Readers may have family connection to cemetery
Editor:
Years ago, my maternal grandmother told me we were related to the Campbell and Blair families around Duntroon.
As most properly realize, we think we have all kinds of time to ask questions of our older relatives, then one day it’s too late.
I was lucky. The late John Montgomery once told me we were related through the McQueen side. He gave me a huge binder filled with so many names. Now, while researching my family tree I have come across other history as well, including a book written by Robert McQueen. I have found copies of old books written about this area, giving me more information on family members.
I am writing this article to let others know that their ancestors could be buried in the East Nottawasaga Presbyterian Church cemetery.
Warren Morrison has had an ad in The Creemore Echo looking for contributions toward the maintenance of the cemetery located on Fairgrounds Road closer to County Road 91.
The church was built in 1854 on an acre of land purchased for five shillings from the Paul family. It was bricked in 1881. The congregation amalgamated with Stayner Presbyterian Church in 1975. The church stood empty and unused, falling into disrepair, andwas dismantled in 2022.
Until starting to do genealogy research I didn’t realize my 4x great grandparents immigrated to the area from Ballygrant in the Isle of Islay in 1833. My grandfather died three weeks later in Barrie.
My grandmother and 13 other relatives wintered in Sunnidale. In the spring of 1834 they settled on a property around Concession 4 and 5 near what is now County Road 91.
The school, now a private residence, on Fairgrounds Road close to 91 was named Ballygrant SS #1. Some relatives moved on to Duntroon, the centre of Nottawasaga Township.
Through my research I found that my 4x great grandmother Isabelle McQueen was among the first ones buried in the cemetery in 1856. The last burial there was Paul Galway in 2013.
In 1930, the care of the cemetery went to Morrison’s grandfather and uncle, James and Neil Morrison.
I thought maybe some, like me, did not realize they too have ancestors buried in this cemetery. Here are some of the family names: Aikins, Bain, Baker, Bell, Blair, Bowden, Brown, Buie, Campbell, Carmichael, Currie, Fisher, Gadway, Gilchrist, Hayman, Howie, Lewis, McNab, Madill, McBride, McCutcheon, McDermid, McDonald, McDoungall, McEachern, McLaughlin, McLean, McLeod, McNabb, McNeil, McQueen, Morrison, Paterson, Paul, Pearson, Robertson, Shapcott, Taylor.
Donations are the only revenue source for maintaining the cemetery with 100 per cent of funds going toward lawn cutting, flower bed care, etc. Contributions can be made to the East Nottawasaga Cemetery c/o Morrison Farm, 1881 Concession 6, Creemore, L0M 1G0.
Colleen Stamp,
Creemore.