Written
by Rev. Charles M. Smith, Rollingdam, NB
Found in October 5, 1972 edition
of the Saint Croix Courier.
By permission of the Saint Croix Courier
Page Loaded 1 Dec. 2003
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James Hewitt and Robert Hewitt arrived in Canada from (Belfast?) Ireland in 1823 and settled at Rollingdam, apparently on the main road, which was then the old St. Andrews-Fredericton Road. James is believed to settle at what is now McCann’s Corner; and the little house and old barn still stand there in a sad state of disrepair. It is believed to be that of James Hewitt although this fact remains unconfirmed. Back in the late 1800’s Edward Hanson and family are said to have rented this place for a few years. Edward was the Section Master on the Railroad. Originally here was no “corner” as such at this point as the Meadow Road and the road to Whittier Ridge had not as yet been run out. However, James Hewitt owned land in this area for many years and in 1871 gave, in a deed, a block of some 80 acres to his son John: a lot that extended from Meadow Road to the Wrigley Line, and from the river to the Railroad. According to an 1841 record of citizens of this community, both Robert and James apparently were still living on the main road, but after this date Robert seems to have moved to a nearby neighborhood.
Robert Hewitt and his wife Ann were both born in Ireland, Ann coming to Canada in 1824. Robert was born about 1799 and Ann about 1797. An 1851 census shows them as having only two children, though there may well have been others before this date. A son Adam then aged 23 and a daughter Nancy then aged 19. (There were several Adam Hewitts. The father of James and Robert back in Ireland was Adam.) Robert’s son Adam may well have been the one known as Black Adam, due to his black hair; and the distinction of Red Adam from Whittier Ridge. Black Adam lived in Greenoch. In what is now known as the Stuart Home at Gidden’s Corner. Nancy Hewitt (Adam’s sister) married George Hanson but she died May 7, 1861 at the tender age of only 26.
James Hewitt and his wife Jane had at least 8 children all born in Rollingdam, as follows: Adam, James, Mary, William, Robert, Ann, John, Eliza, and Samuel. Jane is believed by some to have been an O’Neil, originally from England. However, James’ and Jane’s stone reads:
“James Hewitt died December 27, 1881 aged 77 years & 3 months, native Co. Down, Ireland. Jane, his wife, died April 16, 1886, aged 82 years, native Co. Antrim, Ireland.”
These children comprised the principal Hewitt families of the Rollingdam area. In brief, James’ son Adam (Red Adam) lived at the foot of Whittier Ridge Road on the farm more recently known as Fred Steen Home. Adam’s son William followed him and raised his family there. James’ son James married Nancy Montgomery of Rollingdam and lived in McMinn and raised a large family: three girls and six boys. A great many descendants derived from this union.
Mary Hewitt married George R. Wrigley, and lived at Rollingdam on the land adjoining that of their parents. They had seven children including Joseph who lived at Rollingdam. The Wrigley home has long since been removed but the old cellar has remained in evidence. Joseph Wrigley’s home remains just north of his mother’s old home place.
William Hewitt’s home was on the Clarence Ridge Road about a quarter mile from the Lower Bridge at Rollingdam. William was twice married. First to Catherine Wilson of Sorrel Ridge and having four children: Isadore, William Harris, Elias Howard, and Robert Frederick (called Fred). William’s second marriage was to Sarah Henry to which union seven more children were added: Eva, Emerson, Mary Eliza, Genevieve, Effie, Hazen, and Ellsworth.
Eliza married Edward Howard and lived in St. Andrews, and had three sons and three daughters. John lived on his parents’ land at Simpson’s Corner (later McCann’s). He was twice married. No children the first union. His second wide was Emma Graham. Seven or eight children were born of this marriage. There was also Robert, Ann, and Samuel Hewitt.
Samuel Hewitt was another son of James. His gravestone bears the grim record of his brief life:
“Samuel Hewitt, died December 4, 1882, aged 44 and five infant children of Samuel and Jane Hewitt.”
The children of Samuel and Jane were Addiem Gertrude, Bessie, Beatrice and Nora. A son Arthur and a daughter Bertha died of “Black Diptheria” about 1885.
Samuel’s widow Jane married John Peacock and to this union born a daughter Bernice. John Peacock’s first wife was Laura Pettigrove. Samuel Hewitt’s daughter Gertrude married Robert Peacock. Seven children were born to this union: Edith, Arthur, Bertram, Beatrice, Elda, Earnest, and Ruth. Thus the children of James and Jane Hewitt’s children have spread out so widely that their descendants are found from coast to coast in Canada and the United States.