Musquodoboit Pioneers a record of Seventy Families, Their Homesteads and Genealogies

fled from France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

They were Huguenots, and they introduced the glove industry into

Ireland. In France the name was spelled Bredon. John’s father,

or grandfather traded with France and on one of his trips the

ship in which he sailed

Louisburg, N.S. Whether he was exchanged as a prisoner of war

or released when peace was proclaimed is not known, but his

knowledge of the New World led his descendant, John, to Nova

Scotia. John arrived in Halifax about the year 1783, a disbanded

soldier. His wife and daughters (Elizabeth and Mary) were at

this time in Ireland. Mr. Braden sent for them and after their

arrival they lived in Halifax, for a few years. Then the family

came to Shubenacadie, lived there for awhile and then moved to

Middle Musquodoboit. A grant of 500 acres was issued on March 1,

1787 to John Breden. This grant is the property of Elgin Murchy,

1980. Mr. and Mrs. Braden had 4 children after coming to this

country. John Braden’s will was filed in 1794 and is in the

court of Probate in Halifax. This Braden history was given to

Daniel Reid in 1935 by Mrs. Samuel Hutchinson who was over 90

years of age. Her mind was very clear, and her memory

excellent. John Braden had 4 daughters and 2 sons.

2-1 Elizabeth

3-2 Mary

4-3 John

6-5 Margaret (Peggy) died 1815

7-6 Eleanor (Nellie)

2-1 Elizabeth (1st dau. of John Braden) married David Savage and

moved to Ohio. No further record.

3-2 Mary (2nd dau. of John Braden) md. James Parker of

Shubenacadie

PARKER

John md. Elizabeth D. Ellis

Frank (Francis)

Joseph md. Lavinia Higgins

Mary md. Dougal McDougall of Elderbank

Eleanor md. Robert Dickie of Glenmore

Sarah md. William Kent after the death of her sister.

Margaret md. William Dent. No issue

Elizabeth

These children were all born at Shubenacadie. Later they came to

Musquodoboit and lived where Blair Buchanan lives in Elmsvale,

1980. Mr. Parker died and later Mrs. Parker md. Samuel F.

Archibald of "Deacontown."

Francis, Joseph and Thomas Parker settled on the farm owned by

Fred Redden 1980. Francis was killed by a tree falling on him at

a chopping bee, getting wood for a sick neighbour. Joseph was

one of the four men who were drowned in Long Lake in June 1851.

The homes of these two brothers have been removed. Sometime

after this Thomas Parker sold the farm to Edward Leedham. Later

John McFetridge purchased the three farms. He lived in the

Thomas Parker house which he remodelled.

James Parker d. Nov. 10, 1837 age 64 yrs. Wife Mary d Dec. 21,

1859 age 81 yrs. also wife of Samuel F. Archibald of

"Deacontown". George R. d Nov. 4, 1890 age 88 yrs. Wife Janet d

Aug. 22, 1881 age 79 yrs.

Names in the Pioneer Cemetery in Middle Musquodoboit.
PAGE 170
4-3 John (1st son of John Braden) md. Mary Cruickshank and

lived on the farm occupied by Elgin Murchy, 1980.

Samuel 1793-Oct. 22, 1871

John died 1870 md. Mary Leck (see Leck history)

William

Nancy

Elizabeth

Mary 1836-1862

Margaret 1840-1862

Jane

Eleanor 1823-1861

moved to Musquodoboit with his father. In 1815 built and lived

in the house formerly owned by Inglis Sprott, now torn down.

Samuel sold the farm to Rev. John Sprott in 1824 and moved to the

farm now owned by Roy Gould. Sprott farm owned by Allen

Streatch, 1980. He married Mary Logan, (daughter of William

Logan). Mary d Apr. 2, 1859 age 62 yrs.

