Time Travel Portals

I got to thinking the other day, that there are still places we can go where our ancestors lived and visited. These places are like time travel portals that magically give us an extra feeling of kinship when we visit. Try it one day; it's an amazing experience.

Here are a few portals to our ancestors' lives in the 17^th , 18th, 19th and early 20^th centuries:

Mathurin Villeneuve home being taken in by his descendant
(source: personal collection)

From 1666, and earlier, if you find yourself in France (as we did a few years ago), you can visit the home site of my husband’s ancestor, Mathurin Villeneuve. Twenty one year old Mathurin, a cooper by trade, emigrated to Quebec City from Sainte-Marie-de Ré, a tiny village on a tiny island on the west coast of France. The island is tropical, with wide beaches and palm trees so coming to the new world must have been quite a shock, if only for the weather. But Mathurin managed well, as he married (a 12 year old girl!), settled in Charlesbourg, Quebec and went on to father 15 children. The home he left behind in France is still there, still lived in over 350 years later, on the street that eventually was named for him.

Street name plaque in Sainte-Marie-de-Ré
(source: personal collection)

Believe it or not, there is a portal to an earlier time, at a place closer to us in Quebec, Canada.

In 1638, our Hunting ancestors, John and Hester (Esther), along with their little son John, emigrated with other Puritan families from Norfolk, England to the New World. They settled in the fledgling community of Dedham, Massachusetts, where John Hunting was chosen to be “Ruling Elder” of their new church, as he was considered to have been “of saintly disposition”. One of the Hunting’s neighbours would have been the Fairbanks family, who had built their home in the early days of the Dedham settlement. John Hunting, and possibly his wife, would have had occasion to visit with Jonathan and Grace Fairbanks, and you can visit too. The Fairbanks House in Dedham, Massachusetts still exists. (www.fairbankshouse.org) 

Can you picture John Hunting, in his sober Puritan clothing, and tall black hat, entering through the doorway shown below? I can. (Apparently the house has ghosts too!)

Typical Puritan Man's Attire
(source: thescarletletter.fandom.com/wiki/Puritan_Life)
(I know - you can find information in odd areas!)

The Fairbanks House
(source: timberhomeliving.com/articles/article/americas-haunted-timber-home)

In the late 1700’s our Cassidy ancestors arrived from Ireland. They first settled in Saint John, New Brunswick, but later established a large farm at what is now known as Cassidy Lake, near Sussex, New Brunswick. Though the farm itself is gone the property is now called “Camp Cassidy” and is being developed as a retreat for our veterans, serving forces, and first responders. We descendants can still get a feel for the vastness of the farm, by hiking the newly built paths. If you do go, keep an eye out for the remains of the apple orchard, still producing apples. For a further bit of time travel, visit the little chapel which Francis Edward Cassidy built in 1883 by the side of the lake. 

Francis Edward Cassidy Memorial Church, Cassidy Lake, NB
(source: personal collection)

If you’re not tired of time traveling yet, have a look at the home of our Parsons ancestors in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec. Now known as “Governors’ Cottage” or “Maison des Gouverneurs” , it is a Canadian National Historic Site. Our Parsons family are noted as the first civilian family to live in the house, taking tenancy in 1860 after it ceased to be a government residence. Another claim to fame, is held by the house itself: it is famous for being the first place in Canada to have a Christmas tree. But for our time travel purposes, when you stand in front of the building looking down the sloping lawns to the river, you might be able to picture the water jammed with logs floating by to the sawmills, or behind you, the Parsons family moving in in 1860.

Source: Directory of cultural heritage of Quebec

This picture, taken in 1860, could have been moving day. (Only after I found this picture online, did I learn that my grandmother, a Parsons grand-daughter, had the same picture on her wall).

And speaking of that grandmother, whose maiden name was Dancey, one more time travel portal, to the Dancey homes in Goderich, Ontario. There are two homes, both private, which can be strolled past and contemplated. One is the home of ship Captain T. N. Dancey, built in 1865 on East Street. The home suffered a fire in 1886. Though it was not totally destroyed. Captain Dancey did lose “several hundred dollars worth of ships’ tackle”, and his daughter and wife lost all their stored clothing. However, this, combined with the recent loss of his three ships, lead to great great grandfather Captain Dancey selling the home.

Captain T. N. Dancey's home in Goderich, Ontario (source: personal collection)

Captain Dancey’s son Loftus, a lawyer, built a lovely typically Victorian home at the corner of St. Vincent and Waterloo Streets in 1899. In her diary of the time, niece Lucy Brewer described the house as “Auntie’s new house which is awfully pretty.” It is pretty, and a lovely spot for the wedding of our Renwick/Dancey grandparents. Time travel to 1926 and picture the bridal party standing on those front steps after the ceremony in the parlour…

L: Loftus and Selena Dancey's house in Goderich, Ontario
R: 1926 Wedding party photo on steps of the house; H. Renwick & D. Dancey & family
(source: personal collection)

2020 That's all the traveling for today; hope you're not too tired. If you’re curious about the family, but not keen on statistics, try a trip through a time travel portal!