Norman Laurie Kinsman

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-170108
• Residence: 1921, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-108411P
• Residence: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; N. C. Methodist
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Weslyan Methodist
• Occupation: 1890, Rome, Oneida, New York, United States; blacksmith
• Residence: 1921, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Alfred married Clara Martina Stone 4 Jul 1890, Prescott, Grenville Co., Ontario. Clara was born 20 Aug 1863, Smith Falls, Lanark Co., Ontario, Canada; died 17 Oct 1946, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

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• Name: Clara Martina Kinsman
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-170107
• Residence: 1890, Perth, Drummond Twp., Lanark Co., Ontario
• Residence: 1921, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108293515
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-61552
• Occupation: 1841, Gwennap, , Cornwall, England; mason
• Residence: 1841, Gwennap, , Cornwall, England
• Immigration: 1844, , Mexico
• Immigration: 1858, , Canada
• Immigration: 1858, , Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mason
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Primitive Methodist
• Occupation: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mason
• Residence: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; N. C. Methodist
• Occupation: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mason
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Weslyan Methodist
• Occupation: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Income
• Residence: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Notes:

He was left to care for his two children after his wife left him. As the tin and copper mines were beginning to close in Cornwall, early the next year Nicholas left his two young children in the care of their grandparents and immigrated to Mexico.

According to notes in the family Bible, Nicholas immigrated from Truro, Cornwall, England, in 1844 on a sailing vessel departing from Plymouth and after 16 weeks of sailing, landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico. From there he worked his way inland to the silver mines at Real del Monte in Hidaigo, which were being run at the time by an English company. This company specialized in hard-rock mining and hired many ex-patriot Cornishmen. In Real del Monte, Nicholas lived with the family of Joel Whitburn, who was a Captain of Mines. After a two-year courtship, Nicholas married Joel's daughter, Severa Whitburn, on September 29, 1850 at the United States Embassy in Mexico City. Their first child, Mary Jane was born eleven months later and, two years after that, another girl, Charlotte, was born. Both girls died in infancy. Two sons were born in Mexico, Richard Albert and Joseph James. On the 26th day of April 1858 Nicholas and Severa emigrated to Canada with two children. Nicholas' father, Nicholas Grenfell Kinsman, Sr. and his mother, Mary Coombe, joined them there. Also joining in were Nicholas' brother, Richard H. and at least two sisters, Mary Grenfell Kinsman Wilkins and Mary Grenfell Kinsman Robinson. While in Canada, Nicholas and Severa had 8 more children.

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CALLED BY DEATH AT AGE OF NINETY-SEVEN

N. G. KINSMAN, GALT'S OLDEST RESIDENT, PASSED AWAY ON SATURDAY
"EARLY TO BED AND EARLY TO RISE," ONE OF THE RULES HE FOLLOWED.

Galt's oldest resident, Nicholas Grenfell Kinsman, passed away Saturday afternoon (April 10, 1915) at 4: 15 at his residence, "Pine Hill," Macadamized Road, in his 98th year. The news of his death came as a shock to many who had hoped that this member of "The Old Brigade" would have been spared to celebrate his 100th birthday. Despite his advance years the aged gentleman had retained all his faculties, although his sight had deteriorated a little and his strength showed signs of failing. His death was hastened by an accident which befell him last Wednesday. It is supposed he was going into another room and made a mistake by walking down the hall and opening a door, fell headlong down the cellar stairs. This fall was the immediate cause of his death, the shock being too much for the aged man's vitality to survive. Immediately following the accident, Dr. Thomson was called and he did everything that could be done, but no hope was held out for his recovery. It is marvelous that the aged gentleman was not killed in the fall. When picked up he was quite conscious and the first words he said were, "It was my fault."

Mr. Kinsman had enjoyed very good health for his advanced years all winter and was able to go about the house unassisted. Only about an hour before he met with the accident which caused his death the deceased had been talking business affairs with his son, George W., of Galt. He showed remarkable acumen and excellent memory for a man of his years.

The late Nicholas G. Kinsman was born in St. Day, Gwennap Parish, in Cornwall England on January 25, 1819, and therefore was in his 98th year.

Early in life he responded to the call within him for adventure and in 1844 went to Mexico where he engaged in work as an engineer at Mineral del Monte and other silver mines in that troublous and unhappy country. There he led an exciting life and the story of the adventures and dangers he met with would read like a romance. Bandits and robbers roamed the country and human life was only safe behind the muzzle of a revolver or gun. In those days in Mexico men carried their lives in their hands. The aged gentleman took much pleasure in relating some of his experiences in Mexico.

He was married in Mexico to his present wife, the eldest daughter of Captain Joel Whitburn, in 1850, and consequently they had been man and wife for the long period of sixty-five years.

Came to Galt in 1858

It was in the spring of 1858 that the deceased came to Canada with his wife and two children and took up his home here when the now prosperous town was nothing more than a struggling village in the wilderness. In his fourteen years residence in Mexico, deceased made a fortune and during the years he spent in Galt he enjoyed his well earned competence.

