THE PEARO FAMILY – PT I

William & Mary Belle Pearo

I would like now to include a very prominent family that has long been resident in Alder Point and they are the Pearo family. God fearing, hard working and devoted family members who contributed to the growth of the community and were not shy in supporting their country in time of need such as WWII.

There are a number of spellings for Pearo such as Pereau, Peiro, Pero and Pearo. To make it easier to follow I am going to paint everyone with the same brush that is – Pearo.

The Pearo Family

“Lifelong Residents of Alder Point“

 

When we look back at records and pictures and hear stories about the “good ole days” it’s hard for us to imagine the lives of our ancestors.  A time in which there was no electricity, fields were plowed by hand and travel was done by carriage, boat or on foot seems virtually non-existent.  However; these times did exist and early Alder Point settlers worked hard to provide for their families.

 

The Pearo’s of Alder Point are derived from the Pearo’s who settled in and around Boularderie Island (Mill Creek and Point Aconi).  The earliest of the Pearo (Pero, Pereau, Piero) settlers, known as Peter Piero and his family, are recorded to be in the Boularderie area around the 1750’s.  There are many variations of the spelling of the name which makes it difficult to research.  Most commonly used spellings are Pearo and Pero.  From this family, many descendants settled throughout Cape Breton and beyond as far as the New England States. 

 

The Pearo’s of Alder Point, outlined in this brief history, are primarily from the family of the late William and Mary Belle.  Both were highly respected and long time residents of Alder Point who chose the area, along the shores of the St. Andrew’s Channel, to build their home and raise their large family.

 Fishing in the Alder Point Gut

William and Mary Belle began their married life on a cold January 7^th, 1902.  William, who had been born in 1866 to William Sr and Catherine (McKenzie) Pearo, was a farmer and carpenter who immediately put his skills to work building their home.  Purchasing 50 acres of land from early Alder Point settler Samuel Plant, for the price of $127, William and Mary Belle cleared the land and planted large gardens in which to grow their food.  Their home was built upon a hand mixed foundation of rock and sand gathered from along the shoreline.  Wide plank floors were laid throughout the house and a large upstairs accommodated several children in each room.  The cellar kept food cold and a pantry with a large vegetable bin was located directly off the kitchen.  Because William was a carpenter, he made most of the furniture himself; many of these pieces still exist in the home today.  Mary Belle, the eldest daughter of Angus and Flora McDonald, was a strong Scottish woman nearly 13 years younger than William.  Over the next 20 years, William and Mary Belle would raise 11 children, most of who would settle close to their parents and raise large families of their own.  In later years, William would become known to his family as Grand-daddie, the patriarch and staple of the Pearo family.  As a devote Christian, he was known to always offer a helping hand to anyone in need and especially enjoy the company of his large family.  He attended church service every Sunday and was recognized as a Church Elder.   He passed away in 1960 at the age of 94.  Mary Belle remained in excellent health and spirit until she passed away in 1983 at the age of 103.

 Haymaking on the Pearo farm – 1940

For those who can remember, William and Mary Belle’s door was always open to everyone.  Mary Belle was known as a hard worker and exceptional baker; traits that would be inherited by her daughters Flo and Mae.  Mary Belle especially enjoyed when her sister Jennie would visit from Boston and her son Murray would travel from Ontario for late summer visits.  William worked hard to keep the land and, with the help of his grandchildren, especially Melvin Jr, he plowed and planted, raised livestock and tended to his horses.

 

                                       The Pearo Homestead

William and Mary Belle had their first child in 1903.  John William, with several of his siblings, would attend the first Alder Point School until he left to work full-time.  In 1931 he married Mary Elizabeth Dugas, and settled on a parcel of land given to him by his father.  Together, John William and Mary would have a family of nine which included:  Lorna (Mrs Harvey Hanson), Barbara Jean (Deceased (1946), Richard (Louise), Ray (Gwen), Myrtle, Joan (Deceased – Mrs John Hawkins), Edie (Mrs John Carey), Isabelle (Deceased – Mrs Danny Serroul) and Debbie (Mrs Colin Fifoot).  Mary Elizabeth passed away in 1981 while John William passed away in 1995 at the age of 92.

 

                                                  Nat Beaton and Murray Pearo

After John William, William and Mary Belle had Hubert (nicknamed Colin), Thelia, Lillian, Gustavus, Myrtle, Florence (Flo), Mary (Mae), Melvin, Murray and Lily E.  Thelia passed away in 1916 at the age of 9 and during the Spanish Flu of 1918, Colin and Lillian both died.  William and Mary Belle’s youngest child Lily E. would contract pneumonia after singing in a Christmas concert and passed away in 1925 at the age of 4 followed by Myrtle who passed away at the age of 18 in 1928.  Most all of William and Mary Belle’s remaining children settled in the local area with the exception of Murray who, after returning from WWII, moved to Ontario where he married Patricia Dawe and had four sons: Donald (Sue), Keith (Francis), Glen (Waive) and Colin.  Patricia passed way on January 11^th, 1999 while Murray passed away on June 1^st, 2008 at the age of 93.

 

                                    Murray & William

Gustavus (Gus) married Susan Bungay of Alder Point and settled a short distance away from his parents.  Together they raised the following children including:  Ena MacFarlane (Husband Robert Deceased), Barbara (Mrs Roger Chinn), Dorothy (Mrs William Arsenault), Peter, Michael and Daniel Creighton (Deceased in infancy).  Gus passed away in 1970 followed by Sue in 1984.

 

                                                   Flo, Murray & Mae

Mary Elizabeth (Mae) would marry John Joe Arsenault of Alder Point and settle directly behind her parents.  Together they raised a family of seven which included:  Betty Campbell (Husband Ronnie Deceased), Lois (Mrs Austin LeBlanc), William (Dorothy), Jane (Mrs Don Fogarty), Florence (Mrs Dale Carman), Patricia (Mrs John Joliman) and Peter.  John Joe passed away in 1972 and Mae, celebrated her 91^st birthday this year (2009) and still resides in Alder Point.

 

Florence (Flo) married James Wallace and settled in the Green Hill area of Florence.  James was a miner and Flo a homemaker.  There they built their home and had Mary (Deceased 1947 age 4), Catherine (Cathy), Sandra (Mrs Trevor Currie) and Jim (Cindy).  James passed away in the 1980’s while Flo passed away on May 8^th, 2008 at the age of 95. 

 

                            Melvin, Nana, Agnes, Dewey & Wanda Jean

Melvin remained living at home with his parents until he met and married Ellen Jane Rice of Sydney Mines.  On the evening of his wedding, June 3^rd, 1940, Melvin left by train for Camp Aldershot and from there served overseas for the duration of WWII.  Melvin and Ellen Jane remained living in the home with William and Mary Belle and had a son Melvin Jr who married Agnes Rambeau (Daughters JennyLynn and JoyLene) and a daughter Wanda Jean (Bruce Noble) (sons Eddie and Evan).  Like his father, Melvin Sr was a well respected carpenter who built many homes in Alder Point.  Melvin passed away in 1995 at the age of 78 while his wife Ellen Jane (Nellie) remained living in the Pearo home until her death in July 2009 at the age of 88. 

                                                Nellie and Nana Pearo

(The foregoing was compiled and written by Jenny Lynn and Melvin (Dewey)

Sgt Melvin Pearo – while serving Overseas 1940

(many of the pics from Colin)

 

Note: When we talk about the different spellings for Pearo I am reminded of a story told to me by my Uncle Johnny Fraser when he and Gus Pearo were taking loads of coal by boat up the Bras d’Or Lake to different communities many years ago and one time they were heading with a load for Nyanza. Uncle Johnny said to Gus, “when we get to Nyanza you’ll meet lots of Pearo’s.” Gus was delighted and said, “great maybe I will meet some relatives.” When they got there they found out that there were many Pierro’s  all full blooded Native Indians but no relatives. Uncle Johnny got a great laugh out of that.

