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Descendents of William Bell (12 Apr. 1813 - 23 May 1895)
and Janet Oliver (~1812 - 1 Sep 1895)

Third Immigrant Generation
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13. James Bell Messer . Son of William Messer & Margaret Bell. Born 27 May 1857 in Tweedside. Died 21 Sep 1917 in Tweedside. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery.

    Copied from newspaper obituary:
    James Messer
    Harvey Station, Sept. 22 -- James Messer, a well known resident of Tweedside, died at his home there yesterday morning after a long illness.   He was the eldest son of the late William Messer, of Tweedside, and was in the sixty-first year of his age.   His wife died some years ago.   He is also survived by a number of brothers and sisters.   Among them are William Messer and John Messer, of Tweedside.

    He married Julia Ann Cecilia Wood, daughter of Peter Wood & Mary Moffitt, 31 Jan 1883 in York Co., NB By Robert Nairn, Presbyterian . Born 1 Mar 1863. Died 15 Jul 1905. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery
    Witnesses to marriage were George Thomas Wood and Alice B. Messer.

    Julia Ann Cecilia died 15 Jul 1905, age 42 yrs. 4 mo. 15 days.
    They had the following children:
69 i. William Elmer Messer
70 ii. Mary Isabella "Mayme" Messer
71 iii. Peter Alexander "Sandy" Messer
72 iv. James Allan Messer
73 v. John "Wesley" Messer
74 vi. Margaret Ann "Cecilia" Messer
75 vii. Minnie May Messer
76 viii. Ella Louise Messer
77 ix. Jessie Elizabeth Messer
78 x. Jennie "Estella" Messer
79 xi. Julius "Edison" Messer

14. Janet Ann Messer . Daughter of William Messer & Margaret Bell. Born 23 Apr 1859. Died 22 Aug 1861.
    From church records:    Died 22 Aug 1861, age 2 yr. 4 mo., diphtheria.

15. William Messer . Son of William Messer & Margaret Bell. Born 30 Dec 1860 in Tweedside. Died 27 Jun 1940 in Harvey. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery. Occupation Farmer, Butcher.

    From newspaper obituary - 1940
    William Messer Dies at Age 79.   Father of York County MLA   Passes at Harvey Station
    Fredericton, NB, June 27 -- William Messer, father of York County MLA died at his home early this morning.   He was 79 years old and had been in failing health for about a year.
    Mr Messer was born in Harvey in a home some 360 yards from the one in which he died about 1:30 a.m. today.   He was a life long resident of the community.   He was a butcher for many years, but retired about 10 years ago to devote his full attention to his farm.   Mr Messer was married twice.
    He is survived by his second wife, Mrs Isabelle Messer, three sons, Ford Messer, MLA and Albert Messer both of Harvey, and Oscar Messer, St. Stephen; three daughters, Mrs Edmond Swan, Harvey, Mrs Roy Swan, McAdam and Mrs Howard Bliss, Boston, an adopted son Edison Messer, at home and an adopted daughter, Miss Agnes Bell, Boston.   The funeral will take place at the home at 2 p.m., to be followed by a service at the Harvey Presbyterian Church at 3 p.m., Rev. Allison McLean will officiate.   Interment will be made in the Harvey Cemetery.

    From newspaper obituary - 1940:
    Died at Harvey Today
    The death occurred at Harvey at an early hour this morning of William Messer, one of the oldest and best known men in that section of York County.   He carried on farming and was respected by all who knew him and his death will occasion regret.   He is survived by his widow, Mrs Isabelle Messer; three sons, Ford Messer, M.P.P., and Albert Messer of Harvey, and Oscar Messer, of St. Stephen; three daughters, Mrs Edward Swan, of Harvey; Mrs Roy Swan, McAdam, and Mrs Howard Bliss, Boston, Mass., and an adopted son and daughter, Edison Messer, at home, and Miss Agnes Bell, of Boston.
    He first married Sarah Elizabeth "Sadie" Rutherford, daughter of John Rutherford & Elizabeth "Bessie" Wightman, 1 Jul 1885 in Harvey Presbyterian Church By D. MacRae, Presbyterian . Born 7 Nov 1864. Died 18 Jun 1893. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery. Religion Presbyterian.

