Well, I’m back again with another SHORT newsletter this month.  It’s been a busy one….I’ve been doing research here and there, when I can, celebrating a birthday (number 39), and trying to get over the flu that keeps going, and going, and going………  So, ONE PAGE.  THAT’S IT.  At least for this month.

The McNairn family had spread by 1800 - with John in North America - and very early in the 1800’s we have brothers - who we aren’t sure of the whole story yet, who came to New Brunswick from the Galloway area. William and Anthony were born in Galloway in the 1780’s and came to New Brunswick on the ship DICKES in 1817. Part of the story that has been told is they came to join a brother in Canada - and at one point that brother was thought to be John - but he died in 1814 at the age of almost 60 - so I doubt he was their brother.

At the beginning of the 19th century we did have the War of 1812 between the US and the British - I haven’t checked out much on this as far as McNairn involvement - but I am very sure that John McNairn’s (UEL) children and or grandchildren must have been involved.

In 1817 when Anthony and William came to New Brunswick from Scotland, the war of 1812 was over, more states were being added to the US - (Mississippi in 1817) and some authors were born - Jane Austin who was a famous English novelist - and a brilliant American writer - Henry David Thoreau, special in my mind because he felt a man should "walk to the beat of a different drummer" .  I have always enjoyed that quote.

In 1819 - Walt Whitman and American poet was born while James Watt - who I mentioned invention of the steam engine last month - died. Also that same year Beethoven lost his hearing.

Cheryl’s great-great grandfather Elisha McNairn was born in 1823. My great-great grandfather, Samuel was born in 1830. Around those years, things happened like Mexico became a republic, The British medical journal The Lancet was first published, a baseball club was organized at Rochester New York. In 1829 William Booth, later founder of the Salvation Army was born, and the Royal Zoological Society took over the menagerie at the Tower of London, - this became the origin of the London Zoo. 1831 was when Charles Darwin sailed on the HMS Beagle to South American, New Zealand and Australia - on a surveying expedition.

On further - there are of course lots of things happening - but 1835 is when Hans Christian Andersen published the first four of his 168 tales for children. Mark Twain, American humorist  was born. Also PT Barnum began his career as a circus showman, exhibiting Joyce Heth, alleged nurse of George Washington and over 160 yrs old. In 1837 Queen Victoria began her reign in Great Britain, and England introduced official birth registration - (not in Scotland until 1855).

Next decade - in 1841 there was a Scottish surgeon named James Braid who discovered hypnosis.. In America, the first university degrees to women were granted. In 1844, Samuel Morse's telegraph was used for the first time between Baltimore and Washington. In 1846-1847 - Brigham Young led the Mormons from Illinois to the Great Salt Lake in Utah and founded Salt Lake City. Here is an interesting piece of history, - in 1847 the British Factory restricted the working day for women and children between the ages of 13 and 18 to 10 hours - can you imagine that. Well in 1850 there is more and more that goes on - I will leave that until next month - so bye for now.

Judi

Here is where I need your help.  Judi and I have been talking, as we do just about every day, about the possibility of organizing  a physical McNAIRN Reunion within the next couple of years.   We have decided that since most of the McNairns that we have corresponded with, and know personally, are in Ontario, that is where we should have the reunion.  What do you think?  Do you have any ideas about how we should go about arranging this sort of thing?  Any ideas about where exactly in Ontario we should have the reunion?  (Personally, I think anywhere but Toronto is fine!  I don’t want to have to drive through THAT traffic again!)  How long should it last?  1 day?  2?  What should we do for food…..carry in?  Charge?  Bring your own?  Any ideas would be really appreciated…..especially letting us know if you would be interested in attending.    Just write to Cheryl Grice at 901 W. Memorial Dr., Muncie, IN  47302 USA……….or email me at cheryllgrice@cs.com ……or even call me at 765-286-2816.  

See you next month!