Josiah Wiggins McGregor (abt. 1822 - 1888)

Husband of Annie Barbara Folkins — married 17 Nov 1847 in Houlton, Maine

Descendants

Died 5 Sep 1888 at about age 66 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

Josiah Wiggins McGregor is born in about 1822 in Maine, United States. It is quite likely that his surname is spelt “McGregory” when he is born and on some records this may even have been shortened to “Gregory.” It is not clear who his parents are, although there is information that points to his ancestry – more on this below.

The first positive identification of Josiah is the US 1850 census record where he is living in Bangor, Maine with his 23-year old wife, Ann (Annie) and his two-year old son, William A. McGregery. The census record spells the surname as “McGregery” and it shows Annie as born in Maine when she was actually born in New Brunswick, Canada. (The Ontario death record and the will of Josiah refer to her as “Annie” which is the name used here.) However there are earlier records. One of these is a family tree that shows that Josiah McGregory married Annie Barbara Folkins in Houlton, Maine on November 17, 1847. Houlton is just across the border from Canada and it is known that Annie Folkins’ brothers used to travel down to the United States for work. Her parents might also have done this as there is evidence that some siblings were born in the United States. However it happened, Josiah and Annie met and were married in Houlton.

The following are the children of Josiah and Annie, with birth years and places of birth shown where known. There are question marks about some of this. The first nine children (names, dates, spelling and places of birth) are from the family bible. The last two are speculative. Annie (c1872-?) and Susan (c1874-?) only show up in one source record: the 1881 census. It is possibly that Annie and Susan are the children of somebody else and, for whatever reason, were living with Josiah and Annie in 1881. Annie is about 54-years old in 1881 which makes her somewhat old to be the mother of seven and nine-year old girls. No further trace of these last two children has been found -- they are not in the 1891 census record and no death records have been located, although there is one faint record that Annie McGregor moved to Toronto and became a dress-maker.

• William Alverns (c1848-c1909), possibly born in Bangor, Maine?

• Lorema (1850-1851), born on December 17, 1850 in Maine

• Josiah (1852-1852), born on April 18, 1852, died on Septmber 20, 1852

• Loantha Elizabeth (1855-1916), born in Milo, Maine (Milo is about 60km N of Bangor)

• Mary K (1857-1857), born on August 26, 1857

• Frank L/T (1860-1861), born January 1860, died August 1861, he may have been born in Brownville, Maine (Brownville is about 60km N or Bangor, and about 8km N or Milo)

• George Benson (1864-1950), born November 17, 1864 in Maine (although one record suggests Ontario)

• John Whitman (1867-1877) born on January 8, 1867 in Ontario (likely in Brougham)

• Orran Pullen (1869-1946) born on October 20, 1869 in Ontario (although other records suggest October 7, 1870 is more likely)

• Annie (1872-?)

• Susan (1874-?)

This list is informative. First it shows that Josiah and Annie moved around – Houlton, Bangor, Milo, Brownville, Brougham, Ontario and finally Toronto. Second, the middle names of Josiah and the children may be clues about Josiah’s origins: “Wiggins,” ”Alverns,” “Benson,” “Whitman,” or “Pullen” may be clues about the surname of Josiah’s ancestors. Third, if the birth place of George Benson is correct, it narrows down the date when Josiah and Anne move to Canada – sometime between 1864 and 1867.

Of the eleven possible children that Josiah and Annie had, there are only five where there is positive identification that they grew past childhood. (Again, there are some unknowns here.)

It is not known what occupation Josiah had when he lived in Maine -- it might have involved wood work of some sort. When the family moves to Canada, they settle in the small village of Brougham in Pickering Township just west of what is now the city of Toronto. Brougham is on Old Brock Road where Highway #7 crosses.

Josiah probably works as a machinist or a carpenter when he lives in Brougham – the 1871 census lists him as an engineer and the 1881 census shows him as a carpenter. A sketch of life in the village of Brougham describes him as a manufacturer of tubs, pails and rakes. But sometime after 1881 he gives up whatever he was doing in Brougham and he and Annie move into Toronto where they operate a small grocery store on Brock Avenue. Josiah dies on September 5, 1888 and he is buried in the cemetery of the Christian Church in Brougham (now a United Church cemetery). Annie carries on the grocery business for a few years in Toronto and then moves back to Pickering Township to live with her daughter, Loantha Phillips. She dies in 1907 and is buried with Josiah.

In his hand written will, August 1888 (a month before he dies), Josiah refers to himself as a “merchant.” He leaves “Annie Barbara McGregor”, furniture and “stock in trade” etc, worth $285 plus the house/store at 279 Brock Avenue which has both a first and second mortgage on it.

