These are my ancestral roots. I will continue to add to them as i get time .

 

Retson Root 1 Generation 1 &2 &3 &4 &5&6&7&8

(1)James Clifford Retson 1948 * (2) George Clifford Retson 1912 married Grace Elizabeth Atkinson 1916 * (3) William Rankin Retson 1884 married Beatrice Mary Clifford 1887 * (4) George Retson 1848 married Mary McManus 1852* (5) John Retson 1809 married Jean Hamilton 1811 * (6) John Ratson / Retson (1779) married Ann Bateman 1790 *(7) Richard Ratson 1760 married Margaret Tarne 1760 * (8) Richard Rattson 1731 married Margaret Milburn 1750

 

Atkinson Root 2 Geneartion 2 & 3 &4 &5&6

(2) Grace Elizabeth Atkinson 1916 * (3) Edward Elbert Atkinson 1887 married Esther Jane Burns 1886* (4) Edward Atkinson 1858 married Abigail Almeda Spicer 1860 * (5) Thomas Atkinson 1828 married Margaret Holiston 1828 * (6) William Atkinson 1785 married Jane Coulter 1801

 

Clifford Root 3 Generation 3&4&5&6

(3) Beatrice Mary Clifford 1887 * (4) James Clifford 1838 married Rebecca Nelson 1841 * (5) John Clifford 1801 married Alice Kennedy 1802 * (6) Timothy Clifford ? married Hannah Keane

 

Burns Root 4 Generation 3 &4 &5 &6 &7

(3) Esther Jean Burns 1886 * (4) Robert Burns 1853 married Jane McNab 1858

* (5) Robert Burns 1824 married Elizabeth Richardson 1823 * (6) Alexander Burns 1778 married Agnes Jaffray 1785 (7) John Burn 1750 married Margaret Brown

 

McManus Root 5 Geneartion 4 &5 &6

(4) Mary McManus 1852 (5) Francis McManus 1832 married Margaret Armour 1828 (6) Francis McManus married Jean McGraw

 

Nelson Root Root 6 Generation 4 &5&6&7

(4) Rebecca Nelson 1841 * (5) Robert John Nelson 1810 married Agnes Hoar 1812 * (6)Samuel Nelson1778 married Mary Wilson 1786 * (7) David Nelson 1752 married Margaret Archibald 1743

 

Spicer Root 7 Generation 4 &5 &6 &7

(4) Abigail Almeda Spicer 1860 * (5) Robert Nicholson Spicer 1832 married Elizabeth Jane Perrin 1840 * (6) William Martin Spicer married Sophia Mosher 1800 * (7) Daniel Spicer

 

McNab Root 8 Generation 4 &5 &6

(4) Jane McNab 1858 * (5) Daniel McNab 1827 married Grace Campbell 1831 * (6) Peter McNab 1791 married Jane Hope 1802

 

Hamilton Root 9 Generation 5 &6 &7

(5) Jean Hamilton 1811 * (6) William Hamilton 1785 married Margaret Templeton 1780 * (7) James Hamiton married Sarah Howat 1758

 

Armour Root 10 Generation 5 &6

(5) Margaret Armour 1828 * (6) Alexander Armour married Margaret Cook

 

Hoar Root 11 Geneartion 5 &6 &7 &8 &9

(5)Agnes Hoar 1812 * (6) David Hoar 1783 married Rebecca Smith 1787 * (7) Solomon Hoar 1748 married Mary Lynds 1751 * (8) David Hoar 1713 married Abigail Hitchcock 1718 * (9) Leonard Hoar 1684 married Esther Hubbards 1685

*(10) Daniel Hoar 1650 married Mary Stratton 1656 * (11) John Hoar 1622 married Alice *12 Charles Hoare 1586 married Joanna Hincksman 1590 * 13 Charles Hoare married Margerie

 

Kennedy Root Root 12 Generation 5

(5) Alice Kennedy 1802

 

Holiston Root 13 Genearation 5 &6

(5) Margaret Holiston 1828 * (6) James Holiston 1808 married Mary Wylie 1811

 

Richardson Root 14 Geneartion 5 &6 &7

(5) Elizabeth Richardson 1823 * (6) Samuel Richardson married Helen McMin 1790 * (7) James Richardson 1750 married Rachel Little

 

Campbell Root 15 Generation 5 &6

(5) Grace Cambell 1831 * (6) David Campbell 1791 married Margaret Annison Roddick 1804 * (7) James Campbell 1744 married Janet Harkness 1760

