THE BECK BULLETIN
| Number 48 |
December 1, 2006 |
TRACING THE DARRACHS
It's 200 years since the first Darrachs arrived in Prince Edward Island and a new genealogy has just come out to mark the occasion. Dr. Angus William Beck
 (1.4.3B.7.3.1.) of Charlottetown is the author of the genealogy that runs to 243 pages. His mother, Shirley, was a Darrach and he grew up hearing stories about his relatives
on both sides of the family. While its a lengthy book, it's not likely to appear in printed form. Angus has done most of his research by email through contacts
around the world and he is distributing the completed genealogy the same way. It comes complete with detailed instructions for reducing it to the bare essentials
so you are left with close relatives only.
Angus starts with a history of the name itself. “The Darrach name means “the son of oak” or “oak is my name,” a symbol of strength and sturdiness,” Angus writes.
The name is spelled in several ways, but it was Darrach in the original parish records and it arrived in PEI with the same spelling. They came from the Isle of
Colonsay, Argyllshire, Scotland.
The ship “Spencer,” a three-master, left Scalasaig Harbour in early August, 1806, with 115 passengers who were inter-related in a number of ways. They arrived in
PEI on September 22, 1806, and spent the winter at a Selkirk settlement in Pinette.
There are 2,591 Darrach relatives listed in the genealogy, but only 22% still bear the Darrach name. To keep track of all of the descendants, Angus developed his own numbering
system, which he calls the Genisle Genealogy format. He based it on the system you're all familiar with, the one developed by Jim Beck and used in the Beck Listings.
Angus provides a full explanation of his system at http://users.eastlink.ca/~genislegenealogy
Angus says there are many emotions involved with this work such as pleasure at getting to know a lot of cousins through email; gratitude for those of earlier generations
who recorded names and stories; sadness for all the relatives who fought and died in World Wars; satisfaction for the genuine expression of gratitude of relatives for the
completed genealogy, and knowing that in the future when people go on the web to the Island Register to look up their ancestry, the information will be there
for them.
MAPLE LEAF NOBLE SIDELINED
The horse with the longest winning streak in North America is through racing for this year due to an ankle injury. Maple Leaf Noble was injured while out for an
exercise workout.
 The horse is owned by Ralph Annear (1.11.6,4.1.) and his grandson Jack Panting. Ralph told Hal Hennessey of The Eastern Graphic that it was just a quirky
accident that took place during filming for the weekly Harness Racing show on ‘The Score’. When some harness came loose, the horse got frightened and ended up
hitting a culvert in the ditch that runs along Ralph's training track in Montague.
The three-year-old colt was taken to the veterinary college at the University of P.E.I., where he spent the night of September 27. Dr. Ian Moore said the horse
suffered a cut to his right hind ankle and severed a tendon, but the long-term prognosis is good. He said the horse would have to take it easy for a while,
but the laceration should heal on its own in a couple of months.
Maple Leaf Noble is done for this year, but Ralph’s taking the positive view and looking forward to next year and pursuing the world record of 30
straight wins by a trotter. At the moment, the horse has a record of 23 straight wins.
THE TOMMIES ARE LOOKING GOOD
The St. Thomas University Hockey Team is flying high, thanks in no small part to the efforts of two of our cousins. Thatcher Bell (1.4.6.5,3.6,3.) and
Justin Bowers (1.4.6.5,10,1,2.) are among the leading scorers for the Tommies, who are second in the standings in the Atlantic conference and rank 4th
among university teams in Canada.
Thatcher is starting to hit his stride again after being sidelined in his first year with back problems.
Surgery in the summer of 2005 along with careful rehabilitation seems to have done the trick and after the first 14 games of the season, he is tied for
second place in points. Thatcher has six goals and 11 assists for 17 points.
Justin is a freshman straight from a starring role in the Maritime Junior A League. He was the leading scorer in the league last year and led the
Woodstock Slammers to the league championship. He ranks 4th in scoring for the Tommies so far with 6 goals and 7 assists for 13 points in 14 games.
Look for improvements from the both of them over the rest of the season as Thatcher rebuilds his back muscles and Justin starts to feel more at home in
the university league.
TOP COACH
 >More honours for Amy Beck (1.4.3B.7.2.2.4,). She was named coach of the month recently by the Coaches Association of PEI.
Amy coaches the Montague Eastern Eagles, a girls soccer team. The award was presented by Bryan Haley, manager of the Montague Credit Union,
and Barney Bree, the chair of the Awards Committee of the Coaches Association.
The Eastern Graphic carried a picture of the presentation as a beaming Amy accepted her award. This was the second story about Amy in the Graphic this fall.
When she won a $500 Sport Scholarship, she used the money to buy new jerseys for the team. In addition to the soccer team, she also coaches the
Montague High girls basketball team.
FROM SALESMAN TO COMPANY OWNER
 George Jordan (1.4.9,10.4.) got tired of working for other people and has gone into business for himself. He's opened a company called Red Soil Real Estate
to make use of the skills he developed while working for a real estate company in Charlottetown.
George says he's excited about getting into business for himself. “I love the challenge of calling vendors, placing advertisements, negotiating offer agreements,
doing open houses, showing properties, and seeing properties sell to the satisfaction of both vendor and purchaser,” he says. He has an office in his home in
Beach Point at 2107 Cape Bear Road.
