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It seemed that our ancestor Matthew Todd was of Scottish ancestry from most census records I've accumulated. However, one census record and his death record indicated Matthew was born in England. I found an actual birth record for Warkworth, Northumberland, England for Matthew where he was born June 14, 1802. His parents were Robert Todd and Isabella Anderson. It seems Matthew's Daughter, Anderson Todd was given her first name from her Grandmother's maiden name.
Robert and Isabella were likely born in the 1760's or 1770's. There is conflicting information for Robert. Some children's birth records indicate he was born in Scotland, and some in England. Robert's parent's may have been Robert Todd and Elizabeth Hunter.
Isabella was likely born in England to a Father named Alexander Anderson. I did find an account for an Alexander Anderson in the Newcastle Courant newspaper, dated July 9, 1768, published within the area of Northumberland, England. This article describes this Alexander Anderson as a travelling brazier or tinker and about 30 years of age. (We know a lot of our Todd; Drummond; and Anderson's were travellers.) From this article, it seems Alexander had been charged with a crime, but they give no specific information. Alexander had indicated he was born while his father was in the Army (gives no location), and that he had served 3 years and 9 months with the 85th Regiment of Foot, and was discharged from the service May of 1763. After his service, he said he had lived at Rothbury, Northumberland, England.
I did look into the timeline for the 85th Regiment of Foot, and the period of time that Regiment was active did appear to be the same time period indicated by Alexander.
This could be our Isabella Anderson's father? On one birth record which did occur at Rothbury for one of Robert and Isabella (Anderson) Todd's children, it showed Alexander Anderson of Rothbury was Isabella's father.
It seems there was more than one Alexander Anderson at Rothbury. There is one marriage for Rothbury, which took place in 1767 for a marriage of an Alexander Anderson to an Isabel Jefferson, but we don't know for sure if this could be our Isabella's parent's. Another record I've found, is a birth for an Isabel Anderson to a father Alexander Anderson which was 20 Dec 1768, which might be our Isabella? Another who could have been Isabel's mother could have been surname Donkin.
I was fortunate to find a newspaper record of Isabel/Isabella (Anderson) Todd's death:
From a newspaper: The Newcastle Guardian; February 29, 1848 Death Notice
"At Alnwick, 17th Feb 1848 Aged 84, Isabella, widow of Robert Todd, hawker of earthenware."
I've found Matthew's Father, Robert Todd, shown as a potter, a mugger, pedlar and such on his children's birth records. It's clear that this family travelled around Northumberland County, England from place to place, as some children are born in different areas. I've found a potter or mugger was a designation for a Traveller or a Gypsy family. Some were called Border Travellers since they travelled across the border of England and Scotland to market their wares. Some used carts, and some used ponies and wagons to carry their wares. They may have stayed at farms on their route, and lived in their wagons or bow tents.
I believe the following children were baptized in areas shown in Northumberland County, England to Robert and Isabella: Alexander Anderson Todd baptized at Morpeth in 1793; Robert Todd baptized at Morpeth in 1796; John Todd baptized at Morpeth in 1798; Mary Ann Todd baptized at Warkworth in 1800; Matthew Todd baptized at Warkworth in 1802; William Todd baptized at Newbiggin by the Sea in 1805; and Margaret Todd baptized at Rothbury in 1808. A numbering system is used on baptism records, and we are missing at least one Daughter I believe, but could be missing more children?
Matthew Todd married Helen Drummond in Scotland or England. We have no marriage record. Some travelling families travelled in groups performing their own marriages, so it's possible it wasn't recorded if that's how they married? In Scotland who we know as Ellen typically showed up as "Helen". This may be due to the accent. Matthew and Ellen had their first child in Scotland in 1823, and four more children in Scotland born between 1823 and 1841.
I believe Ellen was born Helen Drummond December 20, 1800 in Airdrie, Old Monkalnd, Lanarkshire, Scotland. As you can see she was baptized January 4, 1801.
