Volume 3, April 1999
Sponsored in part by William Workman
Play the music for this webpage!"INSIDE THIS EDITION
Terry Meinke..........................................Managing Editor Tim Coulthart.........................................................Editor Ian Coulthart.........................................................Editor Pat Meinke....................................................Proofreader
.The editors are always interested in updating the mailing list for Clan Coulthart. You may be the only person in your family receiving this newsletter and we want to reach all family members. Please submit the names and addresses of other family members who do not currently receive Clan Coulthart. Also check the address label above and send us any corrections. All new addresses and corrections should be mailed to the Managing Editor at the address listed on the first page of this newsletter.
.The success of Clan Coulthart will depend upon your contributions. The editors need your support. Please submit family histories, biographies, announcements, questions and suggestions for improvement to the managing editor at the address listed below or send E-mail to meinket@yahoo.com. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number so we can contact you if there is a question. Also feel free to include photographs with your stories. All photos will be returned after they are scanned. The editors will select which items to include in each edition of Clan Coulthart.
Terry Meinke Managing Editor - Clan Coulthart 1004 Ridgewood Lane Palatine, IL 60067 U.S.A. 847) 359-4320
All editions of Clan Coulthart will be available in color on the Internet at: www.coulthart.com/newsletter.html.
.In honor of Veterans Day/Remembrance Day - November 11, 1999, the editors of Clan Coulthart are in the process of preparing a "Coulthart Honor Role" to be included in the October 1999 issue. We would like to include information about all Coulthart's or Coulthart descendants who served their countries. This honor role will eventually be added to the "Coulthart Family History Center" on the Internet. To be included in the "Coulthart Honor Role" you or your relative or ancestor must be a descendant of a Coulthart, Coulthard, Colthart or Coltart family or be the husband or son of a woman whose maiden name was one of the above. We are interest in all veterans including ones who served in or during the following conflicts:
Please use the form on pages 3-4 to submit your name or your ancestors or relatives name for inclusion in the "Coulthart Honor Role". This is your chance to honor one or more of your ancestors or relatives and preserve their record of military service. Information must be received no later than September 15, 1999 to be included in this special issue of Clan Coulthart.
Back to Table of ContentsOn January 2, 1999 the Coulthart Family History Center was launched on the Internet at www.coulthart.com. This website is dedicated to the distribution and preservation of Coulthart family history throughout the world. It includes information about all Coulthart families no matter how the surname is spelled, e.g.: Coulthart, Coulthard, Colthart, Coltart, etc. It is the place to come to learn more about your ancestors. And it is a great place to put your research so you can locate other family members and share information. The success of this website will depend on the contributions that individuals make. The domain name and web hosting costs are being donated by Terry Meinke as she feels the Internet will have a major impact on the distribution of genealogical information. She is also the sites webmaster. If you have information to share, please contact Terry at 1004 Ridgewood Lane, Palatine, IL 60067 U.S.A. or send E-mail to meinket@yahoo.com.
The Coulthart Family History Center consists of many different web pages that are organized into ten sections each covering a specific topic. A menu is located on the left side of most pages so it is easy to navigate or move from one page to another by simply clicking on the underlined items. The sections and there content are described below.
Origins - This section is currently being developed. When completed it will include information about the origins in Scotland and Great Britain of all of the various Coulthart surnames. In addition there will be charts and maps to show where the major family groups were originally located and where they ended up as a result of emigration.
Name Index - An index of all of the main names listed on the site is displayed here. Its purpose is to help visitors find more information about their ancestors especially if they do not know much about them. The index contains an alphabetic list of first names, followed by the individuals birth/death dates, name of spouse, places lived and the family with which they are associated.
Family Histories - This is the most important section of the website as it contains the actual histories of individual families in a narrative format. At present the main focus is on the immigrant generations as bridging the Atlantic is often one of the most difficult tasks in genealogy. Each family history is listed in alphabetic order by the first name of the oldest male member followed by his birth/death dates and the name of the town where the family resided for the longest or most significant period of time. Most of the information in this section is submitted by individuals who are researching their Coulthart ancestors and/or have information to share. All individuals who contribute have their names, addresses and when applicable E-Mail addresses listed at the end of the history for which they have submitted information.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions are listed on this page based on questions received from site visitors. Here you can find information about the meaning of the surname, whether the Scottish families had a Tartan and how many families there are today and where they are located. Additional FAQs will be added in the future.
