Zaccheus Churchill (1787 - 1861)

Born 23 Feb 1787 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Lower Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Rose) Churchill — married about 1809 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada East

Descendants

Died 23 May 1861 at age 74 in Ohio,Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Dominion of Canada

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Biography

Zaccheus was born about 1787. He passed away in 1861. He had 6 children with Susannah Rose. Name spelling changed to conform with a letter he had written and signed; (ref. file of his son Nathan). Early in their marriage they must have lived around the Milton or Lake Milo area as he had a business at the head of the harbour. Zaccheus Churchill was one of the three Churchill brothers who were the early permanent residents of Darling's Lake. They were all well known farmers in Yarmouth Township Line in the early 1800s and did much to improve their lands and encourage settlement in the area. Yarmouth History, A Sequel to Campbells History by George S. Brown qoutes on page 187 that " he was a trusty surveyor." His house, built circa 1815, is the only original Churchill home built by one of the three brothers that is still standing. Zaccheus and his wife Susanna are buried in the Churchill Cemetery at Dayton, on the Brooklyn Road, Yarmouth Co., along with other members of the Churchill family. Today, a large number of their descendants reside in Yarmouth County. 1809 - He lived in Darling's Lake Yarmouth Co. N.S.. His original house is still standing to the west across the road from the Churchill Mansion. Later it was known as 'The Caretaker's Farm ' for the Churchill Mansion. It is now called ' Windmill Farm '.it is clear that he owned other properties between Darling's Lake, Cheggogin Lake and High Head Lake as per deeds recorded in the family group history. It was also clear by deed transfer that he was in partnership with others at the head of Yarmouth harbour , 1810 - Yarmouth Township Grants of 1787 , Book F, page 217: 11 Jun 1810; registered July 1810; type - deed; grantor - Ephriam Churchill; grantee - Zaccheus Churchill; additional names - James Robbins, William Haskins, Ruben Richardson; witnesses - Benjamin Bernard, Samuel J Pool; comments - 250 acres, lot # 87, Second Division, between stream of Jeggogin and Lake Darling and lots of Robbins, Merrithew and Haskell; lot originally alloted to Pease and Richardson. 1814 - Yarmouth Township Grants 1787, Book I, page 52 - 02 May 1814; Zaccheus Churchill and Cornelius Van Norden sold interest by deed 108 rods, west side of road on west side of Cape Forchu River at the harbour, begins at corner of Strickland garden and adjacent Landers property, harbour and road. 1816 - Yarmouth Township Grants, Book L, page 124 - 21 Oct 1816, registered 1817; type - deed; grantor - Edward Harris; grantees - Zaccheus Churchill and Nathaniel Churchill; additional name - Sealed Landers; mentioned - Elkenah Bent; witnesses - William Harris Sr. and Thomas Churchill; 150 acres, N/W side of High Head Lake beginning at narrows between the two lakes, to the seashore, by seashore to the original property of Landers now in possession of Bent. 1818 - Yarmouth Township Grants of 1787 , Book L, page 249 - 26 Jun 1818; registered Jul 1818; type - deed; grantor - Nathan Brown of Groton, MA; grantee - Zaccheus Churchill, yeoman; additional names - Issac Killam, heirs of James Brown; witness - Miner Huntington; mentions - Elisha Eldridge and Isaac Killam; comments - 1/2 second division lot # 139 ( Eldridge ) lying between Jeggogin Lake and Allen's Lake subject to division with heirs of James, 1/2 lot = 120 acres. 1818 - YarmouthTownship Grants of 1787, Book L, page 252 - 26 Jun 1818, registered Jul 1818; type - deed; grantor - Zaccheus Churchill; grantee - John Brown and others; comments - my right in track at head of Cape Forchu Harbour, with store and buildings occupied by John Brown, w/wharf and my 1/10 share bought from Van Nordeen and Landers, reserving lot # 5 of the companies division made 01 Jun 1817/ market and wharf. 1820 - Yarmouth Township Grants 1787, Book M, page 206 - 28 Mar 1820; registered 28 Mar 1820; type - deed; grantors - Zebina Shaw, Zachariah Chipman, Alexander Bain Jr., James Jenkins; division of property to several grantees - to Zaccheus and Susannah Churchill - 2nd. division # 139 ( in book L page 249 ) subject to division with James Brown heirs; Zaccheus and wife to have 170 rods on west line of lot; 1/3 of land between Allen's Lake and Geggogin Lake River; if there is land in the north side of Allen's Lake it is to be divided between the two parties. 1827 Census - shows 9 in the family as of 1827; 5 males, 3 females and 1 male servant; he was involved in agriculture; he was Baptist; there were no births, deaths or marriages in the family in the 12 month period prior to Oct. 1 1827. 1826 - The Churchill Cemetery, Book of Proprietors - He is listed as the owner of the cemetery, Book S page 79, from 02 March 1826 to 01 Dec 1826 when he turned it over to his son, Zaccheus Jr. It also states he was a teacher/surveyor. 1834 - About 1834, at age 47, he sold his property to his brother Rufus and moved to Kemptville, Yarmouth Co., NS. He taught school and later was appointed government surveyor of land. * His grandfather Zaccheus had been a surveyor in Plymouth Mass. He took over the ownership of the family cemetery in Brooklyn, Yarmouth Co., from his brother William in 1826. 1838 - The 1838 census shows his name as Zachriah, he was a farmer; the family consisted of 4 males over 14, 1 female over 14 for a total of 5. 1861 - He was buried with his wife Susanna at the old Churchill Cemetery on the Brooklyn Rd., at Dayton, Yarmouth Co., N.S. 1887 - In 1887 his son Stephen's marriage certificate states he had been a farmer.

