John William Spence (abt. 1844 - 1917)

Born about 28 Apr 1844 in Halfway River, Cumberland, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Ann Almira (Pettigrew) Spence — married 1 Aug 1864 in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

Descendants

Died 1 Sep 1917 at about age 73 in Springhill, Cumberland, Nova Scotia, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Wanda Skidmore [send private message]

Biography

According to the 1901 and 1911 censuses of Canada, John was born 28 April 1843. Other censuses, marriage and death records indicate 1844. He was the 3rd son of 8 children. His father was a farmer.

According to his marriage record, John was born at Halfway River about 1844. He married Ann Almira Pettigrew on Aug 01, 1864 at Parrsboro. He gives his age as (20). He is a bachelor, a farmer, residence Halfway River. His parents’ names are not given. His intended gives her age as (19), so it’s possible John fudged a bit on his age, family sources give him a birth year of 1845 or later. ^[1][2]

John and his wife Elmira had 6 sons and 1 daughter. Sometime after their youngest child Ainsley's birth in 1883 but before the 1901 census, they moved to Springhill to work in the new mines there. John continued as a miner the rest of his life. Most of his brothers and brothers-in-law did too, as well as his sons and sons-in-law. All the Spences lived on Aberdeen Street in Springhill, which was considered an extension of Junction Rd. It was nicknamed Spence's Island after a place named Spencer's Island because so many Spences lived there. John was very close to his children.

After his wife died, he lived with his daughter Ellen. Then on 1 May 1902, he married his brother George Francis's widow Angeline.

John died on 1 September 1917 of indigestion, which he had had for 1 week. The information on his death certificate was given by his son Sam. He had outlived Angeline by 3 months. John, Elmira, and their son Ainsley are buried in Springhill Hillside Cemetery under an obelisk.

Various records give his religion as Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Church of England.

For more information, search his name at www.grandmasgrannysfamilyalbum.blogspot.com

Sources

1. ↑ First-hand information as remembered by Wanda Skidmore, Sunday, March 8, 2015.
2. ↑ https://archives.novascotia.ca/vital-statistics/marriage/?ID=12208 (Cumberland County marriage registration at PANS, Year: 1864, Book: 1809, Page: 2, Number: 23)

• "Canada Marriages, 1661-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F2LW-3NG : 5 December 2014), John W. Spence and Ann A. Pettigrew, 01 Aug 1864; citing Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, reference p2 cn23; FHL microfilm 1,298,866.

1871 census of Canada as John W Spence, Mill Village, Cumberland, Nova Scotia District Number 198, Subdistrict l, Division 02

1881 census of Canada as John W. Spence, Mills, Cumberland, Nova Scotia District Number 22, Subdistrict M, Division 1

1891 census of Canada as John Spence, Springhill, Cumberland, Nova Scotia, Enumeration District 30, Page number 147

1901 census of Canada as John W Spence, District Cumberland District Number 30, Polling District No 27, Sub-District Number 2, Dwelling Number 124, Family Number 127

1911 census of Canada as John W. Spencer, District Cumberland, District umber 42, Sub-District 39 - Springhill, Family Number 133

Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics, John W. Spence death at Amherst, Cumberland County in 1917, Death Registration: Year: 1917 book: 39 page: 99 number: 386

Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics, John N. Spence and Angeline Spence married on 1 May 1902 at Parrsboro, Cumberland County Registration: Year: 1902 book: 1810 page: 258 number: 67 (transcription error in Archives John N. Spence should be John W. Spence)