The Guysborough County Advocate and Canso Breeze

Turning The Pages of History
May 26, 1939
Down Guysboro Way
BY JOHN A. MORRISON

Submitted by Kate Colwell ~
Transcribed by Ardella Grant McPhee

(Continued from previous Issue)
PART XX

The Family of Donald Ross

The clan Anrias or Ross called In Gaelic Roisch na Gille Andras, or the offspring of the follower of St. Andrew. Donald Ross was born in Rossshire Scotland, and was a soldier disbanded at the head of Chedabucto Bay, 1784, at the age of 26 having spent eight years in the army, either in the Duke of Cumberland's Regt. or the 71st. We are inclined to believe in the former. He acquired a grant of 100 ac. in the Township of Guysborough, 1785, 5 ac. and a Town Lot 1790.

On Feb. 3rd, 1795, Donald Ross married Ann Morris, (daughter of Richard Morris, Land Surveyor. Ann Morris was born in Philadelphia at the time of the British occupation of that city. She was in her eighteenth year when she became the wife of Donald Ross and they were the parents of(1) Richard Ross, born Dec. 1st, 1795: married Catherine Bears, Feb. 4th 1833 (2) Margaret Ross, born Jan. l7th, 1798: married first, Henry Morgan and secondly married Stephen McGuire. Issue of first marriage: Charles, Edward and Ann Morgan.

Ann Ross born Mar. 1st, 1800; married Thomas Hart, Feb. 15th, 1825 and lived in Sydney, N. S. John Ross born April 6th 1801 married Eliza Bears, Feb. 12th, 1927. Elsie Ross, born Nov. 3rd, 1803; married Ira Whitman, Aug. l2th, 1828. Bridget Ross, born May 30th, 1807; married Charles Myers, Feb. 19th, 1883. Isabella Ross , born Mar. 6th, 1809 married Jarius Hart, July 3rd, 1834. Mary Ross, born Sept. 6th 1811; married John Hart, Dec. 1837.

The three Harts named were brothers, sons of Jarius and Frances (Godfrey) Hart.

John Ross and Eliza Bears would be the grandparents of the late, Captain Norman A. Ross of Gloucester, Mass., who passed away recently. Captain Norman A. Ross was born at Riverside in Guysborough County, a son of Donald and Johannah (Barry) Ross. Two sons and four daughters survive; Mrs. Sarah Hanlon of Canso, and Lillian, wife of John Seales are sisters. Bridget (Ross) and Charles Myers would be the grandparents of H. C. Myers of Pasadena, California; and his grandparents on the Simpson side would be William and Sarah (Boles) Simpson. His parents Donald and Victoria (Simpson) Myers. Mrs. Myers is now in her 94th year, being the last survivor of the William and Sarah (Boles) Simpson family.

In addition to the grants taken out 1785-90, Donald Ross acquired the following grant August 10th, 1810: ***do grant unto Donald Ross of the County of Sydney, Farmer, 500 acres of land, situate, lying and being on the new road leading from Guysborough to Antigonish, which is abutted and bounded its follows: Beginning at the south east angle of a tract of land laid out for Donald More Chisholm, at a fir tree squared on four sides and marked with the letters R.M. thence to run North 47 degrees, East 30 chains or until it becomes to a beech tree marked J. A. G. being the North West corner of lands laid out to John and Angus McGilvray, thence: South 43 degrees, West 170 chains, or until it comes to said road to a Hemlock tree marked R. M. thence bounded by the several courses of said road Westerly, until it meets the place of beginning, containing in the whole of the before mentioned tract of land 500 acres*** Witness our well beloved Lt., Gen. Sir George Prevost, Baronet and Lieut. Gov. and Com. in Chief over our said province this 10th day of August 1810.

The old Donald Ross homestead was near where the Milford Haven Bridge crossed the river between the Guysborough and Boylston sides.

We also find a George Ross corporal in the Duke of Cumberland�s Regt. acquired a grant of 200 acres in 1785, and a Town, Lot 1790.

The Shreve family connections with Nova Scotia

Rev. Thomas Shreve, the first clergyman in Parrsboro, was born in New Jersey, and was graduated from King's College (now Columbia University) New York, 1773. He died at Liverpool, N. S. Aug. 21st, 1916. He married in New, York City, April 20th, 1777, Catherine, daughter of Hon. Lewis Morris Ashfield, of. Shrewsbury, New Jersey, a relative of Lewis Morris one of the signers of the of Independence. She died in 1789. Mr. Shreve married second in 1792. Abigail Gallup, of the Connecticut Gallup family, who survived her husband for many years, dying at the Rectory, Chester, N.. S., at the home of her son James, April 1st 1849, Children by second marriage, Thomas born Oct. 29th, 1793 a captain in the Royal Navy. Caleb Antill born 1796, died 1848, a teacher; Rebecca, born 1797, died young; Rev James born 1799; Rector of Chester and of Dartmouth; Mary Ann, born 1801, married Rev. Dr, Jacobs of Lunenburg N. S. Martha J., born 1803 married Rev. Mr. Jarvis, Rector of Shediac; Lucy W. born 1806, married Rev. Mr. Morris, father of Rev. Canon Morris of Halifax; Rev. Charles, Jessen, born April 8th,1808, married 1839, Harriet Sophia Hartshorne, who was born in Guysborough 1818. Rev. Charles Jessen Shreve was born In Lunenburg, N. S., 1809, and was educated at King's College, Windsor. NS. He served first in Newfoundland, and subsequently became Rector of Christ's Church, Guysborough, and the first Anglican Church established at Boylston already referred to. Rev. Charles J. Shreve and Harriet Sophia (Hartshorne) Shreve were the parents of seven children: Mrs. Sophia Jameson, widow of the late Dr. I. H. Jameson; Mrs. Ada Wright, wife of Major Wright Charles J. Shreve, physician; Rev. Dr. Richmond Shreve, D.D., Canon of Wherbrooke, Quebec, and Cooperstown, N. Y., and Thomas C. Shreve, born at Guysborough, N. S., and served as Mayor of Digby.

The Cunninghams

We are indebted to Rev. D. J. Rankin�s History of the County or Antigonish for the following: "Three brothers, John, Richard and Michael Cunningham born in Roscommon, Ireland, came to America in a vessel which wits wrecked near the end of the voyage. Richard settled at Antigonish; Harbour, being one of the first settlers, there. His son, John, succeeded him on the farm, who was in turn succeeded by his son, George.

When the Cunninghams were castaways of the sea, they were threatened with starvation. Their provisions were either exhausted owing to a long voyage and the number of passengers, or else were destroyed in the wreck, and so in the end were obliged to resort to the eating of dog flesh. At last a vessel appeared, bound for Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, and although its captain refused to render assistance, his crew locked him in his cabin and did what they could for the castaways. They were landed at Halifax, and although their original destination had been Pennsylvania they decided to remain in Nova Scotia.

Of the eldest brother, John Cunningham, little is known, but he is supposed to have been years older than either of his brothers, Richard or Michael. On June 6th, 1769, two negroes were sentenced in Halifax to receive twenty five lashes each at the public whipping post for theft from John Cunningham, Esquire. In 1771-1782 John Cunningham is mentioned as being in charge of Indian Affairs.

The following notice refers to this John Cunningham, son of Richard: �Married, on Tuesday evening, 22nd August, 1809, by Rev., Dr., Gray, at the seat of Sir John Wentworth, Bart. (Prince's Lodge), Richard Cunningham, Esq. of Windsor, to Miss Sarah Apthorp Morton, oldest daughter of Hon. Percy Morton, of Boston, grandniece of Lady Wentworth." In the list of students, for King's College, besides John Cunningham, who attended before the charter between. 1788 and 1802, there were two sons of Richard Cunningham also attendance: Percy Morton Cunningham 1827-1832 and John Cunningham in 1836. This Richard obtained an important position in the Royal Dockyards.

In 1785, the elder Richard Cunningham, on 1st October, obtained a grant of 1,000 acres at Antigonish, and Mrs. Cunningham 700 acres. With Mrs. Cunningham is associated, the name of Mrs. John MacColla, wife of magistrate of the County of Sydney. She is supposed to have been a sister of Richard Cunningham." (We find a John MacColla received a grant of 760 acres of land, 1785, at Bay of St Lewis).

When the territory comprising Antigonish and Guysborough Counties was cut off from Halifax County in 1786, Richard Cunningham was one of the first magistrates named. He died, on 20th October, 1823, and according to authoritative information was buried near the first orchard he had planted.