Coat of Arms - This web page provides visitors with a visual display of all of the coat of arms associated with the various Coulthart families.
Newsletter - All Clan Coulthart newsletters are displayed here included the photographs in full color. Most of the photographs are displayed as thumbnails so they load faster. A simple click on the thumbnail will display the full image. In addition to the newsletters, there is an index of articles for visitors who are searching for a specific topic.
Message Board - This page is under development. The intent is to have a message board where individuals can post a message and receive a reply. In this way site visitors can ask questions and get answers that all other visitors can view and answer as well. The message board will help individuals make connections with others who are researching the same people.
Site Search - This page is under development. When completed it will allow a visitor to enter a word or series of words and the site will be searched. The results will be displayed on the screen. This will be especially useful for searching the site for a person who is not listed in the name index.
E-mail - Currently this item automatically creates a E-mail message to be sent to the webmaster of the site meinket@yahoo.com.
Links - This section contains a listing of other websites on the Internet that may be of interest. It is divided into the following subgroups: Coulthart Links, Scotland Links, Genealogy Links, and Misc. Links.
Back to Table of ContentsFeel free to include additional biographical information, newspaper clippings, obituaries, photographs, etc so the editors can write a short biography about the veteran being honored. All photos will be returned after they are scanned. Provide genealogical information to show how the veteran connects to a Coulthart family and from whom they descended.
Your Name:_______________________________________ Phone: ___________________
Your Address:_____________________State/Province: __________Zip/Postal Code_______
Veteran's Full Name:__________________________________________________________
From (town): __________________________________ State/Province: _________________
Conflict Served in if any: __________________________Years Served From/To: ___________
Branch of Service: __________________Unit: ___________________ Rank:______________
Age when in the Service: __________ Wounded in Action/Etc: __________________________
Campaigns/Battles Served in: _______________________ Date of Campaign/Battle_________
Medals or Awards: ___________________________________________________________
Photo attached: [ ] Yes [ ] No
Descendant of : ______________________________________________________________
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Special stories, unit accomplishments, additional biographical information, etc (use back for additional information):
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Mail this form to:
Terry Meinke
1004 Ridgewood Lane
Palatine, IL 60067 U.S.A.
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Back to Table of ContentsBirths:
Emily Alyssa Winters was born October 16, 1998 to Gary and Beth Winters of Finch, Ontario. Emily is the 25th grandchild of Lois Winters, daughter of the late Jennie Coulthart of Morewood, Ontario and Elgin Finlayson of Avonmore, Ontario. Emily is a descendant of James Coulthart (1816-1888) of Morewood, Ontario.
Olivia L. Linstad was born November 21, 1998 to Lauren and Cynthia Linstad of Jamul, California. She is their fourth daughter. Olivia is the granddaughter of LuRae Erickson of Lankin, North Dakota, the daughter of the late Ray Coulthart and Louise Lambrecht of North Dakota. Olivia is also a descendant of Walter Coulthart (1820-1892) of Grafton, North Dakota.
Marriages:
Kevin Coulthart was united in marriage to Donna Bourdon on Saturday February 20, 1999. The bride and groom met while attending college at Georgia Southern University where both graduated in August 1998. Kevin is the youngest son of Bill Coulthart of Jacksonville, Florida. Kevin is a descendant of William Coulthart (1800-1880) of Cannamore, Ontario. The bride is the daughter of Jack Bourdon a fireman from Toronto, Ontario. The young couple currently resides in Orlando, Florida.
Announcements:
Robert and Patricia Coulthart of Port Elgin, Ontario would like to announce the engagement of their daughter Leah Diane Coulthart to Kenneth Todd Howe. Todd is the son of Ken and Doreen Howe of Underwood, Ontario. The couple will exchange vows on August 28, 1999 in Port Elgin. Leah is a descendant of Jonah Coulthart (1831-1890) of Lunenburg, Ontario.
Deaths:
Gladys Robinson of Cardinal, Ontario passed away in December 1998. She was survived by her husband Oliver, children Debbie and Robert, and grandchildren, Steacy, Michael, Brittany and Ryan. Gladys' parents were Agnes Coulthart and Charles Bush of Cardinal, Ontario. Gladys was a descendant of James Coulthart (1816-1888) of Morewood, Ontario.