 

Perrin Root 16 Generation 5 &6 &7

(5) Elizabeth Jane Perrin 1840 * (6) Orrin Gould Perrin 1806 married Hannah Youker 1800 * (7) Andrew Perrin 1766 married Abigail Gould 1775 * (8)Thomas Perrin 1739 married Martha Savery 1738 * (9) Thomas Perrin 1716 married Jeresusah Porter 1712 *(10) Thomas Perrin 1765 married Sarah Phelps 1680*(11) Thomas Perrin 1734 married Martha Haver 1638 *(12) Thomas Perrin 1611 married Elizabeth Chalfort 1611 *(13) Thomas Perrin 1585 married Ann Potter 1587 * (14) Thomas Perrin 1540 married Catherine Parrott 1540 *(15) Roger Perrins 1514 married Elizabeth Stocker 1518 *(16) John Peryns 1460 married Cecelia Brampton.......

 

Bateman Root 17 Generation 6 &7

(6) Ann Bateman 1790 * (7) Thomas Bateman 1770 married Margaret Noble

 

Coulter Root 18 Generation 6

(6) Jane Coulter 1801

 

Keane Root 19 Generation 6

(6)Hannah Keane

 

Jaffray Root 20 Generation 6

(6)Agnes Jaffray 1785

 

McGraw Root Root 21 Generation 6

(6)Jean McGraw

 

Wilson Root 23 Generation 6

(6)Mary Wilson 1786

 

Mosher Root 24 Generation 6

(6) Sophia Mosher 1800 *(7) Hezekiah Mosher 1756 married Rachel Harriet Hodges 1761 * (8) Jabesh Mosher married Elizabeth Preston

 

Hope Root 25 Generation 6

(6) Jane Hope 1802 * (7) Mathew Hope married Grizel Corrie

 

Templeton Root 26 Generation 6

(6)Margaret Templeton 1780

 

Cook Root 27 Generation 6

(6)Margaet Cook

 

Smith Roots 28 Generation 6

(6) Rebecca Smith 1787

 

Wyllie Root 29 Generation 6

(6) Mary Wylie 1811 * (7) Adam Wylie married Christian Orkney

 

McMin Root 30 Generation 6

(6) Helen McMin 1790

 

Roddick Root 31 Generation 6

(6)Margaret Annison Roddick 1804 * (7) James Roddick 1776 married Janet Armstrong 1779 *(8) William Armstrong 1776 married Agnes McCormack Freeman 1791

 

Youker Root 32 Generation 6

(6) Hannah Youker 1800 * (7)Solomon Jonathon Youker 1760 married Elizabeth Haus 1768 * (8) Rudolph Youker 1730 married Anna Windlorin 1729

 

Haus Root

(7) Elizabeth Haus 1768 *(8) Johannes Joseph Hon Yost Haus 1728 married Elisabetha Young 1740 *(9) Conrad Haus 1703

 

Hodges Root 33

(7)Rachel Harriet Hodges 1761 *(8) Timothy Hodge

 

Howat Root 34

(7) Sarah Howat 1758

 

Corrie Root 35

(7)Grizel Corrie

 

Brown Root 36

(7) Margaret "Peggy" Brown

 

Tarne Root 37

(7) Margaret Tarne 1760

 

Lynds 38

(7)Mary Lynds 1751 *(8) Jacob Lynds 1716 married Mary Gould 1724 * (9) Thomas Lynde 1685 married Lydia Green 1685 *(10) John Lynde 1648 married Mary Pierce 1658 * (11) Thomas Lynde 1615 Elizabeth Tufts 1612 * (12) Thomas Lynde 1593 married Mary 1596

 

Harkness Root 39

(7) Janet Harkness 1760

 

Orkney Root 40

Christian Orkney

 

Gould Root (a) 41

 

(8) Mary Gould 1724 * (9) David Gould 1691 married Elizabeth Green 1687 * (10) Daniel Gould 1655 married Dorcas Belcher 1657 (11) John Gould 1610 Joanna Unknown 1608

 

Gould Root (b)

 

(7) Abigail Gould 1775 *(8) Ebenezer Gould 1755 married Rhoda Robins 1755 *(9) Samuel Gould 1726 married Martha * (10) Thomas Gould 1680 Priscilla Batema 1687 * (11)John Gould 1680 married Abigail Belcher 1655 (11) John Gould 1610 Joanna Unknown 1608

