Descendents of Nicholas Lister (1796/1798 - 25 Jan 1869)
and Margaret Heughan (1801 - 25 Mar 1846)
Table of Contents
First immigranT Generation
01
Second immigranT Generation
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
Third immigranT Generation
12
13
14
15
43
44
16
17
18
19
20
45
46
47
48
49
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22
50
51
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52
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25
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27
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57
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60
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31
61
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68
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36
37
38
39
40
69
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71
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74
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42
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82
DESCENDENTS OF NICHOLAS LISTER (1796/1798 - 25 JAN 1869)
AND MARGARET HEUGHAN (1801 - 25 MAR 1846)
First Immigrant Generation
1. Nicholas Lister
Son of George Lister. Born 1796/1798 in Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Died 25 Jan 1869 in Harvey. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery. Occupation Farmer, Weaver.
The Lister name was also spelled "Litster" in old records. In the 1801 Census of Annan, Scotland, Nickol (age 3) was listed as part of the household of George Lister, Agnes Gass, Jean Lister, John Lister and Isabel Lister. The home was listed as Bonshawside which included 16 residences. (Info from E. E. Lister)
From Morning Telegraph, Saint John, 2 Feb 1869:
" Died Harvey, 25th ult., Nicholas Lister, age 77, native of Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He was promoted to Ruling Elder of the Parish Church in his native place. He emigrated to America in 1843, left children and grandchildren."
From "Statistical Return of the Harvey Settlement for the year 1847", Nicholas settled in Harvey in 1843, had a family of 9, and besides farming he was a Weaver. In the four years between 1843 and 1847, he had built a house and barn, had cleared 18 acres of his 100 acre lot and had paid off half the cost of his land. He had 3 cows, 2 oxen, 10 sheep, 3 swine and 3 young cattle. His crop consisted of 10 tons hay and stray, 150 bu. oats, 10 bu. barley and buckwheat, 100 bu. potatoes and 10 bu. wheat. Estimated total value of crops, stocks, land and improvements was 166 pounds. (As his wife died in 1846, it would appear that he had 8 children living with him in 1847.)
The 1851 Census lists Nicholas a widower, 54 years of age, Scotch, farmer/proprietor, who entered this colony in 1843. The following children were living at home: (All were born in Scotland) David, 20; James, 16; Edward I., 14; Jane, 12; Agnes, 11 and Mary, 9.
Ten years later, 1861 Census, only his son Edward Irvin, 24, was at home with Nicholas. Also a servant, Elizabeth Dundas, age 26, lived in the household. The Lister family was Presbyterian. By 1861, Nicholas owned or occupied 60 acres improved and 90 acres unimproved land. Cash value of farm was 250 pounds, value of implements and machinery, 15 pounds. He had 2 horses, 3 milch cows, 4 other neat cattle, 14 sheep, 3 swine and slaughtered 400 lb. pork. Produced 150 lb. butter, 36 lb. wool, 10 tons hay, 300 bu. oats, 87 bu. buckwheat, 20 bu. timothy and 100 bu. potatoes.
From the Land Grants records, Nicholas received the following land: Lot P Block 31 Kingsclear (later Manners Sutton) York Co. 100 ac. 1851/10/13 Vol. 36, No. 4873; and Lot 70 Block 31, Manners Sutton, 50 ac. 1868/12/14 Vol. 74, No. 12594.
Excerpt from newspaper account of Settlement of Harvey -- undated--"For 16 years the Harvey Settlers were without a kirk or meeting house and without a clergyman excepting a rare visit from the Rev. Daniel McCurdy of Keswick. The children were taken to Fredericton for baptism. The Rev. John Brooke kindly granted the ordinance to all who sought, without hindrance at his own manse. During all these years, however, public worship amongst themselves on the Lord's day was regularly observed. This was conducted in the school house by the elders and others. There were four of them, John Thompson, Thomas Herbert, Thomas Piercy and James Nesbitt. In this connection the name of Nicholas Lister should be mentioned. He took regular turns at the desk with the elders giving out the psalm or paraphrase, leading in prayer and reading the sermons. There was no great force in the reading of the sermon but to hear some of these men pray, pleading at the throne, offering up their gifts at the alter was something grand. The very simplicity of the language lent power and solemnity to their soul stirring devotions. Nor was the service of praise led by Matthew Piercy less earnest and striking. At the end of sixteen years in 1852 a substantial meeting house was erected........"
