Cowichan Bay Pioneer Was the Original Neighbour From Hell

I’ve often wondered why some people seem hyper-sensitive to their family histories; sometimes to the point of burning old papers, photos and other memorabilia that should have been passed on to future generations.

Personally, I’ve often joked that if my great grandfather was hanged for cattle rustling I’d revel in the fact. (Think of it as colour!)

Well, a lady researching her family history approached me in October about one of her forefathers whom I’d written about, years ago. As it happened, a fellow scribe had just picked up on that very issue of the Citizen back when the Chronicles appeared there, so I forwarded her a copy of his post.

(It saved me having to dig into my files.)

From his post, which he based on my column, she clearly saw that her antecedent on her mother-in-law’s side of the family was both a cattle rustler and an attempted murderer whose chosen career as a frontier hellion was cut short by the dreaded ‘Hanging’ Judge Begbie.

Rather than cringe with embarrassment, she wants to know more.

So, Louise, I’m giving you both barrels in next week’s Chronicles. Readers are welcome to come along for the ride if they so desire.

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PHOTO: As if farming on the Cowichan frontier wasn’t challenging enough, having a gunslinging cattle rustler for a neighbour was salt in the wound! —Author’s collection