 

Little Root 42

(7) Rachel Little

 

Noble Root 43

(7) Margaret Noble

 

Archibald Root 44

(7) Margaret Archibald 1743 *(8) Samuel Archibald 1719 married Eleanor Taylor 1724 *(9) John Archibald 1693 married Margaret Wilson 1695 *(10) Robert Archibald 1668 married Ann Boyd 1668

 

Armstrong Root 45

(7) Janet Armstrong 1779

 

Young / Jung Root 46

(8) Elisabetha Young 1740 * (9) Joann Adam Jung 1717 married Catherina Elizabeth Schrembling 1720 * (10) Johann Theobald Jung 1691 married Maria Catharina (Snyder) Schneider 1690 *(11) Hans Andreas Jung 1645 married Agnes Clausen 1651 *(11) Joannes Jung married Barbara

 

Windlorin Root 47

(8) Anna Windlorin 1729

 

(8) Milburn Root 48

Margaret Milburn 1750

 

Hitchcock Root 49

(8) Abigail Hitchcock 1718 * (9) John Hitchcock 1692 married Abigail Stebbins 1695 * (10) John Hitchcock 1670 married Mary Ball 1673 (11) John Hitchcock 1642 married Hannah Chappin 1614 (12) Luke Hitchcock 1614 married Elizabeth Gibbons 1620

 

Savery Root 50

(8)Martha Savery 1738

 

Preston Root 51

(8) Elizabeth Preston

 

Freeman Root 52

(8) Agnes McCormack Freeman 1791

 

Robins Root 53

(8) Rhoda Robins 1755 * (9) John Robbins 1716 married Abigail Whitney 1717 * (10) Samuel Robbins 1679 married Dorothy Barrett * (11) George Robbins 1646 Alice Frye 1650

 

Green Root (a)54

(9) Elizabeth Green 1687 * (10) Samuel Green 1645 married Mary Cook 1649 * (11) Thomas Greene married Elizabeth Lynde

 

Green Root (b)

(9) Lydia Green 1685 * (10) Henry Green married Esther Hasey 1649/50 * (11) Thomas Green

 

Schrembling Root 55

(9) Catherina Elizabeth Schrembling 1720

 

Hubbards Root 56

(9) Esther Hubbards 1685 * (10) Daniel Hubbard 1661 married Esther Rice 1665 * (11) John Hubbard 1630 married Mary Merriam 1627 * (12) George Hubbard 1603 married Mary Bishop 1610 Richard Hubbard 1590

 

Porter Root 57

(9) Jeresusah Porter 1712 * (10) David Porter1683 married Anna Phelps 1686 *(11) John Porter 1651 married Joanna Gaylord 1653 * (12) John Porter married 1621/22 Mary Stanley 1634 *(13) John Porter 1590 married Rosana White 1600 * (14) William Porter 1565 married Jane Bussy 1570

 

Stebbins Root 58

(9) Abigail Stebbins 1695 * (10) Samuel Wright Stebbins 1646 married Abigail Brooks 1665 * (11) Thomas Stibbins 1620 married Hannah Wright 1626 * (12) Rowland Stibbins 1592 married Sarah Whiting 1591 Thomas Stibbens

 

Whitney Root 59

(9) Abigail Whitney 1717 *(10) Cornelius Whitney married Sarah Shepherd *(11) Joshua Whitney married Abigail Tarball

 

Wilson Root 60

(9) Margaret Wilson 1695

 

Belcher Root (a) 61

(10) Dorcas Belcher 1657 * (11) Jeremiah Belcher 1613 married Mary Lockwood 1628 * (12) Thomas Belcher 1590 Ann Solne 1596

 

Belcher Root (b)

(11) Abigail Belcher 1655 *** Jeremiah Belcher 1613 See above

 

Pierce Root 62

(10) Mary Pierce 1658

 

Schneider Root 63

(10) Maria Catharina ( Snyder) Schneider 1690

 

Phelps Root 64

(10) Anna Phelps 1686 * (11) Timothy Phelps 1639 married Mary Griswold 1644 (12) William Phelps 1599 married Mary Dover 1610 * (13) William Phelps 1560 married Dororthy

 

Sarah Root 65

(10) Sarah Phelps 1680

 

Stratton Root 66

(10) Mary Stratton 1656 * (11) Samuel Stratton 1625 married Mary Fry 1633

 

