Throughout the past year, I have dedicated this blog to selected Canadian branches of my family tree. I have always found that my research leads me down the most interesting paths when I focus on one family group, one line, one person, or one theme. This has proven true especially in 2015. As I stated in my first post, I chose to work on the following 10 families:
Nova Scotia
Archibald
Creelman
Fulton
Hamilton
MacKay
New Brunswick
Beck
Bleakney
Bustin
Smith
Steeves
Steeves
My last Canadian branch is the Steeves branch. By way of intermarriage between members of the Steeves family and the Smith family in New Brunswick, I happen to descend from 2 of the 7 sons of my sixth great grandparents Heinrich Stieff and Regina Stahlecker, Matthias and Jacob.
Line 1:
Matthias Steeves (c.1761-1848)
--Jacob Steeves (1788-c.1846)
----William Bleakney Steeves (c.1823-1899)
------Robina Elizabeth Steeves (1854-1929)
--------Wylie Herbert Smith (1874-1952)
----------Harriet Cheney Smith (1906-1985)
------------Marilyn Louise Bustin (1931- )
--------------Me (1955- )
Line 2:
Jacob Steeves (1750-1803)
--George Steeves (1785-1870
----Caroline Steeves (1816-1903)
------James Henry Smith (1850-1915)
--------Wylie Herbert Smith (1874-1952)
----------Harriet Cheney Smith (1906-1985)
------------Marilyn Louise Bustin (1931- )
--------------Me (1955-)
Probably the most prominent member of my Steeves family tree is my 2nd cousin 4x removed, William Henry Steeves, known in the annals of Canadian history as The Father of Confederation.
More on William Henry Steeves can be found at:
Spray, W. A. -- "Steeves, William Henry". -- Dictionary of Canadian biography online. www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=39400
Next year, 2016, will be the 250th Anniversary of the arrival of Heinrich and Rachel Stieff to New Brunswick (from Germany, by way of Pennsylvania). In preparation of this momentous event, a week-long celebration and family reunion is being held in Hillsborough, New Brunswick. Steeves descendants are coming from around the world, and Yours Truly will be among them!
For more on the Steeves story, and on next year's BIG CELEBRATION, including our attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of individuals with the same last name in the same place at the same time, in the Moncton Coliseum, visit:
