When in Quebec a few years back, we visited Athelstan. My grandmother had been born there and her mother’s family had lived there for years. We found the cemetery where my great-great-grandparents and my great-grandmother were buried. The Presbyterian church is quite striking. The cemetery is in behind it.
The cemetery was small but quite beautiful. We were there in late October – it would have been even prettier a few weeks earlier when the leaves were still on the trees.
This is where my gg-grandparents and my great-grandmother are buried. (My great-grandfather is actually buried in Montreal, although his name is on this tombstone.)
John Johnson
1847-1939
His Wife
Alice J. Burton
1848-1928
Margaret
1883-1971
Wife of John Fee
1878-1967
J. Arthur Lumsden
Sept. 22 1911 – Apr. 14 1995
His Wife
Alice Forget
Dec. 3 1919 – Oct. 22 1997
(Arthur Lumsden was John and Alice Johnson’s grandson. His mother was their eldest daughter Emily.)
I have a b+w photo of Arthur Lumsden and his twin brother. It was in my grandfathers photo collection.
Would you like a digital copy of it
My grandfather Thomas M lumsden was born in Athelstan and his father Robert Lumsden and granfather Alexander Lumsden are both buried in this cemetary.
I live in Athelstan and am doing some research with regards to the early history. Discovered your page while researching. Art and Alice were lifelong friends of my parents- wonderful people! Alice was my Dad’s step Aunt and was a loving wonderful person who was always in his life- Art was a great tease! Do you have any old pictures of the family- village that might be of use to my project? Thank you- April Donnelly
PS – where is your bridge picture taken- it is gorgeous!
I came by this looking for my mother’s roots.
Her father was Wells Lumsden, married to Lizzie Crutchfield. Lizzie died in 1930 (or so), and he moved his family, my mother Bernice Marion and her sister, Roberta Joyce to Picton, Ontario. He did not remarry until into his mid-70s.
Wonder if there is a connection — Lumsden is not a common name in general.
Were they from the Athelstan Quebec area?
Sorry, I forget all about this, but I was reminded of Athelstan tonight.
Yes, my mother and sister were born in Athelstan, registered in the births of the Presbyterian Church there. As far as I know, the Lumsden connection goes back to just after the Conquest, when the first group moved from Scotland to the Eastern Townships.
Family farmland was in that area, when my grandfather, Wells Lumsden, sold his share around 1930 to move his daughters to Prince Edward County, Ontario to be closer to relatives after the death of his wife, Lizzie Crutchfield. The only living relation that I know of my aunt and mother had in the area was a cousin “Ruthie” Bryson.
My mother didn’t talk a lot about her family or it’s history. My grandfather died when I was around 2. The only other thing I remember is that there were two brothers, somehow related, who played for the Montreal Maroons when they were still an NHL team.
My cousin recently contacted me to see if I knew where her mother was born, and as far as I knew, both Roberta Joyce (aunt) and Bernice Marion (my mother) were born there. I do not know if my grandmother, Lizzie Crutchfield Lumsden is buried in that cemetery.
Thanks for your interest. And, I recently did visit my great-grandmother’s (father’s side) and took pictures of the tombstones. This is in La Have Point, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.
My mother was Grace Lumsden from Athelstan, and my Lumsden ancestors there go back four generations. Odd that I don’t know just how we’re connected with Arthur– but I’ll look into that. My ancestors’ farm was on Ridge Road, and they sold a corner of their lot for the church and cemetery. My great uncle Albert Lumsden looked after the cemetery and dug the graves for many years– and is now buried there along with many of my Lumsden relatives. Please drop me a line if you’d like to compare notes. I’m curious about Arthur’s connection with my Lumsdens. We’re most likely cousins at some remote level.
Hi Bill,
Muriel was your Mom’s sister? I am writing a book about Athelstan and would interested if you had any stories. I knew Arthur (Art) and Alice very well – Alice was my a Dad’s Aunt. I have quite a lot of info about Athelstan I can share.
April
Hi Jen
I am researching the Ansted family – Alice Jane Burton’s great grandfather (Thomas Ansted)’s brother, William, is my great, great, great grandfather. Happy to provide more details of you want. Equally, I would be interested to know more about your grandmother’s family and descendants, if available
Best wishes
Frank