Note: this entry originally posted Feb. 17  ’07, updated with family photos courtesy Julie Peer Mar. 26 ’07

Transcription of William James Peer’s Death Notice:

Death 2 April 1902. Death Certificate, William James Peer, age 40, living 10th concession, married, born Elizabethtown, suicide by hanging, no physician in attendance.

Source . . . → Read More: William James Peer & Family]]> William James Peer

Note: this entry originally posted Feb. 17  ’07, updated with family photos courtesy Julie Peer Mar. 26 ’07

Transcription of William James Peer’s Death Notice:

Death 2 April 1902. Death Certificate, William James Peer, age 40,
living 10th concession, married, born Elizabethtown, suicide by
hanging, no physician in attendance.

Source Citation: Roll: MS935_106.

William James was the second oldest son of Reuben and Margrate Peer and was the next eldest brother of Lucy Adeline Peer. He was survived by his wife Whilemina Cooper and two children, George William (age 2) and Margaret Lillian (age 9 mths).

Back Row – William James, Hannah Jane, Lucy Adeline, Margaret Anne
Middle Row – Reuben Sr., Margaret, Reuben Jr., Mary Lilly
Front Row – Katherine Matilda, Clarissa

In addition to the Death certificate above, Lorina forwarded the following information describing the family before and after the death:

Photo of William Peer by Falkner Photography of Athens, Ontario.

Source Information: 1901 Census of Canada
Subdistrict: Elizabethtown, BROCKVILLE, ONTARIO
District Number: 47
Subdistrict Number: f-10
Archives Microfilm: T-6460
2 11 16 Peer William J. M Head M Oct 16 1860 40
2 12 16 Peer Mina F Wife M Mar 12 1880 21
2 13 16 Peer George W. M Son S Feb 28 1900 1

William James Peer’s 1899 marriage to Mina Cooper:

Photo of Mrs. W. Peer (Minnie Cooper) by Jos. Fournell of North Augusta, Ont

Marriage Index:
Name: Mina Cooper
Birth Place: Elizabethtown
Age: 19
Father Name: Henry Cooper
Mother Name: Kate Cooper
Estimated birth year: abt 1880
Spouse Name: William J Peer
Spouse’s Age: 35
Spouse Birth Place: Elizabethtown
Spouse Father Name: Reuben Peer
Spouse Mother Name : Margaret Peer
Marriage Date: 7 Jun 1899
Marriage Place: Grenville
Marriage County: Grenville
Family History Library Microfilm: MS932_98
Source: Indexed by: Ancestry.com

William George Peer
Birth:

Name: William George Peer
Date of Birth: 28 Feb 1900
Gender: Male
Birth County: Leeds
Father’s name: Wm J Peer
Mother’s name: Minnie Cooper
Roll Number: MS929_150

Marriage:

Name: George William Peer
Birth Place: Bells Crossing
Age: 21
Father Name: Wm Peer
Mother Name: Nina Cooper
Estimated birth year: abt 1900
Spouse Name: Gladis McMann
Spouse’s Age: 19
Spouse Birth Place: Brockville
Spouse Father Name: Wm McMann
Spouse Mother Name : Ruth A Frost McMann
Marriage Date: 18 Jan 1921
Marriage Place: Leeds
Marriage County: Leeds
Source: Indexed by: Ancestry.com

Photo of Maggie and Georgie Peer by Jos. Fournell of North Augusta, Ont

Margaret Lillian Peer
Birth:

Name: Margret Lillian Peer
Date of Birth: 25 Jun 1901
Gender: Female
Birth County: Leeds
Father’s name: William J Peer
Mother’s name: Mina Cooper
Roll Number: MS929_154

Marriage:

Name: Margaret Lillian Peer
Birth Place: Bells Crossing
Age: 20
Father Name: William Peer
Mother Name: Williamina Cooper
Estimated birth year: abt 1901
Spouse Name: Aden David Church
Spouse’s Age: 23
Spouse Birth Place: County of Addison Leeds
Spouse Father Name: Alfred Church
Spouse Mother Name : Sarah Mullen
Marriage Date: 21 Mar 1921
Marriage Place: Dundas
Marriage County: Dundas
Source: Indexed by: Ancestry.com

The work was done by my wife and myself in the mid 1990′s but was . . . → Read More: Early Percy Township Records]]> Anyone interested in the early days of Percy Township in Northumberland County is welcome to browse through my newly posted collection of transcriptions of Early Percy Township Records including 1797 and 1799 settlement reports plus 1803 to 1823 Census Reports.

