robertfinch.ca

Author: Robert Finch

  • Photo Post #32 | Peter Samuel Mitchell (1835-1929)

    Photo Post #32 | Peter Samuel Mitchell (1835-1929)

    The above photo (taken on August 10, 1927 as written on the back) was sent to me by Christine Mitchell, a distant cousin. Here is Peter Samuel Mitchell (my great-great-great uncle). Peter Mitchell was born in 1835 in Oyster Pond Jeddore, Halifax County, Nova Scotia. His parents were Alexander Mitchell and Elizabeth Hurley.

    He died July 18, 1929 at the home of my great grandmother Arabella (Mitchell) Mills, the same house my grandparents lived in and where my mother was born. He was 94 at the time of his death, which is quite remarkable for the time period and considering the general conditions on the Eastern Shore throughout his lifetime.

    Like many ancestors in Jeddore, he was a mariner.

  • The Wedding of Alan Mills & Rose Power – May 7, 1938

    In 1998, I “interviewed” my Nan Rose (Power) Mills about her childhood and early adulthood in East Jeddore, Nova Scotia. The account below is based largely on the information she provided me.

    Rose Power met her future husband Alan Mills (my Grandad) when she was 16 years old. He was a friend of Sam Mitchell, who was dating Rose’s sister Edna (Poode) at the time. Rose and Alan “went together” for three years before marrying.

    Source: Nova Scotia, Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Registration: Year: 1938 number: 88903, Allan [Alan] Victor Mills and Rose Margaret Power, married at Musquodobit Harbour, Halifax County, 7 May 1938; database with images, Province of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Archives (https://archives.novascotia.ca/vital-statistics/ : accessed 29 March 2022)

    They were married on May 7, 1938 in the Manse of the United Church in Musquodoboit Harbour by Mr. Graham. Besides the bride and groom and the minister, there were five other people present: Rose’s parents Earl and Alice Power; Alan’s sister Belle and her husband Roy Jennex; and Alan’s friend Reg Foley who drove them over to the church.

    After the official marriage ceremony, they returned to Earl and Alice’s home in East Jeddore for a wedding reception. Rose’s Uncle Fred (Baker) played the wedding march on Alice’s big organ. They received plenty of gifts and well wishes from guests. One of her favourite gifts was a “pretty pink glass bowl” given by Marsha Hopkins.

    Below are some of the wedding wishes written by guests. I found these gems long forgotten in a trunk in my Grandad’s attic.

    Today is the 86th anniversary of my grandparents’ wedding. Although the marriage ultimately ended, my grandparents reconciled before Grandad died of lung cancer in 1995. So, today I celebrate what sounded like a fun and happy day.

  • Marriage Registration – George Henry Foster Young and Jane Mary Bell

    Source: “Canada, Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927,” database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1784216: accessed 19 November 2022), marriage registration 7872, George H Young and Jane Mary Bell, married at London, Middlesex County, 4 May 1892; citing Archives of Ontario, Toronto.

    Transcription:

    His name: George H Young
    Age: 28
    Residence when married: London
    Place of birth: Ontario
    Bachelor or Widow: Widow
    Rank or profession: Moulder
    Names of Parents: Matthew and Elizabeth Young
    Her name: Jane Mary Bell
    Age: 23
    Residence when married: London
    Place of birth: Ireland
    Spinster of widow: Spinster
    Names of parents: William and Letitia Bell
    Names and residences of witnesses: Annie Cornell(?), London
    Date and place of marriage: May 4, 1892, London
    Religious denomination of bridegroom: Methodist
    Religious denomination of groom: Church of England
    By whom married: S. Bond

  • Photo Post #31 | George Henry Foster Young

    Photo Post #31 | George Henry Foster Young

    Here is a photo of my great great grandfather George Henry Foster Young. He was born in 1864 in Northfield Centre, Brant County in present-day Ontario. On May 4, 1892 he married Jane Mary Bell from Ireland. He was a widow; his first wife was Barbara Hesson.

  • Obituary – Georgina Grace (Arnold) Power

    Mrs. Albert Power obituary, Halifax Chronicle Herald, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 25 July 1933, page 2.

