Joseph Nesbitt (abt. 1807 - 1880)

Born about 5 Aug 1807 in County Down, Ireland

Descendants

Died 8 Feb 1880 at about age 72 in Cavan, Durham, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

Joseph Nesbitt was born 5 Aug 1807 in (?Rathfriland) Ireland.

In the 1871 census Joseph (age 70) was recorded as married in Cavan, Durham East, Ontario.^[1]

Joseph farmer married died (age 72) on 8 Feb 1880 in Cavan, Durham, Ontario, Canada Cause of Death Cancer On Hip Finally Sytending To Throat. Reported by George Nesbitt his son Cavan, Durham. ^[2]

He married Mary Jane English

Children

• Mary Jane Nesbitt, born abt. 1832,; died 1915, age 83; married John Jones.
• David English Nesbitt, b. 1836, ; died December 22, 1878, age 36; married July 4, 1862 Isabelle Ann Corry, .

THE GALLOWS.

Execution of D. E. Nesbitt, in Canada.

Lindsay, Victoria County. Ont. (Dec.22), Dispatch to the New York Herald.

To-day there was sent to eternity, with all the solemnity and severity of a private execution within gloomy prison walls, David English Nesbitt, a man in. the prime of life, and physically a splendid specimen of the race, for a murder committed under circumstances of brutality, yet tinged with romance. The crime was committed on. the morning of July 12 last, when Nesbitt, a married man, separated from his wife, met on the streets Sarah Alice Hopwood, with whom he had been consorting. They returned to the residence of her brother, where, after some conversation, in which she refused to go for a walk and said she wanted nothing more to do with him, Nesbitt drew a revolver and fired twice, both shots taking fatal effect.

The tragedy was enacted in a neat cottage in the outskirts of the thriving town, and Nesbitt walked through several streets to a second-class hotel, where he shut himself in a bedroom of the third story, after getting a glass of liquor. He was early discovered, for the news spread like wildfire. When captured, a revolver, with two barrels discharged, was found on his person. He acknowledged to several persons that he did it and must suffer for it.

When tried at the Assizes in November last the evidence against him use overwhelming. The defense was that he was crazed with drink. The evidence showed that he was accustomed to go on sprees for weeks, when be lost all self-control. James O'Reilly, Queen's Counsel from Kingston, made a most eloquent address to the jury in the prisoner's behalf, admitting the crime, but urging the extenuating circumstance of drink and jealousy for a mitigation of the sentence. The jury, after two hours consultation. brought in a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced. Before the sentence was passed he made a long harangue to the Court. asserting his Innocence in most positive terms, declaring that the verdict was most unjust, that the woman had shot herself, and aspersing the character of several prominent residents.

During his confinement he has exhibited no feeling of penitence, but frequently cursed in the most shocking manner, spoke in disgusting terms of women of respectability, and manifested extreme hardihood. A few days previous to his execution he seemed improved, but never became penitent.

He told the Sheriff he would "die like a man," and on the morning of the execution conducted himself according to that idea. He slept well appeared unconcerned, and dressed himself neatly, though plainly. He walked firmly from his cell to the scaffold, ascended the steps with vigorous action, and calmly surveyed the few spectators who had been admitted by ticket. He made a short address, again asserting his complete innocence, calling Judge and jury a set of perjures, and his unfortunate victim a prostitute for her relatives' benefit.

He knelt down without the slightest emotion while the hangman placed over his head the black cap and fixed the fatal noose around his neck. The fifty-first Psalm was then read and the Lord's .Prayer said. At the words "Thy will he done.," a bolt being drawn, he fell 7 feet, and, without a struggle, he hung a lifeless corpse suspended in the air. An application made by Nesbitt's relatives to the Governor of Ontario for his body was refused, and it was interred under the scaffold, within the jail walls. This is the first hanging which has ever taken place in this county or in this section ^[3]

• William Thomas Nesbitt, born 1837, ?.
• George Nesbitt, born March 1838, ; ^[4]died Feb 3, 1918, age 80 in Toronto Canada.
• James English Nesbitt, born 1841, ; died 1912, age 71 in Minden Haliburton Ontario.
• Agnes Elizabeth Nesbitt, born 1841, .
• Joseph Nesbitt, born abt. April 6, 1844, ; died Jan 24, 1938, age 94 Detroit Michigan.
• Margaret Jane Nesbitt, born abt. June 9, 1844, ; died Nov 11, 1921, age 76; married Jan 16, 1864 William Kenyoun, .
• ? Nesbitt, born abt. 1846. Emigration: 1849, Recorded as 2 years old onboard ship
• Samuel English Nesbitt, born Feb 7, 1856, Coburg Northumberland Canada; died May 8, 1940, Spokane Washington age 84.

Census

Siblings possibly

Parents unknown but siblings thought to have been

• i. Richard Nesbitt (1797-1869), born 1796; died Nov 28, 1869; married Elizabeth.
• ii. Thomas Nesbitt, born 1800; died June 9, 1880; married Mary Henry.
• iii. Joseph Nesbitt, ABOVE.

• iv. William Nesbitt, born 1805; died Aug 7, 1878; married Margaret.
• v. James Nesbitt, born 1810; died March 5, 1874.
• vi. Robert Nesbitt, born 1811; married Jane.

Branch DNA

YDNA haplogroup I-FGC21575 unique Nesbitt YDNA

Research Notes

Sources

1. ↑ 1871 Census: "1871 Census of Canada"
   Year: 1871; Census Place: Cavan, Durham East, Ontario; Roll: C-9979; Page: 22; Family No: 84
   
   Joseph Nesbit (70), married in Cavan, Durham East, Ontario. Born in Ireland.

   Name	Age	Status	Sex	Birth Date	Birth Place
   Joseph Nesbit	70	Married	M	1801	Ireland
   Jane Nesbit	62	Married	F	1809	Ireland
   Samuel Nesbit	13		M	1858	Ontario

2. ↑ Death: "Ontario, Canada, Deaths and Deaths Overseas, 1869-1948"
   Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collection: MS935; Reel: 25
   Joseph Nesbett death 8 Feb 1880 (age 72) in Durham, Ontario, Canada.
3. ↑ Chicago Tribune Fri Dec 26 1873
4. ↑ Baptism George English Nesbitt born 03 Oct 1836 and baptised 11 Dec 1836 Church of Ireland Lisnatierney Aghaderg County Co. Down son of Joseph Nesbitt and Jane Witnesses: Francis Mehaffey and ,John Pentleton ,Eliza Wade

See also:

• Find A Grave: Memorial #229181202