A strong woman
is one who can build
a firm foundation
with the bricks used to block her path
Every once in a while, I have one of those days that remind me that no matter what I am going through, I come from a long line of very strong women. I have shared the stories of some of these woman throughout my blog. These women would probably never have been given international awards or medals of honor. However, they were each strong and incredible woman in their own right. We often celebrate the heroes in our genealogy research, most of which are men. Today I want to celebrate the woman in my genealogy that struggled, loved, and survived in order to allow me to live the life I do today.
Sarah (Belden) Burt (1682 - 1749): Taken captive by Indians on February 29, 1704. She was 8 months pregnant at the time with her first child. She and her husband Benjamin, not only survived captivity but lived long enough to be rescued. Sarah gave birth to her first child Christopher. On the voyage home to Massachusetts, Sarah gave birth to her second son Seaborn. You can read more about Sarah (Belden) Burt, in the blog post: Benjamin Burt and His Family: Captives of the Deerfield Massacre
Mary Catherine (Clunas) McKenzie (1785 - 1857): Mary Catherine Clunas married Donald McKenzie in 1812 in Scotland, that same year they traveled almost 3,000 miles to Nova Scotia, Canada and then on to Malahide Township, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada to homestead in a new and untamed land. You can read more about Mary Catherine (Clunas) McKenzie in the blog post: Donald McKenzie, Talbot Settler of Elgin County, Ontario, Canada
Elizabeth (Miller) Faught (1845 - 1871): A young mother, suffering from a life-threatening disease. She fought with everything she had to find a cure that would allow her to stay with her husband and newborn daughter. You can read more about Elizabeth (Miller) Faught in the blog post: Elizabeth Miller and the hope of a cure
Sarah Ann (Healy) Hawley (1851 1924): Sarah Ann Healy, my 2nd great grandmother, left her home country of Ireland about the age of 16 to set off on her own to a new home in America. Once she arrived in America, she found her way to a small lumbering town called Alpena. She raised seven children and outlived all but two of them. She then made the long trip from Northern Michigan to Bellflower, California, and then back again after her husband's death. You can learn more about her life on her page or from one of the many blog posts I have written about her and her family.
Mary Anna (Faught) McKenzie (1870 - 1929): Mary Anna Faught, my 2nd great grandmother, overcame many struggles in her life, from losing her mother before the age of five, separated from her father and raised by her grandparents. Mary Anna grew up and married Alexander McKenzie. Alexander passed away at the age of 56, leaving Mary Anna with seven children to raise. Learn more about the tough woman by reading the blogs I have written about
Vera (Mason) Royer (1903 - 1982): Vera Ellen Mason, my great grandmother, was born around the turn of the century and married at 21. She raised five children through some of the most horrible and wonderful events in history. In her lifetime, she witnessed four wars (WWI, WWII, The Korean War, and The Vietnam War), lived through the great depression, saw woman gain the right to vote and the end of racial segregation. Most of her life she survived with a 7th-grade education. Until, at the age of 76, she went back to school to earn her high school diploma. I am proud to call this strong woman my great grandmother. Read more about this in the blog post: It is Never too Late to Learn...
Edna Jean (Burt) McKenzie (1927 - 2013): Edna Jean Burt was my grandmother. It is hard to summarize her strength because she is one of those people that made such a huge difference in the lives of so many. Born the youngest daughter of a minister, she grew up to raise five wonderful children. Throughout her life, she was the glue that held our family together. It was her quiet but constant strength and faith that my McKenzie family is built upon. She not only cared for her family but all those around her. Her love and courage were contagious and I for one am proud to say that she is my grandmother.
Donald McKenzie, my 4th great grandfather was born in Scotland in 1787. He married Mary Catherine Clunas on May 30, 1812. That same year Donald and Mary, immigrated from their home in Scotland to New York and lived there for a short time. Donald and his wife moved to Nova Scotia, Canada where their first child Donald McKenzie II was born on May 1, 1813. Between May of 1813 and June of 1817, the family moved to Malahide township in Middlesex County (now known as Elgin County), Ontario, Canada.
There was quite a bit going on in Malahide Township during this time period. In fact, the township was organized, only a few short years before in 1810.
He chose a property which today is in Elgin County in adjoining townships, Dunwich and Aldborough (today called West Elgin) when his petition for 5,000 acres was granted in 1803. It was May 21, 1803, that he landed at a spot which has been called since Port Talbot and built a log cabin. Nearby,
- The settler must erect a "good and sufficient building" of at least 16 x 20 feet, to be occupied by the owner or a "substantial" tenant
- 10 acres had to be cleared and fenced within 2 years
- 1/2 the road had to be cleared in front of the lot
- No tree was to be left standing within 100 feet of the road
Lesson Learned: I love the study of history and genealogy and when you can place one of your direct ancestors in a time period of such great change and exploration, it is a truly humbling experience. Donald McKenzie and his young wife left their home in Scotland to find their place in the world and worked hard to settle in an untamed land. I believe that this McKenzie strength and pride still shows in my family today. I am proud of the McKenzie name and honored to call it my own.