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- Vincent Andrews Story
In the early 19th Century, a boy, Vincent Andrews was born in London, England. He grew to be a fine, stalwart young man. He decided to choose the Army for his life work. Because of his physical and mental qualifications he was chosen to become a member of her Majesty's Coldstream Guards. Her majesty at that time was Queen Victoria, Great Grandmother of the present King George of England. The Coldstream Guards were next to the oldest regiment in the English Army and one of the choicest regiments. Their duty was to attend the sovereign. Their mounted guard guarded the Royal Residences, public buildings and Institutions. It is recorded that these Coldstream Guards from the time of inception in 1660 have always performed excellently in every line of duty.
After joining the Coldstream Guards, this young man, Vincent Andrews, met a girl from Dover, England by the name of Mary. They fell in love and were married. Their first child, a son, was born in London, May 14th, 1837. They named him John. In the year 1838 and 1839 a rebellion broke out in Canada. England sent leaders or pacifiers, to investigate possible grievances. Lord Dunham was assigned to Canada, with special assistants and special guards to quell the uprisings. Young Vincent was chosen to be one of the assistants. He and his young wife, Mary had to break their family ties in England, which had been their lifelong home and set sail to Canada, a strange land to them. On Sept. 24, 1839,while enroute from London to Canada on the steamship their second child was born a little girl which they called Sarah.
Vincent and Mary arrived in Halifax, N.S. with their two children and for several years were happy in this new land. During that time another child was born. Edward was his name, but I regret that I have no record of his life history. In the summer of 1847, nine years later, a great tragedy came to this little family. Vincent and Mary became victims of a fever and both died just six weeks apart, on Grosse Ile, (Quarantine Station for the Irish Immigrants) about 30 miles below Quebec. Three children were left without parents and all their relatives who might have aided them were far away in England. John, the oldest child, was just past ten years of age at this time. While still a very young boy He, traveled south until he came to Rossville. He stopped there and eventually sent for his sister, Sarah. Brother John and sister Sarah felt a close tie of relationship because they were alone without any kith of kin in the U.S.
When the Civil War broke out John enlisted and served through the war. My best information is that he lacked only two votes of becoming Captain of his regiment. On his return he married Loura Marie Earls. Their life together was rather short. His wife died in childbirth in 1876 leaving him with six children. He did his best to keep his family together but passed away about three years later with blood poisoning contracted while attending to his duties as Sextent of Springhill Cemetery. Four of those six children are still living today. Sarah met a widower, Alex Holden, with two small sons - a man of good standing in his community. She married him, became a second mother to his motherless boys and bore him eight children. Four of those eight are still living. Many hardships were experienced in both families but every child proved upright, trustworthy and a credit to their parents.
Three of John's children, Anna, Harve, and Jennie and three of Sarah's children, Alex, Cora, and Mary are at our reunion today. I say in all sincerity we can be proud of the Holden-Andrews family. May god bless us all and guide us so that we may all continue to keep the standard high.
Given at Holden-Andrews reunion by Mae Andrews Campbell
Aug 24th,1941
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Fisher-Gunn Families Genealogy
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