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- Unproven data -( recd from Slaght connection) ANC file # AFN:1QPV-N3C
Joseph Weeks (Wicks) married Rhoda Carnes. Issue is daughter Rhoda
Weeks(Wicks) married Silas Slaght - a descendant of Job, Job Slaght Jr. Rhoda Weeks and Silas Slaght were married January 29, 1843 See Slaght Genealogy for continuation.
Fact: Joseph Weeks married Charity Kern and children listed are Rhoda and 7 sons; John, Amos, Joseph,Walter, Ira, Ransom, and Isaac. I believe that the Slaght info is still applicable to this family as the Kern surname was often pronounced and spelled 'carnes, Karn'. The error is in naming bride and mother with the same christian name of 'Rhoda'.
#8916 June 25 1828, Daniel Miller Weeks, (heir et law of Amos Weeks) sold to Joseph Weeks 100 acres N 1/2 out of a total of 200 acres of land on Lot 9 concession 8 in Walpole Township, Haldimand County.
#8917 Oct 11 1832, Joseph Weeks sold the above property (100 acres N 1/2) of Lot 9 Concession 8 in Walpole Township to Harrison Oakes for 32 pounds.
Fact: Land Agreements/Documents
Joseph Weeks of Dereham, Ont. bought land Lot 5, Concession 9 issue date 5 1846-02-24 ND, type CL RG Series 01-C1113 ref/vol # 002, Pg 090 ( It seems feasible that Joseph Weeks and family moved to Oxford County about 1832 but it wasn't until 1846 before the Deed was finalized in Joseph's name) hw
Subsequently Joseph Weeks purchased the following land:
in Middleton Lot 9 conc. 4NR, issue date 2 1851-03-28 Series 01-C15 ref/vol 002-068
In Middleton NTR 6, conc 4 date 2 1855-09-24 Series )1 C15 004-027
In Middleton N1/2 4, conc 4,5,7, 1854-02-04 Series CC B3 026-139
In Middleton W1/2 4 4NR issue 4 1853C - lease, Series CC B3 034-510
Eventually all this property was either given, deeded to his respective sons.
Joseph and Isaac remained on the homeplace sections, and
Amos, John, and Walter farmed the land in the Middleton area.
"Family Legend:
Joseph took up a tract of land in Dereham township, Oxford Cty, Concession 9, Lot 5, bordering Cranberry Rd in 1832. ( I am assuming Joseph leased this land from the crown as above documents show this land bought in 1846-hw) . To procure the deed to his property, Joseph rode horseback to Niagara. His neighbours were Indians having a little settlement nearby. The women worked at household tasks together with Charity Weeks and the men worked and hunted together. Joseph and Charity raised their family of eight children here, seven sons and one daughter.
Rhoda married Mr. Slaght and moved to the state of Washington.[ again, I believe, via my research, that Rhoda Wicks is our Rhoda Weeks, and she married Silas Slaght, and moved to Michigan, USA - hw][ Rhoda Weeks and Silas Slaght's son, Cyrenius married Maria Caroline Weeks (his cousin - dtr. of Daniel Weeks and Mary Hawer - hw] John, Amos and Walter took up land from the crown South of Tillsonburg, in Middleton township, Norfolk Cty; and Joseph and Isaac farmed the homestead on the ninth concession of Dereham twp, the homestead being divided into two farms.
There was an almost complete cooperation among these early settlers, and a very deep love of the land. The five brothers would go to one farm, cut down trees, clear a spot for a log cabin, later to be replaced by a larger house and later still by a substantial brick home. Thus they went from farm to farm helping one another. There was very little money; work was done by bees - Relatives and neighbours would gather to build a house or barn, and what happy times these gatherings were. The women came along to help with the meals. Money mattered very little to those early settlers, any lack was made up by trading surplus, and theirs was a very leisured way of life. Not that they didn't work hard - laborious work was done with only an axe and adze at first, later by hand saws, and later still cross-cut saws.
These brothers were the happiest people. They were cutting a home for themselves out of the wilderness and doing it the hard way, and always with a joke and hearty laugh. Whenever there was need, helping hands were ready. In those early times, doctors were few and far between, so the mother took over in illness and usually someone in the neighbourhood with a special knack in caring for the sick would be on call whenever needed. The doctor was seldom called except in serious illness. For the most part, they were a healthy, hearty people.
Much of the land was cleared by oxen, later stumping machines and horses. Water was a very pecious commodity and wells were detected the "witching". Only certain people had the gift of witching and the early settlers firmly believed in this way of finding water. A branched twig of hickory was held firmly in the hands, stem pointing upwards and when the witcher walked over water, even deep in the ground, the stem would turn downwards. Fire was something to be dreaded if uncontrolled. Every care was taken to prevent fires from getting out of control. Wood was used for cooking and heating. A huge cast iron, square stove was used for heating. Huge pieces of wood were placed in the stove and would hold the heat through the night. They were always careful to bank the fire before going to bed, wind the clock and put out the cat." excerpt from family tree documentation by Ola Beaman,Mamie Elizabeth Rouse.
CENSUS
1851 Census: Dereham Township, Micro Film 23
#25, Weeks, Joseph, Born Canada West, Age 49, Univeralist, Married, Farmer, Fram 1 1/2 story house
26, Weeks, Charity, Born Canada West, Age 50, Univeralist, married
27, Weeks, John, Born Canada West, Age 23, Universalist, Single, Labourer
28, Weeks, Amos, Born Canada West, Age 20, Univeralist, Single, Labr.
29, Weeks, Joseph, born Canada West, Age 18, Universalist, Single, Labr.
30, Weeks, Walter, Born Canada West, Age 16, Universalist, Single, Labr.
