THE ANCESTRY And HISTORY of the BLACKHALL FAMILY in CANADA

James Blackhall

James Blackhall came to this continent from Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1812. He landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia to work for the firm of Gilmour and Rankin.

In 1817 he came to the Bay of Chaleur first to Miscou, New Brunswick and then to the Lead of Restigouche three summers later in 1820. Mabel Blackhall de St. Croix, granddaughter of James Blackhall told us that he traveled overland from Fredericton. He came as a land surveyor for the New Brunswick government of land grants made to settlers in that area. In a letter written by his oldest son, James George Canning Blackhall, to Dr. Ganong of St. John, New Brunswick in 1906, he mentions that his father James Blackhall had been appointed Justice of the Peace for Caraquet in 1821 adding that he was the first Justice of the Peace, customs officer and postmaster in Caraquet.

James Blackhall built the first frame house in Caraquet in 1822. That house stood on its original site until 1975, when, following attempts by the local historical society, La Sociètiè Historique Nicolas Denys, to have it preserved on its original site failed, it was removed to the Historical Acadian Village near Caraquet. It was bought, dismantled piece by piece and restored and saved as a historical building. It was restored as it was in the period from 1822 to 1875 at a cost of $80,000. Members of the Blackhall families have visited the Acadian Village and were pleased with the restoration. (See notes in research information and correspondence)

James Blackhall’s Birthplace in Scotland

From the last research findings it is believed that James Blackhall was baptized in the Parish of Kemnay, County of Aberdeen, Scotland, February 21, 1793, the son of Robert Blackhall and Isobel Reid. Some later research correspondence from Scotland received in 1989 mentions the existence of a baptism certificate, which indicated that he was an illegitimate child from an adulterous encounter. James was given up for adoption or as a foster child but to whom is unknown. He may have been raised by his father and stepmother but this is not known. Details of the church session entries on this story were recently received from Duncan Downie,who lives in the parish of Kemnay and has been interested in the Blackhall history for many years.

He married Mary Sinnet of Cork (or Wexford) Ireland on October 27, 1826 in the Parish of Saumarez, County of Northumberland, New Brunswick. Judge P. Dumaresq performed the marriage. Mary Sinnet was Roman Catholic and James Blackhall was Presbyterian. At that time the County of Northumberland included much of the northeastern section of the province. It was later divided. Gloucester County was created in 1826; New Bandon and Caraquet were set off as separate parishes from Saumarez in 1831.

Mary Sinnet had come from Ireland with a boatload of settlers that became winter-bound in Caraquet. The family of Mary Sinnet and James Blackhall were brought up Protestant. They learned their catechism and memorized passages of the Bible at length. Mother has often said that her father, Richard Blackhall, could quote the Bible at length. However Mary Sinnet Blackhall was buried in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Caraquet and not with her husband James, who was buried in the New Bandon Presbyterian cemetery in 1857. There was no Protestant church in Caraquet until 1875. Further research on Mary Sinnet was not successful.

Children of Mary Sinnet and James Blackhall

There were seven children, four boys and three girls:

James George Canning, born January 17, 1827 married Eliza Gordon Doran of Shippegan February 6, 1860. He died May 21, 1910. He succeeded his father as postmaster in 1856 and also became Justice of the Peace and Customs Collector. He brought his bride to the family home and farm where his mother and younger members of the family still lived. They had eight children, four boys and four girls.

Mary born in 1829 married a widower, Thomas Kerr of Pokeshaw, N.B. They had ten children. This was his second marriage.

Robert went to the United States and no further information is available.

Jane Esther, born December 2, 1840 married Robert Nixon and lived in the area and later at Maisonnet Point. They had two children, James and Mary Blanche (Minnie).

Richard Thomas born May 10, 1842 married Blanche Kerr, the stepdaughter of his sister Mary (above). They had six children.

Helen married John Sewell. They migrated to the United States. They had five daughters but no sons. All married in the United States. Mother had all their married names and addresses. These are listed on the family sheet. At one time one daughter was in touch with relatives in Canada to learn about their Canadian roots. We have lost track of their families. We have a picture of Helen sent to her brother Richard and his wife Blanche taken by a photographer of Owatonna, Minn. U.S A. and dated June 24, 1895.