1. William

2. Janet b 1825

3. Adams Archibald b 1820

4. John

5. Samuel

7. Henry Scott

8. Angus

9. Mary Ellen

10. Robert L. b 1826
1. William went to Massachusetts and died young, unmarried.

2. Janet md. Matthew James Archibald, they had 7 children. For

her genealogy see Archibald history under descendants of Matthew

T. Archibald.

in Musquodoboit. Adams built several houses here, the Sedgewick

house now owned by Mel Higgins, 1980, the Alexander Lindsay house

(burned by fire Sept. 1978) owned by Ronald Bellfontaine, and

others. He lived

in the house owned by John Cook; (1980) Later the family

all except Mary, moved to Minnesota.

1. William 2. Charlotte (twins) 3. Arthur 4. Mary

Ellen 5. Caroline

6. Alice and 7. Angus

2. Charlotte md. Lee Tarbox (Boston) and had one dau., who md.

William Aubrey

Hall, lived on Staten Island. They had 2 sons, William Aubrey

Jr. who md. Mia ___. No issue. He lived in Cleveland, Ohio.

The other son, Richard C. had a son and lived in Albany, N.Y.

3. Arthur md. Annie Bulkley, they had one dau. Elizabeth.

4. Mary Ellen md. William McNab. She lived in Halifax. One

daughter Edith lived in Halifax, Jean Linehan was another

daughter. No issue. Arthur and Lenoard, were 2 sons, no record.

Harold Teaque of Minneapolis 2. Mae md. Homer Wood of Arizona,

one son Thomas. 3. Gertrude married Harris Hatfeed of

Minneapolis. 1 daughter Dorothy. Dorothy md. 1st. John Wilde,

md. 2nd John H. Morrill, New York 1 son, John Morrill. John

married Brenda Hopkinson, sons, Mark Hebden, William Taylor.

7. Angus Braden, unmarried.

**[Typist's note: #'s 1 - 7 above are children of Adams

Archibald, 3rd child of Samuel #5-4; whereas the next

listed - 4 to 10 are the other 6 children of Adams

Archibald]cja

They had 2 children, Henrietta and William.

Ontario. They had 5 children, among them William in

Cleveland, Ohio, Elizabeth Braden and Margaret Johnson

in Ottawa.

children, are now living in Walton.

and at its close he md. Henrietta Stuart. They lived

in Boston, one son Willard.
8. Angus also enlisted in the Civil War and died in

Washington from injuries received. He is buried in

Arlington Cemetery.
9. Mary Ellen md. Samuel Lydiard. They moved to

Minnesota, then to California. They had 5 children, one

son, Sidney Lydiard, lived in San Jose, California.
10. Robert L. md. Elizabeth Logan and moved to

Minnesota. They had 9 children, one dau. was Mrs. Harry

Emerson of Minneapolis.
1. Robert md. Ida ---. No issue

2. Samuel md. twice & moved west, 2 daughters

Gertrude and Minerva

3. Minard ­ unmarried

4. Jennie (Mrs. Rome) one son Fred who lives

in Florida.

5. Nettie md. Mr. Watson and had 2 children,

Reba, and name of other child not known.

Reba md. Arthur Truen and had 4 sons and 2

daughters. [Reba lived in ] Minneapolis.

2, 1858 age 62 yrs. 2nd wife Elizabeth (Shaw) d Oct. 1878 age 62

yrs. (Inscription on stone).
6-5 Margaret (3rd dau. of John Braden) md. Matthew T. Archibald

on July 1810. She was his 2nd wife. They had one daughter Jean

who md. William Guild. For her genealogy see Guild history.

Margaret died in 1815.

the pioneer John Hutchinson. Their children were:

1. John

2. Diana

4. Margaret

5. Mary Ann

6. Elizabeth

7. Samuel

8. Harriet

9. Jane

10. Eleanor

2. Diana md. Alexander McCurdy, in 1853 she was his second wife.

No issue. She died Oct. 3, 1887.

