David Thomson (Herd) Hird (1851 - 1949)

Born 25 Sep 1851 in St Vigeans, Forfarshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Jessica Cables Anderson (Nicol) Hird — married 23 Sep 1875 in Arbroath, Scotland

Husband of Margaret Ann (Snaith) Hird — married 16 May 1922 in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

Descendants

Died 25 Sep 1949 at age 98 in Treherne, Manitoba, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile managers: E. Lauraine Syrnick [send private message] and Larry Smith [send private message]

Biography

David (Herd) Hird was born in Scotland.

David Thomson Hird was born to William Hird and Mary Croll (Croall) on 25 September 1851 at St Vigeans, Forfarshire, Scotland^[1]. For some reason his grandfather spelled his name both as Hird and Herd whilst living. His father's name and perhaps his name were spelled as Herd but they definitely spelled it as Hird in Canada.

He left Scotland in 1872 with his mother, brothers and sister. He returned there in 1875 to marry his sweetheart, Jessica Ander Nicol, on 23 December 1875 at Arbroath, Forfarshire^[2].

David T Hird and Jessie Nicol Hird returned to Canada in 1876 aboard the SS CANADIAN arriving in Canada 16 July, 1876. They are shown on the passenger manifest as numbers 9 and 10. He apprenticed as a Jointer (Carpenter) in Scotland, receiving his Journeyman before his marriage.

David married a second time to Margaret Ann Oversby on 28 October 1922. She came from Toft, England.

The photo of David T Hird and his four daughters was taken in 1948 in front of Aunt Devina's house. Sadly, all the adults in the photo are now deceased. It is said that Norman Sr. looked a lot like his Grandfather Hird.

He was a carpenter by trade & helped build the Cairns Mill in MacGregor. He lived in the Rossendale area as a farmer before moving to Treherne, Manitoba. His mother came west with his family and was the first white woman buried in the Rosehill Cemetery. Story is that she was to be buried in MacGregor Cemetery but it had rained so much the gravesite filled up so Grampa decided to bury her in the new Rosehill Cemetery (in a desert area) as he didn't want her body sitting in water. Her husband, William Duncan, who is actually buried in Toronto is marked "in memory" on the stone. Also her granddaughter Parker/Falby is buried next to her. See William Hird's profile for the photo.

He was a carpenter & had made his own coffin which sat in a building at rear of his house. Not sure why but I used to have bad dreams about a coffin not knowing where they came from. My Grandmother Smith told me when I was about 30 yrs, which cured me and I never had the dream again.

Another memory of this great grandfather is: "I was just remembering one time we are at G. G. Hird's house for supper, and if you remember I used to suck my thumb, well the tip of G.G. Hird's thumb had been loped off by an axe, and he told me if I don't stop sucking my thumb, that was what it would look like. Do you remember his wispy thumb? Norman'" This is Norman Jr.

From the History Book on MacGregor "Mr. David Hird was the carpenter who built the mill, and Mr. Wm. McMinn was the millwright."

Found this today which refers to him & his daughter Devina coming out to Manitoba. She told me that they came by river boat down the river from Minneapolis, but the rest of the family came via the CP Railroad later. "Latter part of 1884, mail by railroad from Eastern Canada reached Winnipeg via the CPR". from Historical Diary of Winnipeg. No idea if the story is true as the railroad was through by 1884??

David died on 25 September 1949 at the ripe old age of 98. He was buried in Woodlands Cemetery, Treherne, Central Manitoba^[3].

See his mother's file for details of his first trip to Canada.

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950"; citing Digital film/folder number: 007907983; FHL microfilm: 993506. FamilySearch Record: XB6R-TVF Accessed 3 May 2024
   David Thomson Herd born on 25 Sep 1851, son of William Duncan Herd & Mary Croall, in St Vigeans, Angus, Scotland, United Kingdom.
2. ↑ "Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910"; citing Digital film/folder number: 008098810; FHL microfilm: 363303. FamilySearch Record: XTJB-855 Accessed 3 May 2024
   David Thomson Hird marriage to Jessie Ander Nicol on 23 Dec 1875 in Arbroath, Angus, Scotland, United Kingdom.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146158128/david_thomson-hird: accessed May 3, 2024), memorial page for David Thomson Hird (25 Sep 1851–25 Sep 1949), Find A Grave: Memorial #146158128, citing Woodlands Cemetery, Treherne, Central Manitoba Census Division, Manitoba, Canada; Maintained by Garth Woodward (contributor 48152708).

Marriage Cert No. 165- from Scotland's People 1875, Dec 23rd, Smith ?, Arbroath, Angus banns Church of Scotland sign. David Thomson HIRD, joiner (journeyman), bach., 24, ures. 10 Queen St?, Arbroath f. William Duncan HIRD, labourer, m. Mary HIRD, Ms CROALL sign. Jessie Anderson NICOL, flax mill worker, spin., 23 ures,38 Queen St?, Arbroath f. Alexander Webster NICOLL, flax dresser m. Isabella NICOL, ms. SHAND, decd min. Andrew DOUGLAS wits. David THOMSON & Bryce NICOLL reg.1875, Dec 25th, Arbroath Angus

WIll: Hird David Thompson File 7741, Probate Book 20P, Folio 277 [filed in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba]

Census: 1881 Canada [name is spelled wrong but this is them] David Hurd M Scottish Male 29 Scotland, Farmer Presbyterian Jessee Hurd M Scottish Female 28 Scotland Presbyterian Williiam D Hurd " Male 4 Ontario Presbyterian Mary Goll Hurd " Female 2 Ontari0 Presbyterian [shud b Mary Croll]

Census: 1901 Canada District: MB MacDonald #8 Subdistrict: Northfolk (South/Sud) 1-4 Page 8 Line 23-30 Herd David M Head m Sept 25 , 1851 49yrs Herd Mary F Wife m Jul 6, 1852 48 yrs [records show her b. 1851] Herd Wm D son s Sep 17 1876 24 yrs Herd Mary C F dau s Feb 18 1879 22 yrs Herd Bayen D f dau s Sep 26 1883 17 yrs [shud be Bryce Devina] Herd Alexine C F dau s Oct 26 1888 13 yra Herd Elasta E f dau s Apr 26 1891 9 yrs [This is Elizabeth] Porter, George m lodger sep 19, 1972 28 yrs** NOTE: Gramma is not on this census as at 17 yrs old she was a maid helping out her sister Maggie & Will Smith with a new baby. Maggie is on the list but in her own household with her sister as a maid. George Porter was person who came to Canada as an "Home Child". Not sure how long he was with the family.

1906 Canada Special Census District MB Macdonald District #4 subdistrict 08 "Townships 7, 8, & 9 i n Range 9 West 3 age 12 Schedule 1 Microfilm T 1835 Hird David T Head m m 54 Hird Jessie A wife f m 53 Hird Mary C dau f s 27 Hird Jean J dau f s 20 [my Grandmother whom we called Jessie] Hird Aldina C dau f s 17 [should be Alexine Catherine - known as Kate] Hird Elizabeth A dau f s 14 [Aunt Beth]

Manitoba Census 1901 & 1906 Special Manitoba Vital Stats - 2nd mar. 1922-017008 - Brandon, Manitoba Will from Portage la Prairie & District

http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=776851 This is a book on the area. It starts in the H's with David T Hird & continues with his family.

http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/steamboats/index.shtml

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to E. Lauraine Syrnick for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by E. Lauraine and others