Let's look at the most recent immigrants from other countries in our family.
Here are the answers to part of our family immigration quiz.
1.) Two of Grampy's great-grandparents were born in another country. Which country? One lived until Grampy was 4, the other until he was 18. Answer: Canada, both from Nova Scotia. They were:
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| Joseph H. Jessome |
Joseph Henry Jessome (1866-1946) a French-Canadian Catholic, came from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, probably by steamship, one of the many who came to "the Boston states" to work in New England mills. He worked, married and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in Portsmouth, NH. His daughter Caroline Jennette "Carrie" Jessome (adopted name Alice Caroline Berry) was Grampy's grandmother.
His obituaryThe death of Joseph H. Jessome occurred at an early hour on Sunday morning, Aug 4, 1946, in St. Anthony's Home, Sydney. The late Mr. Jessome was 79 years of age and had previously resided at Bras d'Or. He was the last living member of his family, and his death is deeply mourned by a host of friends.
He is survived by two sons, Charles in Nahant, USA, and Hadley in Maine, USA; also three daughters, Mrs. W.A. Smith (Frances), Mrs. Eben Pike (Alice) and Mrs. Clifford Packard (Estelle), all in Maine. The funeral was held from the residence of his niece, Mrs. V.W. Day, Bras d'Or, internment in St. Joseph's cemetery. Requiem Mass was celebrated by Rev. F.R. O'Deedee, missionary. Pall bearers were Leslie, Joseph and Gordon Day, Dan Serroul, J. Jessome and G. Nugent.
Many mass cards, floral bouquets and letters of sympathy testified in a small way the high esteem in which the late Mr. Jessome was held. His two sons, and daughters Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Pike were present for the funeral.
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| Joseph's children at funeral: Frances Smith, Alice Pike, unknown NS cousin, Hadley, Charles |
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| Martha (Curry) Swan Pike | |
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Martha Susan (Curry) Swan Pike (1867-1960) was Irish, from Hants Co., Nova Scotia. Her father was Catholic and her mother was Methodist. She came by steamship to Boston and worked as a domestic servant for a family in Concord, MA. She married twice, lived in Maine, and the son from her 2nd marriage, Eben Francis Pike, was Grampy's grandfather.
Her obituary The Norway (ME) Advertiser Democrat: Mrs. Martha C. Pike, 92 years of age, widow of Edward Pike, died Jan 7, 1960 at her daughter Lena Buck's home after a long illness. She was a native of Falmouth, Nova Scotia, daughter of John and Agnes (Lunn) Currie. Survivors are 2 daughters, Mrs. Agnes Lowe, Greene, ME, and Mrs. Linwood Buck, West Paris; a son Ernest Swan, San Diego, CA; 2 stepdaughters, Viola Marshall, Elsanor, CA and Minnie Churchill, West Paris, ME; a sister Elizabeth Ward, Hantsport, Nova Scotia; a half-sister Fanny Watson of Standish; also 21 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren. She was buried Jan 9th from the Andrews and Son Funeral Home, South Woodstock. Burial took place at Wayside Cemetery, West Paris.
2.) Three of my father's (George G. Nickerson) grandparents were born in other countries. Can you name the country? (Extra credit for naming the Province.)
Answer: Canada (New Brunswick) They were:
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| Kate (Cunningham) Nickerson |
Catherine "Kate" (Cunningham) Nickerson (1850 -1888) was the Catholic daughter of an Irish immigrant from County Fermanagh. She died at age 37, leaving 3 young children. One of them, Herbert O. Nickerson, was my grandfather.
Alexander Donald McDougal (1839-1922) moved to Maine as he told a grandson, "when I was a little boy going to school." His obituary says he was born in Maine. His family moved around in the area, and he was born a few years before the Maine/New Brunswick border line was finally settled, so we don't know for sure. His grandfather, sent to Canada as a British Army bagpiper during the Revolutionary War, was a Scottish Highlander from Argyle, Scotland.
"Sandy" was a Sergeant in the Cavalry in the Civil War, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Post No. 61, and Frontier Lodge No. 112, Free and Accepted Masons. He was also a Republican and a member of the Congregational Church.
His obituaryFort Fairfield (ME) Review March 22, 1922: Alexander McDougal -- Death in Fort Fairfield Monday Forenoon of One of Fort Fairfield's Oldest and Finest Citizens -- Funeral This (past) Wednesday.
