Ancestors of Jean Stewart Nish

Generation No. 1

1. Jean Stewart Nish, born 05 August 1799 in Sorbie, Scotland; died 02 October 1859 in Bathurst Township, Ontario, Canada. She was the daughter of 2. James Nish and 3. Jean Stewart. She married (1) John McConnell 04 August 1825 in Wigtown, Galloway Ihere, Scotland. He was born 01 January 1790 in Scotland, and died 25 April 1872 in South Sherbrook Township, Ontario.

Notes for John McConnell:

John McConnell was probably born in Kirkinner, near Wigtown Scotland on the 1 January 1790. He married Jean Stewart Nish on the 4 August 1825 in Wigtown, Galloway Ihere, Scotland. Jean was born in Sorbie Scotland on the 5 August 1799 to James Nish (born 1760 in Scotland) and Jean Stewart (born 1760).

James was the Chief Steward for a large estate near Wigtown. John and Jean had eight children; Agnes (1826), Helen (Ellen) (1828), James (1830), John (1832), William (1835), Robert (1837), Charles (1839) and Jane (1844).

(Note: Scottish records list a John McConnell born in Kirkinner (located about 3 miles south of Wigtown, Gallowayshire, Scotland and 1 mile north of Sorbie, Scotland) however, the year of his birth is about 10 years earlier than the date of birth listed for John McConnell in Canada.)

John and Jean with their two daughters Agnes and Helen, immigrated to Upper Canada between 1828 and 1830 and lived in South Sherbrooke. Children spread from there to Minnesota, North Dakota, Winnipeg and west. John was a tailor. He had a shop in Perth from his arrival until he left town to farm in South Sherbrooke in 1842. He was successful enough that he advertised for an apprentice in the local paper.

John McConnell became a member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Perth on 23 July 1830. For some reason John and Jean (listed as Jane in the parish record) registered their marriage with the St. Andrew's pastor in 1831. Assuming they were married in Wigtown in a church wedding, perhaps they registered the marriage as proof of good moral character and may have used some documentation of the original marriage in Scotland.

John bought property in Perth in 1831 from Robert Fitzsimmons, a local landowner. John bought a half acre or so of Lot Number 2 on Cockburn Street, adjacent to the Tay River. Nothing remains of the house, the area is now (2001) a private camping ground. Don McConnell obtained a copy of the original bill of sale from the Perth register books with John's signature. Witnesses included a carpenter, another local landowner and a clerk.

John and Jean stayed in Perth at Number 2 Cockburn Street until 1842 when John sold the property back to Robert Fitzsimmons and immediately obtained the 100 acre Lot 20 of Concession 6 in South Sherbrooke Township. Seems Robert Fitzsimmons held Crown Deeds on several lots in South Sherbrooke and retained Lot 19 for his own. The 1842 Census for South Sherbrooke lists John on Concession 6, Lot 21 (Note different Lot) with 9 persons in the household and records that John lived in Perth in 1832. The nine people would have been John and Jean with children Agnes, Helen, James, John, William, Robert and Charles. (Jane was not born until 1844).

John received the Crown Deed for Lot 20 Concession 6 in 1851 when South Sherbrooke was incorporated. Between 1842 and 1868 John purchased several other half lots around Lot 20. The lake in the plat map is now known as McGowan's Lake. A nice place, but the land is not all that great for farming.

The 1851 Census lists the family living on Lot 19, Con 10 in South Sherbrooke Twp, Ontario. In 1861 John lived on Lot 20, Con 7 and James lived on Lot 12, Con 8. John was listed as a farmer. Sons James and John were listed as Laborers.

Jean Nish McConnell died on the 2 October 1859 at age 61 in Bathurst Township, Ontario. John died the 25 April 1872 in South Sherbrooke Township, Ontario at age 84. (James and Jean are buried in the St. Stephens Anglican Church, Bathurst Twp, on Highway 7 west of Perth, Ontario in section B, the old part west side of the gate in plot #51.)

All John's land transferred to William in 1868 under the provisions of John's will. Register for the transfer took place after John's death in 1872. William kept the land until his death in 1905 when it transferred to his wife and daughters, primarily Isabella Jane (Bella Jane).

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JOHN McCONNELL read as follows: To all whom it may concern, know yes that I ?? of the Township of South Sherbrook in the County of Lanark and Province of Canada ?. Being well advanced in years and enjoying sound mind and memory Blessed be Almighty God for such mercy, I do publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in the manner and form following.

First I order my third son William to collect all money that may due to me and to pay all my just and lawful debts that may be owing by me at the time of my demise and to defray all necessary expenses attending my last sickness and funeral.

Secondly, I leave and bequeath to my said son William, all my estate real as well as personal that may be possessed of at the time of my demise with exception of the following personal property which is to be given to his sister Jane.

Thirdly, my son William shall give to his sister Jane one cow and three sheep, one bedstead, one feather bed and bedding for one bed, also a chest of drawers whenever she demand the same. And in the space of five years after my demise, my son William shall pay to his sister Jane one hundred and twenty dollars good and lawful money of Canada but no interest this being her share.

Generation No. 2

2. James Nish, born Abt. 1760 in Scotland. He married 3. Jean Stewart.

3. Jean Stewart, born Abt. 1760.

Child of James Nish and Jean Stewart is: