Thomas Gilbert Dane  1812-1897

 

Note: Some records indicated “S” for his middle initial.

Born:  March 11, 1812 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

Died:  February 7, 1897, buried in Mountain Cemetery, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. 

 

  

 

 

Spouse:        Elizabeth Frances (Locke) Dane   m. September 30, 1834 in Lockeport, Nova Scotia.

Children:       Frances “Fannie” Locke (Dane) Fletcher

Atilla Dane  (More info on mother Elizabeth’s page.)

James Locke Dane  (More info on mother Elizabeth’s page.)

Leona Suberville (Dane) Briggs

                    Mary Maud Dane

                    Peter Eugene Dane  

                    Frederick Tompkins Dane            

Ina (Dane) Hawthorne  (More info on Mother Elizabeth’s page.)

Zerviah  (Dane) Benoit   

Oscar Thomas Dane  (More info on Mother Elizabeth’s page.)

 

Spouse #2:   Caroline (Churchill) (Bain) Dane, b abt 1832, m. September 11, 1886 in Yarmouth Baptist Church, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.  She was the widow of Capt. John J. Bain.  The widow Caroline Bain, prior to marrying Thomas, lived next door to Grandfather Thomas Dane’s son from 2nd marriage, Thomas B. Dane, and she had 2 teenage children, Sophia and Robert.  2 doors down was T.B. Dane’s son George Murray Dane and his wife and daughter.  (1881 Canadian Census.)  Caroline passed away May 31, 1890

 

Spouse #3:   Bethia (Ellis) Dane, m. April 17, 1891.

 

Occupation:   Interest holder in ships, shipping, and cargo, Yarmouth, N.S.

                    General Store, Appleton, WI

                    Interest in a hub and spoke factory, Appleton, WI

 

Father’s name:        James Brown Dane                    

Mother’s name:       Mary Cann                       

Siblings:        Mary Ann Dane

                    Harriet Dane

                    Atilla Dane

                    Maria Dane

                    Capt. Stayley B. Dane

                    Hugh Cann Dane     

 

 

As part of his shipping interests and having investments in ships, daughter Leona recalls that Thomas traveled widely, including visits to France, Spain, India, and England.

 

1812   Thomas Gilbert Dane born March 11.

1834   Marries Elizabeth Frances Locke in Lockeport on September 30 and begins their 11 year stay there.

 

This drawing of Elizabeth was done by her husband Thomas.

 

!838 Lockeport Plat, courtesy Ragged Islands Historical Society, showing Thomas Dane’s property

just about in the center of the northern half of the island.  Thomas and Elizabeth inherit the property

of James D. Locke (Elizabeth’s father) located in the center.  They sold it shortly thereafter.

 

1835   “Fannie” born

1836   Atilla  born

1837   James born

1841   Peter born

1843   Leona born

1845   Family moves from Lockeport to Yarmouth.  In A Bit of Grandma’s Life, daughter Leona describes their Yarmouth home as, “Next to our house was an old burying ground and across from the house was the commons on which the soldiers drilled.”  Their home may be the two story house nestled in the trees at the extreme left hand side of the picture below.  In the foreground is the old burying ground and to the left and not shown is the commons, present day location of the library.  More information regarding Frost Park can be found on Grandfather Thomas Dane’s page.

 

Victoria Park, now Frost Park, in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia as seen from the Grand Hotel in 1895.

Photo courtesy of Yarmouth County Museum & Archives.

 

1846   Mary born.  November 8 saw the arrival of Reverend Frederick Tompkins, Phd.  He organized the Congregational Church on January 23, 1848 with the cornerstone being laid in June the same year.  He also was the first President of Yarmouth’s newly established Gorham College and taught Greek and Roman Languages, Literature, Mathematics, and is also noted as being a Chemist.  Was this man influential enough that he became the namesake for Thomas’ seventh child, Frederick Tompkins Dane, in 1853? 

1847   Temperance movements were strong in the Yarmouth area.  The Providence Temperance Society first met in the Wesleyan Chapel on January 13, 1834.  (The same year that Thomas married Elisabeth.)  Thomas participated in the #2 Central Division beginning on December 10, 1847.  He and his father James B. Dane are charter members of the #4 Milton Division. 

