The Minor Family of Somerset

Hugh's father, Alexander, did not seem to believe that Hugh wa
s a
farmer. Or perhaps he expressed some other mission in life. Ale
x had
enough land toprovide farms for all his sons; he had his own la
nd,
Granted as UEL, plus the land of his wife, who had also receive
d a
Grant. However he made other provision for Hugh in his will, whi
ch has
been preserved. Alex wrote this will in 1834, 2 years before Hug
h
married Harriet Charlotte Rose Carr, a widow, his 1st wife.
Hugh Ross was born in Williamstown, Ontario on 19 July, 1804.
However, he moved from there at some point. There is a record o
f a
HughRoss enrolled in the 4th Regiment of the Leeds Militia in 1
828; he
is listed as being 24 years of age at that time. He married Harr
iet
Charlotte RoseCarr in Merrickville on 27 December, 1836. He wa
s 32
when he married her.... rather late it seems. He had several chi
ldren
with Harriet, as well as having 2 step-daughters: children of Ha
rriet's
by her first husband. About 1857, Harriet died, likely while the
y were
still in Richmond, Ontario. Following that, he seems to have rel
ocated
to southWestern Ontario, and having done so, he remarried, a Mar
garet
Ann Eastman Blodgett, another widow, who is interred with him i
n
Palmerston, Cemetery ; his address in Palmerston, athis death
, is
given as corner of Daly Street and Harriston Road. His son Richa
rd
Rose, who seems previously to have lived in the Ottawa area, mov
edto
Molesworth, a short crow flight from Palmerston.
Hugh's earlier proximity to Merrickville may indicate that he wa
s
working in some capacity on theRideau Canal, ar at least some o
ccupation
which was promoted by the canalconstruction. The Rideau was und
er
construction from 1826-1832; and apparently was rather dangerou
s work;
as well as the typical types of accidents incidental to contruct
ion sites
at the time, there were reports of workers dying of malaria. How
ever
Hugh lived to a ripe old age.... especially for a Ross (88 year
s old).
Merrickville is right on the canal; the construction was complet
ed 4
years prior to his marriage. There were, however, other occupati
ons in
Merrickville at the time, since its proximity to the canal gav
eit
certain economic advantages; Hugh's occupation in the 1851 censu
s report
is listed as 'waggonmaker'. With the completion of the canal, an
d
laterthe adoption of Ottawa as capital, the growth in the entir
e area
was quiteconsiderable.
The 1842 Census shows Hugh Ross as living in Goulburn Tsp, Carle
ton
County; the 1851 Census shows the family resident in Richmond Vi
llage.
Son, Richard's birth was registered in Richmond. In that 1851 ce
nsus,
Hugh is listed as being 48, born in C.W. (Canada West), and hi
s wife as
Harriet, age 48, U.S. born. The census included, in decending or
der:
Rachel and Eliza Carr (Hugh's step-daughters); Emily J. Ross; Ha
rriet
Ross; RichardRose Ross; Hanna Ross and Eunice Ross, the younges
t
listed as 3 years of age in 1851. The 1861 census does not inclu
de them
, thus by that time, Hughprobably had moved further West; in th
e 1871
census, he is recorded in Listowel, Ontario, along with wife Mar
garet, 46
years of age (20 years youngerthan he), Hannah, age 20, and Mar
garet
(Blodgett), his step daughter, age16. In the 1881 census, he i
s listed
as 76 years of age; his wife Margaretas 56 and Margaret Blodget
t as
24. The occupation for them all is listed as'weaver'. Followin
g this,
at some time, they moved to Palmerston where both Hugh and Marga
ret Ann
resided until their deaths. There is a Richard Ross, 19 years o
f age, a
single entry, in the census for North Gower for 1861,doubtles
s Hugh's
son, who had not yet moved West to Molesworth.
Hugh's grave in Palmerston lists his age and date of death, plu
s
that of his 2nd wife, Margaret Ann Eastman Blodgett. On the ston
e

The marriage of Hugh Ross and Harriet Rose is recorded in WFT C
D 294
Ontario Register. Johnstown District Marriage Register.
Hugh Ross and Harriet Roseboth of Montague 27
December 1836 in Montague
witnesses: David W. Langden and Sally Brown
Rev. Alma Adams, Wesleyan Methodist,
Merrickville