Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.

1824 - 1893  (69 years)

 Set As Default Person

Thomas McGhie

Abt 1790 - Yes, date unknown

Birth	Abt 1790	,,Hebridies,Scotland
Died	Yes, date unknown
Family	,   b. Abt 1790
Children	1. Margaret McGhie,   b. 12 Jul 1811, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom + 2. Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.,   b. 12 Jul 1824, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom

Charlotte Anner Stafford

1831 - 1852  (21 years)

Birth	1831
Died	22 Dec 1852
Buried	Aft 22 Dec 1852	Athens,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Father	Cleveland P. Stafford,   b. Abt 1810, Plattsburgh,Clinton,New York,United States
Mother	Mary M. Holton
Family	Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.,   b. 12 Jul 1824, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom
Married	1843	,Leeds,,Canada West
Children	1. Charles P. Holton McGhie,   b. 1852, ,Leeds,,Canada West

Charles P. Holton McGhie

1852 - 1852  (0 years)

Birth	1852	,Leeds,,Canada West
Died	1852	,Leeds,,Canada West
Father	Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.,   b. 12 Jul 1824, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom
Mother	Charlotte Anner Stafford,   b. 1831
Married	1843	,Leeds,,Canada West

Mercy Ophelia Stevens

1819 - 1903  (83 years)

Birth	31 Dec 1819	Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Died	4 Feb 1903
Buried	Aft 4 Feb 1903	Halladay Burying Grounds,Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Father	Abel Stevens, II,   b. 11 Nov 1779, Pittsford,,Vermont,United States
Relationship	natural
Mother	Phoebe Knowlton,   b. 18 Mar 1793, Bastard Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Relationship	natural
Married	1814	,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Family 1	William Abel Ripley,   b. Abt 1815
Married	13 Feb 1849	Kitley Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Children	1. Edward Abel Ripley,   b. 1850, ,,,Canada West + 2. Agnes Cephrona Ripley,   b. 24 Jan 1853 + 3. Adelaide Ophelia "Addie" Ripley,   b. 30 Jan 1856
Family 2	Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.,   b. 12 Jul 1824, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom
Married	14 Dec 1857	Beverley,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Children	+ 1. Benjamin Adelbert McGhie,   b. 6 Nov 1860, Elgin,Leeds,,Canada West   2. Dr. George Stevens McGhie, M. D.,   b. 6 Jan 1862, Elgin,Leeds,,Canada West   3. Angelia Ophelia McGhie,   b. 28 Sep 1865, Elgin,Leeds,,Canada West + 4. Margaret Mercy McGhie,   b. 27 Jun 1867, Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada   5. Gertrude Florence "True" McGhie,   b. 25 Aug 1870, South Crosby,Leeds,Ontario,Canada   6. William John "Willie" McGhie,   b. 13 Oct 1872

Benjamin Adelbert McGhie

1860 - 1903  (42 years)

Birth	6 Nov 1860	Elgin,Leeds,,Canada West
Died	1 Feb 1903	South Crosby,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Father	Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.,   b. 12 Jul 1824, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom
Relationship	natural
Mother	Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Relationship	natural
Married	14 Dec 1857	Beverley,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Family	Ermina Annetta Singleton,   b. 1865
Married	20 Nov 1883	Newboro,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Children	1. Effie Gertrude McGhie,   b. 25 Aug 1886 + 2. Dr. Bernard Thomas McGhie, M. D.,   b. 14 Apr 1889, South Crosby,Leeds,Ontario,Canada   3. Sarah Hazel McGhie,   b. 5 Feb 1891   4. Dr. Ambrose Gerald McGhie, M. D.,   b. 4 Feb 1893, Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada + 5. Mercie Ermina Grace McGhie,   b. 5 Dec 1896

Dr. George Stevens McGhie, M. D.

1862 - 1907  (45 years)

Birth	6 Jan 1862	Elgin,Leeds,,Canada West
Died	16 Aug 1907	Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Father	Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.,   b. 12 Jul 1824, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom
Relationship	natural
Mother	Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Relationship	natural
Married	14 Dec 1857	Beverley,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Family	Elizabeth Florina "Libby" Leggett,   b. 30 Oct 1867
Married	22 Jul 1896	Newboro,Leeds,Ontario,Canada

Angelia Ophelia McGhie

1865 - 1909  (44 years)

Birth	28 Sep 1865	Elgin,Leeds,,Canada West
Died	5 Oct 1909	,,New York,United States
Father	Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.,   b. 12 Jul 1824, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom
Mother	Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Married	14 Dec 1857	Beverley,Leeds,,Upper Canada

Margaret Mercy McGhie

1867 - 1940  (72 years)

Birth	27 Jun 1867	Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Died	1940
Father	Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.,   b. 12 Jul 1824, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom
Mother	Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Married	14 Dec 1857	Beverley,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Family	Dr. John Fletcher McAmmond, I, M. D.,   b. 1865
Married	9 Aug 1890	Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Children	1. Helen Angelia McAmmond,   b. 1 Apr 1893 + 2. Dr. John Fletcher McAmmond, II, M. D.,   b. 21 Feb 1901 + 3. Robert McGhie McAmmond,   b. 3 Aug 1905

Gertrude Florence "True" McGhie

1870 - 1894  (24 years)

Nickname	True
Birth	25 Aug 1870	South Crosby,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Died	10 Sep 1894
Father	Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.,   b. 12 Jul 1824, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom
Relationship	natural
Mother	Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Relationship	natural
Married	14 Dec 1857	Beverley,Leeds,,Upper Canada

William John "Willie" McGhie

1872 - 1880  (8 years)

Nickname	Willie
Birth	13 Oct 1872
Died	23 Oct 1880
Father	Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.,   b. 12 Jul 1824, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom
Relationship	natural
Mother	Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Relationship	natural
Married	14 Dec 1857	Beverley,Leeds,,Upper Canada

• Name	Benjamin Thomas McGhie  [1]
  Prefix	Dr.
  Suffix	M. D.
  Alternate Birth	1811	,,Hebridies,Scotland   [2]
  Education	Abt 1822	Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom   [3]
  	Apprenticed with a local chemist
  Birth	12 Jul 1824	Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom   [3, 4]
  	Some sources say that Dr McGhie was born in the Hebrides,others say his father was but he was born in Belfast. Ihave the whole story, as laid out by his grandson DrBernard Thomas McGhie as well as my grandmother MercieMcGhie-Houghton. - Bob Houghton, 17 Apr 2020 1 Some say Belfast, others the Hebrides. As yet, no birthcertificate or parish record has been located on this. This date is based on the records and his death notice. Inboth the 1871 and 1881 census, he is shown as being born in1824 and 1825 respectively. His immigration and on the 1841 census he is listed as B.McGee. There have also been DNA cousins located who useboth McGee and Magee, all originating from the area southof Belfast, N.I. His birth year fluctuates 1811-1825,depending on the source. - Bob Houghton, 28 Aug 2024
  Gender	Male
  Child Status	Twin
  Also Known As	Benjamin Bernard Thomas "the old doctor" McGhie  [5, 6]
  Also Known As	Benjamin McGee
  Travel	Abt 1830	Boston,Suffolk,Massachusetts,United States   [3, 7]
  on a vessel bound for America
  He took a job working as a ship's doctor on a vessel boundfor America in the 1830s. Upon his arrival in the U.S., heheaded to Pennsylvania and continued his studies at theElectric Medical College.
  Education	Abt 1840	,,Pennsylvania,United States   [3]
  	Electric Medical College
  Graduation	27 Apr 1849	,,Pennsylvania,United States   [3]
  	Electric Medical College
  	The Electric College was a governing body, not a degreegranting school. His certificate was to show he was apracticing doctor.
  Travel	Aft 27 Apr 1849	Brockville,,Elizabethtown,Canada West   [7]
  and headed north to Canada
  Mercie wrote: ... Grandfather came to Canada via some portnear Boston and then on to Brockville, wishing to be undera British flag. ...
  Education	Between May 1849 and 1851	,Leeds,Ontario,Canada   [3]
  	apprenticed to a local Leeds County doctor
  	Both his immigration papers and the 1851 census list him aslabourer. He lived with his wife & mother-in-law. Theylived near Dr A.R. Howard, who may have been trained himand been his mentor. By 1852, he was referring to himselfas Dr. McGhie (name also changed from the Irish Catholic toScottish Protestant spelling).
  Occupation	1852	Perth,Lanark,Ontario,Canada   [7]
  	Doctor
  	He began practicing in Perth, Ontario. At that time, most of eastern Ontario was still bush, inhabited by wolves, bears, and other game. He was the only doctor in the area between Gananoque and Athens (50 km) and often had to brave savage storms and travel down rough trails to visit his patients.
  Death	18 Oct 1893	Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada   [6]
  	Cause: Died after tripping on a rug
  Burial	Aft 18 Oct 1893	Halladay Burying Grounds,Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada   [8]
  	Dr. B. T. McGhie Departed this Life October 18, 1893 Aged 82 Years --- Resquiescat In Pace
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Notes	His first wife was the daughter of LutherHolton5 of Brockville, Ontario. She died withher newborn baby and is buried at the cemetery in Athens,Ontario. Through his practice, he came to know the familyof M. Abel Ripley6. After the death of Mr.Ripley, his widow, Mercy, became friends with andeventually married the doctor. She wasfrom the Stevens family, Loyalists who fled to Canada in1793 following the AmericanRevolution. She brought with her 3 young children from herfirst husband; Edward Abel, Cephrona (m. Smith), and Addie(m. Earl). In the years that followed, B.T. and Mercy had 6more children; Benjamin Adelbert "Deb", George Stevens,Angela Ophelia, Margaret Mercy (McAmmond), Gertrude "True",and William. Only Adelbert and Margaret had children andcontinued the family line. *Mercie wrote: "Dr. Benjamin Bernard ThomasMcGhie married Mercy Ophelia Stevens (Ripley) in 1860. Theyhad both been married before, his first wife being thedaughter of Philip Holton of Brockville. Mr Holton gave hisdaughter a house and farm that afterwards became the tollgate on the road from Westport, Newboro, and Athens toBrockville. The doctor's first practice in medicine was inthis area. Unfortunately for the young couple, she diedwhen his first child was born7. She is buriedwith the child, Charles P. Holton McGhie in a cemetery nearAthens. Dr. McGhie moved to Delta and lived in the villagehotel where someone looked after his horses. He marriedabout 3 years later the widow Mercy Ophelia (Stevens)Ripley of Elgin. She had 3 children; Agnes Cephronia(Smith), Edward Abel (who was a schoolteacher8), and Adelaide, who was a small childat the time. My grandfather raised Addie from four years ofage and had other sons and daughters with Mercy; my father- Benjamin Adelbert, George Stevens, Margaret Mercy,Gertrude, Angelia, and a boy William John who died at 7years of age. This family was raised in Elgin". ___________ 5 Her father is also listed as Ezra Holton orPhilip Holton, depending on the source.6 Dr McGhie had been the attending physician tothe late Mr Ripley. There were whispers around town when hemarried the widow (Ripley died in early 1856, they married in 1860).7 Other records, shown above, say there were 2children; Charles P Holton McGhie (b. 1844? died at 4 wks &6 days) andWilliam McGhie (Oct 13, 1845-Oct 23, 1850). Charlotte islisted as having died on Dec 22, 1852 at age 21. Ifcorrect, she was 14 when they married. 8 The census for Abel says he was a butcher. With all his social and professional obligations, B.T.still did not forget his love for books. He often took timeto read and even make notes about any new books heencountered. He was once offered the chair of the medicalboard of QueensUniversity in Kingston but turned it down because of hisage. He retired to his farms and raised horses, oftenshowing them at local fairs. He was a Conservative, anAnglican, and a member of the Orange Lodge. Once, whenLiberal politician D'Arcy McGee came to Elgin to speak, thedoctor took an active stand against him. The "old doctor"died on October 18, 1893 after tripping on a rug,exclaiming "This is the end!" He was eighty-two years ofage. He is buried with his second wife Mercy Ophelia at thecemetery in Elgin. [9, 10]
  Person ID	I16728	Rgstrong Family genes. | Descendants of Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, 1811-1893, Descendants of Roger Stevens II, 1730-1808
  Last Modified	15 Sep 2024

