1. Flora Ann Campbell Beattie & John William Gamble
2. Julia West Gamble & John Thomas Bragg
3. Russell Mackie Bragg & Dorothy Madeleine Harrigan
4. Me
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| Flora Ann Campbell Beattie Gamble 1851 - 1890 |
From her birth, this young lady experienced great tragedies and great happiness. Within hours of her birth, Flora's mother, Sarah died due to complications of childbirth at the age of 30, leaving William alone to raise her and her brother, John. On March 8, 1860 when Flora was just 9 years old, her father was drowned at in the Bay of Fundy, just off Portaupique. The two young children went to live with their father's sister, Isabella Campbell and her husband William Beattie.
As was the custom in those days, the Beattie's did not adopt Flora and John, but the two took the Beattie name as their own and grew up with Isabella and William's children, Margaret and James Allison Hill Beattie.
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| Grave of William Beattie and Isabella Campbell Economy Cemetery |
Dear Aunt,
It is very sad news I have to tell you now. Uncle William is gone to his rest. He started for Halifax the first of last week in a little vessel by Windsor way and the vessel was lost and all on board drowned. 10 persons in all.
Uncle William and Henry Moore's son George was all that was from about here. The rest was from the Five Islands. That's where the vessel was from. There was four of the bodys found. George Moore was one of them. He was buried yesterday. They have gone back to search for more. If Uncle is found we will send you word and if not we would be glad to have you come down. This is a hard trial. I don't know how we will get along. We can only look to Him who doeth all things well.
Your affectionate niece,
Flora A. Beattie.
A note at the bottom of the page states: All those lost listed on "Deaths Registered at Five Islands in the County of Colchester - 1871" William Beattie is shown as a farmer, age 48, married. Born in Economy. Parents - Samuel Beattie - cooper. Drowned in the Basin of Minas, 30 Nov 1871. The name of the vessel - PRATT.
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| At a Gamble Family Picnic Back row: Julia West Gamble, Susan Belle Gamble, Hattie Maria Gamble Front Row: Ruth Agnes Gamble Annie Gamble (a cousin) |
In September 1879, at the age of 29, Flora Ann married John William Gamble of Castlereagh and was welcomed into the warm bosom of the large and boisterous Gamble clan. It must have been a very happy time for her for the Gambles were a happy bunch, given to entertaining their neighbours at music-filled picnics in the grove of their grandfather, Robert's farm. Every Sunday, the whole family would troop the ten miles into Bass River for church, shoes in hand to save their soles and their souls. John William farmed and worked in his father's barrel factory as a cooper. The family also had a weir fishery off Economy that needed tending but which added to their prosperity.
John William and Flora Ann had 10 children including three sets of twins. The first set of twins were Frank and Flora, but the little girl died shortly after birth. The next child was a daughter, Hattie Maria and then came the next set of twins, Julia (my grandmother) and Belle. Julia and Belle were identical and quite beautiful as they grew up. Next came another set of twins, Martin Luther and Ernest Crawford, both of whom died around one year of age. The younger children were Ruth Agnes, Russell Leeman and John Knox. Both Russell and John died as small children.
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| Grave of John William Gamble and Flora Ann Campbell Beattie Gamble |
In 1890, like her mother, Flora Ann died of complications of childbirth with her youngest son, John. She was just 41 years old. She was buried in the old cemetery at Castlereagh and she is also memorialized on her husband, John William's grave in the United Church Cemetery in Bass River.
Great site! Belle was my grandmother
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