Digging Down East: Bustin Samuel

Showing posts with label Bustin Samuel. Show all posts

Sunday, July 20, 2014

52 Ancestors: #29 Frederick Parker Bustin (1886-1965)

Frederick Parker Bustin, my great grandfather, was born on this date in 1886, in Mechanic Settlement, Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada, the ninth of nine children born to Samuel James Bustin and Mary Ross, and their seventh son.

At the age of 18, Fred emigrated to the States, ending up in Portland, Maine. His brothers Benjamin and Thomas eventually left Canada as well and came to Portland.

Fred Bustin As A Young Man

A couple of years later, Fred married Melvina Jane "Vina" Hamilton, a young woman from Upper Stewiacke in Nova Scotia, on May 1, 1907, Portland.

Children arrived quickly for the young couple, first a daughter, and three sons thereafter:

Flora Vesta, b. 1907

Suther Ross, b. 1908

Marvin Howard, b. 1911

and

Laurence Albert, b. 1913

In 1910, Fred went to work for the Maine Central Railroad, and worked at the Rigby Railroad Yard in South Portland.

Rigby Yard railroad crew. Fred, back row, 4th from left.

Fred and Vina always lived in Morrill's Corner, in what was once known as the Deering District of Portland, at first on Morrill St., and afterwards at two different addresses on Stevens Avenue. They always kept a garden, which yielded a substantial crop of corn and pole beans.

Fred Bustin With A Pal In Front of 827 Stevens Ave.
Morrill's Corner

Fred and Vina at home

Fred worked for the Maine Central Railroad for 50 years, as a section hand, an engine wiper, and a machinist, and in 1960 he was presented with a 50-year pass by the president of the railroad. It was noted in the railroad newsletter.

This is how I remember my great grandfather, whom we all called "Pap."

On Christmas Eve in 1965, Pap passed away at the former Osteopathic Hospital on Brighton Avenue, in Portland, Maine. He never used his 50-year pass.

He, and "Nana," are buried in Evergreen Cemetery (not far from "the Corner").

Sources:

1891 Census of Canada; Census Place: Cardwell, Kings, New Brunswick; Roll: T-6301; Family No: 24, Frederick G H Bustin.

1901 Census of Canada; Census Place: Elgin, Albert, New Brunswick; Page: 9; Family No: 75, Fred Bustin.

1910 US Census; Census Place: Portland Ward 9, Cumberland, Maine; Roll: T624_539; Page: 1A, Fred P. Bustin.

1920 US Census; Census Place: Portland Ward 9, Cumberland, Maine; Roll: T625_640; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 59; Image: 907, Fred P. Bustin.

1930 US Census; Census Place: Portland, Cumberland, Maine; Roll: 831; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 0075; Image: 796.0; FHL microfilm: 2340566, Frederick P. Bustin.

1940 US Census; Census Place: Portland, Cumberland, Maine; Roll: T627_1476; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 3-110, Frederick P. Bustin.

Ancestry.com. Maine, Marriage Records, 1713-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, Fred Bustin and Melvina Hamilton.

Ancestry.com. Maine, Naturalization Records - Originals, 1906-1929 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, Frederick Parker Bustin.

“Fred P. Bustin,” obituary, Portland (Maine) Press Herald, 25 December 1965.

Frederick P. Bustin tombstone, section U, Evergreen Cemetery, Portland (Cumberland County), Maine; photographed by Pamela Schaffner on 7 August 2009.

New Brunswick. Registrar-General. Late Registration of Births, 1810-1899. #1886-B148. 1944. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada. http://archives.gnb.ca/. Accessed and downloaded 5/13/2012.

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This is the 29th in a series, “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks,” coordinated by Amy Johnson Crow at No Story Too Small.

Monday, May 5, 2014

52 Ancestors: #18 Stephen Blizzard Bustin (1877-1964)

Stephen Blizzard Bustin, my great grand uncle, was born on this date in 1877 in Mechanic Settlement, Kings County, New Brunswick, the fifth of nine children born to Samuel James Bustin and Mary Elizabeth Ross, and their third son.

As far as I can determine, Stephen lived and farmed the great portion of his life in Elgin, Albert County, although he may have lived his last years in Moncton, Westmorland County.

His youngest brother being my great grandfather, Frederick Parker Bustin, I often heard him referred to as one of the two "old batchelors." The other brother who remained unmarried was Stephen and Fred's brother Walter Samuel Bustin.

This is a picture of Stephen Bustin, thankfully annotated by my great grandmother.

Stephen died at the age of 86, in the Moncton City Hospital on January 9, 1964, and is buried with his brother Walter, in the Riverbank Community Cemetery in Sussex Parish.

Sources:

1901 Census of New Brunswick, Elgin, Albert County, Stephen Bustin, transcribed digital image, Automated Genealogy (http://automatedgenealogy.com/census/View.jsp?id=1809&highlight=40&desc=1901+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+Stephen+Bustin) : accessed 4 May 2014.

1911 Census of New Brunswick, Elgin, Albert County, Stephen Bustin, transcribed digital image, Automated Genealogy (http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/View.jsp?id=1951&highlight=32&desc=1911+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+Stephen+Bustin) : accessed 4 May 2014.

