In search of my McCreary-Magee-McGee Codd/Code Ancestors
in Lanark County, Ontario, Canada
SURNAMES: ALLAN ALLEN AYER(S) ARMSON BAYLESS BENSON BEST CHAMBERS CIVIL COOK COZENS CUNNINGHAM DEZELL DOLPHIN FALCONER GASS GIFFEN GILMORE HAMLEN KETCHESON LASBY LEMINGTON LIVINGSTONE LOWES MAGEE MALTBY MITCHELL PHILIP SEYMOUR SHORT SOLE WALTON WOODS
Benson-Dezell-McCreery Page
The Magees and the Mitchells have their own genealogy page, but you will see here how they intermarried and emmigrated with the Bensons the McCreerys and the Dezells. This story is only partially reveal to date, but from the marriages and the locations, one can see how these families stayed together as they moved on to better farmland. Not all of them moved, however, and some returned to Lanark in later years. Many McCreery (now McCreary) descendants, many Dezells still populate Lanark.
Margaret McCreery (1823-1915), younger sister of Joseph Campbell McCreery (1819-1903) married James Dezell in 1847. James had procured a Lot. in Kitley Township (Leeds) and is said to have been the McCreery's "hired man" prior to his marriage. He took his young family of six (5 living) to the Bruce Penninisula in the 1850's when several other family members made this trek. Apparently James was killed in a farming accident in 1859, following which his widow met her brother Joseph in Gananoque and brought the young family back to Ramsay. This family settled at Ramsay Con. I Lot 1 (NE half) which is on the Scotch Corners road. Many Dezells grew up here before moving to Con. II Lot 2 in the 1890's.
The Dezell Family of Lanark
James Dezell and Margaret McCreary had five living chldren who grew up in Lanark County. More will be published about them later. For the present I am including the picture of William Dezell (1851-1942) from this early family.
The Benson Family of Lanark and beyond
Just as the lives of the McCreary's and the Dezells became intertwined over several generations, the Bensons were another family from Armagh who seem to have arrived later in the 1840's. Some of the Benson family remained in the area, but the largest part of the family were to move to western Ontario. James Dezell's brother, Thomas Dezell married Ann Maria Benson in 1847 about the same time as James Dezell married Margaret McCreary.
Below is the Benson Genealogy which shows how these families continued t o intermarry.
1. ? BENSON.
Children:
2. i SAMUEL BENSON .Second Generation
2. SAMUEL BENSON, (1.? BENSON1) b. 1803 or 1801 in Armagh County, Ireland., d. ? in Woodstock, Ont., buried ?, emigrated 1849 to Carlton Place, Wellington Co. Ont, occupation farmer, religion Free Presbyterian. He married ELIZA BELL LEMINGTON, married 1820 + in Ireland, b. 1804 in Ireland. probably Armagh Country, d. <1871 in Sask. Canada., buried ?, emigrated 1849 to Wellington Co. Ont. Canada., occupation housewife.
Children:
3. i WILLIAM BENSON b. 1828.
4. ii SARA BENSON b. 1834.
5. iii MARY ANN BENSON b. 1825.
6. iv ELIZABETH (ELIZA) H. BENSON b. 1823.
7. v JANE BENSON b. abt. 1827.
8. vi JAMES BENSON b. 1826.Third Generation
3. WILLIAM BENSON,, (2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 1828 in County Armagh, Ireland.,,, d. 24 Aug 1906 in Wellington County, Maryborough, Ontario.,, buried in Derry Add cemetery, row 15-20S,, emigrated 1848 to Wellington Co. Ont Canada, resided in w 1/2 LIIC15 Maryborough Twsp, Ont, occupation Farmer, homesteader, cause of death Diarrhoea, religion Free Presbyterian. He married MARY JANE? McGEE, married 1867-1868 in Wellington, Cty, Mayborough, Ont., b. 5 Mar 1844 in Ont.?,, d. 13 Jul 1890 in Ontartio, Canada.,, buried 1890 in Derry Add cemetery, Ont. row 15.20S.,
Children:
9. i JOHN MELVILLE BENSON b. 23 Jul 1883.
10. ii SAMUEL M. BENSON b. 3 Jun 1868.
