Mrs Maybee
Four generations of the Maybee family
Thanks to Martha Clayton, Billie Connelly and Roderick McLeod Maybee, Jr
cursor over or tap a face to see name click here to see Mrs Maybee's nephew Eber Egerton Snider
from the Evening Guide Friday January 25, 1929
STILL HALE AND HEARTY, LOCAL LADY CELEBRATES 100TH BIRTHDAY
Mrs Eli Maybee, Baldwin Street, Is Tendered Reception On Centennial Anniversary Today
Three Children Present For Occasion And Many Congratulatory Messages Received
Today, Friday, January 25th, a disagreeable winter's day which seems of little importance to many, will always be remembered by Mrs Eli Maybee, [23] Baldwin Street, Port Hope, who is celebrating the 100th anniversary of her birth. A fitting reception was held today and many friends called to congratulate her.
Friends from a distance, or those who could not call to visit here, sent congratulatory messages by telegraph, telephone and letter, so, with those who came and the others who sent gifts and messages, Mrs Maybee was well remembered by a large circle of friends.
Mrs Maybee is still able to be around her home but is handicapped by failing sight. She had a severe attack of la grippe two years ago which weakened her considerably but she has gained her strength to a great extent so that she is remarkably well for her advanced years.
Mrs Maybee was born in Prince Edward County in 1829 and came here a bride of sixteen in 1845, and resided in Hamilton Township, just half a mile east of Noble Brown's corner for eighteen years, the first nine in a log house, and then in a frame they built. Just previous to coming to Port Hope they lived at Dale for 5 years.
Mrs Maybee went to school with the late Senator Wm Kerr and his brother John and was a lifelong friend of his. The late Senator Kerr, father of Crown Attorney Kerr of Cobourg, also came from Prince Edward County.
THREE CHILDREN SURVIVE
Mrs Maybee has a great line of descendants, some fifty of the fifth generation. Out of the original family, only three survive. Mr Maybee passed away in 1894 and only three out of eight children remain. They are Dr W J Maybee of Richmond, Va, Mrs W J Harns and Miss Victoria,
Port Hope Centenarian Dies
Above is a picture of Mrs Eli Maybee, Port Hope's oldest citizen, taken on the occasion of her one 100th birthday, who died in Port Hope Saturday morning in her 102nd year. In the picture are shown the late Mrs Maybee's two daughters, Miss Victoria, and Mrs W J Harris.
Eighty-three years ago a little country church, in the county of Prince Edward, was the scene of a gathering of friends and neighbours who had driven in from all over the countryside to attend the wedding of the sixteen-year-old daughter of George Snider, prosperous farmer respected citizen, and descendant of the purest United Empire Loyalist stock in the country.
It was a popular wedding, for not only was the bride one of the most comely belles of the district, but the groom, despite the fact he hailed all the way from the little settlement 60 miles away, which was coming to be known as Port Hope, was well known in Prince Edward County on account of frequent visits to the home of George Snider.
The bride of that occasion is Mrs Eli W Maybee, who is still hale and hearty, and in possession of all her faculties, she is celebrating her 100th birthday today. She lives in Port Hope within a few miles of the farm to which young Eli Maybee took her as a bride so many years ago.
With her are the three surviving members of the family of eight she reared from childhood. Her son, William Jarvis Maybee, the eldest of the family had come all the way from Virginia to be present at the celebration, and to visit again, as he has done year after year, his two sisters, Jesse [Sophrona] and Victoria.
Victoria, who is still Miss Maybee, and Jesse [Sophrona], now Mrs Jesse Harns, have remained with their mother through her advancing years. Ten years ago they congratulated her on her ninetieth birthday. They did not expect to celebrate many more anniversaries then, but today they invited the Guide to return again next year to celebrate the first anniversary in her new century.
Mrs Maybee has aged little in the last ten years. She is still up and about the house and her shoulders are bowed only ever so little beneath the burden of the years. She is indeed a remarkable woman. Smiling and good-natured, she greets her guests, talks and laughs with them. They do not have to shout at her as she hears perfectly.
Mrs Maybee's son, W J, as he is called at home, told that his mother was a great-grandmother for he himself is the grandfather of his daughter's two children in Virginia where he has been state superintendent of child welfare work for the past 28 years.
The Maybee family is old UEL stock, Mrs Maybee's husband, who died more than 30 years ago, being the great-grandchild of Tobias Maybee, who fought in the Revolutionary war in the thirteen states on the loyalist side, and afterwards migrated to Ontario when the States declared their independence of the mother country. The Maybee family before that was the descendant of an older family which forsook France at the time of the St Bartholomew's Day massacre and settled in Holland, later coming with other Huguenots to New Amsterdam, now New York.
from the Evening Guide Friday October 30, 1929
PORT HOPE CENTENARIAN CASTS HER VOTE TODAY
Mrs Eli Maybee, Baldwin Street Was The Oldest Voter In Durham County To Go To The Polling Booth
Marked Her Ballot For The Liberal Candidate
Mrs Eli Maybee, Baldwin Street, was the oldest voter in Durham County today. Mrs Maybee is in her101st year and will be 101 on January 25th next year. She was taken by car to the polling booth in Miss K Murphy's residence at the corner of Ridout and Julia streets.
Mrs Maybee was seated in her favourite chair when interviewed by an Evening Guide representative today, - "I take an interest in all good things," proudly said the centenarian, "and I did not vote for the liquour interests."
Mrs Maybee also cast her vote in the interests of Prohibition in the 1926 election and was accompanied to the polls today by her daughter, Miss V Maybee. She was in the best of health today and "I could have walked there myself," she added.
The centenarian, who is a daughter of the late Geo Snider of Prince Edward County, recalls her father's interest in all matters pertaining to prohibition, and in those days, she said, they practically had to fight their way to the polls to vote for the cause.
Mrs Maybee's son, W J Maybee, of Richmond, Virginia, is visiting his mother at the present time.
from the Evening Guide Saturday October 4, 1930
MRS MAYBEE DIES IN 102ND YEAR, WAS PORT HOPE'S GRAND OLD LADY
Oldest Resident of Durham County Passes Peacefully Away at 10 o'clock Saturday Morning
Deceased Suffered Attack of Influenza and had been Confined to Bed for Last Six Weeks
Mrs Eli Maybee, Port Hope's grand old lady, and the oldest resident in Durham County, died at her family residence, Baldwin Street, Port Hope, Saturday morning in her 102nd year. The aged lady had been in particularly good health up to about six weeks ago when she suffered a slight attack of influenza. She was confined to her bed for this period and passed peacefully away this morning about ten o'clock. The funeral is to be held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The late Mrs Maybee was born in Prince Edward County in 1829 and came to Port Hope as a bride in 1845. For eighteen years she resided about one half mile east of Rossmount in Hamilton Township. The first nine years were spent in a log house which were common to the district at that time and the latter portion was spent in the house constructed by the late Eli Maybee. Following this the family moved to Dale Corners north of Port Hope where they resided for five years. The late Mrs Maybee has a long line of descendants, some fifty of the fifth generation. The late Eli Maybee passed away in 1894 and only three out of eight children survive. They are, Dr W J Maybee, Richmond, Va, Mrs W J Harns and Miss Victoria, at home. Besides the three children, there , are eleven grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Deceased has been a Methodist all her life and took an active interest in her church. Up to the last thirteen years she was a regular attendant at Sunday services. The Maybee family is old UEL stock, Mrs Maybee's husband being the great-grandchild of Tobias Maybee, who fought in the Revolutionary War in the thirteen states on the Loyalist side and afterwards migrated to Ontario when the States declared their independence. The Maybee family previous to this were the descendants of an older family which forsook France at the time of the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre and settled in Holland, later coming with other Huguenots to New Amsterdam, now New York.
OBITUARY
DIED - Maybee - At Port Hope, Ontario, on Saturday, October 4th, 1930, Jane Snider, widow of the late Eli W Maybee, in her 102nd year. The funeral service will be held at the family residence, corner of Church and Baldwin Streets, on Monday afternoon, Oct 6th, at 2:30 o'clock. Interment at Union cemetery.
from The Bee Danville, Va Saturday August 28, 1926
Reports of distressing conditions in Danville resulting from evil parents have been found to be highly exaggerated. Rev William J Maybee, superintendent of the Children's Home Society of Virginia, who came to rescue the alleged misfortunate children, has returned empty-handed, not finding any condition here to warrant action. Only the cases of two boys were discovered and provision has been made for these here.
from The Bee Danville, Va Friday December 10, 1926
Dr William J Maybee, of Richmond, was here yesterday in the interest of the Children's Home Society of Virginia, and announced his desire of establishing a branch of this institution in this city. Ministers are to hold a conference on this subject.
Spray (Maybee) Connelly with two Connelly children 1907
cursor over or tap a face to see name
In Memoriam
Mrs. Spray Maybee Connelly departed this life, after four years of patient suffering, May 27, 1927.
The subject of this memoir was born in Sterling, Ont., Canada, April 23d, 1880. She received her primary education in Schoolcroft, Ludington, Mason and Lansing, Michigan; her academic and university education in Syracuse and Syracuse Memorial Hospital, Washington, D. C. In 1905 she was Office Secretary of the Children's Home Society of Virginia, from which position she resigned in May, and on the 29th of June, 1905, was married to Mr. John Aubrey Connelly, who still resides in Richmond, Virginia. From this union, two sons were born, John Aubrey, Jr., and William Maybee Connelly. Both are living, also one grandson, John Aubrey III. She also leaves two brothers, Eli Delbert Maybee, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Roderick McLeod Maybee, of Chesterfield County, Virginia. Her parents, Rev. and Mrs. William J. Maybee, of Richmond, survive her; also her grandmother Mrs. Eli W. Maybee, of Port Hope, Ontario, Canada, who is in her ninety-ninth year.
Mrs. Connelly was a member of the Methodist Church from infancy. For twenty-three years she was an influential member of Centenary M. E. Church, South, and active in missionary work. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi, College fraternity.
Her life was consistent as a Christian. Her end was peaceful and serene. Without a murmur or complaint she bore with patience a long, painful illness, and as the end drew near, she talked to loved ones, and dear friends one by one stating that she was going Home to the Father's "House of Many Mansions" to meet even more of her friends who had preceded her than she was leaving behind; and that she would be glad to welcome each one as they followed her to that "Better Country." She talked of her departure with joyous anticipation, quoting the words of St. Paul, "I have kept the faith, I have finished my course."
Her funeral was conducted by Rev. J. N. Latham, D.D., her pastor, at the Centenary M. E. Church, South, where appropriate services were held.
The interment was in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Richmond, Sunday afternoon, May 29th, at 4 o'clock.
C. E. Pleasants.
Roderick McLeod Maybee, Sr c1917 and Antoinette Marie (Grant) Maybee c1920
cursor over or tap an image for more information
Use the form below to comment on this article. A name is required, optional email address will not be revealed.