Alexander McDougal, probably the (next 3 words illegible) of Fort Fairfield, died Monday (illegible) March 20 at 11 a.m. o'clock, after poor health of some two weeks, ending with two or more days of pneumonia. The funeral was held at the (illegible) house, Lower Village, at 1:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Rev. Wall, D.D., pastor of the Methodist church, officiated. The funeral was in charge of Eastern Frontier Lodge No. 112, Free & Accepted Masons, of which the deceased man had been an honored member for more than a third of a century, and of Walter Lovely Post No. 27 American Legion, the members of which most reverently paid respect to one of the last remaining veterans of the great American civil war.
There was no music. The floral offerings were very numerous and extremely beautiful. The pall-bearers were: W.S. Davidson, J.M. Thurlough, H.D. Stevens, F.O. Osborne, H.W. Perry and O.S. Ginn.
Eastern Frontier Lodge marched in a body to the house, thence to Riverside cemetery, escorted both ways by a firing squad of Walter Lovely Post American Legion. The beautiful Masonic service was finely given in the cemetery by Worshipful Master H. G. Sawyer, and a volley from the firing squad closed the solemn ceremony.
Mr. McDougal was born in a log house on what is now the Leonard S. Kinney farm, north side of Aroostook River, Fort Fairfield, Jan 27, 1839, and therefore more than 83 years old at his death. He was a son of the late Alexander and Susan McDougal. His whole life, except during the time of his service in the civil war, was lived in his native town.
At President Lincoln's first call for volunteers at the beginning of the civil war Mr. McDougal, then only 22 years of age, gladly answered, "Here am I." He became a member of Company K, of the famous First Maine Cavalry, and served during the whole four years of the war, being therefore in many of the greatest battles. It is a matter of common knowledge and town pride that Mr. McDougal was one of the most finely drilled soldiers and one of the best warriors that went to the great struggle from Aroostook County. Indeed, he had the reputation of being a thoroughly excellent soldier - industrious, obedient, willing and brave, and ever ready to do his full share and take pride not only in his own achievements but in those of his company and his regiment.
Mr. McDougal was married August 31, 1865,to Miss Mary Ann Fisher, the ceremony taking place in Fort Fairfield. Mrs. McDougal survives her husband. Nine children were born of this union, three of which died when young. The six survivors are: Allen J., Fort Fairfield; Louise E., Mrs. D. Arthur Foster, Limestone; Mrs. Stella Perry, widow of the late Chadbourne W. Perry, Fort Fairfield; Florence, Mrs. Herbert O. Nickerson, Fort Fairfield; Aubra S., Waterville. All of these children were present during the last days and at the funeral of their venerated father.
Of course Mr. McDougal later became one of the most prominent members and officers of Kilpatrick Post, No. 61, Grand Army of the Republic, with headquarters at Fort Fairfield, of whom only three are now left -- Richard Harmon and John L. Rodgers of Fort Fairfield, and S. Otis Reynolds of Caribou, the last frail remnants of a brave but broken band. A number of times Mr. McDougal was commander of the Post, also holding other prominent offices in it during the years.
It would be difficult to imagine how a man could be a much finer citizen than was Mr. McDougal -- industrious, honest, brave and loyal to principles and friend, unselfish and always cheerful, neighborly and kindly. His children, his neighbors, and all his old friends and acquaintances will remember him as an honor to his manhood and to every interest with which he identified himself.
Soldier, rest! Thy warfare o'er, sleep the sleep that knows no breaking,
Dream of battlefields no more.
Days of danger, nights of waking, soldier, rest! Thy warfare o'er,
Dream of fighting fields no more.
Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking, morn of toil, nor night of waking.
No rude sound shall reach thine ear, armor's clang or war-steed champing,
Trump nor pibroch summon here, mustering clan or squadron tramping,
Ruder sounds shall none be near, guards nor warders challenge here.
Here's no war-steed's neigh and champing, shouting clans or squadrons stamping.
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| "Sandy" and Mary Ann, 50th anniversary, 1915 |
Mary Ann (Fisher) MacDougal (1845-1022) born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, the daughter of English immigrants, she came to Maine as a young girl. A member of the Congregational Church, she was the mother of 11 children (her husband's obituary says 9, not counting 2 infants who died at or soon after birth). Five died young, 3 from diphtheria (a contagious disease causing swollen glands and sore throat. Epidemics used to sweep through towns, killing many children, usually several at a time in a family). My grandmother, Mary Ann's 10th child, was born after 5 of her older brothers and sisters had died.
We'll save the rest of the answers for next time.
1919: My mother, Dorothy (Trout) Nickerson (1919-2003) in her baby carriage, in Buffalo, NY, where she was born on an Army Post just before her father was discharged from WW I service.
