Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Nicholas Grenfell Kinsman

Nicholas Grenfell Kinsman

Male 1819 - 1915  (96 years)

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  • Name Nicholas Grenfell Kinsman 
    Born 25 Jan 1819  St. Day, Gwennap, , Cornwall, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
    Gender Male 
    Family Photograph
    • werner_mahan originally shared this to Ancestry Public Member Tree
    Nicholas Grenfell Kinsman, wife Severa and son Richard Albert
    Nicholas Grenfell Kinsman, wife Severa and son Richard Albert
    werner_mahan originally shared this to Ancestry Public Member Tree
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108293515 
    Occupation 1841  Gwennap, , Cornwall, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    mason 
    Residence 1841  Gwennap, , Cornwall, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Immigration 1844  , Mexico Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Immigration 1858  , Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Immigration 1858  , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Occupation 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Mason 
    Residence 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Primitive Methodist 
    Occupation 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Mason 
    Residence 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    N. C. Methodist 
    Occupation 1881  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Mason 
    Residence 1881  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Weslyan Methodist 
    Occupation 1891  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Farmer 
    Residence 1891  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Methodist 
    Occupation 1911  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Income 
    Residence 1911  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Methodist 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-61552 
    Died 10 Apr 1915  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 5
    Cause: accident causing fracture of nose and injury to base of skull, died of old age after accid 
    Buried Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Person ID I61552  Generations
    Last Modified 25 Apr 2024 

    Father Nicholas Grenfell Kinsman,   b. 28 Oct 1799, , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Aug 1878, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years) 
    Mother Mary Elizabeth Coombe,   b. 24 Dec 1794, , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Jan 1892  (Age 97 years) 
    Family ID F17923  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Severa Candalira Whitburn,   b. 1 Feb 1833, Mexico Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Apr 1918, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 85 years) 
    Married 1850  , Mexico Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Children 
     1. Richard Albert Kinsman,   b. 1854, Mexico Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Jun 1924, Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)
     2. Gertrude Kinsman,   b. 1875, , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Joseph James Kinsman,   b. 1855, Mexico Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1931, Sarasota, Sarasota, Florida, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years)
     4. Mary Ann Kinsman,   b. 14 May 1858, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Jul 1906, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 48 years)
     5. Joel Henry "Harry" Kinsman,   b. 16 Nov 1860, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Oct 1938, Tarpon Springs, Hillsborough, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years)
     6. George Whitburn Kinsman,   b. 29 Aug 1862, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Alice Victoria Kinsman,   b. 5 Aug 1864, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Nov 1889, Tarpon Springs, Hillsborough, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 25 years)
     8. Alfred Oberlina Kinsman,   b. 1 Apr 1866, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 May 1955, Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 89 years)
     9. Simon Nicholas Kinsman,   b. 3 Jan 1869, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1874, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 4 years)
     10. Catherine Consche Kinsman,   b. 27 Jan 1876, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     11. Gertrude Concha Kinsman,   b. 27 Jun 1877, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Jul 1907, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 30 years)
    Last Modified 26 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F16088  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Eliza Jane Trelake,   b. 1819, , Cornwall, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 1850  (Age < 30 years) 
    Married 22 Dec 1840  St. Day, Gwennap, , Cornwall, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Eliza Jane Kinsman,   b. 1841, , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1892  (Age 51 years)
     2. Nicholas John Dander Kinsman,   b. 1843, St. Day, Gwennap, , Cornwall, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 May 1918  (Age 75 years)
    Last Modified 26 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F28899  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • 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.

      _____________________


      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.

  • Sources 
    1. [S259] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1901, Galt (Town/Ville) C-5 Page 7.

    2. [S122] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Mount View CC#4495 Internet Link .
      Nicholas Grenfell Kinsman/ 1819-1915/ his wife/ Severa Candalira Whiborn/ 1833-1918/ Simon N./ son of/ N.G. & S. Kinsman/ 1869-1874/ Kinsman

    3. [S116] Vit - ON - Death Registration.
      Nicholas Grenfell d. 10 Apr 1915 Galt aged 96y, 2m, 15d, b. England, cause: accident causing fracture of nose and injury to base of skull, died of old age after accident. (coma due to accident about 12 hours)

    4. [S205] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1881, Div. 1 Page 55.

    5. [S793] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Galt Reporter (1846-1973), "Called By Death At Age of Ninety-Seven N. G. Kinsman....," 12 Apr 1915.

    6. [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 46.

    7. [S572] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1911, Div. 15 Page 11.

    8. [S1838] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1861, Galt 1861 Div. 3 Page 34.

    9. [S1800] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1891, Section 2 Page 136.

    10. [S2775] Census - England - 1841, Class: HO107; Piece: 137; Book: 12; Civil Parish: Gwennap With St Day; County: Cornwall; Enumeration District: 22; Folio: 7; Page: 7; Line: 20; GSU roll: 241260.
      Nicholas Kinsman age 20 b. Cornwall, Occ, Mason
      Eliza 20 b. Cornwall

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 25 Jan 1819 - St. Day, Gwennap, , Cornwall, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 22 Dec 1840 - St. Day, Gwennap, , Cornwall, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - mason - 1841 - Gwennap, , Cornwall, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1841 - Gwennap, , Cornwall, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1844 - , Mexico Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 1850 - , Mexico Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1858 - , Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1858 - , Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Mason - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Primitive Methodist - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Mason - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - N. C. Methodist - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Mason - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Weslyan Methodist - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1891 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1891 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Income - 1911 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Methodist - 1911 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: accident causing fracture of nose and injury to base of skull, died of old age after accid - 10 Apr 1915 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth