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Author: ourfamproj
Surnames: Claxton, Pitcher
Classification: biography
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.claxton/509/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
For anyone who is researching Thomas claxton and Maude Pitchers Family line. I came into possession of a Speech that Arnold Claxton, the youngest Child of Thomas and Maude Claxton, Wrote for the Claxton Family reunion in 1995 at Cherry valley Ontario Canada. If you are researching this family I may be able to help, but I am also looking for Thomas Claxtons Parents in Norfolk, England. if anyone can help it would greatly be appreciated. Now below is the speech enjoy!
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The Journey of Maude Pitcher and Tom Claxton from the Late 1800's to the 1960's
I was given the honour to relate to you a little history of Tom and Maude Claxton, the two people that started this clan.
A man named Tom and a woman named Maude both from England Norfolk-Docking and Liverpool Area.
Tom was a Gardener, Soldier and a Merchant seaman.
Maude was a domestic worker maid and 2nd cook on a game farm.
As fate would have it, they met and fell in love and were married. Timeswere very hard in the old Country in those years, the late 1800's and early 1900's. Soon they were to have two childrem, a girl named Edna and two years later a boy named Albert.
I can only imagine that Tom was either looking for a better way to support his family or maybe he just wanted to get away from it alll. (Who knows)?
Whatever the reason, he joined the Merchant Navy and Sailed to Canada many times in the next two years.
On his last trip to Canada, and I would suspect because of the hard times back home, he was to make a decision to send for his wife and Family to join him in this new landof opporunity.
And, soon Maude Claxton and her two children, Edna 2 1/2 years old and Albert 9 Months found themselves on the way to this new Country, Canada.
They were tosail on the Titanic, the ship that was supposed to be unsinkable, but as we all know she was struck by an iceberg and sank.
But, as fate would have it they were to expeirence transportation problems and lucky for us, were to miss the ship.
Later to sail the Laratania, to arrive in Quebec City, then on to Cherry Valley in the County of Prince Edward, Province of Ontario, the year was 1912.
Here they were employed as share crop farmers aand Maude worked out as a domestic worker.
And, as I have learned from my older siblings over the past 40 years, they were to move several times in the County. As I understand it Tom was a bit on the lazy side, and found himself in a lawsuit situation with almost every farmer he crop shared with and therefore the moved a lot.
Their first move was to Salmon Point where Maude was to have a baby girl named Evelyn Ruth. Some time passed and they moved back to the valley where the children got most of their schooling.
Soon to be, on the move again, they moved to the Township of North Mayrsbugh in what was called the Greenbush area. They crop shared with a family named Farrington and here another baby was born, the named him Arnold. the house where Arnold was born is still standing and occupied.
The next move was to Sophiasburgh Township where they worked on the Keniff Farm. This house is still standing and is unoccupied and is on the corner of Bethel Street and county road # 5.
Evelyn was to finish school at Bethel School about 1 1/4 miles west from county road # 5. This school house has been turned into a permanent dwelling and is occupied by a family at the present time.
Then what do you know, they were on their move again, back to Greenbush area to crop share with the James family. How long they were there I have no idead, but I do remember the day we had the sale before moving to Picton.
As I was playing with another kid and putting hay in an old machine called a straw cutter, I lost the end of my index finger of the lefy hand and I still remember the pain and the old Doctor named Whiteman.
Finally to arrive in Picton in what was the called Delhi which is below the town hill. This is where Arnold started school. Tom went back to gardening fro some of the town's people and Maude continued in the domestic field.
As I recall we moved several times within the town, West Main, to midtown where I was to quit school and move out into the working world.
By this time World War II was well underway and we all found ourselves working for the war effort. This time Tom was employed by the town to bale the cardboard that was collected for recycling and I was working for an old Jewish man collecting Iron, and at times I would go and help Tom bale Paper.
It wasn't long then that Tom's health began to fail and he retired, and some time after, Maude had to quit work because of ill health.
Finally, Tom left us December 4, 1964 in a nursing home (Rest Haven), the old Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital of diabetes.
Four years later Maude was to leave us April 16, 1968 at Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital od Cancer of the Stomach.
Their final resting place is just south of this hall in Cherry Calley Cemetery.
At this time, I would ask you all to stand for one minute of silence in Tom and Maude's Honor.
This has been a little bit of history about Tom and Maude Claxton.
The two people that started this clan.
I thank you for your indulgence and hope you will enjoy the rest of the evening. I am looking forward to the get together tomorrow at he park and hope to have a visit with everyone.
Thank you and enjoy the evening.
Arnold Clifford Claxton Youngest Child of Tom and Maude Claxton
NOTE: The Larantania was actually the Laurentic passenger ship.
This was taken directly from Arnold's Speach from the Claxton family reunion 1 July, 1995, Cherry Valley.
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