Brooks Root 67

(10) Abigail Brooks 1665 * (11) William Brooks 1610 married Mary Burt 1635

 

Ball Root 68

(10) Mary Ball 1673 (11) Samuel Ball 1647 married Mary Graves *(12) Francis Ball 1599 married Abigail Burt 1623 * (13) William Ball 1573 married Alice Waltham 1573 *(14)John Ball Jr. 1548 married Elizabeth Webb 1555 * (15) John Paris Ball 1525 married Agnes Hathoway 1529 *(16) William Ball

 

Rice Root 69

(10) Esther Rice 1665 (11) Samuel Rice 1634 married Elizabeth King Thomas King

 

Cook Root 70

(10) Mary Cook 1649

 

Hasey Root 71

(10) Esther Hasey 1649/50 * (11) William Hasey

 

Barrett Root 72

(10) Dorothy Barrett

 

Shepherd Root 73

Sarah Shepherd

 

Tarball Root 74

Abigail Tarball

 

Clausen Root 75

(11) Agnes Clausen 1651

 

Hinksman Root 76

(11) Joanna Hincksman 1590

 

Haver Root 77

(11) Martha Haver 1638

 

Gaylord Root 78

(11) Joanna Gaylord 1653

 

Chappin Root 78

(11)Hannah Chappin 1614 * (12) Samuel Chapin 1598 married Cisilly Penny

 

Wright Root 79

(11) Hannah Wright 1626

 

Lockwood Root 80

(11) Mary Lockwood 1628

 

Griswold Root 81

(11) Mary Griswold 1644 * (12) Edward Griswold 1607 married Margaret Hicks 1610 * (13) George Griswold 1548 married Dorothy James 1567 * (14) Roger Griswold married Elizabeth Buck * (15) William Griswold

 

Frye Root a 82

(11) Alice Frye 1650

 

Fry Root b

(11 )Mary Fry 1633

 

Tufts Root 83

(11)Elizabeth Tufts 1612

 

Merriam Root 84

(11) Mary Merriam 1627

 

Burt Root (a) 85

(11) Mary Burt 1635 * (12) Henry Burt married 1595 Eulalia March 1609 * (13) Henry Burt 1567 married Isott Martyn 1571

 

King Root 86

(11) Elizabeth King

 

Burt Root (b) 87

(12) Abigail Burt 1623

 

Graves Root 88

(11) Mary Graves

 

March Root 89

(12) Eulalia March 1609 * (13) Richard Marche 1566 married Joan Martyn 1570 *(14) John Marche

 

(12) Gibbons Root 90

Elizabeth Gibbons 1620

 

Stanley Root 91

(12) Mary Stanley 1634

 

Chalfort Root 92

(12)Elizabeth Chalfort 1611

 

Dover Root 93

(12) Mary Dover 1610

 

Whiting Root 94

(12) Sarah Whiting 1591

 

Solne Root 95

(12) Ann Solne 1596

 

Bishop Root 96

(12)Mary Bishop 1610

 

Hicks Root 97

(12) Margaret Hicks 1610 * (13) Robert Hicks 1578 married Margaret Winslow 1589 (14) James Hicks married Phebe Allyne 1536 * (15) Baptist Hicks 1526 married Mary Everard 1511

 

Penny Root 98

(12) Cisilly Penny

 

Waltham Root 99

(13) Alice Waltham 1573

 

Winslow Root 100

(13) Margaret Winslow 1589

 

White Root 101

(13) Rosana White 1600 * (14) Robert White 1560 Bridget Allgar 1562 *(15) William Allgar 1536 married Margaret White

 

Potter Root 102

(13)Ann Potter 1587

 

Martyn Root (a)103

(13) Isott Martyn 1571

 

Martyn Root (b)

(13) Joan Martyn 1570

 

James Root 104

(13) Dorothy James 1567 * (14) Henry James 1539 married Bridget Littleton 1545 *(15) Edmond James married Ann Ramsay

 

Ramsay Root 105

Ann Ramsay

 

Littleton Root 106

Bridget Littleton 1545

 

Allgar Root 107

(14) Bridget Allgar 1562

 

Webb Root 108

(14) Elizabeth Webb 1555

 

Buck Root 109

(14) Elizabeth Buck

 

Allyne Root 110

(14) Phebe Allyne 1536

 

Parrott Root 111

(14) Catherine Parrott 1540

 

White Root 112

(15) Margaret White

 

Hathoway Root 113

(15) Agnes Hathoway 1529

 

