Re: Edisons of Newfoundland, Canada
-
In reply to:
Re: Edisons of Newfoundland, Canada
2/14/00
Hi Matthew,
I'm an Edison from Newfoundland so I can give you the story in brief.
Edison is a derivative of Hedderson, a Norse name.
B/c of the high-speed, heavily accented way we talk in Newfoundland (don't know if you've ever been to outport NF before to witness this), the H sound is often dropped.Also, the R can be undetectable.
The family came from the Great Northern Penninsula to Botwood when the father died and the mother knew a man there she could marry.Sorry, I forget all the names and dates.The eldest son was 12 and sailed the schooner down.When they arrived, the minister or whoever was educated (I assume it would be the minister) recorded their name in the church register and it was spelled as it sounded.No H and no R and only 1 D.
Timing:I know of one generation there before my great grandfather who was Jacob Edison.My "aunt" Ruby (actually dad's cousin) has this all mapped out in detail and has visited White Bay, the Hedderson relatives and the graveyards on the Great Norther Penninsula.
Lots of blue eyes and strawberry blond/reddish hair in dad's family.Every single Edison in Newfounland is related to me.We are only a few generations old as Edison's and the name began from this one family in Botwood.
It is a relatively big family (14 in Dad's family alone and I have some 50+ first-cousins and many more second-cousins).It's a wonderful crowd and wonderfully nice people.
Where are you from?
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Treina D. Edison (ps - if you search for Ruby Edison, you'll probably also get my aunt in Labrador)