John left Caraquet as a young man. No further information is available as there did not seem to be any communication with his family after he left.

The Blackhall House

James Blackhall built his house into the side of a hill so that the terrain offered natural protection from the Northwest winds. It was built in 1822 and it was the first frame house built in Caraquet. Mr. Fidele Therialt of the historical society, who was doing some research on the Acadians and the early history of Caraquet, considered that it should have been declared a historical building and left on the original site. This had not been done and the property had been sold to developers who planned to build a shopping complex. It was urgent therefore to do something quickly in order to preserve the house and it was moved to the Acadian Village. When Mr. Clarence LeBreton, the chief curator of the Acadian Village, went to Scotland to do research on the Blackhall family in 1976 he learned that the Blackhall house in Caraquet was a similar type of dwelling as built by the tenant farmers and crofters in Scotland at that period.

Mr. LeBreton has written a sociological paper of the input of the Blackhall family on the Acadian Village of Caraquet. One has also to consider the sociological impact on the Scot and Irish immigrants who settled in that part of New Brunswick whose first settlers were Acadians and of their life together in such a community. The administrators of the Acadian Village have inquired if it were possible to locate and obtain any of the original pieces of furniture that were in the James Blackhall home.

Mr. LeBreton also located the registration for the baptism of a James Blackhall in the parochial Register of Kemnay, County of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Opening of the New Post Office in Caraquet in 1975

When a plaque was unveiled for the opening of the new Post Office in what is now the town of Caraquet, it marked 134 years of postal service in Caraquet. On the plaque were listed the names of the post masters beginning with James Blackhall 1841 to 1856, James G.C. Blackhall 1856 to 1900, Hughes Landry 1900 to 1907 and others to 1961. During that ceremony, James Blackhall was described as an well-educated public servant that came to Caraquet from Halifax as a young man. He and his eldest son James G.C. both farmed as well.

When three of James Blackhall’s great granddaughters visited the Caraquet museum in 1966 (in its original location), we discovered a desk used by James G.C. Blackhall in the original post office building in the 1800’s. It has postal rates for the period posted on the inside of the desk.

 James married late in life to Annie Sewell and lived in our grandfather’s house in Caraquet, which he had bought. They had two daughters, Janet and Hughanna. Hughanna married an air pilot and went to live in Dunham, Quebec.

James Nixon is buried in the Presbyterian cemetery in New Bandon next to his mother and grandfather Blackhall. His wife Ann Esther Sewell Nixon lived after his death with her daughter Hughanna, Mrs. H. Macdonald at Dunham, Quebec. She died May 28, 1965 at the age of 90. Hughanna attended our brother Kenneth’s funeral in Sutton, Quebec in 1988. They had worked together on the Sutton-Dunham United Church official board.

Helen Blackhall we think that she was the next in age. She married John Sewell then they went to the United States. We have a portrait of her sent to her brother Richard and his wife Blanche. The date on it is June 24, 1895 and the studio name is Heinzelman in Owatouna, somewhere in the United States. They had five daughters, Jennie, Sadie, Annie, Charlotte and Emily. One of them wrote at one time asking for family information and gave all their married names and addresses.

John Blackhall we were told that both he and his older brother Robert went to the United States after their father’s death and were not heard from. It was thought that John was drowned at sea.

Richard Thomas Blackhall, my grandfather, the youngest son of James Blackhall and Mary Sinnet, was born May 10, 1842 in Caraquet. Our grandmother, Blanche Little Kerr was born in Pokeshaw September 14, 1842. They were married November 23, 1868 and lived in Caraquet.

Richard Blackhall was the only son to remain in Caraquet and he tried in several ways to make a living there. At one time, he was engaged in commercial shipping between Halifax and the Bay Chaleur. In 1883 he had a contract with the Ministry of Public works of Canada to build a breakwater in the Caraquet harbour.

He and his wife Blanche kept paying guests in their home, mainly commercial travelers, and rented them what was known as a sample room in which to display goods to local merchants. They had a very small farm running from the highway to the shore. A small shopping and business centre is now located on that site and the house demolished. The house had been sold to James Nixon when he married Annie Sewell.