    MRS. ALBERT POWER
    East Jeddore, July 24 – There passed away at her home here on Sunday at noon Georgina Grace, wife of Albert Power, in her 67th year. The deceased, who was a well-known and highly respected resident, is survived besides her husband by four daughters, Mrs. Blanche Oxner, Lunenburg; Mrs. Pearl Harpell, West Jeddore; Mrs. Edna Myers and Mrs. Jennie Baker, East Jeddore; four sons, William A, Harvey, Earle, and Layton; thirty-four grand-children, one great-grandchild, one sister who resides on Prince Edward Island, and a brother, Lorne Arnold, of East Jeddore. The funeral will be held Tueday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Baptist Church at East Jeddore. Rev. A. Campbell, pastor of the Baptist Church, assisted by Rev. George Gardiner of Halifax, will conduct the service.

  • Alice (Baker) Power’s Diary: May 1947

    Alice (Baker) Power’s Diary: May 1947

    Thursday May 1, 1947: Hon gone back on the bus. Awful rough. Bud and Earl lost a lot of traps.

    Friday May 2, 1947: Still raining. Earl and Bud went outside 7 am. Has been raining since Wed PM.

    Saturday May 3, 1947: Saviour keep me pure in heart ever faithful true to thee.

    Sunday May 4, 1947: Fred here for dinner. Ralph & Elsie here for supper.

    Monday May 5, 1947: Awful stormy spring. Rough all the time. Rained for 8 days now.

    Tuesday May 6, 1947: 2nd Bbl of gas. I will praise thee with my whole heart I’ll praise thee oh Lord.

    Wednesday May 7, 1947: Abide with me fast falls the eventide the darkness deepens Lord with me abide.

    Thursday May 8, 1947: Still raining and rough. The men not doing anything lobsters.

    Friday May 9, 1947: Levi here with potatoes. Uncle Rob gone outside after Ed Daye.

    Saturday May 10, 1947: Edna, Mason, Ralph, & Elsie here tonight. Edna brought me a cake.

    Sunday May 11, 1947: Rose, Alan, and children here for dinner & supper. Edna and children down.

    Monday May 12, 1947: I washed and ironed. Earl & Bud outside. Had 35 large lobsters.

    Tuesday May 13, 1947: Earl & I digging up the garden this morning. Bud up flat fishing.

    Wednesday May 14, 1947: Oh what peace we often forfeit oh what needless pain we bear.

    Thursday May 15, 1947: Elsie and I planted the rose bushes on the graves Dear Rob and Lyall.

    Friday May 16, 1947: I was in town. Leave the unknown future in the master’s hands for Jesus understands.

    Saturday May 17, 1947: Dad & I in town with Clyde Perry. I got my hair done at Bonnie’s.

    Sunday May 18, 1947: Mason, Edna, & family here for dinner. Ralph & Elsie here all day.

    Monday May 19, 1947: 3 BBl gas. Bud started fishing with Mason. He got 1 ½ qtls of cod fish.

    Tuesday May 20, 1947: I papered Hon’s room and muresco the ceiling. Rob had 20 herring.

    Wednesday May 21, 1947: Father I have wandered from three, often has my heart gone astray. Crimson does my sins.

    Thursday May 22, 1947: Rob had a halibut yesterday 98 lbs. Elsie & Ralph here for tea.

    Friday May 23, 1947: Rob had 1 mackerel first caught this year. Earl had 11 dollars lobsters.

    Saturday May 24, 1947: He will hide me safely hide me in the shadow of his hands.

    Sunday May 25, 1947: Olive and a crowd out for dinner and supper.

    Monday May 26, 1947: A big rain storm. I never washed today.

    Tuesday May 27, 1947: Enos made my garden. Anna down this evening.

    Wednesday May 28, 1947: I planted some things today. Aunt Margaret here after noon.

    Thursday May 29, 1947: I planted some more seeds. Elsie here for dinner.

    Friday May 30, 1947: Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.

    Saturday May 31, 1947: Hon and Bern came home tonight for a week’s holiday.

  • Photo Post #30 | Bertha Arabella Mills

    Today is my aunt Bert’s birthday. She would’ve turned 80. Born Arabella Bertha Mills (we always called her “Bert”) she was the third daughter of my grandparents Alan Mills and Rose Power. She was born April 26, 1944 at home in Oyster Pond Jeddore, Nova Scotia.

    When I was growing up, Bert and her first husband and their family lived next door to us on the Beach Strip in Hamilton. I can still remember the days when she would pick me up from school. Those were the best days because she would always take me to Burger King in their orange pick-up truck. I loved that truck – and the trips to Burger King.

    Years later, she and her second husband lived in the house on the other side of us. So, Bert was our neighbour twice. Bert died September 10, 2021.

    Here is a photo of Bert taken when she was two years old. My Nan’s writing is on the reverse of the photograph.

