Mercy Ophelia Stevens

1819 - 1903  (83 years)

 Set As Default Person

Abel Stevens, II

1779 - 1858  (78 years)

Birth	11 Nov 1779	Pittsford,,Vermont,United States
Died	29 May 1858	Delta,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Buried	May 1858	Delta,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Father	Abel Stevens, I,   b. Between 11 Nov 1750 and 1755, Quaker Hill,Dutchess,New York,United States
Relationship	natural
Mother	Eunice Buck,   b. 11 Nov 1758, New Milford,Litchfield,Connecticut,United States
Relationship	natural
Married	Abt 1775	Pittsford,,Vermont,United States
Family 1	Ruth Huntley,   b. 1783
Married	1800	,,Vermont,United States
Children	+ 1. Lucinda Stevens,   b. 24 Jun 1803, Delta,Leeds,Ontario,Canada + 2. Palmer Stevens,   b. 13 Jun 1805   3. Ruth Stevens,   b. 1806   4. Nancy Stevens,   b. Abt 1808   5. Henry Stevens,   b. Abt 1809 + 6. Williston Stevens,   b. 7 May 1810   7. Fannie Maria Stevens,   b. 8 Sep 1812, Stevens Hill,Delta,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Family 2	Phoebe Knowlton,   b. 18 Mar 1793, Bastard Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Married	1814	,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Children	+ 1. Abel Neri Stevens,   b. 23 May 1819 + 2. Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada + 3. George King Stevens,   b. Aug 1820, Bastard Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada + 4. Stephen Knowlton Stevens,   b. Mar 1821, Delta,Leeds,Ontario,Canada + 5. Thomas Albert Stevens,   b. 1824 + 6. Israel Hezekiah Stevens,   b. Oct 1829, Bastard Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada

Phoebe Knowlton

1793 - 1869  (76 years)

Birth	18 Mar 1793	Bastard Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Died	20 Nov 1869	Delta,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Father	Thomas Knowlton, II,   b. 6 Jul 1761, Bethlehem Township,Albany,New York,United States
Relationship	natural
Mother	Mercy Stark,   b. 4 Jun 1765
Relationship	natural
Married	11 Dec 1783
Family	Abel Stevens, II,   b. 11 Nov 1779, Pittsford,,Vermont,United States
Married	1814	,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Children	+ 1. Abel Neri Stevens,   b. 23 May 1819 + 2. Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada + 3. George King Stevens,   b. Aug 1820, Bastard Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada + 4. Stephen Knowlton Stevens,   b. Mar 1821, Delta,Leeds,Ontario,Canada + 5. Thomas Albert Stevens,   b. 1824 + 6. Israel Hezekiah Stevens,   b. Oct 1829, Bastard Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada

William Abel Ripley

Abt 1815 - 1857  (42 years)

Birth	Abt 1815
Died	11 May 1857
Family	Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada
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

Edward Abel Ripley

1850 - 1894  (44 years)

Birth	1850	,,,Canada West
Died	20 Apr 1894	Thorold,,Ontario,Canada
	Cause: Struck by lightning
Father	William Abel Ripley,   b. Abt 1815
Relationship	natural
Mother	Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Relationship	natural
Married	13 Feb 1849	Kitley Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada

Agnes Cephrona Ripley

1853 - 1941  (88 years)

Birth	24 Jan 1853
Died	13 Dec 1941
Father	William Abel Ripley,   b. Abt 1815
Relationship	natural
Mother	Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Relationship	natural
Married	13 Feb 1849	Kitley Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Family	Charles Smith,   b. 1850
Married	7 Dec 1872
Children	1. Mercy Smith,   b. 1873 + 2. Pvt Robert Jay Smith,   b. Abt 1875   3. Charles Frank Smith,   b. 1878   4. Mary Matilda "Mayme" Smith,   b. 1882 + 5. John Sinclair Smith,   b. 1889

Adelaide Ophelia "Addie" Ripley

1856 - 1940  (83 years)

Nickname	Addie
Birth	30 Jan 1856
Died	7 Jan 1940
Father	William Abel Ripley,   b. Abt 1815
Relationship	natural
Mother	Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada
Relationship	natural
Married	13 Feb 1849	Kitley Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Family	Gershom WIlliam Earl,   b. 1857
Married	29 Sep 1880	Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Children	+ 1. Libby Gertrude Earl,   b. 29 Jun 1881 + 2. Margaret Edna Earl,   b. 17 Apr 1883 + 3. James Foster Earl,   b. 25 Nov 1885

Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.