1848   Edwina “Ina” born

1850   Zerviah born

1851   Thomas Dane runs for General Assembly for Township of Yarmouth; he did not win.  Of the platform statements on his Card is, “…much can be done by wise and energetic legislation to advance the interests, encourage and direct the industry, brighten the prospects, and increase the happiness and prosperity of the North American Colonies.  And that there should be no necessity for the emigration of our population to foreign Countries to seek a livelihood or happiness.”  (The bold print is my emphasis.)  Why would Thomas be concerned about such emigration?  The answer may lie in a paragraph I found in Yarmouth Reminiscences regarding a George S. Fletcher, his wife and 7 children emigrating to Australia in 1852.  I believe that this would have been the brother of Richard Fletcher, the husband of Thomas’ daughter Fannie.  (Click the link to find more information about the Fletchers and the voyage to Australia.)  I’m certain that there was much discussion and possible bitterness as they prepared to leave, causing Thomas do adopt his position.  I find it quite ironic that within 8 years, Thomas moved his family to the United States. 

1852   Son James dies.

1853   Son Frederick born.

1855 and 1856, Thomas runs for Ward No. 2 Councilor; again unsuccessfully. 

1856   Daughter Fannie marries.

1857   Son Frederick dies.

1859   January, the subject of graveyards was brought before the Yarmouth Free Discussion Club, which Thomas was a member.  It was his resolution to discontinue burying the dead in the center of town.   [They are referring to the Main Street/ Frost Park Cemetery.]  This led them to purchase 9 acres of a parcel of land known as “Mountain” and establish a new cemetery there.  So Thomas was directly responsible for what became Mountain Cemetery where he and so many relatives have been buried.

1859   Also, there was considerable debate in the town over monies to support railways.  I’m sure that the electoral failures, the competition of rail service to his livelihood of maritime shipping interests, and other relatives having already left for Australia set the stage for what happened next, his emigration to the United States.  Again, the irony when looking back at those earlier campaign statements.

1859   Son Peter emigrates, headed to Appleton, Wisconsin to work for Mr. Hutchinson and his store there.

 

Peter E. Dane, from the Appleton Public Library, undated.

                   

Portion of 1868 Nova Scotia Railway ad. 

(The ad continues with a considerable amount of descriptions for connections, including Yarmouth.)

1860   April 23, Thomas moves with his wife, his 4 unmarried daughters (Leona, Mary, Ina and Zerviah.) and son Oscar to Appleton, Wisconsin after losing his interests in four uninsured ships (*More below) in Nova Scotia.  Thomas’ married daughter Frances “Fannie” (Dane) Fletcher and her 2 children also are travelling with them.   (However, her husband Capt. Richard Fletcher is not mentioned.)  Also on the passenger list is Mrs. R. Patten and her 2 children.  They are likely related to Thomas’ Aunt Sophia (Dane) Patten.  The financial loss, plus the new steamships going where his sails cannot, combined with financial pressure from incoming railroads, political failures, relatives emigrating away, including one of his sons, and the death of two sons, left him, in Leona’s words, “feeling very poor and anxious to start life anew.”  He chose Appleton at the urging of his son Peter who was already there.  (See Peter Dane’s page for more on this.)  According to daughter Leona, they traveled from Yarmouth to Boston, MA aboard the packet Schooner Melrose; Boston to Buffalo, NY via train; then by boat, the Reuben Doud to Green Bay, WI.  The last leg of the journey from Green Bay to Appleton was by train.  They arrived in Appleton, Wisconsin by June of 1860 as the Census of that year shows the family altogether, including Peter, there in one house.  (Probably 719 Lawrence Street, but I haven’t confirmed this yet.)  The house was crowded with 13 people living in it: Thomas and wife Elizabeth, their children Atilla, Peter, Leona, Mary, Elizabeth, Zerviah (Census mistakenly calls her Jebodiah, but still noting her as female daughter.) and Oscar, their married daughter Frances Fletcher and her 2 children George M. and Sarah and her Sea Captain husband Richard Fletcher. 

 

Go to Leona’s Story to get details, pictures, corrections, and much more regarding the journey.

