In 1856 his father died and left him a share in the Schurman saw mill on the Wilmot River. Robert bought a fourth lot (code 43) in Freetown, north of the United Church Cemetery. In 1866 he purchased 9 acres on the north end of his farm and five years later 80 acres adjoining the west side of his farm from William Moyse,

(code 18) and on the same day sold Moyse a small lot south of the road (code 41, part) from his property near the Moyse home. Enterprising and energetic Robert did well for himself and his family. Unfortunately he died suddenly in middle age leaving eight children, the youngest only seven years of age. Robert’s wife, Lydia, was a woman of marked ability. She was b. 17 Oct. 1826 in Tryon; d. 29 Nov. 1913 in Lower Freetown.

“The Gouldrup ability, the Schurman aggressiveness, and the Hyatt cleverness combined to produce the most noted of all the Schurman familiesf’ The children were all born in Freetown:

+4a 31ng John Davis b. 23 Mar. 1850. +4b 3ng Major b. 16 May 1852. +4c 3g2f Jacob Gould b. 22 May 1854.

+4d 3g2f Amelia b. 17 Apr. 1856. +4e 3g2f Ada Baker b. 20 Jan. 1859. +4f 3g2f Caleb Hyatt b. 22 Nov. 1860.

+4g 3g2f Maynard Freeman b. 24 May 1863. +4h 3ng George Wellington b. 6 July 1867.

+4213ng John Davis Schurman

John Davis settled on his father’s 175 acre farm in Freetown and built the house on it now owned by Cavendish Farms and formerly occupied by Arthur DesRoches. The original house in which all of Robert’s children were born was moved to the village by Charles Beairsto and in 1971 was owned by Manny Handrahan.

Davis farmed in Western Canada for some years, and on returning to the Island, besides farming, he was the Island Manager for Frost and Wood Machine Co., dealer in farm machinery. An account written about him in a P.E.I. History credits him “as a leader in his community, an able business man and public spirited citizen”. He was also a fraternal member of the Independent Order of Foresters. Davis later sold the home place and moved to the Crosby farm on which his grandson Robert now farms.

John Davis b. 23 Mar. 1850 in Freetown and died there 4 Dec. 1928. Davis was the eldest son of Robert and Lydia Gouldrup Schurman.

On the 29 Jan. 1878 he m. Margaret Ann Auld dau. of Robert and Mary Ann (Boughton) Auld of Freetown; she was b. 28 Mar. 1851 in Covehead and d. in Freetown on 8 May 1926. There were three sons surname Schurman and b. in Freetown.

5a 4a3g2f Robert Percival b. 25 Nov. 1880. He m. Bertie B. Bowelby of Port Medway, N.S. 5 Apr. 1910 in Winnipeg. He d. 27 Sept. 1964 in Halifax, N.S. They both graduated from Acadia University in 1902 and then went west. For many years he was an accountant for The Imperial Bank of Commerce.

In 1930 they returned to Port Medway where Percy was an accountant for the Mosher and Rawding Co. Ltd. No children.

5b 4a3g2f Walter Ray b. 17 Apr. 1886. He m. Alice Henrietta dau. of Francis and Emily (Short) Thompson of Nottingham, England, 9 Nov. 1911. She was b. 1893 and d. 1983. Ray d. 30 Apr. 1952 in Victoria, BC. Ray settled in Edmonton, Alta. when young and operated his own business, a store supply and equipment for 43 years. In 1950 he returned to Victoria, BC. They had three children: 1. John Francis, 2. Winnifred Gertrude, 3. Marjorie Auld.

+5c 4a3g2f Everett Tilestone b. 1 Jan. 1895. He m. Marguerite Schurman Auld, dau. of Robert B. and Nettie (Found) Auld, 27 June 1929. She was b. 8 Aug. 1892 and d. 22 Dec. 1948. Everett d. 29 Apr. 1966.

+5c4a3g2f Everett T. Schurman

After finishing his local schooling and a business course in Charlottetown, Everett went west on a harvest excursion and farmed at Crystal City, Man.; Toga, Sask. and Oliver, Alta. In 1928 he returned home and managed the farm (codes 41, 42 and 43) as his parents were in poor health.

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