Annie Matilda Hastings

Notes:

He spent his life farming the Hastings Homestead at Lot 30 and 31 of Concession 7, Markham Township. Thomas paid his mother, Sarah 800 pounds Canadian money for the farm on July 8, 1853.

Will is originally dated Sept 17, 1889 and a correction dated March 31, 1890 and is witnessed by Maxson Jones and Maud P Hastings. Executors were Thomas Edward Hastings and Martha M Francey. It notes daughter Martha Mariah Francey, son Thomas Edward Hastings, and brother Cunningham Hastings. A sum is also given to Catharine Algo who "has lived with me six years last May and to fulfill a bargain I made with her mother I give..."

Upon his death, his farm was divided between his two living children. Martha received west half of the east half of lot thirty one in the sixth concession of the township of Markham. Her brother, Eddie received the east half of lot thirty in the sixth concession of the township of Markham.


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Federal Census of 1871 (Ontario Index)

HASTINGS , THOMAS
Sex: Male
Age: 47
Birthplace: ONTARIO
Religion: Primitive Methodist
Origin: IRISH
Occupation: FARMER
District: YORK EAST ( 045 )
Sub-district: Markham ( D )
Division: 4
Page: 50
Microfilm reel: C-9969
Reference: RG31 — Statistics Canada

Thomas married Matilda Jane Thompson on 29 Apr 1857. Matilda was born in Jul 1834 in Pine Grove, Vaughan Township, York County, Ontario; died on 22 Sep 1885 in Almira, Markham Township, York County, Ontario; was buried in Dickson's Hill, Markham Township, York County, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It has not been determined with 100% certainty that Thomas Thompson and Martha are the parents of Matilda. A marriage record for Thomas Edward Hastings and Matilda Jane Thompson has not been located. Matilda's death record gives her birth place as Pine Grove, Vaughan. The 1851 census lists a Matilda Thompson of correct age residing with parents Thomas and Martha Thompson and siblings in Vaughan, York County, Ontario. Father's occupation in 1851 was Lumber Merchant. Our Matilda (Thompson) Hastings named her first born Martha.

Notes:

Newspaper clipping found in the family bible:

A GOOD MOTTO

When wealth is lost, nothing is lost.
When health is lost, something is lost.
When character is lost, all is lost.

Notes:

Thomas always gave his name as Hastings or Heastings, although some records in Ireland show it as Hasty. He died before the first Canadian census was taken, and before cameras were invented. He was buried at Dickson Hill, due north of the town of Markham, 1 1/4 miles south of Buttonville, Ontario, and 1 1/4 miles east of the family farm, which was at the south-west corner of what is now called McCowan Road and 19th Avenue, Markham Township, Ontario.



Thomas was born on the family farm in Cavanacreagh, just north of the Burn Dennet River, County Tyrone, Ireland (about 7 miles south of Londonderry) on Dec 25, 1778. It would appear that his father's name was John. Thomas and Sarah married in Ireland about 1803. Sarah was born in Black Hills, Newtown Cunningham, Donegal, Ireland in 1784. Documents vary in the spelling of her last name (Mitchel or Mitchell).

Thomas, his wife, and six children arrived in Canada in November 1818. They spent the first winter in (muddy) York (in 1837 renamed Toronto). They had seven more children, all of whom were born in Canada. On April 1, 1829, Thomas Hastings purchased the east half of lot #30 in the sixth Con. in the Township of Markham in the Home District in the Province of Upper Canada for 87 pounds, 10 shillings.

In 1853, Sarah sold the farm comprising the East half of lot 30, concession 6, Markham Township to her son, Thomas Hastings. Thomas then promised that he would support his mother and that she could reside in the home for her remaining years. In addition, Thomas promised to pay his mother 50 pounds annually. Document was witnessed by William Hastings. She sold 100 acres of land to son, Thomas for eight hundred pounds.

Thomas married Sarah Mitchell about 1803 in Donegal ?, Ireland. Sarah (daughter of James Mitchell and Mary ??) was born in 1784 in Black Hills, Newtown Cunningham, Donegal, Ireland; died on 11 Dec 1861 in Markham Township, York County, Ontario; was buried in Dickson's Hill, Markham Township, York County, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From the document dated July 1853 entitled "Bond Thomas Hastings to Sarah Hastings", the following is summarized. Sarah Hastings sold the farm comprising the East half of lot 30, concession 6, Markham Township to her son, Thomas Hastings. Thomas then promised that he would support his mother and that she could reside in the home for her remaining years. In addition, Thomas promised to pay his mother 50 pounds annually. Document was witnessed by William Hastings.

From the "Deed of Bargain and Sale" dated July 8, 1853 widow Sarah Hastings sold 100 acres of land to son, Thomas for eight hundred pounds.

James married Mary ??. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]