James Whidden was among the first settlers of Truro. He was a Grantee of the Township. His house lot was that on which Mr. Thomas M. Crowe and son now reside. He owned the interval on the west side of the marsh road that Dr. C. Bent now owns. He was married and had four sons before he came to Nova Scotia. His wife died and he was married again to Mary Guild, widow of the late Jacob Lynds, of Onslow. He died December 13th, 1790. His widow returned to her son Thomas Lynds' house, at North River. John, the eldest son of James Whidden and his first wife, settled in Cornwallis; he was a leading man there. He was Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Kings County. He died there September 14th, 1794. Sarah, his second daughter, was drowned at the Board-landing, near Truro, August 12th, 1770, aged 17 years. Elizabeth Whidden, another daughter, was married to the Rev. Hugh Graham, 1792. Mr. Graham was married in Scotland to Elizabeth Brown, a short time before they left. The first time that the Rev. Hugh Graham preached in Middle Stewiacke was on the first day of the week, the first day of the month, the first day of the year, and the first day of the present century.
David, the second son of James Whidden, Senr., was born in New England, in 1749. He came with the rest of the family to Truro. He was a grantee of the Township, although he was but 16 years old at the date of the grant. He was married to Eleanor, second daughter of Adam and Janet Dickey, September 29th, 1774. He inherited his father's property in Truro. In 1795 he sold his property in Truro, and removed to Maitland, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died October 1st, 1825, aged 76 years. His widow died August 10th, 1828, aged 74 years. James Whidden, their eldest son, was born in Truro, July 8th, 1775. He was married to Abigail Brown in 1804. They had five sons and five daughters. He carried on a large business at Maitland as merchant and ship builder. He died June 3rd, 1830, aged 55 years. His widow died June 26th, 1867, aged 88 years. John Hancock, the second son of David and Eleanor Whidden, was born in Truro, February 13th 1777. He died a bachelor, at Maitland. David Whidden, their third son, was born in Truro, April 2nd, 1779. He followed the sea, and was lost when he was a young man. Abigail Whidden, their daughter, was born in Truro, November 10th, 1780. She was married to William Frieze in 1801. They had one son and three daughters. She died at Maitland, January 4th, 1808, aged 27 years. Mr. Frieze died January 14th, 1843, aged 68 years.
Samuel, the third son of James Whidden and his wife, was born in New England in 1752. He came with his parents and family to Nova Scotia in 1760. He was married to Abigail Newcomb, July 15th, 1774. He settled on the interval of Salmon River, on the same farm on which Timothy Johnson now resides. He died July 10th, 1821, aged 69 years. His wife died March 11th, 1815, aged 57 years. Elizabeth Whidden, their eldest daughter, was born March 29th, 1775. She was married to Richard Pyke, in 1798. She died, and Mr. Pyke was drowned by being upset from a boat while crossing the Shubenacadie River, about the year 1804. Samuel Pyke, their eldest son, was born 1799. He was married to Martha, daughter of James and Janet Kennedy, January, 1834. They had two sons and two daughters. They settled for a time in Smithfield, Stewiacke. He died September, 1867. Richard, the second son of Richard and Elizabeth Pyke, was born May 4th, 1801. He was married to Eleanor, second daughter of James and Nancy McCabe, of Greenfield, January, 1834. They had three sons and two daughters. He settled in Smithfield, Stewiacke. Rebecca, the only daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Pyke, was born 1803. She was married to David, the youngest son of Simeon Whidden and Dorothy Blair, January, 1821. They had three sons and three daughters. They are settled in Smithfield, Stewiacke.
Abigail, the second daughter of Samuel and Abigail Whidden, was born in Truro, December 7th, 1776. She removed to Maitland, to keep house for her uncle, David Whidden. She was married there to Robert O'Brien of Noel, November 23rd, 1802. They had two sons and five daughters. She died in 1857, aged 80 years. Mr. O'brien died about the year 1849.
Eddy Whidden, their eldest son, was born February 16th, 1778. He was married to Sarah, daughter of Samuel Fisher and Mary Tupper of Stewiacke, in 1807. They had five sons and five daughters. He settled in the woods at Greenfield, on the same farm on which Mr. Ralph McCabe now resides, being five miles from any neighbours. Upon one occasion while they were living in this lonely situation in the woods and the snow was very deep, Mrs. Whidden not being very well one morning he started and took his cattle with him to try and make a track in the snow, so that some person might get to his house to be with her; but he failed in getting a track made through the deep snow. He returned home at night much fatigued, when his wife presented him with two sons that had been born during the day. He removed to New Annan, where he died in 1858, aged 80 years. His wife died December, 1835. Sarah, the third daughter of Samuel and Abigail Whidden, was born December, 29th, 1779. She died unmarried in 1797. Eleanor Whidden, their fourth daughter, was born April 5th, 1783. She was married to Dan Bentley of Stewiacke February 10th, 1810. They had one son and two daughters. She died at Stewiacke June 2nd, 1836, aged 53 years. Mr. Bentley died September 4th, 1865. Mary Whidden, their fifth daughter, was born June 29th, 1785. She was married to John Bartlett in 1812. They had five sons and two daughters. They settled on Onslow Mountain, where she died February 12th, 1839. Mr. Bartlett died August 18th, 1837.
Nancy Whidden, their sixth daughter, was born December 24th, 1787. She was married to James McCabe of Pictou, September, 1807. They settled in Greenfield, on the same place that their son James now resides. She died there April 24th, 1858, aged 70 years. Mr. McCabe died December 28th, 1861, aged 80 years.
John McCabe, their eldest son, was born September 10th, 1808. He was married to Rebecca McLellan, of Economy, January, 1835. They had five sons and five daughters. They removed to Economy, Where Mrs. McCabe died March 8th, 1865. He was married again to Ann Ward, September, 1867. Samuel McCabe, their second son, was born April 15th 1810. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mary Bartlett, of Onslow Mountain, March 21st, 1839. They had five sons and five daughters. Mary McCabe, their eldest daughter, was born August 25th, 1812. She was married to William Staples, of Lower Onslow, March 23rd, 1848. They have one daughter.
Eleanor, the second daughter of James and Nancy McCabe, was born June 3rd, 1815. She was married to Richard Pyke, of Smithfield, January, 1833. They have three sons and one daughter. James McCabe, their third son, was born July 6th 1817. He was married to Abigail, daughter of James Downing and Dorothy Whidden, January 20th, 1842. They had four sons and four daughters. He inherits his father's farm in Greenfield. Dan McCabe, their fourth son, was born June 9th, 1819. He was married to Susan McCarnia, in 1852. They had two sons and one daughter. Mrs. McCabe died in 1857. He was married again to Mary McCarnia. They have two daughters. Edward McCabe, their fifth son, was born April 3rd, 1821. He was married to Sarah Higgins, of Musquodoboit, December 20th, 1843. They had seven sons and two daughters. He carries on the blacksmith business at Musquodoboit. Abigail McCabe, their third daughter was born March 23rd, 1823. She was married to George Higgins of Musquodoboit, December 4th 1845. They had three sons and three daughters. Asa McCabe, their sixth son, was born March 7th, 1825. He was married to Dorothy, daughter of James and Dorothy Downing, of Stewiacke, February 29th, 1848. They had two sons and four daughters. He reclaimed his farm from the forest where he resides. Ralph McCabe, their seventh son, was born July 27th, 1827. He was married to Jane, daughter of James and Dorothy Downing, of Stewiacke, June 3rd, 1852. They had five sons and five daughters. He now owns and resides on the farm that Eddy Whidden settled on.
Samuel, the second son of Samuel and Abigail Whidden, was born August 13th, 1790. He was married to Sarah, the only daughter of Thomas Stevens and Nancy Elliot, February, 1811. He settled first in Greenfield. He settled again in Harmony, where his wife died, April 21st, 1842. He was married again to Elizabeth McMullon, of Stewiacke, January 31st, 1844. He sold out in Harmony, and built the house that Robert Dinsmore recently lived in. He died there February 16th, 1862, aged 71 years. Elizabeth Whidden, their eldest daughter, was born December 6th, 1811. She was married to Joshua Higgins, of New Annan. They had six sons and four daughters. Abigail Whidden, their second daughter, was born January 26th, 1814. She died unmarried, November, 1846 aged 32 years. Nancy Whidden, their third daughter was born May 26th, 1816. She was married to Elisha Logan in May, 1842. They had five sons and two daughters. She died December 27th, 1865, aged 49 years. Mr. Logan died September 27th, 1870, aged 54 years. Sarah Whidden, their fourth daughter, was born August 10th, 1818. She was married to William Smith. They had one son. Mr. Smith died, and she was married again to Robert Hill, of Londonderry. They had one son and two daughters. She died in April, 1864, aged 46 years. Eleanor Whidden, their fifth daughter, was born June 20th, 1821. She was married to Abiather Blair, December 27th, 1842. They had eight sons and two daughters. James, the eldest son of Samuel and Sarah Whidden, was born July 27th, 1823. He died a bachelor, April 7th, 1865, aged 41 years. John Whidden, their second son, was born January 26th, 1826. He removed to the United States. He was married there to Mary McCarthany. They had three sons and one daughter. He died in 1863, aged 37 years. Mary Jane Whidden, their sixth daughter, was born September 22nd, 1828. She was married to John Stewart, of Londonderry, September 12th, 1855. They had one son and four daughters.
James, the third son of Samuel and Abigail Whidden, was born in 1796. He was married to Hannah, daughter of Ralph and Hannah Johnson, December, 1820. (Mrs. Whidden was born in England, July 16th, 1801). They settled first at Greenfield. He died at Onslow, Sept. 5th, 1870, aged 75 years. Ralph Whidden, their eldest son, was born March 20th, 1822. He was married to Bridget Stone, of Tatamagouche, February, 1850. They had four sons and five daughters. Samuel Whidden, their second son, was born March, 1824. He removed to New Brunswick. He was married there to Ruth Ann Crooks. They had four sons and five daughters. They now reside in the State of Maine. Abigail Whidden, their eldest daughter, was born in Greenfield, May 8th 1827. She was married to James Archibald, January 8th, 1847. They had two sons and four daughters. Mr. Archibald died at North River, June 4th, 1871, aged 47 years. Margaret Whidden, their second daughter was born December, 1831. Hannah Whidden, their third daughter, was born March 16th, 1835. She was married to William Wade, of New Brunswick. They had one son and one daughter. She died in the State of Maine, April 8th, 1867 aged 32 years. Mary Whidden, their fourth daughter, was born March 16th, 1838. She was married to George Smith, of Onslow, December 27th, 1869. They have one daughter. James Whidden, their third son was born in September, 1841. He was married to Margaret Adams, of River John, January, 1869. They have two daughters. William Whidden, their fourth son, was born April 17th, 1844. He removed to California. Wren Whidden, their fifth son, was born July 15th, 1846.
Phebe, the youngest daughter of Samuel and Abigail Whidden, was born February 18th, 1799. She was married to Ralph Johnson, of Greenfield. They had three sons and two daughters. She died July 28th, 1842, aged 43 years.
Simeon, the fourth son of James Whidden, Sen., was born in New England, in 1754 and was brought by his parents to Nova Scotia when he was about six years old. He was married to Dorothy, the fourth daughter of Captain William Blair and Jane Barns, about the year 1775. They settled in Middle Stewiacke about the year 1782. His farm laid on the west side of James Archibald's, which is now owned by the Messrs. Rutherford. In January, 1800, he was loading logs in the woods, when a log rolled on him and broke his leg. He lived but three days after. His widow died November, 1827, aged 74 years.
James, the eldest son of Simeon and Dorothy Whidden, was born in 1778. He was married to Jane, third daughter of James Fisher and Margaret McKeen , of Musquodoboit. They had five sons and five daughters. They removed to Canada some time ago. He died there. His wife and two daughters died there in 1852. Mary, the eldest daughter of Simeon and Dorothy Whidden, was born in 1780. She was married to William, the eldest son of James and Margaret Fisher, of Musquodoboit. They had sons and daughters. They removed to St. Mary's. Sarah Whidden, their second daughter, was born in 1782. She was married to John Higgins, of Musquodoboit, in 1807. They had four sons and four daughters. She died February 11th, 1871, aged 89 years. Mr. Higgins died in March, 1869.
William, the second son of Simeon and Dorothy Whidden, was born in 1784. He was married to Mary McLain, of Pictou. They had five sons and five daughters. He removed and settled at St. Mary's. He died in February, 1857, aged 73 years. His wife died in 1842.
Simeon, the third son of Simeon and Dorothy Whidden, was born May 17th, 1786. He was married to Susan Harris, of Sydney, C.B., in 1812. They resided in Cape Breton, Stewiacke, Dartmouth and Truro. He died in Truro, October 25th, 1859, aged 73 years. His wife died in Truro, April 10, 1859, aged 73 years. George, the eldest son of Simeon and Susan Whidden, was married to Abigail Jane, daughter of Robert and Esther Whidden, December 22nd, 1840. They had two sons and three daughters. James, the second son of Simeon and Susan Whidden, removed to the United States. He is married there. Mary Whidden, their eldest daughter, was married to Kennedy Archibald, December 22nd, 1840. They had six sons and four daughters. Abigail Whidden, their second daughter, was married to Johnson Archibald, October 9th, 1845. They had three sons and four daughters. John Whidden, their third son, was married to Sophia Graham, in 1846. They reside in Dartmouth. They had sons and daughters. Simeon, the fourth son of Simeon and Susan Whidden, was married to Harriet Reeves in 1845. They had four sons and three daughters. They reside in Halifax. Sarah, the third daughter of Simeon and Susan Whidden, was married to Charles Hall, September 23rd, 1846. They had three sons and two daughters. Susan, the fourth daughter of Simeon and Susan Whidden, was born December 24th, 1834. She was married to Roderick McKinnon, December 8th, 1859. They had two sons and two daughters.