The work was done by my wife and myself in the mid 1990′s but was only recently converted into html format. There is an Early Census Name Index showing all of the name variations and it should be noted that two of the census, 1822 and 1823, include names of spouses as well as heads of households.

A variety of other documents will be placed on the site as I get them ready. There are already a number of personal memoirs of more general interest to anybody seeking information about settlement in the Northumberland area in the pioneer era.

Please note, some of the census information included on my site has previously been available on other web sites, most notably Bill Martin’s Genealogy Pages however my work was created independently of that effort and supplements that work with information that to the best of my knowledge has not previously been available.

As with all transcriptions, researchers are advised to check the original document for best results.

A Record of Marriages Solemnized by William Smart, Minister of the Presbyterian congregartion, Brockville, Elizabethtown, Upper Canada ~ Originally published by: Ontario Historical Society, “Papers and Records” Volume 5, Published in Toronto in 1904, Pages 187-236. Digitized version . . . → Read More: Robert Connell and Julia Coon]]> Jan. 14th, 1830 Robert Connell and Julia Coon, both of Yonge,
banns, witnesses J. Coon, S. Smith.

A Record of Marriages Solemnized by William Smart, Minister of the Presbyterian congregartion, Brockville, Elizabethtown, Upper Canada ~ Originally published by: Ontario Historical Society, “Papers and Records” Volume 5, Published in Toronto in 1904, Pages 187-236. Digitized version of original document available here.

Filed 8 January, 1847, with James Jessup, Reg’S Const.

In the name of God, Amen.

I, James Connel of the Township of Yonge in the District of Johnston in the Province of Canada, Yeoman do make . . . → Read More: Last Will and Testament of James Connel]]> James Connel was the brother of my direct descendent Robert Connel. The two immigrated to Upper Canada around 1799.

Filed 8 January, 1847, with James Jessup, Reg’S Const.

In the name of God, Amen.

I, James Connel of the Township of Yonge in the District of Johnston in the Province of Canada, Yeoman do make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.

First I give and devise unto my beloved wife Isabella Connel one third part of each and every parcel of land hereinafter described to be set apart by my Executor, Alexander McLean hereinafter named, to have and to hold to her during her natural life if she shall so long remain my widow sole and unmarried. And I give and bequeath to my said wife all my household goods and furniture, one horse, two cows and six sheep to be set apart for her by my said Executor Alexander McLean to have and to hold to her, her heirs and assigns forever.

And it is my will and I herby authorize and empower my Executor and Executrix hereinafter named to invest in Loans from time to time during the life of my said wife or for each time as she shall remain my widow and secure by Bond and Mortgage the sum of two hundred pounds of lawful money of Canada to be made or obtained by my personal estate and effects at lawful interest such interest to be paid half yearly; and I give and bequeath such interest as the same shall become payable to my said wife during her natural life on continuance as my widow as aforesaid.

And it is further my will and I hereby give, bequeath and devise unto my said wife the use and occupancy of the three west rooms on the first floor of my present dwelling house with yard room and reasonable and convenient right of way for ingress, egress and regress to the said yard and rooms during her natural life on continuance as my widow as aforesaid. I give and devise the West half of lot number six in the second concession of Yonge aforesaid containing on hundred acres of land be the same more or less with the appurtenances unto my son James Connel of the Township of Yonge aforesaid, Yeoman to have and to hold the same to my said son James Connel his heirs and assigns forever subject however to the Estate hereinbefore devised to my said wife of one third part of the land during her life on continuance as my widow as aforesaid.

