Saturday, April 14, 2018

April 13th In Nevard History

Yesterday, April 13, marked the day in 1903, that my Nevard ancestors first set foot on Canadian soil. Ernest and Arthur Nevard arrived on the Barr colonist's boat, Lake Manitoba, at Halifax harbour the day before. The 13th was Ernest's 25th birthday.
This photo is likely one of the earliest I have of them. Building their first home in what would later become Saskatchewan. Ernest on the left.
I was less than 5 years old when Ernest Nevard died so my visual memories of him are limited to photos like this one from 1954.


Monday, March 26, 2018

1937

The 1930s, also known as the depression, were some tough years on the farms. Or so I've always been told. 1937 was exceptionally dry. Some of the cereal crops were too short to even make a decent sheaf with the binder so there was a lot of spare bin space that year. I don't know if grain prices went up in response but it wouldn't help much if you had none to sell.
Things apparently were not any better on the cattle side if this receipt from my grandfather's records are any indicator. No, that is not $1.75 a pound for a cow, it is 1.75 cents. Thats right, less than 2 cents a pound for beef on the hoof. And that is before deductions. of $10.27 (freight to Manitoba?) are considered.
They were not big cows, in the 7 to 800 pound range but Grandpa received a net value of $14.95 for two cows.

Friday, March 23, 2018

Arthur Nevard 1916 Census

Been a while since  I posted anything new here in the Nevardblog. Just found this bit of information on the 1916 census search and thought this was as good a place as any to save it. Searching the library and archives site I found Arthur Nevard and wife Margaret living at 2081 Ottawa Street in Regina. Not sure on the date of the census but it must have been just before Arthur joined the Canadian Army and changed address.
Interesting to note that sister in law, Marian Winstanley is listed as a lodger. Guessing she was the one later known as Aunt May who married Eddie Edwards.


Friday, February 23, 2018

Bill Nevard's Birthday

Today, February 23, was E.W. , or as everybody knew him "Bill" , Nevard's birthday. Depending on how correct my information is, he would be 116 or 117 years old. Born at Lexden, Colchester, Essex, he came to Canada in 1906. Bill was my inspiration for this Nevardblog. He was the most prolific writer in the family. His daily journals from 1930 until the year he died (1975) are a constant source of family history and information. Much of it has already appeared here in the Nevardblog.
He drew amazing, science fiction type pictures. Even wrote his own version of some Edgar Rice Burroughs type stories. All written in hard times on the backs of old envelopes, cement bags, any sort of paper that was available for free.
Bill had a major change of occupation in 1948 when he quit the farm and went to work at the Fort (TB) sanatorium for the next 20 years until he retired.
Hard to find a picture that I haven't already used but these are some I like.


Mary, Daisy, Arthur and Bill Nevard in the very early days on the homestead.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Nevard History February 21

Today, February 21 marks the death of Margaret Montagu (Winstanley) Nevard. Or as most of her friends and neighbours knew her, Daisy Nevard. Wife of Arthur Nevard. Born December 26, 1873 at High Street, Shirley, Milbrook, which appears to be in Southampton, U.K.. Daughter of William Newnham Winstanley and Helen (Baker) Winstanley.
Note from Gifford Harrison: It occurs to me that Margaret Montagu Winstanley may have been born in the Southampton area, but her family probably moved to Lexden (Essex) some time after her birth. That way meeting Arthur Nevard would have simply been a local matter. I say this because Leslie Nevard in his research found school records from Lexden National School which in June 1902 mention a Miss Winstanley who is training as a teacher taking the place of a Miss Theobald who was ill. The note says she is the sister of the District Nurse "who Arthur Nevard married".
Arthur and Daisy named their homestead in Saskatchewan "Winstanley Grove" and we still refer to it by that name today.
At least one Anglican church service was held at Arthur and Daisy's farm house  in 1911. Tom Goff and Mary Lane were married there in November of 1911. Not long after this Arthur and Daisy went to live and work in Regina (as did Ernest).
In 1915 Arthur enlisted in the Forestry Corp of the Canadian Army and went to Scotland. He returned to the farm in the summer of 1919.
Arthur and Daisy adopted a son, Sherwood Eric Holmden in the spring of 1924. He was later known as "Bud" Nevard.
Daisy Nevard became seriously ill in 1927 and went to Winnipeg for treatment. There is no evidence of what the nature of the illness was.
There is no further mention of it until Feb. 6 , 1933 when she fell and injured her leg. She died of a stroke on Feb. 21.
The funeral was held at the Lipton town hall on February 25 and she was buried in Lipton cemetery.
Couple of photos from England
And a photo taken in Canada.


Sunday, January 21, 2018

The Nevard Birthday Calendar


January 19 would have marked the 142nd birthday of Mary (Hall) Nevard. Wife of Ernest Samuel Nevard, mother of Bill and Dick Nevard. Born at Saxmundham, Suffolk, England, she came to Canada to join Ernest on  the homestead in what eventually would become Saskatchewan in 1905.
This photo from the early forties  is possibly one of the last pictures of her. She died in September of 1943.

Monday, January 15, 2018

Today In Nevard History

Actually a few days late but January 11 marked the day that Great Uncle Arthur Nevard died in 1965. I have several photos of him including  this one from  around 1911 in Regina, Saskatchewan where he worked off the farm for a while.

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Visitors At Winstanley Grove

I'm calling this one, based on the photo, visitors at Winstanley Grove, the Arthur Nevard farm. Although they likely visited with all three Nevard families on the section at the same time. The city relatives would drive out most summers for a visit in the country. Uncle Edde and Aunt May Edwards. May was a sister to Arthur Nevard's wife, Margaret.
In this photo, taken at Winstanley Grove, from left to right we have, my Uncle Don, my mother, their uncle Eddy on the white horse, my uncle Roy, and at right, holding the horse and colt is Bud Nevard.
The date I am guessing mid to late 1930s.