Re: Desc. DAVID BIGELOW & DEBORAH HEYWOOD emigrated to Stanstead Quebec & Vt.

The lure was extremely cheap land.My family lines that wound up there circa 1800 came originally from New Hampshire
(SLEEPER & BATCHELDER families) and settled in Danville, VT., and only after losing valuable land grants there moved to Stanstead County, Quebec.Here is history on my 3 great grandparents, HEZEKIAH SLEEPER & HANNAH BATCHELDER.
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THE HISTORY OF STANSTEAD QUEBEC PROVINCE OF QUEBEC
With Sketches of More than Five Hundred Families
Compiled by B. F. Hubbard
A Heritage ClassicISBN 1-55613-123-2

Pages 343-344-345SLEEPER

SLEEPER. - A family of this name came from England about the year 1700, (this is incorrect should be about 1640) and settled in New Hampshire. The branch of this family described in this sketch remained loyal to the Government of England during the struggle of the Colonies for independence, and H. SLEEPER, (HEZEKIAH) then a child, removed early in life to Vermont, where he married Miss H. (HANNAH) BATCHELDER.Not satisfied with the government and laws they came in 1801, to Canada, and settled on Lot 14 in the 10th Range of Stanstead.Mr. SLEEPER was a captain of militia, and took an active part in the war of 1812 in organizing companies to defend the border against invasion.

This couple lived to see their ten children, five girls and five boys, grow up and settled in life.
No one in the community was more esteemed than Mr. SLEEPER.He died the 23rd of September, 1849, at the age of 79 years.His wife lived to see her great great grand-children, and died in August 1871, at the age of 93.

The oldest child, a daughter, (MARTHA) married H. (HARLEY) IVES, of Hatley, neither of whom is now living.
The second, a daughter, (MARY ANN) married T. (TRUE WORTHY) KIMBALL. They removed to Wisconsin, where they both died.
The third, a son, (IRA)married Miss (POLLY) DAVIS. They moved to Lancaster, N. Y.Both are living.
The fourth, a son, (HIRAM)married Miss (NANCY CAROLINE) DAVIS, and settled in Wisconsin, where they now reside.
The fifth, a daughter, (HANNAH) married A. (ABIJAH) PINKHAM, and lives in Stanstead.
The sixth, a son L. (LEWIS) SLEEPER, (m. 1) ELIZABETH HOWARD CHILD 2) ADA EVELYN O'CONNOR) has taken a prominent position in the Province.He went early in life to Quebec for the purpose of obtaining a good education. He next commenced his travels in the United States, and, after visiting nearly all the great cities, spent two years in Oglethorpe University, Georgia. He then returned to Quebec and took an active part in organizing the High School of that city.After his connection with that institution ceased he joined the Quebec and Richmond Railway Co., and having contributed much valuable information to the Board he was appointed Treasurer. Operations being temporarily suspended, he left the Co., and commenced an investigation of the mineral resources of the province.The love of geological and mineralogical research had developed itself at a very early age, and he now fond an opportunity to gratify his tastes.He soon decided that the deposits of gold were of comparatively little value, and turned his whole attention to copper.He organized a mining company in Quebec, purchased a large amount of property on Harvey Hill, directed the operations of the mine for a considerable time with most favorable results, and finally induced the stockholders to sell to an English Co. That being advantageously disposed of he at once undertook without assistance to open and work the Acton Mine.The discovery and development of this extraordinary deposit astonished the world, and none the less than the Director of the Geological Survey of the Province.The triumphant result after years of toil and almost universal opposition to his theory created a widespread excitement.At this period he saw his opinions, as embodied in numerous reports, verified - his 'energy and perseverance rewarded with ample provision for his family, disgusted with the speculations going on around him, disposed of all his interest and retired from the business.His next step was to follow out a desire to spend the remainder of his life in his native country, and, looking upon Coaticook as a favorable point for the investment of capital, he chose that place as his residence.He has spent a large sum in utilizing the waterpower, and has materially contributed to the rapid growth of the village.He has the confidence and respect of all who know him.
The seventh, a daughter, (HARRIET) married E. (EBENEZER) DAVIS, and went to Missouri, where they both died.
The eighth, a daughter, (JUDITH) married J. (JACOB) SMITH.They took up their residence in Galveston, in Texas, where he died.She subsequently married the Rev. W. (WILLIAM) C. SOMERVILLE, a thoroughly educated gentleman of the Presbyterian Church. They are now in Newport, Vermont.
The ninth, a son, W. (WRIGHT) SLEEPER, married Miss COLE, (PHILINDA) and lives in Coaticook, where he carries on an extensive business in the manufacture of farming implements.His skill and honorable dealing have given him a well-deserved reputation.
The tenth, a son, J. (JOSEPH) SLEEPER married Miss CASWELL (ABIGAIL) and removed to Wisconsin where they are now living.

