The Stetsons and Fergusons of Hillside Farm

the MacGregor farm on the Vickerson Road, the Hillside Ferguson farm (sold to Walthen Warren in 1910) and the Robertson farm.

Between living on the Hillside and Robertson farms, they moved to Vancouver where they purchased a dairy which they operated for three years. They sold it and homesteaded near Govan, Saskatchewan for two years before returning to PEI in 1915. They purchased the Robertson farm from Enoch Dennis, and Stetsons have been living there since that time. For a few years in the early 1920’s there were four generations of Stetsons living on this property.

The farm was originally owned by James Robertson Jr., who came to the Island from Perth, Scotland in 1819 and married his cousin, Elizabeth Ferguson of Craggan Farm. With his farm, he combined a shoemaking establishment and also tanning yards, employing a number of men and also training apprentices. The Marshfield history (compiled in 1973) states that he was one of the

first of the settlers to arrive at prosperity. This farm was purchased from the Robertson Estate by John Simmons in 1888 and sold to Enoch Dennis in 1909. In 1915, John Stetson bought the property from Mr. Dennis and in 1941 it was purchased by Cecil and Helen Stetson. Cecil and Helen settled on the farm and raised their four children: Elizabeth, Gordon, Paul and Kent. The farm was from that time on, known unofficially as “Linden Acres” due to the lovely linden trees growing on the property. In 1981, Paul and his wife Sharon, along with their two children Tracey and Melanie (later Adam, born 1982), built a new home to the west of the original house, which is believed to have been built in the 18505. The architectural integrity of the original structure has been maintained through several alterations and improvements. Seed potatoes have been grown continuously from 1920 to the present. The farm is now leased, but continues to produce a variety of crops including seed potatoes, turnips, grain, hay, cabbage, and pumpkins.

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John Stetson (1787 - 1873) was born in England. He married Mary Bell (1803 - 1896) in 1822, also born in England, daughter of Vincent Bell. She emigrated on the same 1817 crossing of the “Valiant” as her husband. 1. Elizabeth (1823-1880) m. Robert Vessey Andrew (1825-1910)

Jane (1827-?) m. Jeremiah Hobbs

Thomas (1828-1923) In Isabella MacGregor (1821—1903)

John C. (1829—1910) In. Hannah Marston Hobbs Charity (1831-1911) In. James Drummond Joseph (1834-1849)

Mary Anne (1836- ?) m. Thomas Drummond

9. William (1838— 1924) m. Emma Arbing

10. Henry (18401938) m. Mary Ann Matthews

11. Rebecca (1841- -1907) m. Thomas Drummond

12. James (1843-1907) In. Annie Drummond

l3. Lavinia (1845—1879) Hi. David Arbing

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George Hardy (1781-1848) emigrated from Hull, England. His two eldest children from his first marriage accompanied him. He later manied Mary Saunders (1789-1856), with whom he had eight children. She emigrated with her future husband George on the 1817 crossing of the “Valiant”, the vessel owned by her father Robert Saunders.

Elizabeth (1805-?) m. William Seller

George (1805-?) m. Mary Darling

Mary ('2) m. James Yeo

Hannah (7—1894) m. John Yeo

Esther (?-1884) In. John Locke

A child, name/ gender unknown (1825—1827)

Charlotte (1827-1911) In. Joseph Bell

John (ca. 1827-1911)

Thomas (1831-1911) rn. Ellen Angus Ferguson

(1837-1909) . Sarah (1835-1912) m. John (Long Johnny)

Ferguson (1833-1897) and lived in Marshfield.

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