John Henry Myers family fonds

• Textual record

1 cm of textual records

Donated by Pamela Westhaver and Dale (Westhaver) Conrod, February 14, 2011. Pamela and Dale are the great granddaughters of John Myers. The documents were among papers belonging to Pamela and Dale’s mother, Alice Vivian (Myers) Westhaver and they passed into Dale’s possession upon the death of their father, Glendon R. Westhaver on March 11, 1993. Pamela Westhaver later sent electronic scanned copies of two death certificates on March 13, 2013. These were printed and accessioned with her previous donation. The certificates came from Pamela’s mother, Alice Myers, who acquired them from her father, Arthur William Myers. John Henry Myers was the father of Arthur William Myers and Ralph was the infant son of John.

Records consist of land grants and indentures involving the Rennels, Blakney, Mitchell, and Myers families. Included is one 1857 land grant to William Rennels for one hundred acres in Jeddore. Also included are two 1902 indentures for land in Jeddore; one from Walter and Emma Rennels to John G. Mitchell and one from Isaac and Eunice Blakney to John Myers.

William Rennels was employed as a merchant and married Maria Jennings, daughter of Joseph Jennings, in Halifax County, November 26, 1840. Walter John Rennels was the son of William and Maria. He was born May 4, 1859 in either Halifax County or Bayfield, NS. He married Emily E. Hartling, daughter of John and Charlotte Hartling, January 19, 1887 in Salmon River, where both were living at the time. Walter and Emily (Emma) had at least three children including Winifred J. (b. Jan. 28, 1890, d. Nov.5, 1944), Percy Karl (b. Dec. 11, 1898 in Halifax), and Cora Douglissa (b. Port Dufferin, m. Guy N. Stultz Aug. 4, 1919). On his marriage record, Walter Rennels’ occupation is listed as merchant in Salmon River, however on the birth, marriage, and death records of his children he is listed as a clerk in Halifax. He died June 23, 1936 and is buried in Camp Hill Cemetery.

John George Mitchell was born c. 1842 and was the son of Captain David and Mary Frances (Webber) Mitchell. He worked as a lumberman in Jeddore. His first wife’s name was Eliza Anne Smith. He was widowed and married Mary Elizabeth “Bessie” (nee Mitchell) Mitchell (b.1864) of Jeddore on Jan. 20, 1894 in Dartmouth. They had one son, Byron Hadley (b. Sept. 12, 1894, d. Jun. 24, 1945). John G. Mitchell was the grandson of Colin Campbell Mitchell (b.1767).

Isaac Day Blakeney was born c.1851, lived in Head of Jeddore, and worked as a labourer. His parents were Benjamin and Frances (Daye) Blakeney. He married Eunice Sophia Blakeney, daughter of Luke and Sarah A. (Doyle) Blakeney on June 10, 1882. Together Isaac and Eunice had eight children; Minnie, Herbert I., Alice F., Ralph S., Laura S., Ina E., and Raymond. Eunice Blakeney died March 20, 1926 and Isaac Blakeney died October 28, 1930 at Head of Jeddore where they are also buried.