John Laird^{[1, 2]}

1798 - 1878  (79 years)

• Name	John Laird
  Born	25 Dec 1798	Letterkenny, Donegal, Ireland   [3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/185196687
  Interesting	pioneer, story
  Misfortune	19 Jul 1831	Gulf of St. Lawrence, , Canada
  	shipwrecked on the "Lady Sherbrooke", lost his wife, three children, two brothers and three sisters
  	"The worst disaster of the early nineteenth century was the wreck of the Lady Sherbrooke (1831) at Cape Ray with the loss of 239 persons" Outrageous Seas. (2016). Google Books. Retrieved 11 September 2016, from https://books.google.ca/books?id=shWPE-0vzVEC&pg=PA35&lpg=PA35&dq=%22lady+sherbrooke%22+ship+wrecked&source=bl&ots=xrW-W0NzqR&sig=oKPi7vg0XU38-OfX2-TD9cgvcw8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiD7aPAyIfPAhWMNT4KHSfuCY4Q6AEIHjAA#v=onepage&q=%22lady%20sherbrooke%22%20ship%20wrecked&f=false
  Occupation	1852	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	farmer
  Occupation	1861	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1861	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Presbyterian
  Residence	1871	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Canada Presbyterian
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-399033
  Died	22 Dec 1878	Haysville, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4, 7]
  	Cause: old age
  Buried	Pinehill Cemetery, Pinehill, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  Person ID	I399033	Generations
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2024

  
  

  Father	Laird,   b. Abt 1770, of , Donegal, Ireland ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F3336	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Esther Hays,   b. Between 1801 and 1802, , Donegal, Ireland ,   d. 11 Jan 1841  (Age ~ 40 years)
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2024
  Family ID	F52482	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Mrs. John Laird,   b. CA 1800, , Ireland ,   d. 19 Jul 1831, Gulf of St. Lawrence, , Canada  (Age ~ 31 years)
  Married	Bef 1831	, Ireland
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2024
  Family ID	F52484	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 3	Rebecca Crotty,   b. 1808, , Limerick Co., Ireland ,   d. 17 Sep 1878, Haysville, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 70 years)
  Children	1. Maria Laird,   b. CALC 10 Jun 1843, Haysville, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 15 Feb 1874, McKillop Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 30 years)   2. Jane Laird,   b. 1844, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. Reeve Joseph Alexander Laird, Esq.,   b. 1844, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 8 Dec 1897, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 53 years)   4. Frances "Fanny" Laird,   b. 1 Sep 1848, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1 Apr 1926, Wingham, Turnberry Twp., Huron Co., Ontario  (Age 77 years)   5. Agnes Laird,   b. 1850, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2024
  Family ID	F264751	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  AN OLD LANDMARK GONE. Mr. John Laird, who died at his residence in Haysville, on the 22nd inst., at the ripe age of 80 years, was in many respects a remarkable man. His was indeed an eventful life. He was a good specimen of the pioneers of Canada these men who have made this country what it is. He was born near Letterkenny, County of Donegal, Ireland, on the 26th of December, 1798. He left Londonderry for Quebec on the ill-fated ship " Lady Sherbrooke," commanded by Capt. Gamble. The ship was wrecked on Bird Island, off the coast of Newfoundland. Out of 350 passengers 27 souls were saved. The Captain was afterwards tried and condemned to be hanged for wrecking the vessel for the insurance money. Mr. Laird was taken off the rocks by a coal vessel, having lost his wife, three children, two brothers and three sisters, and everything else, even to his very hat. He worked his way to New York, where he got employment in a hat establishment. At the request of the late R. Hays, Esq. whose sister he afterwards married, he came to Ingersoll and took up a farm. Here he took a job of chopping, and had to purchase an axe on credit but with indomitable perseverance he set to work to hew himself out a home in the wilds of Canada. With the intention of still pushing his fortune he came to Wilmot in the year 1836, along with Mr. Hays the founder of Haysville. Here he took up a farm and prospered in worldly matter, but another affliction overtook him. He was deprived of the partner of his toils and trials. He was again alone in the world, having no children alive, but his unwavering determination bore him through his solitary life. After a length of time, happening to visit Ingersoll, he got introduced to, the family of Henry Crotty, Esq., whose daughter he afterwards married, and by her he had one son and three daughters. He son is Joseph A. Laird, Esq., Deputy-Reeve of Wilmot, and his eldest daughter, who passed away five years ago, was the wife of Mr. John S. Brown, of McKillop, County of Huron. The next eldest is Mrs. Dr. Campbell, of Seaforth, the youngest being Mrs. H. Davis, of Wingham. he last great bereavement of his life, and the hardest trial of all, was the loss of the mother of his family, the aged partner of his declining years.. This happened three months before his own demise. Life had now no charms for him. He longed to follow. His wish was gratified he was attacked with gangrene and passed calmly away after a few days respected and regretted by all who knew him. Huron Expositor. Galt Reporter 10 Jan 1879 pg 3

  
  

• Sources

  [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Joseph A Laird Born: Wilmot Tp Age: 26 Father: John Laird Mother: Rebecca Laird Born: abt 1845 Spouse: Agnes Plum Age: 19 born: Wilmot Tp Father: William R Plum Mother: Ruth Plum married 25 Jan 1871 [S560] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - Pinehill Cemetery CC#4549 Cemetery Internet Link. [top of #6?] In memory of / Esther Hays / wife of / John / [broken] / and / [broken] [S134] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1851, Div 1 Pg 5. John LAIRD born Ireland Presbyterian Farmer 53 Rebecca LAIRD born Ireland Presbyterian 35 William THOMSON born Ireland Presbyterian Servant 14 Joseph LAIRD born Canada Presbyterian 8 Maria LAIRD born Canada Presbyterian 10 Jane LAIRD born Canada Presbyterian 6 Frances LAIRD born Canada Presbyterian 4 [S560] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - Pinehill Cemetery CC#4549 Cemetery Internet Link. Rebecca / wife of / John Laird / died Sep 17, 1878 / aged 69 years / a native of Co Limerick / Ireland / LAIRD / John Laird / died Dec 22, 1878 / aged 80 years / a native of Co Donegal / Ireland / Unswerving in their loyalty to duty / It was their mutual choice its path to trace / As with the landscapes cultured beauty / Declining years were crowned with grace / Death did not part them long [S190] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1871, Div. 2 Page 63. [S844] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1861, Sect. 5 Page 26. [S1338] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Galt Reporter (1846-1973), Obituary of John Laird - 10 Jan 1879. [S134] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1851, Div 1 Pg 5.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 25 Dec 1798 - Letterkenny, Donegal, Ireland Married - Bef 1831 - , Ireland Misfortune - shipwrecked on the "Lady Sherbrooke", lost his wife, three children, two brothers and three sisters - 19 Jul 1831 - Gulf of St. Lawrence, , Canada Occupation - farmer - 1852 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1861 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Presbyterian - 1861 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Canada Presbyterian - 1871 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: old age - 22 Dec 1878 - Haysville, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Pinehill Cemetery, Pinehill, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth