While researching some history on Kintyre residents who emigrated to Ontario, Canada I came across this "gem" which I though some of you might enjoy.
Pioneers Settled in Dunwich in 1848
Sleep in Old Church Yard at Largie
A reunion of interest to many in Dunwich is being held today at Springbank in honor of Mrs. Jane McArthur McVannel and part of her family who settled in North Dunwich in 1848. The following historical sketch is contributed by a descendant residing at “Lem-na-muich Farm”, Kintyre, Scotland:
After the death of her husband, Duncan McVannel in Kintyre, Scotland, Jane McArthur McVannel came with her three sons, John, Peter and Archie, and granddaughter, Agnes Watson, to Canada, to make a home in the new land.
Hector, another son; Jean (Mrs. Peter Hyndman), and Nancy (Mrs. Donald McCallum), two daughters, had settled in Ontario, Canada some time previous and two daughters, Mary (Mrs. Watson),and Margaret (Mrs. McFarlane) remained in Scotland.
The McVannels landed at York, now Toronto, in June 1848 and from there came to Col. Talbot’s settlement along the shores of Lake Erie, purchasing four hundred acres of land in the fourth concession of the township of Dunwich, Elgin County.
The land, being then a dense forest, they had to cut down the trees to clear a place for their home, which was built of logs, hewn from the trees.
Mrs. McVannel’s sturdy frame helped her through many dangers and difficulties, which befell the new settlers and often she was seen wending her way to the auld kirk many miles distant on horseback.
In 1856, after eight years of pioneer life, she passed away, and was laid to rest in the auld kirk-yard at Largie, on the old Currie road in Dunwich.
The stalwart qualities, undaunted courage and Christian faith of Mrs. McVannel, was manifested in her children, giving them strength to endure privations and hardships which we know little of, and enabling them to lay so well the foundation of the rich heritage their descendants now enjoy in this fair land.
After the mother’s death, John, Peter and Archie remained on the homestead. Hector, his wife (who was Miss McAllister),and two children, Mary and Duncan, first settled in King, afterwards removing to Erin township, Wellington county. In 1872 he and his family moved to Elderslie township, where he passed away at the home of his son, Hector, in 1879. Jane (Mrs. Hyndman), her husband and four children, Christena, Duncan, James and Mary Jane, also settled in Erin. Mrs. Hyndman passed away at her old home in Erin in 1912, being the last of the direct descendants. Nancy (Mrs. McCallum), and her husband, moved from King to Dunwich, where she passed away in the early ‘80's. Agnes Watson, the granddaughter, married Alexander Thomson and was living in Dunwich.
In 1863, Archie married Mary McMillan, of Kintyre, Ontario. Five years later John died, unmarried, and in 1891, Peter, too, passed away unmarried at the age of 81.
Archie and his wife lived on the old home until 1904 when they moved to Cass City, Michigan to live with their daughter Jane. Archie died in 1906 at the age of 91.
Mrs. McVannel’s sons and daughter have all passed away, and at present but fourteen grandchildren survive, but the other descendants, numbering about five hundred, are scattered to almost all parts of the world, many filling important and trusted positions in nearly every walk of life.
Two more of the grandchildren had also settled in Canada, Jean Watson (Mrs. Robert Barr), mother of the famous novelist (Luke Sharp), coming with her husband and small family in the early fifties, settling first in Elgin and Kent counties, but latterly in Windsor, Ontario; also William Watson, a brother, who came out in 1872, settling for a few years in Dunwich, but afterwards moving to Aldborough township, where he still resides.
Many interesting stories could be told of the experiences of these ancestors, in making a home in the new land, if space would permit.
The surviving grandchildren are: William Watson, Sr., Rodney, Ont.; Jean and Archie McFarlane, Greenock, Scotland; James Hyndman of Hillsburg, Ontario; Alex. Hyndman “Leaside Cottage” Guelph, Ontario; Archie Hyndman, Seattle, Washington; Peter Hyndman in Montana, USA; Mrs. Catherine Hyndman, Muirhead, Todmorden, Ont; Peter D. McCallum, Dutton, Ont; William McCallum, Newmarket, Ont; Mrs. Jane McVannel Leitch, Pontiac, Mich.; Mrs. Nancy McVannel Sloan, Madoc, Montana; Mrs. Mary McVannel Templeton, Rodney, Ont; Peter McVannel, Austin, Manitoba.
A permanent association of the descendants of the clan has been organized to annually honor the memory of the undaunted woman, Mrs. Jane McVannell, and her family. Mrs. Watson, Rodney, is president this year and Miss Bessie Thomson, Hillsburg, secretary.“
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Regards,
Charles.