Ard Benedict

Family reference: 352.258

	Born		11 August 1843	Lennox Co. Ontario
	Married	1st	1 Nov 1865	Mary Cameron at Grey co., Ontario
^	^	2nd	3 Nov 1880	Christina Kelso
	Died		19 May 1924	Chesley, Elderslie twp., Bruce co., Ontario

- Family album of photos and documents.

Parents:

• Smedley Benedict
• Catherine Dafoe

Children by 1st wife Mary:

1. John Benedict; b. 1866
2. Harriet A. Benedict; b. 1868; died before 1881 census
3. Smedley Benedict; b. 23 July 1870

Children by Christina Kelso:

1. William Benedict; b. 3 Nov 1879
2. David Stewart Benedict; b. 26 Oct 1882
3. Harriet Benedict; b. 11 August 1884
4. Gordon Albert Benedict; b. 21 August 1893
5. Marguarite Elveretta Benedict; b. 24 Feb 1903

The Parents of Ard Benedict

Ard's Early Years

It seems that on the Legal Marriage Document for William Benedict and Martha Alice Cousins, the parents are Arnold Benedict and Christina Kelso. So the legal name for Ard, is Arnold.

Ard was born in Napanee, Ontario. Not much is known about his early years, Ard probably moved with his mother, father and family from Richmond Twp., Lennox and Addington Co., to Grey County, sometime after 1851.

On August 16, 1856, the Ninth Line Union Phoenix Sabbath Sunday School was Organized, in the Cunningham Settlement of St. Vincent Twp. The Sunday School became noted for a huge picnic and garden party organized each summer.People came from far and near. Catherine, David and James Benedict, appear on the Record of attendance, of 1857, this shows us, that Smedley and Catherine and family are in St. Vincent Twp., at this time. But this David mentioned must be a second name for, or a mistake made on Daniel, on this list?

(NOTE) Grey Co., Historical Society has Ard's first marriage listed as; Benedict David, 22, St Vincent, CW, s/o Smedly & Catherine (DeFor), married 1 Nov 1865 to Mary Cameron, 21,St Vincent, CW, d/o Donald & Lucy (McMillan) So IT IS POSSIBLE Ard's name was Archibald David Benedict, thus making him the David mentioned at the church picnic above. "In life he much prefers ARD"

NOTE: Mary Cameron was the 10th born child of Donald Cameron 1792 - 1872 and Louise (Lucy) Callich McMillan 1797 - 1866, married 1817. Mary's sibblings were Christy 1819, possible twins, Flora 1824 - 1914, Ann 1824 - 1888, Margaret 1827 - 1903, John 1829, Donald 1932, Hugh 1836, William 1839, and again possible twins Harriet 1844 and Mary 1844. Mary's mother's middle name Callich is possibly the last name of her grandmother Marjory 1780. Her grandfather was John McMillan 1778 -1810. Mary's Father's parents were Donald Daniel Cameron 1743 - 1822 and Margaret Fraser 1760. Mary's mother died in Grey Co., March 10, 1872 and is buried I think in Johnson's United Cemetery, Sydenham Twp., R. R. # 8, Hwy. 26 Phone 519 - 376 - 8487, lot 11, Conc. 13 and is active. Her father died in Grey Co., and is possibly buried there also. I will try to check this out in the spring, if all goes well. There may be a chance that Mary is also buried there as well.

Another Possible Burial site, for Mary, From O.C.F.A. Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid BENEDICT, Mary - - Craford Cemetery, Raleigh, Kent Co., KT-302-0

It seems in 1865, Daniel Benedict, A. Benedict (probably Ard) and James Benedict were all living in the Township of Sydenham, on Conc. B, Lot #3 (footnote 1). On 5 Feb 1855 Elijah Moulton bought all 50 acres of the west 1/2 lot #3 Conc. B from the Crown. On 11 Sept 1861 Elias Kirvin bought all 50 acres of the North East 1/2 lot #3 Conc. B from the Crown.

