In my last two blog posts I’ve
written about my Sabean ancestors in Nova Scotia and New England. Today, I will
connect the Sabean branch to the Risteen and Sparling branches, beginning with my
4th great grandfather, Davis Sabean, who married my 4th
great grandmother, Catherine Risteen.
Catherine was born in 1806 in Nova
Scotia. Her parents are Joseph Risteen and Catherine Sparling. There are
numerous records supporting that Joseph Risteen was a Loyalist who settled in
New Brunswick after the American Revolution:
1. Joseph Ristine, Wheelwright, The
Pennsylvania Line. Source: Journals and Diaries of the Revolution With Lists of
Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783,
2. “RISTINE, Joseph. Wheelwright and
Pilot for the King. Came alone. Born in 1750 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died 6
August 1839 at Shelburne. Admiral Digby recommended that he receive land for
services rendered. Recommended by Captain Dole.” Source: Names Submitted To Be
Part Of The Port Roseway Associates Group Of United Empire Loyalists Evacuated
From New York to Shelburne, Nova Scotia, 1783, globalgenealogy.com
3. He is also listed in the Minutes Of
The Proceedings Of The Port Roseway Associates 1782, globalgenealogy.com
4. “Ristine, Joseph. Port Roseway
Associate (408:48)” Source: Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1867, Vol. I
5. “Ristine, Joseph. Wheelwright; Port
Roseway Associate (6:17)” Source: Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1867, Vol. II
6. “Joseph Risteen, residence about
1784, New Brunswick, Canada, Comments: Loyalists to Britain”, Source: New York,
Genealogical Records, 1675-1920
7. Joseph Risteen, wheelwright, origin:
Pennsylvania, family: 0, servants: 0, remarks: New Brunswick. Source: Fort
Havoc (Wallace Hale), Loyalist Reference Documents: Shelburne, Nova Scotia
Loyalists, Provincial Archives of New Brunswick
8. Died 1839 in Carlton, New Brunswick,
age 90. Source: Loyalists of American Revolution, p214
As mentioned above, Joseph Risteen
was born in 1750 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and arrived in Shelburne, Nova
Scotia in 1783. He and his wife, Catherine Sparling left Nova Scotia some time
after 1806, to settle in New Brunswick. We know this because Catherine was born
in Nova Scotia in 1806. Joseph died August 6, 1839, in Carleton County, New
Brunswick. He is buried in Jacksonville Community Cemetery, Carleton Co. Also
buried in the same cemetery are:
RISTEEN, Catherine, b. 1764, d. 1841
(on same headstone as Joseph)
RISTEEN, Jacob, b. 1804, d. 1844
RISTEEN, Eliza Camber, b. 1812, d.
1887 “relict of Jacob RISTEEN”
RISTEEN, Ruth A, b. Jan 1836, d. Jul
1883, “d/o Jacob”
Joseph’s wife, Catherine Sparling,
was born in 1764 in New York City, New York. Her parents are Peter William Sparling
and Margaret Fissell. Catherine has eight siblings:
1. Ann Sparling, b. 13 Nov 1760, NY; m.
Bartholomew Musgrave, 27 Sep 1778
2. Mary Catherine, b. abt. 1762, NY
3. William Peter, b. 1769, NY; m.
Eleanor Leaver, 30 Oct 1791, Sydney, NS
4. Jacob, b. 31 Oct 1770, NY
5. Philip, b. abt. 1775; d. 1848
6. Margaret, b. 1 Nov 1776, NY; m. Adam
Moore, 14 Nov 1793; d. 29 Aug 1838
7. George, b. 30 Jun 1782, NY; m. Ann
Jefferson, 30 Jul 1811; d. 1817
8. Margaret Ann, b. 1786, Sydney, NS; m.
William Averns, Sep 1820
Catherine’s father, Peter Sparling,
was born in 1732 in Ireland. He and his wife Margaret Fissell were married in
1754, in Ireland, prior to emigrating to New York. They were on board the ship “Pery”,
departing from Limerick and arriving in New York in 1760. Peter was also on the
list of names submitted to be part of The Port Roseway Associates group of
United Empire Loyalists evacuated from New York to Shelburne, Nova Scotia 1783.
It states he arrived in Shelburne with a woman and 6 children, and that he
later settled in Sydney. Peter died on February 4, 1820 in Nova Scotia. He was
89 years old. His wife, Margaret, was born in Killiheen, Ireland (date unknown)
and died on February 15, 1820 in North West Arm, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
The challenge for me with writing
this blog is that in genealogy there is no end. There are always more records
to find, more stories to suss out. I find it extremely difficult to end a post.
It probably seems simple and concise (or at least that’s my goal) but in
reality, there are many trails I could follow all the time, and individual
stories for each name mentioned. My hope is that if you happen upon this blog
and find someone you are connected to it’ll give you a springboard to discover
more about your ancestor. After all, the true joy in genealogy is finding
discoveries for yourself!
Until next time, happy hunting,
fellow gene geeks!
Sources:
1. New Brunswick Cemeteries, Provincial
Archives of New Brunswick
2. Bio Sketches of Loyalists of the
American Revolution, Vol. 2, p. 214
3. Names submitted to be part of The Port
Roseway Associates group of United Empire Loyalists evacuated from New York to
Shelburne, Nova Scotia 1783, globalgeneaology.com
4. Minutes Of The Proceedings Of The
Port Roseway Associates 1782, globalgenealogy.com
5. Journals and Diaries of the
Revolution With Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783
6. Fort Havoc (Wallace Hale), Loyalist
Reference Documents: Shelburne, Nova Scotia Loyalists, Provincial Archives of
New Brunswick
7. Loyalists of American Revolution
8. New York, Genealogical Records,
1675-1920
9. Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1867, Vol.
I
10. U.S. and
Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s