William Spence Cumming Died Suddenly August 5, 1940

William Spence Cumming died suddenly on August 5, 1940, as published in an article here in the Star Herald on August 22, 1940.

Among those listed as arriving on “Sidonian” in Saint John, New Brunswick on May 14, 1874 were eleven members of the Thomas and Mary (Jack) family:  Thos. Cumming 49 father, William Cumming 17, James Cumming 13, Helen Cumming 8, Alexander Cumming 5, and George Cumming 2. Also arriving (further on in the list) were Mary Cumming 43 mother, Mary Cumming 15, Thomas Cumming 12, Elizabeth Cumming 7, and Robert Cumming 3.

The marriage of William Spence Cumming and Annie Rae Duncan was reported in The Daily Telegraph in Saint John, New Brunswick on December 5, 1884.

“m. At residence of bride’s father, 20th ult., by Rev. J.K. Bearisto, William CUMMINGS, New Kincardine (Victoria Co.) / Miss Annie DUNCAN, same place.”

The funeral was also reported in the Fort Fairfield Review on August 21, 1940: West Ridge, Easton: The funeral of William Spence Cumming was held Fri. afternoon Aug. 9 at the home, the funeral arrangements being in charge of Mrs. Annie Burite, a niece of Mr. Cumming. Rev. A. F. Leigh, pastor of the Methodist Church, conducted the service. Mrs. Lewis Bean, Mrs. Paul Lauder, John McBride and James McBride sang three hymns, the ones Mr. Cumming loved so well, “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” “A Charge to Keep I Have” and “In the Sweet Bye and Bye,” accompanied at the piano by Mrs. Bernard Thompson.
A large delegation of members of the I. O. O. F. were in attendance, and conducted their ritual service at the grave in the Estes Park Cemetery. The whole community mourns his going. This was shown by the abundance of beautiful flowers and the large attendance of the town folks. Mr. Cumming was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Mars Hill, Past Noble Grand of Ridgely Lodge, No. 108, I. O. O. F., Easton, Past Chief Patriarch of Star of Hope Encampment, No. 52, also a member of Canton Wabasso, Fort Fairfield.

Robert Chapman 1936 Funeral

A list of some relatives who attended the 1936 funeral of Robert Chapman was published in the Fort Fairfield Review on July 29, 1936.

Mrs. Mary Linton Duncan Chapman (married 1898 to Robert Chapman) was a younger sister of Mrs. Annie Rae Duncan Cumming (married 1884 to “W. S.” William Spence Cumming). Annie & William Spence Cumming’s three oldest adult children attended the funeral: James & his wife Naomi (Milbury) Cumming, Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Cumming) Langley & husband Percy Berfield Langley & their daughter Dorine, Alec & Effie (McCrum) Cumming. Also attending was the youngest daughter of Annie & William Spence Cumming, Mrs. Cecelia Mae (Cumming) Milbury (married 1928 Ed Milbury).

Anson Prescott Funeral Attendees 1929 and Cumming Colony Arrival

An account of family members journeying to Massachusetts from Aroostook County to attend services for Elizabeth Linton Duncan Prescott’s husband, Anson (September 23, 1868-September 14, 1929), was published in the Fort Fairfield Review on October 2, 1929.

The first three named were siblings: Annie Rae Duncan Cumming of Easton (wife of William Spence Cumming), her brother William Linton Duncan of Washburn (husband of Catherine Cocker), and her sister Mary Linton Duncan Chapman of Washburn (wife of Robert Chapman).

Anson Prescott’s wife was Elizabeth Linton Duncan Prescott, sister of Annie, William, and Mary, named above.

In the last sentence, “a sister” is actually a sister-in-law of Annie Rae Duncan Cumming. William Spence Cumming’s older half-sister was Margaret “Maggie” Cumming Miller who came to the Scotch Colony in 1873 on the Castalia with her father Thomas Cumming and her brother John Jack Cumming. The following two excerpts pertain to these three Cumming family members coming a year before the rest of the family arriving via the Sidonian in 1874.

“Tom Cumming arrived on the same boat [Castalia] accompanied by a son and daughter. (John Jack Cumming, 19 y. 7 m., who married Letitia Arabella Burnett Annand, born 18 Aug 1857, Scotland. He died at West Sullivan, ME 24 Aug 1891. Margaret, born 28 May 1855; died 14 Nov 1930 at Kittery Point. She married 8 July 1874 Cap’t Wm. H. Miller of Miramachi. These two were by Tom’s first wife, Maria Jack and were half bro. and sis. to my grandfather, Alex, whose mother was Mary Jack, cousin to Maria.”