3. William Scott md. Sarah M. Archibald, dau. of Matthew T.

Archibald. They settled on part of his father’s farm now owned

by Lorne Scott. For his genealogy see history of Matthew T.

Archibald.

4. Margaret md. John Lindsay and lived on farm now owned by

Lester Dickie, later moved to Cook’s Brook.

5. Mary Ann was not married, lived and died at her brother

Samuel’s, the old homestead in Upper Musq.

6. Elizabeth md. John McLeod and lived in Higgins Settlement.

genealogy see descendants of David Archibald 16th. Samuel died

Nov. 6, 1900.

8. Harriet md. John Mitchell of St. Mary’s but during his last

years lived just east of John McFetridge’s place, (Fred Redden,

1980).

1. Hattie

2. Mary

3. Henry

10. Eleanor md. Robert Leck, they had 2 sons.

1. William md. in the west. No record

2. Kirk md. in P.E.I., one son Lindsay and one dau. Mazie

Eleanor was the second

wife of Robert Leck, he had been married before to

her cousin, Susan Braden.

The Brown Family

born July 18, 1773. They lived in Elgin, Scotland, and had 3

sons and 3 daus.

2-1 Margaret b Nov. 4, 1804

3-2 Ann b Nov. 8, 1807

*4-3 Alexander b Nov. 16, 1810

5-4 John b June 25, 1813

6-5 Jean b Oct. 1, 1816

7-6 James b Aug. 28, 1820

4-3 Alexander (1st son of Peter & Margaret Brown) md. Jane Fraser

who was born March 16, 1808. They were married in Elgin, Scotland

and came to Nova Scotia in 1834. They had 6 sons & 4 daus.

* 8-1 Peter b July 5, 1833-Dec 1913

* 9-2 Ann b Oct. 4, 1835

*10-3 Alexander b Sept. 25, 1937-Apr. 1905

*11-4 Margaret b Aug. 24, 1839

*13-6 Agnes b Nov. 13, 1843

14-7 George b June 17, 1846

*15-8 James b May 2, 1848-1917

*16-9 Eliza b July 8, 1850

*17-10 William b Oct. 30, 1851-1923

to the Frasers in Upper Musquodoboit, arrived in the Valley as

Pioneers in 1836. They worked with Col. Gladwin for a time and

then took up their Grant in the Higginsville-Brookvale area. The

first winter was spent with the Alexander Higgins Family in the

house owned by Albert Higgins, 1980.

Ref. Mrs. Roy Brown, Middle Musquodoboit.

*18-1 Sutcliff

19-2 Alexander b Apr. 26, 1869

20-3 Jack b Aug. 10, 1865

21-4 Jane

22-5 Ann

24-7 William b June 15, 1871

18-1 Sutcliff lived in Conn. ­ no record

19-2 Alexander ­ no record

20-3 Jack was unmarried, died in Elderbank.

21-4 Jane ­ no record

22-5 Ann md. William Wyse of Wyse’s Corner
PAGE 176
23-6 Jennie md. John Reid (son of James Reid & Rebecca Whidden)

They had 4 sons & 6 daus.

*25-1 Ethel b July 27, 1885

*26-2 Alexander b Sept. 21, 1887

*27-3 Myrtle b Feb. 29, 1890

*28-4 Bella b May 22, 1894

*29-5 Stacia b Apr. 14, 1896

*30-6 Georgia b May 26, 1898

*31-7 Charles b June 13, 1903

*32-8 Wyman b Sept. 30, 1904

*33-9 Stella b Sept. 29, 1906

*34-10 Oscar

John and Jennie Reid Lived in Bruce Settlement, Elderbank.

25-1 Ethel md. William Grant (son of Donald Grant)

35-1 Winnifred md. William Smith

36-2 Eunice md. Raymond Whalley

37-3 Norma md. Guy Kent

38-4 Bertha md. John Gillis

39-5 Dorothy md. Fred Hubbards ­ 3 children

40-6 Everett of Highland Creek, Ont.

