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Biography of John Cameron (1813-1880) |
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Within the Kilmorack Parish,
Inverness-shire, Scotland record book the following entry may be found: 1813 Cameron, Kenneth and his spouse Margt.
McLeod at Craigscorrie had a child Baptised called John. With this, the life of the Cameron family patriarch began on a small farm called Craigscorrie (Craigscorry, Craigscurry or in Gaelic either Creag Sgoire, meaning "cliffy or rugged crag" or Creag Skorri, meaning "Hawk Hill") approximately one mile east of the Kilmorack Parish glebe. John was, in all probability, born in his parent's croft home, a very small stone constructed residence featuring a thatch roof - much in the tradition of that era. The remnants of that croft are believed to still stand at Craigscorrie, across the road from the modern day house. From those ruins a stunning view of the Beauly Firth and the surrounding countryside may be taken in, with emerald green pastures and rolling woodlands leading down toward the firth. John’s exact birth date will never be known, for only baptismal
records were preserved. Nevertheless,
at that time tradition called for the new born child to be baptized about
three days following his birth, so the wee bairn may have been born on or
around January 4, 1813. Within
the diverse paper trail of records for John’s life, his birth year is
listed anywhere from 1809 and 1816; regardless of these inaccuracies, the
original baptismal records are the definitive source. In addition to John, Kenneth Cameron and
Margaret M(a)cLeod are shown to have baptized one other son within
Kilmorack, Alexander. Little
is known of his life, though he may have married and had a son, Kenneth.
The parish itself was described somewhat extensively in 1846: Kilmorack, a parish, in the county of
Inverness, 11 miles (west) from Inverness, containing, with the village of
Beauly, 2694 inhabitants. Specifically, the parish, along with a hamlet of
the same name, is located about 3 miles west by south-west of Beauly.
Out of Kilmorack's entire 142,909 acres, only 4,000 of them are
considered arable. The parish is of great extent, and chiefly, a sylvan
and pastoral district. The surface is richly diversified, and the scenery
in several places exquisitely beautiful, consisting of hill and mountain
covered with pasture and wood, rural valleys, well-cultivated tracts,
rivers and lochs. The western
portion of the parish is exceedingly wild and mountainous.
Ecclesiastically the parish is in the Presbytery of Dingwall, synod
of Ross… The aforementioned scenic rolling hills must have been a wonderland for John in his youth. Beauly was nearby, well within a young lad's walking range. He could also stroll down toward beautiful Kilmorack Falls (a brisk downhill run) for a taste of fishing or a swim. Inverness was probably within reach later in his childhood, perhaps along with his brother Alexander. At the age of 21 John was first married,
to Janet Campbell. Their
wedding ceremony, which took place on February 24, 1834, is recorded as
occurring in two different parishes: Kilmorack and nearby Kirkhill.
It is possible that the ceremonies were at both of their home
parishes, though that is pure speculation. Janet and a relative owned a
"double home" at 19 Torgormack, Ballivullich (Balavulich) Croft, Kilmorack
Parish. This area at the extreme northern end of Kilmorack Parish,
due west of Muir of Ord. The newly weds lived
there, with Janet's relative (an aunt, cousin or sister also named Janet
Campbell) residing "on the other side of the wall" in the same
house. The original house,
which has since been added onto, is still standing.
It is owned not by Janet’s descendants but the descendants of her
relative. The Camerons had two children, first a
daughter, Margaret, named after the paternal grandmother and then John
Jr., named for his proud father. Sometime
after John Jr's birth in 1836, but before 1841, Janet died. It is
speculated that she passed away as a result of child birthing
complications, though there may plausibly be another cause.
