Pioneers of St. Clair County, Michigan - Person Sheet
Pioneers of St. Clair County, Michigan - Person Sheet
NameRobert Collin READ 
Settlement1824, Iona, Elgin, Ontario, Canada1284 Age: 27
Settlement18301284 Age: 33
MemoEuphemia Twp., near Florence, Kent Co., Ontario
Settlement1846, Harwich, Kent, Ontario, Canada1284 Age: 49
MemoLittle Mill Farm
Will8 May 18673405 Age: 70
MemoCodicil
BurialField Cemetery, Harwich, Kent, Ontario2303
FatherRobert READ (1761-1830)
MotherMary RIPLEY (1765-1830)
Individual Notes
• Robert C. Read, born 27 July 1796 near Amherst, Nova Scotia, died 11 May 1867 at “Little Mill Farm,” River Road, Harwich Twp., Kent Co., Ontario.1284
• Birth Date of 27 Jul 1791.1124
• In 1824, they came to Iona and in 1831, moved to Zone Tsp., Kent County, where at that time but two or three families had yet settled. In 1846, Mr. Read bought 200 acres of wild land in Harwich, and he and his wife lived thereon the remainder of their lives, and died, he on May 12, 1867, and she in 1885. They were devoted Baptists, and founders of that religious body in this neighborhood2346
• Named in his grandmother’s will.2346
• Birth Date of 27 Jul 1791.1124
• In 1824, they came to Iona and in 1831, moved to Zone Tsp., Kent County, where at that time but two or three families had yet settled. In 1846, Mr. Read bought 200 acres of wild land in Harwich, and he and his wife lived thereon the remainder of their lives, and died, he on May 12, 1867, and she in 1885. They were devoted Baptists, and founders of that religious body in this neighborhood2346
• Named in his grandmother’s will.2346
Spouses
Removal1824, Iona, Elgin, Ontario, Canada2346 Age: 25
Death26 Feb 1890, Northwood, Kent, Ontario, Canada3448 Age: 91
BurialField Cemetery, Harwich, Kent, Ontario, Canada2038
FatherDavid NELSON (<1768-1814)
MotherElizabeth HAMILTON (1774-1839)
Individual Notes
• “To Iona 1824, there till 183-, then to township near Florence, then 1846 to Little Mill Farm, River Road, Harwich, near Chatham - d. there.”
Source: Information given to Robert Jones by Ernest Coates of Nova Scotia; sent to DWM by Robert Jones, 7/8/1991. Mr. Coates obtained his information from Jane (Read) Nelson.
• Mary Hamilton Nelson, born 25 Sept 1798 at Clandeboye, near Belfast, Ireland, died at “Little Mill Farm” on 26 Feb 1890.
Robert & Mary were married in Nova Scotia 1820, moved from Nova Scotia, 1824 to Iona settlement near St. Thomas, Ont., moved to township of Euphemia near Florence, Ont., 1830, moved to Little Mill Farm, Harwich twp. 1846.1284
• Married in NS to Robert C. Read in 1821. In 1824 moved to Iona, Ont.55
• When Governor General of Canada, the Marquess of Dufferin and his wife Harriet Hamilton visited Chatham, when I don’t know, but they went by our old house at 157 Park St. in a motorcade, and Grandmother Read said “Harriet was her cousin.”
I firmly believe this to be true, as there is too many consistencies to our family history which are parallel to the Killyleagh Castle Hamiltons.2346
• Newspaper Clipping: Harwich
Died-- on Wednesday, 26th Feb., at her residence, River Road, Harwich, Mrs. Mary Read, relict of the late Robert Read, aged 91 years. Deceased was born in Ireland and came to Nova Scotia while yet in her teens, was married there and afterwards moved from there to this place, where [she] spent many happy years in the fairest country of all where she had remained, ever since. She was the mother of ten children, all of whom are living except two; and was a lady of more than ordinary strength and ambition, which her family have inherited in a great measure. She died rejoicing in hope of a blessed immortality beyond the grave.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Mills, Marysville, Mich., have been here attending the funeral of the late Mrs. Mary Read. Mr. Mills returned immediately after the funeral, but Mrs. Mills remained and is the guest of Mrs. S. E. Arnold this week.2346
• Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet - March 14, 1890
On Wednesday, the 28th of Feb. one of the oldest settlers of the county, Mary Hamilton Nelson Read, passed away at the ripe old age of 91 yrs. and 7 months. Deceased was born in 1798, in County Down, Ireland, but by descent belonged to the ancient Scotch family of Hamiltons. Her father, David Nelson, was a large land holder under the Earl of Dufferin, but becoming dissatisfied, he concluded to try his fortune in the new world, and accordingly came out and settled with his family in Nova Scotia, in the year 1813. Mary Nelson married in 1821 Robert Read, who died May 12 1867. Ten children were born, eight of whom survive her. From Nova Scotia, she moved in 1824 to lona, Ont., where she lived until 1831, when she moved to the township of Zone, and from there in 1846 to the River Thames, Harwich where she resided up to the time of her death."8369
Source: Information given to Robert Jones by Ernest Coates of Nova Scotia; sent to DWM by Robert Jones, 7/8/1991. Mr. Coates obtained his information from Jane (Read) Nelson.
