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Descendents of Unknown Johnston
and Christina Heughan (ca 1803 - 22 Feb 1875)


Second Immigrant Generation
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Entry last updated 10 Feb 2008

2. Mary Ann Johnston . Daughter of Mr Johnston & Christina A. Heughan. Born Approx 1832 in Scot.

    She married George Lister, son of Nicholas Lister & Margaret Heughan, 24 Feb 1851 in St. Paul's Presbyterian Church By Rev. Dr. John M. Brooke . Born 18 Sep 1823 in Annan, Scot.

 

    From York Co NB Marriage Register C 1850-1866 (PANB):   Witnesses to marriage were Thomas Cockburn and Nancy Thomson.

 

   George came to America from Annan, Scotland, with his parents, brothers and sisters in 1843.   He acquired the following Land Grants.   (Further information on land transactions can be obtained through research at the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick):

 

   Lot 18, T2, Harvey Sett., Manners Sutton, 50 acres, 1855/01/19, Vol. 44, No. 6646;   Part of 18 SE, Harvey Sett., 50 ac. 1857/02/23, Vol. 50, No. 7932;   18, Harvey Sett., 100 ac. 1857/12/28, Vol. 52, No. 8338;   90 Block 31, Harvey Sett. 50 ac. 1858/01/25, Vol. 53, No. 8540;   Blk 31, NE Bra Magag. R., Manners Sutton, 100 ac. 1870/08/01, Vol. 81, No. 13810.

 

   From The Daily Gleaner, 14 July 1937:   "About the year 1857, George Lister built the first woollen mill in York Mills.   He also built a sawmill and a grist mill.   The woollen business was established as a cloth mill.   He later sold the business to John Taylor."

 

    Excerpt from Rural Musings:   Woollen Mill Thrives:   Began 105 years Ago, By Rolf Munroe--undated, but possibly in newspaper in December 1962:   "George built the sawmill first, and in it lumber for the other structures were processed.   The machinery for the original mill came up the St. John river by boat, was landed at Long Creek, and hauled on wagons to the mill site."  

 

   There seems to be some questions as to the exact year the woollen mill was built.   From the Saint Croix Courier "Journey Through Time", The Early Years: 1865-1885, on 13 May 1869:   "New Woollen Mill -- Geo Lester, Esq., is erecting a woollen factory in the Harvey Settlement on the N. E. Magaguadavic within a short distance of Western Extension. -- Journal."

 

   The 1861 Census lists George as 37 years old, Farmer/Merchant, and his wife Mary Ann, 28 years old, daughter Christina, 2 years, and son Charles Fisher, 7 mos.   Also in their household were James Carmichael, 26 yr., farm servant; Mary Embleton, 18 yr., domestic servant; James Kenna, 30 yr., woodturner, and his wife Isabella Kenna, 24 yr.

 

   According to 1861 Census, George employed 2 males, owned or occupied 50 acres improved land and 700 acres unimproved land.   Cash value of farm was 500 pounds, and value of implements and machinery was 100 pounds.   He had 5 horses, 4 milch cows, 1 other neat cattle, 5 sheep, 2 swine and slaughtered 500 lb. pork.   Produced 200 lb. butter, 4 lb. wool, 18 tons hay, 100 bu. oats, 30 bu. buckwheat and 80 bu. potatoes.

 

   Children of George and Mary Ann were baptised in Presbyterian church.    They moved from Harvey area sometime after 1861 Census.

 

    George Lister, wife Mary Ann and daughter Christina Lister are in the 1880 census in Farmington, Dakota Co., Minnesota, USA.

 

    They had the following children:

  5   i.   Christina Lister

  6   ii.   Charles Fisher Lister