Blair Family History
The earliest record I have found on John Blair is the 1851 census
of Ross township, Renfrew County. He is shown living with a Jean Blair. Both are listed
as single.
The next record is the 1861 census where he shows up living a short distance away from where
he was ten years earlier. This time we fine him living next to a William Blair and his family.
Going back we fined that William Blair was there in 1851. William is about ten years older than
John. His oldest son was 19 in 1961 and was born in Canada. There is no record of how William
and John are related but they may have been brothers.
The next record is in August of the same year when he marries Elizabeth
Peever. The registration shows him as born in County Antrim Ireland to Robert Blair and
Elizabeth Meth (possibly Wreth).
Elizabeth was born in 1836 near Ottawa. her parents, James Peever and Anne Peevor, were married in
Ballyseedy, Cty Kerry, Ireland in 1827. James and Anne also lived in Pontiac County Quebec and Admaston towship in Renfrew County. James passed away in 1879 in Wiclow Township in North Hastings
John and Elizabeth are still shown in the same place in Renfrew County in the 1871 census but in 1881 he is in Wicklow Township in Hastings
County, just North of Maynooth. His son Alexander was born there in 1878 the youngest on seven children. John passed away in late Dec. 1885.
Elizabeth continued to farm the homestead with her children until her death in 1906.
Her son Alexander took over the farm and in 1907 he married Wilhemina Maschke. They had seven children the youngest was Alfred (Taylor).
Alexander died along with his brother Alfred (Ab) during a epedemic of influensa in June of 1923. Wihelmina continued farming with the help of her
six sons and one daughter until the 1950s.
Taylor was married in 1951 to Dela Linke. I was born in Bancroft hospital in June of 1957 the forth of their children.
Later that year they moved closer to Maynooth so the oldest of their children could attend school.
Taylor and Dela had 7 children and 11 grandchildren, one son, Carson, died as an infant. Taylor passed away in 1992. and the first of their four great grand children was born just after he died. Dela continued to live in Maynooth until her death in Feb. 2003. The decendants of John & Elizabeth Blair are now spread from Dartmouth N.S. to Vancouver B.C.