And I give and devise the East half of the said lot number six in the second concession of the said Township of Yonge containing one hundred acres of land be the same more or less with the appurtenances unto my daughter Permelia Munro, wife of Simon Munro of the said Township of Yonge, Yeoman to have and to hold the same to my said daughter Permelia Munro her heirs and assigns forever subject to the Estate herein before devised to my said wife thereout during the natural life or widowhood of my said wife.

And I give and devise all and singular that parcel or tract of land being the South part of lot number eight in the third concession of the Township of Yonge aforesaid butted and bounded as follows, that is to say, commencing at the South East angle of the said lot number eight, thence North twenty four degrees West thirty-nine chains and forty-seven links, thence South sixty-six degrees West nineteen chains more or less to the Western limit of said lot number eight, then South twenty-four degrees East, thirty-nine chains and forty-seven links to the front of the said third concession; then North sixty-six degrees East nineteen chains more or less to the place of beginning, containing seventy-five acres more or less together with the appurtenances to my son David Connel, formerly of the Township of Yonge aforesaid Yeoman to have and to hold the same unto my said son David Connel his heirs and assigns forever subject to the Estate hereinbefore devised of a part thereof as aforesaid to my said wife during her life on continuance as my widow.

And I give and devise all that other parcel or tract of land being the South part of lot number nine in the said third concession of the Township of Yonge aforesaid butted and bounded as follows, that is to say, commencing a the South East angle of the said lot number nine, thence North twenty-four degrees West thirty nine chains, forty-seven links, thence South sixty-six degrees West, nineteen chains more or less to the Western limit of the said lot number nine; thence South twenty four degrees East, thirty-nine chains forty seven links to the front of the said third concession; thence North sixty-six degrees East, nineteen chains more or less to the place of beginning containing seventy five acres be same more or less to my son Levi Connel formerly of the Township of Yonge aforesaid Yeoman to have and to hold the same to my said son Levi connel his heirs and assigns forever.

And from and after the death of my said wife or future intermarriage which shall first happen I give and bequeath the said two hundred pounds hereinbefore directed to be invested in loans as aforesaid together with the interest thereto if any remaining unpaid to my said wife, unto my said sons James Connel, David connel and Levi Connel and my said daughter Permelia Munro if all living and if not all living then to the survivors of them share and share alike and their respective Executors, administrators and assigns forever.

And as to the residue of my Personal Estate, goods, chattels, debts and effects not hereinbefore disposed of I give and bequeath the same to my said sons James, connel, David connel and Levi Connel and daughter Permelia Munro to be equally divided between them share and share alike by my Executor and Executrix herein after named to have and to hold the same to my said sons and daughter and their respective executors, administrators and assigns forever.

And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my said wife Issabella Connel and my trusty friend alexander McLean of the Township of Yonge aforesaid Farmer Executrix and Executor of this my last will and testament; hereby revoking annulling and disallowing all former wills by me at anytime heretofore made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of august in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and forty six.

Signed, Sealed Published & Declared by the said Testator James connel as and for his last will and testament in our presence who at his request in his presence and presence of each other have subscribed over or oversee as witnesses hereto, The words “and Executrix” in the twenty third line from the top of the last page being first interlined in.
Adam R Cole
Andrew N. Buck
William L Gibson
Samuel Avery

James Connel X his mark

Source: Ontario Archives MS638 Reel 26 A-Cu

Meeting of The Officers of the Garrison of St John and Fredricton on Long Island, in the River St. John, New Brunswick (circa 1790)

The building in the middle with two chimneys is Leonard Slipp’s inn on the St. John River. He called the spot Long Island, probably from his New York experiences, and . . . → Read More: The Blizzard Inn]]>

Meeting of The Officers of the Garrison of St John and Fredricton on Long Island, in the River St. John, New Brunswick (circa 1790)

The building in the middle with two chimneys is Leonard Slipp’s inn on the St. John River. He called the spot Long Island, probably from his New York experiences, and the inn Blizzard. Leonard was a United Empire Loyalist and my paternal grandmother’s Great Great Grandfather.

Special thanks to Rick Crume and Carol Brown Parker for this important family heirloom.

Click on thumbnail to view the description on the back of the frame.

Update: A colour version of this lithograph is available from the New Brunswick Museum.