John Fraser (abt. 1754 - abt. 1832)

Born about 1754 in Boleskine, Inverness-shire, Scotland

Husband of Mary (Gillis) Fraser — married about 1792 in Northesk District, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada

Descendants

Died about 1832 at about age 78 in Miramichi, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada

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John Fraser was a United Empire Loyalist.
UEL Status:Proven
Date: 1771

Biography

John Fraser was born in Boleskine, Invernesshire, Scotland, the brother of Cpl. Thomas Fraser.^[1] He joined the 42nd Highland Regiment on 12 February 1777. This was the highly noted Black Watch who served in the Colonies during the American Revolution and thus are recognized as Loyalists.

At the conclusion of the War the Black Watch were shipped to Halifax, Nova Scotia where they were disbanded and John Fraser was among a large number who were given land grants in 1783. He received Lot 119 of the Campbell grant at Nashwaak Bridge, New Brunswick.

John later enlisted in the 104th Regiment of Foot, serving from 14 January 1805 until 24 August 1809.

Marriage

John married Mary Gillis and moved to the Miramichi near Red Bank, his property on the Nashwaak went to his brother Thomas.^[2] The Nashwaak Bicentennial Association erred when it said John never married. John moved up the Miramichi to Sunny Corner and married a daughter of a large land owner and Inherited his property. It is not known why the Nashwaak property ended up in the hands of his brother Corporal Thomas Fraser. ^[3]

In 1793, he inherited Lot 10 at Sunny Corner from his father-in-law Angus Gillice, and he still owned it at the time of his death some thirty years later. John held a number of parish offices between 1793 and 1814, including those of Inspector of Fisheries, Assessor of Rates and Clerk of the Market. In the former farm of Angus Gillis he had one of the most valuable properties in North Esk, and his assets and liabilities were as follows at the time of his death.

(1 ) Homestead property, Lot 10 (£300)

(2) Second lot (£180)

(3) Half lot (£60)

(4) Meadow lot (£50)

(5) Goods and chattels (£85)

(3 oxen, 4 cows, 1 bull, 1 calf, 3 chains, 1 barrow, 1 butter churn, 1 hoe, 2 pitch forks, 2 scythes, 1 feather bed, bolster and pillow, 4 blankets and curtains, 1 coverlet, 2 pots, 1 pair candle moulds, 2 chests, 2 chairs, 1 table, 1 boring brass, 1 pair of steel yards, 2 books, 2 fans, 1 looking glass, 2 razors, 1 cupboard, 2 barrels of wheat, 1 sieve, wearing apparel) Total £675.

Liabilities

(1) Real estate mortgage (£233)

(2) Other (£109) Total £346

A net worth of £229 was a considerable worth for a North Esk farmer in the 1820s. The will was filed in 1828, and the settlement of the estate which involved the liquidation of sons real estate, was approved by the New Brunswick Executive Council in 1830.

The names of "Ailza (Else) Fraser, John Fraser, James Fraser, Andrew Matchett and Alexander Mullin would appear to have been those of some or all of the surviving heirs by mid-century, according to a land transaction document. However, the suggested composition of the family remains very much theoretical.

Ann's son Alexander, Mary, Abigail and Andrew all acquired portions of John Fraser's Lot 10 at Sunny Corner, while John and James acquired lots, along with their father, in Block Grant 529 in 1810. When James died about 1822, part of his property was acquired by his brother-in-law William Matchett. At the same time, John would seem to have moved elsewhere.

William paid poll taxes from 1837=44; there is little to connect him and Jane to the others, and its is quite possible that they were not children of this family. Jane in particular, could have been a grandchild.^[4]

Mary (Gillis) Fraser was listed as widowed in the 1871 Census of Canada.^[5]

The suggested composition of this family remains very much theoretical according to Arbuckle and Hamilton. The names “Aliza” (Elsie) Frazer, John Frazer, James Frazer, Andrew Matchett and Alexander Mullin would appear to have been those of some or all of the surviving heirs by mid-century, according to a land transaction document.

The children of John Fraser and Mary Gillis appear to be:

973. Ann Fraser born c. 1793 d. 4 June 1858 married Thomas Mullin [1940]. Ann’s son Alexander Mullin acquired a portion of Lot 10 at Sunny Corner.

974. James Fraser d. c.1822 before his father’s death. His heirs acquired a portion of Lot 10 at Sunny Corner.

975. John Fraser living 1823 when his father died. He acquired a portion of Lot 10 at Sunny Corner. He was working for R. P. Whitney in 1861 but he left the parish before 1871, taking the Fraser surname with him.

976. Mary Fraser b. c.1802 living 1871 married William Matchett [1803]. William acquired a portion of Lot 10 at Sunny Corner.

977. Abigail Fraser living 1833 married Robert Alford [25]. Robert acquired a portion of Lot 10 at Sunny Corner.

978. Andrew Fraser d. 1840 married Elsie McKinnon [2486]. Andrew acquired a portion of Lot 10 at Sunny Corner.

979. William Fraser living 1844. William acquired a portion of Lot 10 at Sunny Corner.

980. Jane Fraser b. c.1816 living 1871 married Murdoch Sutherland [3466]. Murdoch acquired a portion of Lot 10 at Sunny Corner.

Research notes

WikiTree comments: Unusual information. Is the following correct? A spouse's birth date (Gillis-864 born 1785) should not be more than 80 years or less than 10 years before the marriage date (1792).

Sources

1. ↑ IBook: 1785-1885 NASHWAAK FAMILIES; Ina MacLaggan., Faye Stewart;Published by Nashwaak Bicentennial Association (1986) ISBN 10: 0969164726 ISBN 13: 9780969164722 submitted by Marilyn Stewart-Evans Stewart-35389
2. ↑ IBook: 1785-1885 NASHWAAK FAMILIES; Ina MacLaggan., Faye Stewart;Published by Nashwaak Bicentennial Association (1986) ISBN 10: 0969164726 ISBN 13: 9780969164722 submitted by Marilyn Stewart-Evans Stewart-35389
3. ↑ 1785 - 1885 Nashwaak Families published by The Nashwaaak Bicentennial Association 1984.
4. ↑ Old North Esk on the Miramichi by W. D. Hamilton, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada (1979) pp. 167-168, 171-172.
5. ↑ 1871 Census of Canada

See Also:

• Family Search