1811 - 1893  (82 years)

Birth	12 Jul 1811	Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom
Died	18 Oct 1893	Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
	Cause: Died after tripping on a rug
Buried	1893	Halladay Burying Grounds,Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
Father	Thomas McGhie,   b. Abt 1790, ,,Hebridies,Scotland
Mother	,   b. Abt 1790
Family 1	Charlotte Anner Holton,   b. 1831
Married	1843	,Leeds,,Canada West
Children	1. William McGhie,   b. 13 Oct 1845, ,Leeds,,Canada West   2. Charles P. Holton McGhie,   b. 1852, ,Leeds,,Canada West
Family 2	Mercy Ophelia Stevens,   b. 31 Dec 1819, Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada
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 1811, 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 1811, 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 1811, 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 1811, 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 1811, 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 1811, 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	Mercy Ophelia Stevens  [1]
  Birth	31 Dec 1819	Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada   [2]
  	In the 1871 and 1881 census, the age she gives suggests she was born in 1832.
  Gender	Female
  Alternate Birth	Cal 4 Feb 1831	Beverley,Leeds,,Upper Canada   [3]
  	Calculated from tombstone
  Death	4 Feb 1903  [3]
  Burial	Aft 4 Feb 1903	Halladay Burying Grounds,Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada   [3]
  	Mercy Wife of Dr. McGhie Departed This Life Feb. 4, 1903 Aged 72 Years --- The Lord Is My Shephard
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I16729	Rgstrong Family genes. | Descendants of Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, 1811-1893, Descendants of Roger Stevens II, 1730-1808
  Last Modified	2 May 2020

  
  

  Father	Abel Stevens, II,   b. 11 Nov 1779, Pittsford,,Vermont,United States d. 29 May 1858, Delta,Leeds,Ontario,Canada (Age 78 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Phoebe Knowlton,   b. 18 Mar 1793, Bastard Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada d. 20 Nov 1869, Delta,Leeds,Ontario,Canada (Age 76 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	1814	,Leeds,Ontario,Canada
  Family ID	F4174	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	William Abel Ripley,   b. Abt 1815   d. 11 May 1857 (Age 42 years)
  Marriage	13 Feb 1849	Kitley Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada   [2]
  Children	1. Edward Abel Ripley,   b. 1850, ,,,Canada West d. 20 Apr 1894, Thorold,,Ontario,Canada (Age 44 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural] + 2. Agnes Cephrona Ripley,   b. 24 Jan 1853   d. 13 Dec 1941 (Age 88 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural] + 3. Adelaide Ophelia "Addie" Ripley,   b. 30 Jan 1856   d. 7 Jan 1940 (Age 83 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F6288	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	2 May 2020

  
  

  Family 2	Dr. Benjamin Thomas McGhie, M. D.,   b. 12 Jul 1811, Belfast,Antrim,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom d. 18 Oct 1893, Elgin,Leeds,Ontario,Canada (Age 82 years)
  Marriage	14 Dec 1857	Beverley,Leeds,,Upper Canada   [4]
  	Dr McGhie had been the attending physician to the late Mr Ripley. There were whispers around town when he married the widow (Ripley died in early 1856, they married in 1860). [2]
  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	Birth - 31 Dec 1819 - Stone Mills,Leeds,,Upper Canada Alternate Birth - Cal 4 Feb 1831 - Beverley,Leeds,,Upper Canada Marriage - 13 Feb 1849 - Kitley Township,Leeds,Ontario,Canada Child - Edward Abel Ripley - 1850 - ,,,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 Burial - Aft 4 Feb 1903 - 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 FOR PRIVATE USE], Peoria, AZ, 2008.Peoria, AZ, 2008., 29 Mar 2014 (Reliability: 3). [S1208] Robert Houghton UE, "The McGhie family"; descendant report to Russell Strong, [STREET ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Vicksburg, MI, January 2000; pdf held by Robert Houghton UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Cambridge, ON., 2 May 2020, p. 3 (Reliability: 3). *from Dr BT McGhie's notes: His first wife was the daughter of Luther Holton5 of Brockville, Ontario. She died with her newborn baby and is buried at the cemetery in Athens, Ontario. Through his practice, he came to know the family of M. Abel Ripley6. After the death of Mr Ripley, his widow, Mercy, became friends with and eventually married the doctor. She was from the Stevens family, Loyalists who fled to Canada in 1793 following the American Revolution. She brought with her 3 young children from her first husband; Edward Abel, Cephrona (m. Smith), and Addie (m. Earl). In the years that followed, B.T. and Mercy had 6 more children; Benjamin Adelbert "Deb", George Stevens, Angela Ophelia, Margaret Mercy (McAmmond), Gertrude "True", and William. Only Adelbert and Margaret had children and continued the family line. *Mercie wrote:  "Dr. Benjamin Bernard Thomas McGhie married Mercy Ophelia Stevens (Ripley) in 1860. They had both been married before, his first wife being the daughter of Philip Holton of Brockville. Mr Holton gave his daughter a house and farm that afterwards became the toll gate on the road from Westport, Newboro, and Athens to Brockville. The doctor's first practice in medicine was in this area. Unfortunately for the young couple, she died when his first child was born7. She is buried with the child, Charles P. Holton McGhie in a cemetery near Athens. Dr. McGhie moved to Delta and lived in the village hotel where someone looked after his horses. He married about 3 years later the widow Mercy Ophelia (Stevens) Ripley of Elgin. She had 3 children; Agnes Cephronia (Smith), Edward Abel (who was a school teacher8), and Adelaide, who was a small child at the time. My grandfather raised Addie from four years of age 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 7 years of age. This family was raised in Elgin". The next generations: Mercy Ophelia Stevens b. Dec 31, 18199, m. William Ripley on Feb 13, 1849 in Kitley, Ont. Children:  Edward Abel b. 1850, d. Apr 20, 1894 (struck by lightning in Thorold, Ont) Agnes Cephrona b. Jan 24, 1853, m. Charles Smith (1850-1913) on Dec 7, 1872, d. Jan 24, 1853. Children: Charles Frank (1878-1954), m May Simpson (1882-1964) Robert, killed in WW-1, lived in Saskatoon Mercy (1873-1967), m. John Roddick (1866-1943) Mary Matilda "Mayme" (1882-1931), m. John Morris (1878-1960) ______________ 5 Her father is also listed as Ezra Holton or Philip Holton, depending on the source. 6 Dr McGhie had been the attending physician to the late Mr Ripley. There were whispers around town when he married the widow (Ripley died in early 1856, they married in 1860). 7 Other records, shown above, say there were 2 children; Charles P Holton McGhie (b. 1844? died at 4 wks & 6 days) and William McGhie (Oct 13, 1845-Oct 23, 1850). Charlotte is listed as having died on Dec 22, 1852 at age 21. If correct, she was 14 when they married. 8 The census for Abel says he was a butcher. 9 In the 1871 and 1881 census, the age she gives suggests she was born in 1832.states that the old leather document was difficult to read. [S795] Halladay Burial Grounds (Leeds, ON; Located at the end of Halladay Street at Church Street), Grave markers, 1 May 2020, Mercy McGhie marker, Photographed submitted by Robert Houghton, UE, 17 Apr 2020. (Reliability: 3). Mercy Wife of Dr. McGhie Departed This Life Feb. 4, 1903 Aged 72 Years --- The Lord Is My Shephard Mercy Wife of Dr. McGhie Departed This Life Feb. 4, 1903 Aged 72 Years --- The Lord Is My Shephard [S1208] Robert Houghton UE, "The McGhie family"; descendant report to Russell Strong, [STREET ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Vicksburg, MI, January 2000; pdf held by Robert Houghton UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Cambridge, ON., 2 May 2020, p. 4 (Reliability: 3). John Sinclair (1889-1972), m. Estella Coon (1892- ) Adelaide "Addie" Ophelia, b. Jan 30, 1856, m. Gershom William Earl (1857- 1927) in Elgin, Ont. d. Jan 7, 1940. Children: Libby Gertrude b. June 29, 1881, d. Mar 16, 1961), m. John A Smith (1881- 1946), children Glenn (in Vancouver), Norma (in Edmonton)10 Margaret Edna b. Apr 17, 1883, d. Feb 25, 1947, m. William Henry "Harry" Smith (1885-1950), children Anna, Clifford (in Elgin) James Foster, b. Nov 25, 1885, d. Dec 22, 1973, m. Elma Pierce (1886-1975), children: Eleanor (in Ottawa), Allan (in Elgin) Benjamin Bernard Thomas McGhie "the old doctor" b –  July 12, 1811 (Hebrides or Belfast, Ireland), m. Charlotte Anner Holton (b. 1831, d. Dec 22, 1852) Children: Charles P. Holton McGhie (died abt. 1844 - 4 wks & 6 days old) William McGhie (Oct 13, 1845 - Oct 23, 1850) m -Mercy Stevens-Ripley (Dec 31, 1819-Feb 4, 1903) on Dec 14, 1857 in Delta, d –  Oct 18, 1893 (Elgin, Ontario) Children: Benjamin Adelbert b. Nov 6, 1860, m. Ermina Annetta Singleton on Nov 20, 1883, d. Feb 1, 1903 Children: Effie Gertrude b. Aug 25, 1886, d. Sept 1, 1886 Bernard Thomas b. Apr 14, 1889, m. Myrtle Avery (1890-1973) on Dec 24, 1917, d. Jan 20, 1945. Children: Bernard Gordon (Feb 20, 1920- ), m. Elizabeth "Betty" Taylor 2 children: Tim & Bill. Margaret Mina (Feb 14, 1922-Aug 11, 1996), m. Robert Tamblyn, 5 children: Tom, Terry, Robyn, Michael, Sally. Arthur Avery (May 15, 1923- ), m. Jean Mabbitt, m-2. Pat Searle, 3 children: Doug, Judy, James. Adelbert George "Kit" (Sept 22, 1925-Sept 4, 1992), m. Bonnie Sutherland, 3 children: Denise, Scott, Robert. Sarah Hazel b. Feb 5, 1891, d. Mar 10, 1892 Ambrose Gerald b. Feb 4, 1893, m. Blanche Estella McLean (1894-1970) on June 30, 1920, d. Apr 9, 1972. _______ 10 Norma said she had the old doctor's leather graduation certificate (in 1980s) as well as True's engagement ring.