 

I have created a genealogy review of those Pearo’s I have information on and have included it here for the information of those who may be interested. 

 

 

 

Descendants of Peter Pearo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Generation No. 1

 

1.  PETER¹ PEARO  He married MARY BOUTILIER. 

 

Notes for PETER PEARO:

It becomes extremely difficult attempting to trace this family because of a number of reasons, one of which is the spelling of the name:

Pero, Pearo, Pereau, Piero, Perrault, etc.

 

It is believed that Peter Pearo father of William lived and died in Boulardarie, NS.

       

Child of PETER PEARO and MARY BOUTILIER is:

2.                i.    WILLIAM² PEARO, b. Abt. 1832, Cape Breton Island, NS.

 

 

Generation No. 2

 

2.  WILLIAM² PEARO (PETER¹) was born Abt. 1832 in Cape Breton Island, NS.  He married KATHERINE MACKENZIE.  She was born Abt. 1843 in Boularderie (Black Rock) NS.

 

Notes for WILLIAM PEARO:

William Pearo married Catherine MacKenzie and resided at Mill Creek, NS

William was a carpenter/farmer

They are buried in St. Andrew’s Pioneer Cemetery – Protestant, Little Bras d’Or, NS

 

In 1871 William was French Catholic and Catherine McKenzie (b. 1840 Scotch Presbyterian)

 

In 1871 and again in 1881 he was living next to the widow May Pero (Pearo)

1871

dwelling # 46 Church of Scotland

dwelling # 47 Church of Scotland

1881

dwelling # 127 – # 131 All Catholic Boularderie District C (census)

The children were all Presbterian French or Church of Scotland

1901 cunsus – family # 79 Boularderie

Catherine is a widow with Mary, Annie & Samuel

1911 census – family # 232 section 14 page 24 Sydney Mines

William & Mary Pero (Pearo) in 1911 with his brother Peter Pero b. Apr 1862 lived with him, along with a boarder, Joseph MacIntyre a widower b. 1878 age 33

 

Catherine c 1843 in 1871, 1881

 

1901 census – family # 79 Boularderie

Catherine is a widow with Mary, Annie & Samuel

 

In 1901 an 11 yr old Mary Forest lived with family # 79 Boularderie

the widow Catherine Pero (Pearo) (w/o William) see John Forest & Jessie Pero (Pearo)

1911 census Boularderie – div 2 pdf 7 dwelling # …. family # 61 she lived with her son Samuel

 

 

 

 

       

Children of WILLIAM PEARO and KATHERINE MACKENZIE are:

3.                i.    MARY³ PEARO, b. Abt. 1863, Mill Creek, NS; d. 1903, Point Aconi, NS.

4.               ii.    WILLIAM CHARLES PEARO, b. 13 Feb 1866, Mill Creek, NS; d. 11 Mar 1960, Alder Point, NS.

                 iii.    ANNIE PEARO, b. 1864; d. 1955.

 

Notes for ANNIE PEARO:

Annie did not marry

 

More About ANNIE PEARO:

Burial: Sydney Mines, NS

 

5.              iv.    PETER PEARO, b. Abt. 1873; d. 1932.

6.               v.    SAMUEL PEARO, b. Abt. 1875; d. 1959.

7.              vi.    JESSIE PEARO, b. Abt. 1876; d. 1904.

8.             vii.    WILLIAM PEARO, b. 1860; d. 1952.

 

 

Generation No. 3

 

3.  MARY³ PEARO (WILLIAM², PETER¹) was born Abt. 1863 in Mill Creek, NS, and died 1903 in Point Aconi, NS.  She married PETER ARTHUR STUBBERT.  He was born in Point Aconi, NS.

 

Notes for MARY PEARO:

Mary died abt 1903 due to childbirth – the daughter Mary survived

 

Notes for PETER ARTHUR STUBBERT:

Peer Arthur Stubbert was Baptist

       

Child of MARY PEARO and PETER STUBBERT is:

                   i.    MARY⁴ STUBBERT, b. Abt. 1903, Mill Creek, NS.

 

 

4.  WILLIAM CHARLES³ PEARO (WILLIAM², PETER¹) was born 13 Feb 1866 in Mill Creek, NS, and died 11 Mar 1960 in Alder Point, NS.  He married MARY BELLE MCDONALD 1901 in Bras d’Or, NS, daughter of ANGUS MACDONALD and FLORA MACLEAN.  She was born 1879, and died 1983 in Alder Point, NS.

 

Notes for WILLIAM CHARLES PEARO:

Headstones:

 

In memory of father William C Pearo 1866 –                               

                mother Mary Belle 1879 – 1983 “Rock of ages, cleft for me”

 

Father John William Pearo 1903 – “Forever with the Lord”

        (picture of man engraved on stone)

 

Brookside Cemetery, Sydney Mines, NS

 

Notes for MARY BELLE MCDONALD:

Mary Belle was Presbyterian

 

Marriage Notes for WILLIAM PEARO and MARY MCDONALD:

William and Mary Belle made their home in Alder Point, NS

       

Children of WILLIAM PEARO and MARY MCDONALD are:

9.                i.    JOHN WILLIAM⁴ PEARO, b. 1903, Alder Point, NS; d. Deceased.

                  ii.    MYRTLE PEARO, b. Alder Point, NS; d. Deceased, Alder Point, NS.

                 iii.    LILLIAN PEARO, b. Alder Point, NS; d. 1928.

                 iv.    GUSTAVUS (GUS) PEARO, b. Alder Point, NS; d. Deceased; m. SUE BUNGAY; b. Alder Point, NS.

                  v.    COLIN H. PEARO, b. Alder Point, NS; d. Bef. 1928, Alder Point, NS.

10.            vi.    MARY ELIZABETH PEARO, b. 12 Jul 1918, Alder Point, NS.

                vii.    FLORENCE PEARO, b. Alder Point, NS; d. 2008; m. JAMES WALLACE.

11.          viii.    MURRAY NATHANIEL PEARO, b. 28 Sep 1914, Alder Point, NS; d. 01 Jun 2008, Cobourg, ON.

12.            ix.    MELVIN GRANT PEARO, b. 1917, Alder Point, NS; d. 1995, Alder Point, NS.

                  x.    LILY EDITH PEARO, b. Alder Point, NS; d. Bef. 1928, Alder Point, NS.

                 xi.    THELIA MAE PEARO, b. Alder Point, NS; d. Bef. 1928, Alder Point, NS.

 

 

5.  PETER³ PEARO (WILLIAM², PETER¹) was born Abt. 1873, and died 1932.  He married BERTHA (BETHINA) JARDINE 1898 in Sydney Mines, NS (Presbyterian).  She was born in Sydney Mines, NS.

       

Children of PETER PEARO and BERTHA JARDINE are:

                   i.    FREDA⁴ PEARO.

                  ii.    EVERETT PEARO.

                 iii.    RAYMOND PEARO.

                 iv.    BERTHA PEARO.

                  v.    EDITH PEARO.

                 vi.    LEONARD PEARO.

                vii.    LESTER PEARO.

13.          viii.    RUSSELL PEARO, d. Auto Accident.

 

 

6.  SAMUEL³ PEARO (WILLIAM², PETER¹) was born Abt. 1875, and died 1959.  He married DAISY HUTCHINS.  She was born in England.

       

Children of SAMUEL PEARO and DAISY HUTCHINS are:

                   i.    MARY⁴ PEARO.

                  ii.    ELLA PEARO.

                 iii.    HAROLD PEARO.

                 iv.    GEORGE PEARO.

                  v.    SAMUEL PEARO.

                 vi.    ROBERT PEARO.

 

 

7.  JESSIE³ PEARO (WILLIAM², PETER¹) was born Abt. 1876, and died 1904.  She married JOHN FORREST 1889 in Bras d’Or, NS (Presbyterian).  He was born in Point Aconi, NS.

