Theme: Sheep [of any colour] | Images: Click on many to enlarge
What colour were George COMPTON's sheep? Search as I may, I found it hard to identify any black sheep in my family tree. No ancestor stuck out as being overly odd or a troublemaker or even disreputable, as the definition of "black sheep" suggests. Perhaps I need to dig deeper! Certainly there were examples of illegitimacies in my tree, a possible cause for being shunned or outcast by a family (often the consequences of being a "black sheep"). Although I personally wouldn’t call him a “black sheep”, I have already written about the most obvious candidate, Charles ANDREW, who fled England with his young wife and base born daughter in 1842. This theme was quite the challenge!
So instead I decided to broaden the scope of the theme this week to include sheep of any colour and of the animal variety, as I have plenty of farmers in my tree. But surprisingly I have only uncovered one reference to sheep farming. Other animals like cows and horses and chickens seemed more popular. There were likely other ancestors who raised sheep, but I lack the specific details on how most of my farmers made their living.
So instead I decided to broaden the scope of the theme this week to include sheep of any colour and of the animal variety, as I have plenty of farmers in my tree. But surprisingly I have only uncovered one reference to sheep farming. Other animals like cows and horses and chickens seemed more popular. There were likely other ancestors who raised sheep, but I lack the specific details on how most of my farmers made their living.
My mother’s great uncle George Major COMPTON (1851-1928)) was a farmer who, it seems, lived his whole life in St Eleanors, PEI, Canada. He was the oldest son of Albert Harry COMPTON and Mary Robinson COATES, and a younger brother of my maternal great grandmother Harriet Washbourne (COMPTON) ANDREW. In the 1861 census, his father Harry was listed as head of household, and there were a total of 5 males and 6 females living on their 175 acre farm. One of them would have been George, age 10. Unfortunately PEI had not yet joined the newly formed Canada by 1871, so was not included in the federal census that year. By 1881 PEI had become a province of Canada, and George and his younger sister Sarah where listed in the census living on their own farm in St Eleanors. When their father died in September 1889, George was still single, but not for long.
On 21 January 1890 and at the age of almost 39, George married Eliza Jane MacGougan at St Johns Anglican Church in St Eleanors. They did not have any children; they lived alone according to all the federal census between 1891 and 1921. The only personal details I know about George and Eliza COMPTON came from my mother, who grew up in the same area of PEI and obviously knew them as a child. She remembers that Eliza used to twiddle her thumbs, so this trait obviously made quite an impression on Eliza's great-nieces. George was known for his “long beard, long grace”. So they must have had family dinners together on occasion. I can just picture others at the table watching their meal get cold as George’s lengthy blessings went on and on! If ever there was a time for twiddling thumbs!
It was only recently that I stumbled on a reference to George in a an old PEI newspaper “The Daily Examiner” for 27 September 1890. The Prince County Exhibition, held in nearby Summerside every Fall, had published their list of prize winners. Three entries caught my eye:
On 21 January 1890 and at the age of almost 39, George married Eliza Jane MacGougan at St Johns Anglican Church in St Eleanors. They did not have any children; they lived alone according to all the federal census between 1891 and 1921. The only personal details I know about George and Eliza COMPTON came from my mother, who grew up in the same area of PEI and obviously knew them as a child. She remembers that Eliza used to twiddle her thumbs, so this trait obviously made quite an impression on Eliza's great-nieces. George was known for his “long beard, long grace”. So they must have had family dinners together on occasion. I can just picture others at the table watching their meal get cold as George’s lengthy blessings went on and on! If ever there was a time for twiddling thumbs!
It was only recently that I stumbled on a reference to George in a an old PEI newspaper “The Daily Examiner” for 27 September 1890. The Prince County Exhibition, held in nearby Summerside every Fall, had published their list of prize winners. Three entries caught my eye:
“SHEEP: Pen 2 Long Wool Ewes, having reared lambs this season - 1st, Stewart Burns, Freetown; 2d, George Compton, St. Eleanors; 3d, Murdock Ross, Bedeque. ...
”SHEEP: Pen two Ewes other breed or cross, having reared lambs this year - 1st, Judson Burns, Freetown; 2d, A. C. Rogers, S'side; 3d, Geo. Compton, St. Eleanors. ...
“POULTRY Pair Turkeys - 1st, Albert Craswell, St. Eleanors; 2d, Geo. Compton, do.”
Although the top prize seems to have eluded George, it is gratifying to learn that he won prizes for four of his ewes (not to mention the two turkeys), and that he raised a variety of breeds. I am no expert on sheep, but I suppose some could have been black?
At the age of 77, George passed away in St Eleanors on 28 Feb 1928, and his wife remained a widow until her death in 1945. Both are buried in the St Johns Churchyard in St Eleanors, PEI.
At the age of 77, George passed away in St Eleanors on 28 Feb 1928, and his wife remained a widow until her death in 1945. Both are buried in the St Johns Churchyard in St Eleanors, PEI.
I have posted additional information on my COMPTON families elsewhere on this website.
"52 Ancestors" is a reference to the "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge I am participating in.
Reference the No Story Too Small blog by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow for more details.
It is giving me the much needed incentive to write and publish my family stories.
Reference the No Story Too Small blog by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow for more details.
It is giving me the much needed incentive to write and publish my family stories.
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