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William Nodwell  Birth: 1775 Castle Dawson, Antrim, Ireland Spouse: Mary Dawson Marriage: 1793 Magherafelt, Londonderry, Ireland

Irish Flax Growers List, 1796 Record info about William Nodwell Given Name: William Surname: Nodwell ID: 23150 County: Londonderry

William Nodwell is listed in the 1831 census for Londonderry on page 13, from CD 197 FHL, September 1994 edition.  Along with William on this census are other familiar family names that also live in Magherafelt or Mayherafelt, both are listed but I am unable at this time to determine if in fact they are one in the same.  Page 16, Alexander, Alexander, Mat, and Mathew.  Page 12 lists David, and a 2nd David.  Also on Page 13 with William are Mat, Mat, Robert, Robert, William, William, William Jr. and William Jun.  There are 2 John Nodwell's one of which is listed on page 72 and the other page 75 of Artrea.  I would suspect there must be a relation between all of these men.

We know from the account of the original family tree of R. D. Nodwell that the family came from County Londonderry, Ireland, and that Limavady was a nearby town.  The Town-Land was Anaghmore and the name of the farm is believed to have been Rusky.  Bill Mercer from BC has a similar record stating the Mercer families of which Andrew's wife was Isabella Mercer, shared this farm.  William was married twice with at least 2 sons, Matthew and William being born from the first union and seven issue from the marriage to Letitia Dunn.  It appears that all children were born in Ireland. 

Jean Henderson's book of Wellington County mentions the Wm Nodwell family on page 78 with much of the same information as can be found in "The History of the William Nodwell Family" by R. D. Nodwell, June 1936.    The Nodwell family were Presbyterians from Londonderry, Ireland, but the original name was spelled Nedwill.  Having lost a valuable stock of horses by Anthrax, they decided to come to Canada.  They landed in Quebec City in the fall of 1838, and are said to have travelled all the way to Erin Township by wagon and teams of oxen.  Wm. Nodwell and his second wife, Letitia Dunn and their family settled on lot 24, con. 8.  Within a year the log house was destroyed by fire, and everything was lost.  A new log house was built near the site of the present buildings.  It was replaced by the large brick house in 1868.  The frame barn was built in 1857 to which additions have been made.  Wm. Nodwell died in 1845, leaving the property divided between two sons.  Robert bought 100 acres in East Garafraxa Township, and traded it to Thomas for his half of the homestead.  Robert's son, R.D. Nodwell, took over the farm in 1895, when he married Lillias Young, and the brick house was built at the road gate for his parents.  R.D. and his son, Mungo, went into the growing of seed potatoes.  About 1926, Mungo took over the farm, married Lillian Ferguson, and kept a dairy herd.  Mungo died in 1963, and his daughter, Mary and her husband, Dick Buckles, are operating the farm known as "Homestead Farm."

The book, Hillsburgh's Heyday makes mention of the William Nodwell family, beginning on page 8.  Then from Londonderry, Ireland came the Nodwells in the fall of 1838.  Their farm, "Homestead Farm", is about the centre of town and on the north side of the 7th Line and was purchased from George Chalmers, its third owner, in 1839.  The Nodwells were fire victims as well.  Their first log house and its contents were consumed by fire in 1839.  A new log house, barn and stables, erected as soon as possible, were probably built with the proceeds from the sale of the northeast half of their lot to Angus McMurchy.

Assessment of the Rateable Property of the Township of Erin, 1840, lists William Nodwell, Lot 24, Con 8 EW, Number of Acres Uncultivated, 170.  Number of Acres Cultivated, 30.

Census of the Population of the Township of Erin, 1840 lists the family as Under 16, 1, Over 16, 2, Under 16, 1, Over 16, 8, No deaf and dumb, no insane. Total in the family 7.  Church of England, 0, Church of Scotland, 5.

A paper written by W. F. MacKenzie and published in the Guelph Mercury has the following mention of William Nodwell

Mr. William Nodwell's family widely and favorably know in Erin, natives of the vicinity Belfast, Ireland, came into the township about 1837, and settled on lot 24, con. 8.  There were four sons, Andrew, Robert, Thomas and Samuel.  Andrew settle on lot 22, con 8, now the property of his son, R. C. Nodwell.  Robert remained on the homestead, conveniently situated near the centre of Hillsburg, now owned by his son, R. D. Nodwell.  Samuel and Thomas settled in Garafraxa.  As reported in the Guelph Mercury and Advertiser, Sept. 20, 1906.

Cemetery transcription for Huxley Cemetery, page 34 grave 18-15 In Memory of/ William Nodwell Died 1845/ His Wife Letitia Dunn Died 1851/ Natives of County Londonderry, Ireland/ Settled Lot 24, Con 8, Erin Tp. 1838/ Interred Langs Cemetery/ Lot 22, Con 10 Erin Tp/  A picture of the stone is on file.

Will, on file, assigns William Everdell and Andrew Nodwell, executors.  Probated Mar 16, 1846.
The will is written in the County of Waterloo in the Wellington District.

Surrogate Court Registor Books, Volume A 1840-1847, Erin Twp, Wellington Co.  FHC film #0555615
Nodwell, William:  Eldest Son, William (in Ireland), 2nd son, Matthew (in St. Johns), the rest of the names didn't list relationship.  Andrew (in Erin Twp), Mary Lang, wife of Henry Lang, Jane Collins, wife of Joseph Collins, Nancy, Robert, Thomas, Samuel.  Will dated 2 Aug 1844.  Yeoman.

One might assume that most of the children from the first marriage had died by the time of William's will when he only mentions his 2 sons, William in Ireland and Matthew in St. Johns.  I believe St. Johns should be St. John in New Brunswick as that is where Matthew settled.