Parents for this birth were shown as Alexander Drummond and Helen Dyer or Dyet. I've found a number of other births for this same couple and the Mother's name differed mostly as either Dyer or Dyet. The maiden name was Dyer on the death record in 1845 below for Helen (Dyer) Drummond. Helen died at Stirlingshire, Scotland.
On records, this Alexander Drummond showed as a basket maker, Chapman pedlar, china merchant, hawker, and licensed hawker. These occupations are also attributed to travelling families. It seems likely they were Scottish Travellers. Also, it's clear they travelled as children were born and baptized in different areas of Scotland.
I believe children were born to Alexander and Helen Drummond and baptized in areas shown in Scotland as follows: Agnes Drummond was baptized at Stonehouse, Lanarkshire in 1796; George Drummond baptized at New Monkland, Lanarkshire in 1799; Janet Drummond (apparently a twin to George) baptized at New Monkland, Lanarkshire in 1799; Helen Drummond born 1800 baptized at Airdrie, Old Monkland, Lanarkshire in 1801; Alexander Drummond baptized at Girthon, Kirkcudbrightshire in 1803; Mary Drummond baptized at Morton by Thornhill, Dumfrieshire in 1808; Elizabeth Drummond baptized at Avondale, Lanarkshire in 1810; James Drummond baptized at Linithgow, West Lothian in 1812; Stewart Wilson Drummond baptized at Inverness, Invernesshire in 1815; and Jean Drummond baptized at Avondale, Lanarkshire in 1818. Again, it's hard to know if this is complete.
I found a transcribed 1841 Census for Alexander, Helen, a Daughter Elizabeth, her husband John Anderson and children I'll show below. (Note: Interesting an Anderson and Drummond marriage. I found another marriage of a John Todd who could have been Matthew's brother that married a Janet Drummond who would fit one of Ellen/Helen's sisters.) I did find this couple in Ontario also.
I found Matthew and Ellen Todd on an 1841 Scotland census. At that time Matthew was shown as a stoneware merchant. Directly above Matthew and his family was an Alexander Drurnrnond who was also a stoneware merchant. I think this Alexander Drummond was our Ellen's Brother. A stoneware merchant was probably a traveller. I found Matthew and Ellen on an 1851 Scotland Census which indicated they were travelling at the time of that census. There was a Robert Todd on the same 1851 census as Matthew and family, who could have been Matthew's brother.
Below is the image of the 1841 Scotland Census
The family history book indicated Matthew came to America in the 1840's to Kentucky, but that he returned to Scotland. That record says it was felt Matthew was a cousin to Mary (Todd) Lincoln's Father. Researching Mary Todd's ancestry, I'm not sure if that claim is possible. It could be that Matthew and Mary's Father were more distant Cousins, if they were related? This would take more research. A DNA test by a male Todd from our family's Todd line may prove or disprove such a claim.
I believe Matthew and wife Ellen, Daughter Anderson, Son John, a married Daughter Janet (Todd) Murray and her family, and a married Daughter Ellen (Todd) Snaden and family emigrated to Canada about 1855. They settled in Fergus, Wellington County, Ontario. This was an interesting community, which had originally been in close proximity to an early Black community, a refuge for those going North with the underground railroad. Eventually, the community became a mostly Scottish community. Today Fergus, Ontario is one town where Ontario Scottish Games are held annually. Fergus is said to resemble towns in Scotland.
Matthew and Ellen's Son Robert MacGregor Todd apparently preceded the family by arriving in 1852 at 18 years of age. He spent some time in Fergus, Ontario where he was a grain buyer. Robert went to the gold fields in California in 1854, and was said one of the first to the Fraser River gold rush in British Columbia in 1858. Robert was said to be living in Wisconsin in 1863 where he married Salene Elmore in 1866.
In Ontario, Matthew was shown as a horse dealer and trader and farrier. These would have been typical occupations for Scottish Travellers. However, I'm not aware that Matthew travelled in Ontario, but he may have. It's likely he spent some time in Toronto, where he met and married our Margaret (Orr) (McMullen) (Hinds). There was a man who had been on the 1861 census with Margaret and John Hinds, who apparently was a laborer for John Hinds. He was elderly, and his name was John Breckenridge, and originally from Ayrshire, Scotland. I'm curious if Matthew could have known or was related in some way to John Breckenridge. I did find some Breckenridge's of Ayrshire had married some Todd's there. It could be something to study further. As I recall, some of these Breckenridge's had lived near the area the famed Scottish poet, Robert Burns had lived. There was a Todd also in that area of Scotland, who had been a writer and poet, and he had done some writing about Robert Burns.