Everard Root 114

(15) Mary Everard 1511

 

Bussy Root 115

(14) Jane Bussy 1570

 

Stocker Root 116

(15) Elizabeth Stocker 1518

 

Brampton Root 117

(16) Cecelia Brampton

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Introduction to Genealogy

Latest Updates

I have provided a list of our ancestral roots outline which will be constantly revised in the near future. Its purpose is to assist with a context for the various roots spread over 400 years. They can be found http://retson.ca/retsonroots.html. Surnames can then be found along left hand sidebar. (15/Jan/2017)

I have posted latest update on hitchcock file. Most updated information will be found in second part under Descendeants of Richard Hiscockes(8/Jan/2017)

My latest research on the Roddick file has been posted and you can get the information from the side links. In the process i found a lot more information on the collaterals including McNabs and Campbells which may make some of those file out of date. I will attempt to update this page over the next two months. (1/Jan/2017)

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Retson-7 my Wikitree

Maternal Line mtDNA Haplogroup: H11a2a1 See http://retson.ca/themotherline.html (I am just commencing research on this line.)

Retson DNA Info

Retson Family House

Picture by was Paulette Yorke presented to Mavis York in July 1981 on the occasion of her marriage on the property I grew up on in Salmon River owned by the family from 1951 to approximately 1996. Immediately below is a picture that appears on google street view 2010. Below that picture is a picture appearing on Royal LePage

Royal LePage's description: Absolutely Stunning! This heritage estate has been transformed into a tranquil oasis of luxury & comfort. Keeping the home's original character, while adding today's most sought-after styles such as marble floors and granite countertops has been beautifully accomplished. The grounds are truly breathtaking with a panoramic view, pond with fountain, slate walkways, fencing & gorgeous gardens, magnificent mature Maples line the driveway as you enter.

Some of My Most Interesting Ancestors

1. 8th Great Grandfather John Hoar born in Situate, Massachussetts in 1622 (relative of Nova Scotia Retson's either through Beatrice Clifford-Agnes Hoar or through Bessie Johnson-John Lutes Hoar and then the common ancestor David Hoar) and
2. His mother, Joanne (Hinkmen ) Hoare, born in Gloucestor England about 1590, her father Charles was Sherrif of Gloucestor who died in 1638, his father Charles died in 1636, mother of our line in North America and distant grandmother to John Quincy Adams, George Bush and son George Bush. She was a puritan who left England during the civil war to left "seeking a church without a Bishop and a state without a King.
3. Jeremiah Belcher born in September 1613 in Wiltshire, Lincolnshire, England, one of the earliest if not the earliest ancestors of this website 's designers, James C. Retson to touch foot on the North American continent in 1634. He also bears the distinction of being simultaneously our 9th and 10 great grandfather as one of Jeremiah's daughters, Abigail direct descendent, Grace Retson, married the direct descendent of her sister Dorcus, Cliff Retson in 1941.
4. Samuel Archibald (1719-1774) first ancestor to be die and be buried in Nova Scotia and Canada.
5. David Nelson one of only 4 individuals to swear an Oath of Allegiance to George III in 1777.
6. John Ratson born in New Hutton in 1779, Westmorland County, England is the earliest YDna bearer and the first to bear the name Retson, which name he died with. His father is beleived to be Richard Ratson and his father Richard Rattson all born in Kendall Parish, Westmorland, England
7. Janet Armstrong, born in Dumfries-shire, possibly in Annan, in 1779, our earlest maternal ancestor and hence the carrier of mitochondria from Haplogroup h11a2a1
8. Great Grandfather Deacon James Clifford -born near Truro, Nova Scotia on 31 Oct 1838, Father of Beatrice Clifford for which the author of this website was named after.
9. His father John Clifford - probably born in 1801 in Ireland, Grandfather of Beatrice Clifford emmigrated from ireland a Catholic, alleged murderer of a travelling salesman. All his chidren joined protestant churches.
10. William Rankin Retson, last of our ancestoral lines to immigrate to Canada in 1903.
11. Grace Retson, First Female Justice of the Peace in Nova Scotia.

The Retson Surname

There are many derivation of the family name Retson.  By far the most common root is for descendants from Western Europe who can trace their name ultimately to son of Richard, but bore various spellings Rattson, Ratson, Ritson but also Richson, Richardson and variations.  A second common root is through the Greece "Retsos".

Ancestors of Cliff and Grace Retson

Siblings of James C. Retson