William Corbett was another of the first settlers of Truro, and a Grantee of the Township. He was a Scotchman by birth, and a gunsmith by trade, and was with General Wolfe at the taking of Quebec. He came to Truro with the company that came from New England in the spring of the year 1760, and he remained in Truro about eight years. He then exchanged farms with Samuel Archibald, second, and removed to Little Dyke, in Londonderry, where he settled for the remainder of his life. In the month of October, 1784, Mr. Corbett, with a number of his neighbors, was going up the Shubenacadie River in a boat, on the way to Halifax, and by some means the boat was upset, and Mr. Corbett, Elizabeth Fletcher (daughter of William Fletcher) and Jane McLellan (daughter of Michael McLellan) were drowned. William Corbett was married to Elizabeth Robinson, of Plymouth, Mass, in the year 1748. They had five sons and five daughters. Elizabeth, their eldest daughter was born April 14th, 1749. She was married to David Orr, and they had a family of children. She died in the United States. Agnes, the second daughter of William and Elizabeth Corbett, was born July 6th, 1750. She was married to another Orr, brother of David Orr above mentioned. They lived and died in the United States, and left a family there. Margaret, their third daughter, was born January 28th, 1752. She was married to Joshua Marsh. They had six sons and four daughters. They settled in Economy, where they reared their family and spent the remainder of their days. She died there in the year 1854, aged 102 years.
William Corbett, their eldest son, was born June 13th, 1754. His name is among the Grantees of Truro Township, although he was but 11 years old at the date of the Grant. He was married to Jane Reid, of Londonderry, and settled in Five Islands, where they reared their family and died. They had two sons and three daughters. Robert, the second son of William and Elizabeth Corbett, was born September 15th, 1756. He was married to Susannah Fletcher. They had eight sons and four daughters. He inherited his father's farm at Little Dyke, where they reared their numerous family. He died April 9th, 1808, aged 54 years; his wife Susannah Fletcher, was born February 6th, 1763. She died June 23rd, 1822, aged 59 years. They were married about the year 1781.
Thomas Corbett, their eldest son was born September 21st, 1782. He was married to Sarah, daughter of John and Mary Smith, of Truro, January 23rd, 1807. He inherited his father's farm at Little Dyke, where they reared their numerous family. He died August 3rd, 1867, aged 85 years, and his wife died April 11th, 1837, aged 49 years. Daniel, the eldest son of Thomas and Sarah Corbett, was born December, 1807. He was married to Harriet, daughter of Capt. John Stewart and Rebecca McNutt, his wife. They had two sons and four daughters. Susannah, their oldest daughter, was born 1809. She was married to John C. Morrison, a sea Captain, who had come out from Scotland but a short time before. They had one son and one daughter. She died January 9th, 1829, aged 20 years and her husband, Capt. John C. Morrison, died April 15th, 1837. Mary, their second daughter, was born 1811. She was married to George S. Rutherford, Esq., in the year 1841. They had one son. She died May 10th, 1842, aged 31 years, and her husband died October 17th, 1871, aged 66 years. John, the second son of Thomas and Sarah Corbett, was born 1813. He was married to Margaret, daughter of Alexander Urquhart and Nancy McLaughlan , December 24th, 1850. They had five sons and three daughters. He inherited one-half of his father's house at Little Dyke. He died there May 3rd, 1867, aged 54 years. William, their third son, was born October 17th, 1815. He was married to Mary Spencer, August 14th, 1839. They had five sons and two daughters. He settled on what was his father's land, where he and his wife are living at date, February 15th, 1872. Their house stands beside the main road, about one mile below the Folly.
Peter Suther Corbett, their fourth son, was born December 5th, 1817. He followed the sea for a number of years, and is now settled in Liverpool, England. He was married, and his three sons and one daughter. Mark Paten Corbett, their fifth son, was born January 31st, 1820. He was married to Jane C., daughter of Capt. William Pamerton and Mary Vance, October, 1847. Mrs. Corbett died May, 1850, and he married again to Sarah McLain, of Folly River, March, 1853. They had two sons and five daughters. He inherited a part of his father's farm at Little Dyke, where he spent the whole of his life. March 23rd, 1868, he was drawing marsh mud on a sled, and as he was returning home to dinner, the sled ran over a pole and pitched him forward. He fell with his neck under the runner of the sled, which broke his windpipe. The team stopped while his neck remained under the runner. His daughter, who had seen him start from the field some time before, became anxious and went to see if all was right. She found him as already described--quite dead. He was 48 years of age, and left a widow and family of children to mourn their loss. ''Be ye also ready.''
Jane C. , the third daughter of Thomas and Sarah Corbett, was born May 24th 1822. She died unmarried, April 17th, 1840, aged 18 years.