  
  

  Father	Thomas McGhie,   b. Abt 1790, ,,Hebridies,Scotland d. Yes, date unknown
  Mother	,   b. Abt 1790   d. Bef 1824, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom (Age 33 years)
  Family ID	F5729	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Charlotte Anner Stafford,   b. 1831   d. 22 Dec 1852 (Age 21 years)
  Marriage	1843	,Leeds,,Canada West   [4]
  Marriage Status	Death of one spouse
  Children	1. Charles P. Holton McGhie,   b. 1852, ,Leeds,,Canada West d. 1852, ,Leeds,,Canada West (Age 0 years)
  Family ID	F9377	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	1 May 2020

  
  

  Family 2	Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada d. 4 Feb 1903 (Age 83 years)
  Marriage	14 Dec 1857	Beverley,Leeds,,Upper Canada   [6]
  	Dr McGhie had been the attending physician to the late MrRipley. There were whispers around town when he married thewidow (Ripley died in early 1856, they married in 1860). [9]
  Children	+ 1. Benjamin Adelbert McGhie,   b. 6 Nov 1860, Elgin,Leeds,,Canada West d. 1 Feb 1903, South Crosby,Leeds,Ontario,Canada (Age 42 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural] 2. Dr. George Stevens McGhie, M. D.,   b. 6 Jan 1862, Elgin,Leeds,,Canada West d. 16 Aug 1907, Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada (Age 45 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   3. Angelia Ophelia McGhie,   b. 28 Sep 1865, Elgin,Leeds,,Canada West d. 5 Oct 1909, ,,New York,United States (Age 44 years) + 4. Margaret Mercy McGhie,   b. 27 Jun 1867, Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada d. 1940 (Age 72 years)   5. Gertrude Florence "True" McGhie,   b. 25 Aug 1870, South Crosby,Leeds,Ontario,Canada d. 10 Sep 1894 (Age 24 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   6. William John "Willie" McGhie,   b. 13 Oct 1872   d. 23 Oct 1880 (Age 8 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F5732	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	2 May 2020

  
  

• Event Map	Click to display
  	Load the map	Alternate Birth - 1811 - ,,Hebridies,Scotland Education - Apprenticed with a local chemist - Abt 1822 - Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom Birth - 12 Jul 1824 - Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom Travel - on a vessel bound for America - Abt 1830 - Boston,Suffolk,Massachusetts,United States Education - Electric Medical College - Abt 1840 - ,,Pennsylvania,United States Marriage - 1843 - ,Leeds,,Canada West Graduation - Electric Medical College - 27 Apr 1849 - ,,Pennsylvania,United States Travel - and headed north to Canada - Aft 27 Apr 1849 - Brockville,,Elizabethtown,Canada West Education - apprenticed to a local Leeds County doctor - Between May 1849 and 1851 - ,Leeds,Ontario,Canada Occupation - Doctor - 1852 - Perth,Lanark,Ontario,Canada Child - Charles P. Holton McGhie - 1852 - ,Leeds,,Canada West Marriage - 14 Dec 1857 - Beverley,Leeds,,Upper Canada Child - Benjamin Adelbert McGhie - 6 Nov 1860 - Elgin,Leeds,,Canada West Child - Dr. George Stevens McGhie, M. D. - 6 Jan 1862 - Elgin,Leeds,,Canada West Child - Angelia Ophelia McGhie - 28 Sep 1865 - Elgin,Leeds,,Canada West Child - Margaret Mercy McGhie - 27 Jun 1867 - Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada Child - Gertrude Florence "True" McGhie - 25 Aug 1870 - South Crosby,Leeds,Ontario,Canada Death - Cause: Died after tripping on a rug - 18 Oct 1893 - Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada Burial - Aft 18 Oct 1893 - Halladay Burying Grounds,Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend

  
  

• Sources

  [S1017] Robert Houghton, Hamilton, ON [(E-ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE),], to Russell Strong, e-mail, 14 Jan 2008, "Howdy cousin!";privately held by Strong [(E-ADDRESS), & STREET ADDRESS FORPRIVATE USE], Peoria, AZ, 2008.Peoria, AZ, 2008., 29 Mar 2014 (Reliability: 3). [S13] Jill Fyffe rfyffe@peterboro.net, Descendants of Roger Stevens, b.1700, (Outline report 01/10/1999), pg. 5,paragraph A.2.n (Reliability: 0). [S1208] Robert Houghton UE, "The McGhie family"; descendant report to Russell Strong,[STREET ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Vicksburg, MI, January2020; pdf held by Robert Houghton UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATEUSE], Cambridge, ON., 1 May 2020, p. 1 (Reliability: 3). [S1207] Houghton, Robert "Bob", UE, E-mail correspondence with Russell Strong. Privately heldby Strong, [(E-ADDRESS) & MAILING ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]Robert "Bob" Houghton UE, Cambridge, ON [(E-ADDRESS) FORPRIVATE USE,] to Russell Strong, e-mail<; privately held byStrong, [(E-ADDRESS) & MAILING ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]Vicksburg, MI., 29 Apr 2020, 4/17/2020, 4:26 PM>, "Proposed Change: Dr. Benjamin BernardThomas McGhie, M.D. (I16728)," (Reliability: 3). [S402] Julia Wells - Cowofevil@aol.com, J. Wells Family decendancy, (Ancestry.com, OneWorldTree, entry 10308, date Sat Aug 2512:14:53 2001 acessed on 1/7/2007), 7 Jan 2007 (Reliability: 3). [S1208] Robert Houghton UE, "The McGhie family"; descendant report to Russell Strong,[STREET ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Vicksburg, MI, January2020; pdf held by Robert Houghton UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATEUSE], Cambridge, ON., 2 May 2020, p. 4 (Reliability: 3). [S1208] Robert Houghton UE, "The McGhie family"; descendant report to Russell Strong,[STREET ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Vicksburg, MI, January2020; pdf held by Robert Houghton UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATEUSE], Cambridge, ON., 1 May 2020, p. 2 (Reliability: 3). [S795] Halladay Burial Grounds (Leeds, ON; Located at the end ofHalladay Street at Church Street), Grave markers, 1 May 2020, Dr. B. T. McGhie marker, Photographed submitted by RobertHoughton, UE, 17 Apr 2020. (Reliability: 3). Dr. B. T. McGhie Departed this Life October 18, 1893 Aged 82 Years --- Resquiescat In Pace Dr. B. T. McGhie Departed this Life October 18, 1893 Aged 82 Years --- Resquiescat In Pace [S1208] Robert Houghton UE, "The McGhie family"; descendant report to Russell Strong,[STREET ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Vicksburg, MI, January2020; pdf held by Robert Houghton UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATEUSE], Cambridge, ON., 2 May 2020, p. 3 (Reliability: 3). [S1208] Robert Houghton UE, "The McGhie family"; descendant report to Russell Strong,[STREET ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Vicksburg, MI, January2020; pdf held by Robert Houghton UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATEUSE], Cambridge, ON., 2 May 2020, p. 5 (Reliability: 3).