We frequently say that life was simpler back in our Grandfather's and Great-Grandfather's era. However, that doesn't mean that life was any easier in the 1800's!
I was looking back at a newspaper article that was written in the early 1930's about my Great-Great Grandparents. It was the mid 1840-1850s and they had moved to central Ontario. Roads were more dirt paths and homesteads were few and far between. The closest village was 5 miles away and it had a general store and a blacksmith shop. Their property was 100 acres of mostly treed land and a few meadows. They set about to make a homestead of their own: cutting trees; building a primitive log cabin; and even pulling out the tree roots with the help of a neighbour and a team of horses. The cabin was rough, but managed to keep them warm over the long cold winter. They planted their first crops in the spring and by summer it looked like the farm was really going to be successful.
Can you imagine the anxiety and panic that set in when a new homesteader showed up at the front door with papers proving that the British Government had granted this new homesteader ownership of the entire properly. Clearly, there was not the recordkeeping that we have to day, but still this must have been a real blow to my family. However, in true pioneering style, my family packed their things and moved a mile or 2 away to another property and began the process all over again. It's a true testament to their courage and grit. These stories tell us a lot about our ancestors and the legacy that they have left for us.
I'm sure that your family has seen the same kind of hardship and persevered. Tell us about the challenges and hardships that your ancestor's endured. Be sure to describe the stories in detail and let us know how they make you feel.
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