Reunions:
Fargo, North Dakota - A Coulthart Family Reunion to unite the descendants of John Coulthart (1779-1852) is planned for Sunday June 20, 1999 at Lindenwood Park in Fargo. A pot luck lunch will be served. Everyone and anyone who is interested is invited to Fargo. For more details contact: Robert Coulthart of Grand Rapids, ND at (701) 772-6104.
Oakville, Ontario - A Coulthard Family Reunion to unite the descendants of Stanley Coulthard (1902-1977) is planned for Saturday June 19, 1999 in Oakville. For more details contact: Jacqui Krech of Grand Bend, Ontario at jkrech@hay.net.
In Memory of:
Waldi Meinke was born on January 28, 1985 in Chicago Illinois. Waldi was the first dog owned by Terry Meinke. When Waldi, a miniature dachshund, was five years old, she ruptured three discs in her back, a common genetic fault in dachshunds. She underwent back surgery which resulted in her being paralyzed from the waist down. Waldi spent the remaining nine years of her life as a physically challenged companion animal. Although not human, she was regarded as an adopted child by her owner Terry, a descendant of William Coulthart (1880-1880) of Cannamore, Ontario. Waldi passed away at age 14 years, 26 days on February 22, 1999 in Palatine, Illinois.
Click on the thumbnail to see a larger photo of Waldi.
Back to Table of ContentsIn the January 1999 issue an error was made in the section entitled "A Letter from Mary Coulthart". George Gibson was erroneously listed as the youngest son of Mary (nee Hunter) Gibson. George was Mary's second son. The following photo of the family was submitted by Mary Harkness of Northfield , Minnesota.
Click on the thumbnail to see a larger photo of the Gibson Family. Back row left to right: Mary, William and Gennie. Middle row left to right: William R. Gibson, George and Mary (nee Hunter)Gibson. Front row left to right: Barbara, Murray and Maggie.
Back to Table of ContentsJames Coulthart of Morewood, Ontario by Ian Coulthart
James Coulthart who was born in Scotland and spent most of his years in Canada lived the arduous life of the pioneer. His life long efforts were focused on establishing a farm at Morewood Ontario, and providing a home for following generations. In 1816 James was born in the "Old Country" on a small farm at Riddingdyke along the west coast where his parents, John and Mary, were tenant farmers. They lived in a small stone dwelling with their six other children, William who was then 16, John who would have been 12, if still alive, Elizabeth 6, Jane 4, Mary 3 and Margaret 2. James was born into the poor economic era of Europe's history that followed the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars.
James' mother was Mary Carruthers, his father's second wife. John's first wife had been Elizabeth Pasley, the mother of William and John. She had died after the birth of John in 1804. Five years had passed after Elizabeth's death before James' father remarried. At that time, Mary was 19 and James' father was 30 years of age.
In the mid 1820s, around 1825 when James was about 9 years old his life was swept up by a major change of events. Early one spring the Coulthart household, James, his parents and all of his brothers and sisters packed their belongings and sailed west across the treacherous Atlantic to begin a new life in Canada. If the year they left Scotland was 1825, and as yet no verifying documents give an exact date, John senior would have been 46 and his wife Mary 35. The children's ages would have been William and John 25 and 21, Elizabeth and Jane 15 and 13, Mary and Margaret 12 and 11, James about 9, and the younger siblings Christina 7, Walter 5, Andrew 3, and David 2. We don't know if James' brother John came with the family on the ship or whether he was even still alive. Smallpox, measles, cholera, typhoid etc. were just a few of the common killers amongst the European population, taking the lives of about one fifth of each generation. There are no records yet found of John in Canada. There is a possibility he stayed in Scotland. We do know that at least twelve Coultharts arrived in Canada.
As a boy of about nine or ten years in age, James probably enjoyed the Atlantic voyage and was probably excited about the prospects of seeing this "New World". James' father had most likely secured passage as far as Montreal. From there they probably made their way to Cornwall and on to the Osnabruck-Lunenburg area in Stormont County.