11. iii HERBERT BENSON b. 1 Mar 1877.
12. iv ELIZABETH JANE BENSON b. 22 Mar 1870.
13. v WILLIAM EDGERTON BENSON b. 16 Oct 1875.
vi MARGARET ANN BENSON, b. 4 Jun 1873 in Ont., d. 7 Aug 1906. She married FRANK HOLMES, b. 1870 in Ont.?, d. 1948.
vii Infant BENSON, b. Btn 1868-1890, d. Btn 1868-1890 As an infant, buried in Dery Add Cem plot 15-20S.4. SARA BENSON, (2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 1834 in County Armaugh, Ireland, d. 7 Feb 1915 in Brandon, Manitoba, emigrated 1849 to Ont. She married JOHN WESLEY LOWES, married 5 May 1856 in Wellington County, Ont., b. 23 Jan 1828 in Caven, Durham County, Ont., d. 12 Feb 1892 in Brandon, Manitoba, buried 14 Feb 1892 in Brandon, Manitoba.
Children:
i WILLIAM HENRY LOWES, b. 18 Jan 1860 in Wellington Country, Ont., buried 15 Feb 1886 in Brandon, Manitoba.
ii ISABELLA JANE LOWES, b. 29 Jan 1857 in Peel Twsp. Ont., d. 31 Aug 1858, buried 31 Aug 1858 in Derry Add Cemetery, Maryborough, Ont.
iii ANNIE ELIZA LOWES, b. 11 Mar 1858 in Wellington County, Ontario, buried 18 Oct 1917 in High Bluff, Manitoba, Hillside Cemetery. She married JOHN DALZELL ?- DEZELL.
iv JAMES ALEXANDER LOWES, b. 30 May 1861 in Wellington County, Ont., d. 1950 in Brandon, Manitoba. He married MARY MATILDA LASBY.
v SARAH JANE LOWES, b. 6 Mar 1863 in Wellinton County, Ont., d. 5 Jun 1939 in Portage La Prairie?, Manitoba. She married HUGH ARMSON.
vi JOHN SIMPSON LOWES, b. 17 Jun 1864 in Wellingon County, Ont., d. 14 Sep 1946 in Brandon, Manitoba. He married ANNIE EFFIE HAMLEN, married 13 Dec 1899 in Beresford, Manitoba.
vii SAMUEL BENSON LOWES, b. 5 Jan 1866 in Wellington County, Ontario, d. in Edmonton, Alberta. He married BLANCHE ?, married 27 Apr 1897.
viii ROBERT WINNING LOWES, b. 7 May 1867 in Wellington County, Ont., d. 26 Dec 1928 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, buried in Elmwood Cemetery. He married FLORENCE KETCHESON, married in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
ix MARGRET DULCENA LOWES, b. 16 Nov 1868 in Wellington County, Ont., d. 10 Sep 1869 in Wellinton County, Ont.
x MARY AGNES LOWES, b. 31 Jul 1870 in Wellington Country, Ont., d. 5 Jun 1884 in Brandon, Manitoba.
xi THOMAS HETHERINGTON LOWES, b. 8 Nov 1872 in Wellington County, Ont., d. 7 Nov 1953 in Brandon, Manitoba. He married IDA LAURETTA COOK, married 14 Dec 1905.
xii IDA SOPHIA LOWES, b. 8 Apr 1875 in Wellington County, Ont. She married WATSON BEST.
5. MARY ANN BENSON, (2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 1825 in Ireland, d. 1906 in Ontario, emigrated 1849 to Ontario. She married THOMAS DEZELL, b. abt. 1825 in Ont?.
Children:
i JOHN DEZELL.
ii GEORGE DEZELL.
