Finding the Reid Settlement Cemetery
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Volunteers at Reid Cemetery: Patrick Houle, Donna Marie Soule, Jim Rose, Wayne VanVolkenburg, Albert Reid, Elton Reid, Dale Kahler, Teresa Allen, Morris VanVolkenburg. ( Joan Van Meer, Robert Brady, and Mark Soule are not in the photo)
The last couple of weeks have been exciting for descendants of those in the almost-lost overgrown Reid settlement cemetery. Carefully skirting around Mr. Twiddy’s crops west of Ivanhoe, a small group of Reid relatives made it their business to clear the bush and bring the old stones back to sunlight, under the guidance of Wayne VanVolkenburg.
The Reid/Read/Reed family were early settlers in Upper Canada, William Reid (1723-1817) and his wife, Nancy Nesbitt having emigrated from North Carolina to Thurlow Township. Their large family included John Reid, whose son, Daniel also populated Hastings County with a large family, including Robert Reid who received a Crown Patent for Lot 2, Con.7, Huntingdon Township in 1850. As was common in those days, the family established its own cemetery on the farm property which is pictured here.
List of graves at Reid Cemetery
Date of death George Reid 1907 #1 Jane Reid (Mrs.) #1 Jane Gawley (Cauley) 1923 #1 Bryson Lee Reid 1931 #2 John Wesley Dafoe 1891 #6 Marmaduke Reid 1901 #7 Mary Haggerty #7 Adonzo B.Reid #7 Mary Reid (Mrs.) #7 Lucy H. Reid 1894 #8 George Reid 1892 #8 Lucy Ellen Reid 1881 #10 Warren Reid 1938 #10 Martha E. Reid 1910 #10 Martha E. Knox #10 Ella or Ellis Reid 1863 #11 Nelson Reid 1898 #13 Mary Ann Reid 1921 #13 James Reid 1876 #14 James Reid Jr 1883 #14 Alex Reid #14 Eliza Reid 1905 (6) #15 Eliza Seeley (Mrs.) #15 Orey Seeley #15 Miles W. Reid 1920 #19 Emily Ann Reid 1911 #20 Clancy Reid #20 John Baker 1917 #25 Sarah Baker 1912 #25 Robinson, Sarah E. #25 Prienzo Reid (Fernando) 1932 #
THE CLEAN UP
With some help from the local municipality, work is now continuing to establish a pathway to cemetery site, finish the clean up and set up the signage to, once again, pay respects to these early settlers who are the ancestors of so many around the world. The cost of the signs was covered by private donations.
JULY UPDATE: After our initial partial cleanup, last July, by our volunteers, things came to a standstill. After many emails and phone calls, I was eventually directed to Gordon Dubeau, Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Supervisor, for Centre Hastings. Gordon recently had a crew begin the cleanup of the remainder of the cemetery. Some work will be done each year, and continue until the entire cemetery is cleared. His help with this matter is greatly appreciated. Some photos from my visit today shows the progress of the brush removal. David Twiddy has cleared out the trees on his fence lines, making it easier to locate the cemetery. He has also installed a Canadian flag, on a tall pole, at the East end of the cemetery. A beacon to help you find your way. (Wayne VanVolkenburg)
October 2025 - The Municipality of Mr. Twiddy finished up the work for this year. Well done everyone.
REID PROPERTIES IN HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP 1823-1878
REID PROPERTIES IN THURLOW TOWNSHIP
All maps prepared by Matthew Vanvolkenburg
SOME COMMENTS!
Lew Barker I follow my heritage back to William Reed (1723-1817)and Nancy Nesbit (1732-1810), their son John Reed born 1762, married Esther Etherley b 1765,their son Isaac Newton Reid b 1787, married Jane Rose b 1786 and so on. Apparently William’s family was from Connecticut was a (U.E.L.) joined a militia in New York was a Sargent in South Carolina Loyalist Militia under Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Ferguson 1780 at the battle of King’s Mountain S.C. Died 1817 Hastings Ontario. Nancy Agnes M. Nesbit born in Spartanburg North Carolina died 1810 buried in Hastings , Ontario. Seems some ties way back (my grandmother was a Reid her father was Theodore 1866-1948.