He married Margaret Heughan, daughter of William Heughan & Agnes Beattie, 28 Nov 1822 in Dumfries, Annan, Scotland. Born 1801 in Dumfries, Scot. Died 25 Mar 1846 in Harvey. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery.
They had the following children:
2 i. George Lister
3 ii. Janet "Jennie" Lister
4 iii. William Lister
5 iv. John Lister
6 v. David Lister
7 vi. James M. Lister
8 vii. Edward Irving Lister
9 viii. Jane Lister
10 ix. Agnes Lister
11 x. Mary Lister
DESCENDENTS OF NICHOLAS LISTER (1796/1798 - 25 JAN 1869)
AND MARGARET HEUGHAN (1801 - 25 MAR 1846)
Second Immigrant Generation
2. George Lister
Son of Nicholas Lister & Margaret Heughan. Born 18 Sep 1823 in Annan, Scot.
George came to America from Annan, Scotland, with his parents, brothers and sisters in 1843. From Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index, Selected Counties: George Lister died 24 Dec 1891, age 68, Empire Township, Dakota County, Minnesota, buried in Corinthian Cemetery, Section NW.
He acquired the following Land Grants. (Further information on land transactions can be obtained through research at the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick):
Lot 18, T2, Harvey Sett., Manners Sutton, 50 acres, 1855/01/19, Vol. 44, No. 6646; Part of 18 SE, Harvey Sett., 50 ac. 1857/02/23, Vol. 50, No. 7932; 18, Harvey Sett., 100 ac. 1857/12/28, Vol. 52, No. 8338; 90 Block 31, Harvey Sett. 50 ac. 1858/01/25, Vol. 53, No. 8540; Blk 31, NE Bra Magag. R., Manners Sutton, 100 ac. 1870/08/01, Vol. 81, No. 13810.
From The Daily Gleaner, 14 July 1937: "About the year 1857, George Lister built the first woollen mill in York Mills. He also built a sawmill and a grist mill. The woollen business was established as a cloth mill. He later sold the business to John Taylor."
Excerpt from Rural Musings: Woollen Mill Thrives: Began 105 years Ago, By Rolf Munroe--undated, but possibly in newspaper in December 1962: "George built the sawmill first, and in it lumber for the other structures were processed. The machinery for the original mill came up the St. John river by boat, was landed at Long Creek, and hauled on wagons to the mill site."
There seems to be some questions as to the exact year the woollen mill was built. From the Saint Croix Courier "Journey Through Time", The Early Years: 1865-1885, on 13 May 1869: "New Woollen Mill -- Geo Lester, Esq., is erecting a woollen factory in the Harvey Settlement on the N. E. Magaguadavic within a short distance of Western Extension. -- Journal."
The 1861 Census lists George as 37 years old, Farmer/Merchant, and his wife Mary Ann, 28 years old, daughter Christina, 2 years, and son Charles Fisher, 7 mos. Also in their household were James Carmichael, 26 yr., farm servant; Mary Embleton, 18 yr., domestic servant; James Kenna, 30 yr., woodturner, and his wife Isabella Kenna, 24 yr.
According to 1861 Census, George employed 2 males, owned or occupied 50 acres improved land and 700 acres unimproved land. Cash value of farm was 500 pounds, and value of implements and machinery was 100 pounds. He had 5 horses, 4 milch cows, 1 other neat cattle, 5 sheep, 2 swine and slaughtered 500 lb. pork. Produced 200 lb. butter, 4 lb. wool, 18 tons hay, 100 bu. oats, 30 bu. buckwheat and 80 bu. potatoes.
Children of George and Mary Ann were baptized in Presbyterian church. They moved from Harvey area sometime after 1861 Census.
George Lister, wife Mary Ann and daughter Christina Lister are in the 1880 census in Farmington, Dakota Co., Minnesota, USA.
He married Mary Ann Johnston, daughter of Mr Johnston & Christina A. Heughan, 24 Feb 1851 in St. Paul's Presbyterian Church By Rev. Dr. John M. Brooke . Born 12 Oct 1832, died 20 Jul 1909, Empire Township, Dakota County, Minesota, buried in Corinthian Cemetery, Section NW. Birth and death information from Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index, Selected Counties.
From York Co NB Marriage Register C 1850-1866 (PANB): Witnesses to marriage were Thomas Cockburn and Nancy Thomson.
They had the following children:
12 i. Christina Lister
13 ii. Charles Fisher Lister
Entry last updated 11 Jan 2008

Undated photograph of Mary Ann Johnston (b. ca. 1832, Scotland, d. unknown). Source: David M. Swan, 15 Mar 2007.
