Shown here at the 'Villa' in Hampton are (left to right) Ethel Wedderburn, John Fraser, Sidney Fraser, Emily (Wedderburn) Fraser, Dorothy Fraser, Judge Wedderburn, Rona Fraser, Alice (Wedderburn) Lynds, Rev. H.I. Lynds and Dorothy Lynds.

Dad had been brought up in the age of greeting friends with a handshake. He said a man was judged by his grasp. A limp hand meant a weak character.

He prided himself on being able to remember the name of any person he had ever met.

One Sunday, a strange car drove in the yard. A couple who looked like they were city folk approached our front entrance. This was unusual, as all our friends came to the back door. Dad answered the knock on the door. There stood a gentleman dressed in suit, tie and felt hat accompanied by a lady.

Cliff and I watched as Dad clasped the man's hand and stalled for time. With a look of puzzlement on his face, he said,  "I know your face but I just can't put a name on it."

It seems, I inherited a bit of my father's traits as I thought I knew most all of the family names of the past in our local area, but that is not the case.

In the column on St. Paul's Church at Lakeside, I mentioned that I was unfamiliar with the name Wedderburn. Thanks to the response of several of our readers, I now know a lot about this very prominent family who had a home called the ‘Villa' in Hampton. I can now put faces to the Wedderburn name.

I would like to thank Dr. Greg Haley, formerly of Fredericton and now residing in Quebec, for sending me a copy of his years of research on the Wedderburn and Heaviside families.

According to Greg, William Wedderburn was born in Saint John on October 12, 1834, the sixth child of Alexander Wedderburn of Aberdeen, Scotland and Jane Heaviside and grew up to study law. In 1876, he was elected Speaker of the House and soon after was appointed Provincial Secretary. He was active in the Sons of Temperance, Mechanics Institute, The Independent Order of Forresters and Masonic Fraternity.

It appears that after the Great Fire of 1877 destroyed his home in Saint John, the family lived in the summer residence at Hampton, known as the Villa. In 1882, he was appointed county judge for Kings and Albert Counties.  Since he was reported to be a silver tongued orator, he delivered in 1883, one of his famous speeches at the one hundredth anniversary celebration of the landing of the Loyalist in Saint John.

Lt. Col. Frederick Vernon Wedderburn, the oldest son of Judge Wm. Wedderburn and Jeanne Vaughan was a barrister, but his love was the militia. He and his wife, Alice McGarrigle of Welsford, lived quietly at his residence ‘Linden Heights ‘in his boyhood village of Hampton. He died unexpectedly in 1920. His wife continued to live in Hampton until her death in 1944 and her generous donations and ready sympathy made her known to every home of the area. For several years she acted as deputy registrar of Deeds for Kings County.

Although the Wedderburn name was unfamiliar to me, it is extremely well known to many.

Query 98-603
Gorman - McQuaid: According to the 1851 census, my great-grandfather, Thomas Gorman and his wife Ann McQuaid arrived in Saint John in 1836. Patrick Gorman and his wife Ellen, children Andrew and Patrick also arrived the same year. I believe they could be brothers. I found from the newspaper extracts that James Gorman also arrived in that year. A Peter Gorman arrived in Saint John in 1848. Are they brothers or cousins? Hopefully someone may have the information to solve this riddle.
 -Jean Campbell, 124-132 Marrington Road, Winnipeg, MB., R3T 5Y5.  E-mail jcampbe@ms.umanitoba.ca.
 
Query 98-604
Forsey: If there is anyone out there who recognizes the name Forsey, or Sarah Forsey, please contact me. Sarah was my grandmother. She was born in Saint John, New Brunswick about 1889 and lived there with her father, a seaman, her mother, and a brother named either Henry or Edward. Her brother was killed during World War I. I don't know either of her parents' names. She travelled to Boston, MA where she met and married Charles Brady. She gave birth to two daughters and four sons. She lived the remainder of her life in South Boston, MA and died in the 1930s.
 -Pat Bragger, 39 Ships Way, Bourne, MA., USA., 02532. E-mail patteeb@aol.com.

Query 98-605
Draper: I am looking for the possible arrival of William Draper into Kings County  during the American Revolution about 1781. He may have been amongst a group of Loyalists who fled from Dutchess County, New York or could have been alone or could have had his wife Sarah and 3 or 4 young children with him. I am interested in finding the passenger ship he arrived and any other information.
 -Frank L.Juszli, 88 Scott Swamp Rd., Farmington CT., USA., 06032. E-mail  FLJUSZLI@aol.com.

Query 98-606
McCluskey - Ryder - Wenn - Webb: My grandfather, Joseph Albert McCluskey was born in1848 and married Mabel H. Wenn. They lived priimarily in Musquash, Saint John County and had six children: Elizabeth Ann McCluskey was born Jul. 26,1887 in Saint John; James Miller McCluskey was born Apr.09, 1882 in Musquash and Roy Norval McCluskey was born Apr. 22,1886 in Musquash. Mabel Wenn McCluskey died soon after Roy was born and I understand the children may have stayed in Musquash with relatives of their mother - either Sarah Ann (Wenn) Thompson and her husband, Robert, or Gilbert Wenn and his wife, Jane (Thompson) Wenn. I would like to contact any of the above or their relatives who may be able to provide information on Joseph and Mabel (Wenn) McCluskey. Joseph married again in 1891 to Melissa Ryder and they had six children - Will, George (my father), Archie, John, Mary, Steven - all born in New Brunswick. The family moved to California in 1905 after their house burned down, leaving the first set of Joseph's children in Canada - the youngest of whom was then 18. Joseph may be a younger son of William and Elizabeth (Webb) McCluskey who were married in Saint John on Jan.15, 1834 in the Trinity Church.
 -J. Stanley McCluskey, 12740 Old Naches Hwy., Naches, WA., USA., 98937. E-mail homes@yvn.com.

Query 98-607
Smith: I am searching for information on the family of Peter Smith and Pamelia(Parnelia) of Kent Co., New Brunswick. I am particularly interested in Julia Eliza Smith born May 11, 1845 - probably in Buctouche. Her siblings: Charles James; Bowen; Israel Merrit; Edward Betts; Mary Caroline; Sarah Ann and Edgar.
 -Mrs. D. Barnes, 917 Richmond Place, Port Coquitlam, B.C., V3B 2M8. E-mail jimbarnes@home.com.

 Ruby M. Cusack is a genealogy buff. Send your queries to her at: rmcusack@nbnet.nb.ca. (Please put Yesteryear Families in the subject line.) Include your name and mailing address for the benefit of those readers who do not have access to E-mail but may have information to share.  Queries should be 45 words or less.