[Ida Jane (Dickey) Guild was an older sister of John Bates Dickey, father of Susan Dickey Hewson. Aunt Sue was Susanna (Dickey) Archibald, another sister.]
Mid Musquodoboit
Mar 11th 1937
Dear Niece Susan:
I am pleased to be able to send you quite a record of your ancestry, a record I think of which you need not be ashamed and may even be proud of when you read it all through. I know I have a pride in being descended from such an illustrious family as the Laytons. As far as I know those who lived in Nova Scotia were all good Christian men and women. The letter and Heraldic Emblem which I enclose are copied from one received by Aunt Milly Guild when she made enquiry in England about the Layton family. I have had it now for about 35 years. My daughters took interest in it, also so did Aunt Sue’s daughters and I think probably you will treasure it and hand it down to your children.
I do not know whether I have given you all the information you asked for, or not, but if there is anything more you wish to know, just write and ask me and if I can I will give you the information.
We are getting along in much the same old way as usual. Uncle Will is failing very gradually. His mental qualities are about all gone. He is still fairly well physically. Takes his breakfast in bed and stays there until nearly noon time.
George’s children are having an attack of “flu” just now [probably refers to her son, William George]. Gertrude the eldest spent two days in bed. Earle the eldest boy is quite miserable with it. Was a day or two in bed and up and around again, when yesterday at noon he took a bad nose bleed. It kept it up all the afternoon, bleeding quite freely at times. Dr could not be got when called for but came about 5 p.m. and fixed him up and there has been no bleeding since then but he has to keep to his bed for a few days. The other children are not as bad with “flu” but all have a touch of it. I keep fairly well myself.
We have had a very mild winter, very little snow and since March came in the days have been real sunny, with very little storm, and not very cold. I am glad to know that you have a friendly neighbour that you can visit some times. I have close neighbours but do not get to see any of them as I am needed every minute here in my own home.
I hope to hear from you again and that this record will be satisfactory.
Yours sincerely
Aunt Ida
In June 1749, Governor Cornwallis arrived at Halifax with a fleet of ships loaded with passengers and other things necessary for settlement of a new country. These persons, about 3000, set to work to clear the land and erect houses to live in, also to build defences to protect them from Indian raids or attacks from French settlers still remaining in the place. Mr. Anthony Elliott with his wife was in this company. He was a Soldier in His Majesty’s Service. It is said that Mrs Elliott was the first woman to step on shore as they landed at Halifax. After Louisburg and Quebec were taken by the British Mr. Elliott with others were discharged from His Majesty’s Service.
In the spring of 1762 he, with his family and a number of others, moved from Hfx to Onslow. He was a grantee of the Township of Onslow. They had 6 daughters and one son. Mary Elliott, their third daughter was born Apr 6th 1769. She married William Joyce Dec. 1792. They had 3 sons and 4 daughters. Mr Joyce was a cooper by trade. On May 8th 1833 while riding on an oxcart loaded with hoop poles coming down a hill the oxen took fright, turned suddenly off the road, upset the cart and it fell upon the man fracturing his skull and he died at the age of 64 years. Mrs. Joyce died July 24th 1834 aged 66 yrs. She was my father’s grandmother.
George Scott, another grantee of Truro Township was married before they came to Nova Scotia. His wife’s name was Elizabeth. They had three daughters. Elizabeth their 3rd daughter was born in Truro Oct. 23rd 1766. She was married to Thomas Dickey June 22 1788. Mr. Dickey died Oct. 18 1798 aged 33 yrs. Mrs. Dickey died Mar. 19 1830 aged 63 yrs. These two and the two mentioned on the other side [William Joyce and Mary Elliott] are my father’s grandparents.
Thomas Dickey and Elizabeth Scott had 3 sons, George Scott, James, and Thomas, and one daughter Elizabeth. Thomas is the line we follow. He was born June 4th 1797, married to Mary, daughter of Wm. Joyce and Mary Elliott, Dec. 1828. [Note written in on the side: my grandparents on the father’s side.] Mr. Dickey died May 12 1868, aged 71 yrs. Mrs. Dickey died Sept. 8, 1859 aged 53 yrs. Their children were Elizabeth, George Scott, John, Mary, Esther, Thomas, Rachel, Agnes, Edward and Annie. George Scott, my father, was born Dec. 24th 1830, died Dec. 1914, aged 83 yrs. I cannot give you the dates of the others of that family. Mary & Esther died while quite young, the others lived to a good old age.
I have never heard of a case of cancer in any of the families. Some went down with tuberculosis chiefly I believe from not being properly cared for in those early days.
I have no record of where the first Thomas [Dickey] came from but I have been told he came from Glasgow Scotland.
John Bates with two brothers came to Halifax in the early days. Just when or where from I have no record, nor do I know who his wife was. [She implies that John Valentine Bates’ father was also named John. In fact, he was Nicholaus Baetz, a Hessian soldier who settled in Nova Scotia following the American Revolution.] His son John drifted into Musquodoboit and his fate in Mary Layton. They were married and settled in Glenmore the high land just northwest of us along the river. Lived and died there. Their children were Mary, John a blacksmith, Letitia, Elizabeth, George carpenter, Richard farmer, Edward farmer, Susan, Henrietta, Rebecca, Amelia, Annie, & William farmer. 13 in all. I cannot give you the dates of birth or ages of them but the most of them lived a good long life. Susan or rather Susanna was her real name, my mother, was born Apr. 9, 1838 died May 1910, aged 72 yrs.
George Scott Dickey and Susanna Bates were married Sept. 21, 1858 and settled on the farm here in Musquodoboit. Their children are:
Mary Ann born Dec. 26, 1859. I have no record of Mary’s death.
Ida Jane born June 5, 1863
Susan born May 7, 1865… died May 1931
Henrietta born Apr 12, 1867…died Jan 1937
Agnes born Feb 20, 1869
John Bates born Jan 18, 1871
Edward born Feb 26, 1873
Henry Morris born Jan 13, 1875
George Scott born Feb 12, 1877
Thomas Valentine born Feb 14, 1880
Amelia and Elizabeth born May 23, 1882
William H. Guild and Ida Jane Dickey married Dec. 26, 1883. Children:
Mary Ellen born Sept. 6, 1884 – no children
Susan Jean born Feb. 24, 1886 – 3 children only 2 now
Elizabeth born Nov. 16, 1887 – 3 children
Robert born May 11, 1890 – 6 children
Agnes Louise born April 26, 1893 – 4 children
Alfred Dickey born Dec. 27, 1894 – 1 adopted
William George born Sept 8, 1897 – 6 children
Karl Matthew born Feb. 17 1907 – 4 children only 3 now
Below are the names of the Layton Family
Francis William Richard Jonathan
Letitia Eliza Mary Lavinia Lydia
I may not have them in order as to age but these are all I can remember of hearing of. Francis a blacksmith, William carpenter and Jonathan farmer spent their lives in Musquodoboit. Richard went over to Colchester County and settled there. There are Laytons at Gt Village [Great Village] where my son Alfred lives. Probably descendants of Richard Layton. I am not sure what the father’s name was but I infer from the name George mentioned in the letter that it was he to whom reference was made. An aunt of mine got curious about her ancestors and wrote to England to see what she could learn of them and the letter and Heraldic Emblem is the answer she received.