"Just at that time South Africa was being much talked of, and he thought
he would try his fortune there. He brought out most of his family, my
grandmother being the eldest. He never recovered his health, and died
about a year afterwards. Our great-grandmother then returned to England
with the younger children. My grandmother, having married Lieutenant
Coleman of the Navy (who came out in their vessel the _Weymouth_),
decided to remain, as did also her young brother, Stephen and a sister,
afterwards Mrs. Sayers.
"My grandmother settled at Simon's Town, and after her first husband's
death had a school, having been left with two little girls. She
afterwards married my grandfather Fineran who was in the Commissariat
Department of the Army, and mother was their only daughter. Her two
brothers died as young men. There are several descendants of the other
Osler daughters, grandmother's sisters, about Simon's Town whom we have
never seen, mother not having kept in touch with them after
grandmother's death."
S. W. D.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] My mother's cousin, Mrs. Kate Divine, in a letter from South Africa,
dated September 8, 1809, speaks of another son, Joseph, the oldest of
the family, who died before they went out to the Cape. She also gives
additional information about Benjamin Osler and his family which I have
added as an appendix.--S. W. D.
[2] Mrs. Gilbert has now been for several years a widow, and all her
children are married and have children of their own. Her home is with
her daughter Leonora, whose husband is a successful clergyman.--S. W. D.
[3] Reverend Mr. Sims died in August, 1909.
[4] The beautiful stone church which now replaces the first wooden
building was dedicated June 10, 1909, shortly after my mother's death.
It was the gift of Mr. R. H. Ensign and is entirely furnished with organ
and fittings by the generosity of members of his family. The large
Tiffany window over the chancel is a memorial to my grandfather
presented by his daughters.--S. W. D.
[5] My mother was closely associated for some years before her marriage
with "Father McLean," as he was affectionately called, reading to him,
writing sermons for him, and delighting to render him in his blindness
such little services as she could.--S. W. D.
[6] In the winter of 1908-09, Mr. and Mrs. Ensign bought the attractive
place in East Weatogue, where they have since lived.
[7] On July 20, 1909, five months after my mother's death, Josephine Toy
Collins died very suddenly at her home in Hartford, leaving a baby
daughter, little Josephine Toy, only two weeks old. Her early death was
a terrible blow to her young husband and to her mother, to whom she had
always been a close companion. Her short life was sweet and lovely, and
a host of sorrowing friends mourned its early close.--S. W. D.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
Italicized text is indicated by underscores: _italics_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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