maughan.ca
a collection of family histories

Connection to Greta Fay Maughan (nee McDougall)

Ebenezer Abram Bedford

Ebenezer Abram Bedford born 14-Dec-1797 in Amherstburg, ON, CA, died 05-Oct-1876 in Harwich, ON, CA. Married Susanna Reynolds (1807-1883) in Mar-1823.

Ebenezer's parents were Robert Bedford (1747-1842) and Elizabeth Rayle Edwards (1776-1854) who were married in 1794 in 'Little Coast, Upper Canada, British Colonial America'. Elizabeth Edwards was the fifth of ten chidren of Thomas Edwards (1736-1808) and Elizabeth Rayle (1745-1819) who were married in 1768 in Wales. This is the Edwards linkage in the Letter to the Bedfords.

Note that Harwich is a township in southwestern Ontario that is now part of Chatham-Kent. It was originally surveyed in 1794 and named after the English port of Harwich. The Harwich post office shown on the county atlas was located in what's now called McKay's Corners. References to Harwich below may simply relate to the township and not a specific location in the township, as a 'town of Harwich' was never incorporated. Ebenezer and Susanna had 11 children:

From Commemorative Biogrpahical Record of the County of Kent Ontario - page 190, published 1904 by J. H. Beers & Company

ALBERT BEDFORD, a prominent citizen of Harwich township, County of Kent, and a leading farmer of that locality, residing on Lot 15, Thames River Road, was born at the old homestead May 9, 1842, a son of Ebenezer ans Susanna (Reynolds) Bedford, old pioneers of the county.

Ebenezer Bedford was born in Ontario. Canada, near Amherstburg, in December, 1797, and was a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Edwards) Bedford, who came to Canada during the Revolution from Pennsylvania. They were of Welsh descent. Robert Bedford first settled in Malden, but later located in Chatham township, as early as 1800, and one of his sons, John, participated in the war of 1812. Robert Bedford received 200 acres of land from the government in Chatham, and there engaged in farming in the summer, while in the winter he taught school; he enjoyed the honor of being one of the first school teachers in his section of the country. Of their large family none are now living, but all were useful men and women, and bravely bore the parts assigned them in the struggle of life.

Ebenezer Bedford grew to manhood in the County of Kent, and received a fair education while learning the art of farming. In March, 1823, he married Susanna Reynolds, who was born in Canada in July, 1807, daughter of George and Catherine (Arnold) Reynolds, who were of German parentage. They emigrated from Pennsylvania, settling on the river Thames, among the United Empire Loyalists who came to Canada about the time of the Revolution. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bedford settled on the farm now owned by their son Albert. This property was then wild land, but he cleared it of the timber and brush, all except a small field which the Indians had robbed of its virgin wood. On this cleared spot he erected a small log cabin, and he and his wife began life as pioneers in the vast wilderness. They lived in the cabin for many years, later building an addition to it, and there Mr. Bedford died in I876. His widow survived until Sept. 11, I883, dying at the home of a daughter, Mrs. G. Purser, of Harwich township. Religiously they were mem- bers of the Methodist Church, and were prominent in the early history of that denomination in Harwich township. Politically Mr. Bedford was a Conservative; he never aspired to office. This hard-working father made his own way in life from a position of poverty to one of affluence, becoming one of the leading men of the county before his death. He and his wife became the parents of the following children:

Albert Bedford was educated in the public schools of Harwich township, and has always made his home on the farm owned by his father, who left it to him. On Dec. 9, I863, he married Maria Winter, of Harwich township, who was born in the County of Halton, daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Zavitt) Winter, old pioneers of that locality. Mr. Winter moved to Harwich township, where he and his wife passed away; both were born in Canada, of German parentage. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bedford settled on the old Bedford homestead, where they have since remained, and here, in I876. Mr. Bedford erected his fine large brick house, which is equipped with all modern improvements and conveniences. The present excellent barns and outbuildings have all been built by him since he took charge of the farm. He owns 250 acres of the original homestead, and also a good farm at Dresden, as well as other real estate. His father owned at one time 400 acres, all in one piece, on the river Thames, and also about 500 acres now in Harwich township, at the same time, all of which he divided among his sons.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bedford:

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Bedford are members of the Methodist Church, in the work of which they have always taken an active part, and he has served for many years past as Sunday-school superintendent. He is also recording steward in the church, having held the latter office for a number of years. Politically Mr. Bedford has been a loyal Conservative, but he has never desired office. A good neighbor and kind Christian man, it is his pride that he has never been obliged to call upon the law, nor has he ever had any differences with others. As an evidence of the confidence reposed in him by his fellowmen, we may mention that he has been appointed executor by two of his neighbors, one on each side of his home place. He has been secretary of the school board for nine years, taking a deep interest in educational matters. Few men stand higher in the community than Mr. Bedford, who richly deserves the confidence of his neighbors, and his upright, honorable life points a moral to the coming generations, that truest success is attained by honest methods and hard work, if ably directed along the proper paths.