Page 7 - Oct 2022 News On 7

HAZZARD'S HISTORY NOTES

by Grant Ketcheson
“A SPRING ON THE SIDE OF A HILL” - THOMAS MOORCROFT AND MARGARET ANN KINCAID
One of the most common names found in Hazzard's Cemetery is “Moorcroft.” While the Moorcrofts, who came from Ireland
in the 1850s, settled on Hunt Club Road in Madoc Township, one of the sons later found his way to a farm near Hazzard's
Corners.
In the 1880s, Thomas Johnson Moorcroft was looking for a farm. He had a sweetheart and, like most young men of that era,
needed a farm and a home of his own. Family lore tells us that, while in Madoc one day, Tommy met Charles Bacon, a
prosperous landowner. Mr. Bacon told him of a 50-acre farm that he had for sale on Lot 16, Concession 7, north of Hazzard's
Corners. When Tommy heard about the never-failing spring that supplied water to the farm, he thought that this might be the
place for him.
In 1886, Thomas and Margaret Kincaid were married and, a year later, purchased that farm from Mr. Bacon. The price seemed
steep but they believed that they could manage the $1530 price tag. Mr. Bacon agreed to provide a mortgage at seven percent.
(And we worry about rising interest rates in 2022!) Tommy brought to the farm: five cows, a team of horses, a wagon, plough,
small tools and a coal oil lamp (a gift from his grandmother). Margaret's dowry consisted of two cows and a calf, quilts,
bedding and other household items.
Even while becoming parents to four children, in
five years they were able to pay off the mortgage. This amazing accomplishment is a testament to their frugality, dedication
and hard work! Not stopping there, the Moorcroft family added another 250 acres to the farm over the next twenty years.
Thomas and Margaret Moorcroft raised a family of seven sons and six daughters. Their children were: Victoria (1887), Fred
(1888), Florence (1890), John (1892), George (1895), Robert (1897), Harry (1899), Bertha (1900), Minnie (1902), Estella (1904),
Stanley (1905), Alma (1908), Roy (1910). It is easy to imagine the family more than filling a row of seats at Hazzard's Methodist
Church each Sunday!
While a few of the family moved out of the community, most remained in Madoc Township. Always loyal to Hazzard's Church,
members of the Moorcroft family still remain supporters of that little white church. A great-grandson is active as a board
member, some 125 years after Tommy Moorcroft first heard of that never-failing spring that still flows on the farm.

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TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST

Thomas Johnson The McKinnon family chest that came “over the seas from
Moorcroft (1856-1929) Skye”
Margaret Ann Kincaid The Moorcroft Family c.1920
Back: George, Bob, Harry, John, Fred
(1865-1942) Middle: Margaret, Florence, Bertha, Minnie, Thomas
Front: Alma, Victoria, Stella, Stanley Roy

The Moorcrofts, on the farm in planting season