After Janet’s death, John’s daughter would move in with her
paternal grandmother in Kirkhill Parish, Margaret M(a)cLeod Cameron, who
was also raising another grandchild (possibly her son Alexander’s child)
Kenneth Cameron. John Jr.’s
whereabouts in 1841 are unknown, though it is probable that he was
fostered to a nearby relative. As was the custom of the time, John soon
remarried. His second wife,
Isabella Dallas, was originally from Rosemarkie, Ross-shire, the daughter
of Simon Dallas. A wedding
took place on February 21, 1841 at Kirkhill Parish and also the following
day in Inverness. Together with his new bride, John
settled at Tealaggan (Tealagan), in Kirkhill Parish’s Drumchardine (Drumchardnie)
concession, south-east of present day village of Kirkhill and south of the
Newton Burn. The 1841 census
listed him as a “sawyer” by profession, which indicates that he worked
in sawmill or timber pit. Ten years
later the census lists John as an “agricultural labourer,” indicating he had entered the farming profession.
When living at Tealaggan, the Camerons were only two homes distant
from the Free Church. It is
probable that they attended this church from 1843 until at least 1854. Their probable home at Tealaggan still stands, just up the road from the old Free Church. It is now utilized as a barn and storage building for the modern home, but upon inspection one may identify the original home. It consists of hand masoned stone and was probably built by either John or an early land owner. The two story structure now has a slate roof, but may have been originally thatched. Tealaggan's fields overlook nearby hills and now consist primarily of pasture. However, John may have farmed these lands at some point. Kirkhill Parish was centered in the
village of Kirktown (present day Kirkhill) which was located between
Kilmorack Parish and the town of Inverness, approximately six miles west
of Inverness. The Camerons
raised a young family, consisting entirely of sons, all of whom were
possibly educated at the Kirkhill parochial school, which was "well
attended" in the 1840s and 1850s.
There is also the possibility that they were educated much closer
to Tealaggan. From parish
census records it may be observed that the Cameron children began their
education at or about the age of six. After working as an agricultural
labourer on what may be assumed to be a small parcel of land, either his
own or leased, John decided that a major change was in order.
Tales of vast, widely available tracts of fertile farmland in Upper
Canada had reached Kirkhill Parish. There
is little doubt that numerous local residents had a family member or
acquaintance living in North America, for other Cameron families from
Kirkhill Parish had left for North America in 1801.
Based on their letters emigration seemed like a very attractive
option. In 1855, having saved
the funds necessary for ship passage, the Camerons left their native
Scotland. Of John’s
children, all but two would make the voyage.
His daughter Margaret did not initially join the family, but did
emigrate a few years later, but eldest son John Jr. was determined to
remain behind. As the story
goes, he was courting a local girl and hid in a stand of trees when the
family left. Based on this
tale it may be assumed that John was determined that his son join the
family in Canada. Regardless
of that plan, John’s namesake shared a similar determination and
followed his heart. Of the
descendants of John Cameron, only those of John Jr. remained in Scotland,
where they reside to this day. The port at which the Camerons docked is
a mystery, and to date records do not document their arrival.
There are a few theories. They may have possibly docked in
Montreal and then taken a smaller boat to Cobourg, Ontario (their first
home in Canada). Another
possibility is that the family arrived in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick and
then, as mentioned above, took a small boat to Cobourg.
The Camerons may have also gone directly to Cobourg. The port of
Cobourg did receive numerous ships from the British Isles in the 1850s.
Regardless of all these plausible theories, one tale has persevered
within family lore. It is said
that their ship docked somewhere on the coast of Maine.
Two major ports there, Portland and Falmouth, lost their
immigration records from October 1853 to September 1857, so if they did
enter through one of these towns there is little chance of proving it.
The story relates that the Camerons left Maine and walked the
entire distance, some 1,000 miles, to Cobourg.
John carried a large sack of flour, Isabella carried their youngest
child in her arms and the rest of the children walked on their own. As previously mentioned, Cobourg,
Ontario was Camerons first home in Canada.
The town is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, 92 miles
west by south of Kingston and 69 miles north-east of Toronto. It was a
point of entry and the junction of the Grand Trunk and Cobourg, Peterboro
and Marmora Railways. This
market town served an exceedingly fertile section of country, had a safe
and commodious harbor, from which considerable quantities of farm produce,
lumber and iron ore were annually exported and was home to woolen mills, a
train car factory, several foundries, mills and breweries.