       

Children of JESSIE PEARO and JOHN FORREST are:

                   i.    PETER⁴ FORREST.

                  ii.    GEORGE FORREST.

                 iii.    MURDOCK FORREST.

                 iv.    KATIE FORREST.

                  v.    MAMIE FORREST.

                 vi.    ANNIE FORREST.

                vii.    SARAH FORREST.

 

 

8.  WILLIAM³ PEARO (WILLIAM², PETER¹) was born 1860, and died 1952.  He married MARY MACINTYRE. 

 

Notes for MARY MACINTYRE:

Mary Macintyre was Catholic in census

       

Child of WILLIAM PEARO and MARY MACINTYRE is:

                   i.    TEN CHILDREN⁴ PEARO.

 

 

Generation No. 4

 

9.  JOHN WILLIAM⁴ PEARO (WILLIAM CHARLES³, WILLIAM², PETER¹) was born 1903 in Alder Point, NS, and died Deceased.  He married MARY ELIZABETH DUGAST, daughter of AMABLE DUGAST.  She was born in Alder Point, NS.

       

Children of JOHN PEARO and MARY DUGAST are:

                   i.    LORNA⁵ PEARO.

                  ii.    BARBARA JEAN PEARO, b. 16 Nov 1941, Alder Point, NS; d. 02 Feb 1943, Alder Point, NS.

 

Notes for BARBARA JEAN PEARO:

Poor little Barbara Jean died of Pneumonia in the winter of 1943 in Alder Point

 

 

10.  MARY ELIZABETH⁴ PEARO (WILLIAM CHARLES³, WILLIAM², PETER¹) was born 12 Jul 1918 in Alder Point, NS.  She married JOHN JOSEPH ARSENAULT. 

       

Child of MARY PEARO and JOHN ARSENAULT is:

                   i.    PETER⁵ ARSENAULT.

 

 

11.  MURRAY NATHANIEL⁴ PEARO (WILLIAM CHARLES³, WILLIAM², PETER¹) was born 28 Sep 1914 in Alder Point, NS, and died 01 Jun 2008 in Cobourg, ON.  He married PATRICIA DAWE.  She died in Toronto, ON.

 

Notes for MURRAY NATHANIEL PEARO:

Murray Daniel Pearo

Murray Pearo passed away peacefully at the Northumberland hills Hospital in Cobourg, Ont., Sunday, June 1, 2008, at 93 years of age.

Born in Alder Point, Cape Breton, he was the son of the late Mary Belle McDonald and William Pearo. Murray was a veteran of the Second World War.

He was the beloved husband of the late Patricia Pearo (nee Dawe), dear father of Donald and his wife Suzette, Keith and his wife Frances, Colin, Glenn and his wife Waive, cherished grandfather of David (Sarah), Steven (Kristeen), Julie, Stephanie (Leonard) and Bryan, great-grandfather of Thomas, Lauren, Payton, Kallista, Sarina and Trent and brother of Mae Arsenault. He was predeceased by his brothers, John William, Gus, Melvin and Colin Pearo and sisters, Lillian, Theila, Myrtle, Edith and Flo Wallace.

A funeral service will be held at MacCoubrey Funeral Home, 30 King St. E., Cobourg, Friday, June 6 at 1 p.m.. Interment to follow at Cobourg Union Cemetery. Visitation to be held at the fundeeral home., Thursday, June 5 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

Memorial donation may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation.

Condolences received at http://www.MacCoubrey.com.

“We will remember him at the going down of the sun over the Gut”

       

Children of MURRAY PEARO and PATRICIA DAWE are:

                   i.    COLIN WILLIAM⁵ PEARO, b. Scarborough, Ontario.

 

Notes for COLIN WILLIAM PEARO:

Colin reports that the family was raised in Scarborough, ON

But spent each summer in Alder Point. Dad (Murray) would pack the Pontiac and Bell tent and drive the family down to Alder Point and return back to Ontario to work until he had his summer vacation.