George plans to make full use of the Internet in his business. He says the PEI real estate market is global in scope with Americans and people from other
countries interested in Island property. “The Red Soil Real Estate website (http://www.buysellpei.com) helps to keep me in touch with buyers from all over the world.”
He emphasizes that he covers real estate on all parts of Prince Edward Island, but is more familiar with properties in Kings and Queen Counties. He adds that
his background as a former school teacher with a diploma in Computer Engineering Technology fits in nicely with his new work as the Owner/Broker of Red Soil
Real Estate.
BIRTHS
 BECK: Nathan Ezekiel Beck was born to Roger and Catherine Beck on Monday, September 25, 2006 in Huntsville, Alabama. Nathan weighed seven pounds, five ounces
and was 19.5 inches long. He was the first child for Roger and Catherine and the first grandchild for Alan and Sarah Beck. You'll remember Alan as the special
speaker at the last Beck reunion in 2003 and his dramatic account of discovering recently that he was part of a large family with hundreds of relatives.
Alan and Sarah are very excited about becoming grandparents and say that Nathan is growing fast and at the age of 2 months weighs more than 12 pounds. Alan
says Nathan is a very good child, who rarely fusses and smiles and interacts with the people around him.
Alan and Sarah live in Surfside Beach, SC, where they enjoy walks on the beach, and working around the house and the yard. Their family is nearby.
One son lives in Columbus, Ohio, and the other in Huntsville, Alabama, and they can drive to either location in a day.
 NICHOLS: Ethan James Nichols was born on September 9, 2006, at The Rockyview Hospital in Calgary, Alberta.
Baby Ethan weighed 9lb.10oz. and was 22.5 inches long when he was born.
He is the second child of Jayne (1.11.8.3.3,1,) and Jared Nichols of Calgary, and is a brother for Hailey Jayne who was born April 21, 2004.
The proud grandparents are John and Myrna (Beck) Robar (1.11.8.3.3,) of Upper LaHave, Nova Scotia
and David and Wilma Nichols of Blind Bay, Nova Scotia.
MARRIAGE
 Jeffrey Cecil Beck (1.11.8.3.4.2.) and Debbie Cooper were married on September 16, 2006 in St. John's Presbyterian Church in Belfast, PEI. Jeffrey is the
son of Barry and Nancy Beck of Brooklyn. Debbie is the daughter of David and Glenda Cooper of Eldon. Jeff and Debbie live in Pinette.
ANNIVERSARY
 Ron and Lorna Harris (1.4.6.5,11.) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in late September. Friends and relatives gathered in the Church of Christ Hall in
Murray Harbour to offer congratulations.
Their five children catered the event, putting on a superb buffet followed by a huge anniversary cake. Fifteen of their
17 grandchildren were able to make it and helped out in any way they could.
In addition to local people from the Murray Harbour area, many more came from Halifax where Ron and Lorna lived for many years. Ron said there was lots of
music and their granddaughter, Rachel, played the viola while 8-year-old Maddie step danced.
Ron read a poem he had written to Lorna, expressing how much she had meant to him during their 50 years of marriage.
In an email to Jim Beck, Ron said, “it was a great day and one of the most wonderful days of our whole lives, I would say.”
NEVER ON SUNDAY
 Sunday shopping is coming to Prince Edward Island, but that doesn't mean all stores will be open.
Stewart & Beck Ltd in Montague has no intention of opening on Sundays.
Premier Pat Binns recently announced plans to allow Sunday shopping from late May to December 31 each year.
Mark Beck told The Eastern Graphic that Stewart and Beck will not be opening its doors on Sunday. He said he believes if
there is going to be Sunday shopping it should be all year or not at all.
PEI is the last province in Canada to allow Sunday shopping.
STREET A POSSIBLE PROBLEM
The Deputy Fire Chief of Montague is worried that a new street near the fire hall could create problems for the department in an emergency. Jock Beck (1.4.3B.7.2.2.) says
Charles Fraser Drive, recently approved by town council, could cause problems for firefighters getting the trucks out when responding to a call. The street
runs close to the entrance of the fire hall.
 Jock said, "When we’re responding to a call we’re all converging on that area and on any given day it could be busy and it just doesn’t seem to make sense to put
a street there." He stressed in an interview with the Eastern Graphic that he was speaking for himself, and not the department as it hasn't discussed the matter.
Councillor Niall MacKay said the department was contacted when the street was built.
"They were consulted years ago and the final time nobody got back to the town so they assumed it was ok," he said. "They weren’t contacted this time because
it was already done."
The motion to recognize it as a street was approved by a 3-0 vote. Councillors Niall MacKay, Peter Doucette and Wilbur Naddy voted for the motion, while
councillors Rick Beck, David Mabon and John MacFarlane were absent.
The Vere Beck Family Home Page
The Marfleet Home Page
We're always looking for news of Beck family members. If you know of any significant events drop me a line with the information. imunn@accesswave.ca
That's it for this edition .. please share it with relatives who aren't on line. The next edition will be out on February 1st.
Copyright © 2006 The Beck Bulletin
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