DESCENDENTS OF NICHOLAS LISTER (1796/1798 - 25 JAN 1869)
AND MARGARET HEUGHAN (1801 - 25 MAR 1846)
Second Immigrant Generation
3. Janet "Jennie" Lister
Daughter of Nicholas Lister & Margaret Heughan. Born 31 Jul 1825 in Annan, Scotland. Died 1902 in Brockway. Buried in Brockway Cemetery.
Jennie came to America from Annan, Scotland, with her parents, brothers and sisters in 1843.
She married William Little, son of John Little & Janet Heughan, 12 Mar 1844 in St. Paul's Church, Fredericton By Dr. John M. Brooke . Born 1815 in Scot. Died 1 Nov 1909 in Brockway. Buried in Brockway Cemetery. Occupation Farmer.
PANB Marriage Records, p. 274:
"William Little and Janet Lister both of Parish of Kingsclear and County of York were married by licence this twelfth day of March one thousand eight hundred and forty four by me, John M. Brooke, Minister of St. Paul's Church, Fredericton.
This marriage was solemnized between us, William Little, Janet X(her mark) Lister.
In the presence of Andrew Hallet, Jervis Little.
Filed and registered 17 January 1845."
Details of William and Jennie's family can be found in the book, "The Little Family of Harvey Settlement" by Janet Swan Watson, Brenda Saunders Swan and Jocelean Swan Hall, printed 1993.
They had the following children:
14 i. George Little
15 ii. Margaret Jane Little
16 iii. Agnes Little
17 iv. Elizabeth Little
18 v. William Irving Little
19 vi. Mary Lister Little
20 vii. Ellen Little
21 viii. Arthur Little
DESCENDENTS OF NICHOLAS LISTER (1796/1798 - 25 JAN 1869)
AND MARGARET HEUGHAN (1801 - 25 MAR 1846)
Second Immigrant Generation
4. William Lister
Son of Nicholas Lister & Margaret Heughan. Born 20 May 1827 in Annan, Scot. Died 1848 in Harvey. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery.
DESCENDENTS OF NICHOLAS LISTER (1796/1798 - 25 JAN 1869)
AND MARGARET HEUGHAN (1801 - 25 MAR 1846)
Second Immigrant Generation
5. John Lister
Son of Nicholas Lister & Margaret Heughan. Born 13 Feb 1829 in Annan, Scot. Died in Scot.
No further information. John perhaps died young, before the family emigrated to NB.
DESCENDENTS OF NICHOLAS LISTER (1796/1798 - 25 JAN 1869)
AND MARGARET HEUGHAN (1801 - 25 MAR 1846)
Second Immigrant Generation
6. David Lister
Son of Nicholas Lister & Margaret Heughan. Born 6 Mar 1831 in Annan, Scot. Died 16 Feb 1919 in Harvey. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery. Occupation Farmer.
David came to America from Annan, Scotland, with his parents and siblings in 1843.
Copied from newspaper obituary - 1919:
" David Lister
Harvey Station, Feb 17 -- David Lister, the oldest resident of this parish, died at his home at Coburn yesterday after a short illness. He was in the ninetieth year of his age and was remarkable strong and well for one so old until a few days ago. He was stricken with a cold. He was a native of the south of Scotland, and came to Harvey with his parents and several brothers and sisters and other settlers about seventy-five years ago. Most of his long life was spend on his farm at Coburn and he was one of the early settlers who made a success of farming. He was twice married and is survived by a number of sons and daughters, among whom are N. D. Lister, of Woodstock; Fred Lister, collector of customs at McAdam; William Lister, merchant, of McAdam; Robert, of Manners Sutton; James and the Misses Mary and Lena Lister, residing at home. He was a man of high character and was universally esteemed. The funeral was held at his late residence at Coburn this afternoon, the service being conducted by Rev. J. F. McKay."
According to the 1861 Census, David was a 31 years old farmer, and owned or occupied 40 acres improved land and 90 acres unimproved land. Cash value of farm was 100 pounds, value of implements and machinery, 1 pound. He had 2 morses, 2 milch cows, 3 other neat cattle, 9 sheep, 2 swine and slaughtered 200 lb. pork. Produced 120 lb. butter, 20 l. cheese, 24 lb. wool, 5 tons hay, 60 bu. oats and 30 bu. timothy.
David had five children from first marriage and eleven children from second marriage.
