McCOUBREYS of ROLLINGDAM

     Moses, and his wife Margaret, McCOUBREY came to Canada in 1825- apparently accompanied by his brother James.  According to relatives the McCOUBREY'S came from County Downe, Ireland.  Moses had two brothers, James, mentioned above, and John Sargent McCOUBREY.  (John and wife Jane (BOYD) were the great-great-grandparents of McCOUBREYS presently living in St. Andrews.) James was a well remembered blacksmith at Rollingdam.  Moses and Margaret had at least three children, whose names appear in the mid-1830's Inst. of students of School District No. 6:  Ellen, Mary, and Robert.  Also, --a lone grave marker at Rollingdam reads:  "Elizabeth A. NICHLSON, (McC)  Daughter of Moses McCOUBREY  Died June 10, 1856.  Aged 25".

      An 1861 Census carries Moses as aged 63 and his wife Margaret as 66, with two children at home, --Margaret 35, and David 24.  And a James (blacksmith) aged 31; and his wife Sarah, 28;  their children then being-- Frederick 4, and Emma 2.  We have no sources for further confirmation on this data. However, we do know that Moses and his children lived on the Rollingdam Road near where John MURPHY'S Dance Hall now stands but closer to the road.

     Robert McCOUBREY (Moses'  son) bought a piece of land from Edward TOWERS as part of lot No. 9 and apparently remained until some time into the 1870's as they were there at the time of the Saxby Gale in 1869.  Moses was affectionately referred to as "Old Lord Mosie" due, I suspect to some unique personality trait.

     I might add that a Daniel CRILLEY apparently lived near the McCOUBREYS and in 1864 there was an exchange of a two and a half acre block, with all buildings and appurtenances, from Daniel CRILLEY to James McCOUBREY- which piece of land CRILLEY had formerly received from Moses McCOUBREY.  In any case, the McCOUBREY'S were well known settlers on the main road.

Written by Rev. Charles M. SMITH, Rollingdam, NB
Found in October 5, 1972 issue of Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB.
By permission of the Saint Croix Courier.
Page Loaded Dec 16, 1999
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