________________________ Clugston Family Stories ________________________

                            ( CLUG0004.htm )


"Brief History of John Clugston"

John Clugston was born in Armagh County in Ireland in 1818.
He leth Ireland in 1837 with a family of eleven and sailed
for Canada, settling in Chingacousy Township, County of
Peel, Province of Ontario.

On August 18, 1845 he bought 100 acres from the crown for
10 pounds, it being the east half of Lot 21, concession 5 of
Euphrasia Township, County of Grey.  In 1846 he sold 50 acres,
the south half of Lot 21, Concession 5 to his brother Robert
for 150 pounds.

In harvest time he would walk to Chingacousy Township, Peel
County and help with the harvest and carry back a 50-pound
bag of flour on his shoulder.  He held the office of Township
Assessor and Tax Collector when there were only eleven families
in Euphrasia Township.  He also carried the assessment roll
to Barrie.

On September 1, 1852 he was directed by the authority of the 
Reeve and Township Clerk to call the first meeting of residents
in School Section #6, known as Fairmount school where his
family later attended.

In 1854 he married Rachel Bell of St. Vincent Township, Grey
County.  As was customary then, the young couple had to walk
to Owen Sound, a distance of 30 miles, to be married.  They 
also returned on foot.  The bride carried her shoes until she
got near Owen Sound and then wore them.  Owen Sound was the 
nearest residence of a minister.

In 1856 John Clugston sold 50 acres, it being the north half
of the east half of Lot 21, Concession 5 to Ritchie Gardiner
for $3000.00.  In 1856 John Clugston bought 100 acres, it being
the west half of Lot 21, Concession 5 from Ritchie Gardiner for
$3000.00.  The farm was situated one and one half miles east
of the village of Rocklyn.

For decades John Clugston carded wool and spun it into yarn 
and was an active weaver.  He made carpets and mats and sold
them throughout the community.  People brought materials to
him to be woven into floor coverings.  Some of his family 
continued this trade.

In 1905 his youngest son Robert built a brick house on a
ten-acre lot in the village of Rocklyn and at present it is
still an attractive dwelling.

_________________________________________________________________________


      An elderly relative, a cousin of my dad's, with the help of his family
has put together a booklet that traces many in the Clugston family tree on
the branch that settled near Meaford. They completed a lot of this booklet
in 1982 with the help of their daughter (Kathryn Clugston Hewgill) and their
daughter in law (Linda Williams Clugston). Most of my information comes from
them (Cecil and Jean Clugston). Jean is now dead and Cecil is getting to be
quite frail.
     John Clugston, born in 1818, had 10 children. They and their families
are listed in this family tree booklet. His 6th child, also named John, was
born in 1870 and had 3 children, the youngest one being my father (Ezra). By
the way, my dad was never too keen on Ezra for a name so when he went
overseas in WW 2 changed it to Ed and gets called that by any one who wishes
a reply.
     We visited Armagh in 1970 and found that in that town there were lots
of Clugstons, like Smith or Brown in Ontario. 
     Also there must be Clugstons in British Columbia, since a friend found
a picture in MacLean's magazine of Donald Stuart Clugston being appointed as
head of a forestry group out there. 

         Stu Clugston

_________________________________________________________________________