180th Anniversary of the Purchase of the Culbert Homestead near Lucan, Ontario

On this Thanksgiving weekend, I give thanks for this bill of sale...

Are you a descendant of John Culbert and his wife, Mary Ward? If so, you wouldn't have been born if not for that bill of sale. Or are you a descendant of John's brother, Richard Culbert and his wife, Ann Jane Harlton? Read on...

180 years ago today on 10 October 1840, our ancestor, John Culbert purchased Lot 19 on Concession 2 in Biddulph Township near Lucan, Ontario on what is known today as The Coursey Line. The image above is a copy of the Memorandum of Sale for those 100 acres, purchased from the Canada Company for the sum of 12 pounds, ten shillings. The man I believe to be John's brother, Richard Culbert purchased the property next door (Lot 18), three days after John purchased Lot 19.

John Culbert, his wife Mary Ward and their family made the voyage from Ireland to Canada in 1840, settling in Biddulph Township near Lucan, Ontario. None of us would be here today were it not for that voyage, and for that purchase of land.

The John Culbert-Mary Ward family, c1865. For more info about this photo, click here.

This being Thanksgiving weekend (here in Canada) let's raise our glasses in thanks of our ancestors making a new life in Canada. We're here today because of them.

If you're new to the Culbert Family History blog and want to learn more about our family, consider reading any of the following blog posts:

We don't know why the Culberts left Ireland but for my thoughts on the possible reasons, click here.

To read about the Culbert family's voyage from Ireland to Canada, click here.

For a biography of John Culbert, click here.

For a biography of John Culbert's wife, Mary Ward, click here. 

For a biography of Richard Culbert (the man I believe is John Culbert's brother,) click here.

To read about the Culbert homestead near Lucan, later known as Poplar Farm, click here. 

The Culbert homestead (Poplar Farm) as it looked in 2013.

The John Culbert - Mary Ward Family: Earliest Known Photo

In recent posts, I've hinted about a group photo I've been meaning to show you and tell you about. Here it is...

John Culbert-Mary Ward family c1865. Earliest known photo of this family.

Back row, left to right: Henry Culbert; William Culbert; Thomas Culbert; Joseph Culbert; and Richard Culbert. (These are John and Mary's sons.)
The people in the front row are not all identified but I assume they are, from left to right: Susanna Ward (Mary Ward's mother); Mary (Ward) Culbert; John Culbert; Mary Ann Culbert (youngest child of John & Mary); and the two women at the end could be daughters of John & Mary (Eliza or Susan or Rebecca) or they could be wives of two of John and Mary's sons.

This may be the entire John Culbert - Mary Ward family except one missing daughter!

There is no date on this photo. I'm going to assume that since that's probably Susanna Ward on the far left, and because Susanna died in late December, 1865, that the photo was taken the year she died: 1865.

Another reason I think the year was 1865 is because the photo was taken by Alfred Smart who had photography studios in London and Lucan. He opened his Lucan studio in 1865. 

The original photo was quite small, fragile, and very faded. I was able to clarify the image and enlarge it so that the photo is still a little blurry but it's a big improvement over the original.

Thanks to Margaret (Culbert) Hankala for this photograph. Margaret grew up in Lucan, Ontario and now lives in the mountains of North Carolina, USA. I asked if she could have a look around for old family photos and this is what she found: a photo of our Lucan-Biddulph, Ontario ancestors, found over a thousand kilometres away in North Carolina. This just goes to show that you never know what treasures may be lurking in the back of your closet or your attic. So please look around and share your finds with us.

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.

Mary (Ward) Culbert: The Mother of Us All

Meet Mary (Ward) Culbert (c1812-1888): a pioneer of Lucan-Biddulph, Canada and the wife of John Culbert (c1806-1887)...

Mary (Ward) Culbert. Photo courtesy of Phil Culbert, her great-great-grandson.

Mary is truly the mother of us all for without her, we Culbert descendants wouldn't be here today.

So what do we know about Mary?

She's listed as a "farmer's wife" on her death certificate but that title doesn't do justice to her story; one of unending toil as our founding mother. And she accomplished her endless tasks dressed in the restrictive women's garments of the times!

It's thought that she was born around 1810-1812 to in Kings County, Ireland (known today as County Offaly) although we have no birth document for her nor do we know for sure that Kings County was her place of birth. According to family lore, her father was named Joseph Ward but this hasn't been confirmed. Family lore says that her father was a brick maker, and it's said that John Culbert went to work for Mr. Ward. Whether or not that's how John Culbert met Mary Ward, we don't know. 

We're guessing that John Culbert and Mary Ward wed around 1828 when she was about 16-18 years old. Babies soon followed. Eleven babies, to be exact! Her first five children were born in Ireland; the following six, in Biddulph Township, Canada.

Mary's father is said to have died of cholera on the voyage to Canada in 1840, along with Mary's infant daughter, Emma. However, we have no proof other than family lore that Mary's father was aboard the ship. Mary's mother, Susanna Ward survived the trip and lived to the age of 86.

Mary suffered another loss when her brother, William Ward died the first winter in Canada, age 22.

What awaited John and Mary in the New World was brutally hard physical labour. They would have worked from sunrise to sunset; building a well to provide fresh water, clearing the forested land to construct a small log house and barn, buying and tending to livestock, building much of their own furniture, making their own clothes, making candles to provide light, making soap, chopping wood to provide fuel for the fireplace which was their only source of heat, canning preserves,  never-ceasing cooking, cleaning and household chores... the list goes on. I don't know about you but I get tired just thinking about it.