It is hoped that John and Isabella found a resident population of
native Scots, for according to records the Camerons only spoke Gaelic upon
their arrival. Within time
they would become bi-lingual, but in the beginning they were dependant on
their native tongue. The family first took up a residence at
Block 19, Concession A, Lot 6 on William Street. Surviving land records
indicate that lot 6 and lot 4 were, at that time, one in the same.
Records also indicate that this home is the current 360 William
Street, which was built by William Burnett in the 1840s as a rental unit.
The house, still inhabited and in excellent shape, is a two story
frame "Ontario vernacular" with a gable roof and boxed cornice
returning plain frieze. Sometime around 1859 the Camerons moved
across town to a frame home on Cottesmore Street, in Cobourg's east ward.
This new residence afforded John more land then the rental home
did, and the family is recorded as having three cows and six sheep in the
1861 census, valued at $59. In
addition to obtaining more land, the family required a larger home, for
Isabella gave birth to four additional sons while living in Cobourg,
beginning in early 1856. The
Cameron family then consisted of John, Isabella and nine sons, all under
one roof. Besides John, two other Camerons were
living in Cobourg at this time. They
do not appear to be related, and are only being mentioned to avoid
confusion in any future research. James Cameron was a clerk residing on
Green Street, and another John Cameron, the noted professor and political
figure in both Northumberland County and Toronto also had a residence
there. Somewhere around 1863 the Camerons left
Cobourg, heading west for the open frontier.
Their destination was Bruce County, Ontario, near the eastern shore
of Lake Huron. The southern townships of Bruce County were part of a large
area of land that was ceded to the Crown on August 9th, 1836. Formerly
called The Indian Territory, this roughly defined tract of crown land
became known as "The Queen’s Bush."
Bush it was, covered with dense forest and relatively unexplored.
The land was divided into districts, with the present counties of Bruce,
Huron and Perth grouped together as the "District of
Wellington," later renamed the "Huron District."
In April of 1847 an order-in-council was passed "to open up
the waste lands of the Huron District"; surveying commenced soon
afterwards. Alex Wilkinson
began the work, mapping out the future farm lands in the southern
townships. That summer was spent marking out the 1 1/4 mile square blocks,
each containing ten farms of 100 acres.
On September 27, 1854 the Crown officially opened the "School
Lands" (including the Cameron's future home: Bruce Township) for
sale. "The Big Land Sale" drew thousands of men into
Southhampton, competing to make their claim at the land agent's office.
The terms of the sale set out the following conditions to obtain a patent
(a "Crown Deed"): 1. Price ten shillings per acre, payable
in ten equal annual installments with interest. Only when the settler had finally
complied with all of these conditions was he able to obtain the patent on
the land. Within one year of the opening of the
Big Land Sale four-fifths of the lots within Bruce Township had been
taken. Settlers choosing land at the time of sale received location
tickets for two or three properties, which they inspected.
After making their choice, they returned the extra tickets. In
theory, the worst land was usually passed over, left for the unwary later
settler. John and Isabella traveled up the roads
to Bruce Township in the spring of 1863. The previously mentioned story,
of their walking to their home in Cobourg from Maine, might actually have
occurred on their way to Bruce Township. Most of the settlers did walk to
Bruce County, through the "dense unbroken forest." Since the
Camerons were moving from an established home in Cobourg, they probably
employed the moving van of many a pioneer family. The family would walk
alongside oxen that would pull a jumper
(a homemade sled without shoeing). The
jumper was usually piled high with family belongings and supplies for the
long trip. The major route to Bruce Township began in the town of Guelph
and then went through Fergus and Elora. In Elora they probably joined up
with the Elora road, which after many long miles of forest would take the
Camerons up to their future home. Their only signposts to the interior of
Bruce County were trees blazed by surveyors back in 1851. On June 22, 1863 John Cameron was
assigned Lot 23, Concession 12 in Bruce Township, Bruce County. Know all men by these presents, that
James Beaton of the Township of Bruce in the County of Bruce and the
Province of Canada, Yeoman, for and in consideration of the sum of SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS JOHN CAMERON Do by these presents sell, assign,
transfer and set over to the said John Cameron his heirs and assigns for
ever all my right, title and interest both at law and in equity to Lot No.
