THIRD GENERATION

17. Hugh Egbert Cairns was born on 26 Aug 1826 in at Rock Hill, County Down Ireland. He died in East Clifton, Compton County, Quebec. He was buried in East Clifton, Compton County, Quebec. From the book "History of Compton County" page 205

Hugh Egbert Cairns, third son of Hugh and Agnes (Watson) Cairns, was born August 26, 1826, at Rock Hill, near the town of Hillsboro, county Down, Ireland. his father, with his family, emigrated to the County in 1843, arriving at East Clifton on the first day of June in that year. Hugh E Cairns was married December 9 1851, to Sarah Augusta, only daughter of John Waldron, of East Clifton, and Granddaughter of John Waldron, one of oldest settlers of this township. Shortly after their marriage they moved on to a farm in the township of Eaton, about one mile from Sawyerville, where they remained for two years, then purchased a farm in East Clifton, where they have since lived. In the year 1853, when the first board of school commissioners was elected in this Township, H. E. Cairns accepted the position of secretary-treasurer. This position he held until 1874, when Clifton was divided into two municipalities. From 1874 to 1883, he was secretary-treasurer for both. In 1883 he resigned that of the western municipality, but continues the same position in East Clifton until the present time (1896). In July 1855, when the first municipal council was elected , Mr. Cairns accepted the position of secretary-treasurer of that corporation, which he has held to the present day (1896) in the same manner as for the board of school commissioners. In 1860 he was appointed justice of the peace. He has been superintendent of the East Clifton Sunday school continuously from 1852 until the present time (1896). He accepted nomination as a candidate for the representation of this County in opposition the the Hon. J. H. Pope twice, to wit : in 1874 and 1882, but was defeated each time by a large majority. Mr. Cairns parents and forefathers for many generations were Presbyterians, but in 1847 he united with the methodist Church. He assisted largely in building the present Methodist church at East Clifton, was one of the original trustees appointed before the building was commenced, in 1865, and secretary of the board. He has held the position of class-leader since 1854.

He was married to Sarah Augusta Waldron (daughter of John Waldron and Nancy Smith) on 9 Dec 1851 in East Clifton Quebec. notes from Mildred Waldron

They lived in East Clifton and are both burried in the East Clifton Cemetery. Nancy was over 12 years older the John and would be 38 when Sarah was born and 45 when Horace was born. We were unable to find any marriage record. Two children is rare in pioneer families. Nancy's brother Benjamin who married Prudence Stone also moved to East Clifton and are believed to have lived on lot 20 range 3 next to the Waldron's on lot 19 range 3. It took a long time to get clear title to the land in the early days and Clifton was sparcely populated. We are wondering if they ever had a dead before the British American Land Co. began bringing in settlers directly from the old county (England). Benjamin made potash or pearl ash in an ashery near where Hugh Egbert Cairn's store stood later. They refered to the patash as 'salts' and the little brook which crosses the Cairn's land is called the Salt's Works Brook. Clifton Census of 1831 shows Benjamin on lot 20 range 3, Census for 1842 list john W. as proprieter of this lot. Hugh Egbert Cairns and Sarah Augusta Waldron had the following children:

+32 i. Hollis Alpheus Cairns.
+33 ii. Egbert Elmore Cairns.
+34 iii. Justice A Cairns.
+35 iv. Augusta Maria Cairns.
+36 v. Sarah Jane Cairns.