Pioneers of St. Clair County, Michigan - Person Sheet
Pioneers of St. Clair County, Michigan - Person Sheet
NameRobert Collin READ 
Settlement1824, Iona, Elgin, Ontario, Canada1179, p 1 Age: 27
Settlement18301179, p 1 Age: 33
MemoEuphemia Twp., near Florence, Kent Co., Ontario
Settlement1846, Harwich, Kent, Ontario, Canada1179, p 1 Age: 49
MemoLittle Mill Farm
Will8 May 18671180 Age: 70
MemoCodicil
Death11 May 1867, Harwich, Kent, Ontario, Canada1181, date only,1179, p 1 Age: 70
BurialField Cemetery, Harwich, Kent, Ontario1182
FatherRobert READ (1761-1830)
MotherMary RIPLEY (1765-1830)
Individual Notes
• Robert C. Read, born 27 July 1796 near Amherst, Nova Scotia, died 11 May 1867 at “Little Mill Farm,” River Road, Harwich Twp., Kent Co., Ontario.1179, p 1
• Birth Date of 27 Jul 1791.1181
• In 1824, they came to Iona and in 1831, moved to Zone Tsp., Kent County, where at that time but tow or three families had yet settled. In 1846, Mr. Read bought 200 acres of wild land in Harwich, and he and his wife lived thereon the remainder of their lives, and died, he on May 12, 1867, and she in 1885. They were devoted Baptists, and founders of that religious body in this neighborhood316, p 6
• Named in his grandmother’s will.316, p 10
• Birth Date of 27 Jul 1791.1181
• In 1824, they came to Iona and in 1831, moved to Zone Tsp., Kent County, where at that time but tow or three families had yet settled. In 1846, Mr. Read bought 200 acres of wild land in Harwich, and he and his wife lived thereon the remainder of their lives, and died, he on May 12, 1867, and she in 1885. They were devoted Baptists, and founders of that religious body in this neighborhood316, p 6
• Named in his grandmother’s will.316, p 10
Spouses
Birth25 Sep 1798, Clandeboye, County Down, Northern Ireland680, p 2,1181, date only,1179,1182,686, p 1; date & Ireland only
Death26 Feb 1890, Harwich, Kent, Ontario, Canada1181, date only,1179,1182 Age: 91
Death26 Feb 1890, Northwood, Kent, Ontario, Canada686, p 1 Age: 91
BurialField Cemetery, Harwich, Kent, Ontario, Canada687
FatherDavid NELSON (<1768-1814)
MotherElizabeth HAMILTON (1774-1839)
Individual Notes
• “To Iona 1824, there till 183-, then to township near Florence, then 1846 to Little Mill Farm, River Road, Harwich, near Chatham - d. there.”
Source: Information given to Robert Jones by Ernest Coates of Nova Scotia; sent to DWM by Robert Jones, 7/8/1991. Mr. Coates obtained his information from Jane (Read) Nelson.
• Mary Hamilton Nelson, born 25 Sept 1798 at Clandeboye, near Belfast, Ireland, died at “Little Mill Farm” on 26 Feb 1890.
Robert & Mary were married in Nova Scotia 1820, moved from Nova Scotia, 1824 to Iona settlement near St. Thomas, Ont., moved to township of Euphemia near Florence, Ont., 1830, moved to Little Mill Farm, Harwich twp. 1846.1179, p 1
• Married in NS to Robert C. Read in 1821. In 1824 moved to Iona, Ont.680, p 1
• Newspaper Clipping: Harwich
Died-- on Wednesday, 26th Feb., at her residence, River Road, Harwich, Mrs. Mary Read, relict of the late Robert Read, aged 91 years. Deceased was born in Ireland and came to Nova Scotia while yet in her teens, was married there and afterwards moved from there to this place, where [she] spent many happy years in the fairest country of all where she had remained, ever since. She was the mother of ten children, all of whom are living except two; and was a lady of more than ordinary strength and ambition, which her family have inherited in a great measure. She died rejoicing in hope of a blessed immortality beyond the grave.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Mills, Marysville, Mich., have been here attending the funeral of the late Mrs. Mary Read. Mr. Mills returned immediately after the funeral, but Mrs. Mills remained and is the guest of Mrs. S. E. Arnold this week.316, pp 3-4
Source: Information given to Robert Jones by Ernest Coates of Nova Scotia; sent to DWM by Robert Jones, 7/8/1991. Mr. Coates obtained his information from Jane (Read) Nelson.
• Mary Hamilton Nelson, born 25 Sept 1798 at Clandeboye, near Belfast, Ireland, died at “Little Mill Farm” on 26 Feb 1890.
Robert & Mary were married in Nova Scotia 1820, moved from Nova Scotia, 1824 to Iona settlement near St. Thomas, Ont., moved to township of Euphemia near Florence, Ont., 1830, moved to Little Mill Farm, Harwich twp. 1846.1179, p 1
• Married in NS to Robert C. Read in 1821. In 1824 moved to Iona, Ont.680, p 1
• Newspaper Clipping: Harwich
Died-- on Wednesday, 26th Feb., at her residence, River Road, Harwich, Mrs. Mary Read, relict of the late Robert Read, aged 91 years. Deceased was born in Ireland and came to Nova Scotia while yet in her teens, was married there and afterwards moved from there to this place, where [she] spent many happy years in the fairest country of all where she had remained, ever since. She was the mother of ten children, all of whom are living except two; and was a lady of more than ordinary strength and ambition, which her family have inherited in a great measure. She died rejoicing in hope of a blessed immortality beyond the grave.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Mills, Marysville, Mich., have been here attending the funeral of the late Mrs. Mary Read. Mr. Mills returned immediately after the funeral, but Mrs. Mills remained and is the guest of Mrs. S. E. Arnold this week.316, pp 3-4
Census
• 1881 Canada Census: Harwich, Kent, Ontario. Age 78, b Ireland. Widow. F Baptist.1184
Marriage18 Jan 1821, Amherst, Cumberland, Nova Scotia, Canada680, p 4; year only,1185, date only,1186, p 2; date only,1182
Family Notes
• In 1824, they came to Iona and in 1831, moved to Zone Twp., Kent County, where at that time but two or three families had yet settled. In 1846, Mr. Read bought 200 acres of wild land in Harwich, and he and his wife lived thereon the remainer of their lives, and died, he on May 12, 1867, and she in 1885 [sic]. They were devoted Baptists, and founders of that religious body in this neighborhood.316, p 6
ChildrenWilliam C. (1821-1883)
Mary (1822-1909)
Stephen (1824-1901)
Frances (1826-1918)
Thomas (1828-1903)
Jane (1830-1911)
Eleanor (1832-1894)
Elizabeth (1836-1913)
John Collin (1843-1926)
Dolly Ann (Died as Child) (1846-1857)