Left: Mary Reid. After some research, Wayne VanVolkenburg believes that Mary was the wife of George Reid, and the mother of Charles Melbourne Reid (1915-1992). Charles married Muriel Jarvis (1925-2011)
James Dalton Aw- Mary Reid, would take my brotherDavid and I out to her cottage on Crowe Lake each fall to rake her leaves and put straw or hay bales along the foundation for winter protection. Mrs Reid also worked at the DSR with my father Harold Dalton. I have so many pleasant memories of Mrs Reid.
Charlene Cassibo (Right) This photo is Mary Renaud Charles Reid’s mother, she was my grandmother. Married to George Reid.
Lorraine Whiteman Charlie and Muriel had Jim,Chris,Bill and Barbara.I went to school with them.They lived on Deloro road
Kathryn Rader: What a beautiful story! Great work everyone who helped to resurrect the family history and place on our earth!
Peter Jeffs: I visited the Reid Settlement Cemetery last Saturday (Nov. 2025) and everyone has done a great job cleaning it up. My great grandfather (Albert Reid) and great great grandfather Blackie / Alonzo Reid are resting at this site.
Christine Kelsh Fantastic work and remembering our roots. Almost symbolic of how time erases our presence on earth without the memories of our descendants.
.Rose Robbins My great great grandfather was William H Reid and my great great grandmother was Clarissa May Haggerty. My great grandmother was Clara Reid. I think relatives???
Janice Chrysler I too am a Reid and helped my aunt many years ago in her attempts to sort them all out. Sure is a task! I swear all the men are William, John, James, or Daniel and spell their names Reid, Read, Reed, depending I think on who took the census!
Kymm Krueger This cemetery is on property owned by Dave Twiddy and family. It has a fair number of Reids, including Black and Blue. There are also a number of Defoes. I have photos of most of the stones from about 10 years ago. There is a type of shrub that has an extensive under root system that has really undermined the land around the headstones and its very holey. My great great grandparents are buried there.
Grant Hagerman My name is Grant Hagerman. My Mother was Margaret Reid Hagerman. Her Father and Mother were Albert and Emma Reid. Albert and Emma raised their family on the farm where the cemetery is. Many of the family members visited the cemetery a few years ago and are interested in their ancestors. We are pleased that such an interest has occurred to keep up the cemetery.
Dorothy Jack Daniel Reid and Barbara Ellen Keene. Caroline was wife of Isaac Briggs.
Sharon Ann Prevost My name is Sharon Reid Prevost my father was Reg Reid who was a son of Albert Reid
Debbie Reid Maunder: I just found this site online! Thank you so much to all the volunteers who have cleaned up this cemetery! I haven't visited it since 1986 and it was in bad repair then! I hope to visit it this summer. I live in Toronto but my family is from Belleville and Ivanhoe. The picture of the diamond shaped stone with the name Lee Bryson Reid is my uncle's stone. He died when he was only a few months old from pneumonia. I am sure I have other relatives there but I need to do a search. My great-grandfather was Harford Reid and his son was my grandfather Bryson Reid.
I am so glad the Twiddy family has continued to allow access to the cemetery.
Deborah Cronkwright Hello, my name is Deborah Cronkwright. My mom was a Reid, (Fern Liola) from Hastings county, her father was Allen Reid (my grandfather)1897-1938. Allen was the son of Enoch Reid (my great-grandfather)1847-1916. Enoch was the son of Robert Reid 1814-1910 (my 2nd great-grandfather). Mom passed in March of 2021 and since then my sister and I have been up to Coe Hill and Bancroft area many times. We have been able to find graves and living family. We are coming up for Thanksgiving weekend for the fall colors and were planning a stop at Reid family settlement and cemetery, if we could find it. The recent work on the cemetery will make it easier to find, thank you. Since joining Ancestry I have been able to go back right to the 15 and 1600's, so interesting.
Rickey Andrew Reid It is great to see this and thank you all!!! All buried here are my relatives. I am Rickey Andrew Reid, son of Frederick Andrew Reid, son of Andrew Delbert “Del” Reid, son Andrew Reid, son of Andrew Reid, son of Andrew Reid, son of Daniel Donald Reid, son of John Reid
Richard Reid born in Belleville 1959 my dad's name was Burton Reid his dad was John Reid.
Charlene Hannah I too and related to the Reid's. My great grandma was Rosa Reid. She married into the Hannah's. Very interested in more information about the family. Unfortunately the older generation has basically passed and now I left wondering about a few things I heard in passing. My grandparents are Gladys and Floyd Hannah. My father is Carl Hannah.
Diane Williams I am so happy this has been done, I am a Reid descendent, from John Reed and Esther Etherley, my great grandfather was Elijah Reed/Reid who married Isabella McInroy in about 1823. I can trace her. But unable to trace Elijah, ancestry trees has him as a son of John Reed 1787-1835 and Sarah Rose,I cannot find and verification. If anyone can help me I would appreciate it.
williamsdiane@hotmail.com
Lisa Mcfarlane: Reed is the English form with Reid being the Scottish and Irish form. Apparently its origin is Scottish. My great Aunt Elizabeth Mcfarlane married a Jacob Reid and it appears he was born in Scotland.Whilst my great grandfather was born in Ireland. A lot of Scottish Highlander’s were driven out by the so called highland clearance , of Scotland and immigrated to Ireland, Canada and USA. Reid is the Gaelic word for red.
Joan VanMeer I’m very certain that they were UEL. For many years I didn’t realize there were 2 Reid lines, one Irish and the other UEL. I have met many people researching the Irish line and have never found any cross over. There is a settlement east of Hwy 41, called Reidville complete with cemetery. I have found no connection;.
Wayne VanVolkenburg: I have 15 George Reids in my family tree file. George A. Reid, b.June 1884, was married to Mary G. Woods, b.Oct.1885, d.1955. I also have 10 Charles Reids, but none married to Murial Jarvis. I did a lot of research on the family, but there so many of them that I finally put the file aside. I have 1369 names in that file, but some of them are for connected families.
Jay Shell Hello, my great grandmother was Pearl Reid. Her parents operated a boarding house in Belleville. I am seeking more family information on the Reid side. Recently visited Edinburgh, Scotland and found a Reid section in the old cemetery in Edinburgh. My great grandmother Pearl had an uncle John Reid who would take her out in his one horse open sleigh in the winter. Ironically we have come across the sleigh. It has a placard on it with his name.
Any help would be appreciated. You can message me on FaceBook.
Douglas Norman Reid I can not thank you all enough for this wonderful effort on behalf of all the various branches of our family. I visited the old Reid Settlement Cemetery years ago and it was an adventure just finding it hidden quietly on that little knoll beside the field. The owners were very gracious at the time and welcomed our visit. I descend from William and Nancy through John & Esther, Daniel & Kesiah, Robert & Mary, Enoch & Adeline Defoe or Nancy Ellen Hanners? (another family mystery), Allen & Elizabeth of Coe Hill (my grandparents) and their son Lavergne (Norman) Reid (estranged since I was ten). My two sons Jody and Scott Reid end my line. I have recently contacted Ricky Reid, distant cousin, to embark on a Y-DNA comparison that I think will end once and for all the myth that we descend from Captain John Reed of Norwalk CT. I think Ricky's Y-DNA proves that beyond any shadow of doubt but I'm about to complete my own test to compare with his. Anyway, thanks again for this splendid work, if you ever need another volunteer I would happily join in. Greetings to all the family, where ever you may be.
Douglas N. Reid Sandhurst Shore Ontario dnreid997@gmail.com
Peter Reid Jeffs I just visited the Reid Settlement Cemetery on Saturday November 8th 2025 with about 20 Reid relatives. My Grandfather was Murray Reid. His farther was Albert Reid.
Kelly Arnold Warren Reid and Martha Knox are my 2x's Great Grandparents and George & Lucy are my 3x's Great Grandparents. I took my Mom and Aunt October 2, 2025 for our first visit and was happy to find the site cleared. There were machines working and the men allowed us to drive right up to the cemetery. No hike necessary which allowed my Mom and Aunt both 80+ to touch the gravestones. Thanks to all for their hard work to make our visit possible.
Dorothy So great to see that people care. I descend through Caroline Reid..daughter of Daniel Reid and Barbara Ellen Keene. Caroline was wife of Isaac Briggs.
