George and Hannah

This poem is about a couple who were in my family tree. Their names were George Aitken and Hannah Beairsto, and they married in 1798 in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

 

In 1798, George set out in his little dugout canoe

His horse swimming beside him, crossed the river Montague

At the age of nineteen, he was out looking for a bride

A sweet local girl, who'd always be by his side

 

He hid his canoe in the bushes, followed the Indian trail

Trekked all across the country, he knew he'd not fail

He arrived in West River, Queens County, in Lot 31

Saw a girl, with her father, thatching a roof under the sun

 

She was spinning with her frolic, he fell in love right away

He asked for her hand, they married the next day

He took her back to his home, to little Panmure Isle

Off the coast of Montague, just off the sea mile

 

Many years later, he bought a farm and a mill

One day while he farmed, found strange oats on a hill

He sowed and re-sowed, these five oats he had found

Aitken's Black Oats, they were called, sold for many British pounds

 

Hannah worked very hard, used wool's sheep for her spinning

Made soap and candles, fruits and vegetables preserving

All the meat and the fish, she spent all day curing

Expecting the same from others, a workman wrote enduring

 

"When the Israelites wanted bread,

The good Lord sent them Mannah

When George Aitken wanted a wife,

The Devil sent him Hannah."

 

They rebuilt a Scottish house, based on a family home 

A fine nine room house, all made of brown stone

For many fine folks, these two entertained

Even the Lieutenant Governor, their reputation acclaimed

 

Their house stands today, in Lower Montague

A fine testament, to the legacy of these two

Their descendants still live, to this very day

In their beautiful house, their love it shall stay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[sirenribbon@thehptshirt..]

This is an interesting historical poem. Love how you mined from within your family.