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.

From The Old Nevard Album

An interesting old Nevard photo although these ladies were all born with the surname Winstanley. Centre back is Margaret Montagu Winstanley who married Arthur Nevard when she came to Canada in 1910. Known to most as "Daisy Nevard".  The other two in the photo must be sisters May and Flo.

Narratives 5 Winstanley Grove

In 1909 Dad bought a  binder from Cassidy, the Massey Harris agent in Lipton. Also in 1909 Aunt Daisy (Margaret Montagu Winstanley) came out to Canada. She and Uncle Arthur were married in St. John's Anglican Church in Fort Qu'appelle July 15th of that year. They came to the farm and lived in Uncle Arthur's shack. Uncle Arthur was busy building his house but was not ready in time for the wedding. They named their home, "Winstanley Grove".

                                                     Daisy Winstanley

One day Aunt Daisy was out for a walk and landed up at Captain Boyle's homestead, about 3 miles north of her home. Captain Boyle directed her home. Aunt Daisy often went for walks and met many settler's wives. Grace Hobetzeder told me this amusing little story told by her mother. Her uncles Tom and Alf Goff saw a lady walking into their yard with long flowing skirts. This chickens, cats, and dogs all fled in fright heading for the nearest bush. They had never seen anyone dressed in this English fashion before. This was how Aunt Daisy and Miss Kate Goff met. Kate later became Mrs. Karl Hobetzeder.
In July of 1910 Dad took out a mortgage on the farm. He was able to pay this up in 1920.
Dad had a collie dog named Nell. She had been given to him as a pup at one of the places he was working. He fed her bread and butter. One day mother asked Dad what to feed the dog and he told her. After that Nell was glad to get just plain bread minus the butter.
Nell was kicked by a horse and suffered a broken leg. Dad put her on the front room table and Aunt Daisy set the leg. Some years later a heifer named Lorna broke her leg and Dad set it. Her first calf, Oliver , broke his leg and again Dad set it. The leg had a little twist in it but he got along. Nell was very knowing and intelligent. One evening one of the hens was missing and mother could not find it. Nell knew where the hen was and led Mother to where the hen was stuck between two logs in the old stable.
I believe it was also 1910 that the Nevards all went to a Church service at Spondon. About ten miles east and a little south of our homesteads. The clergyman from Fort Qu'appelle took the service. The Church was built on the homestead of Mr. Jobson. After the service they were invited in to dinner.
The family attended a picnic at Eskdale. Mrs. Dragushen saw Mother's hat and took a fancy to it. Shortly after this Mr. Dragushen came along and wanted to borrow Mother's hat. He presented his case as follows. My frau is going to a marriage. Dad was owing Dragushen a little money at the time , otherwise I don't think Mother would have allowed it. He brought the hat back but Mother never wore it again.

A Difficult February in 1933

80 years ago this month was not a happy time for the family. The extreme cold weather only added to the suffering. As seen in Bill Nevard's journal.
February 4 :Dad and Bud went to Goff's to bring the bull home. Young Tommy Goff had just died of pneumonia that morning.

February 6, 1933: It was 46 below zero this morning and I skied over to Goff's to see if they would be holding the funeral on such a cold day and heard that they were. Dad , Uncle Arthur and Bud went.
Aunt Daisy hurt her leg this afternoon by falling over a stoneboat in the stable.

February 7: A whist drive at Winstanley Grove. It was 56 below zero when Dick and I came home at 4 a:m.

February 10: Another rotten day. I went up to Winstanley Grove at night. Aunt Daisy in bed and Bud gone to Barton's to phone up North's.

February 11: Weather better. Martha North came to nurse Aunt Daisy.

February 12: Sunday. Bud went to phone for the doctor.

February 13: Doctor Stewart came to see Aunt Daisy and stopped in here to see mother on the way back. Martha came with him.

February 15: Milder. Mr. and Mrs. North came to see Aunt Daisy. Moved her into the other room.

February 17: Nancy down in the stable unable to get up. I cut some green wood.

February 20: Uncle Horrie went to Lipton. Dad had to shoot Nancy today. Uncle Arthur's big bay, Paddy, was likewise gathered to his ancestors. I went to see Aunt Daisy in the evening.

February 22: Aunt Daisy died of a heart attack this afternoon.

February 23: Dad and Uncle Arthur went to Fisher's to arrange the funeral. Nonsuch Woodland Seeker of Rockhaven calved today.

February 24: John Senft and Uncle Arthur went to Lipton to fetch Uncle Eddie and the coffin.

February 25
The funeral was held in Lipton town hall. It was a beautiful bright day.