George and Kate

Mom and Dad gave me for Christmas these pictures of Kate (Catherine, nee MacSwain) and George Lowe, who lived in the house from 1907 until theuir deaths. The pictures were given to Mom by Jane Aucoin, a grand-niece of Kate's who happens to attend Mom and Dad's church in Murray River. They got to talking and discovered the connection. These are studio photographs and judging by their clothes and their ages, I am guessing these were taken around 1900, maybe before, and the background matches so I'm assuming they were taken at the same time.

Below is their headstone in the Murray River cemetery, a photo I took in 2008. He would have turned 27 in 1900, and she 28. Just guessing, but they could be younger than that a the time that these photographs were taken. I wonder if these were taken at the time of their marriage? Often back then, if you could afford it, you had individual studio photos taken of bride and groom, more often than a picture of them together. White wedding dresses were not the norm yet either, so its a possibility. I have some family information on George and Kate (read on) but no wedding date, which would have helped.

Below is information on the Lowe family that was sent to me by Donna Collings, Curator of the Garden of the Gulf Museum in Montague, and coincidentally, grand-neice of George's.

 

Link to the Museum website:

 

Garden of the Gulf Museum

 

Husband: Joseph T. Lowe, Jr.
        Born: 12 March 1797 in Colchester, Essex, England 
        Died: 25 June 1859 in ? 
        Buried: in possibly Murray River (Wilmot, Gladstone) Pioneer

        Cemetery, PEI (no stone) 
        Father: Joseph T. Lowe, Sr.
        Mother: Elizabeth Urla Vail
Joseph immigrated to Murray River, Prince Edward Island in 1819 with his stepfather Philip Sanders. The Lowe's of Murray River area are descendants of this Joseph.

Joseph and Margaret's land is where the Murray River (Wilmot) Pioneer Cemetery is located. He made his will on March 8, 1859 and it was proved on June 25, 1859, witnesses to his will were David Johnston, James McKerson (MacPherson), and Isaac A. Bears.

Wife: Margaret Johnstone
        Married: 7 December 1829 in St. Paul's Anglican Church,

         Charlottetown, PEI 
         Born: in Scotland 
         Died: in ? 
        Buried: in possibly Murray River (Wilmot, Gladstone) Pioneer

         Cemetery, PEI 
        Father: ?
        Mother: ?
Alternate spelling of her name Johnston.

Child 1: Jane Rachel Lowe
        Born: 9 February 1831 in ?  
        Died: 11 September 1916 in ? 
       Buried: in Murray River (Wilmot, Gladstone) Pioneer

        Cemetery, PEI
        Spouse: Ambrose Cleaves Horton born 11 October 1824  died 28

         August 1912 
        Married: 8 Nov 1854 in PEI by Rev. Donald McDonald 
Witnesses to their marriage were John H. Bear and Philip Blake. Alternate date of birth for Jane gravestone 1830.

Child 2: Thomas Johnston Low
       Born: 22 Feb 1834 in Gladstone, PEI 
       Baptized: 30 Mar 1834 in PEI by Rev. Cooney 
       Died: 14 May 1908 in ?  
       Buried: in Murray River (Wilmot, Gladstone) Pioneer

       Cemetery, PEI
       Married: 20 Jun 1861 in PEI by Rev. Jesse Whitlock, to

       Sarah Bell born 21 October 1832 died 11 February 1899 
           Father: James Bell, Sr.
           Mother: Mary Watson

Sarah had one child before her marriage to Thomas Lowe. Witnesses to Thomas and Sarah marriage were William Hawkins and Sarah Sencabaugh. Their property was where the Wilmot Pioneer Cemetery is located in Gladstone, PEI.

 

1881 PEI census Lot 64:  Thomas Lowe, age 47; wife Sarah, age 49; ch: James, age 19; Mary, age 17; Philip, age 15; Margaret, age 12; Demaras, age 10; George, age 7; Etta, age 1; Elizabeth Bell, age 25; - all born PEI.

 

1891 PEI census Lot 64:  Thomas, age 57, farmer;  father b. England;  mother b. Scotland;  wf:  Sara, age 59,  father b. England,  mother b. Scotland, Philip, age 25, farmer;  Francis, age 20;  George, age 17;  Henrietta, age 2; also listed in home:  Mary J. Keenan, age 28;  Sarah J., age __;  Margaret,
age 2.

