Hugh Fraser, a native of Berwick-on-Tweed, Scotland, had come to the British Colony of Canada as a young bachelor-soldier and fought with his regiment, in the War of 1812-14, along the St Lawrence River. As a Sergeant with the Royal Marine Artillery, he was in charge of the ammunition stores at John Crysler’s Farm.
He had gotten a taste of what the New World could offer. After the war he was given a grant of land in Pembroke Township on Lot 14, Second Concession, and served as the first Pembroke Township Clerk. These land grants were commonly given to ex-soldiers as a recognition of “Service to the Crown”; as the government of the day sought to populate these new regions with people loyal to the Crown. His sons Robert and John took up adjoining farm and all farmlands were under cultivation. The locals referred to Hugh Fraser as “Highland Hugh“.
Fraser bought timber limits from the government. His sons all had farms and all engaged in lumbering with their father. He also built a general store in Westmeath Village. Three of the sons, ALEXANDER, JOHN and THOMAS, lived in Westmeath for many years and took an active interest in everything that concerned the welfare of the village and farming community.
An excellent summary of Hugh Fraser and his family was prepared by Dr. Alistair Fraser and archived in the notes of Westmeath Township historian Evelyn Moore Price. It was submitted to this registry by Gail Hennessy Ethier.
“Hugh Fraser, a native of Berwick-on-Tweed, Scotland, was stationed in the British Artillery in Kent, England, with the rank of Chief Gunner. During the War of 1812-1814, he was placed in charge of the Armouries Store at Crysler’s Farm on the St. Lawrence River. At the close of the campaign the regiment returned to England where he married a Welsh girl in Gosport, Kent, named Elizabeth Selves. Both of her Christian names have been carried by many of her descendants
“Within a year, a daughter was born who later became Mrs, Robert Coburn. At this time they were living in the Army barracks. Married men with children were frowned upon in the Army of that day and Hugh Fraser was released from Army service. It was natural that they would move to a new country, as England had suffered too many years of war. Elizabeth had lost two of her brothers in the Battle of Waterloo.
“Before they reached Canada on a slow-sailing vessel, another child, Robert, was born at sea in 1822. Upon their arrival in Canada, their first home was in Nepean. While there three more children were born: Richard, Margaret and John and in 1830 twins were born- only one survived – Alexander.
“Hugh Fraser had been trained as a land surveyor and practiced this work while in Bytown while Col. John By was building the Rideau Canal from Bytown to Fort Frontenac.
“Lured by tales of lumbering operations on the Upper Ottawa, the family moved on up the Ottawa River and in 1832 and settled on land close to the new settlement – Campbelltown and adjoining Miramichi (later named Pembroke). The land -100 acres- was located on Lot 14, Concession 2, as it is today. It was some time before the land survey was completed and the farm deeded to Hugh Fraser, Yeoman of the Township of Pembroke – District of Bathurst – Province of Canada – for the sum of 40 pounds.
“The first log cabin was built on the river banks, far from what is now the bank of the Ottawa River. Early settlers have related that they came up by canoe where Hwy.17 is today and after studying the swampy terrain we realized there was an island where Cotnam Hill is today. When the trees were felled, the land was drained into a creek entering the Ottawa River on Lot 15.
“On this creek Hugh Fraser built and operated a lath mill. The adjoining two farms were acquired by two sons, Robert and John and the entire property farmed.
“Hugh Fraser worked at surveying the townships and later with his sons, built a store at Westmeath. The Island Hill was chosen as the family cemetery and eleven are buried there. In later years these were disinterred, some buried in Westmeath and others in Pembroke cemeteries.
“Shortly after the first log cabin was built on Lot 14, the youngest child was born on Aug.6, 1832. His name was Thomas. When the five sons of Hugh grew to manhood, the father boasted that he, with his five sons, measured 36′ in height.
“Hugh Fraser as the first man to own an ox-cart in Pembroke.
