Rural Diary Archive
Rural Diary Archive

William Neynoe MacLeod

Blurry, black and white image of William Neynoe Mackleod holding a baby while seated and dressed in formal attire with a hat.
Coverage Dates: 1870 to 1917
County: Middlesex, Welland
Township: Westminster, Stamford
Lot: 26 Stamford Township
Concession: Mountain Road
Gender: Male
Year of Birth: 1850
Year of Death: 1928
Ethnicity: Scottish
Religion: Church of England
Occupation: Farm labourer, farmer
Relationships: 
Father: William  
Mother: Elizabeth S. Gerrard  
Wives: 1) Doris Katharine Stewart, 2) Julia Weyland, 3) Margaret (Maggie) Weyland 
Sons: Keith,  diarist Harold (Hal) , Charles
Daughters: Marion (Jean), Muriel, Georgina (George/Georgie), Doris, Margaret
 
Archive: Archival and Special Collections, University of Guelph
Posted on Rural Diary Archive: Yes
Age During Diary: 20, 67
Coverage: 2 years
Biography: 
Orphaned in Ireland when only five, William migrates as a young man to Ontario and works as a farm labourer for his room and board. He draws wood out of James Crinklaw’s bush south-east of Lambeth for Mr Mewburn in the winter months, then does farm work for others throughout the growing season.  In 1871, he acquires “Ballechin” farm in Welland County.  You can read of William’s activities when he is age 54 by reading his son Harold’s 1904 diary. In William’s 1917 diary, he is age 67, living with his wife Maggie, and helping his children farm Ballechin.
An image of his diary being held open by someone, showcasing the tiny size of his diary which appears to be the length of a thumb. The pages have cursive writing on them written in black ink.
A page from his 1870 diary.
Black and white image of William Macleod’s home in the winter time. The house is surrounded by snow and trees with no leaves.
His first home on “Ballechin/Balachan” farm, Welland County.
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