At one period in his life Richard Blackhall had a fleet of lobster boats. This fleet and some of the fishermen that worked on these boats were lost at sea in a very bad storm. All of Richard’s possessions were auctioned to pay for his losses and to the families of the fishermen that were drowned. He lost his business, his property was mortgaged, and his horses, carriages, etc. were all sold. The property was finally reclaimed with the help of his sons Irving and Howard. Peter Fiott held the mortgage.

All his younger sons went to work quite young. Only the eldest son Robert had the advantage of an education when he was sent to school in St. John, New Brunswick. The other boys and Mabel went to the public school when it was established. Mabel said she went to grade seven. Prior to that the Blackhalls had a private school for a short time.

Howard told his nephew Austin that his father Richard’s boats went to Quebec City and as far as Montreal. We know that he went to Halifax by sailing ship for we have in our home a Duncan Fhyfe sofa that he bought in Halifax and brought back to Caraquet as well as a paisley throw, a gift to his wife Blanche.

Irving and Howard told of their sailing near Caraquet and of once when their boat capsized they swam to shore. Irving being the stronger swimmer helped Howard by having him on his back.

Richard Blackhall liked to drink, but he was not an advanced alcoholic. His daughter would help him to bed when she was a girl at home and his wife Blanche never reprimanded him. Mabel, when she married, and her husband agreed never to have alcohol in their home. Mabel was impressed by her father’s meticulous habits. He never sat down to a meal without cleaning his beard and moustache etc. She also spoke of his wit. She helped nurse him the winter he was ill of a heart condition. He died that year on March 28, 1904. His wife Blanche went to live with Mabel her daughter, when she married Nicholas de St. Croix on November 26, 1906. Blanche moved with them when Nicholas and Mabel went to Vancouver in 1912. She died there suddenly on March 2, 1913 and was brought back to Caraquet for burial.

Family of Richard Thomas Blackhall and Blanche Kerr:

Robert Young Alexander;Sept. 27, 1869;Aug. 7, 1948

Thomas Irving;Mar. 7, 1873;Feb. 5, 1953

Artimes John;July 22, 1875;Dec. 1966

Richard Howard;April 15, 1878;March 6, 1963

William Percy;Sept. 4, 1880;Dec. 30, 1924

Mabel Helen;Feb. 7, 1883&;Jan. 11, 1964

Richard Howard, the fourth son of Richard and Blanche’s family always wished that he had been given the name of his father Richard instead of Howard. As a young man, when he first left Caraquet, Howard went to his mother’s elder sister Jane Kerr McGee in Bradford; Ontario and some of the other Blackhall boys may have gone there too. Aunt Jane had an open door for her brothers, sisters and their children. She never had any children of her own. We have also been told that Howard was in California at the time of the gold rush there. Eventually he went to work for his brother Irving and his cousin Jack Blackhall in Joliet, Illinois, USA. By the year 1915 he had his own business in Chicago Heights, Illinois called Blackhall Electric.

Howard was a most lovable, kind hearted and generous man. He had adored his mother and always credited her for saving his life when he was home one summer and fell ill with an attack of acute appendicitis. The local doctor had given up but she changed the treatment to cold compacts and with the help of a cousin, Lil Fiott, nursed him back to health. On a visit to Caraquet in 1912 to visit his mother and sister Mabel, he brought his brother Irving’s daughter Dorothy with him. In 1920 he came to Caraquet again for a visit to his sister Mabel. That year he took his young nephew Gordon de St. Croix, Mabel’s son, back to Chicago Heights so that Gordon, who had polio in 1914 at the age of two years, could have a specialist see the leg which had been affected. He kept Gordon with him for at least 18 months while Gordon underwent surgery and treatment. Howard was still single at that time and they both boarded with a private family in Chicago Heights by the name of Freeman. This family treated Gordon as they would their own son, with loving care.

Shortly after Gordon returned home to his own family in New Brunswick in 1923, Howard married Estelle Rathe of Chicago Heights, a beautiful woman some years his junior. She had been in charge of his office at Blackhall Electric. They had two sons Richard and Jack.