THE 11 CHILDREN of HEZEKIAH SLEEPER and HANNAH BATCHELDER:

1)HARRIET SLEEPER, d. Missouri; m. EBENEZER DAVIS; b. May 03, 1808, Meredith, NH; d. St. Louis, Missouri.
2)HIRAM SLEEPER, b. 1802, Canada; d. WI. m. NANCY CAROLINE DAVIS
3)MARTHA SLEEPER, b. August 17, 1797, Danville, Caledonia County, Vermont; d. Abt. 1842, Hatley, PQ. m. HARLEY IVES
4)IRA SLEEPER, b. 1801, Danville, Vermont; d. Aft. 1860, Lancaster, Erie Co., NY. m.POLLY DAVIS
5)MARY ANN SLEEPER, b. June 18, 1805 Stanstead PQ. ; d. WI. m. TRUE WORTHY KIMBALL
6)HANNAH SLEEPER, b. August 13, 1806; d. Stanstead, PQ.m.ABIJAH PINKHAM
7)LEWIS L. SLEEPER, b. October 31, 1807; m. 1) ELIZABETH CHILD 2) ADA EVELYN O'CONNOR
8)JUDITH ADELINE SLEEPER, b. March 19, 1818; d. November 02, 1904, Coaticook, Quebec,m. (1) JACOB SMITH, November 12, 1836, Quincy, Adams, ILL; b. St. Louis, MO; d. 1859, Galveston, TX; m. (2) REV. WILLIAM C. SOMERVILLE, November 11, 1868; b. 1816, Ireland; d. 1899, Coaticook, Quebec.
9)WRIGHT SLEEPER, b. March 02, 1820, Coaticook, PQ; d. 1895, Coaticook, PQ. m. PHILINDA COLE
10) JOSEPH SLEEPER, b. July 26, 1824, Stanstead, PQ; d. Aft. 1870, Hartland, Pierce County, Wis. m. ABIGAIL CASWELL
11) ANNA SLEEPER, b. June 18, 1805 (not listed in HUBBARD's book) appears to have d. unmarried March 8, 1835.
NOTE:
"District of St. Francis from the Church Records of sixteen religious denominations, catholics not included, 1815-1879" published by the Eastern Townships Genealogical Society, Sherbrooke.
Page 1016.
SLEEPER, ANNA (F)
18-06-1805 / 08-03-1835
HEZEKIAH (Yeoman) & HANNAH SLEEPER de Stanstead
Wesleyan Methodist, Stanstead
Temoins:AMOS & HIRAM AMSDEN
Par:Mar:
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Stanstead Historical Society, Volume 1, Vital Stats Stanstead Journal 1845-1860
Page 26.
DIED
September 23, 1849At Compton, Mr. H. SLEEPER, of Stanstead, aged 79 years
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1800 CensusDanvilleCaledonia-Co VT_History
Head of family FWM-10 FWM10-16 FWM16-26 FWM26-45 FWM45-up FWF-10 FWF10-16 FWF16-26 FWF26-45 FWF45-up
Sleeper, Hezekiah 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0
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