The 1863 Lake Map. Lot 3. Source: www.islandregister.com. Note Centerline Road is marked "Proposed Road"

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Dr. D.A. Dunbar

     I came across the following information about Dr. David A. Dunbar of Alma.  He was the son of Wm. Archibald Dunbar and Sara Rix (of North Bedeque, b. 1842) of Centerline Road, Alma.  Dr. Dunbar studied medicine at McGill University in Montreal - he later lived and practiced in Vancouver, B.C. where he died in 1954.   
     Dr. D.A. Dunbar was a brother of James *Jimmy* Dunbar who lived across the road from Spurgeon Jeffery.  Dr. Dunbar's ashes were sent back to Alma for burial - Wilbert Jeffery recalls visiting Jimmy and Hattie that day in 1954 - Hattie said to Wilbert, "Jimmy's not feeling so well today - his brothers ashes arrived in the mail this day".
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     The following information comes from the City of Vancouver Archives http://vancouver.ca/your-government/city-of-vancouver-archives.aspx
Reference Code: AM54-S4-2-:CVA 371-1578.  Date: Dec. 11, 1952.  Part of the Major James Skitt Matthews collection.  
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Students Attending McGill, 1909
From the Daily Examiner, Jan, 22, 1909.
List of Prince Edward Island students at McGill – Medicine.
First year:
     Wm. E Williams, Mount Pleasant.
Second year:
     Lester G. Houle, Charlottetown; Fred H. McKay, Mt. Stewart; James S. McLeod, Charlottetown; Louis W. McNutt, Charlottetown; Alex. V. Webster, Marie.
Third year:
     R.S.P. Carruthers, North Bedeque; B. H. Champion, Summerside; D. A. Dunbar, Alma; Arthur W. Furness, Vernon; S. E. Gillis, Indian River; Percy L. Lavers, Georgetown; John A McPhee, Charlottetown.
Fourth year:
     F.M. Auld, Covehead; John R. Cameron, Charlottetown; James W. Dorsey, Charlottetown; John J. Gillis, Miscouche; George C. Lawson, Charlottetown; Walter P McBride, Central Bedeque.
http://www.islandregister.com/cgi-bin/Count.cgi?sh=F|df=dhunter.ndxSubmitted by Christine Gorman / © Dave Hunter and The Island Register:
http://www.islandregister.com/1909mcgill.html
Last Updated: 10/2/2004 9:13:24 AM
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     Below: a Dunbar tombstone in the Alma Baptist Cemetery noting the following deaths. William A. Dunbar 1840-1908 / His daughter Elizabeth A. Keith 1864-1940 / His daughter Annie M. 1880-1886. /// on the side Dr. D.A. Dunbar 1883-1954. 
     Dr. D.A. Dunbar had the following siblings as listed in the 1891 PEI Census: Hugh B. (21); Emma (21); Joseph A. (19); Emma A. (16); Sarah H. (13); James W. (4); infant girl (4 mos).
     See 1891 Census -
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1891/001081-119.02-e.php?person_id_nbr=3160403&page_sequence_nbr=1&interval=&PHPSESSID=oudpa6rgqrh7up7k8d765ord27
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Above: back reads - Dr. Archie Dunbar
Photo courtesy of Donna (Barbour) MacPhee Collection

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The Will of William Murphy (-1918, Alma)

     I came across this on the Island Register website -http://www.islandregister.com/wills/1918williammurphy.html
The Last Will and Testament of William Murphy (-1918, Alma)
Public Archives of Prince Edward Island index to Probate Court register of Wills item No. 1807-1920 Index # 2 MURPHY, William Alma Lot 2 LIB 20 No.of Accounts 702 Filed and reg’d Nov 11, 1918
The late Will and Testament of me William Murphy, Alma, Lot 2, P.E. Island
This will annuls all previous wills made by me. To my son Liford Calvin Murphy I leave one good horse and one good cow. To my son William Albert Murphy I bequeath Five Dollars ($5.00) To my daughter Caroline Elizabeth (Mrs. Robt Stewart) I bequeath Five Dollars ($5.00) To my daughter Mysie Jane (Mrs. John Leard ) I bequeath Five Dollars ( $5.00) and one map of the world, now in my possession. To my daughter Jessie Ada (Mrs. David Vincent) I bequeath Five Dollars ($5.00) To Irene Maud (Mrs. Malcolm Gregory) I bequeath Five Dollars ($5.00) To my wife Caroline Elizabeth Murphy I devise and bequeath all the land and real estate in my possession- the land being that parcel of land, in Alma Lot 2, and lying directly south of and adjoining land owned by Hammond Crockett, and bounded on the south by land owned by my son Bennett Ervin Murphy, and running west from the "Western Road" and containing eighty acres more or less. To my wife Caroline Eliz. I also bequeath all the stock, farming implements, and household furniture in my possession at the time of my death, except as above mentioned,. My wife Caroline Eliz. Murphy shall own and control the land and property above mentioned, during her natural life or while she remains single. At her death or marriage all the above property real and personal then in her possession passes from her to my son Bennett Ervin if he is still alive. Should my son Bennett die before his mother then at her death or marriage all said property in her possession shall fall to my son Liford Calvin Murphy.
My wife Caroline shall be responsible for all my debts and obligations. I appoint as executor of this my last will David Barbour, Alma, and Allan Clark, Alma .
Signed by me this twenty-seventh day of August, one thousand nine hundred and Seventeen at Alma -P.E.I Signed William Murphy (His X mark)
Witnesses Signed John Clark
E. Lockhart

This will was proved on 22nd day of August A.D.
1918 on the oath of Emanuel Lockhart one of the
subscribing witnesses thereto and was filed and
registered on the Eleventh Day of November A.D. 1918
As certified by (illeg.) Macdonald Judge of (illeg.)

Friday, November 9, 2012

Homesteads of Lauretta - 1928

     Below is a plan I drew of the homesteads of Lauretta using the Cummins 1928 Atlas of Prince Edward Island.  
     The Atlas also lists the property owner's name, address, wife and children's names.  It's a wonderful resource.
Below: an older version of the Cummins 1928 Atlas.
 http://www.islandimagined.ca/fedora/repository/imagined:collection/-/Island%20Imagined/3
Above: a more recent, reprint copy of the Cummins 1928 Atlas.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Myrtle B. (Burke) Foley Obituary 1912-2008

     The death occurred recently in California of Myrtle B. Foley, 96. Born in Alma, P.E.I., she was the daughter of Peter A. and Gertrude (Aylward) Burke. 
     Survived by sons, Leonard B. (Carol) of California, and L. Edward (Marie) of Rhode Island. Also survived by four grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; her sisters, Sr. Florence Burke, CSM of Mount St. Mary's in Charlottetown, and Bernice (Lal) Davis (Donald S. RCMP, retired) of Bedford, N.S. Predeceased by her parents, her husband, Lloyd E. Foley; her sister, Irene (late John E.) Cameron; and her brother, Fl/Sgf. Leonard J. Burke. 
     Burial took place in Leominster, Mass.

     cf.  Published Thursday, April 17, 2008 in the Journal-Pioneer Newspaper.
     PS.  Stanford McNeill bought the Burke property on the big turn, on the Centerline Road in Alma, around the end of WWII - and raised their family there.