The Day a Barn Raising Went Wrong- Meredith Family Genealogy

In July of 1890 Pakenham lost a valued officer, the community a generous hearted and kindly-dispositioned citizen, and a host of people a warm friend. We refer to the death of Mr. Thomas Meredith, of Upper Pakenham, which took place on Saturday afternoon last, under most distressing circumstances. The particulars are as follows: Mr. Robert Fulton (on the old Shannon homestead) had a “ bee” on the afternoon in question which was attended by about a dozen of the neighbours, including Mr. Meredith. They were engaged in the work of raising the frame of an addition to Mr. Fulton’s barn. They had got the first bent in an almost perpendicular position, and what was considered the most dangerous part of the work over, when by some degree the beam fell into pieces.

The deceased had been pushing the bent with a pike-pole, and was standing on the ground between two sleepers in the inside of the building. When Mr. Fulton, the carpenter in charge, gave the alarming cry,

“Look out!—Run!”

It was thought that Mr. Meredith was in the act of looking around to see the cause of the alarm, and while in that position the beam fell, crashing the unfortunate man to death in
an instant, the back part of his head being crushed to jelly between the beam and the sleeper. Several others had a very narrow escape. The men, most of whom were witnesses of the shocking affair, lost no time in removing the beam, and on raising the lifeless body of the unfortunate victim fell to the ground. The body was tenderly removed home, a courier having been sent ahead to break the terrible news.

Leckie’s Barn Raising

The funeral took place on Monday forenoon, at St. Mark’s church, where the burial service was conducted by the incumbent. Rev. Mr. Jones, after which the remains were deposited in St. Mark’s cemetery.

The funeral was a splendid tribute to the worth of the deputed, the cortege being composed of close on 200 conveyances. The late Mr. Meredith was a successful farmer, in comfortable circumstances; he was for years a churchwarden of St. Mark’s congregation. He leaves a widow and *eight little girls to mourn his loss, and these have the sincere condolence of the whole community. ( *Author’s note- Only 6 daughters are mentioned on the family genealogy sites.)

Last Edited 29 Aug 2017
Thomas MEREDITH
M, #6934, b. about 1844, d. 5 July 1890
Family Explorer
Parents
Father Henry MEREDITH b. 21 Nov 1813, d. 21 Nov 1868
Mother Elizabeth Jane WILSON b. ca. 1811, d. 10 Jan 1886
Biography
Thomas MEREDITH was born ca. 1844 in Ireland. He married Mary Anne JOHNSTON. He died on 5 Jul 1890 in Pakenham, Lanark County, Ontario.
Thomas was 8 years old at the time of the 1851 census. He was a farmer, aged 22, in Pakenham tp, Lanark county, Ontario in 1871; religion was Church of England. In 1881 his age was given as 34, still farming in Pakenham. Ontario death reg’n #8677: age 43, killed by fallling timber at the raising of a barn.
Children with Mary Anne JOHNSTON b. Mar 1854
Daughter Clara J. MEREDITH b. ca. 1879
Daughter Loretta MEREDITH b. Mar 1881
Daughter Elizabeth S. MEREDITH b. ca. 1883
Daughter Lorena MEREDITH b. ca. 1884
Daughter Lena May MEREDITH b. Apr 1886
Daughter Margaret Luella MEREDITH b.1888

Mary Anne JOHNSTON
F, #6935, b. March 1854
Family Explorer
Biography
Mary Anne JOHNSTON was born in Mar 1854 in Canada West (Ontario.) She married Thomas MEREDITH, son of Henry MEREDITH and Elizabeth Jane WILSON.
Surname from marriage record of daughter Margaret Luella. Name listed as May in 1881, Mary in 1891. In 1891 she was a widow, living with her 6 children, aged 3 to 12. Her parents were both born in Ireland. In 1911 living in Arnprior, Renfrew county, with three daughters, Loretta, Lena and Margaret Luella.
Children with Thomas MEREDITH b. ca. 1844, d. 5 Jul 1890
Daughter Clara J. MEREDITH b. ca. 1879
Daughter Loretta MEREDITH b. Mar 1881
Daughter Elizabeth S. MEREDITH b. ca. 1883
Daughter Lorena MEREDITH b. ca. 1884
Daughter Lena May MEREDITH b. Apr 1886
Daughter Margaret Luella MEREDITH b. Aug 1888