John Culbert: Our Forefather (c1806-1887)

This is the only photograph of John Culbert that I've ever seen...

John Culbert, c1865. Image from a group photo courtesy of Margaret (Culbert) Hankala.

I wish we had a clearer photo but we're lucky to have any image at all. It's from a group photo which I'll show you and tell you about some other time. In the meantime, try squinting at the image to see if you inherited John's good looks. He's a Culbert. Of course he's good-looking.

You've read about his wife, Mary Ward here but what do we know about John Culbert?

We estimate John was born about 1806. His death certificate gives Kings County, Ireland (now County Offaly) as his birth place but we have no birth certificate to prove that was his birth place. John Culbert worked as a brick layer for his father-in-law, whose name we believe to be Joseph Ward although we have no proof for this other than family lore. 

Family lore suggests John, Mary and their family were living near Nenagh, Tipperary at the time they left Ireland but we don't have any documentation yet to prove this. I hope to eventually find out where the Culberts actually came from. When I do, you'll be the first to know.

If you've read my previous post here, you'll have learned that we don't know why John chose to come to Canada. We do know that the Culbert family had friends by the surname Rollins or Rawlins in Biddulph Township, and that the Culberts stayed with them until they'd constructed a log cabin of their own.

In addition to bringing various older family members with them, I believe that John Culbert may have had a younger brother or cousin who came to Canada at the same time; possibly on board the same ship. His name was Richard Culbert (not to be confused with John & Mary's son, Richard Culbert) and his wife was Ann (Harlton) Culbert. Richard & Ann purchased property next to John & Mary in October, 1840; the same time as John & Mary purchased their land. Sometime between 1852 and 1861, Richard & Ann moved from Biddulph Township to the village of Wyoming in Plympton Township, Lambton County. I'll write more about this family in a future post. UPDATE: I've since written about Richard Culbert and his wife, Ann Harlton here, and we're assuming Richard is John's brother.

John Culbert purchased 100 acres on Lot 19, Concession 2 on a road that became known as the Coursey Line. This property was in Biddulph Township, near the village of Lucan.

In 1840, Biddulph Township was still part of Huron County. It wasn't until 1865 that Biddulph joined Middlesex County. [Map via.]

The Province of Ontario was not established until Confederation in 1867. When the Culbert family arrived, it was known as Upper Canada. [Map via.]

John purchased his land from the Canada Company for the sum of 12 pounds, ten shillings. (Math was not John's strong point nor is it mine so you do the calculations on how much that would be today.) 

Advertising to attract settlers to Canada.

John cleared the heavily forested land, and built a small log house. All the backbreaking work was done by hand. For more details concerning their pioneer life, see this previous post about his wife, Mary (Ward) Culbert.

There were few businesses to be found in their immediate area in those early days although we know there was a tavern a few miles north. I hear some of you saying, "What more could you ask for?"

John Culbert fathered 11 children, nine of whom lived to adulthood. His youngest son, Richard Culbert took over the farm and it was passed down through Richard's branch.

John died 15 October 1887, in his early eighties; 47 years and five days after he purchased his property in Canada. His wife, Mary died a year after him, almost to the day, on 12 Oct 1888. For details about their final resting place in St. James Cemetery, Clandeboye, see this previous post.

John Culbert's death certificate (far right column). Click on the image to enlarge it.

In his old age, John could look back proudly on his accomplishments. He'd brought his family across the sea to the New World, built a log cabin and barn, built a second, larger log house in the 1850s, planted and harvested fine crops, made a contribution to the community, and established a self-sufficient farm; all through years of toil and the help of his wife, Mary (Ward) Culbert. 

Mary (Ward) Culbert & John Culbert, c1865. Image from a group photo courtesy of Margaret (Culbert) Hankala, their great-great-granddaughter.