re.-Genealogy of the Stevenson Family written by Alexander Stevenson
1. Having been for some time past, desirous that coming generations of the family, might be able to trace their lineage farther back than to their grandfathers, 1 began this Record, hoping to afford information to those who may come after me, by letting them know something of their ancestors.
2. Not being able to furnish older dates, I begin with the births of our father, Robert Stevenson 1786 and Janet Crawford, his wife. (Born 1786)
1 have not room on this page to give many particulars. At some future time l.may write a more detailed account of some events that might prove interesting, to future generations of the family.
I shall only say here, that on the 28th day of March in the year 1818, our father bade farewell to his family in the village of Howwood, parish of Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
He took the road by Kilmarnock arid Ballarntrae to Port Patrick, thence by Packet to Donaghadee, Ireland, thence to Belfast thence in the Brig, Active of Ayr, Capt. McLean, - He sailed for St.. Andrews, New Brunswick, where he arrived on the Anniversary of the birth of George the Third towit, June 4th in the year 1818
He assisted in loading the Brig, with Timber at Digdeguash, which took about four weeks for which he received his board and, one dollar per day, then coming to St. Andrews got employment at his trade, shoemaking with the late, Benjamin W. Stymest, Tanner, who ever after proved his friend. he continued in his employ, until a short time before the arrival of his family.
He had commenced business on his own account in a shop, in one end, of the old. Market House, St. Andrews.
Our Mother and six of us, namely Neti Alexander, Charles, John, Matthew, Robert and James, embarked on board the Ship Jessie & Flora,
Captain Robert Love, who proved a kind, Considerate man to Mother and us.
On Sabbath morning the first day of August 1819 we set sail from the West Quay of Greenock. We had a comfortable pleasant passage of five weeks and three days to St. John,We were all. ashore at Mr Jaspar Stymests, and were most kindly treated. We were pressed by a Mr. Campbell, a Lochwinnoch man to lodge with him, that night. We were very well treated. Next day we returned on board the ship, waiting for the packet, - when she arrived, we were by Captain Love's directions, put on board the Sloop, "Lady Dashwood", John Pendlebury Master, On the fifteenth of September, we started for St. Andrews, where we arrived all well, on the Sixteenth day, at eleven o'clock, a.m.
On the passage we received very great kindness from Major Thomas Wyer and Mrs. Wyer. That night we occupied a house our father had secured for us at what is called "Happy Corner where. we resided the following winter. On the second of May 1820 we moved to a lot on the 'Western Commons, St. Andrews. On the 16th Sept. 1839 being the Anniversary of our arrival at St.Andrews, all the family with their wives and children, except Matthew's wife and children, she being weak to go from home met at Charles's house. They read, sang, and prayed together - there was great peace and unanimity among them, and they thought "how good and how pleasant it is for Brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity'" and resolved to keep this Anniversary so long as they should live. Play such peace attend their meetings in future, and when the hand that wrote this is cold in death, -1 trust the sixteenth of September will be a day of peace and unanimity among those who remain
May our Father in Heaven grant it for Christ's sake. Amen.
Alexander Stevenson at 35 years of age.
P.S. Revised and copied Dec. 7, 1870.