 

1860   Thomas operated a general store while in Appleton.  They first resided at #15 Lawrence St., but moved to unknown address before 1874.  The Appleton City Directory does not place them within the city in that year and Leona tells us the Lawrence St. home was purchased by the Boyd family.  The directory confirms this indicating that the Lawrence St. address is the residence of Attorney Samuel Boyd and his family.

1861   June, daughter Atilla, back to Nova Scotia and marries.

1861   October, Thomas sells his interest in the Steamer Eastern State, part of The Yarmouth Steam Ship Company.  The monies from this sale likely helped pay off debts and establish the family in their new home.  More information regarding the Steamer Eastern State available through Google Book’s Yarmouth, Nova Scotia: A Sequel to Campbell’s History, page 378.

 

    

Poster sized ad for The Yarmouth Steam Ship Company.

 

The S. S. Eastern State, 1855

Ad and Art print from Yarmouth County Museum & Archives

Same print can found in The History of the Lowbush Blueberry Industry in Nova Scotia, 1880 - 1950

Crown copyright © 1997, Province of Nova Scotia, all rights reserved.

 

1862   Wife Elizabeth’s parents both die.  They travel back to Lockeport to settle affairs.  Part of the inheritance was buried money found at the old house, which they invested in a Hub and Spoke factory back in Appleton, WI.  (Learn more in A Bit of Grandma’s Life by daughter Leona.)

1866   Son Peter marries.

1873   Daughter Zerviah marries.

1874   Daughter Zerviah and son die in childbirth.

1880   Census places the retired couple in Appleton, WI.  Also living in the household is Louis Benoit, husband of daughter Zerviah, and a servant named Mary Finnegan. 

1886   Wife Elizabeth dies.  My personal sense is that Thomas was never really happy in Appleton and longed to go back to Nova Scotia, which is what he did.  Thomas returns to Nova Scotia and marries the widow Caroline Bain of Yarmouth.   He was 74 and she was 45.   However, family lore says the she was previously married to a Churchill who may be a relative of Britain’s Winston Churchill.   My research found that Caroline was previously married to Capt. John J. Churchill.  I have not been able to confirm if he has a relationship with Winston Churchill.  Caroline passed away May 31, 1890.  The marriage record indicates that she is the daughter of Zaccheus and Susan Bain, he being a teacher.  Her sister, Sarah Bain was a witness.  (Yarmouth Vital Records, Book 1839, page 216, line 79)

This photo is from the 1902 book Yarmouth Reminiscences.

Thomas married his 2nd wife Caroline here.

 

1890   Yarmouth incorporated as a town.  As noted above, 2nd wife Caroline passes away on May 31.

          After Caroline’s passing, but before his marriage to Bethia, Thomas shared a residence with Lewis Burns, a painter, at 467 Main Street.

1891   Thomas marries for third time to 60 year old widow Bethia Ellis, daughter of Gilbert and Mary Criss, and they are now living in nearby Port Maitland, apparently close to her family.  Bethias’ sons Joseph (aka Josiah) and Juston Ellis are witnesses.   She outlives Thomas and remarries to Theophilus McWilliams on January 2, 1902.  (Yarmouth Vital Records, Book 1839, page 257, line 16)  Bethia was the second wife of farmer and fisherman Edmund Ellis; his first wife being Abigail (Sollows) Ellis, daughter of Joseph Sollows, married about 1830.  Edmund Jacob Ellis is the son of Benjamin and Rebekkah (Raymond) Ellis, born February 15, 1808.  Edmund built a home for his family in 1832 which still exists at 3114 Hwy 1, Port Maitland.

 

The Edmund Ellis house as it appears today in Port Maitland, built c1832.

Thomas Dane passed away here while married to 3rd wife Bethia, widow of Edmund Ellis.

 

Abigail passed away about 1850, and I’m not sure when Edmund and Bethia were married.  Edmund had 6 children (Probably 3 with Abigail and 3 with Bethia.) and Edmund passed away on December 21, 1888.  Thomas and Bethia continue to live in this home until his passing in 1897.  Bethia marries a third time to Theophilus McWilliams.  The home remains with Bethia until about November, 1901.  Bethia passed away in 1909 and is buried by her first husband Edmund in Port Maitland Cemetery.  

