By Benson Hewitt
A few weeks ago I wrote a piece on a social event held by the members of the "Rising Sun", Division #43, Sons of Temperance, Fogo, in 1881.
One of the active members of that organization at that time was John Luther Haddon. Because I was not familiar with that name associated with Fogo, I did a little research and found out more about him. Following the publishing of that particular piece, I had an e-mail from someone who is a direct descendent of John Haddon and wondered if I knew anything more about him. This is it, and I'll tell you who that descendant is a little later.
Let's start this descendant's great-great-great-grandfather, William, who was born in Harpenden, England, on the 16th of October, in 1795. In 1843 he was sent to Newfoundland by the British government to superintend some government construction in St. John's and died there in June, 1876.
Accompanying him was his son, John Luther Haddon, who was about 20 years old at that time, and who had also been born in Harpenden, England, on March 27, 1823. Some time after his arrival in St. John's, he became a teacher under the Colonial Continental School Society, and his first assignment was Mortier Bay, near Burin. Subsequently, he taught at Harbour Buffett, Bonavista, and later at the Church of England Academy (later Bishop Field College). After this he was appointed the first Inspector of Protestant Schools, a position he retained until denomination separation took place, when he was pensioned and retired from active service. At this time he was living at Long Pond, Conception Bay. He married Mary Anne Collett of Harbour Buffett at Placentia on Nov. 14, 1845. She was born on the Nov. 26, 1824, at Petty Harbour.
John and Mary had10 children, one of whom was John Luther, who was born December 19, 1859, at Long Pond, Conception Bay. He married Eva M. Mutch, daughter of S. Mutch, Esq. of St. John's in the residence of T.L. Duder, Esq. of Fogo by Reverend J. Hill, Methodist Church, Fogo, August 16th , 1884. (Eva may have been born in Southport, PEI, on Aug. 5, 1861.) John gave his occupation as customs officer, although there is some evidence that he was also an accountant, perhaps with T. C. Duder, who had a mercantile business here at that time. Thomas Duder had married his oldest sister, Emily Haddon, on May 5, 1874, in the Wesleyan Chapel, in St. John's. John Luther Haddon (b. December 19, 1859) and Eva had eight children : Emily(1885), Minnie (1886), Frederick (1888), John (1890), Daisy (1892), Marjorie (1894), Edwin (1896) Douglas (1900). She died on July 21, 1912, in St. John's. Emily, his oldest daughter married William Strong of Little Bay Islands on Jan. 10, 1910.
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