Hector's Family Tree

I thought it would be helpful to lay out Hector's tree so to easily see what his family looks like.  I'll detail the individual families in the near future. 

Homesteaders!

Hector and Jane homesteaded in Lancaster County, Nebraska.  They made application March 16, 1872 for an 80 acre parcel of land - Section 24 - Twp 12 - Range 4E

They proved up on it and received their land certificate Oct. 8. 1877.  

They filed for an additional 80 adjacent to it in March 1880.  

Can you imagine a family of 5 living in a 14 X 19 foot, one story house with three windows and one door??

They had also filed a Timber Conservation claim on one parcel, but had that revoked as they had not planted the required number of trees. 

Here is Hector's final naturalization document that was attached to his homestead application as proof of his citizenship.

The naturalization process began in Cedar County, Iowa when they stopped and stayed there in 1870-1871.

On to Nebraska!

Hector and Jane moved their family from Cedar County, Iowa after a short stay there.  In the 1878 Nebraska census, they show up in Lancaster County, living in West Oak precinct.

They are shown living with the Donisthorp family.  I don't know how the two families came to be acquainted.  Sidney Donisthorpe eventually married Elizabeth McLean.

Where is GGGrandma Elizabeth??

So the search was on. . .where was Elizabeth?  Well, as luck would have it, I found her living back in Seymour, Ontario where the family moved from.  She was living with her aunt, uncle and grandmother as shown here in the 1871 Seymour Twp. census.  The pieces are starting to fit together!

By this time, I knew that Hector's mom was Agnes (Hunter) Curling.  My great grandmother had a wonderful scrapbook full of clues about this family.  One page had several clippings about Dinwoodies.  I didn't know the full significance of those clippings until I found this census.  Upon further research, I learned that both of Hector's sisters married Dinwoodie brothers. 

Hector and Jane Move South!

Years ago, as I was exploring Hector's homestead land application in Nebraska, I found his Naturalization application completed in Cedar Co. Iowa attached to his file.  I tucked that bit of information away and hadn't really thought much about it until last Spring.

I was taking a look at this very challenging project.  Piece by piece.  I put together a timeline for the family and realized that I didn't have a listing for them in the 1870/71 census.  I searched and searched.  Finally, there it was.  The family was shown living in Cedar Co. Iowa in the 1870 census record. 

I really didn't understand the significance of the location at that time.  More on that later!  What I did notice was that my great great grandmother wasn't living in the home at that time.  She would have been 13 years of age, so I found that curious for her not to be at home with her parents.

So the search was on!

Hector and Jane's Family

According to the St. Andrew's church, Hector and Jane had 3 children.  

Elizabeth Heseltine b. 1858 (my gggrandmother)

Isabella b. 1861

Allen John Campbell b. 1862

Hector Marries Jane Whitton

Jane Whitton is the daughter of James Whitton and Elizabeth Heseltyne Whitton of Yorkshire, England.  They moved to Ontario in 1839 and located in Seymour township in 1849.  They ran an inn and cheese business, making the first cheese in Northumberland County.  They had 9 children.  Jane was the oldest.

Hector and Jane were married at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Burnbrae, Seymour township, Northumberland Co. Ontario in 1856 according to the Marriage Register by Rev. R. Neill.  Donald McLean witnessed the marriage.

Hector's Early Life

I don't know much about Hector's early life.  His obituary notes that he came to Ontario, Canada with his family when he was 3 years old.  That would be 1836 if everything is accurate.

I found an 18 year old Hector McLean on the 1851 Northumberland County Ontario census, Seymour Twp. pg. 85, working as a labourer living in the household of Thomas Masson.  This may or may not be "my" Hector.  He is in the right neighborhood!

That's really all I know about his early life.

His mother Agnes, did go on to marry a man named Daniel Curling in 1840.  They had two daughters,  Mary Duncan Curling and Sarah Ann Curling.  They farmed in Seymour Twp., Northumberland Co., Ontario.

Hector McLean

Here's a photo of Hector McLean.  

Hector's Birth Record

According to a variety of sources, Hector McLean was born in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland on October 24, 1833.  After a long, drawn out search, I was able to find him in the South Leith parish records on microfilm (FHL British Film #1067776).              

It appears that he was the illegitimate son of Agnes Hunter.  Here's the record. 

 

Hector was known as Hector McLean all of his adult life.

Getting Started

At the end of "Genealogy Season" last Spring, I had the exciting chance to break through part of one of those "brick walls" that can sometimes plague a genealogist for years!  I work full time as a 4-H Agent, so the winter months are my time to really focus on the family history research.  It's time to get back to this project!

For years I've been trying to find the parents of my gggrandfather, Hector McLean.  There are a lot of little clues.  Some puzzling, others fit right in.  I was able to locate Hector's birth record in the church book in Edinburgh Scotland via microfilm.  There it was. . . his mother's name. . . Agnes Hunter.  I would never have guessed that I would be "Hunting" 4 Hunters on this journey! 

Several years ago, I took some wise advise and created a website focusing on one of my lines.  I've met several amazing cousins, thanks to that site.  So now it's time to focus on Hector.  Over the next few weeks of my "genealogy season", I'll post what I do know about Hector here in hopes of learning who his father was and more about his life.  

That awesome church record that recorded his birth and listed his mother's name, only listed McLean as his father.  Well, there are many McLeans out there!  The search is on!