Joan Rolph (1941 – 2020)

Ida Joan Milne was born 16 November 1941 to Ross Milne and Annie McMillan Milne. Joan spent her early years on the family farm near Trowbridge and in Listowel with her parents, her sister, Betti, and brothers, Murray and Ron.

On 26 September 1959, Joan married Kenneth Wood. She and Ken had three sons, Chris, Kevin, and Jeff. Over the years, the family lived in Listowel, Mitchell, and Goderich. One month before their twentieth anniversary, Ken passed away on 6 August 1979.

When Joan married Darrell Rolph on 5 June 1981, his children, Cindy, Jeff, and Susan also joined her family. Joan and Darrell settled in Stratford. They had been married for thirty-one years when Darrell passed away on 4 July 2012.

Joan was always on the go following the activities of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She also found time for her many hours of volunteer work at the Royal Canadian Legion, her church, and the Acquired Brain Injury Group of Stratford.

Joan passed away peacefully at Stratford General Hospital on 5 March 2020. Joan was a very special person, beloved by her family and many friends. I will miss you Cousin Joan.

Welcome, Darcie Rose!

Darcie Rose Guy was born on 22 January, weighing 6lb 10oz. Proud parents are Katie Blagden and Carl Guy. Big sister, Daisy, is very excited to welcome Darcie to the family.

Darcie Guy, Katie Blagden, Samantha Caswell, Vivienne Hamilton, Evelyn Smeed – five generations of mothers and daughters.

Congratulations Charlie and Charlene!

Charles Richard Tester and Charlene Kezia Wall we’re married on 28 July 2019 in the presence of many family and friends.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Congratulations Colin and Naomi!

Colin Antony Nash and Naomi Timbrell were married on Saturday, 6 July, 2019 in the presence of many family and friends.

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Timbrell-Nash!

Happy Canada Day

On the eve of yet another Canada Day I once again give some thought to my direct ancestors and their families who were present in Canada on 1 July 1867. They lived on farms or in small communities and I don’t know how or if they marked that historic day.

Those early settlers were:

William Collins (1799 – 1881) and Jean Anderson Collins (1798 – 1850) emigrated from Renfrewshire, Scotland ca 1826 and settled in Oxford County and then Waterloo County.

George Hewitt (1805 – 1893) and Mary Clements Hewitt (1807 – 1896) left Norfolk County, England in 1836 and settled in Oxford County the year before the Rebellions of 1837.

John Hewitt (1833 – 1911) left Norfolk with his parents in 1836 and married Elizabeth Collins (1835 – 1881) who was born in Waterloo County.

Charles Milne (1807 – 1856) and Elspet Ross Milne (1808 – 1897) arrived in Wentworth County from Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1846.

Rebecca Cromer Johnson McArthur (1807 – 1902) was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, emigrated to New York City and came to Wentworth County as a widow ca 1850 with two young daughters.

William Milne (1850 – 1932) was born in Dundas, Ontario and married Catherine Johnson (1846 – 1911) who was born in New York City, NY and arrived in 1850 with her mother and sister.

On This Day

William Clarence Riesberry was born 27 June 1868 in Harriston, Ontario. He was the son of James Riesberry (1825 – 1898) and Barbara Collins (1836 – 1921). In 1891 he married Rachel Clarinda Bibby in Carberry, Manitoba. William died on 20 August 1926 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

This Day in Our Family’s History

Audrey Madelaine Smeed 

Audrey was the daughter of Charles Smeed 2 and Ann Maria Burt. She was born on 23 June 1888 in East Grinstead, Sussex and died on 27 October 1970 in Dormansland, Surrey. Audrey never married.

Ethel Irene Milne

Ethel was the daughter of Charles Milne and Louisa Jane Black. She was born 17 December 1892 in Strabane, Wentworth County, Ontario. In 1919 she married Roy Archibald Warren. She died on 23 June 1963 in Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan.

Janet (Jennie) Louise Milne

Jennie was the daughter of Charles Milne and Louisa Jane Black. She was born on 9 November 1883 in Wentworth County, Ontario. Together, she and her husband, Justus Sontag, raised a large family. She died on 23 June 1970 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Thinking of Mum

Tomorrow is the 100th Anniversary of the birth of my dear Mum. She has been gone for almost ten years and we will always miss her very much.

Doris Elizabeth Smeed was born in Walton on Thames, Surrey on 3 February 1919. Bet was the eldest child of Charles Smeed and Frances Tester Smeed. On 14 November 1942 she married Canadian soldier Charles Wesley Milne.

Bet and Charlie had two daughters. Jane was born in England and accompanied her war bride Mum to Canada in 1946. Elizabeth was born in Listowel in 1951. Bet and Charlie doted on their granddaughter, Vanessa, born in 1967.

Charlie died in 1971 and about ten years later Bet returned to England for almost twenty years. During that time she often spent the winter months in Almeria, Spain with daughter, Elizabeth, who resided there. In 2003 Bet returned to Canada, first to Toronto and then to Belleville. When Elizabeth returned to Canada and also settled in Belleville in 2005, Bet was happy to have her family close again.

In her last few years Bet’s mobility was limited and she lost her sight to macular degeneration. This meant she could no longer do her cryptic crosswords or read but she was able to listen to the tv and to her extensive Doris Day music collection.

On 3 February 2009 Bet celebrated her ninetieth birthday. She passed away on 14 September 2009.

Thinking of you on your 100th, Mum.

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Welcome, Millie Olga!

Lulu Tester and James McCrory are pleased to announce the arrival of their daughter, Millie Olga McCrory, born December 27, 2018 @11:14 am, weighing 8lb.

Proud grandparents are Ian and Nicole Tester and Sean and Tina McCrory.

Welcome, Daphne!

Allison and Nick McCabe wish to announce the arrival of their daughter, Daphne, who was born on Friday, 12 October. Theo and Poppy are excited to have a new sister.

Proud grandparents are Ron and Bev Milne and Dale and Cathie McCabe.