The Bragg Family Tree - Branches Entwined

Last resting place of William, Catherine and their children

 I guess it stands to reason that over the years various branches of our Bragg family would come together. Nova Scotia, after all is a small place and the population in the mid 19th Century was still under 200,000 souls. One such example is William McKim Peers and Catherine Johnson.

Pedigree of William McKim Peers

William was the grandson of Alexander Peers and May Bolding our United Empire Loyalist ancestors who came to the Remsheg (Wallace Bay) in 1783 after the American Revolution.  His parents were the infamous Ephraim Peers the Justice of the Peace and Patience Horton, daughter of another prominent UEL family.  William was born in 1831 and in his12th year lost his father when Ephraim dropped dead suddenly on the steps of the courthouse.  Along with his eight brothers and sisters, the family kept their farm running and in later years, young William would take it over.  William is directly connected to us through Matilda Swallow, mother of our grandfather, John Thomas Bragg.  He was my 1st cousin, 4 times removed.

Pedigree of Catherine Johnson

In 1859 he met and married Catherine A. Johnson in Truro.  Catherine's parents were 2nd cousins, Robert and Rachel Johnson which made her a double descendant of James and John Johnson, founders of the town of Truro and known as the Cobiquid Planters.  The Planters came to Nova Scotia in 1761 from New Hampshire and 2011 was the 250th anniversary of their arrival.  Catherine was born on July 1, 1839 in Truro but after their marriage, she and William lived on the Peers farm at Wallace Bay.  Catherine is directly connected to us through Jane Rogers, wife of John Bragg, Esq. our great great grandfather.  She was my 2nd cousin, 3 times removed.

Over the years, William and Catherine had fifteen children; Isabel, Margaret, Ephraim, an infant daughter, Mary Netta, an infant daughter, Catherine, an infant daughter, Lillian, Nina, Harriet, Annie, Charles Creed, Campbell Wentworth and Gordon.  Three of their little girls were stillborn and of the others, Mary Netta died at 23, Lillian died at age 9, Nina died at age 7, and Charles died at age 2.

Wallace Bay Cemetery

William died in 1897 at Wallace Bay at the age of 66 and was buried at the Wallace Bay Cemetery.  Catherine lived until 1907 and died at the age of 68.  She was buried at Wallace Bay with William and their young children.

And so, this is how these two families, each with their rich and interesting histories - the Peers with their Revolutionary War adventures and the Johnsons with their pioneering spirit - came together.