“Margaret Fraser married John Murphy and after the birth of three children: twins Hannah and Jane and John, he went off to sea and nothing more was heard of him afterwards. Hannah m. Gideon Adams, Jane, twin of Hannah, married Henry Whitmore. John, unmarried, went to Western Canada with Hugh Coburn and family and worked with the Coburns. After John Murphy’s departure, Alexander Fraser took Margaret’s three children: Hannah, Jane and John to Ottawa to live with them. They all received good educations, Hannah studied music and became an accomplished pianist. When she married Gideon Adams and came to live in Westmeath, she taught piano to many village children.”
HUGH FRASER (1788-1861), born Scotland, married in Gosport, England, to ELIZABETH SELVES (1791-1869); she was from Kent, England, of Welsh extraction. They are both buried at Westmeath. The family came to Canada as “Immigrant Ancestors” in 1822.
The Frasers initially settled in Nepean Township, Carleton County and when surveys were completed and tracts of land came available they moved northwest to Renfrew County and were the seventh family to settle in Pembroke Township in 1834.
This account of Hugh’s early history is taken from Ancestry.ca:
He was sent with his regiment to Canada to fight in the War of 1812 where he served at Chrysler’s farm on the St. Lawrence River in charge of munition stores, holding the rank of Sergeant (not Major as some historians have suggested). He was transferred back to Kent at the end of the war.
Apparently while serving in the war in 1815, Hugh was able to recapture “several rafts of square timber and planks, which were the property of his Majesty” from the U.S. and petitioned for reimbursement for his trouble and risk in the amount of three pounds, 12 shillings. It was suggested that on his way to England he stop in Quebec and speak to the proper authority. However he didn’t have the opportunity as he was ordered to take the Niger Frigate.
In 1820 he wrote, expressing a willingness to appear to plead his case. Whether he eventually was reimbursed is not known.
On his return to Kent, Hugh was stationed at Fort Monkton at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour with the Royal Marine Artillery. Just when he met and married Elizabeth Selves, of Welch decent, is unknown. The Fraser family felt that he had married beneath him. Perhaps they looked askance at the affairs of her father, William Selves, son of William and Elanor Jessop Selves. On the 25th of February 1780, William married Jane Clark, 18, who was seven months pregnant at the time. She died at age 26 and a year later he married Elizabeth Chantler, our great great great grandmother, the daughter of Thomas and Ann (baker) Chantler on the 23rd October 1789. Their first child, a boy was baptised on the 25 of July 1790. Another young lady in the community had an illegitimate son by William Selves, who she named William. Baptised on 6th September 1789. He died at age six in 1794.
Hugh and Elizabeth’s first child was a daughter, Emma, born 24th December 1817, baptized at Alverstoke on 11th January 1818. According to Hazel Bromley (Fraser), married men living in barracks were frowned upon so Hugh obtained a discharge and he and Elizabeth and Emma sailed to Canada on a slow boat.
Elizabeth’s and Hugh’s second child, Robert, was born at sea in 1822. Elizabeth had been a governess in England and apparently taught the children aboard the ship and later her own children before the first school was built.
Because of his service in the army, Hugh received a land grant of 100 acres. “Hugh Frazier (spelled incorrectly) of the township of Napean in the country of Carleton in the district of Bathurst, a tract of land situate in the township of Goulborn in the county of Carleton in the district of Bathurst” dated August 1824 for the sum of 40 pounds.
Hugh and Elizabeth Fraser’s family consisted of two daughters and five sons:
1. Emma “Emmy” Fraser (1817-1888) m. Robert Coburn Sr. (1812-1890) from Ireland. Settled in Western Canada. Copies of correspondence between the Coburn cousins and their Westmeath cousins were found in a collection of old documents.
1907, December 30, – H.F. Cobourn to J.B. Fraser H.F. Coboun letter to JB Fraser, Ottawa, ON., December 30, 1907. These two first cousins (& grandsons of Hugh and Elizabeth Fraser), are corresponding. Coboun is writing from Alberta and explaining the hardships and successes of cropping on the prairies. He is replying to inquiries by JB regarding the buying of land in the West. The Post Script mentions John Murphy, their cousin and son of their Aunt Margaret Fraser Murphy (1827-1874). H.F. wonders what to do with him and his drinking.