Robert, the fourth son of Simeon and Dorothy Whidden, was born April 2nd, 1788. He was married to Esther, second daughter of Francis Creelman and Esther Campbell, November 9th, 1813. He inherited a part of his father's farm. He died April 1st, 1834 aged 46 years. Hannah Whidden, their eldest daughter, was born July 26th, 1815. She was married to Samuel Frame, December 22nd, 1838. They had three sons and five daughters. They removed to the United States, where he and his wife both died some time ago. Abigail Jane Whidden, their second daughter, was born February 7th, 1818. She was married to George Whidden, December 22nd, 1840. They had two sons and three daughters. Matthew Whidden, their eldest son, was born in December, 1820. He was married to Janet, daughter of William and Martha Ellis, November, 1844. They had two sons and one daughter. They removed to the United States. Mary Whidden, their third daughter, was born in 1822. She removed to the United States. She was married there to Rufus Young. They had two sons and one daughter. Simeon Whidden, their second son, was born in 1824. He was married to Eliza Frame. They had two sons. They removed to the United States. Mrs. Whidden died there in 1853. He was married again to Hannah, daughter of Robert Higgins, of Onslow. She lived but a short time after they were married. Esther Whidden, their fourth daughter, was born in 1826. She was married to William, son of Chas. Carter and Agnes Oughterson, in 1855. They had four sons and three daughters. They reside in Brookfield. Robert Kirk Whidden, their third son, was born in 1828. He was married to Margaret Boomer. They removed to California. They had one son and two daughters. James Smith Whidden, their fourth son, was born in March, 1830. He removed to the United States. He was twice married there. He died there some time ago. Margaret Whidden, their fifth daughter, was born April 6th, 1832. She removed to the United States. She was married there to Harris Merril. They had three daughters. David Whidden, their fifth son , was born March 5th, 1834. He removed to the United States. He was married there to Elizabeth Babcock. They have one daughter.
John, the fifth son of Simeon and Dorothy Whidden, was born in 1792, and was married to Miss Symonds, of Antigonish. They had a family. He was a Baptist minister, settled in Antigonish, and died there.
Dorothy, the third daughter of Simeon and Dorothy Whidden, was born May 29th, 1794. She was married to James Downing, July 20th, 1818. They had two sons and four daughters. She died September 5th, 1850. Mr. Downing died June 1st, 1840, aged 45 years. David Whidden, their sixth son was born in 1796. He was married to Rebecca Pyke, January, 1821. He was one of the first that settled in Smithfield in 1825. Richard Whidden, their eldest son, was born December 13th, 1821. He was married to Abigail Bartlet, of Onslow Mountain, December 31st, 1845. They had one son. Samuel Whidden, their second son, was born November, 1825. He was married to Rebecca Smith, of St. Mary's, December, 1856. They had two sons and three daughters. Elizabeth Whidden, their eldest daughter, was born in 1827. She died 1858. Eleanor Whidden, their second daughter, was born in 1829. She was married to Hugh Whidden, of St. Mary's, November 4th, 1854. They had sons and daughters. He died February, 1872. Jane Whidden, their third daughter, was born in 1831. Dorothy Whidden, their fourth daughter, was born in 1833. She was married to Henry Smith, of St. Mary's, in 1858. They had three sons and four daughters. David Whidden, their youngest son, was born in 1836. He was married to Mary McCabe, of Greenfield, February 12th, 1865. They had three daughters.
Jane, the fourth daughter of Simeon and Dorothy Whidden, was born January 22nd, 1798. She was married to James Reed, May 12th, 1817. They had eight sons and five daughters. Mr. Reed came from Scotland in 1815. He settled in Musquodoboit. He died October 21st, 1870, aged 73 years. Abigail, the fifth daughter of Simeon and Dorothy Whidden, was born in 1799. She died unmarried.
