Mary I BIRDINA Augusta SWACKHAMER

Female 1893 - 1906  (13 years)


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  • Name Mary I BIRDINA Augusta SWACKHAMER 
    Born 19 Apr 1893  Erin Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Fourth Line, Erin
    Gender Female 
    Died Aug 1906  Glanford, Erin Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Churchill Cemetery Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I1038  Richard Patterson NJ & ON
    Last Modified 10 Jan 2019 

    Father Thomas AUSTIN SWACKHAMER
              b. 29 Jul 1857, Esquesing Twp., Halton Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 10 Jul 1935, Erin Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years) 
    Mother Frances Catharine JOHNSTON
              b. 23 Jul 1855, Esquesing Twp., Halton Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 6 Aug 1933, Acton, Esquesing Twp., Halton Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years) 
    Married 17 Apr 1877  Lynden, Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F453  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • . 1893 Apr 23 -Born. Swackhamer - In Glanford, on 23rd April, the wife of Austin Swackhamer, of a daughter.
      Ref: Acton Free Press, published 1893 May 4.

      . FATAL SHOOTING IN ERIN.
      Peter Wylie, a Farm Hand, Shot & Almost Instantly Killed Berdina Swackhamer. WYLIE ARRESTED IN ACTON.
      A deplorable fatal shooting case occurred at the home of Thomas Austin Swackhamer, fourth line, Erin, about 4 miles from Acton, last Saturday evening between 6 & 7 o'clock. Berdina, Mr. Swackhamer's only daughter, was shot & almost instantly killed by a Scotch lad of 15 known as Peter Wylie or Peter Wilson. Wylie is 15 years of age & was brought to Canada about 3 years ago by Rev. Peter Wilson, a mission worker in Toronto, who resides at 92 Scollard Street.
      In September of last year Rev. Mr. Wilson & Mrs. Wilson & young Wylie were visiting in Erin & during the visit arranged for the lad to spend a year with Mr. William Bingham on his farm, lot 10, second line. He had spent about 11 months there, but he & Mr. Bingham disagreed about something & he left a week or so after & went to Mr. Darins Kennedy's, where he was acquainted. Mr. Kennedy is a near neighbour of Mr. Swackhamer & the 2 farmers frequently exchanged work. It appears that Kennedy was to have helped Swackhamer on Thursday last with his turnips, but was taken ill & Wylie was sent over to tell of the trouble. The lad appears to have changed the message & instead, explained that he had been sent to help with the work, though what his motive was in so doing is not apparent, unless he wished in that way to get away from that section. Though he was set to work, he did little, so Mr. Swackhamer says. On Saturday the work was finished & Mr. Swackhamer intended Wylie should go back to Kennedy's that evening. In fact, Mrs. Swackhamer said to her husband when they were picking berries together, a few minutes before the tragedy: "I wish you would send Peter back at once; I am afraid something will happen from his careless, meddlesome ways."

      On Saturday night Wylie was to go back to Kennedy's & in the afternoon, after returning from bathing with Master Frank Swackhamer, Mr. Swackhamer told the lad to assist with the chores. He paid no attention to the request, but, going into a shed secured the stock of an old gun. Stanley, one of Mr. Swackhamer's sons, was hitching up to drive into Acton & Wylie pointed the stock of the gun with a threat to shoot both lad & horse. He obeyed the order to stop his threats & the gun stock was returned to the carpenter's chest where it was kept. The rig then started for Acton & Wylie & Berdina, the 13-year-old daughter of the house, went as far as the gate with Stanley. Arrived there the former demanded to go to Acton, but was refused, as he was not in a presentable condition. Some words then ensued between the lads & in somewhat of a temper Wylie is said to have started back towards the house, Berdina following him. Arrived at the woodshed, where he had secured the stock, the lad got up & reached down a gun, which Mr. Swackhamer left there to shoot foxes, which of late, had been bothering his poultry. When, all unsuspecting, the girl entered the door, it was to find herself confronted with the weapon & to receive the full charge in the upper part of her body. Her left arm was almost torn off, the lungs were riddled & some of the main arteries severed.

      At the time this was taking place the mother & father were picking berries in the rear of the house. They heard the report of the gun & upon hurrying around, were met by Wylie, who exclaimed, "I have shot Berdina." This was found to be only too true, for lying in a pool of blood, the parents were horrified to see the body of their only daughter. She was carried into the house, but expired in a few minutes.

      The perpetrator of the deed in the meantime lost no time in making his escape. He came to Acton & was at the G.T.R. station when his whereabouts were discovered, & Chief Lawson placed him in the cells. Wylie appeared to be entirely unconcerned. He contends the shooting was accidental, that he was taking down the gun when it discharged & that he had no intention of doing harm to the girl. On the road to Acton the accused met several parties to whom he mentioned the shooting. An inquest was opened by Coroner Savage at Guelph on Sunday the following being enpannelled a jury: John McIntyre, George Rozell, Edw. Atkinson, J. Atkinson, Albert Smith, John Thomas, Lewis Atkinson, John Davis, James Sprowl, Hiram Fisher, Arthur Thompson & Nathaniel Ismond. The boy Wylie remained in the cells here from Saturday night until Monday, when County Constable Merryweather, of Guelph took him to Guelph gaol. The inquest was adjourned on Sunday, after viewing the remains, until Wednesday at two o'clock in the fourth line school house. The young lad who was the cause of this tragical event does not look like a criminal or vindictive character.

      In conversation with the FREE PRESS Mr. Hugh McCutcheon, who knows him quite well, says he is not naturally a bad boy, but his training has evidently been sadly neglected. He thinks that if he were placed under good discipline & given the training a boy of his years should have, that he would grow into a useful manhood. He is bright & alert & could be readily taught any useful trade. The sad circumstance has been a terrible blow to Mr. & Mrs. Swackhamer, who have been lifelong & highly esteemed residents of the vicinity. Reeve Swackhamer, of Acton is a brother. The funeral on Monday afternoon was largely attended. A very effective service was conducted at the home by Rev. J. H. Taylor, assisted by Rev. R. J. Drysdale & interment took place in the family plot at Churchill. Messrs. Arthur & Clinton Swackhamer, Roy Wansborough, Robert & Richard Leavens & Basil Johnston were the pall bearers.

      . Guelph, Aug. 7. - (Special) - Peter Wylie, the farm hand who shot Berdina Swackhamer, of Erin township, is now in Guelph jail, having been brought from Acton to-day by High Constable Merryweather. Wylie maintains that the shooting was accidental, & seems to realize the gravity of the situation in which he is placed. He says he was not aware that the gun was loaded, but Frank Swackhamer, brother of the dead girl, states he told Wylie on Thursday that it was. Some of the circumstances appear to favour the boy. He did not leave the scene of the shooting until he told her father what he had done. On the way to Acton he told the driver who took him over that he had shot the Swackhamer girl, & that he had a postcard from his father asking to meet him at Acton. The case is perplexing the authorities. It is stated that malice can scarcely be established. Her body was interred in Churchill Cemetery, Acton Esquesing Twp., Halton Co. Ontario,
      Reference: Acton Free Press, 9 Aug 1906 page 2, column 2

      Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -