Difference between revisions of "Calumet Island"
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On Feb. 1, 1837, Thomas White Letts married Elizabeth Thompson (b. 1818 Quebec City, QC - d. 1894 Calumet Island, QC) at Chatham, Argenteuil, [[Quebec]]. Between 1839-1842, the family relocated to Calumet Island, [[Quebec]] to farm. Their third son Thomas Letts, was born Apr. 5, 1842 there. | On Feb. 1, 1837, Thomas White Letts married Elizabeth Thompson (b. 1818 Quebec City, QC - d. 1894 Calumet Island, QC) at Chatham, Argenteuil, [[Quebec]]. Between 1839-1842, the family relocated to Calumet Island, [[Quebec]] to farm. Their third son Thomas Letts, was born Apr. 5, 1842 there. | ||
| − | In the 1861 Census, Thomas Letts is registered with the Church of England, but his wife and all of his children are registered as with the "Free Church". Robert Stott? (b. 1839) and his wife Jane (b. 1841) are similarly listed, who were servants of the neighboring Cahil family, as is Isabella Cahil (b. 1825), though her husband and children were all listed is Catholic. | + | In the 1861 Census, Thomas Letts is registered with the Church of England, but his wife and all of his children are registered as with the "Free Church". Robert Stott? (b. 1839) and his wife Jane (b. 1841) are similarly listed, who were servants of the neighboring Cahil family, as is Isabella Cahil (b. 1825), though her husband and children were all listed is Catholic. |
| − | Thomas' eldest son William Letts (b. 1837 Chatham, Argenteuil, [[Quebec|QC]] - d. 1927 Westlock, [[Alberta|AB]]) is the earliest certain connection to the PB, identifying as such in the 1881 census. | + | Thomas' eldest son William Letts (b. 1837 Chatham, Argenteuil, [[Quebec|QC]] - d. 1927 Westlock, [[Alberta|AB]]) is the earliest certain connection to the PB, identifying as such in the 1881 census. He married Dorothy White (b. 1842 West Hawkesbury Twp., Prescott, [[Ontario|ON]] - d. 1915 Westlock, [[Alberta|AB]]), daughter of Thomas and Amelia White, on July 28, 1862. All of their ten children were born ton Calumet Island. Three of their children died as toddlers and one as a teenager, due to common ailments of the time, diphtheria, whooping cough, etc. |
The family eventually moved to the Westlock area of [[Alberta]] due to persecution by the Catholics of the area. Being the only Brethren of the area, they did not have access to the community Threshing machine as well as the help to harvest. This was a hindrance to being able to farm well as many farmers of that era relied on the community to help harvest and, in turn, help others. As their children grew up and married, the limitations imposed by their Catholic neighbours caused the sons of William and Dorothy Letts to look elsewhere to farm. Thomas White Letts (b. 1863 Calumet Island, QC - d. 1948 Westlock, AB), the eldest son, heard of good land in Alberta. He went looking in 1903 and found some to his liking in the Pembina district of the Northwest Territories (later to become a province of Alberta in 1905). | The family eventually moved to the Westlock area of [[Alberta]] due to persecution by the Catholics of the area. Being the only Brethren of the area, they did not have access to the community Threshing machine as well as the help to harvest. This was a hindrance to being able to farm well as many farmers of that era relied on the community to help harvest and, in turn, help others. As their children grew up and married, the limitations imposed by their Catholic neighbours caused the sons of William and Dorothy Letts to look elsewhere to farm. Thomas White Letts (b. 1863 Calumet Island, QC - d. 1948 Westlock, AB), the eldest son, heard of good land in Alberta. He went looking in 1903 and found some to his liking in the Pembina district of the Northwest Territories (later to become a province of Alberta in 1905). | ||
| − | Thomas, along with his younger brother George Henry "Harry" Letts (b. 1874 Calumet Island, QC - d. 1957 Westlock, AB), filed their homesteading claims on two quarters side-by-side in present day Westlock County in 1904. Their families and belongings would join them in 1905.<br /><br />This started the family exodus from Calumet Island and led to the end of the exclusive brethren influence until the 1980's when a French assembly was commenced with labours in the gospel in this area by Michel and Susan Pigeon. The [[Calumet Island Meeting]] began in 1981. Some of the families who joined were French Swiss immigrants who had gathered with assemblies in their home country in the French Cantons of Switzerland. | + | Thomas, along with his younger brother George Henry "Harry" Letts (b. 1874 Calumet Island, QC - d. 1957 Westlock, AB), filed their homesteading claims on two quarters side-by-side in present day Westlock County in 1904. Their families and belongings would join them in 1905. William and Dorothy moved to Alberta in 1909 as they were getting old. George W Struthers and his wife, Elizabeth Amelia Letts (called Aunt Lizzie), moved to Alberta in 1909 as well. Earnest and Lucy (referred to as "Emma"), along with their children, moved to Alberta in 1912/13). At some point, William and Margaret (nee Stitt) Letts moved to North Bay, Ontario. It is presumed that their son, either Albert or Russel, visited the [[Calumet Island Meeting]] in 1986.