 

                  ii.    DONALD MURRAY PEARO, b. 1948, Scarborough, Ontario.

                 iii.    KEITH PATRICK PEARO, b. 1948, Scarborough, Ontario.

                 iv.    GLEN PEARO.

 

 

12.  MELVIN GRANT⁴ PEARO (WILLIAM CHARLES³, WILLIAM², PETER¹) was born 1917 in Alder Point, NS, and died 1995 in Alder Point, NS.  He married ELLEN JANE RICE 03 Jun 1940 in Bras d’Or, NS.  She was born 1921 in Sydney Mines, NS, and died Jul 2009 in Alder Point, NS.

 

Notes for MELVIN GRANT PEARO:

Melvin remained living at home with his parents until he met and married Ellen Jane Rice of Sydney Mines. On the evening of his wedding, June 3rd, 1940, Melvin left by train for Camp Alershot and from there served overseas for the duration of WWII. Melvin and Ellen Jane remained living in the home with William and Mary Belle and had a son Melvin Jr. who married Agnes Rambeau (daughters JennyLynn and JoyLene) and a daughter Wanda Jean (Bruce Noble) (sons Eddie and Evan). Like his father, Melvin Sr. was a well respected carpenter who built many homes in Alder Point. Melvin passed away in 1995 at the age of 78 while his wife Ellen Jane (Nellie) remained living in the Pearo home until her death in July, 2009 at the age of 88.

 

Notes for ELLEN JANE RICE:

Ellen Jane Rice Pearo age 88 lived in the old family home that was built by William and Mary Bell Pearo until she passed away in July, 2009.

 

Ellen ‘Nellie’ Pearo, Alder Point

Born in 26/12/1920 at Sydney , Nova Scotia , Canada

 

Ellen Jane ‘Nellie’ Pearo, age 88, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at the Northside General Hospital after a brief illness.

Born in Sydney Mines, December 26, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Weston and Ellen Matilda (Boutilier) Rice. Mom was “Silver Cross Mother”, Remembrance Day 2000 at Branch 83 Royal Canadian Legion, Florence. Mom was a lady through constant prayers remembered her family and friends.

She is survived by her daughter Wanda Jean (Bruce) Noble and her son Melvin (Agnes) Pearo, grandchildren Jenny Lynn (Jerome), Joylene, Eddie (Alise) and Evan, great grandchild Aliyah Noble, her sister; Dorothy Theriault and brothers Tom, Albert (Irene) and Roy Rice, all of Sydney Mines; best friend and sister-in-law Mae Arsenault, Alder Point, who spent many hours together, also surviving are many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. She will be missed by her furry friends Geisha and Gypsy.

She is predeceased by husband Second World War veteran Sgt. Melvin Pearo Sr. in 1994 and brothers Walter and Lewis Rice.

Visitation for Ellen will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Sunday in the W. J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. A Funeral service will be celebrated 2 p.m. Monday at Trinity Anglican Church, Sydney Mines with Rev. Peter Rafuse officiating. Burial in Holy Cross Cemetery North Sydney.

Online condolences may be sent to info@wjdooley.com.

Mom, a new “Angel” in heaven is watching over us.

 

 

       

Children of MELVIN PEARO and ELLEN RICE are:

                   i.    MELVIN JR. (DEWEY)⁵ PEARO, b. Alder Point, NS; m. AGNES RAMBEAU, 1969, Bras d’Or, NS.

                  ii.    WANDA JEAN PEARO, b. Alder Point, NS; m. BRUCE NOBLE.

 

 

13.  RUSSELL⁴ PEARO (PETER³, WILLIAM², PETER¹) died in Auto Accident.  He married MABLE FORREST. 

       

Children of RUSSELL PEARO and MABLE FORREST are:

                   i.    CATHERINE⁵ PEARO, b. Abt. 1938, Alder Point, NS; m. GORDON GEAR.

                  ii.    CLARENCE PEARO, b. Abt. 1940, Alder Point, NS.