14. iii ANNIE DEZELL.
iv MARGARET DEZELL. She married JOHN GILMORE.
v JAMES DEZELL.
vi ALICE DEZELL, b. 1867 in Ont?, d. 1928 in Maryborough twp., Ont., buried in Derry Add cemetery, row 9-10E. She married WILLIAM EDGERTON BENSON, married 6 May 1931?, b. 16 Oct 1875 in Ontario,, (son of WILLIAM BENSON and MARY JANE? McGEE) d. 30 Jun 1956 in Ontario,, buried in Derry Add cemetery, row 9-10S.6. ELIZABETH (ELIZA) H. BENSON, (2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 1823 in Ireland,, d. 1905 in Maryborough Cty, Ont.,, emigrated 1849 to Ont. Canada, buried 1905 in Derry Add cemetery row 15-19. She married JAMES GASS, married in Ireland, b. 1819 in Canada?, d. 1887 in Wellington, Ont., buried in Derry Add cemetery row 15-19.
Children:
i WILLIAM H. GASS, b. 1855 in Garden Island, Ont, d. 1933, buried 1933 in Derry Add cemetery row 15-19.
15. ii ROBERT GASS b. 1854.7. JANE BENSON, (2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. abt. 1827 in Ireland, d. 1900 in Carleton Place, Ontario,, emigrated 1849 to Ont. Canada. She married WILLIAM ALLEN, b. abt. 1827 in probably Ireland, d. 1900 in Carleton Place.
Children:
16. i SARAH ALLEN b. 9 Jan 1858.
ii WILLIAM ALLAN. He married ELSIE SEYMOUR.
iii UNKNOWN 1 ALLAN.
iv UNKNOWN 2 ALLAN.
v UNKNOWN 3 ALLAN.
vi UNKNOWN 4 ALLAN.8. JAMES BENSON, (2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 1826 in Ireland, d. 6 Feb 1909 in Maryborough Country, Ont.,, buried in Derry Add Cemetery, resided in LIIC15 Maryborough Country. He married CLARA CHAMBERS,, b. 1832, d. 8 Aug 1915 in Maryborough, Ont., buried in Derry Add Cemetery, Maryborough.
Children:
17. i ELIZABETH BENSON b. 6 May 1863.
18. ii SAMUEL BENSON b. 1864.
iii ALEXANDER BENSON.
19. iv WILLIAM C. BENSON b. 5 Jun 1868.
20. v JAMES ALEXANDER BENSON b. 13 Feb 1873.
vi REBECCA BENSON, b. 1884, d. 1888 in Derryadd Cemetery.Fourth Generation
9. JOHN MELVILLE BENSON, (3.WILLIAM3, 2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 23 Jul 1883 in Rothsay, Ont. Canada.,,, d. 6 Oct 1971 in Camrose, Canada.,, buried 1971 in Camrose.,, resided 1883 - 1905 in Rothsay, Ont., resided 1910 in Nutana, Sask. (now part of Saskatoon), resided 1913 in Antelope park MD, Sask. SW 30,Twn32,R3rd, resided 1940 in Cadogan, Alta. 1/2 mile west, occupation farmer,, religion Presbyterian. He married E,M.T,, married 14 Sep 1910 in Alberta,,, b. 31 Jul 1889 in Windom, Minnesota, USA .,,, d. 7 Apr 1971 in Camrose, Canada., buried 10 Apr 1971 in Camrose cemetery., emigrated May 1903 from Minnesota to Nutana, Sask, Canada ., resided 1940 in Cadogan, Alta.., naturalized 1906 in Saskatoon, Sask., occupation housewife, religion Presbyterian.
Children:
21. i HAZEL EILEEN BENSON
22. ii ERNEST JOHN BENSON
23. iii MABEL VERNA BENSON
24. iv WILLIAM DELBERT BENSON
25. v MILDRED ETHEL BENSON .
26. vi EDNA VIOLA BENSON
27. vii STANLEY CECIL BENSON
28. viii HERBERT ELDON BENSON
29. ix WILBERT LESLIE BENSON
30. x GLADYS MURIEL BENSON
31. xi HOWARD ALAN BENSON
32. xii INEZ MARY BENSON
10. SAMUEL M. BENSON, (3.WILLIAM3, 2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 3 Jun 1868 in Rothsay, Ont.,, d. 9 Jun 1949 in Wellington, Maryborbough Twp., Ontario,, buried in Derry Add Cemetery, row 7-13N. Crandall says born in 1869 but 1870 cesus indicates 1870. He married MARGARET ELIZABETH McCREERY, married 20 Mar 1906 in Moorfield Manse, Ont., b. 22 Jul 1874 in Ontario, likely Wellington,,, d. 12 Oct 1972,, buried in Derry Add cemetery, Wellington, Ont. row 7-13N.,
Children:
33. i MANLEY BENSON b. 19 Jan 1907.