1894   Yarmouth votes to begin Prohibition, harking back to those earlier days when Thomas was involved in the early temperance movements. 

1897   Thomas dies.

1898   Yarmouth reaffirms prohibition.

 

Many of the details regarding political, economic, and historical details of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia I found in the book Yarmouth Reminiscences: Past and Present, by J. Murray Lawson at the [Canadian] Department of Agriculture.  Published in 1902, Yarmouth Herald Office, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.  I was able to obtain a copy of the book through an inter-library loan from the Wisconsin State Historical Society.

 

I have garnered details from Record of the Shipping of Yarmouth, N. S., compiled by J. Murray Lawson, Yarmouth, N.S., 1876 regarding Thomas Dane’s shipping interests and found that he was the owner or had partial ownership in the following ships:

  • Fishing Schooner Exile, 23 tons, built in Lockeport in 1845.  Information from the Ragged Islands Historical Society.  Brighton Cooper Busch’s 1985 book, The War Against Seals, which draws upon information gathered from the log books of many ships, including the Schooner Exile (This log book is located at the Old Dartmouth Historical Society, New Bedford, MA.) adds that the Exile is part of the sealing fleet.   As late as 1856, the Exile is under Master J. Starr.  (From First Visitors to Heard Island, by Max Downes, 2002.)  The Canadian Heritage Information Network states that the Exile broke up and the registry was closed for this vessel on July 6, 1857.
  • Brig Clare, 211 tons, built in Yarmouth in 1847. (See below)
  • Steamer Eastern State, 384 tons, built in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA in 1851.  (See above within the time line.)  Thomas’ ownership was as part of the Yarmouth Steam Navigation Company.  More can be learned about the Eastern State and the Yarmouth Steamship Navigation Co. by examining the book Some Account of Steam Navigation in New England, available on Google Books.
  • Brigantine Francis Dane, 124 tons, built in Yarmouth in 1852.  (See below)
  • Barque Vortex, 508 tons, built in Pleasant Pond, Nova Scotia in 1853.  Made crossing from Bristol, England to New York, arriving May 2, 1859, with a single immigrant passenger, cargo not noted. (ITSG)  Ownership ended/closed in Dublin in 1864.
  • Schooner Vulcan, 38 tons, built in Yarmouth in 1853, actual closure date 1855 in Yarmouth, though official closure year is 1861.  It appears that this vessel was built to spec and sold to the Pembroke Iron Co. shortly after completion, hence the 1855 date, who then operated it until 1861.  (Ramsdell Archives.) 
  • Brig Victor, 232 tons, built in Yarmouth in 1854.  (See below)
  • Brig Gold Hunter, 210 tons, built in Argyle, Nova Scotia in 1854.  In 1859 the ship is sold or otherwise disposed of in Anitgua. Later, on April 11, 1865 from the Halifax Citizen is this news:

Disasters -- Ship President Filmore, at Fortress Monroe from New York, reports having encountered heavy S W winds and head seas on the passage. In lat 38, long 72.54, collided with brig Gold Hunter, Allen, from Philadelphia for  Cientuegos, sinking her in a few minutes; captain and crew saved. The G H registered 295 tons, was built at Yarmouth, N S, in 1854, and hailed from that port.

 

  • Brig John G. Hall, 275 tons, built in 1856.
  • Brig Eagle, 254 tons, built in Yarmouth in 1856, lost in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1865.
  • Brig Acme, 306 tons, built in Beaver River in 1857, lost in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1868.  A couple interesting stories involving the Acme:

Daily Alta California, June 2, 1858 - John O. little, a lad of only 17 years of age, who was one of the crew of the brig Acme, bound from Philadelphia to Sicily, and wbo fatally stabbed the mate (Mr. A. D. Finnigan) on the 4th of last January, with a sheath- knife, was brought home in irons, and arrived at Baltimore on Friday, April 23, on board the barque Otmanli.