He first married Janet Gass, daughter of Nichol Gass & Jean Copeland, 17 Oct 1854 in St. Paul's Church, Fredericton, By Rev. Dr. John M. Brooke. Born 1836. Died 27 Apr 1863 in Harvey.
From York Co NB Marriage Register C 1850-1866 (PANB): Witnesses to marriage were James Lister and Isabella Gass.
They had the following children:
22 i. Margaret Lister
23 ii. Jane "Janie" Lister
24 iii. Agnes Lister
25 iv. Nicholas D. "Nick" Lister
26 v. William Lister
He second married Jessie Torrance, daughter of Robert Torrance & Ellen MacDonald, 20 Feb 1865 in Harvey Presbyterian Church By Rev. Samuel Johnson . Born 22 Oct 1845 in Scot. Died 8 Jun 1917 in Harvey. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery.
From York Co NB Marriage Register C 1850-1866 (PANB): Witnesses to marriage were James Carmichael and Elizabeth Torrance.
They had the following children:
27 i. Robert Lister
28 ii. George Irvine "Dode" Lister
29 iii. James M. Lister
30 iv. Mary E. Lister
31 v. Nina Lister
32 vi. John "Albert" Lister
33 vii. Frederick Thomas "Fred" Lister
34 viii. Annie Lister
35 ix. Lena Isabella Lister
36 x. Lewis "David" Lister
37 xi. Roy Alonzo Lister
DESCENDENTS OF NICHOLAS LISTER (1796/1798 - 25 JAN 1869)
AND MARGARET HEUGHAN (1801 - 25 MAR 1846)
Second Immigrant Generation
7. James M. Lister
Son of Nicholas Lister & Margaret Heughan. Born 22 Dec 1832 in Dumfries, Scot. Died 25 Feb 1912 in McAdam, N.B. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery. Occupation Sawyer.
James came to America from Annan, Scotland with his parents and siblings in 1843. James and Ellen lived at York mills where James operated mills. In the 1861 Census, James was 28 years old, Scotch, Sawyer, and Presbyterian. Eleanor was 18 years old, and daughter Jane Agnes was 4 months old. Servant Nancy Christie, 17 years, lived in their household. They had 2 cows and one pig.
Listed in the Manners Sutton Subscribers Directory in the Atlas of York County, New Brunswick, published by Halfpenny & Co., Fredericton, N.B. in 1878 (Reprinted by Mika Publishing, Belleville, Ontario 1973) - "James Lister, Proprietor of Grist Mill, Harvey Mills." (Harvey Mills later became York Mills.)
Copied from newspaper obituary - 1912:
James Lister
McAdam Junction, Feb 26 -- The death of James Lister occurred at his home, York Mills, on Sunday the 25th Inst. He was in his 80th year and had been in failing health for two months. He was a native of Dumfries, Scotland, and came to this country when but ten years old. For over fifty years he had been a resident of York Mills, where he was engaged in the mining business. He was a man of sterling principles and was respected by all who knew him. He is survived by a widow, three sons and five daughters. The sons are David E., at home; Ward M. of Vancouver, and DeWitt T., of McAdam. The daughters are Mrs Margaret A. Little, Mrs Albert Little and Mrs George Little of Manners Sutton, and Mrs Alex Skene and Mrs James Piercy of McAdam.
He married Eleanor "Ellen" Piercy, daughter of Matthew Piercy & Agnes Moffitt, 3 Aug 1858 in Harvey Settlement By Rev. Samuel Johnson . Born 15 Nov 1842 in Harvey. Christen 8 Jan 1843 in Harvey By Rev. Daniel McCurdy . Died 21 Feb 1925 in McAdam. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery.
From York Co NB Marriage Register C 1850-1866 (PANB):
Witnesses to marriage were Edward Lister and Thomas H. Piercy.
Copied from newspaper obituary - 1925:
Mrs Ellen Lister
McAdam, Feb 23 -- The death of Mrs Ellen Lister occurred at her home on the 21st inst., after a brief illness. Deceased was the widow of the late James Lister, of York Mills, and was in the 83rd year of her age. Being of a quiet and kindly disposition she was beloved by all who knew her. She is survived by five daughters, Mrs Margaret A. Little, Mrs Albert Little, Mrs George Little of Harvey Station, Mrs Alex Skene and Mrs James Piercy, of McAdam, and three sons, David E. and DeWitt T., of McAdam, and Ward M., of Vancouver, B.C.; also two sisters, Mrs Henry Swan of Harvey Station, and Mrs Wm Grieve, of Sandwick, B.C. Interment was