 

Thomas' will was made 20 March 1908, lists his son Philip John Lowe, who inherited the property.

                    Child 1: Elizabeth Ann 'Lizzie' Bell
                               Born: 4 April 1855 in PEI (see note 1)
                               Died: 18 February 1915 in PEI age 59 yrs. 10 mos. 
                               Buried: in Murray River (Wilmot, Gladstone)

                               Pioneer Cemetery, PEI
                               Spouse: John P. Brennan born ca 1854
Elizabeth was stepdaughter to Thomas Lowe born to Sara out of wedlock. Time of 1881 PEI census Elizabeth was living with Thomas and Sara. There are two stories on why Elizabeth and John never married until later years. (1.) Tradition has Elizabeth was Protestant and her husband John was of the Roman Catholic faith. He wasn't allowed to marry her or he would be disinherited, they had a daughter before they married. Elizabeth went to the United States to work for a time, later when John's father died she married John. (2.) In notes of Oma (Blanche Hollinghurst). Oma's grandmother wouldn't let Elizabeth marry John as he was a Catholic and they had to wait until after her death to marry.

                     Child 2: James Watson 'Jim' Lowe
                                Born: 23 August 1861 in Gladstone, PEI
                                Baptized: 18 May 1862 in PEI by Rev. McDonald
                                Died: 15 July 1951 in Quincy, Mass., USA
                                Buried: in ?
                                Spouse: Mary Ann MacDonald born 15 August

                                1870 

                                died 17 March 1953
                                Married: in ?

                     Child 3: Mary Jane Lowe
                                Born: 10 November 1863 in Gladstone, PEI
                                Baptized: 1 February 1864 in PEI by Rev. Donald

                                McDonald
                                Died: 20 February 1918 in ?
                                Buried: in ?
                                Spouse #1: Thomas Keenan
                                Married: Jul 1884 in ?
                                Spouse #2: William Allen
Mary Jane and Thomas marriage bondsman was Philip John Lowe (her brother). Mary lived with her parents Thomas Johnston and Sarah Lowe time of 1891 PEI census, also living in household were her two children Sarah and Margaret Keenan.

 

Mary Jane had a daughter Enora born 1903 died 1918, buried at Murray River, which husband was Enora's father?

                       Child 4: Philip John 'Phil' Lowe
                                 Born: 25 March 1866 in Gladstone, PEI
                                 Baptized: 29 January 1868 in PEI by Rev. James

                                 McColl
                                 Died: 30 August 1952 in PEI at age 86 yrs. 
                                 Buried: in Murray River Cemetery, PEI
                                 Occupation: Farmer, Merchant
                                 Spouse: Mary Hume born 3 August 1873
                                 Married: 1 October 1891 in Georgetown, PEI by

                                  Reverend W.A. Mason
Philip and Mary's marriage bond was signed 1 Oct 1891, bondsman George Hume, tanner, Philip Lowe, bachelor and Mary Hume, spinster. Their bond was issued the same day as their marriage license, witnesses to their marriage were George Hume and Isabella Lowe. Philip and Mary lived in Gladstone, PEI. He had red hair. After their marriage break up he went to California, USA to live
with his sons for a number of years because of his asthma. He then moved back to live Gladstone Road, Murray River, PEI and owned and operated a general store in Murray River, this store was later owned and remodeled by Bev Baird. Philip spent his last years in Beach Grove nursing home until time of his death.

                       Child 5: Margaret Catherine 'Maggie' Lowe
                                  Born: 17 June 1868 in Gladstone, PEI
                                  Died: 23 September 1910 age 42 yrs.
                                  Buried: in Murray River Cemetery, PEI
                                  Spouse: Calvin 'Cal' MacLeod born 23 July 1858 

                                  died 15 January 1939
                                  Married: 11 April 1885 in ?
                                  Maggie and Calvin's marriage bondsman was

                                  Archibald Bowles.

                       Child 6: Francis Demas 'Frank' Lowe
                                  Born: 15 March 1871 in Gladstone, PEI
                                  Died: 26 September 1904 in PEI age 33
                                  Buried: in Murray River (Wilmot, Gladstone)

                                  Pioneer Cemetery, PEI
                                  Occupation: Carpenter
Donna Collings: "One time we had a large tool chest that was made by Frank, my grandfather Frank Lowe's uncle, his namesake, given to my grandfather when he was a boy about nine years of age after uncle's death in 1904. Frank never married."

