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Matthews and Baggs

Matthews and Baggs

Kevin Barnes (View posts)
Posted: 9 Feb 2006 9:26PM GMT
Classification: Query
I'm looking for information on John Matthews found in Burgeo in 1835 and his wife Sarah Baggs.

Kevin

Re: Matthews and Baggs

Jim (View posts)
Posted: 11 Feb 2006 1:37AM GMT
Classification: Query
"A Souvenir of Burgeo" by Walter Simms makes reference to a Mr Matthews who came to Burgeo from Cape La Hune. He had a family of 4 sons and 6 daughters. There is mention of the grandmother of the family being a (Sarah?) Bagg who was daughter of the founder of Cape La Hune who came originally from Burin or St Lawrence . The article states that "later in this record this great family with all others will be fully mentioned and their descendants who were living when the writer came in 1860" Unfortunately there was no such record included in the document.
There are some references to "old Mr.Matthews " in John Smalls Diary for example "John (Anderson) married Susan Matthews, daughter of old man Matthews who was the first of the Matthews to come to Burgeo". According to an article in Decks Awash the first family of settlers at Burgeo was of John Matthews an Englishman who arrived from Cape La Hune with his numerous sons and daughters in 1796.
I have seen references to an extensive set of Burgeo records by a Rev. Cunningham but I have no idea where to look for these or if they still exist.
I have been told that "old man (John?) Matthews" was the father of Jane Matthews wife of Ralph Brake but I have never seen any documentation and I have no idea why people might believe that.

Re: Matthews and Baggs

Posted: 20 May 2006 11:55PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 24 Nov 2006 4:44AM GMT
hi, i have to wonder where your matthews came from i have alot of matthews in the family but they are in the trout river area my gr gr grandmother was a matthews she married a harris if this interests you email me
mdcjt1@telus.net

Re: Matthews and Baggs

Posted: 28 Apr 2007 12:13PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Matthews, Bagg, Organ
John Matthews and Sarah Bagg are my 4th great grandparents (I am descended from their daugher Sarah Matthews, who married Michael Organ. I have information you might find helpful, and would appreciate anything you are willing to share, if you are still interested in this family.
Susan

Re: Matthews and Baggs

Posted: 28 Apr 2007 3:20PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Susan,

I would like to share information. My ancestor is Thomas, the brother of Sarah.
barneskevin@yahoo.ca

Kevin

Re: Matthews and Baggs

Posted: 1 May 2007 5:04PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: matthews
yes i would be interested in whatever you have on the matthews family and i will share whatever i have i have been working on 1860-1899 births in the bonne bay area matching up kids to their parents i think i have quite a bit on the organs line.my mom side is decendant from the matthews but i am missing a link to the burgeo line her lines are mom/catherine/edward/john now if this john is old man matthews son or grandson is what i am working on now.

darlene

Re: Matthews and Baggs

Posted: 3 May 2007 10:43AM GMT
Classification: Query
I have over 100 names with associated data. Why don't you contact me at * s devog el@verizon.n et" (take out the spaces; trying to prevent spam)with your email address and I will send you what I have. Susan

Re: Matthews and Baggs

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 11:28PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Jim,
I am a great-great-grandaughter of John Davidge and Sarah Jane Guy who lived in Burgeo, Newfoundland. Sarah Jane's parents were Ann Matthews and William Guy. William was described as "an Englishman", probably indicating he was not born in NL. Ann's parents were John Matthews and Sarah Bagg who were originally from Cape La Hune. We don't know if John Matthews was born in NL but Sarah's family is listed as originally being from the Burin Peninsula area of Newfoundland. This information is from our Davidge family history book of the descendants of John Davidge, which now number somewhere between 600-700. With all of the additions and changes (birth, death, marriage), no one has done a recent count.

We are trying to find our links back to the UK. John Davidge "came to Burgeo as an indentured servant to "Uncle John Matthews". We don't know whether "uncle" means they were related by family or whether it was a courtesy title or a way of distinguishing this John Matthews from either his own father or a son.

John Davidge was likely from England and was a fisherman, who met an early death by drowning along with his eldest son George(18 y/o) and (John?)Anderson.They were trying to save shipwrecked victims between Connoire and Wreck Island. This happened in April 1867.
John and Sarah's 6 remaining children married spouses from the Caines, Anderson, Stone, Collier, Strickland, Matthews and LeCocq families. The Anderson family is reputed to be the first family living in Burgeo, followed by the Matthews.

Lack of literacy (common in those times) and lack of any communications technology, coupled with the high numbers of ships that were sunk likely contributed to the loss of communication with family still living in England.

After a number of family members having tried to search while visiting England without success in finding any proveable information about John Davidge's origins, I did the "Davidge" thing and decided to try to form a team of people who were also searching and were willing to share their information. I started in late 2006 and this approach is starting to produce results for some of the Davidge branches already. Last month, I got a solid contact with a UK researcher whose information leads from the living Donald Davidge back to Thomas Lush Davidge.
While no relationship has been proven, Donald identified on of John Davidge's sons, Alfred, as looking "identical" to his own grandfather. He also recognized several other faces as being familiar to members of his family. Donald most resembles Norman Davidge.

We don't have a birthdate for John Davidge, but in trying to estimate a potential birth year, I can only narrow it down to somewhere between 1820-1830 as we don't know how old he was when he arrived in NL.

There is another Davidge line in NL who we suspect is related, but have not proven. The following is oral history backed up by living relatives: Thomas Davidge stowed away on a schooner in England at age 15, trying to escape prosecution for theft. Initially settling in Mose Ambrose as a planter, he moved to Bay du Nord. Either Thomas' son or grandson made several trips to Burgeo to visit with the Davidge family. As the only access to these places was by sea, in treacherous waters, I have a hard time believing that someone who was completely unrelated would have made these journeys.

My hunting around the Davidge trees that are on genealogy sites has shown up common sets of given names passed down from each generation. When I receive photos, I go through the 250+ page history book looking for common facial features. When you start seeing eyes of a child in Australia matching the same eyes of a relative from reunions, it is very thought-provoking.

Another thing I've identified is the rapid, easy rapport among Davidges with the common thread of values and cooperative attitudes consistent with meeting any other Davidge relative at a reunion.

I have come to believe that we have to research the Guy, Anderson, Matthews, Bagg and Davidge lines in the UK if we are to ever find our English roots and reunite the family. I have a feeling that the Davidge and Matthews family have a connection in England. Why else would Uncle John Matthews be willing to pay the passage for John Davidge unless he knew him through family or if he met John before, perhaps if John Davidge had been a fisherman on one of the seasonal fishing boats from England?

I have a lot more information as do other members of this group - you are welcome to contact me by email: sharon1333@sympatico.ca Please indicate in the subject line which family or families you are part of or searching.

Thanks,
SharonWilliams444 (there are several Sharons posting. I have also posted as envisage 1)

Re: Matthews and Baggs

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 11:29PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Anderson, Matthews, Bagg, Davidge, Stone
Hi Jim,
I am a great-great-grandaughter of John Davidge and Sarah Jane Guy who lived in Burgeo, Newfoundland. Sarah Jane's parents were Ann Matthews and William Guy. William was described as "an Englishman", probably indicating he was not born in NL. Ann's parents were John Matthews and Sarah Bagg who were originally from Cape La Hune. We don't know if John Matthews was born in NL but Sarah's family is listed as originally being from the Burin Peninsula area of Newfoundland. This information is from our Davidge family history book of the descendants of John Davidge, which now number somewhere between 600-700. With all of the additions and changes (birth, death, marriage), no one has done a recent count.

We are trying to find our links back to the UK. John Davidge "came to Burgeo as an indentured servant to "Uncle John Matthews". We don't know whether "uncle" means they were related by family or whether it was a courtesy title or a way of distinguishing this John Matthews from either his own father or a son.

