Slander You Say in Hopetown? Divorce in Rosetta?

Transport yourself back to a time when newspapers were chalked full of omissions, prejudices of the day and in many cases personal items gone wild.

Marriages were not very romanticized. Love actually played a very little role in the marriages. They were very different in reality as compared to the ones depicted in the novels of those times and matrimony was much needed for conveyance rather than companionship.

Husbands were supposed to take care of their wives and their fidelity didn’t matter while the wives on the other hand if caught cheating then were seen as disrespecting the care of their husbands and thus were a failure in fulfilling their duties towards their husbands.

Campbell vs. Campbell-Rosetta

Almonte Gazette--April 2 1897--We notice by the Toronto papers of Wednesday that in the case of Campbell vs. Campbell, an action for alimony, brought by Martha Campbell, of the township of Lanark, against her husband, Andrew Campbell, the Master in Chambers on Monday last made an order that the defendant pay the plaintiff the sum of $42 for arrears of interim alimony, $3 per week interim alimony until trial, and the sum of $44.50 as interim disbursements. We understand that this action will be tried at Perth on the 26th of this month. Mr. W. H . Stafford is acting for the plaintiff, and Messrs. Greig & Jamieson for the defendant.

Poor Martha Campbell of Rosetta. She was born in 1839 and was 58 years old when she was trying to get alimony from dear old Andrew. She had one child by the name of *Martha and their only child was married in 1903 and continued to live on the family farm with her mother. Martha died 6 years later in 1903 at the age 64 and was not buried with her husband but instead buried with her own family.

 

Martha Forgie, wife of Andrew Campbell, born Jan 21, 1839, died Sept 20, 1903.  At Rest.-Auld Kirk

Denny vs. Taylor Hopetown

Almonte Gazette–April 30, 1897–The usually quiet and law-abiding people of this township seldom occupy the business of the law courts, but this week they contributed their full quota of business to keep His Lordship Justice MacMahon and the jurors busy at the Assize Court in Perth. Rosetta furnishes a suit for alimony —Campbell vs. Campbell; and in Hopetown a slander trial— Denny vs. Taylor—which create a considerable interest in this locality.

Much as I searched for the slander suit all I could find out was that one of the participants in the slander suit in Hopetown James Denny– actually the full name was Samuel James Denny and he was married to a Sarah James Boyd.

 

Perth Courier, September 21, 1894

To The People of Perth and Vicinity:

I hereby state that the report which is circulated upon Miss Katie McIntyre is entirely without foundation having been passed in a joke without any intention of slander by the undersigned.  John Fraser, Scotch Line

 

Perth Courier, Dec. 14, 1888

The News says:  Mrs. H. Emerson of Smith’s Falls has instituted an action for slander against Adam Halliston on account of some false statements which the lady alleges he made against her.  The trial will come off in the Spring.

 

*Mrs. Thos. Bolger -Martha Campbell

The death occurred suddenly on Tuesday evening, May 13, of Mrs. Thomas Bolger at her home here. She had been about her work as usual and her sudden passing was a great shock to everyone. She was formerly Martha Campbell, a daughter of the late Andrew Campbell and his wife, Martha Forgie. She was born at Rosetta sixty-three years ago and spent her early years there. On Feb. 3, 1904, she married Thomas Bolger and they settled on the farm where she has always resided. Mr. Bolger predeceased her four years ago.

Mrs. Bolger was very much devoted to her home and family and also took much interest in the affairs of the community and was ever ready and willing to help those in need. Her sudden passing is keenly felt. Her funeral was held on Thursday afternoon from her late home to Guthrie United Church and was largely attended. A very touching sermon was conducted by Rev. W. J. Scott. Interment was made in the United Cemetery. She is survived by four daughters and five sons, namely, Bevan of St. Catharines; Annie, Mrs. H. Paterson of Almonte; Willie at home; Herbert, of Almonte; Kenneth of St. Catharines; Pearl, Mrs. W. Pritchard of Brockville; Olive, Mrs. Melvin Foster of Lanark Township; Lena, Mrs. Thomas Benford of London, and Howard at home. There are also twelve grandchildren. The pallbearers were Messrs. Harry Richards, Ernie Munro, Grant Gunn, Leonard Fulton, Welland McMunn and George Bolger. Included in the many beautiful floral tributes was a wreath from McKinnon’s Industries at St. Catherines.

 

 

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read.

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in Hometown News and now in The Townships Sun