                        Child 7: George Smith Lowe
                                  Born: 21 August 1873 in Gladstone, PEI
                                  Baptized: 29 August 1875 in PEI by Rev. Goodwill
                                  Died: 12 July 1948 in Murray River, PEI
                                  Buried: in Murray River Cemetery, PEI
                                  Occupation: Carpenter
                                  Spouse: Catherine 'Kate' (McSwain) MacSwain

                                 born 1872 died 18 June 1945 
                                  Married: in ?
PEI 1928 Cummins atlas. George Lowe, carpenter, wife, Catherine MacSwain. Geoge had no issue. George left his property to his house keeper Mary Ann (MacDonald) Buell.

                        Child 8: Henrietta Johnston 'Etta' Lowe
                                   Born: 26 January 1876 in ?
                                   Baptized: 17 June 1876 in PEI by Rev. Goodwill
                                   Died: in ?
                                   Buried: in ?

 

Child 3: Phillip Lowe
        Born: 1836 in PEI 
        Died: 11 Apr 1923 in ? age 87 yrs 
        Buried: in Alma Cemetery, NS 
        Spouse: Catherine Jardine born ca 1831 died 30 November 1923 
        Married: 21 Jan 1869 in Church of Scotland, NS 
Family Bible belonging to the late Lulu Lowe has Philip born 1836. Philip moved from Gladstone, PEI to Mount William, NS, married and settled there. Marriage record for  Philip Lowe, age 28, bachelor, farmer to Catherine Porter, age 34, widow, parents of Philip, Joseph and Marg (Margaret) Lowe, parents of Catherine, Joseph and Elizabeth Jardine.

Child 4: John Thomas Lowe
         Born: 1842 in PEI 
         Died: 1920 in ? 
         Buried: in Murray River Cemetery, PEI # 149 
         Spouse: Elizabeth White born 1846  died 1921 
         Married: 20 July 1864 in PEI by Rev. Donald McDonald 
Witnesses to John and Elizabeth marriage were Finlay MacDonald and George MacLeod. 1881 PEI Census for Lot 64: family of John Lowe, age 39; wf: Elizabeth, age 34; ch: Margaret, age 13; Joseph, age 10; Isabella, age 8; Frances, age 5; Watson, age 3; John, age 1; mother-in-law: Elizabeth White, age 70; all born PEI.

1891 PEI Census: John Lowe, age 49,  wf; Elizabeth, age 44,  ch: Joseph, age 20, Isabelle, age 18,  John, age 11,  David J., age 9,  Fannie, age 7,  Sarah E., age 2, mother-in-law; Elizabeth White, age 84.

Child 5: Margaret Lowe 
          Born: ca 1843 in ? 
          Died: 29 February 1876 in ? age 33 yrs 
          Buried: in New Dominion Cemetery, Lot 67, PEI 
          Spouse: George Smith
          Married: 14 May 1867 in ?  
Marriage for George Smith, bachelor to Margaret Lowe, spinster, witnesses were John Smith and Barbara MacKay. One child.

Child 6: Catherine 'Katie' Lowe
          Born: 4 June 1846 in ? 
          Died: 27 Oct 1916 in Gaspereaux, PEI of pneumonia age 70 
          Buried: 29 Oct 1916 in Murray Harbour North Cemetery, PEI
          Spouse: David Sencabaugh born 23 May 1833 died 19 June 1896 
          Married: 14 Jul 1870 in PEI by Rev. Stephen G. Lawson 
David was a widower and Catherine a spinster at time of their  marriage, witnesses were James McKay & Mrs. S.G. Lawson.

Newspaper  Memoriam 1916..... "Mrs. David Sencabaugh. There passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. MacLean Graham, Gasperaux, Lot 63, on October 27th, Catherine Lowe, relict of the late David Sencabaugh of that place. Mrs. Sencabaugh and reached the good age of 70 years, and had been in fair health until stricken with pneumonia which in a few days resulted in her death.
Three sons, David, Wilbert and Garfield, and three daughters, Mrs. MacLean Graham, Mrs. James P. Clow, and Mrs. Fred Llewellyn, as well as two brothers, John Lowe and Philip Lowe, are left to mourn the loss of a kind and loving mother and sister. The funeral service was conducted on Sunday, October 29, by Rev. Mr. Sutherland, and was largely attended by friends and neighbours."