 

The Cork Examiner, 17 June 1861 - CASE OF STABBING.--Charles E. Duprey, first mate on board the brig Acme, Captain Hall, now lying at Patrick's- quay, was on Saturday brought  before Messrs. Mullan and Orme, by Sub-constable Parker, on a charge of having stabbed a fellow sailor named James Duffney. It appears that about 12 o'clock last night the prisoner,  after an hour's sleep, got out of bed, and taking with him a dark lantern, went in search of Duffney, whith whom, it is said, he had a dispute the night before. Previous to doing so, he took the precaution to lock the captain's cabin, and immediately made for the sailor, who was perfectly sober at the time. Fortunately for the latter, the watch was able to interfere soon enough to prevent the infliction of more than two slight wounds, the weapon used on the occasion being a sharp-pointed knife about six inches in length. He was soon after given in custody, and on being brought before the magistrates Mr. Blake, on his behalf, said Duffney consented not to prosecute provided some compensation were made to him for the injury sustained, and that his client would not sail in the same ship again. The captain who gave a good character of the prisoner, said as far as he was concerned, he was satisfied with the agreement. The bench, however, refused to be parties to any compromise in a case of such a nature and gave Duffney time to re-consider the matter. The prisoner is an American, and Duffney a British subject being a native of Nova Scotia.

 

The four ships that best fit the timeline as financial losses prior to Thomas Dane’s emigration are these:

    1. The Brig Clare, in August of 1855, with Master Abram Pinkney, was out of Savannah, Georgia with a cargo of pitch pine lumber when it ran ashore near its intended destination of Dumfries, Scotland.  Crew was saved, ship and cargo was a total wreck and only partially insured.
    2. The Brig John G. Hall struck a sunken rock in Canskay Bay about five miles west of Sands, Scotland on February 14, 1856.  With Edward S. Perry as Master, the ship had left Androssan, Scotland, bound for Corfu in the Ionian Islands with a cargo of coal.  Even though the night was dark and foggy, blame was placed on unexpected currents or variations in the compass.  The ship was a total wreck, the crew was saved, however, only part of the partially insured cargo could be saved.
    3. The Brigantine Francis Dane, with Thomas Allum as Master, was traveling in the early morning from Boston for Yarmouth on June 18, 1859 with general cargo and passengers.  The ship ran ashore at Cheboque Point and became a total wreck.  Crew and passengers were saved, but only a portion of the cargo could be salvaged, but  in a damaged condition.  There was insurance. 
    4. The Brig Victor in October of 1859 was driven ashore as it left Androssan, Scotland and became a total wreck.  The ship was bound for Providence, Rhode Island with a cargo of iron under Master Richard Fletcher, husband of daughter Fannie.  Only the crew was saved and there was no insurance. 

Details from Record of the Shipping of Yarmouth, N. S., compiled by J. Murray Lawson, Yarmouth, N. S., 1876.

Additional information from the Yarmouth County Museum & Archives, Yarmouth, Novas Scotia

And the Ragged Islands Historical Society, Lockeport, Nova Scotia

 

Additional items of interest here are that the Brigantine Francis Dane appears to have been named after the Reverend Francis Dane, brother of John Dane, an early settler of Massachusetts.  This seems to reinforce my belief that Grandfather Thomas Dane did come from Ipswich, Massachusetts and was related to that branch of the Dane family, probably through Israel Dane.  Why name a ship after someone like this unless you are related to them?  Like to also note that Master Richard Fletcher of the Brig Victor is most likely the same man that married Thomas Dane’s daughter Fannie.

 

The New York Times, Marine Intelligence section, yields these various details:

  • Feb 15, 1855, Brig Gold Hunter arrived New York with load of Mahogany having departed Santa Domingo Jan 23.
  • Nov. 7, 1859, Brig Acme is loaded with Iron and off Wales, Scotland reporting seeing an unknown waterlogged, abandoned ship.
  • Oct. 2, 1860, Brig Acme arrived at Boston to load [probably iron], then bound for Cork, Wales, Scotland.
  • March 25, 1861, Brig Acme arrived New York from Vera Cruz loaded with hides.  Had experienced heavy gales off Hatteras.
  • March 25, 1861, Eagle arrived New York loaded with sugar and hemp, had left Manila, Philippines on Nov 13, then at Cape Town, South Africa on Jan 27.

 

 

 

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