1908, December 28, – H.F. Cobourn to J.B. Fraser In this letter between the cousins, H.F. explains some land that is for sale – even outlining it on a map – which contains the potential for a coal mine. He also tells of the hardships faced by a Davis family which he has been helping; but says they don’t have $20 between them and wonders how can they get on.
2. Robert Fraser (1822-1887), born at sea on route to Canada, m. Hannah Currie (1829-1890). They had a large family of 12 children and settled in Pembroke Township.
i. Hugh Fraser in 1889 was married to a Margaret “Maggie “Cotnam, from Allumette Island, daughter of George Cotnam and Catherine Lee. 1889 Double Fraser-Cotnam Wedding.
ii. John Fraser (1847-1918) m. Alice Amelia Huntington (1853-1890), 1873 John & AliceMarriage also of Westmeath, daughter of Samuel Addams Huntington (1811-1894) and Ann Catherine Bower (1823-1908). See HUNTINGTON entry. Also Bower Genealogy.
iii. Additional sons & daughters – unverified.
3. Alexander Richard Fraser (1825-1892) was born in Nepean Township and was commonly called Richard. He would have three wives and father 10 children. He married (1) Jane Armstrong (1833-1869) of Sheenboro, Pontiac County, Quebec. She died of consumption at age 36 years.1869Armstrong Death Cert. Richard would die in 1892 and is buried at Westmeath. 1892 Richard Death Cert
The children of Richard Fraser and Jane Armstrong were:
i. Elizabeth Fraser (1857-1882) died at age 25.
ii. Thomas Fraser (1859-1945) would in 1889 marry a second Cotnam sister Annie Elizabeth “Lizzie” Cotnam (1864-1956), from Allumette Island. 1889 Double Fraser-Cotnam Wedding. They had four children: Olive Fraser (1899- ), Inez Selves Fraser (1896-1973), Harvey Fraser (1900-died as infant), Hazel Fraser (1901-1993).
iii. Foster Fraser (1860-1934)
iv. Hugh Alexander Fraser (1862-1932) at age 35 years would marry Annie Hogan, daughter of Thomas & Sarah Hogan of Waltham, Quebec. Their child was Richard Thomas Fraser (1899-1972).
v. William Armstrong Fraser (1864-1896) m. Margaret Bulmer, daughter of John and Mary Bulmer. Child: Isobel Armstrong Fraser.
vi. Robert Burns Fraser (1864-1896) m. Estelle Chatterton.
vii. John Richard Fraser (1866-1941) m. Annie Louisa Smith (1873-1913). They are buried in Westmeath.
The children of John Richard Fraser and Annie Louisa Smith are:
a. Harriett Nancy Fraser (1899-1942).
Tragedy at sea – the sinking of the Lady Hawkins. A former Cobden teacher and her family perished. On January 19th, 1942, the ocean liner Lady Hawkins (Capt. H. Griffin), was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-boot U-66, between Cape Hatteras and Bermuda. She was carrying 212 passengers and 109 crew. Three lifeboats were launched but only one, containing 71 persons, was picked up. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?22390
b. Alice Fraser (1904- ) 1904 Alice Fraser Birth Cert m. Clinton Rupert Hennessy (1906-1948), Clint was a son of O.M.Hennessy and Emma Elizabeth Carlson Hennessy. See HENNESSY entry. They lived in Temiskaming, Ont. Clint and Alice are buried in the family plot in Haileybury ON. They had one son named Hugh who died in Thunder Bay circa 1989. He was married but had no children.
c. Annie S. “Kitty” Fraser (1908-1979) m. Hector Hickey (1904-1982). Hec was the son of Peter Ethier and Cassie Anderson of Westmeath. See ETHIER entry. They also, like Alice and Clint, raised their family in Copper Cliff but are buried at Westmeath.
After he was widowed, Alexander “Richard” Fraser then married the sister of his late wife (2) Nancy Armstrong (1838-1874) in 1871, who like her sister Jane, was also a daughter of Foster Armstrong and Catherine McInnes of Sheen Township, Pontiac County, Quebec. Sadly Nancy would die a short three years later. 1871 Richard-Nancy Marriage.