 

Thank you Donna for the Lowe family information.

December 9th, 1912

That was the day that Grammy, Janie Evelyn Buell was born. Yesterday would have been her 100th birthday. It is over 15 years now since she passed away. Of all of her brothers and sisters, Maria, Albert, Clara, Jemima, Alex, Freeman, Katie, Myrtle, Lewis, Walter, Eileen and Parker, only Eileen is left, who will be 92 on New Year's Eve.

 

I took this of Grammy late summer 1986. She and I were staying at the house together, and we got up early to pack up, close up the house, and go back to Moncton for another winter. This was the first time she had been to the house after Grampy died the previous April.

Below is the previous summer, the last time Grampy was there.

I took this in 1995. It turned out to be the last time Grammy was on the Island.

Janie and Arthur before they were married, 1931

Miss them both

Parlour Floor

It's been a long time coming but the tile and the maple flooring in the Parlour are installed! The tile at the entry was put in a couple of weeks ago, and as soon as that was done, I called Royalty Hardwoods at Pooles Corner and set up a date for the maple floor to be put in, and that was done last Saturday. It took them only 3 hours to get it done! We had picked it out in July, but had to wait until the tile was in before getting that installed.

Below are four pictures sent to me by the installer. He contracts with Royalty Hardwoods, and will be back later this week to install the doors between the Parlour and Dining Room, and Parlour and Butler's Pantry.

The tile is placed roughly where originally there was an entry vestibule, with walls and a door to the original Parlour. George Lowe must have removed the walls of the vestibule and then divided the Parlour into a Hallway and Bedroom when he added the Kitchen, pre-1916. When he did that, the original Dining Room became the Parlour, and the Kitchen became the Dining Room. So now, the layout of the house is closer to what it was when the house was built.

The wooden transition strip bridges the gap between the tile and the maple, and allows expansion so the wood doesn't crack the tile in the future. It doesn't come prefinished, so Dad will match a sample of the maple with a stain to finish that himself.

These photos below were taken later by Lois. Mom and Dad have already started to move some furniture in. That is Mom's grandmother's Singer sewing machine between the front door and the stairs door.

Mom and Dad cleaned, stripped, sanded, primed and painted the old trim and put it back up around the door to the second floor after the tile was in.

They have purchased a new couch and they can now have it delivered. The TV and other furnishings will be moved from the basement to the Parlour by Christmas. They will finally be able to set up cable and watch TV shows for the first time since they moved in 18 months ago!  

These are old curtains of mine that I sent to Mom and they put them up in the Parlour, the first curtains in the house!

That is Granny's (Mom's mother) rocking chair in the corner

What is left to do regarding construction in the Parlour is to install the old trim around three doors, have the picture rail made and installed all around the ceiling, and have the baseboards put in. They will get new 1x8 for the baseboards. The original apparently went in the dump when the old floor fell out as the house was lifted for the new foundation.

 

Beyond that, Dad plans on refinishing the old mantle over the winter, and all that will be left to complete the Parlour is to get the two sconces for above the mantle, and to hang the wallpaper, which I can't wait to do next summer.

Thanks once again for the pictures Lois. It's great to see the progress.

The New Bridge

Lois sent me these pictures of the progress on the new bridge and fish ladder at the falls. The falls are now on the north side of the bridge. The bridge was constructed of prefabricated concrete and dropped into place. The bridge is no wider than it was before, still one lane. I hope by next summer the water is back up and the sides grow in and it looks a little more natural. Maybe this was necessary but it just makes me a little sad that it has changed. I suppose I feel the same way about the house too. When something is loved as it is for so long, change is hard to get used to. No one knows better than I do that the house needed a lot of help, and it turned out better than I could have imagined, especially with all of the hard work and attention to detail that Mom and Dad have put into it, but secretly (now not so secretly) I wish the house could have stayed the way it was forever. Dad especially had a hard time accepting the changes while the initial demolition work was under way, but now sees that it was necessary to save the house. There was nothing left to repair, only reconstruction would save the house.