Elizabeth, their fourth daughter, was born in the year 1827. She was married to Duncan Urquhart, and had one daughter. She died April 18th, 1853, aged 26 years. Louisa, their fifth daughter, was born January 13th, 1831. She was married to James Urquhart, December 24th, 1850. They have six sons and four daughters. Susannah, their sixth daughter, was born March 14th, 1833. She was married to Capt. George McBurney, of Five Islands, in the year 1861. They had three sons and one daughter. Capt. McBurney sailed from Philadelphia on September 17th, 1871, in the ship ''Angedique,'' of 1600 tons, loaded with wheat, and bond for Antwerp. Neither crew nor ship has been heard from since.
William, the second son of Robert Corbett and Susannah Fletcher, was born November, 1783. He was married to Isabell Davison, about the year 1810. They had three sons and four daughters. Mrs. Corbett died at Pictou, and he was married again to Elizabeth, daughter of David Patterson, and widow of Robert Patterson. She died shortly after they were married, and he was married again to Lavinia, daughter of Thomas T. Brown, Esq, and Rachel Pearson in the year 1837. They had nine children. They removed to Cape Breton about the year 1850, where he died in the year 1866, aged 83 years, and his third wife died there about the year 1862.
Robert, the third son of Robert Corbett and Susannah Fletcher was born at Little Dyke, November 10th 1784. He was married to Catherine daughter of Jacob O'Brien and Mary Spencer, October 16th, 1806. They had five sons and five daughters. Mrs. Corbett died May 6th 1869.
James, their fourth son, was born 1786. He died when he was two years old.
Elizabeth, their eldest daughter, was born in 1787. She was married to Robert Vance January, 1807. They had three sons and three daughters. She died April 1870, aged 83 years, and her husband died in Londonderry.
George Corbett, their fifth son, was born in 1789. He learned the shoemaking trade with John McKay in Truro. He was married to Eleanor Woodworth January, 1815. He kept an Inn at Gay's River for a number of years. They had four sons and one daughter. Mrs. Corbett died about the year 1832, and he was married again to Margaret McHeffey. They had two sons and two daughters. He died December 1846. His wife is dead.
Sarah Corbett, their second daughter was born 1791. She was married to John J. Fulton is 1808. She died about the year 1838, and left no family.
Eleanor Corbett, their third daughter was born 1793. She was married to Joseph Fulton, of Stewiacke about the year 1812. They had four sons and five daughters. Mr. Fulton died December 6th, 1842, and she was married again to John Graham of Hants County, in the year 1849.
Susannah Corbett, their fourth daughter, was born in 1794. She died when about two years old.
David Corbett, their sixth son, was born 1796. He was married to Isabell Keys about the year 1820. They had six sons and four daughters. He settled near Gay's River, where he died in the year 1866.
James Corbett, their seventh son was born in 1798. He was a shoemaker by trade. He was married to Sarah Ann Hughes in 1827. They had six sons and six daughters. The removed to Pictou, in the year 1835, and settled near the Mines on the East River, where he spent the remainder of his life. In November 1871, he was out in the woods on a moose hunt. As he was returning home, in climbing over a windfall, he fell. The gun on striking the ground was immediately discharged, and the contents lodged in his knee. Having a long distance to go, he was very much exhausted when he arrived at home. Medical aid was at hand, his leg was amputated, but he lived only three days. He was 73 years of age.
John Corbett, their eighth son was born in 1799. He was a blacksmith, and worked for a time in the Lower Village of Truro. He was married to Rebecca Hughes in 1826. They had five sons and six daughters. He died December 1848, aged 49 years.
Eleanor, the fourth daughter of William Corbett Senr., and Elizabeth Robinson, was born August 6th, 1759. She was married to John Marsh. They had six sons and seven daughters. They settled in Economy, where they reared their family and died.
James Corbett, their third son was born in Truro, June 14th, 1763. He was married to Elizabeth Marsh. They had five sons and six daughters. They settled at Five Islands, where many of their offspring are still living.
John, their fourth son was born in Truro, August 3rd, 1765. He was married to Mary, daughter of James Flemming Senr. and Isabel Vance, about the year 1794. They had four sons and two daughters. They settled in the Lower Village of Truro, and continued there until about the year 1810. His house in the Lower Village stood near the place that Alexander Kent second now resides. He removed to Middle Stewiacke, to the farm on which Mr. Ebenezer Fulton now resides, where he lived until about the time that his wife died July 7th, 1822. He died May 1849, aged 84 years.
Joseph Corbett, their fifth son, was born May 8th, 1767. He was married to Deborah Davenport. They had four sons and one daughter. Mrs. Corbett died and he was married again. He settled in Economy where he died in the year 1862, aged 95.
Martha Corbett, their fifth and youngest daughter, was born February 19th, 1771. She was married to Joseph Marsh. They had seven sons and three daughters. They settled in Economy, where they reared their family and died. She died in the year 1864, aged 93 years.