• Mary Hamilton Nelson, born 25 Sept 1798 at Clandeboye, near Belfast, Ireland, died at “Little Mill Farm” on 26 Feb 1890.
Robert & Mary were married in Nova Scotia 1820, moved from Nova Scotia, 1824 to Iona settlement near St. Thomas, Ont., moved to township of Euphemia near Florence, Ont., 1830, moved to Little Mill Farm, Harwich twp. 1846.1284
• Married in NS to Robert C. Read in 1821. In 1824 moved to Iona, Ont.55
• When Governor General of Canada, the Marquess of Dufferin and his wife Harriet Hamilton visited Chatham, when I don’t know, but they went by our old house at 157 Park St. in a motorcade, and Grandmother Read said “Harriet was her cousin.”
I firmly believe this to be true, as there is too many consistencies to our family history which are parallel to the Killyleagh Castle Hamiltons.2346
• Newspaper Clipping: Harwich
Died-- on Wednesday, 26th Feb., at her residence, River Road, Harwich, Mrs. Mary Read, relict of the late Robert Read, aged 91 years. Deceased was born in Ireland and came to Nova Scotia while yet in her teens, was married there and afterwards moved from there to this place, where [she] spent many happy years in the fairest country of all where she had remained, ever since. She was the mother of ten children, all of whom are living except two; and was a lady of more than ordinary strength and ambition, which her family have inherited in a great measure. She died rejoicing in hope of a blessed immortality beyond the grave.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Mills, Marysville, Mich., have been here attending the funeral of the late Mrs. Mary Read. Mr. Mills returned immediately after the funeral, but Mrs. Mills remained and is the guest of Mrs. S. E. Arnold this week.2346
• Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet - March 14, 1890
On Wednesday, the 28th of Feb. one of the oldest settlers of the county, Mary Hamilton Nelson Read, passed away at the ripe old age of 91 yrs. and 7 months. Deceased was born in 1798, in County Down, Ireland, but by descent belonged to the ancient Scotch family of Hamiltons. Her father, David Nelson, was a large land holder under the Earl of Dufferin, but becoming dissatisfied, he concluded to try his fortune in the new world, and accordingly came out and settled with his family in Nova Scotia, in the year 1813. Mary Nelson married in 1821 Robert Read, who died May 12 1867. Ten children were born, eight of whom survive her. From Nova Scotia, she moved in 1824 to lona, Ont., where she lived until 1831, when she moved to the township of Zone, and from there in 1846 to the River Thames, Harwich where she resided up to the time of her death."8369
Census
• 1881 Canada Census: Harwich, Kent, Ontario. Age 78, b Ireland. Widow. F Baptist.3818
Family Notes
• In 1824, they came to Iona and in 1831, moved to Zone Twp., Kent County, where at that time but two or three families had yet settled. In 1846, Mr. Read bought 200 acres of wild land in Harwich, and he and his wife lived thereon the remainer of their lives, and died, he on May 12, 1867, and she in 1885 [sic]. They were devoted Baptists, and founders of that religious body in this neighborhood.2346
ChildrenWilliam C. (1821-1883)
Mary (1822-1909)
Stephen (1824-1901)
Frances (1826-1918)
Thomas (1828-1903)
Jane (1830-1911)
Eleanor (1832-1894)
Elizabeth (1836-1913)
John Collin (1843-1926)
Dolly Ann (Died as Child) (1846-1857)