41-7 Harry killed overseas World War II.

26-2 Alexander md. Maude Lena Durggan of Roxbury, Mass. U.S.A. No

issue

27-3 Myrtle lives in U.S. no record

29-5 Stacia lives in U.S. no record

30-6 Georgia md. Clarence Cole of Elderbank. No issue. Her

second husband was Alexander Scott. 1 son & 1 dau.

42-1 Erik

43-2

44-1

46-3

32-8 Wyman md. Ruth Daye, 3 sons & 1 dau.

48-1

50-3

339- Stella, 3 sons.

52-1 Lewis Stanley

53-2 Charles Harry

54-3 Steward Rowlings

Oscar md. Maxine Durling of Middleton. . . .

No issue.

10-3 Alexander (2nd son of Alexander & Jane Brown) md. Agnes H.

Watson, 2 sons and 4 daus. They are both buried in Higginsville

cemetery.

Alexander 1837-1905.

Agnes H. Watson 1837-1902

[Record from son, Arthur's wife, Laura gives Alexander's birth as

Aug. 25, 1836;

Anges' birth as Jan. 6, 1838]

55-1 Arthur Watson. Born Musquodoboit Sept. 26, 1865

56-2 Bessie born June 5, 1873

57-3 Minnie md. William Watson. She md. 2nd John Angus

McDonald of Sheet

Harbour.

58-4 Nellie md. Sam Cruickshanks

11-4 Margaret (2nd dau. of Alexander & Jane Brown) died young.

12-5 John (3rd son of Alexander & Jane Brown) unmarried.

13-6 Agnes (3rd dau. of Alexander & Jane Brown) md. Robert

Mattheson of Scotsburn, Pictou Co., no issue.

14-7 George (4th son of Alexander & Jane Brown) went to the

United States when young. No record.

15-8 James (5th son of alexander & Jane Brown) was unmarried.
PAGE 178
16-9 Eliza (4th dau. of Alexander & Jane Brown) died young.

17-10 William (6th son of Alexander & Jane Brown) md. Hanna

Blakney of Jeddore, they had 4 sons & 2 daus. They are both

buried in Higginsville.

William 1856-1923

Hannah 1852-1913

*59-1 Sarah Jane b May 9, 1881

*60-2 James b May 11, 1884

*61-3 Norma Smith b Apr. 1886-Jan. 1, 1887

*62-4 Margaret Ann b Oct. 1, 1887-Jan. 1, 1887

*63-5 William Roy b Mar. 17, 1892

64-6 Lealand Perry b Feb. 20, 1898

59-1 Sarah Jane md. Samuel Higgins of Moose River, they had 1

son.

62-4 Margaret md. William Connely of Brookvale. They had 3

daus., 2 sons.

**65-1 Vernie md. John Sutherland of Truro.

66-2 Leone md. Carl Weatherbee

67-3 Laverna md. Avon Baker of Falmouth.

68-4 Lloyd died when one month old.

69-5 Ralph md. in Vancouver, he died in 1959.

Margaret is buried in Higginsville, also son Lloyd.

63-5 Wm. Roy md. Willena Agnes McFetridge (dau. of Sidney

McFetridge and Lizzie Bell Thomson). Widow resides in Middle

Musquodoboit, 1980 and 1 son & 6 daus.

*70-1 Greta Jean

*71-2 Wilfred Lyman

*72-3 Stella Catherine

*73-4 Roxie Doris

*74-5 Lola Marie

*75-6 Edith Hazel

*76-7 Ruby Margaret
**[Typist's note: readers should note that there are 2 #'s

65-1]cja
PAGE 179

dau.

son, & 2 daus.

72-3 Stella md. Irving Conrad of Middle Musq. 1 dau.

73-4 Doris md. jack Flowers of Shumaur, Ont. They have 2

children.

74-5 Lola md. Jack Howard - 2 daus.

