Hugh Brinsmead was born in St. Giles in the Wood in Devon, England in 1839. He was the son of Hugh Brinsmead and Mary Anne Turner. He had two older sisters, Eliza and Mary Ann. Hugh Snr. was a Miller who died of an inflammation of the chest just before Hugh Jnr. was born. Hugh Jnr. had a sister who died in infancy.
By the time the 1851 British census was taken, Hugh was living at New Bridge F Mills, Torrington, Devon. His mother remarried, to John Ware, a Miller. He lived there with his sister Mary, a step-sister Eliza, and a step-brother Francis. The mill must have been quite large as there are four other millers living there as well, along with his mother's parents Robert and Mary Turner.
The circumstances that led to Hugh leaving for Canada, as best we know them, are set out on a seperate page — Leaving for Canada.
Hugh is listed in early Canadian documents as a wheelwright. In London, Ontario there existed a large carriage makers business called Plummer and Pacey - Wagonmakers. Plummer took his son into the business, which may have been what led Mr. Pacey to move to the smaller town of St. Marys near by. Hugh moved in with the Pacey family and worked in their wagon factory.
Hugh married Ellen Pacey in St Marys at age 22 on April 21st, 1861. Ellen Pacey was the daughter of Hugh's sometime boss, John Pacey, a Wagon Maker in London, Ontario. The announcement in the London Free Press on August 29th, 1861 reads:
Married: By the Rev. J. Shuttleworth, at the residence of the bride's father, on Wednesday, the 21st of August, HUGH BRINSMEAD to MISS ELLEN PACEY of the City of London.
Hugh's sister, Mary Ann Tanton, was a witness at the marriage ceremony.
In 1866, Hugh is listed as living on Peel Street in St. Marys, working as a wagon maker. In 1867, the year Canada became a country, Hugh Brinsmead is listed in the Perth County Directory as an agent, with a house of St. John Street in St. Marys.
The 1871 Census shows Hugh living in St. Marys, Ontario with his wife Ellen (29) and four children: Thomas (8), John (6), William (4) and Rachael (1). The electronic version misspells the name as "Bemmead". His occupation at this point is listed as a watchmaker. He is also said to have built a house in St. Marys, one side of which was occupied by the founder of the Eaton's Department store empire, Thomas Eaton.
The 1881 Census shows Hugh (Agent - 41), Ellen (39), children Thomas H (Printer - 18), John (Printer - 16), William (Student -14), Rachael (Student - 11), Annie (Student -6), Henry (4) and Elizabeth (2) all still living in St. Marys. They are listed as Methodists.
Sometime in the mid 1880's the family moved to Toronto. The 1891 Census record shows the family living in St. Parrick's Ward. The children still living at home were Ray (Rachel, aged 21 working as a machine operator), Annie (16), Harry (14), James (10) and Ellen (5).
There, two of his sons worked in the printing trade. Those sons later left Toronto moving north to the small town of Webwood, near Sudbury, where they established the local newspaper. Other children stayed in Toronto. The 1901 Toronto street directory shows Hugh Brinsmead (wagon maker) living at 206 Brunswick Avenue in a house owned by Robert McDowell. His son William (Watchmaker) is listed at the same address. The 1901 Census, which gives somewhat move detail than its predecessors, shows Hugh and Ellen at home with just two of the children; the youngest, Nellie (15) and William (34) employed as a Baker. Hugh, aged 62 is apparently still working, once again as a Wagon Maker. There is no longer any reference to Harry or Henry who would have, by then, been 24. We have been unable to locate him elsewhere and work on the assumption that he died sometime between 1891 and 1901.
Hugh and Ellen's 50th Anniversary Party in Toronto in 1911.
In 1911, Hugh and Ellen celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary with a garden party in Toronto. Ellen, by then was not in good health, but Hugh was obviously in fine form.
Hugh and Ellen Brinsmead and Family.
Hugh's wife Ellen Brinsmead died on June 14th, 1913 in Toronto at age 72. Her address is shown as 3 North View Terrace T. G. Hosp. The cause of death is listed as Myocarditis leading to Heart Failure.
Helen became sick some considerable time before her death. During those years, Hugh maintained his health.
He returned to England about three times to visit St. Giles in the Wood, in Devon. In one instance, after Ellen had died, he stayed for a full summer. Newspaper accounts from St. Giles in the Wood at the time recount him having spent a lnghty holiday there but having to return to the Dominion, in March 1915, on business. The article closes "We anticipate his early return, however, and perhaps his settling down in his native parish." Another account, on October 8th, 1920 reads: "Our old friend Mr. Hugh Brinsmead is on his way back to Canada again. He regretted having to leave at short notice, but hopes to be back with us by Christmas Day. He anticipates bringing his two sons with him on his return."
The announcement of Hugh's death in the St. Marys newspaper.
It was not to be. Hugh Brinsmead died on December 5th, 1920 and was buried four days later in Mount Pleasant Cemetry on Yonge Street in Toronto. While the cemetery has a record of where he is buried, there is no visible marker for his grave. An obituary appeared in the local newspaper in St Marys. His death was also the subject of an article in a Devon Newspaper, The Western Times.
An article in The Western Times, circulating in North Devon, commenting on Hugh's death.