BRAGGS - THE BEGINNING!

On Thursday we met John Bragg, my second cousin and spent the day with him touring the seat of the Bragg Family History.  We had a look inside the old Anglican Church at Oxford Junction where all the Braggs were christened, married and buried from.  The church is in remarkable condition with the old organ still in place.  Using your imagination, you can picture them sitting in the wooden pews and see the children running around the beautiful grounds.  You want to whisper for fear of disturbing their prayers.  The church yard is the resting place of 5 generations of Braggs and is a wonderfully spiritual place with it's magnificent view down the River Philip.

We visited Windham Hill where John Bragg, a young blacksmith and seaman from the Taunton area in Somerset, England arrived in the early 1800s.  Having worked his way across the ocean, he left his ship at Pugwash and followed the River Philip up to the settlement.  With his only possession, his axe, he climbed Windham Hill and built a life.  John became a leader in the community, serving as magistrate and he provided education for his own children and those of his neighbours.  It is said that the character Sam Slick the Clock Maker from the Thomas Chandler Haliburton book was based on John Bragg.


Pidgeon Hill was home to Charlie Bragg at one time and it is now a beautifully preserved park with lovely little brook that travels beside the road as you drive through.

We went to Collingwood Corner and toured Charlie Bragg's old home which sits at the hub of the community.  The graceful old house was home to generations of Braggs and sits next to the site of Charlie's General Store.  Charlie was a lumber merchant, an entrepreneur and at one time served in the 5th Cumberland Regiment - I believe during the Fenian Raids.  We saw the home of Walter Bragg, across the road.

We spent a wonderful evening with John and Judy at their summer home in Fox Harb'r, joined by cousin Charlotte and her son Graeme.  John has a passion for family history and has done an amazing job of preserving the places that are so much a part of the Bragg legacy. John passed along some very interesting documents, found in the family bible and I want to thank both him and Judy for their wonderful Bragg hospitality.  And Ann says thanks for the ride in the Lexus.


To be continued.......