While the parents of Josiah are not known, some aspects of his ancestry are. In the summer of 1891 a letter is received by the McGregor family in Brougham, Ontario informing them of the death of an Abel McGregory (1818-1891) in Corinth, Maine. What follows is a partial transcription (the transcription uses the name “McGregor,” while the actual cemetery stone uses “McGregory.”:

“McGregor Abel McGregor died in Corinth Me. July 9, 1891 aged 73 years. Bro McGregor was born in Waterboro Me. Oct. 9, 1918. In 1841 he was married to Miss Hannah Yeaton. Three children were born on this union, two sons and one daughter. [the letter goes on about how Abel joined the Baptist church in 1860 and how his death was “long and painful.”] Truly in the death of Bro McGregor the Church of East Corinth has lost a valued member and the community a highly respected citizen but their loss is his eternal gain. . . . .”

It is certain that Abel McGregor – the family referred to him as either McGregor Abel McGregor or Gregor Abel McGregor – is a relative of Josiah Wiggins McGregor. Possibly they are brothers. If so, the parents of Josiah are Abel McGregory (1765-1840) and Joanna Miller (1772-1850). And while the connections need confirming, this family can be traced back to a John McGregory (c1678-1744) and Hannah Pease -- early settlers in the Enfield-Somers area of Connecticut. [The US 1830 census records for York County, Maine – Waterboro is in York County – show the following three family names: McGregory, Wiggins and Yeaton.]

There is another record that may or may not have anything to do with Josiah Wiggins McGregor. US census records in 1810, 1820, 1840, 1850 and 1860 show a “Josiah Gregory” living in Maine. In three of these census records this Josiah Gregory is living in Corinth. This Josiah was born in 1771. Corinth is about 30 kilometres northwest of Bangor where Josiah Wiggins McGregor is living in 1850. So other than having a first name, Josiah, the same and surnames that are similar – “Gregory” versus “McGregor” or “McGregory,” there does not appear to be a connection between these two individuals. But the fact that both Josiah Gregory (1771>1860) and Josiah Wiggins McGregor (McGregory) (c1822-1888) had connections to Corinth does open up some possible lines of research.

Sources

[1] The files of Barbara Paterson (née Barbara Carolyn Boake 1927-2009): Barbara's extensive notes on the McGregor (McGregory) family were the start of this biography. She was the one who did the research on the Toronto Assessment Roles and she was the one who found the will of Josiah. Barbara (the aunt of the author of this biography) shared her research with R. H. D. (Bob) Phillips (1921-2006) so much of the story about Josiah Wiggins McGregor, and his descendents, can be found on pp 129-147 of Phillips’ 1993 book Our Families Volume 3: Phillips & McGregor Connection in Canada. Bob (Robert Howard Daniel) Phillips was the great grandson of Josiah Wiggins McGregor and Barbara Ann Folkins. Bob Phillips is the one who had in his possession a critical letter written in 1891 – it informed the McGregor family in Brougham, Ontario, about the death of a “McGregor Abel McGregor” in Corinth, Maine (the name on the headstone in the Corinth cemetery is Abel McGregory but family records variously refer to him as “McGregor Abel McGregor” or “Gregor Abel McGregor”). The transcription of the letter shown here is in a letter from Bob Phillips to Barbara Paterson dated Nov 10, 1987. Bob prefaces his transcription with these comments: “The letter about the death of McGregor Abel McGregor is handwritten in pencil, not addressed to anyone nor is it signed or dated.” The transcription contains one spelling error: Corinth has been transcribed as “Lorinth.” The version shown in the text here corrects this.

[2] http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/m/o/o/Dennis-J-Moore/GENE10-0010.html (visited May 2015) User Home Page Genealogy Report: Descendants of JEAN PERLIER “ANNE BARBARA FOLKINS, B. Abt. 1827, PLEASANT RIDGE/KINGS COUNTY/NEW RUNSWICK/CANADA; D. June 04, 1904, BROUGHAM/QUEBEC/CANADA; M. JOSIAH MCGREGORY, November 17, 1847, HOULTON/MAINE.” [Annie Folkins died in Brougham, Ontario]

[3] "United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M6VS-CZZ : accessed 28 December 2014), Wm A Mcgregery in household of Josiah W Mcgregery, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine, United States; citing family 1547, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). The record from the 1850 census shows a Josiah W. Mcgregery (29) living in Bangor Maine. It gives him an estimated birth year in Maine of 1821. His wife, Ann (23) is also shown to have been born in Maine [she was born in New Brunswick]. They have a 2-yr old son, Wm. A. Mcgregory. Living with the family is a 10-yr old Isaac Folkins who was also born in Maine. [This is Issac P. Folkins (1840-1876) who is Ann’s brother.]

[4] family bible: R.H.D. Phillips talked by telephone to a Gerald McGregor in Edmonton. Gerald had the family bible of Josiah and Annie. It lists 9 children; it gives birth years or exact dates for all nine. This is the main source for the first 9 children shown in the text.

[5] "United States Census, 1860," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDHR-RWM : accessed 28 December 2014), Alvarez W McGregor in household of Josiah W McGregor, Brownville, Piscataquis, Maine, United States; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," Fold3.com; citing p. 58, household ID 379, NARA microfilm publication M653, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; FHL microfilm 803,433. The 1860 census record shows Josiah W. McGregor (37) living in Brownville, Maine with his wife, Ann B (33) and his children: Alvarez W [William Alverns] (11), Loantha E [might actually be spelt “Louantha”] (5); Mary K (3) and George H (0). All members of the household were born in Maine [the mother was actually born in New Brunswick].

