Information obtained by James Hargrave of Medicine Hat1James Hargrave (1846-1935) who assembled this information is the grandson of Joseph Hargrave (1749-1847) and the son of John Hargrave (1806-1874).
Compiled by Luetta Ross Williams2Luetta Ross Williams is the great granddaughter of Joseph Hargrave through Mary Hargrave and John A. Ross
Typed by Jean Ross Williams3Jean Ross Williams is the daughter of Luetta Ross Williams and was 18 years old in 1923.
The following is an excerpt from a letter written on June 23, 1845 at York Factory, Manitoba, Canada by James Hargrave to his sister, Mary Hargrave Ross, in Ormstown, Quebec, Canada. Also his signature.
It is a matter of Great thankfulness to me to hear that our venerable parent4Joseph Hargrave (1749-1847) still enjoys comparatively good health at his very advanced time of life. No doubt good health [and] bodily faculties are now failing but his mind appears to me to be as clear as ever and it is a great comfort to think that his latter years are cheered by the affectionate care or his children and are spent in the enjoyment of the fruits of his long laborious life and in a blessed hope of a happy hereafter. May our footsteps through life, My good sister, be guided by the example which he has given us, and when our day also comes, we may likewise hope to be cheered by the prospect of that futurity which awaits him, and where we shall be reunited after our long and weary separation in this life.
[James Hargrave]
HARGRAVE
Joseph Hargrave, born 1749 and died July 27, 1847. He came to America from Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland in 1817.5Joseph’s half brother James Hargrave (1756-1848) came to Montreal in 1812 and settled at Beech Ridge before Joseph. He is buried at Hillman Cemetery, Utica, Durham Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada. His first wife may have been Mary Melrose of Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, Scotland. She died in Scotland and two sons were born to this union.
Joseph Hargrave’s headstone: “Sacred to the memory of Joseph Hargrave, A native of Roxburgh shire, Scotland Farmer Beech Ridge who departed this life on the 27th of July,1 847 in the 98th year of his age. This stone was erected by his affectionate sons James and John Hargrave as grateful remembrance of his many virtues as a tender and faithful parent and pious Christian.”
First Generation
through Jane Melrose
Joseph married a second time to Jane Melrose of Selkirkshire, Scotland, She was born in 1767 and died November 24, 1838. When they came to America in 1817 they settled in Beech Ridge, Quebec, Canada. Two daughters and two sons were born to this union
Overview of the descendants of Joseph Hargrave (1749-1847) with a rough indication of where they lived.
Second Generation
through First Wife
Joseph Hargrave (son of Joseph Hargrave and Mary Melrose?) was born in Kelso, Roxburghahire, Scotland. He came to Beech Ridge, Quebec, Canada in 1817 and later settled in Waddington, New York, U.S.A. He married Nancy Dobson. Six sons and one daughter were born to this union.
Ruther Hargrave (son of Joseph Hargrave and Mary Melrose?) was born February 14, 1788 in Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland. He came to Beech Ridge, Quebec, Canada in 1817. He married Agnes Goldie who died in 1831. Four daughters and two sons were born to this union.
Ruther Hargrave married a second time, Margaret Rutherford of Madrid, New York, U.S.A. She was born August 24, 1813 and died April 16, 1885. They lived in Madrid, New York, U.S.A. Five daughters and six sons were born to this union.