Twenty Three in the Twelfth Concession in the Township of Bruce in the
Province of Canada, containing by admeasurement ONE HUNDRED ACRES In witness whereof I have hereonto set
my hand and seal, this Monday the twenty second day of June in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three. (SIGNED) JAMES BEATON Upon moving onto the land the early
settlers set about meeting the conditions for obtaining the patent. The
first thing they usually did was build a house. John built his original
home in what would have been considered grand fashion for that time on the
frontier. It was a "T" shaped structure, with the bottom, or
vertical portion of the "T" being a one story kitchen and common
room, with the customary fireplace/cooking stove in the middle of it.
The horizontal or top part of the "T" was divided into
three stories. The bottom floor was a sub-level of sorts, probably used
for a root cellar and storage. The top two floors were devoted to
bedrooms. What made their home unique and practical for that era was that
John had the sense to build a common fireplace into the west wall of both
of these floors. Most pioneer
homes just depended on the single fireplace in the common room; the
Camerons kept warm. The
exterior of their home was probably constructed with logs cut in lengths
that a single man could handle (12 to 14 feet), dressed on one side only,
notched and dovetailed at the corners. The roof would have consisted of
Basswood scoops, Hemlock bark or even possibly five foot lengths of Elm
bark. None of this work was
anything that a “sawyer” such as John, and his compliment of young
sons, could not have accomplished on their own.
While not a large man (reportedly 5’7” in height) John seems to
have been resolute, up to most obstacles and challenges during his
lifetime. Brick was added to the original Cameron
sometime after it passed out of the family, which didn’t prevent it from
burning to the ground in the early 1970s; all that survived was the
original barn. As of the early
1990s this barn, expanded to some degree, was still structurally intact,
promising to remain functional for many years to come. Its foundation was
formed by stones that John and his sons extracted from their unbroken
land, and is a true piece of craftsmanship. Once the home was built, John and his
sons had to turn to the task of clearing the land. As was previously
stated, the land parcels that sold first in Bruce Township were the ones
that had more open space. John's was a later sale, therefore it was
probably densely wooded. One
would spend the greater part of the winter chopping down timber.
Even though John could have cleared an acre in five to eight days
of hard labor, it was usual to only clear five acres in an entire winter.
Slowly but surely John and his family claimed the land for their
own. The area of Bruce County in which the
Camerons lived was in the center of a triangle formed by the
municipalities of Paisley, North Bruce and Underwood. These areas enjoyed
their heyday during that era, being important gathering places for the
early settlers. Paisley was a flourishing post village, situated at the confluence of the Teeswater and
Saugeen rivers. Located on the
W.G. & B.R. (Wellington Grey and Bruce Railway) 86 miles northwest of
Guelph, Paisley contained 5 churches, an iron foundry, 2 woolen factories,
2 grist mills, 3 saw mills, a telegraph office, a printing office which
issued a weekly newspaper (The Paisley Advocate), 2 hotels and about 25
various stores. The population at the time was about 1,000.
To the west was the town of North Bruce, which was also known as
"The Devil's Elbow." It
was so called because the road to Goderich (currently Rt. 21) originally
ran east along the town line and then turned drastically to the south, to
avoid a swamp. The name also stemmed from a tavern which was located at
this same bend. North Bruce then included a post office, shoemaker,
blacksmith, sawmill, hotel and grocery store. To the south was the hamlet
of Underwood, the final corner of the triangle.
The Goderich road ran through Underwood on its way to North Bruce,
Port Elgin and Southampton. When the stage coaches were the only public
transportation available, Underwood was a very popular rest station.
