Jacob Langille Huestis [H139]
1830-1885
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Jacob Langille Huestis [H139] (1833- ) m. Christy Ann McIntosh
In 2008 this was what I knew:
Jacob Langille Huestis [H139] (1833 - ). This man is one of the younger sons of James Huestis, who was a son of Thomas Huestis. Jacob shows up in only a few records and then he disappears from official view. Here's what I know:
I have an extract of a publication of the provincial archives that gives the names and birthdates of all of the children of James and Lavinia (Teed) Huestis, and Jacob Langille Huestis is there in 9th place, 12 Jan 1833. This may be his birthdate or baptism date.
In the NS Historical Vital Statistics database we see Jacob Huestis' marriage bond. I think that a marriage bond was an early form of marriage license. In earlier times in the province most marriages were announced from the church pulpit by reading the banns three Sundays in a row, thereby giving the community notice of the impending marriage and inviting anyone to bring forth any knowledge of why the couple should not be married. The usual impediments might be that one of the couple was already married or engaged, or that one of the party was not of legal age and did not have permission of their parent. It is possible that reading of the banns was only available in the Church of England, which was the official church of the State, and that if one wished to marry in another denomination other steps were required. (The Huestis's were all Methodists, at that time.) The marriage bond is worth reading, as it seems to be that the groom and several other worthies of the community pledge 100 Pounds to the state as a surety that the couple may legally marry.
Jacob's bond states that he was a bachelor, living in Wallace, and he gives his occupation as master mariner. His wife is to be Christy Ann McIntosh, spinster, also of Wallace. The date of the bond is 26 January 1864.
In his essays, Martin Huestis (cousin to Jacob) writes about the shipbuilding days of Wallace, and speaks of one of the ships built here (likely before 1864):
One barque, I forget who built her, after she was launched was what is called crank, having a serious list to starboard. No shifting of cargo or ballast could keep her on an even keel. Ordinary captains and other officers refused to sail her across the Atlantic timber laden. Two extraordinary and experienced Wallace sailors, Capt. Jacob Huestis and Capt. MacKay, the one as captain and the other as first officer, volunteered to sail her across. Some called them dare-devils, but with a willing crew they made a safe passage in good time. Expert workmen after her arrival put her in correct shipshape. She brought a good price and proved a fast sailer.
In the 1871 Census we find Jacob (age 38) and Christy Ann Huestis (32) living in Wallace. His occupation is given as cabinetmaker, and no children are listed.
In the 1881 census Jacob and Christy Ann (Jacob Hustes / Christey Hustes) are shown as living in River Philip, which is not far away from Wallace - about 15 miles north along the coast. Two of his cousins were also living there at the time - Philena and Annie Huestis (see below). Also listed as living in Jacob's household are two children, Theodore Rust..? age 16, and Hattie Hoten, age 10. These surnames are garbled through transcription difficulties, but I have no idea who these children might be, or what the relationship might be.
That's what I have. The couple do not re-appear in Canadian censuses, and I cannot find gravestones or records of their deaths. My guess is that they emigrated to the USA.
And then, new information surfaced in 2009:
Jacob and Christy Huestis re-appeared in Stockton, California. Fellow researcher Roger Park of Georgia (working on the line of brother Joseph Huestis) did a little digging and found our Huestis folk in the Stockton City Directory for the period 1888 - 1896. In that directory Joseph is listed as a furniture manufacturer, with his residence over his shop. Most intriguingly, in another version of the same directory they also list Miss Hattie Huestis at the same address, and this would likely be the same Hattie Hoten who appeared (in a garbled spelling) in the 1881 census described above.
In the US Census of 1900 Jacob and Christy are listed, with occupation as furniture manufacturer. There is no sign of any son or daughter. The census notes that at that time they were age 67 and 60, lived in a rented home, and had emigrated to the USA in 1881 and had been 19 years living there.
The story ends here, unless some descendant of Hattie or her brother Theodore turns up. We will never know why they left for the USA (economic opportunities, most likely) and we will never know any more details of their lives. This seems incomplete, somehow.
Thanks to Roger Park for details and images of the California documents.
September 2009