The late Mr. Kinsman, when interviewed by a Reporter representative last year attributed his long life to plain living and a strict observance of the good old rule of "early to bed and early to rise." He also stated that he had abstained from the use of tobacco and liquor of any sort.

Deceased had lived in his late beautifully situated home overlooking Jackson Park and Mill Creek for over thirty-nine years. He had never aspired to honor but preferred rather to live a retired life. He acquired a good deal of real estate in town, and spent most of his time in looking after his properties. It had been one characteristic of Mr. Kinsman that he always collected his own rents. Despite his advanced years he looked after his own business affairs and came down town regularly to as late as last fall. He was a very active man and was a well known figure about town.

Deceased always took a keen interest in the affairs of his world, especially of Canada and her destiny as a nation. He was a shrewd business-man and proved a most dependable advisor.

He had always been a Reformer but at the last general election voted for the late Hon. George A. Clare, for the first time registering a Conservative vote. The Reciprocity issue was the reason.

In religion he had been a consistent member of the Ainslie street Methodist church since its establishment here and was a trustee and a charter member of the congregation, although his failing sight and hearing for some time past prevented him from having any official connection with the congregation.

In view of the good health the late Mr. Kinsman had enjoyed and in anticipation that he would be spared to celebrate his 100th birthday arrangements were being made for a big celebration of all the kin-folks in honor of the event.

On Saturday, August 10, 1907, the last day of the Galt Old Boys' Reunion, a remarkable gathering of the various branches of the Kinsman family of which the late Nicholas Kinsman was the venerable head, was held at "Pine Hill" and at which there were about two hundred present. The kinsfolk represented included the Kinsmans, Wilkinses, Dennises, Robinsons, Roelofsons, and other well known families of the community.

The late Mr. Kinsman is survived by his wife and a family of five sons--Richard A., Dayton Washington; Joseph J., Plant City, Fla.; Harry J., Palmetto, Fla.; George W., Galt, and Alfred O., of Merrimac, Mass, and a large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The funeral will take place Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock from his late residence on the Macadamized road to Mount View Cemetery. It is requested that flowers be omitted..


The Galt Reporter 12 Apr 1915 (transcription supplied by Granville Kinsman 2016)

____________________

The kinsman house is at the corner of Dundas & Gore St. Gore street was the Kinsman farm the barn on the hill over looking Soper Park & Marion way.

Family Photograph:
werner_mahan originally shared this to Ancestry Public Member Tree

Nicholas married Severa Candalira Whitburn 1850, , Mexico. Severa (daughter of Joel Whitburn) was born 1 Feb 1833, Mexico; died 1 Apr 1918, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141511969
• Name: Severa Candalira Kinsman
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-61553
• Immigration: 1850, , Ontario, Canada
• Immigration: 1858, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Primitive Methodist
• Residence: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; N. C. Methodist
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Weslyan Methodist
• Residence: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Adventist

Notes:

Family Photograph:
werner_mahan originally shared this to Ancestry Public Member Tree

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-68452
• Occupation: 1852, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; mason
• Occupation: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mason
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodiist
• Residence: 1873, Beverly St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

In Galt, on Thursday morning, at a quarter to 11 o'clock, Nicholas Kinsman, Sr., aged 78 years and 10 months. Deceased was an old and very much respected resident of Galt, and has left many friends who will long mourn him. Funeral, on Saturday afternoon, at three o'clock, from his late residence Beverly Street, to the Galt Cemetery.

Reporter Aug 29 1873 pg 3

Nicholas — Mary Elizabeth Coombe. Mary was born 24 Dec 1794, , England; died 18 Jan 1892; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

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• Name: Mary Elizabeth Kinsman
• Name: Mary Elizabeth Kinsman
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-68453
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1871, Methodist
• Occupation: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lady
• Residence: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Notes:

'The death of this lady in her 98th year, which occurred last week, removed one of the very oldest, most respected residents of our town, and brings back the very early days of our town. Mr. and Mrs. Kinsman came to Galt in the Fall of 1847 or early in 1848, and her husband, being a mason by trade, after a short time erected a small stone house on the side of the road which then ran along Mill Creek between where Beverly Street now is and the railroad track. There was no road then where the road now runs under the CPR track, but the road then used came out of the creek through the land now owned by Mr. Thorn. Alison. The home stood there alone for many years, perhaps stands there yet, but the late Mr. Shade laying out Beverly Street, and the railway being built and changing the course of the old road, side tracked it, and left the only way of reaching it from Beverly Street.'

'Mrs. Kinsman was married in 1815, her husband dying in 1874, if we mistake not. Their family was very large, consisting of seventeen children, of whom only Mrs. Jane Wilkins, widow of the late William Wilkins, Mr. Nicholas Kinsman, stone road, and Mr. Richard Kinsman still survive, but there survive her as descendants, twenty-nine grandchildren, sixty-three great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. The deceased lady was a woman of very equable disposition, a humble and devoted Christian adherent of the Methodist Church, having been connected with that denomination almost from the first days of its struggle for existence. She was blessed in retaining her faculties, to the last and passed away most peacefully.^'1a


The Galt Reporter 19 Jan 1892

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• Eby ID Number: dnf-137022