Its primary attraction was the Green Brush Hotel, which was opened
on the hamlet’s main corner in 1863.
There were also additional businesses situated there, including a
blacksmith, shoemaker (cordwainer), harness-maker, wagon-maker, paint
shop, pearl ashery and many other shops and stores, which made Underwood a
center of some importance. These
surrounding communities were the places that the Cameron family came to do
most of their business and to contact the outside world.
The family also ventured north into Port Elgin.
It was there that some of John and Isabella’s children would
attend school. The actual neighborhood where the
Camerons lived was called Queen Hill, and was settled almost entirely of
Scottish-Presbyterian families. The North Bruce Presbyterian Church was
located on concession 14, lot 15 in Queen Hill. English language services
were usually held in the church building and Gaelic services were in the
woods across the street (or sometimes in Reverend Duncan McKinnon's barn).
This barn was once overrun by rats, but after a series of Gaelic services
one summer they entirely disappeared. Rev. McKinnon proudly stated that
although it took St. Patrick to drive the snakes from Ireland, it took
Gaelic to banish the parish rats. The summers in Bruce were what the
Camerons must have longed for in Scotland; warm and sunny. Lake Huron
moderated the climate of its eastern shoreline all year, so that even
during the dead of winter temperatures below zero were rare. Precipitation
off Lake Huron was quite ideal for crops and the cool winds during the
summer kept the temperatures tolerable. With 130 to 147 frost free days
each year the growing season was usually a favorably long 182 to 196 days
long. This was a beautiful land, which was laden with some of the largest
stands of white pines in eastern North America, in addition to some very
hearty hard woods. Bruce was an unspoiled territory, an ideal location for
John to provide a better life for his large family. The initial 100 acre Cameron farm
eventually grew into 200 acres, after John acquired another parcel in
Bruce Township (possibly Concession 14, Lot 14). On July 7, 1869, after
being on his land for just six years, John Cameron received his official
"School Sale Grant." This
meant that the government was authorized to use 1/4 of the proceeds from
the sale to John for public improvements, such as building schools,
bridges and harbors. Besides being known as a school sale the settlers
also referred to finally receiving their "Crown Deed": PROVINCE OF ONTARIO Victoria by the Grace of God of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith To all to whom these presents shall
cause – Greeting Where as John Cameron of the Township of
Bruce in the County of Bruce, Yeoman – hath contracted and agreed for
the absolute purchase of the lands and tenements herein after mentioned
and described should be set apart and appropriated for the maintenance of
education at and for the price of sum of two hundred dollars of lawful
money of our Dominion of Canada by him the said John Cameron well and
truly paid to our use at or before the sealing of these one letters
patent. We have granted, sold,
alieued, conveyed and assured and by these presents do grant, sell, alieu,
convey and assure unto the said John Cameron his heirs and assigns for
ever all that parcel or tract of land situated, lying and being in the
Township of Bruce in the County of Bruce in our said Province containing
by admeasurement one hundred acres by this source more or less; which said
parcel or tract of land may be otherwise known as follows, that is to say
comprised of lot number twenty three in the in the twelfth concession of
the aforesaid Township of Bruce – to have and to hold the said parcel or
tract of land hereby granted, conveyed and assured unto the said John
Cameron his heirs and assigns forever: saving, exempting and cessing
nevertheless unto us our heirs and successors the free uses, passage and
cupyment of, in, over and upon all navigable waters that shall or may be
hereafter found on or under, or be flowing through upon any part of the
said parcel or tract of land hereby granted as aforesaid. Given under the Great Seal of our
Province of Ontario: Witness The Honourable William Pearce Horolaud
companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath and Lieutenant Governor
of our Province of Ontario. At Toronto this seventh day of July in
the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine – and in
the thirty third year of Our reign. By command of the Lieutenant Governor John's 200 acres were quite productive,
but it must have taken a true family effort to make them so. Records
indicate that 140 acres were "improved," or farmable by the year
1870. The property was broken down in the following fashion: - 20 acres of pasture lands for livestock The Cameron harvest for that same year,
1870, included: - 600 bushels of spring wheat On July 1st, 1880 John Cameron fatefully
boarded a train, most likely in Paisley, and began a journey to Manitoba.