  • Photo Post #29 | Dancing Grandparents

    Photo Post #29 | Dancing Grandparents

    Here are a couple photos of my paternal grandparents Clifford and Hazel (Vansickle) Finch dancing at their 45th wedding anniversary reception in 1982. I love the smiles on their faces. They were clearly having a great time.

    I can only vaguely recollect this event as I was only (almost) 5 years old at the time. I remember everybody getting up and doing the “chicken dance.”

  • Alice (Baker) Power’s Diary: April 1947

    Alice (Baker) Power’s Diary: April 1947

    Tuesday April 1, 1947:
    Harpell out fishing got
    16 fish. He lost
    his logs while towing them

    Wednesday April 2, 1947:
    We got a fresh fish
    from Harpell for
    dinner Pearl here tonight

    Thursday April 3, 1947:
    Ralph on beach got 2 traps
    Otis here this morning
    Earl putting up fence

    Friday April 4, 1947:
    Bless me oh my Saviour
    bless me as I bow low at
    thy feet.

    Saturday April 5, 1947:
    Levi came here
    dinner time taking
    orders for potatoes

    Sunday April 6, 1947:
    Levi gone back on the
    Bus tonight a
    rainy Easter

    Monday April 7, 1947:
    I washed but its
    raining out the
    wind is North West

    Tuesday April 8, 1947:
    Earl Doris and I up
    to Alans in the
    Boat first trip this spring

    Wednesday April 9, 1947:
    Rob + Arth gone in Halifax
    for bait they called
    saying their engine broke down

    Thursday April 10, 1947:
    life only once we
    can live it, oh what
    a great solemn thought

    Friday April 11, 1947:
    My hope is built on
    nothing less than Jesus blood
    and righteousness

    Saturday April 12, 1947:
    Rob and Arth got home
    this evening after being
    in town service Wednesday in Boat

    Sunday April 13, 1947:
    Earl + I up to Ednas for
    dinner Fred here for
    tea. Mason + Edna here tonight

    Monday April 14, 1947:
    I cleaned kitchen ceiling
    muresco the pantry ceiling
    Earl got 20 flat fish 1 lump fish

    Tuesday April 15, 1947:
    for all the Lord
    has done for me
    I never will cease to praise him

    Wednesday April 16, 1947:
    I papered the pantry
    and painted the
    kitchen windows

    Thursday April 17, 1947:
    I cleaned paint around
    the kitchen walls
    and painted our bases

    Friday April 18, 1947:
    Ralph + Elsie here for
    supper I was down
    to Ralphs last evening

    Saturday April 19, 1947:
    When your loving Lord made
    home so bright and
    life was a merry chime

    Sunday April 20, 1947:
    Ralph + Elsie here
    for supper
    Pop here tonight.

    Monday April 21, 1947:
    A fine day
    I papered the (?)
    room this morning
    Earl + Bud set all the traps
    Hon came home on the Bus

    Tuesday April 22, 1947:
    Earl sold 68 dollars
    of lobsters price 35 + 10
    Bud sold 13.25

    Wednesday April 23, 1947:
    Earl had 45 dollars
    worth Bud had 11
    Hall’s haul

    Thursday April 24, 1947:
    Earl + I down to Freds
    this afternoon and
    to Ralphs

    Friday April 25, 1947:
    A storm rough out
    lost 4 traps.
    Elsie + Ralph here for supper

    Saturday April 26, 1947:
    heard the frogs tonight
    first this year. Lobster
    price today 28 + 11

    Sunday April 27, 1947:
    Bud stayed in town
    over night
    I have a bad cold

    Monday April 28, 1947:
    Awfull rough spring so far
    Earl made 196 dollars
    one week today Bud 46 dollars

    Tuesday April 29, 1947:
    A Big snow storm 2 inches
    down now North wind awfull rough out side

    Wednesday April 30, 1947:
    Earl + Bud wasn’t
    out side a big storm
    and rough

  • Photo Post #28 | Terry Fox

    Photo Post #28 | Terry Fox

    Here is a photo of a Canadian icon: Terry Fox. The photograph was taken by my Grandad Alan Mills during the famous Marathon of Hope in 1980. I’m not exactly sure where the photo was taken, but Terry was on his way to Halifax. My Grandad was very proud to have met Terry Fox and I’m delighted that I have this photo. A bit of Canadian history.

    Of course, Terry Fox died of cancer the following year, but his legacy lives on through the annual Terry Fox Run held in Canada and around the world. My Grandad died of lung cancer in 1995.