75-6 Edith md. Byron Fraser. No issue

76-7 Ruby md. Howard Booth of Pickering, Ont. They have 2 sons

and 2 daus.
64-6 Leland md. Hazel Wilson (widow of Sam Blades). They had 1

son & 1 dau. they lived in Middle Musquodoboit.

77-1 Audrey md. Robert Butler - 1 son & 2 daus.

78-2 Vernon md. Patricia Ogden of Charlottetown, P.E.I.

They have 2 children.

George Bell

ship on which he was a passenger sailed from Belfast, Ireland

bound for New York. The captain was Phillip Drew, an American.

His ship was seized on the high seas by the British as war was

declared between the United States and England after the ship had

sailed from Ireland. George Bell was married in Ireland, his son

Thompson was born in Ireland.

1. George and his wife, name unknown had 4 sons & 1 dau.

*2-1 Thompson b Feb. 10, 1809-Oct. 19, 1897

3-2 Isaac b 1814-Apr. 28, 1883 age 69

*4-3 John b 1817-Feb. 6, 1890, age 73

5-4 William

6-5 Mattie
PAGE 180
2-1 Thompson Bell (1st son of George Bell) md. Barbara Muir (Aug.

19, 1801-Sept. 25, 1879 age 78 yrs.). They are both buried in

the Pioneer Cemetery. Thompson and Barbara had 1 son & 4 daus.,

they were md. Mar. 7, 1839.

*7-1 Sophia b Jan. 29, 1840

*8-2 Annie b Mar. 31, 1841-Dec. 14, 1868

*9-3 Ellen b July 17, 1842-1924

*10-4 Martha b Oct. 5, 1844 -

*11-5 George b Mar. 17, 1846-1922

7-1 Sophia Bell (1st dau. of Thompson & Barbara Muir Bell) went

to California, no further record.

8-2 Annie Bell (2nd dau. of Thompson & Barbara Muir Bell) d a

young woman.

9-3 Ellen Bell (3rd dau. of Thompson & Barbara Muir Bell) was the

second wife of John Henderson Taylor Sr. They are both buried in

Hillside Cemetery. Inscription on stone reads:

"John H. Taylor 1838-1924"

In the corner of this lot is a headstone with the following

names.

Zenas Bell d Aug. 17, 1900 age 56 yrs.

wife Sarah d May 15, 1888 age 78 yrs.

William Green 1882-1908

Zenas Bell came from Broad Cove, Lunenburg Co. His sister was

married to Thomas Green who kept a hotel here at one time. Zenas

lived in Brookvale, the part called "Lower Canada" above the home

of Mr. Milton White.

John and Ellen Bell Taylor had 1 son.

12-1 John Hiram Taylor

12-1 John Hiram Taylor md. Emma McFetridge (dau. of Robert & Mary

Lord Archibald McFetridge). No issue. he died May 12, 1914, was

born Feb. 15, 1885, and is buried in Hillside Cemetery. His

widow later md. Matthew White.
PAGE 181
10-4 Martha Bell (4th dau. of Thompson & Barbara Muir Bell) md.

William H. Sibley. Her descendants are listed in the Sibley

history.

11-5 George Bell (only son of Thompson & Barbara Muir Bell) md.

Jessie Mackintosh (July 24, 1856-Dec. 30, 1890) of Cumberland.

They had 1 dau.

13-1 Jane Barbara b May 24, 1885-May 2, 1959

13-1 Jane Barbara Bell md. John McLean. They had 1 son & 1 dau.

14-1 George md. Helen Leedham

15-2 Jessie (Mrs. Earl Stevenson of Tatamagouche). After

the death of his wife, Jessie MacKintosh, George md. 2nd, Jessie

Watson of Brookfield on June 21, 1893. George died in 1922 and

his second wife died ----. George and both wives are buried in

the Pioneer Cemetery. George and Jessie Watson Bell had 3 sons &

8 daus.

16-3 Annie Laura b Apr. 11, 1894 died at 4 mos.

