The family of James Franklin Tweeddale

Rev. William Tweeddale

Born 1788 in Cumberland, England

Died 24 Nov. 1863 in New Brunswick, Canada)

Married: Jane Atkinson on 7 Oct. 1811 (died 8 Jan 1831)

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William Tweeddale was 26 years of age and on the threshold of death when he received Christ as savior while reading a sermon by John Wesley. The Lord brought healing to the young man for his work was not done. He left England and immigrated to New Brunswick in 1819 with his family, having heard of a scarcity of “laborers in the Lord’s harvest” in this region of the world. According to his obituary, Mr. Tweeddale was “the only minister of any denomination holding forth the Word of life in these settlements. He could be found weeping with those who wept and rejoicing with those who rejoiced, giving spiritual instruction to all who came his way. He was a friend to all and a tireless worker comforting those who mourned and leading the sinner to the sinner’s friend.” He continued to preach along the hiways and byways until a week before his death. In his final days he said, “What could I do now if I had not Christ?” In his final hours, he was visited by his long time friend, the Rev. J. R. Lawson, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. After reading the scriptures and prayer, upon leaving him he said, “I will meet you, my dear brother in a better world.” To this the Rev. Tweeddale said, “indeed … a better world, and with that, this man of God departed.”

(note: all quotes are taken from Rev. William Tweeddale’s obituary – The Provincial Wesleyan, December 30, 1863)

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Mary Ann - Elizabeth - Charles - Matthew - Edward - James - Mary - Wesley
(11/26/1817 - 4/2/1872)

m. Martha Barbour 5/25/1840

Matthew Tweeddale is described by his Grandson Percy Bramwell Tweeddale as a man who worked with his hands to support his large family. He was a carpenter, a painter, a plumber and a metalsmith. He passsed his trades along to his sons who had a reputation in Frederickton for their honesty and hard work. Matthew was instructed in the things of the Lord by his father, his wife Martha was active with Christian relief work. Together they frequently provided shelter and food and support for the homeless, the widows and the orphans.
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Matthew and Martha Tweeddale had:

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12 Children as follows

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1. William (b. 1841)
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2. Elizabeth (b. 1842)
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3. William A. (1844-1928)
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4. Amelia Jane
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5. Edmund Augustus "Gus" (1849-1908) According to reflections offered in an article which appears in a New Brunswick newspaper "The Daily Gleaner" (Jan 3, 1976). Gus was an outdoorsman.
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6. Edmund B. (b. 1851)

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7. James Franklin (11/14/1853 - 1913)

(m. Mary Eliz. Brazier Woolsey (b.10/26/1864, d. 12/26/1941)

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8. John Fletcher (1855-1948) John received a public school education in Frederickton. He was a farmer and trader, marrying Joan Campbell in 1880. He was a member of the Municipal Council, Perth, New Brunswick and was known as "The Grand Old man of Tobique". For a short time John was Warden of Victoria County. In 1902 Mr. Tweeddale was elected to the New Brunswick Legislature. He became Minister of Agriculture and subsequently the Chairman of the Board of Liquor Commissioners. He was a member of the Anglican church and was a political liberal. (Notes taken from and article printed in The Victorian December 14, 1939)

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9. Henry Havelock (b. 1857)

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10. Lemuel Allen Wilmot (1860-1937)

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11. Matthew Albert (b. 1863)
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12. Anniel (b. 1865)

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James Franklin Tweeddale
1909 Salvation Army Band, Brooklyn, NY


James Franklin Tweeddale (bottom row/ left) James was born in 1853 in Frederickton, New Brunswick, Canada and migrated to the USA in 1888. He was a painter by trade. He lived a hard life in New York and at times turned to strong drink. He turned to the Salvation Army for refuge where he met a young lady who changed his life. According to his son Percy Tweeddale, he was a quiet and peacable man who loved to sing the great Hymns of the Faith and had a strong voice. A good father whose life was radically transformed by Christ. He had a "soft heart" which he attributed to a Godly mother. His son Percy said that his death left a huge void in the life of his young family. Percy had to step up and assume the headship of this family at a young age.


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James and Mary Elizabeth Tweeddale - husband and wife

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James and Mary were married circa 1895. Mary Elizabeth was a worker with the Salvation Army Corps and known for her love of Christ and her passion for the lost. She brought James to a saving knowledge of Christ in the early 1890's. Mary was a widow with 3 children. James had one child by a prior marriage. Together they had two children, Percy Bramwell Tweeddale and Mildred Tweeddale (later Harding). Mary's skills in crocheting were long remembered by her grand daughters.

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The 1909 Salvation Army Corps, Brooklyn, NY

Mary Elizabeth is shown in the top row, 2nd from right. Her son Percy Bramwell Tweeddale is shown in the third row (from bottom) 6th from the right. Mildred Tweeddale is on the bottom row right end. In these early years, Percy was known for his prowess in the memory of Bible verses. He won a bible in a scripture memorization contest in 1911.

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James Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Brazier (Woolsey) Tweeddale (widowed by Mr. Woolsey) raised 6 children. These are:

1. John Woolsey (he had 2 Sons James and Charles - these two boys were raised by James and Mary Tweeddale as their own.
2. Stacy Woolsey (married Evelyn _____ , daughter Gladys)
3. Jenny Woolsey Davis, had son Arthur who in turn had a daughter Geraldine. Jenny later married a Mr. Saadi. They had one daughter Harriet (died circa 2000)
4. Roy Tweeddale: James's son by prior marriage (1888 - 1981) m. May Mercereau (1894 - 1981) no issue.
5. Mildred Tweeddale (m. Robert Harding - 3 children; Arthur, Donald, Ethel)
6. Percy Bramwell Tweeddale (26May1899 - 1Apr1985) m. Mabel Reinhard 9Oct1923

Percy Bramwell Tweeddale and Mabel Anna Reinhard Tweeddale husband and wife

Married 9 October 1923 this couple had 5 children. Their legacy is one which manifest a Godly heritage. Percy followed his father's footsteps, by working in a hardware store and doing painting until his early 20's. At this time he decided to apply for a job as a fireman in the New York Fire Department. He ultimately became a fireman and was active through a long and meritorious career rising to the rank of Battalion Chief in Charge of the Brooklyn Hook and Ladder Companies. Mabel Tweeddale grew up in Hicksville, New York. Early in their married life she worked as a seamstress. She was active in the Hicksville Dutch Reformed church. Her love of Christ defined Mabel to all who knew her. These were parents whose children bear witness to the faithfulness of God as described in Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

The Children of Percy and Mable Tweeddale

at the funeral of Mabel Reinhard Tweeddale

1. (Left to Right)
3. William Frank (b. 1931)
4. Evelyn Ruth Tweeddale Shipman (1930)
5. James Walter (1937 - twin)
6. Marilyn Frances Tweeddale Brennan (1928-2007)
7. Jane Ann Tweeddale Adams (1937)