Ellen Drummond/MacGregor Todd died as Ellen Todd in 1863 in Fergus. She's buried at the Belsyde Cemetery which is in Fergus. Matthew Todd died in 1878 in Fergus, Ontario. It's possible Matthew's in the same grave as Ellen, but it isn't marked that way. Matthew's death record below.
Matthew had married Margaret (Orr) (McMullan) (Hinds) in 1865. Very shortly, after Matthew's death in 1878 Margaret married Andrew Gartley in Fergus. Margaret's Son, William John McMillan, was a witness at this wedding.
Margaret became a widow again before 1900. Margaret was admitted in 1902 and died at The House of Industry in Fergus, Wellington County, Ontario in 1910. She may be buried in the graveyard outside this facility, but there are no grave markers. I have been told there is no record of her of having been buried on The House of Industry grounds. I don't know if William John might have arranged a burial elsewhere for her? This was apparently similar to a poor people's home or nursing home. That facility now houses the Wellington County Museum which stores a lot of historical information for the area. Margaret's death record below. Note she was born in Ireland not Scotland, and her age is shown wrong at death. She died of senile decay, so may not have been able to communicate correct information as she approached death.
The family history book indicates Margaret Orr was married 7 times. I've accounted for 4 marriages. It's difficult to know if there could have been more. If she had other marriages, they probably would have been between the years of 1852 and 1861.
Our family had always felt Helen/Ellen Drummond was maiden name MacGregor/McGregor. I've found others who descended from Ellen also felt she was maiden name of MacGregor/McGregor. On Anderson (Todd) McMillan's death record, her Mother's maiden name is shown as "McGregory', but I think it was intended to show as McGregor?
Helen did have a sibling who's name was Stewart Wilson Drummond (so, perhaps we have Wilson ancestry we're not yet aware of?) Then there was a Stewart MacGregor Drummond that was married to a Mary Ann Todd. Stewart was older than our Helen/Ellen, and I'm not aware of his parentage. But, I do believe the Mary Ann Todd was probably our Matthew Todd's sister. I think Stewart was probably related to our family, but don't yet know how? It was apparent he was also a traveller, and his children did intermarry with other Todd's who were likely related, which was said to happen often in the travelling community.
For some periods from the early 1600's to 1774 it was illegal in Scotland, by penalty of death, to use the name of MacGregor/McGregor. This was called "Proscription", enacted by the English. Family members took on other names during this period. Drummond was one of the names used. Some went back to the name MacGregor after the Proscription period, and some kept the names used during that period. In our family it's apparent some gave the MacGregor name as a middle name.
Our West Coast family had the understanding that Helen/Ellen descended from Rob Roy MacGregor. I've studied Rob Roy's ancestry, but it's a very difficult one to research. It does seem one or more of his Son's had taken on the name Drummond, but I can't tie our family to that. It is said that Rob Roy himself had taken on his Mother's maiden name of Campbell during his life, although he was known to have been a MacGregor.
Below is Helen/Ellen Drummond Todd's gravestone. I'm still curious about the reference "Native of Perth-shire"? Helen was baptized at Old Monkland which was Lanarkshire, but thre was a couple of weeks between the birth and the baptism. It's possible she was born at Perthshire and baptized at Lanarkshire? It seems more likely Perthshire could have been her Drummond/MacGregor family origin, though?
Ellen Todd's gravestone at Belsyde Cemetery, Fergus, Ontario.
Inscription:
In memory of
ELLEN
Wife of MATTHEW TODD
Who died
Nov'r. 30th 1863
Aged 63 years
Native of Perth-shire, Scotland
My Scottish Traveller Poem (You may need to scroll down to see all)
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