    Witnesses to marriage were John Messer and Isaac Rutherford.
    Sarah died at age 28 yr. 9 mos., leaving five children:   Bessie, Albert, Ford, Oscar and Sadie.
    They had the following children:
80 i. Elizabeth Ethel "Bessie" Messer
81 ii. William "Albert" Messer
82 iii. John Rutherford "Ford" Messer
83 iv. Thomas "Oscar" Messer
84 v. Sarah Mary Isabell "Sadie" Messer

    He second married Isabella Torrance, daughter of Robert Torrance & Ellen MacDonald, 12 Jun 1895 in York Co., NB . Born 17 Mar 1855 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Died 13 May 1941 in Tweedside. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery. Religion Presbyterian.

    From newspaper obituary - undated:
    Died at Tweedside.   Mrs William Messer, 85, Was Born in Scotland--Known For Kindness.
    Harvey Station, May 19 -- The death at Tweedside on May 13th of Mrs Isabelle Messer, widow of William Messer, removes one of the most highly respected and oldest residents of this community.   She died at her home following a brief illness of pneumonia and complications.
    Mrs Messer was a daughter of Mr and Mrs Robert Torrens, having come to this country (at the age of one and a half years) from Edinburgh, Scotland.   Last March 17th Mrs Messer observed her 85th birthday.   Mr Messer predeceased her 11 months ago.   She was a woman of fine Christian character and great kindliness and never considered any task too heavy when performed for those she loved.   She is survived by one daughter, Mrs Roy Swan of McAdam; three step-daughters, Mrs Edmund Swan, Tweedside; Mrs Howard Bliss, Boston, Mass.; Miss Agnes Bell, at home; four step-sons, Oscar Messer, St. Stephen; Ford Messer, M.P.P., and Albert Messer, of Harvey; Edison Messer, of Tweedside; one sister, Mrs Fred Richardson, of Lebattis, Maine; and one brother, Robert Torrens, of St. Stephen.

    They had the following children:
85 i. Edith Annie Richardson Messer

16. Thomas Messer . Son of William Messer & Margaret Bell. Born 11 Apr 1863 in Tweedside, NB. Died 8 Oct 1940 in Tweedside . Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery. Occupation Farmer. Religion Presbyterian.

    Copied from newspaper obituary - 1940:
    Late Thos. Messer
    Well known Resident of South Tweedside Passed Away in 79th year.
    South Tweedside, N.B., Oct 15 -- The community was saddened by the recent death of Thomas Messer which occurred at his home Tuesday, October 8th after a lingering illness of several months which he bore very patiently always having a smile and a joke for all who called to see him.
    He was in the 79th year of age, being born in Tweedside, son of the late William and Margaret Messer, he married Jennie Hood of Magaguadavic and they lived their entire life in South Tweedside, engaged in farming.   His wife predeceased him by two years.
    The late Mr Messer was a man of fine qualities, very generous and it can be said "that he lived in a house on the side of the road and was a friend to man".   His passing has left a vacancy that will be hard to fill.
    He leaves to mourn three daughters, Mrs Ernest Irvine, (Gertie) of Plaster Rock, N.B., Mrs Charles Cleghorn, (Maggie) Lake Road, N.B., Mrs Gates Piercy, (Annie) Tweedside, and three sons, Henry, of Tweedside, Robert and Thomas of South Tweedside.   One brother, George O., of McAdam and one sister, Mrs Charles Berry of Boston, also survive.   One brother William Messer of Tweedside predeceased him by a few months.

    He married Jane "Janie" Hood, 6 May 1889 in Harvey, York Co., NB . Born 23 Apr 1866 in Magaguadavic. Died 26 Sep 1938 in Tweedside . Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery.

    They had the following children:
86 i. Gertrude Messer
87 ii. Henry William Messer
88 iii. James "Robert" Messer
89 iv. Margaret Jean "Maggie" Messer
90 v. John Spafford Messer
91 vi. Annie Isabel Messe
r92 vii. Mary "Ellen" Messer
93 viii. Thomas George Messer
94 ix. Chester Harold Messer

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