Re: UK Hutchings - Devon and Somerset (1750)
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In reply to:
Re: UK Hutchings - Devon and Somerset (1750)
Jerrod Aaron Hutchings 9/14/07
Hi Aaron (I assume you go by Aaron, as you had the name in brackets).
I am a descendent of Thomas Gifford Hutchings, who was one of E.F. and R'J's older brothers.T.G settled in the Edmonton area, as did another brother Alfred (married to Agnes Cram).
I am not in touch with any descendends of RJ or EF so I can't help you there (other than the fairly recent correspondence you probably saw on thsi website between Ian and I - he is a descendent of RJ.I do know that there were some of RJ's descendents living in Calgary about 20 years ago because I ran into one that had made a trip to Edmonton working as a sales rep for a medical equipment company (I am a nurse and she had made a visit to our nursing unit).I think her name was Lynn, but that is all I remember (related to you?.
I was not aware that EF (I have his name as Elisha Frederick ?) had a Great West Saddlery in Saskatchewan.I know that the main headquarters were in Winnipeg, and when I was there about 10-15 years ago the original 2 buildings were still standing.I took pictures if you are interested in a copy (it may take me a bit to find the negatives).At that time there was discussion about whether or not the tear them down - the local historical AND archtectural societies were up in arms and fighting it, but I don't know whether or not they won).EF bought a farm (called, or on - I can't remember which) 'Birds Hill' because he thought he was being overcharged for the straw that he was buying to stuff the saddles with.So he bought his own farm and grew his own straw.I also saw an article that said that he had run for office in Winnipeg but did not win - and did not appear to be very happy about having lost.Another brother Arthur, whose wife and child died in childbirth, had a Market Garden in the Winnipeg area.There was a Great West Saddlery in Edmonton and Calgary, as you know, and there is a replcia of Hutchings and Riley in Fort Edmonton Park.My understanding is that the "Riley" was actually a milliner that occupied the top level of the building.EF started out in Winnipeg working for, I believe, an outfit called Stalker Saddlery (or something along those lines - I am pretty sure I have some information at home if you don't know about that and am interested in it.He was quite young (some have told me he was about 14 years old).He eventually bought part of, and eventually all of, the business, and things grew from there.A cousin told me that there had been a Great West Saddlery in Moosejaw.Where was the one in Saskatchewan and B .C? (I have seen a picture of Arthur in Cranbrook B.C. in the winter, and was not sure if he lived there briefly, or was just visiting - nowyou have me curious as to whether there was a Great West Saddlery in that area and if that was why he was there).
GWS had the contract for several years to build all the saddles for the NWMP.Another cousin has one of the saddles, and makes saddles that he he sells privately or to Welsh Saddlery here in Edmonton, using the old Great West Saddlery saddle as a pattern.
Another cousin and I were in Newboro this summer, and we met with some of the Hutchings that still own and farm the homestead/farmland that Elijah and Harriet built - the original farmstead still stands and is being lived in.It was very interesting to see.
Regards
Edna
P.S.I live in Spruce Grove - just west of Edmonton
More Replies:
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Re: UK Hutchings - Devon and Somerset (1750)
Jerrod Aaron Hutchings 9/14/07
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Re: UK Hutchings - Devon and Somerset (1750)
EJ Hutchings 9/14/07
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Re: UK Hutchings - Devon and Somerset (1750)