In 1829, several years after arriving in Canada, James' older sister Mary died at age 16. In 1835 tragedy hit the Coulthart family once again when James' mother Mary Carruthers passed away at the age of 44. Her death surely devastated the family, leaving James' father with so many young children to care for. Since arriving in Canada, James' mother had given birth to three more children, Jonah now 3, Thomas 6 and Henrietta 7. The older children David, Andrew and Walter were 11, 12 and 14. Christiana and James were young adults, at 15 and 18. Margaret was 20, Elizabeth 24, both married, and Jane was 22. William at 34 was married and had by now two of his own children. Although 1835 brought much sorrow to young James, there was also some joy brought with the birth of two more children later that year. Margaret who had married Abraham Gardner in 1834 gave birth to a son. To William, who was married to Jean French, there was a girl born, given the name "Mary Carruthers Coulthart" in memory of the only mother William had ever known. James' father who was now 55 years old and in need of someone to care for his children is said to have remarried. His third wife who was quite a bit younger could not take the teasing of the other children and left the marriage. It was at later dates that most of the Coulthart family moved north to the Morewood-Cannamore area where Jane, William, Thomas, Walter and James settled on farms. James purchased land a mile southeast of Morewood, just east of where his sister Jane was living with her husband William Hunter.
During the early 1840s James was a young healthy man, but there was something missing in his life. As fate would have it, he met a girl named Christiana Steven, a girl he would later marry. The story is that her father hired James to help move the Steven family from an area near Huntington Quebec to Cannamore, a settlement two miles east of Morewood. It was probably during this trip that the two young people became acquainted. In 1843 when James was 27 years old he married Christiana who was just 17. The following year the first of twelve children was born. James and Christiana would never have seen an end to the daily chores that faced the growing family. Pioneer life was a constant effort working with and against nature, ever mindful of the needs of providing for the family.
We know from census records that by 1851, James was living at the Morewood farm and his father was living there with him. In 1852 his father John, the man who had so bravely brought his wife and children to Canada, passed away at the age of 72. He was laid to rest beside his wife Mary in the cemetery at Lunenburg. In 1854 the Coulthart home was once more in mourning over the death of James and Christiana's 4 year-old daughter Jane. At this time the children in the household were Mary 10, John 8, Margaret 6, and Victoria 3. Later that year another girl was born and she was given the name Jane, that of the sister who had just died. After 1854 there were several more children born into the Coulthart home, James in 1856, Janet 1859, Christina 1862, Henrietta 1864, Agnes 1868, and Walter in 1869.
Church was always a central gathering place for most pioneer families. It provided a place to worship, socialize, exchange news, and it provided a sense of community. During the late 1860s when James' family was growing, a new Presbyterian Church was built on the Fraser property a concession north of James' farm. All throughout the countryside, the old temporary pioneer buildings were slowly being replaced with new ones as families prospered. Later in the 1870s James demolished the "shanty" as pioneers referred to their original homes and he undertook to build a spacious two-story brick house on the property. Most of the material for building the house would most likely have been obtained locally. The limestone blocks for the foundation most likely came from the Smirle quarry a mile east of Morewood and the orange-red bricks were manufactured from the soil north of Russell. All of the lumber was probably milled in Cannamore and Morewood. Prior to the house being constructed, a long carriage shed had been built on the property and the Coulthart family, now numbering thirteen, made the upper level habitable with plastered walls etc. and lived there until the new house was complete. James' children eventually grew into adults and one by one left home to begin lives of their own. Some of the family stayed in the area and others moved to distant parts of Canada and into the United States.
In 1888 at age 72, with his life's work complete, surrounded by the caring and love of a large family, James Coulthart passed away. He was buried in the Morewood Presbyterian cemetery. Like many of the early pioneers his life consisted of too many years of hard work. As a young energetic man he had started the lengthy task of clearing the forested land, exposing the fertile soil that had been laid down ten thousand years ago after the last ice age. He laboured with rough hands and a strong back, digging drainage ditches and clearing the fields of huge stones and tree stumps. Year after year he increased the number of fields, turned the soil, planted and harvested the crops. The product of all his hard labours established a farm that continued to provide for the livelihood of many Coultharts for the next hundred years. He oversaw the construction of several buildings, some of which are still standing today. James was said to have been a man of great stature, standing about 6'4" and weighing near 300 lbs. He and his wife Christiana managed to raise eleven children into adulthood. After James' death, his wife and his youngest son Walter continued to operate the farm. The James Coulthart house still stands today and although a hundred and twenty some years have weathered the bricks the foundation has never shifted which is a tribute to the careful craftsmanship of our forefathers.
Click on the thumbnail to see a larger photo of James Coulthart 1816-1888.
Click on the thumbnail to see a larger photo of the grave of James Coulthart.
Back to Table of ContentsThis is the second in a series of letters that were written in the late 1800's from the Coulthart's of Eastern Ontario to the Coulthart's of Southeastern Minnesota. It is transcribed exactly as the original and contains some punctuation with very little capitalization and a number of spelling errors. I have added comments in brackets where necessary and have separated each sentence with extra spaces to make it easier to read.
