Page 7 - News On 7 April 2022 Edition

HAZZARD'S HISTORY NOTES

by Grant Ketcheson

JOSHUA BROAD, BORN ON THE “BROAD ATLANTIC”

There are many amazing historical facts hidden in Hazzard's Cemetery. One of these is that of the birth of Joshua Broad Jr.
His birth place is listed as “Port of Entry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania”. Yes indeed, Joshua Broad Jr. was born at sea and here is
his family's story.
One of the prominent names to be found in Hazzard's Cemetery is that of the Broad family. Joshua Broad (1795-1870) was born
in Cornwall in southwest England. A rope maker, he was perhaps plying his trade on one of the Channel Islands, when he met
Mary Cock. Mary was born in St. Helier on the Isle of Jersey. She was the daughter of Thomas Cock and Jeanne Le Gros
Bisson. Joshua and Mary were married in 1815 on the island of Guernsey and a year later had a son, William James. Records
show that they added their names to a list of “inhabitants of the Island of Guernsey desirous of embarking for the British
Colonies in North America, for want of work.”
In the fall of 1819 the young family sailed for America. During the latter stage of their long voyage, on December 31, 1819, Mary
Broad gave birth to a son, Joshua Jr. This gave the wee lad the distinction of having the unique birth place as noted above. In
early January 1820, the Broad family disembarked, eager to make a fresh start in a new land. Unfortunately tragedy struck.
While the date or cause of death is not known, Mary Broad passed away that very year.
Joshua Broad, with his sons William and Joshua Jr., travelled to Augusta Township, between Brockville and Prescott. In 1831,
Joshua remarried, this time to Lovina McArthur. They had three children, Lewis in 1832, James in 1835 and Jane in 1839.
Following the Rebellion of 1836, teenager Joshua Broad Jr., eager to defend his homeland, took part in the 1837 Battle of the
Windmill. During this period, he met Harriet Haley. They were married in Johnstown on April 12, 1842.
In 1850, the entire Broad family left the St Lawrence River area and moved to Madoc Township where they established a farm
on Lot 20, Concession 9, just north of Rimington. In 1860, both Joshua Broads (junior and senior) and most of the family
purchased land on Lot 11, Concession 8, near Hazzard's Corners. For the next century and more, this farm, located on what is
now Hart's Road, was home to generations of the Broad family. Joshua Jr. and Harriet had eleven children as they continued
on the farm, and played an active part in Hazzard's Corners Church and community activities. One of their sons, James Robert
(Robbie) remained on the farm. Some years later, Robbie Broad's son, Robert Newell, was awarded the Military Medal and the
Military Cross for acts of bravery on fields of battle in the Great War of 1914-1918.
Like most of our pioneer ancestors, the Broad family weathered adversity and privation as they played their part in building a
vibrant community and a strong country. Many of the Broad family, like other pioneer families, rest in Hazzard's Cemetery, a
silent tribute to the spirit that built our country.

Memorial to Joshua Broad Jr. (1819-1903) born Joshua Broad, (1792-1870) the rope
Joshua and Harriet Broad on the broad Atlantic. maker from Cornwall England