Sarah Baird

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William married Elizabeth Baird in 1863. Elizabeth (daughter of George Baird) was born on 1 Nov 1841 in Ontario, Canada; died on 1 Feb 1903 in Ontario, Canada; was buried in Westmeath Union Cemetery, Westmeath, Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Died:
Mrs. S. J. Baird of Arnprior mourns the loss of her mother, Mrs. Wm. Baird, who died in Westmeath on Sunday, February 1st, after a long illness, aged 61 years and 3 months. The funeral, which was a very large one, took place to the Methodist Church, Westmeath Township, Renfrew County,and thence to the Cemetery there. Deceased was born on the 9th Line of Fitzroy, being daughter of the late George Baird. Her mother is still living in Fitzroy, rear Kinburn, as is also an only brother, Mr. Wm Baird. Besides her husband there survive four sons and three daughters, namely John of Marathon, William of Westmeath Township, Renfrew County,George and James on homestead, Mrs. William Major of Ottawa, Mrs. S. J. Baird of Arnprior and Mrs. Thompson Kilgour on the homestead
Source: Family Papers - Newspaper clipping

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Died:
John Baird, born in 1802, was a weaver by trade in Ireland. He was quoted as saying that he arrived in Bytown (Ottawa) in the fall of 1827 and obtained the only available employment at the time - work on the Rideau Canal. He appears to have been the first of the Bairds to come over. In the spring of 1828, his wages were all spent on board and clothing and he had only seven pence ha'penny to his name. (a single silver coin, the size of a new five-cent piece but flat like a dime). At that time, there was no paper money in Ireland, only gold sovereigns ($5.00) or half sovereigns ($2.50) being used. To decide whether to remain at his Bytown job or strike out into the country, he flipped his coin "head" for leaving Bytown and "Harp" for staying. It came up "heads" so he walked "up the line" searching for an unclaimed, pleasing piece of land, until deciding to settle on what is now the 10th line of Fitzroy Township, Carleton County, . On the advice of those who had proceeded him, he "squatted" on the land and started to clear the rear of N/E 1/2 Lot 2, Concession 9, Fitzroy Township, Carleton County, Ontario. Each January, the government sent an agent from Toronto to record claims and accept payments, since it would have been impossible for all of the settlers themselves to go to Toronto. Hence the practice of "squatting". John sowed fall wheat where he cleared in 1828 and seemed to have been pleased with the results. With ashes he bought to make potash (which brought him five pounds per barrel) he earned extra money with which to pay for his farm. At this time, he owned a yoke of oxen, a cow and two pigs and his house was a log "shanty" similar to the ones owned by the other settlers. John is quoted as saying that "they never wanted for anything" - but one must remember that he belonged to another generation.

John married Sarah Gourley. Sarah was born in Jan 1811 in County Tyrone, Ulster, Northern Ireland; died on 3 Aug 1898 in Kinburn, Fitzroy Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada; was buried in St. Paul's Anglican Cemetery, Kinburn, Ottawa Municipality, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Died:
Mrs John Baird. On Saturday morning one of the pioneers of Fitzroy Township, Carleton County, was carried to her last long resting place, viz., Mrs John Baird of the tenth line of Fitzroy. Her remains were carried from the old homestead of the tenth line to the Church of England, on the ninth line, where an eloquent funeral service was conducted by Rev. Mr. Scantlebury, of Carp. They were afterwards interred in the Church of England cemetery on the ninth line. The aged lady was over 90 years of age. Her maiden name was Gourley. During the last few years of her life the Baird homestead, on the tenth line, enjoyed the distinction of Harbouring four generations in direct succession, viz., the Mrs. John Baird, now gone to her last home, her son John Baird, his son John Baird, wife and several small children. She left a large connection. Notwithstanding the busy harvest weather, and the exceptionally fine day, over eighty carriages followed the body to the grave.
Source: Ottawa Journal, Friday, August 12, 1898