<br /> <br />This started the family exodus from Calumet Island and led to the end of the exclusive brethren influence until the 1980's when a French assembly was commenced with labours in the gospel in this area by Michel and Susan Pigeon. The [[Calumet Island Meeting]] began in 1981. Some of the families who joined were French Swiss immigrants who had gathered with assemblies in their home country in the French Cantons of Switzerland. |
==Families== | ==Families== | ||
Revision as of 00:00, 15 April 2021
Letts ancestry
- Thomas White Letts (1813-1901) was born in Northumberland, England, the son of Thomas James Letts (b. 1790 Harringworth, Rutland, Eng. - d. 1870 Calumet Island, QC) & Elizabeth White Letts (b. ca. 1790 Eng. - d. bef. 1853 Calumet Island, QC);
- Thomas James Letts' parents may have been Ralph Thomas Letts (b. 1765 Harringworth, Rutland, Eng.) - d. 1861) & Anne Bolton Letts (1774-1857 Wexford, Ireland); Anne may have been the daughter of James Bolton (b. 1750 Dorset, Eng.);
Calumet Island
On Feb. 1, 1837, Thomas White Letts married Elizabeth Thompson (b. 1818 Quebec City, QC - d. 1894 Calumet Island, QC) at Chatham, Argenteuil, Quebec. Between 1839-1842, the family relocated to Calumet Island, Quebec to farm. Their third son Thomas Letts, was born Apr. 5, 1842 there.
In the 1861 Census, Thomas Letts is registered with the Church of England, but his wife and all of his children are registered as with the "Free Church". Robert Stott? (b. 1839) and his wife Jane (b. 1841) are similarly listed, who were servants of the neighboring Cahil family, as is Isabella Cahil (b. 1825), though her husband and children were all listed is Catholic.
Thomas' eldest son William Letts (b. 1837 Chatham, Argenteuil, QC - d. 1927 Westlock, AB) is the earliest certain connection to the PB, identifying as such in the 1881 census. He married Dorothy White (b. 1842 West Hawkesbury Twp., Prescott, ON - d. 1915 Westlock, AB), daughter of Thomas and Amelia White, on July 28, 1862. All of their ten children were born ton Calumet Island. Three of their children died as toddlers and one as a teenager, due to common ailments of the time, diphtheria, whooping cough, etc.
The family eventually moved to the Westlock area of Alberta due to persecution by the Catholics of the area. Being the only Brethren of the area, they did not have access to the community Threshing machine as well as the help to harvest. This was a hindrance to being able to farm well as many farmers of that era relied on the community to help harvest and, in turn, help others. As their children grew up and married, the limitations imposed by their Catholic neighbours caused the sons of William and Dorothy Letts to look elsewhere to farm. Thomas White Letts (b. 1863 Calumet Island, QC - d. 1948 Westlock, AB), the eldest son, heard of good land in Alberta. He went looking in 1903 and found some to his liking in the Pembina district of the Northwest Territories (later to become a province of Alberta in 1905).
Thomas, along with his younger brother George Henry "Harry" Letts (b. 1874 Calumet Island, QC - d. 1957 Westlock, AB), filed their homesteading claims on two quarters side-by-side in present day Westlock County in 1904. Their families and belongings would join them in 1905. William and Dorothy moved to Alberta in 1909 as they were getting old. George W Struthers and his wife, Elizabeth Amelia Letts (called Aunt Lizzie), moved to Alberta in 1909 as well. Earnest and Lucy (referred to as "Emma"), along with their children, moved to Alberta in 1912/13). At some point, William and Margaret (nee Stitt) Letts moved to North Bay, Ontario. It is presumed that their son, either Albert or Russel, visited the Calumet Island Meeting in 1986.
This started the family exodus from Calumet Island and led to the end of the exclusive brethren influence until the 1980's when a French assembly was commenced with labours in the gospel in this area by Michel and Susan Pigeon. The Calumet Island Meeting began in 1981. Some of the families who joined were French Swiss immigrants who had gathered with assemblies in their home country in the French Cantons of Switzerland.
Families
Letts Family
- William and Dorothy Letts
- Thomas W. and Margaret (nee Defoe) Letts
- George Harry Henry and Alice (nee Smiley) Letts
- Earnest and Lucy (nee Ebbs) Letts
- William and Margaret (nee Stitts) Letts
Sources
- Lists of gatherings 1879 via MyBrethren
- Spencer Letts (2021)