ii AILEEN ESTHER BENSON, b. 6 May 1916 in Ontario,, d. 24 Nov 2002 in Harrison, Ont., buried 26 Nov 2002 in Derry Add cemetery, Ont. She married LAVERNE EARL COSENS, married 1944, b. 15 Aug 1912, d. 1 Jan 1998 in Palmerson, Ont.,,, resided in LIICII Maryborough Twsp. Ont.
34. iii JACK BENSON b. 1 Mar 1919.11. HERBERT BENSON, (3.WILLIAM3, 2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 1 Mar 1877 in Rothsay, Ontario, d. abt 13 Dec 1971 in Likely in Saskatchewan,, resided in W /12 LIIC15 Maryborough Twsp, Ont., occupation Farmer. Somewhere I saw the name James Herbert Benson, but do not know where. He married (1) CARRIE CIVIL, married 1904, b. abt 1880, d. <1915. He married (2) MABEL SHORT, married 1915, b. 6 May 1878 in Ont?, d. <1936. He married (3) JESSIE CUNNINGHAM, b. 1879 in Ontario?, d. 1957.
Children by CARRIE CIVIL:
i ETHEL BENSON, b. 3 Feb 1907 in Ont, d. 15 Aug 1981, buried in Edam cemetery, Ont. She married CLARENCE AYER, married 1948, b. 1911 in Ont.?.
ii ROBERT W. BENSON, b. 1908 in Maryborough, Ontario, d. 1988 in Meota, Saskatchewan, resided in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan.
iii CHESTER BENSON, b. in Ont or Sask. He married DOROTHY ?, married 1948,12. ELIZABETH JANE BENSON, (3.WILLIAM3, 2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 22 Mar 1870 in Ont.,, d. 11 Dec 1945 in Wellinton,Ontario,, buried in Derry Add cemetery row 22-4S. Crandall says born in 1870, but 1871 census indicates 1871. She married ROBERT MITCHELL, married 1898, b. 1858 in Wellington, Ont?, d. 1943, buried in Derry Add cemetery row 22-4S.
Children:
35. i DALTON S. MITCHELL b. 4 Feb 1898.
ii ORTON MITCHELL, b. 3 May 1902 in Ont.,, d. 1 May 1984 in Wellington, Ont.,, buried in Derry Add Cemetery plot 22-2N. He married FLORENCE JOHNSON, married 4 Apr 1928, b. 18 Nov 1906 in Ont?,, d. in Wellingotn, Ont., buried in Derry Add Cemetery plot 22-4N.
36. iii LESLIE MITCHELL b. 22 Mar 1907.13. WILLIAM EDGERTON BENSON, (3.WILLIAM3, 2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 16 Oct 1875 in Ontario,, d. 30 Jun 1956 in Ontario,, buried in Derry Add cemetery, row 9-10S. He married (1) ESTHER ETA McCREERY, married ABT 1903 in Palmerston, b. 1876 in Ontario, d. 28 Mar 1909 in Wellington, Mayrborough twp., Ont., buried in Derry Add cemetery, row 9-10E. He married (2) ALICE DEZELL, married 6 May 1931?, b. 1867 in Ont?, (daughter of THOMAS DEZELL and MARY ANN BENSON) d. 1928 in Maryborough twp., Ont., buried in Derry Add cemetery, row 9-10E. He married (3) ROSE BAYLESS, married abt. 1931, b. 1883 in Ont. ?, d. 1945. He married (4) FRANCES DOLPHIN, married abt 1950, b. say at 1880 in Ont?, d. 1960.
Children by ESTHER ETA McCREERY:
37. i JOHN IVAN BENSON b. 14 Feb 1909.
ii FRANK L. BENSON, b. Sept 1904 in Maryborough twp. Ont., d. 24 Nov 1905 in Maryborough twp., Ontario, buried in Derry Add cemetery, row 9-10E.
38. iii DORIS BENSON b. 1906.14. ANNIE DEZELL, (5.MARY3, 2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1). She married DAVE LIVINGSTONE.