Michael Cunningham, born in Roscommon, Ireland, on February 19th, 1756, died on July 30th, 1815, at Antigonish Harbour. He never married.

The Cunningham property was sold to the Bigelows but the family burial plot was reserved by the original owners, together with right of way to it from the shore.

The descendants of Richard Cunningham and Elizabeth Day were John, born at Halifax, April 27th, 1776, married to Ruth Amelia Irish daughter of Levi Irish and Hannah Church; William Henry, the second son, was killed by falling logs; John Cunningham (Major) married with issue (Eliza, Edward, Harriet and Herbert.

�� lived in Guysborough, was twice elected to the Legislature for the County of Sydney. At his death which occurred suddenly on October 17th 1847, there was a widespread mourning and "all the clergymen of the constituency, Including the Roman Catholic Bishop Fraser walked, in the procession" at his funeral.

There were frequent reunions of the Guysborough and Antigonish branches of the family, generally at the home of Mrs. Kelly. Roman Valley."**

The Cunninghams of Guysborough are descended from Edward Irish Cunningham and Miss Cook. He was sent to Guysborough in 1823, at sixteen years of age and worked for Robert Molleson Cutler. He established the first packet service to Halifax. He was postmaster there for fifty five years. Mary Cunningham, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Day, was married to George Irish; Elizabeth was married to Isaac Gibson; William Robert, died at the age of 18 years; George Frederick, married, died in 1851.

Issue of marriage of John Cunningham and Ruth Irish: John Day married to Harriet Phillips; Eliza married to Frances Cook; William Henry killed by a log; Mary Emery married to Elisha Matthew Randall; Edward Irish; Elizabeth Catherine Wilde; Ruth Amelia married to Elisha Strople; Harriet Frances married to Gideon 0. Bigelow; George Michael married to Maria Hart; Margaret Grace married to Reuben Hart; Herbert Robie married to Ellen MacGregor; Francis Simeon married to Isabel Graham.

"Richard Cunningham and Sarah McKeogh had issue: William Robert married to Frances Symond, widow of John Blanchard; Richard Wellington married to Jane Kell; John, a farmer in Roachvale, Guysborough County, married to Susan Horton; Maria married to John L. Kimball in the U.S. Augustus, a blacksmith, married Catherine Harty; Charles B. married to Jelina Whitman, Boylston, Guysborough; Amelia married Thomas Harty, Manchester, Guysborough.

Issue of Edward Irish Cunningham and Elizabeth Catherine Wilde: Lucretia Amelia married to Rev. Alexander M. DeBrassey; Harriet Frances married to James Edward Hart; Emma Grace not married; Elizabeth Catherine died young; Maria Wilde married to Abraham W. Hart; Eliza Cook married to John Henry Cahoon (Cohoon?); Helena Louise' not married; Edward John died young; Adelaide Elizabeth married to Rev. D. Stiles Fraser; Arthur Henry married Maggie Thomas Edward Allison died young. Alfred George married to Annie Anderson. George Michael Cunningham married to Marla Hart, had issue: John William, married to Elizabeth Walsh: Reuben Francis married to Annie Magee; Charlotte Amelia married to Edward Moody; Martha Grace married to Edward Davis; Georgina Maria married to Dwight Coddington; Harriet Sarah married to John Hamilton, Canso.

Issue of Herbert Robie Cunningham and Ellen MacGregor: Ellen Grace married to James Paul; John MacGregor married to Emma Page; Melville Archibald married to Sarah Tory; Donald died young; Eliza Harriet***; Mary Augusta married to Edward C. Peart; Ada Louisa married to J. F. Dicketts, no issue; Lillian McColl died young: William Herbert married to Edith Harrington, William Cunningham (lately deceased) was for many years Treasurer to the Municipality of Guysborough, and Clerk. of the Probate. Issue of William Herbert Cunningham and Edith Harrington: Herbert de Wolf married (first) Emma MacLean who died and left one son (Willard). H.D. Cunningham married (second) Daisy Hadley of Guysborough; John Willard died at the age of 20. H. D. and Daisy Cunningham are the proprietors of Cunningham's Hotel, Guysborough. The first Cunninghams sprung from Anglo Norman lineage, and settled in Scotland during the twelfth century.

(To be Continued.)