Martha Maria Merigold
ID # 7959, (1823-1885)
| Father | Amos Merigold (1797-1868) |
| Mother | Nancy Cody (1806-1899) |
| Birth | Martha Maria Merigold was born on 20 October 1823 at Trafalgar Township. |
| Marriage | She married Robert Wiggins on 29 September 1844 at Gore District. MS248 reel 1, Vol. 4, page 28, Gore District Marriage Register Extracted from a list of marriages solemnized by Rev. George Pool, A Wesleyan Methodist Minister, Brantford and Montreal. Robert Wiggins and Martha Marigold married Sept. 29, 1844, by license. Witnesses Amos Marigold and John Nelson Freeland. This date of marriage for Robert and Martha is also shown on page 32 of the 1954 Cody Family book. See notes for mother Nancy. It's difficult to escape the conclusion that the father of the bride, Amos, was one of the witnesses. The other witness, John Nelson Freeland, was a resident of Burford. He resided with his parents and siblings in Burford Township and it's interesting that his father, Daniel Freeland, was born in New Brunswick. Looking over the 1851 census for Burford there are several families that would have been neighbours of Amos and Nancy that were from New Brunswick or had roots there. Some of them may have been kin. A point to consider here is that while the marriage was registered in the Gore District, probably by Rev. Pool in Brantford, he may in fact have held the marriage at the residence of the bride's parents, a not uncommon practice. In such an event, legal niceties would have dictated that the marriage be reported to the clerk of the district where the marriage was held, which if in Burford Township, would have meant the Brock District which was headquartered in Woodstock. If this was the case (I'm guessing, after all) then Rev. Pool wouldn't have been the only clergyman to report his marriages in the district that was his residence. Only a newspaper notice might tell the tale. |
| Death | She died on 24 December 1885 at Burford Twp., Brant Co., at age 62. |
| Note | Death reg. 001654-86 Burford Twp., Brant Co. Martha Wiggins died 24th Decr 1885, aged 62 yrs, 2 mos, 5 dys. Born Toronto. Methodist. Physician Dr. Johnston. Informant Robert Wiggins. The 1954 Cody family book has it that Martha was born in Trafalgar Township. The family was probably in Toronto Township in what became Peel County at the time but the death registration may be correct. The Cody book has at least the appearance of depending upon family documentation, so Trafalgar Township is shown in this tree as her place of birth. Martha's age as shown on her death registration, computes to a date of birth of 19 October, 1823. Her date of birth as shown in the Cody book, 20 October, 1823, is accepted here. Martha and Robert are shown in the 1851 census at Woodhouse Township in Norfolk County. In 1861, they are still in Woodhouse. By 1871, Martha and her children are in Walpole Township of Haldimand County and she is shown as a widow. The Cody family book states that her husband, Robert Wiggins, died at Kenora, Ontario, and is buried there. A date of death for Robert or a place of burial has not been found. By 1881, Martha and her children are in Burford Township. The census indicates that they are living near her mother, Nancy Cody Merigold, who is living with Martha's sister Minerva Fowler. A place of burial for Martha has yet to be found. |
Children of Martha Maria Merigold and Robert Wiggins |
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| Last Edited | 23 Apr 2020 |