You’ve already
met two other Richard Culberts so I
had to find a name that sets him apart from the others. And although he moved
around, he was living in Centralia at the time of the incident. But more
about that in the next post.
A roll call of Richards:
1. Richard
Culbert (1853-1932) the son of our ancestors, John Culbert and Mary Ward. He
was married to Jane Eleanor Fairhall and they lived in Biddulph Township on the
Culbert homestead near Lucan, Ontario. For more about this Richard Culbert,
click here.
2. Richard
Culbert (c1813-1894) the brother of our ancestor, John Culbert. This Richard Culbert
was married to Ann Jane Harlton. He purchased the property next to John on the
Culbert homestead in 1840, following the family’s arrival from Ireland. Later,
they moved to Lambton Township. For more about this Richard Culbert, click here.
3. Richard Culbert of Centralia (1860s-1928).
Centralia is a small
community in Huron County, north of Lucan. In fact, Centralia is actually much closer to the
Culbert homestead (Poplar Farm) than it is to Lucan. I wonder if the locals ever confused Richard Culbert of Centralia with
Richard Culbert of Biddulph (son of John & Mary). Surely, the two Richards
would have known each other. Whether or not they knew the exact nature of their
relationship is unknown.
I
don’t yet know how Richard Culbert of Centralia is related to us but DNA
testing proves there’s a connection. So why am I introducing him to you?
1. Because
I’m studying our DNA connections to Richard’s family.
2. Because
there’s a story about Richard that you won’t want to miss, coming up in the
next post.
But for now, let's find out a little about his family.
But for now, let's find out a little about his family.
RICHARD CULBERT OF
CENTRALIA’S PARENTS:
Richard
Culbert of Centralia was born in the 1860s in Usborne Township, Huron County.
Richard’s parents were James Culbert (c1820-1898) and Rebecca Hodgins
(1827-1912). This James and Rebecca are not to be confused with James Culbert and Rebecca Portis.
Richard's mother, Rebecca Hodgins was from Tipperary but I don't know if his father, James Culbert was from the same part of Ireland. I don’t know the names of
James’ parents.
And
now here’s where it gets interesting and/or confusing, depending on your point
of view...
Rebecca
Hodgins’ parents were Henry Hodgins and Sarah Colbert (1807-1893). Sarah
Colbert’s family emigrated from Ireland and settled in London Township in 1830.
Sarah Colbert was one of the London Township Colberts with whom we share DNA. Therefore,
Richard Culbert of Centralia is related to us through his father’s line (a
Culbert) and through his mother’s line (a Colbert). This makes studying our DNA
connections with this family challenging. But whoever said genealogy was easy?
RICHARD CULBERT OF
CENTRALIA’S WIVES AND CHILDREN:
Richard
Culbert married Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” Taylor on 19 December 1891. Lizzie was
the daughter of William “Billy” Taylor and Alice Porter of Usborne Township.
Richard
and Lizzie had two children: Rebecca Culbert (born 6 Feb 1893 in McGillivray
Township) and Wesley William Culbert (born 15 Apr 1895 in Usborne Township). Rebecca
married Edwin James Walker, and William married Fanny Winson.
Based
on his children’s birth locations, Census forms and newspaper articles
throughout the years, it’s clear that Richard moved a lot. Although Richard was
listed as a farmer on his daughter’s birth registration, he was listed as a
labourer on his son’s birth registration, and appears to have remained a
labourer for the rest of his life.
Richard’s
wife, Lizzie (Taylor) Culbert died of peritonitis 7 May 1897, age 22. Lizzie's death
registration shows she’d been living in Centralia, Stephen Township, Huron County.
Just two months
after Lizzie’s death, something happened that would have a profound effect on
Richard. We’ll get to that in the next post.
In
the years between Lizzie’s death and his second marriage, it seems that Richard
lived with Lizzie’s family.
Fast
forward to 16 April 1913. Richard married for a second time to Minnie Kenny
(alternate spelling, Minnie Kenney.) Minnie was born c1886 in Stephen Township to John Kenny (alternate spelling John Kenney) and Mary Hunsicker.
Richard Culbert
and Minnie Kenny had four children: Hilda May Culbert (born 1913) who married Thomas
Henry Anderson; Mary Edna Culbert (born 1914) who married Andrew Miller; Vera Culbert (born c1920); and
Norman W. Culbert (born 1921) who married Marion Jane Clarke.
The
1921 Census shows the Richard Culbert family back in Usborne Township again at
S Lot 4, Concession 1. Richard’s brother, Robert Culbert is living with them,
too.
 |
| 1921 Census of Canada. Note the spelling Colbert rather than Culbert. Documents regarding Richard’s surname vary in spelling. |
Richard
Culbert of Centralia died in his sixties on 1 November 1928 in Crediton,
Ontario. He is buried in St. James Cemetery, Clandeboye, north of Lucan.
Come back soon to
learn how Richard Culbert shocked the peaceful little village of Centralia. Click here to read.
Richard
Culbert of Centralia’s Family Tree:
Ancestors:
James
Culbert & Rebecca Hodgins (parents)
Descendants
(children with Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” Taylor)
Rebecca
(Culbert) Walker
Wesley
William Culbert
Descendants
(children with Minnie Kenny/Kenney)
Hilda
May (Culbert) Anderson
Mary
Edna (Culbert) Miller
Vera
Culbert
Norman
W. Culbert
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