[Source: “Cumming and Martin Families, Scotch Colony 1873” by Alexander Barton Cumming, 16 Wendy Way, Saco, Me; copy of manuscript in Cumming notebook.]

“You will observe on this plan the names of James Leith and Wm. & Alex. Perie, James Patterson, sen., James Patterson, jr., and John Patterson, and ______ Cummings, the father of John and Miss Cummings who came out last spring. These seven will be of the 50 families you are under your contract to procure, and they will be located as on the plan marked. The Peries and Leith visited the colony in September [1873], and selected the lots on which their names appear. They are of Auchmull, Aberdeenshire, and have instructions to report themselves to you. Mr. John Grants, on the Kincardine road, knows these parties.
The Pattersons are fathers and brothers of the Pattersons who are located on the Kintore Road, and Mr. Cummings, you doubtless know.”

[Source: Benjamin R. Stevenson, “Report on immigration to New Brunswick, in 1873.” p. 38, letter written by Stevenson to George Troup and Thomas Potts in Scotland, Dec. 1873.]

1944 Scottish Clan Meets

The Scottish clan of Cumming and Duncan family members held their 19th annual gathering as reported in the Star Herald on August 24, 1944.

1935 Cumming Duncan Reunion

A report of the 1935 Cumming Duncan Reunion found on page 4 of the Fort Fairfield Review was published Wednesday, August 14,1935.

Here is another clearer article from The Bangor Daily News, Bangor, Maine 09 Aug 1935, Fri., page 11, shared by Kris Headley.

William Linton Duncan presents ship model 1938

William L. Duncan presented a ship model he made using wood from the Constitution to Washburn High School in 1938. The event was reported in the Fort Fairfield Review on April 27, 1938.

Annie Rae Duncan Cumming 1945 Obituary

Mrs. William Cumming’s obituary on page 6 of  the Fort Fairfield Review was published Wednesday, March 28,1945.

 

 

Transcription:

In the passing of Mrs. William S. Cumming on Sat., Mar. 3rd, Easton has lost one of its oldest residents and the Methodist Church has lost its very oldest member.
Mrs. Cumming was born in Stonehaven, Scotland, July 12, 1861. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William duncan, came as pioneers to the Scotch Colony, Canada, when she was only 12 years of age.
In 1884, she was united in marriage to William S. Cumming, who passed away four years ago. They lived in New Brunswick, Canada, until 1891, when they moved to Easton. They celebrated their gold wedding Nov. 26, 1934.
Surviving are eight children; five sons: James, Alec, William and Anson, all of Easton, and Thomas of Houlton; three daughters: Mrs. P. B. Langley of Mars Hill; Mrs. Walter Lyon of Presque Isle and Mrs. E. E. Milbury of Easton. There are also 21 grandchildren and two great grandchildren; two brothers, David Duncan of Washburn, and Stuart duncan of Everett, Mass.; four sisters, Mrs. James Cumming of Nashua, N. H., Mrs. A. E. Prescott of Greenfield, Mass., Mrs. Robert Chapman and Mrs. Herbert Wilson of Washburn.
Although failing in health for several years. her death was unexpected. She will be keenly missed by all who knew her, possessing those qualities which made her loved and respected through her many acts of kindliness, her courage and cheery manner. Mrs. Cumming was a member of Zephyr Rebekah Lodge for many years.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Elijah Mercer of Randolph, assisted by Rev. Victor Musk, her present pastor. Mrs. Edrie Benn, Mrs. Helena Lawler and J. S. McBride rendered two beautiful selection, favorites of the deceased. They were accompanied by Mrs. Walter Daggett.
The bearers were her five sons and son-in-law, Edward Milbury. The flowers were many and beautiful. Interment was in Estes Park Cemetery, Easton.

“W. L. Duncan Writes”

William Linton Duncan wrote the piece on April 16, 1939 from Gardiner, Maine where he and his wife Catherine Cocker Duncan were spending the winter with their daughter Florence and her husband Reverend Herman A. Clark. The article was published in the Fort Fairfield Review on May 17, 1939.

Here it is, all in one shot.

1939 Cumming Duncan Reunion

The Fort Fairfield Review article was published on Wednesday, August 23, 1939.

See the article from the Star Herald and the clan minutes here.

1932 Duncan Cumming Reunion

W. L. D. wrote an article that was in the Fort Fairfield Review on Wednesday , August 17, 1932 regarding the annual picnic that was held at Aroostook Valley Park.