He had been there once before, visiting his six children on the
prairie. The train apparently traveled the southern route, which took John
through Michigan, Chicago and St. Paul. A Winnipeg newspaper account of
his trip westward begins with a stop-over in St. Paul, Minnesota: July 16, 1880 In spite of all the cautions that have
been uttered, people coming to this country will insist on placing
confidence in affable strangers and as a consequence are nearly always
taken in and done for. An old
man by the name of Cameron, a well to do farmer from Bruce, Ontario, on
his way to see his five sons in the Province was met by an individual in
St. Paul, who asked if he were going to Winnipeg.
Cameron remarked he was, the other party observed that he was bound
for the same place also. Then
they had a nice talk to each other, when presently another man comes along
and imparts the information to Cameron’s new friend that if he would pay
the freight (then) he could take them along to Winnipeg.
The first fellow was out of funds and solicited a loan from
Cameron. In order to enable
him to bring the goods along, Cameron loaned him $95, then they separated
with the understanding (that) they would meet at the train.
(When) they didn’t meet, Cameron notified the police in St. Paul,
but will never see his money again. He
has written home for more money and will not go to see his sons till he
gets it. It is astonishing
what taffy some of these Ontario tenderfeet will swallow. Local St. Paul papers noted that during
that month a number of individuals were either swindled or robbed at that
same depot. It was stated that
the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus was in town, and that
residents should be wary of “organized gangs of thieves and
pickpockets…keep their pocket books anchored and door and windows
securely fastened…” As of the date this article was written,
July 16th, John had somehow managed to make his way to Winnipeg with
limited funds. The next article pertinent article was written five days
later. July 21, 1880 At about 5 o’clock yesterday (Tuesday,
July 20th) afternoon, William Dewar and John McDougall, who were working
on the dredge in the Red River, discovered the body of a drowned man
floating down stream. The
corpse was dragged from the Red River, and was found to be that of John
Cameron, the Ontario farmer to whom some days ago (was) referred (to) as
having been swindled by confidence men at St. Paul. The deceased had come from the County of
Bruce, where he resided. The
purpoase was to visit his sons, five of whom resided in the Province, and
his daughter, who is the wife of Mr. Thomas Collins, proprietor of the
Marquetter Review. On his arrival here, being with friends,
he sought and obtained admission to the immigrant sheds, while awaiting
the arrival of funds from Ontario. He
was last seen by Mr. Hespeler and others on Saturday, and Sunday he was
also seen at the sheds. (Note:
John's cemetery records state that his death took place on this same
Sunday, the 18th of July. Officials must have believed that he was in the
river for two days before being found.)
As soon as the body was found Constable Bell, of the Provincial
Police, was notified and he, after (his) investigation, reported the
matter to the Attorney General Walker, and to the Coroner Benson, who gave
the proper instructions as to the disposal of the body.
The deceased was a man of about 60 years
of age. He was dressed in a
dark tweed suit and had in his pockets an old English silver watch and
some silver coins. An inquest was held this morning, by the
Coroner Benson, in the office at the immigrant sheds.
When the evidence of several witnesses was taken, the jury returned
a verdict of “found drowned.” The coroner's verdict of "found
drowned" matches the cemetery records on John's cause of death.
Yet
what exactly occurred? It is
possible, since Winnipeg was still a rough, young town, with its share of
opportunists, that he met with foul play. The July 16th article mentioned
that this man was expecting a substantial amount of money from home.
Someone might have laid in wait, possibly within the immigrant sheds,
until they observed John pick-up his funds.
Since the coroner's report did not state a specific cause for
death, only that he was FOUND drowned, one may rule out his being shot or
stabbed, then having his body thrown in the river. Most likely he was
knocked unconscious, robbed of his newly obtained money and then thrown
into the river. The trauma to his head may not have been noticeable to the
coroner. The entire truth of this unfortunate situation may never be entirely known.