This letter was written in 1883 by Jonah Coulthart (1831-1890) a carriage maker from Lunenburg, Ontario to his sister Jane - Mrs. William Hunter (1812-1892) a farmers wife from Northfield, Minnesota. Again this letter indicates that family members from Ontario visited Minnesota. The people mentioned in the letter are: their sister Margaret - Mrs. Abraham Gardner (1814-after 1891) a widow from Lunenburg and her son Abraham (1844-??); their sister Henrietta - Mrs. Ira Moke (1827-1913) also of Lunenburg; Henry Maskel, whose identity and relationship are unknown, may have been the half brother of Jane's husband William; and Jonah's children: James Byron (1857-1914), Milton (1861-??), George (1868-1968) and Annie (1872-1932).
Lunenburg April 2/83
Dr Sister
I received yours a few days ago and was pleased to hear you were all well. we are all as well as usual excepting myself I sometimes think I am better than I was a year ago. and than at times I am so very miserable. but on the whole I think I am slightly improved. before I got sick some 2 years ago my weight was from 190-195 in about 9 months I run down to 138 lbs. that was you see a considerable below zero. this winter I weigh about 150 lbs. which shows a little improvement In that direction and I have great reason to be thankfull that I am as well as I am. my whole trouble seems to be indigestion for the last 18 months I have lived principally on porage [porridge] and milk. almost any thing else that I eat seems to distress me. I am usually low spirited. General weekness. It is with great difficulty at times that I can get around to attend to my business. I am in hopes that when spring and summer comes again that I may be better. I have been thinking of going out to see the friends in Minnesota this summer if I think I can stand the journey. I think the trip would do me good after I would get their and I would like to see you all once more in the flesh. Margaret is well at present She was very poorly for a time this winter. She is living alone in her own old house Abraham her son lives next to her about 100 feet distant. Haniretta [Henrietta] and her family are well. the friends in winchester are about as usual. Henry Maskel (Wm's Half Brother) is about at the end of his earthly pilgramage. I understand he was settleing up his wordly affairs. on Saturday making his will. So it is with us in this world. we strugle toil and labour a few years here at most and then we pass away and happy for us if to a city that hath habitations whose builder and maker is God. I am still carrying on the carriage business. trying to make out a living (I of course have become superasited [superseded] as far as work is concerned) James Byron our oldest son is living about 6 miles from here he has three children all boys. our 2nd son Milton works in the shop. he does the painting and carriage triming. the 3rd son George Jonah is going to school and our youngest daughter Annie. I have given you a very condensed account of matters which will perhaps answer for the present. If I am spared to get up this next summer I can give you a full and detailed a/c [account] of matters Should I not get up I will then have to give you a more particular a/c of matters & things. no more at present from your brother Jock
J. Coulthart
Click on the thumbnail to see a larger photo of Jane (nee Coulthart) Hunter 1812-1892 with her husband William Hunter.
Back to Table of ContentsClan Coulthart is brought to you by individual sponsors and by subscription. The cost to publish one edition of Clan Coulthart currently runs between $150-200 U.S. The exact cost depends on the number of pages that are printed and mailed. Clan Coulthart is currently being distributed free of charge for a limited time to approximately 200 individuals in Canada and the U.S. with several copies going overseas. If you enjoy reading it and can afford to, please consider subscribing or becoming a sponsor. We need at least 15-20 subscriptions to cover the cost to publish each edition. We currently have 45 subscriptions. Any individual who contributes more than the subscription price will be considered a sponsor. All sponsors will have their names listed in the issue they sponsor.
A one year subscription, consisting of four editions of Clan Coulthart, is available for $10 U.S. or $15 Canadian. All sponsors and subscribers should make their checks payable to and mail as follows.
Canadian sponsors or subscribers send to:
Ian Coulthart
43 Wheatland Avenue
Kanata, ON K2M 2L2
U.S.A. sponsors or subscribers send to:
Terry Meinke
1004 Ridgewood Lane
Palatine, IL 60067
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Back to Table of ContentsThe deadline for receiving information to be included in the July 1999 edition of Clan Coulthart is June 15, 1999. Send information to: Terry Meinke, Managing Editor - Clan Coulthart, 1004 Ridgewood Lane, Palatine, IL U.S.A. 60067.
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