John Davidge was likely from England and was a fisherman, who met an early death by drowning along with his eldest son George(18 y/o) and (John?)Anderson.They were trying to save shipwrecked victims between Connoire and Wreck Island. This happened in April 1867.
John and Sarah's 6 remaining children married spouses from the Caines, Anderson, Stone, Collier, Strickland, Matthews and LeCocq families. The Anderson family is reputed to be the first family living in Burgeo, followed by the Matthews.

Lack of literacy (common in those times) and lack of any communications technology, coupled with the high numbers of ships that were sunk likely contributed to the loss of communication with family still living in England.

After a number of family members having tried to search while visiting England without success in finding any proveable information about John Davidge's origins, I did the "Davidge" thing and decided to try to form a team of people who were also searching and were willing to share their information. I started in late 2006 and this approach is starting to produce results for some of the Davidge branches already. Last month, I got a solid contact with a UK researcher whose information leads from the living Donald Davidge back to Thomas Lush Davidge.
While no relationship has been proven, Donald identified on of John Davidge's sons, Alfred, as looking "identical" to his own grandfather. He also recognized several other faces as being familiar to members of his family. Donald most resembles Norman Davidge.

We don't have a birthdate for John Davidge, but in trying to estimate a potential birth year, I can only narrow it down to somewhere between 1820-1830 as we don't know how old he was when he arrived in NL.

There is another Davidge line in NL who we suspect is related, but have not proven. The following is oral history backed up by living relatives: Thomas Davidge stowed away on a schooner in England at age 15, trying to escape prosecution for theft. Initially settling in Mose Ambrose as a planter, he moved to Bay du Nord. Either Thomas' son or grandson made several trips to Burgeo to visit with the Davidge family. As the only access to these places was by sea, in treacherous waters, I have a hard time believing that someone who was completely unrelated would have made these journeys.

My hunting around the Davidge trees that are on genealogy sites has shown up common sets of given names passed down from each generation. When I receive photos, I go through the 250+ page history book looking for common facial features. When you start seeing eyes of a child in Australia matching the same eyes of a relative from reunions, it is very thought-provoking.

Another thing I've identified is the rapid, easy rapport among Davidges with the common thread of values and cooperative attitudes consistent with meeting any other Davidge relative at a reunion.

I have come to believe that we have to research the Guy, Anderson, Matthews, Bagg and Davidge lines in the UK if we are to ever find our English roots and reunite the family. I have a feeling that the Davidge and Matthews family have a connection in England. Why else would Uncle John Matthews be willing to pay the passage for John Davidge unless he knew him through family or if he met John before, perhaps if John Davidge had been a fisherman on one of the seasonal fishing boats from England?

I have a lot more information as do other members of this group - you are welcome to contact me by email: sharon1333@sympatico.ca Please indicate in the subject line which family or families you are part of or searching.

Thanks,
SharonWilliams444 (there are several Sharons posting. I have also posted as envisage 1)

Re: Matthews and Baggs

Posted: 29 Jun 2007 12:14AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Anderson, Matthews, Bagg, Davidge, Stone, Guy
Hi Susan,
We are related! I am a great-great-great granddaughter of Ann Matthews m. William Guy. Their daughter, Sarah Jane Guy m. John Davidge 12 Sept 1848.

Yes, willing to share anything I have.

Sarah Matthews is the 3rd child of John Matthews and Sarah Bagg. There were 11 children in the family. They lived in Burgeo,NL, although Sarah Bagg's family originated in Cape La Hune/Burin Peninsula.

We have a family history book that traces the descendants of John Davidge. Not much research has been done on the assorted spouses' families by our family, but I have a family group sheet for John Matthews and Sarah Bagg that lists their children and spouses, where known. We are missing a lot of birth/death dates on the page. Whether this means that a number of children died early or it simply hasn't been properly researched is unknown.

Among the many spouses are Anderson, Matthews,Bagg,Davidge, Stone and Guy.

Please contact me at sharon1333@sympatico.ca

SharonWilliams444(to distinguish from other Sharons posting. I also have posts under envisage 1)

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