack in Cordevlis townland] near Ematris.

Query ~ Were Susan McCormack and Margaret McCormack related? HOW?

What churches might these folks have attended when living in Monaghan?
[William Raeburn in Aughnamullen Parish - Corvacken to Drumcunnion townlands]

Are We Cousins?

Imagine a Raeburn family moving from Monaghan Ireland into Quebec , through Ontario into Sault Saint Marie, Michigan and at last settling into Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan. The Wm Raeburn family.

Now imagine another Reburn family moving from Monaghan Ireland to New York, USA, and later settling in Sparta, Kent County, Michigan. The Edward Reburn family.

We never met. My line is from Ontario...when my family moved to Grand Rapids my new friends asked me “Are you related to the Sparta Reyburns? “ NO, I said, besides they spell their name different. I was 14 years old. They were only 12 miles away. Some [untold] years later the ancestor hunt begins. I met Edward Reburn’s descendant Rick Reyburn through this hunt only to find out the Sparta Reyburns may indeed be related.

John Reburn b abt 1805 Corvacken, Monaghan, Ireland m Margaret Weir.
Edward Reburn b 1838 their son [8 total siblings]

William Raeburn b abt 1810 Monaghan, Ireland m Margaret McCormack
William Raeburn b 1853 their son [7 total siblings]


ARE THEY COUSINS?
Edward Reburn William Raeburn Jr


Thank you Rick Reyburn for Edward Reburn photo

William Raeburn & family

William RAEBURN b.1810-Ireland;d.1897-Nottawasaga Twp.,Simcoe Co,Ontario
sp: Margaret MCCORMICK b.1810 Ireland;d.1891-Nottawasaga Twp.,Simcoe Co,Ontario
2. Eliza RAEBURN b.Abt 1834-Ireland;1900-Nottawasaga Twp.,Simcoe Co.,Ontario
sp: James CREIGHTON b.1832-Cobourg Ontario;m.1857;d.1916 Creemore,Ontario
2. James RAEBURN b.Abt 1839-Ireland;d.1881-Nottawasaga Twp,Simcoe Co,Ontario Canada
2. Jane RAEBURN b.1840-Ireland;d.1915-Grantham Twp,Lincoln Co,Ontario
sp: John SCOTT b.1841-Quebec;m.1866;d.1927-Grantham Twp,LC,Ontario
2. Mary RAEBURN b.1844-Montreal area,Quebec;d.1925-Maple Valley,Grey Co.,Ontario
sp: Richard STEWART b.1840-County Monaghan Ireland;m.1871;d.1935-Osprey Twp.Grey Co,Ontario
2. Margaret Ann RAEBURN b.1846-Quebec;d.1914-St. Catherines,GT,Lincoln Co,Ontario
2. Susannah RAEBURN b.1848-Northumberland Co.,Ontario;d.1937-St.Catharines,L,Ontario
sp: Albert SINCLAIR b.1850-Haldimand Twp.,NCO;m.1876;d.1929-St.Catherines,LC,Ontario
2. William RAEBURN jr b.1853-Northumberland Co.,Ontario;d.1935-Sault Saint Marie,Michigan
sp: Melissa Jane LILLIE b.1855-Harrison Twp. Potter Co,Penn;m.1880;d.1927-Collingwood,SC,Ontario

Who are William Raeburn's siblings?

Is John Reburn b c1805 of Corvacken townland - Williams brother?
Is Mary Rayburn b c1803 m John Fleming and lived in Derrygooney townland - Williams sister?
Is William Reaburn listed in the Monaghan Tithe of 1824 Drumcunnion townland related?
George Reburn is listed in the 1848-64 Griffith's Valuation in Drumcunnion - are they also related?

Corvacken, Derrygooney, and Drumcunnion townlands are neighboring townlands in Aughnamullen Parish, Co Monaghan.

The Raeburn Story

Here is the story of the Raeburn's as I have learned and researched through the years. My goal here is to reach out to others in the hunt for our ancestors, and hoping that someone may be able to add family information to the quest.

William Raeburn was born c 1810 in Ireland, as was his wife Margaret McCormack b c 1810.

They have connections to Reburns of Aughnamullen Parish, County Monaghan. Three townlands there in particular are of interest to me; Corvacken, Derrygooney and Drumcunnion. I will never rule out other locations! There are many Reburns concentrated in three parishes of Monaghan; Aughnamullen, Magheross, and Magheracloone. The surname Reburn is recorded in Monaghan as early as the early 1700's. The name is spelled in various ways.

William and Margaret had three children in Ireland- Eliza, Jane and James. The family emigrated to Quebec by 1844 at the latest, when another daughter Mary was born. Another daughter, Margaret was born in Quebec in 1846.

The family moved on to Northumberland Co. in Ontario by 1848 and lived next door to Edward Weir the brother in law of John Reburn of Corvacken, Monaghan. Daughter Eliza married James Creighton and lived in the neighboorhood near her parents in Northumberland County. Son James worked as a harness maker, Jane, Mary and Margaret were schoolgirls. Two more children were born in Northumberland; Susannah and William. By 1863 the family had moved to Nottawasaga Twp of Simcoe County Ontario, again near a Monaghan family of interest- the William Stewart family in Badjeros, Osprey, Grey County.

Daughter Jane married John Scott and lived in Simcoe, later moving to the St.Catherines area, Margaret never married and later moved in with the Scott's. James never married as far as we know and lived with his parents and farmed and worked as a harness maker. Mary married Richart Stewart son of William Stewart & Susan McCormack (formerly of Co Monaghan), and lived in Osprey Twp, Grey County. Susannah married Albert Sinclair, and they later moved to the St. Catherines area also. William married Melissa Jane Lillie and remained on the Raeburn farm in Nottawasaga of Simcoe County until c 1899 when the family moved to Sault Saint Marie, Michigan.