Alexander Richard Fraser again married (3) Christina Ferguson Carmichael (1843-1921) and their children were:
viii. Annie M Fraser (1878 –
ix. Jane Armstrong Fraser (1881 – 1964)
x. James Fraser (1881 –
4. Margaret Fraser (1827-1874) m. John Murphy who would be lost at sea. Three children:
i. Hannah Murphy m. Gideon Adams. See ADAMS entry.
ii. Jane Murphy m. Henry Whitmore and lived in Greenwood area, Westmeath Township. See WHITMORE entry.
iii. John Murphy went to Western Canada with his Aunt Emma, (his mother’s eldest sister), and Uncle Robert Coburn. (See his cousin H.F Cobourn’s letter to J.B. Fraser, included in #1. Emma “Emmy” Fraser (1817-1888) above.)
5. John Roderick Fraser (1827-1896) – unmarried. Employed as Wood Superintendent in the Fraser Lumber Company headed by his youngest brother Alex. Buried at Westmeath Union Cemetery.
John Fraser (Steamboat), fire, 7 Nov 1893
Lost on Lake Nipissing with considerable loss of life, seven men survived. Thirteen corpses were found. Four men were never accounted for. She was 102 feet (31 m) long, was propelled by a pair of paddlewheels, and carried passengers on two decks. She was staffed by a crew of six. She was launched in 1888, one of approximately 20 steamships working the lake. She was lost on November 7, 1893. The Fraser’s six man crew was taking the boat’s last trip of the season to the company’s 68 square mile limit at the west end of Lake Nipissing. Beside the crew there were about 20 lumberjacks heading for winter work on the Davidson and Hay limits. The Fraser was towing a scow loaded with supplies for the six company logging camps and the 350 lumberjacks there.
6. Thomas Fraser (1832-1907) married Margaret Mathieson (1832-1935) in 1854 in Beachburg, Ont. She was the daughter of William Mathieson (1800-1871) and Catherine McLaughlin (1810-1885). Margaret lived to within a few months of her one hundred and second year and was an outstanding personality. Thomas Fraser owned a sawmill in Westmeath and served as Westmeath Township Reeve and a member of Renfrew County Council.
Standing: Josephy Keyes, Councillor; Thomas Fraser, Reeve; William Ross, Councillor. Sitting: A. Cameron, Clerk; J. Robinson, Councillor; Wm. Sherman (not present). From the History of the Corp. of Westmeath Township.
1871 Census of Westmeath Township:
| Thomas Fraser | 38 |
| Margaret Fraser | 37 |
| Catherine Fraser | 15 |
| Alexander Fraser | 14 |
| Margaret H. Fraser | 12 |
| Emma Fraser | 10 |
| William Fraser | 8 |
| Hugh Fraser | 6 |
| Mary Fraser | 4 |
| Alice Fraser | 2 |
Thomas Fraser & Margaret Mathieson Fraser had 11 children in all:
i. Catherine “Cassie” Fraser (1855-1930) – a spinster.
This Westmeath Village Main Street landmark was later expanded with a second floor.
ii. Alexander “Red Alex” Fraser (1857-1936) m. Agnes McDonald (1860-1925). He is listed as a merchant on his death certificate. He carried on the Westmeath store that his Uncle Alexander had built and the contracting business in partnership with Mr. John Paterson. See PATERSON entry. But the heady early days of huge squared timbers being hauled out of the tributaries of the Ottawa River were over.In the succeeding lumbering hey day in the Upper Ottawa Valley, the numerous Lumber Shanties needed to be outfitted with all supplies and the horses working in those camps needed to be feed. Everything from salt pork, beans, and tea; and huge amounts of hay and oats, were contracted through the firm Fraser & Paterson Store. Fraser became well known to area farmers and producers as he bought their crops to then sell on to the lumber companies. After their death, the business was sold to Gordon and Stella Schultz. For more on the store: Fraser Paterson Store.
