My Family Tree

John was born between 1822 and 1828 in Devon England, the son of Humphrey Dyment and Mary Ashton. No birth or baptism record was found, but John Dyment was named in Humphrey Dyment's will both as an executor and as a surviving child; John's year of birth came from the 1881 census and his death notice. He emigrated with his family to Prince Edward Island sometime around 1832. It seems that Humphrey would have named a son after his father and brother earlier on, so the earlier date of birth could be more accurate.

John Dyment married Harriet Cotton on 27 August 1851 in St. James Anglican Church, Port Hill. It was a brief record, and no witnesses were given. Although other Cotton families had their children baptized in this church, no further records could be found for John and Harriet's family there.

Harriet was born in 1828, according to census records. There was a Samuel Cotton, married to Jane Grant, living in the Bideford area, and who had a daughter Harriet b. December 8, 1828. Harriet and her brothers and sisters were baptized in the Church of England in Richmond. John and Harriet named their first son Samuel, a name that rarely appears in this family, and their first daughter Mary Jane could have been named after both grandmothers, so this is likely the right family for Harriet. Although some genealogies give Harriet's last name as Calton, there were no families of that name in the area at that time, in birth or census records, or on maps.

John was a farmer. In the 1861 census, John and Harriet were farming 75 acres in Lot 13. No lease was reported on the census form. There were six living in the household at that time, all Methodists. The two boys, ages 9 and four, would be Samuel and William Thomas. Annie Laura would be the girl under 5 years of age, and the girl between 5 and 16 would be Mary Jane.

Six children born to John Dyment/Dymont/Dymond and Harriet/Harriot were in the PEI Baptismal Index: Margaret Alice (1864), Ann Flora (1859), John Clark (1861), Eleanor Gorrill (1867) and William Thomas (1857). They were baptized in O'Leary, by a Methodist/Bible Christian minister, with no place of birth given. In his will, John named the following children: Thomas (who received 25 cents); Mary Jane, married to James Gass; unmarried daughters Annie Laura, Margaret Alice, Eleanor Gorrill, and Harriet Maud; and sons Edward Watson, Samuel and John Clark. The last two sons inherited the farm, and were asked to provide a home for their unmarried sisters and mother. John also mentioned his beloved wife Harriet.

In the 1881 Census, the household consisted of: John Dyment age 53, Harriet age 53, Thomas age 25, Annie Laura (most likely the daughter baptized as Ann Flora) age 22, John Clark age 20, Margaret A. age 18, Elenor T. age 16, Harriot Marie (Harriet Maud) age 14, and Edward W.(Edward Watson) age 12. Some of these ages don't match other records, and it looks like Eleanor should have been 14, Harriet Maud 13, and Edward Watson perhaps 10.

According to Massachusetts marriage records, John and Harriet also had a daughter Laura A, who gave various birth years on census and other records, ranging from 1866 to 1872. However, only Annie Laura was in John's will, and Annie Laura in the 1881 census matches the year of birth of Ann Flora in the PEI Baptismal Index. Annie Laura disappeared from records around the same time that Laura A. appeared, this would tend to confirm that Ann Flora, Annie Laura and Laura A. were the same daughter.

In the 1880 Meacham's Atlas, John had an odd-shaped lot, 83 acres, on what was called the Canada Road on other maps. It was property number A11/128, and the Post Office was Tyne Valley. John willed the farm to sons John and Samuel. None of his children took over this farm - it had been combined with an adjoining lot by the time of the 1928 Cummins Atlas of PEI. John's will also mentioned another farm of 125 acres being farmed by Samuel, and this was probably the farm on the Western Road.

According to the Summerside Journal June 10 1886, page 3, John died of cancer in Northam on 26 May 1886, after a lingering illness, in his 64th year.

"Of cancer, at Northam, on the 26th ult., after a lingering illness which he endured with true Christian fortitude, John Dyment, in his 64th year. By his genial warm heartedness he commanded the respect of all with whom he came in contact and his death leaves a sad vacancy in the neighbourhood. He leaves a sorrowing family and a large circle of friends to mourn their loss. His end was peace."

No date of death could be found for Harriet. As well, no graves for either were recorded in the PEI Genealogical Society's CMNI or the Master Name Index. There is a marker "Diment" in the Bideford United Church cemetery that could be John and Harriet or his brother Charles and Elizabeth.

Before John's death, Mary Jane had married James Gass and lived on the Appin Road in Lot 30. Margaret Alice and Annie/Laura A. went to the United States around 1883/84 and married; Eleanor Gorrill went to the United States and supported herself. One source states that John Clark did not marry; he is very likely the pall-bearer named Clark Dyment at Humphrey Dyment's funeral in 1912. No further trace, after 1881, could be found for William Thomas, who, it was said, went to the United States and was never heard from again, or for Annie Laura/Flora. It certainly looks like Annie Laura substracted years from her age to become Laura A. Dyment. Edward Watson, Harriet Maude, and Samuel married and stayed on the Island, but Edward Watson could not be found again in Lot 13 until the 1901 census - he too, might have gone to the States for a short period.

Will of John Dyment farmer of Lot 13

To my son Thomas Dyment, twenty-five cents
To my daughter Mary Jane who is married to James Gass, twenty five cents
To my daughters Annie Laura, Margaret Alice, Eleanor Gorrill and Harriet Maud I will and bequeath each of them the sum of twenty five cents...Each of my daughters, Annie Laura, Margaret Alice, Eleanor Gorrill and Harriet Maud to have a suitable maintenance at the homestead during the time they remain single.

To my son Edward Watson is to be given a liberal education, and if he should remain on the homestead until he is twenty one years of age and assists at the usual farm work he is to receive the sum of four hundred dollars...when he reaches the age of 21

My beloved wife Harriet if she should survive me, I leave her to the tender care of my sons Samuel and John Clark, that they shall keep and maintain her in a manner suitable to the best of their ability during the remainder of her life and give her a decent burial at her death.

I will and bequeath to my eldest son Samuel and my son John Clark my homestead farm consisting of one hundred and two acres of land in Lot 13 in Prince County...My son Samuel to give my son John Clark my homestead a joint interest in the farm and occupied by my son Samuel consisting of one hundred and twenty five acres of land situated in Lot 13. All of the property to be held jointly by my sons Samuel and John Clark.

All the rest and residue...to my sons Samuel and John Clark.

John appointed Samuel as executor of his will. Humphrey Dyment was one of the witnesses.

Signed March 9 1886

John Clark Dyment conveyed his share of the land to Samuel Dyment in December 1889.