Probably after Smedley died in 1867, Ard, James and Catherine moved to Chesley, in Bruce County while Daniel stayed on the original farm. Ard most likely wandered down to Chatham Twp., Kent County, to visit his brother Smith John, and took a job farming there, where he is found on the 1871 census as a farm laborer (see 1871 census below. His 1st wife possibly died there, or he was not impressed with farming, thus causing him to move back again to Chesley, where he is found again on the 1881 Census, married again to Christina. He spent the rest of his life in the furniture factory, His first wife died sometime between 1871 and 1880, and could be buried in Kent County?, or probably Chesley.

Ard and Mary Cameron

Ard's first marriage was to Mary Cameron on November 1, 1865 when he was 22 and she was 21. Mary was born in Ontario and resided in St. Vincent township, the daughter of Donald Cameron and Lucy McMillan (footnote 2).

John was born 1867, the same year that Smedley died. Harriet was born 1868 and died before the 1881 Census. Smedley was born July 23, 1870, Maria the first wife likely took sick and died some time shortly after the 1871 census, as there are no more children until after Ard's 2nd marriage, to Christina, in 1880. Maria's grave has yet to be found, it could be in Chesley Cemetery as most records were lost and regathered from tombstones and whatever remained. A large monument sits beside Ard and Christina's stone. The only inscription on the large memorial is BENEDICT, it is possible that Mary is buried there, but no record.

Ard and Christina Kelso

The marriage of Ard Benedict and Christina Kelso is shown in the Ontario Marriage Registration as #1515-80 (Bruce Co.) Archibald BENEDICT, 35, widower, yeoman, Ontario, Chesley, s/o Smedley BENEDICT & Catherine DAFOE, married Catherine KELSO, 21, Ontario, Chesley, d/o David KELSO & Catherine DRUMMOND, witn: William BONESTEEL & Clara KELSO, both of Chesley, 3 Nov 1880 at Paisley.

Ard and Christina and young Smedley, all worked at the Furniture Factory in Chesley.

From The Chesley Enterprise, August 24, 1893, issue, -- on Aug. 21, 1893, to A. Benedict and wife, a son. (This would be Gordon Albert)

From The Chesley Enterprise, Dec. 01, 1904, issue, -- At Pembroke Mrs. Geo. Chase formerly Paisley, died, aged 37 yrs. sister of Mrs. Ard Benedict

Ard's second wife Christina bought four plots for $12 on May 29, 1924, in the Chesley cemetery. Ard and Christina are both buried there, to the right of the large monument, and Ard's daughter Marguarite "Retta" and Gerald Valk are buried in the remaining two plots, to the left of the large Monument I would think that the first wife is under the large Stone but so far no record. I will check further with Bob Murphy of the Arran-Elderslie township office. But seeing that all cemetery records were lost, it might just remain another mystery. All though, it makes sense that Maria is there.

The Final Years for Ard

Christina died July 19, 1924 after having Myocarditis for some years.

THE LATE ARD BENEDICT; --- Well Known Chesley Man Lived There for 60 Years The Chesley Enterprise has the following regarding the death of Mr. Ard Benedict of that Town: ---- Mr. Ard Benedict one of our pioneer residents passed away at his home on the outskirts of this town on Monday the 19th inst, from Pneumonia after a short illness. The deceased was born in Napanee, then moved with his mother to St. Vincent Twp., Grey Co., for a short time and later to Chesley where he was well and favourably known. He spent some 60 years of his life in this town or at his home in recent years in the south-end just a few rods from the corporation limits. He was twice married and is survived by his second wife and a family of two sons by his first wife, John in Calgary & Smedley in Chesley and by his second marriage, William of Chesley, David of Southampton, Mrs Calvert of New Hamburg. Gordon of Regina Saskachewan and Reta of Chesley. The funeral took place last Thursday to Chesley Cemetery and was in charge of Rev. A. J. Schultz of the Baptist Church.