[6] 1871 census, Ontario, 48 South Ontario, Pickering, pg 20, household 79, lines 3-9: Josiah W. McGregor (49), born in U.S., engineer; Anne (38), born in N.B. [New Brunswick]; William A. (21), born in U.S., engineer ; Louanthe (16), born in U.S.; George (6), born in O [Ontario]; Whitman (4), born in O; Owen (1), born in O. The family’s religion is shown as “Christian” [a spin off from the Methodists]. All family members are labeled “Scotch” except Anne who is Irish [she has no Irish blood in her]. The family’s religion is shown as “Christian.” Two families away – family 81 – is William and Nancy Barnes with their 18-yr old daughter, Jemima. [William Alverns will marry Jemima in 1872].

[7] 1881 census, Ontario, 122 Ontario South, Pickering, pg 28, household 133 [appears to be crossed out and may be household 135], Joseph W. McGregor (59), carpenter; George (16), Orran (11), Anne (9), Susan (7), Ann (54). Joseph [Josiah] & George were born in the US; the 3 other children were born in Ontario; and Ann was born in [appears to be “NW”], All family members are labeled “Scotch” except Ann who is German. The religion of the family is Christian. The only one shown to be married is Joseph [Although the 54-yr old Ann is his wife].

[8] Toronto Assessment Rolls: Josiah W. McGregor is the owner/occupant of a property at 275 Brock Ave. in 1889. The 1890 assessment rolls indicate that Annie McGregor, a grocer, was the owner/occupant of the same property. The 1891 and 1892 rolls show Annie McGregor, a dealer, living at 241 Brock Avenue.

[9] 1891 census, Ontario, 138 West York, St Mark’s Ward, pg 44, household 222 : Annie McGregor (64), widow, born New Brunswick, parents born New Brunswick, retail grocer, religion is Christian; George B. (26), born US, father born US, [occupation looks like lensmith], religion is Methodist; Oran P. (21), born Ont, painter, religion is Baptist; Jennie McCone (23), [under relationship to head of household there is an “l” which presumably stands for lodger], born Ont., father born [not legible but it is not Ontario or the USA], no occupation shown, religion is Methodist.

[10] “Brougham United Church Cemetery (Early Christian Church) Conc 5 Lot 19 Pickering Township” A Genealogical Reference Listing by the Whitby/Oshawa Genealogical Society. The cemetery map shows J.W. McGregor in plot 43. The listing shows Annie B., John W. & Josiah W. McGregor at 134. And the transcription of the gravestone reads: “Side 1 - McG // Josiah W. McGregor/ died/ Sept. 6, 1888/ in his/ 67th year/ also his wife/ Annie B./ died/ June 4th 1907/ in her 81st year/ Gone but not forgotten/ McGregor/ Side 2- McG// John W. / son of/ J.W. & A.B. McGregor/ died Sept. 24, 1877/ in his 11th year/ Budded on year to/ bloom in heaven/ Side 3 – McG/ Side 4 Mcg/ Markers John, father, William, mother”

[11] 1891 http://www.findagrave.com. In Find A Grave Memorial# 43706151, created by Stuart Strout Woodside S, there is a photo of the gravestone for Abel McGregory (1818-1891). The record shows the spouse as Hannah Yeaton (1819-1912) and the parents as Abel McGregory (1765-1840 & Joanna Miller (1772-1850). It also lists 3 children (Frank, Charles & Helen) and two of Abel’s siblings (Laura & Lucy). There is no mention of a brother by the name of Josiah Wiggins.

[12] 1901 census, Ontario, 99, Ontario West, Pickering, pg 4-5, household 43: Robert Phillips (45), born Jul 29, 1855, Loantha (45), born Jan 23, 1956; Russell F. (19), born Jan 20, 1882; Carrie M. (17), born Nov 14, 1883; Whitman H. (14), born May 26, 1886; Katie F. (13), born Jan 31, 1888; Ina L. (9), born Mar 15, 1892; Annie McGregor (74), mother in law, born Mar 3, 1827. Robert, Loantha and all the children are “Scotch.” Annie was born in New Brunswick, she is German. The religion of everyone in the household is Christian. Loantha was born in the US [it appears to read “Maine, US”] and she entered Canada in 1866. It is not possible to read the occupation of Robert Phillips, however Russell F. is shown as “F. son” which probably means “farmer’s son”.

[13] Wood, William R., Past Years in Pickering : Sketches Of The History Of The Community 1911 “Among the wood and iron workers of the sixties and seventies may be mentioned Alex. Skene, carpenter; the Gerows, carpenters and pumpmakers ; William Dows- well, wagonmaker ; William Spencer, who is said to have turned out from his shop as many as thirteen finished wagons in a season; George Bundy, joiner, cabinet- maker and undertaker, and J. W. McGregor, manufacturer of tubs, pails, rakes, etc”