Zaccheus Churchill House

MICROFICHE REFERENCE NUMBER: 66-m STREET ADDRESS: 47 Old Post Road CITY/TOWN/VILLAGE: Darling's Lake MUNICIPALITY: Yarmouth COUNTY: Yarmouth YEAR BUILT: c. 1815 PRESENT OWNER: Steven J. and Tracey L. Giordani: ADDRESS: 47 Old Post Road: ORIGINAL OWNER: Zaccheus Churchill SOURCES: Registry of Deeds/ Probate; Minutes of the General Sessions of the Peace, April, 1815, October, 1815; Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, by G.S. Brown, (1888); Historical Trails, by High Hopes Senior Citizens Club, (1985); N.S. Census, 1827, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891; BUILDER: unknown ORIGINAL USE: single family dwelling PRESENT USE: single family dwelling

CONTEXTUAL COMMENT: West side of Old Post Road, opposite Churchill Mansion. Many interior renovations. Landmark site, presently known as "Windmill Farm." In 1937, after the settlement of Lois Churchill's estate, the sun porch, bay window and back entry porch/ shed were added and the first story windows were changed.

HISTORY OF BUILDING OWNERS: FROM: TO: OCCUPATION: BOOK PG: Zaccheus Churchill June 14, 1810 Dec. 9, 1834 Farmer F 217 Rufus Churchill, Sr. Dec. 9, 1834 Jan. 2, 1853 Carpenter / Ship Builder V 421 David Churchill, Sr. Jan. 2, 1853 Jan. 3, 1854 Carpenter AF 300 Joseph Raymond, Sr. Jan. 3, 1854 Jan. 14, 1858 Carpenter AG 133 Vincent Harris Jan. 14, 1858 Jan. 25, 1875 Farmer AI 44 Tabitha Harris Jan. 25, 1875 Jan. 1, 1878 Widow of Vincent N/A Henry C. Churchill Jan. 1, 1878 n/a Carpenter BP 263 Joseph E. Crosby n/a, n/a Manufacturer CQ 131 Alice Jane Harris n/a Aug. 28, 1893 Single Woman CR 144 George Hicks Aug. 28, 1893 May 10, 1905 Farmer CO 809 Lois Churchill May 10, 1905 July 14, 1927 Married Woman CR 145 Lotta C. Rainey July 14, 1927 May 24, 1971 Married Woman DX 563 Citizens and Southern National Bank May 24, 1971 Aug. 25, 1972 Executor and Trustee of Estate of Latta C. Rainey Estate # 4772 Phillip Chiarenza Aug. 25, 1972 c. 1983 Businessman IE 418 Jean Chiarenza, et al c. 1983 Mar. 28, 1984 Heirs-at-Law of Phillip Chiarenza N/A Alton P. Goodale and Clarence L. Robbins Mar. 28,1984 Nov. 30, 1985 Policeman (retired) & Farmer OG 474 Mary Amy Walsh Nov. 30, 1985 Aug. 11, 1986 n/a 410/944 Mary A. Alton P. Goodale Aug. 11, 1986 May 15, 1997 n/a 419/995 Bazil T. Pero May 15, 1997 July 18, 1997 Sheriff S.Y. No.4796 Toronto Dominion Bank July 18, 1997 Sept. 26, 1997 n/a 557/612 Steven J./ Tracey L. Giordani Sept. 26. 1977

Description of Property: The Zaccheus Churchill House is a one-and-a-half storey Maritime Vernacular style house built circa 1815 in the rural community of Darling's Lake, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia. It was built for, and possibly by, Zaccheus Churchill a farmer, one of three brothers who were the first permanent residents of this community. Municipal heritage designation applies to the house and the large lot on which it is situated.

Heritage Value: The Zaccheus Churchill House is valued for its historical associations with Zaccheus Churchill, its original owner, and with later Churchill family members whose ownership continued until 1971. It is also valued for its simple Maritime Vernacular architecture and its location on a large hilltop lot.

For a number of years this house was occupied by John Churchill, who did not own the property but lived here year-round, in the capacity of caretaker for the Churchill Mansion across the road, which was owned by Capt. Aaron Flint Churchill. In 1905 Capt. Churchill's wife, Lois, (also a Churchill by birth), bought this property and retained ownership until 1927 when she deeded it to a niece. After the niece's death in 1971 the property was sold out of the family. The Vernacular architecture of the Zaccheus Churchill House is exemplified by the simple, clean lines of its wood frame construction and cladding, it's rectangular massing and its medium pitched gable roof with central chimney. The house is situated on a very large hilltop lot, which extends from the Old Post Road east of the house to the shore of Allen?s Lake, on the west. This site overlooks the entire surrounding community and has views for several kilometres in all directions. Source: Registered Heritage Property files: Zaccheus Churchill House; located at the Heritage Office, 400 Main Street, Yarmouth, NS, B5A 1G2

1881 - His son Stephen's marriage certificate to his second wife, Julia Phillips, states he was a farmer.

Sources

• The Nova Scotia Churchills , by GeorgeR Churchill; Copyright - June 2008; registration # 1059094; printed by Gaspereau Press, Kentville, NS; ISBN # 978-0-9867403-0-5.
• Churchill Family in America by Gardner Asaph Churchill, Nathaniel Wiley Churchill, and George M Bodge, editor; 1904 publication by the family. https://archive.org/details/churchillfamilyi01chur
• Yarmouth Township Grants, repository - Yarmouth Co. museum.
• 1838 Census of Canada, repository - (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.