18-5 Bertha Clarke b Nov. 22, 1896

19-6 Ellen May b Mar. 15, 1898

20-7 Sarah Amelia b July 4, 1899

21-8 George Thompson b Apr. 14, 1901-1955

22-9 Clyde Watson b Aug. 31, 1902

23-10 Nina Ruth b Feb. 21, 1905

24-11 Henry William b Nov. 13, 1906 -

25-12 Edna Ervin b Feb. 10, 1908

26-13 Grace Mildred b Feb. 3, 1911

George also had an adopted son Ellis Johnson who was born July

24, 1892.

17-4 Florence Adelaide Bell md. Harrison Archibald. She is a

widow and lives in Glenmore.

19-6 Ellen May Bell md. Earle Dillman. They live in Middle

Musquodoboit.

18-5 Bertha Clarke md. Willard Ervin.

20-7 Sarah Amelia Bell md. John Scott. They live in Middle

Musquodoboit in South Section.
PAGE 182
21-8 George Thompson Bell.

22-9 Clyde Watson Bell lives in Chaswood.

23-10 Nina Ruth Bell md. Maurice McMuellin [possibly McMullin]cja
24-11 Henry William Bell

25-12 Edna Ervin Bell md. Russell Kaulback. She is buried in

Hillside Cemetery.

26-13 Grace Mildred Bell md. Hiram Clark. They live in Middle

Musquodoboit.
3-2 Isaac Bell (2nd son of George Bell) md. Louisa Henderson,

dau. of John Henderson J. She died Feb. 22, 1858 age 28 yrs.

They had 2 sons.

27-1 Robert

28-2 Fred - no record

27-1 Robert Bell (1st son of Isaac & Louisa Henderson Bell) md.

Emma Taylor, dau. of Robert S. & Esther Wilson Taylor). They had

1 son and 1 dau.

29-1 Roy

30-2 Etta died in 1920

Robert and his wife are buried in Kamloops, B.C. Isaac Bell md.

2nd Sarah Annand. No issue. Sarah d June 21, 1904 age 72 yrs.

Isaac and both wives are buried in the Pioneer Cemetery.
4-3 John Bell (3rd son of George Bell) md. Elizabeth Ervin, dau.

of Robert Sr. and Mary Henderson Ervin). They had 2 sons.

31-1 Alexander Daniel

32-2 John - no record

31-1 Alexander Daniel Bell (1st son of John & Elizabeth Ervin

Bell) md. Anne Goodwin. They had 1 son & 1 dau.

33-1 Elizabeth Jane. b 1882

34-2 John Angus b 1884

John Bell's wife Elizabeth Ervin died Oct. 15, 1863 age 50 yrs.

She is buried in Hillside Cemetery.

yrs. His second wife died Feb. 18, 1899 age 83 yrs. They are

both buried in Hillside Cemetery.
5-4 William Bell (4th son of George Bell) md. Mary A. Waller. He

spent most of his life in Truro. They had 2 sons & 1 dau.

1. John of Brookfield

2. Mary (Mrs. McMillan of Truro)

3. George W. d June 18, 1854 age 10 mos.

Mary, William's wife, died Feb. 3, 1858 age 36 yrs. and is buried

in the Pioneer Cemetery, George W. is also buried there.
6-5 Mattie Bell (only dau. of George Bell) md. Thomas Johnson of

Coldstream. They had 3 sons & 1 dau.

35-1 George (only name I have recorded).

James Benvie

1. James Benvie was a native of Scotland, where he spent his

earlier years. He was a soldier in the British army and he came

to Nova Scotia with his regiment. At the expiration of his term

of service he located in the Musquodoboit Valley where he served

as captain of Militia and also as a justice of peace. He was a

man of considerable education. Some of his writings are still in

existence, having the appearance of copper plate engravings. He

operated a good farm in the section mentioned above for many

years.

He had a son Andrew who was born in Musquodoboit.