Richard (Dick) graduated in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. Dick married Lois Graham of Adam Mills, Ohio, a graduate of Ohio State University on November 16, 1946. They had two daughters Barbara and Beth and a son Richard called Rick. Barbara a teacher and graduate of South Methodist University, married David Pittman, a graduate of Purdue University in 1972. They have a daughter Alyson and a son Brad who are attending the University of Georgia. Beth and her husband Jeff Early, are both graduates of Purdue University. They have three sons Kent, Tyler and Brett. They live near Houston, Texas where Jeff is President of Northern Bank and Trust. Rick, is also a graduate of Purdue University. He is married to Ellen Hollis. He worked for IBM for many years and currently has his own business in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Dick worked for an engineering construction firm.

Jack, the second son of Howard and Estelle, following service in the American Navy in World War II, became a banker when he graduated. He married Joan Anderson in 1947 and lived in Homewood Illinois. They have three daughters, Diane, Beverly and Audrey. Jack and Joan moved to El Paso, Texas in 1978 and retired in 1988 and moved to Overland Park, Kansas to be near their daughter Diane. Jack died March 16, 1996.

Howard suffered several strokes and died in a nursing home on March 6, 1963. His widow later moved to Denver, Colorado to be near her son Richard. She died November 23, 1991 at the age of 87. Richard retired in 1992 and with his wife Lois move to Steamboat Springs, ColoradoWilliam Percy. Percy, the youngest of Richard Blackhall’s sons and the closest to our mother Mabel in their youth in Caraquet, was at home when his father died in 1904. He also went to western Canada, making his first trip on one of the harvest trains harvesting grain crops in the early autumn. He had made up his mind to become a railway engineer. He began work on the Canadian Pacific Railway and studied at night to become qualified. He succeeded and was on one of the rocky mountain runs from Revelstoke to Field for over twenty years. On December 26, 1915 he married Elizabeth (Betty) Waterbury of Vancouver, British Columbia. They lived in Revelstoke B.C. They had two boys, William W. (Bill) and Robert (Bob) and one girl Virginia Martha.

Percy died suddenly on December 30, 1924 of a heart attack the day before he was to have taken a six month leave due to a serious heart condition. He was given a Masonic funeral in Vancouver following a service in Revelstoke. He was only 44. Betty later remarried, to Robert McManus and they lived in Vancouver. Sometime after World War II they moved to Bremerton, Washington, U.S.A.

In 1986 I was able to contact William W. Blackhall by letter in Vancouver to complete the following information. In 1923, Annie Blackhall (Bert’s wife) wrote to our mother Mabel, she spoke lovingly of them all and mentioned that "Billy was going to be a handsome man, that Bobby was full of mischief and Virginia was such a happy little thing". Later in letters from Betty, we learnt that Bill was in the Armed Forces and later that he married Irene Cartmell of Vancouver on December 23, 1939. Irene and Bill had a son born December 27, 1943. Bill was posted overseas just before his son was born. They later had two daughters. Bill telephoned Mabel from Windsor Station one time on his way home to Vancouver after the war ended. He had stopped for a visit on his way overseas.

We also have a clipping from a Vancouver paper with a picture of Pilot Officer R. Blackhall (Bob). It tells of Bob being in Britain for 15 months and that he was flying Halifax bombers in # 408 squadron over Germany. Bob had enlisted in March 1941 and left for overseas on New Years Day 1942. He was killed when his plane was shot down over Holland in May 1943 while returning from a bombing raid over the Ruhr valley in Germany. He is buried in Akkrun, Holland.

Virginia married Robert C. Metcalfe June 2, 1944 whom she had met in Vancouver B.C. He had joined the U.S. Marine Corp and was assigned to First Marine Division for duty in the pacific area. They have three sons, Robert born in 1945, Kenneth born in 1947, Steven born in 1949 and one daughter Judy born in 1952. They all live in the Bremerton, Washington area.

Mabel Helen, the youngest and only daughter of Richard and Blanche Blackhall’s family was born February 7, 1883. Mabel married a Jerseyman, Nicholas Francis de Ste Croix in 1906 on November 26 at a home wedding. He was ten years her senior and at the time was manager of the Caraquet stand of the Jersey firm of William Fruing & Co. Limited, Fish and General Merchants.