Difference between revisions of "Calumet Island"

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==History==
 
==History==
Thomas White Letts (1813-1901) was born in Northumberland, [[England]], the son of Charles Letts (b. 1778 Eng.). On Feb. 1, 1837, he married Elizabeth Thomson (1818-1894) at Chatham, Argenteuil, [[Quebec]]. Thomas' father, Charles (b. 1778 Eng.) emigrated to Quebec also, and died in May 1839 at St-Philippe-D'Argenteuile, QC. Between 1839-1842, the family relocated to Calumet Island, [[Quebec]] to farm. Their third son Thomas Letts, was born Apr. 5, 1842 there.
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Thomas White Letts (1813-1901) was born in Northumberland, [[England]], the son of Charles Letts (b. 1778 Eng.). On Feb. 1, 1837, he married Elizabeth Thompson (1818-1894) at Chatham, Argenteuil, [[Quebec]]. Thomas' father, Charles (b. 1778 Eng.) emigrated to Quebec also, and died in May 1839 at St-Philippe-D'Argenteuile, QC. 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.
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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.
  
 
Their eldest son William Letts (b. 1837 Chatham, Argenteuil, [[Quebec|QC]] - d. 1927 Westlock, [[Alberta|AB]]) 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.
 
Their eldest son William Letts (b. 1837 Chatham, Argenteuil, [[Quebec|QC]] - d. 1927 Westlock, [[Alberta|AB]]) 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.

Revision as of 13:48, 14 April 2021

History

Thomas White Letts (1813-1901) was born in Northumberland, England, the son of Charles Letts (b. 1778 Eng.). On Feb. 1, 1837, he married Elizabeth Thompson (1818-1894) at Chatham, Argenteuil, Quebec. Thomas' father, Charles (b. 1778 Eng.) emigrated to Quebec also, and died in May 1839 at St-Philippe-D'Argenteuile, QC. 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.

Their eldest son William Letts (b. 1837 Chatham, Argenteuil, QC - d. 1927 Westlock, AB) 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.

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 Dafoe) Letts
  • George Henry Harry 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)