Children:
39. i WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE.15. ROBERT GASS, (6.ELIZABETH3, 2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 1854 in Garden Island, Ontario., d. 1940. He married MARGARET A. FALCONER, b. 1867, d. 1939.
Children:
i RUSSEL H. GASS, b. 1904, d. 1990, adopted by both abt. 1904.16. SARAH ALLEN, (7.JANE3, 2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 9 Jan 1858 in Carleton Place, Ont.,, d. 1929, buried in Derry Add cemetery 15-7s. Started a store in Rothsay Ont. She married WILLIAM H. WOODS, b. 1855, (son of WILLIAM WOODS and ELLEN MCDONALD) d. 19 Dec 1931, buried in Derry Add cemetery, Maryborough -15-7s. WILLIAM: See the Wellington County Atlas for the epic voyage this person had in his trip to Ontario in 1849 on the vessel Hannah Brig -shipwrecked and then were picked-up and landed in Quebec City.
Children:
i MYRTLE WOODS, b. 30 Apr 1889, buried 1985. She married ALBERT E. GARBUTT, married 2 Jun 1932, b. 30 Apr 1879 or 1889, d. 1965.
ii JENNIE WOODS, b. 6 Nov 1892 or 91, d. 1976, buried in Derry Add Cemetery plot 24-7.
40. iii EARL WOODS b. 31 Jul 1894.
iv INEZ WOODS, b. 8 Apr 1898, d. 8 Nov 1981 or 1978, buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.
v GLADYS WOODS, b. 3 Apr 1903, d. 1996.
vi WILLIAM I. WOODS, b. 1886 in Rothsay, d. 1886.
vii MASON WOODS, b. 1887 in Rothsay, d. 1887.17. ELIZABETH BENSON, (8.JAMES3, 2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 6 May 1863, d. 1943. She married ROBERT PHILIP, b. 1856, d. 1921 or 1931 or1939?.
Children:
i CLARA PHILIP, b. 1885, d. 1971. She married MELVILLE (MCGIVEN) GIFFEN, b. 1879, d. 1969, resided in Chatsworth, Grey County, Ont, occupation Doctor.
ii OLIVE PHILIP, b. 1890, d. 1978 in Toronto.
41. iii BROCK PHILIP b. 1893.
iv ORTON PHILIP, b. 1895, d. 1897.
v BENSON PHILIP, b. 1898, d. 1898.18. SAMUEL BENSON, (8.JAMES3, 2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 1864 in Ont.,, d. 1925 in Wellinton, Ont.,, buried 1925 in Derry Add Cemetery plot 8-5. He married CHRISTIE WALTON, b. 1865 in Ont?, d. 1926 in Wellington, Ont., buried in Derry Add Cemetery plot 8-5.
Children:
i WILLIAM BENSON, b. 1892 in Wellington, Ont., d. 1893 in Wellington, Ont., buried in Derry Add Cemetery plot 8-5.
ii NORMAN W. BENSON, b. 1903 in Ont, Wellington?, d. 1978 in Wellington, Ont., buried in Derry Add Cemetery plot 8-5 with Samuel.
iii HAROLD BENSON. He married ADA MALTBY.
42. iv ETTA BENSON b. 1891.19. WILLIAM C. BENSON, (8.JAMES3, 2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 5 Jun 1868 in Maryborough, Ont., d. 11 May 1937 in Guelph, Ont., buried in Derry Add cemetery row 14-4S.
Children:
i ? BENSON.20. JAMES ALEXANDER BENSON, (8.JAMES3, 2.SAMUEL2, 1.? BENSON1) b. 13 Feb 1873 in Maryborough, Ont.,, d. 3 Sep 1953 in London, Ontario,, buried in Derry Add cemetery, row 10-22, resided in Guelph, Ont. He married ELLEN REA SOLE, b. 17 Jul 1882 in Guelph, Ont., d. 6 Oct 1963 in London, Ont., buried in Ont. in Derry Add cemetery, row 10-20.
Children:
i LILLIAN REA BENSON.
ii JAMES BENSON, b. 3 Feb 1912 in Guelph, Ont.
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