It was a hardscrabble life without the benefits of electricity, running water, power tools, modern appliances, or indoor plumbing. 

Her husband, John's work would have been primarily in the fields and the barn. Mary's work wasn't confined to the house; she would have been expected to contribute some time in the fields and the barn, as well.

This isn't Mary but milking the cows was just one of her many daily chores.

It's understood that Mary controlled the finances in the family and was very capable in this role.

John & Mary built a somewhat larger log house with a second floor in the 1850s. Nonetheless, Mary wouldn't have had any privacy. Not only did John and Mary have a large brood of children, they had Mary's mother and other elderly relatives living with them in what was a small space, by today's standards. Mary's cousin, John Ward lived in a one-room shack on the property. Mary baked his bread, and did his washing and mending. Her aging cousin, William Dobbs had his own farm yet boarded with the Culberts so that Mary could do his cooking, cleaning, mending, and general care.

Mary would have been in her late 40s when the last of her eleven children was born. These were all home births, as was customary at the time, and often without assistance from a midwife or doctor. 

Mary's granddaughter, Ethel (Culbert) Gras described Mary as "a sweet and kindly person" who "retained the headship of the house for many years."

Another granddaughter, Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen said Mary was a fine influence on her, and had a good deal to do with developing her curiosity and stimulating her eagerness to learn.[2]

Hulda said that Mary (Ward) Culbert was the chatelaine of the household until her death on 12 October 1888.

Mary (Ward) Culbert's death notice published in the Exeter Times on 17 Oct 1888.

This death notice (above) is testament to her popularity in the community and states that "her remains were followed by a large concourse of friends to St. James burying ground." A longer obituary published in the same newspaper on October 25th says, "Mrs. Culbert was highly esteemed by her neighbors."

For details on Mary's final resting place at St. James Cemetery, Clandeboye, see my post, here.

In spite of the harsh conditions of pioneer life, the unremitting hard work, and the lack of creature comforts, Mary (Ward) Culbert laid the foundation for future generations of Culberts to enjoy prosperity. We, your descendants, are indebted to you.

“I believe that never was a country better adapted to produce a great race of women than this Canada of ours, nor a race of women better adapted to make a great country.” — Emily Murphy

References:
[1] Taylor, Grant W., A History of the John Culbert – Mary Ward Family and Their Descendants  1828 – 1995” Volume 1. Branches 5-6-7-8-9, page 5.
[2] Lapp, Eula C., China Was My University: The Life of Hulda May Carscallen, Agincourt, Onario, Generation Press, 1980, page 8.
 

Why Did the Culberts Leave Ireland?

Why did the John Culbert-Mary Ward family leave Ireland? The short answer is: we don't know.

1939 map of Great Britain & Ireland. Image found on eBay.

It wasn't the Potato Famine that caused them to leave their homeland. The Culbert family arrived in Canada in 1840, five years before the famine began.

It's surmised that "the likely reason for leaving Ireland was that country's deteriorating  economic conditions coupled with the availability of cheap land in Upper Canada. They would also have expected an improved economic outlook there for John and Mary's children. In addition they had friends who already were homesteading in Biddulph Twp. which was being settled predominantly by the Irish."[1]

Let's address these possible reasons for leaving Ireland, one at a time:

1. Deteriorating economic conditions in Ireland:

The map below indicates the level of poverty in Ireland in 1841, the year after the Culbert family left the country...
 

Source: IrelandStory

We don't know the Culbert family's financial status in Ireland. It's said that John Culbert worked as a brick layer for his father-in-law. 

An elderly relative (name unrecorded) asked where the Culbert family lived and he replied, "on Colonel Draught's." As yet, I haven't discovered the identity of Colonel Draught but this indicates that the Culberts may have been tenant farmers.

UPDATE: According to someone who left a comment on the blog, his name was Colonel Drought, not Colonel Draught.

The Culbert family left Ireland at a time when many people were poor tenant farmers, renting land from rich, absentee landlords. Many farms were owned by English gentry who seldom set foot on Irish soil and relied on middlemen to collect the rents. Farms were split up, becoming smaller and smaller so that farmers could no longer make a living or feed their large families from their small patch of land, especially as rents continued to increase.

Decades after the Culberts left Ireland, landlords turned to evicting tenants. Landlords found it was more profitable to use their tenants' properties as pasture rather than renting out the land to families.

This period of agitation saw armed police and British soldiers using battering rams to break down doors and forcibly evict Irish tenants from their homes...

Image from the collection of Maggie Blanck.

2. Availability of cheap land in Upper Canada:

The Canada Company played a big role in promoting Canada to the Irish. This large land development company assisted emigrants by providing low fares on ships, inexpensive land, and tools and provisions to get the settlers started in the New World.

One Canada Company agent in particular was successful in bringing the Irish to Biddulph Township: Colonel James "Big Jim" Hodgins, the first white settler in that township.

Image via Robert Passmore.

 3. The Culberts had friends who already were homesteading in Biddulph Township:

Irish families often settled in Canada in groups, and were later joined by friends and relatives from the old country. It's said that John and Mary Culbert had friends named Rollins (or Rawlins) from Ireland who had moved to Canada prior to them and lived near the property they purchased. The Culbert family stayed with the Rollins/Rawlins family until they built a log house of their own.  

So, to recapitulate, we don't know the reason the Culbert family left Ireland but it's likely that the above three factors all came into play.

References:
[1] Taylor, Grant W., A History of the John Culbert – Mary Ward Family and Their Descendants  1828 – 1995” Volume 1, Branches 5-6-7-8-9, page 2.