All that can be said for sure is that the patriarch of the Cameron
family lost his life in a tragic event along the Red River. It seems that John’s children found
the situation suspicious as well, as evidenced by the following article: July 26, 1880 The relations of the late Cameron, whose
body was found floating in the Red River on Tuesday, July 20, wish to
ascertain his whereabouts between July 1st and July 16th (the period
between his leaving Bruce County and arriving in Winnipeg).
They are particularly desirous of hearing from any person who may
have traveled with him on the train. Any one in a position to give the
desired information is requested to address: Thomas Collins, of the
Marquette Review, Portage La Prairie, or David Cameron, Gladstone. John left a thorough Last Will and
Testament, filed in Bruce County: WILL OF JOHN CAMERON I, John Cameron, of the Township of
Bruce, in the County of Bruce, in the Province of Ontario, farmer, declare
this to be my last will and testament. 1. I bequeath to my son John Cameron, of
Beauly by Inverness, Scotland, the sum of fifty dollars, to be paid to him
within two years after my death, without interest. 2. I bequeath to my daughter Margaret,
the wife of Thomas Collins, of Woodside, Manitoba, farmer, the sum of one
hundred dollars, to be paid to her within two years after my death,
without interest. 3. I bequeath to my son Kenneth Cameron,
of Woodside, Manitoba, farmer, the sum of three hundred dollars, to be
paid to him within two years after my death, without interest. 4. I bequeath to my son James Cameron,
of Little Saskatchewan, North West Territories, farmer, the sum of five
hundred dollars, to be paid to him within two years after my death,
without interest. 5. I bequeath to my son Roderick
Cameron, the sum of two hundred dollars, to be paid to him within two
years after my death, without interest. 6. I bequeath to my son Charles Cameron,
of Little Saskatchewan, North West Territories, farmer, the sum of five
hundred dollars, to be paid to him within two years after my death,
without interest. 7. I bequeath to my son Albert Edward
Cameron, of the said Township of Bruce, farmer, the sum of five hundred
dollars, to be paid to him within two years after my death, without
interest. 8. I bequeath to my son William Cameron,
of the said Township of Bruce, farmer, the sum of five hundred dollars, to
be paid to him within two years after my death, without interest. 9. I bequeath to my wife Isabella
Cameron, during her life, an annuity of seventy five dollars, payable in
equal parts, half-yearly, and find – at the expiration of six calendar
months from my death, to be accepted by her in lieu of her dower in the
land hereinafter devised. 10. Subject to all, and to each and
every of the above described legacies, and annuity, I devise and bequeath
lot number twenty three in the twelfth concession of the said Township of
Bruce, and all my real and personal estate and effects, whatsoever and
wheresoever, unto and to the use of my sons, Simon Cameron and David
Cameron, both of Woodside, Manitoba, farmers, their heirs, executors,
administrators, and assigns, according to the nature and tenure thereof. 11. I appoint the said Simon and David
Cameron, executors of this my will. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set
my hand this fourth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and seventy eight. (SIGNED) JOHN CAMERON John was buried in Winnipeg's Brookside
Cemetery four days after his death: July 22, 1880, presumably with six of
his children and their families in attendance.
His final resting spot is lot #81 of section #1. The grave, along
with many of the other older plots at Brookside, had no marker. Since the
country was just beginning to open up, headstones were hard to come by, a
luxury afforded by only a few. At the time of his interment a white cross
was probably erected. 113
years later a suitable tombstone was erected at his grave, when a number
of John’s descendants gathered for a 1993 Cameron family reunion in
Neepawa, Manitoba. After John's death the family farm in Bruce Township was sold back to the bank which held a mortgage on the property, and then to Hugh McArthur, Jr. Isabella’s fate is uncertain after 1881, when she was still listed at the family farm in the Ontario Census (living with sons Albert and William) though it is probable that she spent her final years with her children in Manitoba. |
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