Death due to Arterio Sclorosis and pneumonia. Buried May 22, 1924 Chesley Cemetery.

Footnotes

1. A History of the County Of Grey by E. L. Marsh, from page 436. Reproduced from The Gazetter of the County published by W. E. Smith of Owen Sound in 1865.
2. Family History Library microfilm #1030056.

Census of 1871

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Person	Sex	Age	Birthplace	Religion	Origin	Occupation	Status	Page
BENEDICT, Ard	M	28	Ontario	Meth. E.	Dutch	Farm labourer	married	17
Mary	F	29	Quebec	C. Pres.	Scotch		married	18
John	M	4	Ontario	C. Pres.	Dutch			18
Harriet A.	F	3	Ontario	C. Pres.	Dutch			18
Smedly	M	8/12	Ontario	C. Pres.	Dutch			18

- 1871 Census for Chatham Twp, Kent Co., Ontario; Foloi 2F3-017 to -088; available at Chatham Library Historical Society; Chatham, Ontario.

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Census of 1881

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Person	Sex	Status	Marital	Origin	Age	Birthplace	Occupation	Religion
BENEDICT, Ard	M	head	married	Scottish	37	Ontario	Laborer	Presbyterian
Christina	F		married	Scottish	21	Ontario		Presbyterian
John	M			Scottish	14	Ontario		Presbyterian
Smedley	M			Scottish	10	Ontario		Presbyterian
William	M			Scottish	1	Ontario		Presbyterian
Catherine	F		widow	Scottish	64	Scotland		Presbyterian

- Canada 1881 Census for North Bruce County, Chesley Village, District 177, Subdistrict J1, Houshold 147, microfilm reel C-13276, p. 30.

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Census of 1891

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Person	Occupation	Birthplace	Religion	Age	Sex	Status	District	Page
Benedict Ard	Laborerer	Ontario	Presb.	46	M	married	51	22
Christina	Wife	Ontario	Presb.	29	F	married	51	22
Smedley	Laborer	Ontario	Presb.	20	M	Single	51	22
William		Ontario	Presb.	11	M	Single	51	22
David		Ontario	Presb.	8	M	Single	51	22
Hattie L.		Ontario	Presb.	6	F	Single	51	22

_- 1891 Census for Province of Ontario, District No. 52 North Bruce, District of Chesley Village, Taken 16 Apr 1891 by George Stanley, Page 22; available at Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre; 33 Victoria Street, North, Southampton, Ontario. N0H 2L0, Canada.

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Census of 1901

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Person	Sex	Status	Marital	Origin	Age	Birthplace	Occupation	Religion
BENEDICT, Arch	M	head	married	English	53	Ontario	Laborer	Presbyterian
Christina	F		married	English	38	Ontario		Presbyterian
Smedley	M		single	English	30	Ontario	Machine Hand	Presbyterian
William	M		single	English	21	Ontario	Carpenter	Presbyterian
David	M		single	English	64	Ontario	Finisher	Presbyterian
Hattie	F		Single	English	16	Ontario	Weaver	Presbyterian
Gordon	M	Son	Single	English	7	Ontario		Presbyterian

|_- Canada 1901 Census for North Bruce County, Chesley Village, District , Subdistrict D-1, Houshold 146, Schedule1, microfilm reel T-6461, p.15._

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Census of 1911

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Person	Sex	Status	Marital	Origin	Age	Birthplace	Occupation	Religion
BENEDICT, Ard	M	head	married	Scottish	68	Ontario	Night Watch	Presbyterian
Christina	F		married	Scottish	49	Ontario	Machinist	Presbyterian
Smed	M		Single	Scottish	38	Ontario	Machinist	Presbyterian
Margaret	F		Single	Scottish	8	Ontario		Presbyterian

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-- JimBenedict - 05 Sep 2007 -- DonaldElliott - 24 Jan 2011
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