This will be the new waterfall I'm guessing

The granite rock looks alien. There isn't any that occur naturally on the Island. This dam and waterfall have been in place since 1808, 2 years after the Munn's arrived from Scotland. However, they have changed in the past. I remember when the dam was one lane and had trees on both sides, covering the road like a covered bridge. That was replaced, I'm guessing, in the late 1970's. Thing is, I still miss the trees!

The fish ladder below

Looks like this line of rocks was part of the old fish ladder

Thank you Lois for the pictures

New Member of the Family

My cousin Ralta is a grandmother!

Her daughter Ami and husband Gavin, who live in Australia, welcomed their daughter Daphne Winifred into this world on October 9th 2012, and below are some pictures that her proud grandmother Ralta sent me this morning. She is named after her great-grandmother Winnie Munn.  

This is Daphne at a few hours old

Daphne in a sweater knit by her great-grandmother Winnie

and as Ralta put it, showing off her proud Mom's Canadian roots!

Congratulations Ami, Gavin and Ralta! Looks like a reason for grandma to go back to Australia!

The Election is OVER and...

all is right with the world. Earlier this week Dad was appointed to the Murray River Village Council! He joins his cousin Garnet Buell and friend from across the road, Marven MacLeod on the Council. They meet monthly to decide village business. Dad will be great at it as he has a lot of experience from being on numerous boards over several years at their church when they lived in Springhill. I think they are settling in quite well. Dad and family left Hopefield 61 years ago December, and I can't help but feel very happy for him to be home again and part of the community.

 

I have not updated for quite a while as anyone who still checks this site can attest. The work has slowed down to the details which are time consuming and Mom and Dad have been as busy as always. They are incredibly meticuous and the house is much better for it. The tile has been installed in the entry foyer, and the prefinished maple hardwood floor will be installed on November 20th. After that, they can move into the living room and relax for a while. They have also stripped and repainted the rest of the main floor doors, and bought a sofa. It will be delivered once the floor is done. Then they can set up the TV and relax.

 

There are two more projects left that I would consider big, and the rest are minor details. The two projects are to finish the basement bathroom and to drywall and finish the second floor. The bathroom is next on the list over the coming winter, and the bedrooms will wait a while. Beyond that, there is trim to be milled and installed, some more painting, and hanging wallpaper, which I am itching to get started.

 

CONGRATS DAD!!

Update on the Dam and Waterfalls

This article was issued in the Eastern Graphic today. Dramatic photo showing where the one lane bridge over the falls used to be.

Click on the link below...

http://peicanada.com/eastern_graphic/publication/work_maclures_dam_schedule_despite_rain

GRASS!!!

Thank you Lois for sending me these pictures. Mom and Dad used up the rest of the old chimney bricks for a patio for the lawn furniture. It looks wonderful.

the grass is filling in to. It must be so much cleaner and easier to get around now that your not trudging through sand and mud all the time. Next summer the lawn will be filled out and you won't be able to see the scars of the work on the landscape. This past summer the house was still definitely a construction site but the bulk of the work is done now, and its actually starting to look finished. 

Dad was cutting the grass in the field when Lois arrived.

The brick patio that Mom and Dad built. What a great idea

Mom and Dad mulched the flower beds and kept them watered through this long hot summer.

Grass!

More Grass!!

Thanks so much Lois for taking these. It's wonderful to see.

No More Murray River Falls

Due to "improvements" to the dam and bridge over the falls at Murray River, the falls will be lost. The falls are an integral part of the village and have been there since MacLure's Dam was constructed in 1808, built to run the mill, and was the site of a shipyard. 

The falls could be heard from the house. Like so many simple good things, someone has to change it. Click on the link and read the article to learn more:

http://peicanada.com/eastern_graphic/publication/residents_bemoan_loss_waterfalls_improvements_maclure%E2%80%99s_dam_murray_river

Follow this link to Heather Moore's editorial comments. She, as many Southern Kings residents, have a history with the dam and the falls. I agree that this is a great loss to the region:

http://peicanada.com/opinion_heather_moore_editor/columns_opinions/change_comes_high_price_murray_river

Sandy alerted me to this, and sent me these photos that she took on July 29th, (Winnie's birthday) in 1962.

Ralta, Loreen and Lois

I found these among Grampy's slides. These were taken in the mid 1960's

 Jim and Kelvin

And these are pictures that Sandy took of the falls and emptied pond on Monday.

sad