In the 1891 Census for Westmeath Township:
| FRASER | Alexander | M | 34 | M | ON | ON | ON | PRES | Laborer |
| FRASER | Agnes | F | 30 | M | ON | SCT | SCT | PRES | |
| FRASER | Ethel | F | 9 | S | ON | SCT | SCT | PRES | |
| FRASEr | Thomas | M | 7 | M | ON | SCT | PRES | ||
| FRASER | Edna | F | 5 | S | ON | SCT | SCT | PRES |
The children of Alexander Fraser and Agnes McDonald are:
1. Ethel Fraser (1882-1970) would live on in the Village of Westmeath, marrying Dr. W. B. Timm, and their large red-brick home with large surrounding gardens, initially built by Dr. John Graham, on the Main Street, is a village landmark. Timm, Ethel Fraser.
2. Thomas Fraser (1884- ) m. Maria Akesson (1882- ), the daughter of Ola Akesson and Hannah Jackson (1844-1915). Their daughter Katherine Abigail Fraser (1911-1981) m. Eldon Barr (1917-1973). 1911 Katherine Fraser Birth , Katie Barr would teach for many years in the local school S.S. # 2 in Westmeath Village. Barr, Katherine She and Eldon had two children; son Fraser Barr and daughter Margaret “Peggy” Helen Barr Anderson. Katie’s granddaughter and her family still live in the family home on the Main Street of Westmeath Village.
3. Edna Fraser (1886- 1972) m. John Alfred Wickens; lived in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan. WICKENS,Edna Mae Fraser
4. John Alexander Fraser m. Gladys Irene Davidson. See DAVIDSON entry,
5. Alexandra “Zan” Fraser MacKinnon. Alexandra Fraser m. Daniel MacKinnon
6. Margaret Ross, Margaret Fraser m. Horace Ross and they farmed on the Seventh Concession, Westmeath, Twp., now Pleasant Valley Road.
7. Burns Fraser m. Lila Ross and lived in Toronto.
iii. Margaret Hannah “Anna” Fraser (1859-1937) m. William Cunningham Kilpatrick (1859-1914). They raised 6 children and lived in Nippissing District and Sudbury, Ont.
iv. William Mathieson Fraser (1862- ) m. (unknown spouse) and had two children. Resident in Kimberly, Saskatchewan, in 1916 Census.
v. Martha Emma “Em” Fraser (1863-1937)
Coreena Fraser, Malinda Huntington, Nina Fraser, Edith McKenzie, Caro Adams, Effie Huntington, Ethel Fraser and Alice Fraser. Photo from Westmeath Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir Book.
vi. Hugh “Burns” Fraser, MD (1866-1922) m. Alice Ross Young (1870-1936). He trained as a doctor in Toronto and was married in 1897 in Waterloo, Ont. They then lived in Montreal, Quebec.
vii. Mary Fraser (1867-1951) m. Alexander McKillop, son of Archibald “Archy” McKillop (1819-1895) and Marion Templeton (1836-1902). They had seven children and lived first in Ottawa and then in Moosejaw and Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
viii. Alice Ellen Fraser (1870-1923) – a spinster.
vix. Nina Sarah Fraser (1876-1960) m. James A. Bennie (1871-1959). He was born in Rochu Fendu and they married in Sudbury and later lived in Beachburg. They had five children.
7. Alexander “Alex” Fraser (1830-1903) – the surviving twin at his birth – m. Sarah Elizabeth Chamberlain (1835-1910), daughter of Hiram Wyman Chamberlain (1812- 1854) and Elizabeth Minerva Hayes (1816-1898). See CHAMBERLAIN entry. When Chamberlain unexpectedly died of cholera, the young son-in-law Alex took over the Chamberlain lumber merchant business. The youngest of Hugh’s sons, would go on to become a man of wealth and stature in colonial Canada.
NOTE: The Alex Fraser Branch is set out in more detail in FRASER, Alexander and Sarah Chamberlain Fraser post.
iii. Jessie Fraser (1860-1949) m. Rev. Samuel Daw (1858-1947) and they lived in Hamilton, Ontario.
They had 7 sons; 2 of whom died in action in WW1: Alexander Fraser Daw (1885–1968); Herbert Bethune Daw (1887–1916); Philip Ford Daw (1889–1944); Charles Edmund Daw (1890–1972); Walter Seymour Daw (1894–1926); Frederick Pole Daw (1896–1916); William Henry Daw (1902–1986).