31, Weeks, Ira, Born Canada West, Age 13, Universalist, Single
32, Weeks, Ransome, Born Canada West, Age 11, Universalist, Single
33, Weeks, Isaac, Born Canada West, Age 9, Universalist, Single
1861 Canadian Census, Roll C-1060-1061; Library And Archives Canada, Pg 72, Dereham Twp, Oxford Cty, Canada West
Joseph Weeks, Male, Head, Age 57, Birthplace Canada West, Universalist, Farmer
Charity Weeks, Wife, Married, Age 58,
Joseph Weeks, Son, Single, Age 27
Walter Weeks, Son, Single, Age 25
Ira Weeks, Son, Single, Age 24
Isaac Weeks, Son, Single, Age 18
1871 Census: Joseph WEEKES age 67, birthplace Ontario, Religion - Universalist, Origin - English, Occupation - Farmer District 013, Sub Dist. A Division 1 Page 94
Weeks, Joseph, male, age 67, birthplace Ontario, religion Universalist, origin Scotch, Occupation: F
Weeks, Charity, female, age 68, birthplace Ontario, religion Universalist, Origin Dutch, married
Weeks, Joseph junior, male, age 37, birthplace Ontario, religion Universalist, Origin Scotch, single. Livestock comprised of horses, 5 milch cows, 14 horned cattle, 22 sheep, 23 swine, 200 pounds of butter, 80 pounds of wood.
Burial Certificate Film # 1853224, # 10805-78 VS , Ontario.
Joseph Weeks
Died 13 Dec. 1878, male, 75 years old, Occupation - Farmer, Birthplace Norfolk Cty,
Cause of Death - old age
Informant: Brinton P. Brown
When Registered: 12 Dec. 1878**
Registrar: Geo Fish.
** (note the regisered date is prior to the date given for death -??hw)
Indenture on 7 September 1868 between Joseph Weeks (elder) of Twp of Dereham, Cty of Oxford, Prov. of Ontario. and his son Joseph Weeks (younger)
"That in consideration of $2500 of lawful money of Canada, Joseph (elder) sells of 85 acres on the West half of Lot 5, Concession 9, of his property in Twp Dereham to Joseph the younger.(his son). #41278 - 129. Witness was Henry Boughner
Following Joseph Weeks Sr. death, in 1879, the document 41278 was partitioned and gave 50 acres ea. to Isaac Weeks at S1/2 of E1/2 and Amos N1/2 of E1/2. #75914 and 75915. This parcel of land changed hands many times thru the years as various family members deceased and it was passed onto heirs. Last notation was 1970 to Wallace Weeks thus the property was in the Weeks family for 138 years without a mortage or debt incurred. Amazing.
Burial: Tillsonburg Cemetery Section H, Row F, # 19
"In Memory of / Joseph Weeks / died / Nov. 23, 1878, aged ****
Joseph Weeks' Will- registrar of Surrogate Court, Cty of Oxford, Jas. Canfield
"In Her Majesty's Surrogate Court of the County of Oxford.
Be it known that on the Tenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight, the last Will and Testament of Joseph Weeks, late of the Township of Dereham, in the County of Oxford, Farmer, who died on or about the Twenty-third day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight at the said Township of Dereham, and who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at the Township of Dereham in the said County of Oxford was proved and registered in the said surrogate Court a true copy of which said Last Will and Testament is hereto annexed, and that the administration of all and singular the personal estate and effects rights and credits of the said deceased and anyway concerning his Will was granted by the aforesaid Court to Amos Weeks of the Township of Middleton, in the County of Norfolk, Farmer, and Walter Weeks of the same place, farmer, the Executers named in the said will, they having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same by paying the just debts of the deceased and the legacies contained in his Will so far as they are thereunto bound by law, and to exhibit a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the said estate and effects, rights and credits and to render a just and true account fo their Executorship whenever required by law so to do.
Sgn. Jas. Canfield, Registrar of the Surrogate Court of County of Oxford.
Know all Men by these presents, that 1. Joseph Weeks of the Township of Dereham, in the County of Oxford and Province of Ontario, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and making null and void all former last Wills and Testaments by me heretofore by me made.
My Will is that all my funeral charges and just debts shall be paid by my Executors hereinafter named. After the payment of my just debts, funeral charges and the expenses attending the administration of my estate, I give, devise and bequeath the rest and residue of my estate and property as follows:viz.,
First:- I give and bequeath to my wife, Charity Weeks, in addition to any dower which she may be entitled to at my decease, two rooms in the house known as the Homestead, together with all the household furniture, beds and bedding, which I may be possessed of at the time of my decease, also two good cows, six sheep and one hog, all of which shall be kept on the Farm and provided with suitable feed summer and winter and for her sole use and benefit so long as she remains my widow.
Second;- I give and demise to my two sons Amos Weeks and Isaac Weeks my Dereham farm, being composed of the East half of Lot number Five in the Ninth Concession of the said Township of Dereham, which said farm shall be equally divided between my said two sons Amos Weeks and Isaac Weeks and said division to be made by my said sons in any way agreeable to them. The rest and residue of my estate and property of which I shall be possessed of at the time of my decease shall be equally divided between my five sons.
And lastly I do nominate and appoint my sons, Amos Weeks and Walter Weeks to be my executors of this my last Will and Testament.
In witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the twenty-ninth day of March in the year of Our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Sgn. Joseph Weeks, L.S.
Signed, Sealed and declared by the said Joseph Weeks to be his last will and testament in presence of John Hodgson and Thomas Fletcher, who at his request and in his presence have subscribed their names as witnesses hereunto and in the presence of each other.
Sgd. John Hodgson, of the Town of Tilsonburg.
Sgd. Thomas Fletcher of the Township of Dereham."
Sept 2004. Took a drive with Margaret Rouse, she showed us Joseph's original land just off Cranberry Road.
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