"Canada Census, 1881", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MV63-1BM : accessed 12 Mar 2014), Stephen Bustin in entry for Samuel Bustin.

"Canada Census, 1891," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MWKZ-PZ9 : accessed 04 May 2014), Stephen Bustin, Elgin, Albert, New Brunswick, Canada; citing Public Archives, Ottawa, Ontario; Library and Archives Canada film number 30953_148099.

New Brunswick. Dept. of Health and Social Services. Vital Statistics from Government Records (RS141), Reg. 1147, Vol. 262, Microfilm F20890. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada. http://archives.gnb.ca/. Accessed and downloaded 5/4/2014.

New Brunswick Genealogical Society, Capital Branch, compilers. “Riverbank Community Cemetery” Database. New Brunswick Cemeteries. (http://archives.gnb.ca/Search/Cemeteries/?culture=en-CA/ : accessed 28 May 2012), database entry for Stephen B. Bustin.

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This is the 18th in a series, “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks,” coordinated by Amy Johnson Crow at No Story Too Small.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Bustin's Fine Furniture, Ltd. of Saint John

My daughter, my mother, my son, my dad, and me at
Bustin's Furniture
Summer 2000

In my start-and-stop genealogy journey, one high point was the trip I took to Canada in 2000, with my two children and my parents. On my list of places to visit was Bustin's Fine Furniture in Saint John, New Brunswick.

At the time of this visit, no one in my family (at least of those still living) knew how our Bustin line connected to this Bustin family. I was hopeful that someone in the store with family ties could give me some clues. Unfortunately, although they were as welcoming and friendly as could be, they did not have any ideas.

It has only been recently that I have connected the dots, so to speak.

On the store's website, under the heading called "Our Story," the history of the business provided valuable genealogical facts.

Charles Leon Bustin (1870-1927) and Sam Withers opened Bustins & Withers on 99 Germain Street in Saint John in May of 1905.

Charles L. Bustin's father was the 2nd son of Hugh Bustin (1820-1900). Hugh Bustin and my 2nd great grandfather, Samuel James Bustin (1818-1897) were brothers.

Hugh Bustin died on this date in 1900.

Bustin's Furniture, 99 Germain St., Saint John, New Brunswick

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Fearless Females Blog Post: March 20 ~ In Search of Mary Ross

I am thrilled to have been able to purchase from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick this copy of the Marriage Bonds of my 2nd great grandparents, Samuel J. Bustin and Mary Ross, I will have to dig deeper to find Mary's parents. She apparently lived in Mechanic Settlement when they were married, but I haven't found an online birth record. So it seems that another dive into the Canadian censuses is in order. Fortunately, they are available online at Automated Genealogy. Off I go! Wish me luck!

Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog is presenting her Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month series in honor of National Women’s History Month.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Fearless Females Blog Post: March 2 ~ Picture of Mary Ross of Mechanic Settlement

Mary Elizabeth Ross

(1848-1904)

Born in Mechanic Settlement, Elgin Parish

Albert County, New Brunswick

Wife of Samuel Bustin

My 2nd Great Grandmother

I am guessing that this picture was taken when Mary was in her 40’s, so perhaps around the turn of the century. She was the wife of a butcher, 30 years her senior, and the mother of nine children.

I chose this picture of her because it is the only picture I have of her. I love this picture because she portrays a life of hard work raising a large family, yet she is dignified and serious in her high collar blouse.

Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog is presenting her Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month series in honor of National Women’s History Month.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Tombstone Tuesday - Grandpa Bustin

Have you ever plucked a random picture out of an assortment of relics, just to simply see how far you can go with it? That's what I did the other day, with wonderfully unexpected results.

The following is the front and back of my picture, 2 x 3 in size (fitting in the palm of my hand).

Of course, my first question was "Whose Grandpa?" I remember my great-grandfather, Frederick Parker Bustin (1886-1965), buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, Maine. Was this his father or his grandfather?

My second question was "Where is Church Hill?" It was not a placename I was familiar with, although I had to assume it was in New Brunswick, where my great-grandfather grew up. Was this a church graveyard, or was this the name of a NB village, like Mechanic Settlement, where "Pap" was born.

Google Maps led me to a Church Hill Rd near Mechanic Settlement, as well as Elgin, a town I had also heard mention of:

After quite a bit of creative googling, going back and forth between Church Hill, Church Hill Cemetery, Church Hill United Church, I finally arrived at a list of Albert Co., New Brunswick, cemeteries, and lo and behold, there was my cemetery - Church Hill United Cemetery Est. 1865, in ELGIN! And it was annotated as being fully transcribed in 2010! You can only imagine how excited I was!

But here is the best part -- M. Helena Lewis, just this August, transcribed and photographed (!) every single grave, including those of my great-great Bustin grandparents. Here they are, with full credit to Ms. Lewis for doing all the work:

Samuel J Bustin

died Oct 29, 1897 aged 79 yrs 4 ms

Mary E Bustin

died July 10, 1904 aged 55 yrs 10 ms

As I finish this post, I realize suddenly that Great Great Grandmother Bustin died when she was the age I am now - 55. I can only speculate on her life, which undoubtedly was a hard one, and what caused her death. But I am thrilled with this "best yet" genealogy discovery, and hope to make it down east someday to pay my respects.