Famous Ancestors John McIntosh Memorial
John McIntosh Memorial
Naufrage 2006
John McIntosh's great-great grandson Ronald McIntosh, delivered this address at the unveiling of the memorial to John McIntosh, M.P., in August 2006.
"Good Afternoon Everyone. It is quite an honour for me to be here this afternoon and to be able to share with you some of the qualities and experiences of my great-great-grandfather. Let me begin by letting you know who I am. My name is Ronald C McIntosh. I am the son of the late, John McIntosh and Joan Lutz. My dad was the son of Michael Francis McIntosh. He was called Frank by his friends (and they were many) and he was called Papa by his grandchildren. He was married to Christina Whitty and they had nine children. Christina had four children (Michael, Charlotte, Catherine, Mary Jane) from her first marriage to Modeste Cheverie.
The McIntosh children were Andrew who married Cecelia Cahill and they had nine children;
- Neil who married Mattie Jennings and they had four children;
- Bridgette married Bert Mullally and they had one child;
- John, my father, who as I said earlier was married to Joan Lutz and they had 14 children;
- Margaret Mary who was married to Douglas MacKenzie and did not have any children;
- Ronald (Rudy) who married Gracie Gallant and had five children;
- Theresa who married Alonzo Babineau and had four children;
- Mary Ellen who married Gerry Pardis and they had four children;
- Frank and Christina had another son Donald who died at the age of sixteen.
So that tells who I am and how our family has spread out.
John McIntosh was born in 1790 near Naufrage. He married Margaret MacDonald in 1808. They had eight daughters and three sons. Only Andrew of the three sons had children (many of you here today are the ancestors of the eight daughters). John McIntosh was first and foremost a man devoted to his family, to his friends, his God and to his new country which during his time was Prince Edward Island as Canada was not yet a political reality.
What I will relate to you comes from the research of Nicholas J DeJong:
- In 1832 William Cooper was beginning the Escheat movement
- In 1834, when a crowd of 100 people gathered in Naufrage to support five of their own who had previously assaulted by two constables when seizures for non-payment of rent was demanded.
- In 1835, John McIntosh was first elected to the House of Assembly to represent 1st Kings. He joined with Cooper and LaLachleur. McIntosh was not a gifted speaker but he spoke Gaelic fluently and he communicated the Escheat movements to the tenants. He questioned government spending.
- In 1836, McIntosh participated with Cooper and LaLachleur to write a petition to the King. The three were charged with "exciting the unwary to disloyalty". They were asked to sign an apology which they refused to do. When charges were brought against the three leaders of the Escheat Movement, they were able to win their case. Some say Joseph Howe from Nova Scotia was involved in this case.
- In 1843, McIntosh stood up for the rights of the native population of P.E.I.
- In 1847, McIntosh stood up for the rights of the Acadians.
- In 1850 and again in 1853, McIntosh lost both elections. He was re-elected again in 1854 and served until 1858 when he retired from politics at the age of 67.
A footnote to his life:
There is another footnote to John McIntosh's work on behalf of Islanders, especially in his home area of Naufrage. I have with me a papal medal. That was presented to John McIntosh by Bishop McIntyre. Pope Pius IX called the 1st Vatican Council in 1869. One of the key issues dealt with at this council was the Pope's power to make infallible statements. It was at this council that Pius IX declared the dogma on the Immaculate Conception. For the great event medals were struck. One of these medals was presented to John McIntosh some time around 1869. Most likely it was presented to him for his efforts and support of religion being taught in school."
For more - review his bio in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography