1886 Barn Raising

On June 30, 1886 a picture was taken of the people involved in a barn raising on the farm of James Davidson Moodie, on the Scotch Line. The gathering was much like a family reunion in that most of the people were related in one way or another. The Moodies were connected to the other families up and down the Scotch Line as many of them had been there since the property was first granted by the Crown in 1816 per the terms of the Bathurst Proclamation. The largest and earliest group of settlers, also referred to as the 'Edinburgh settlers', arrived in Quebec in 1815 aboard four ships; Atlas, Dorothy, Baltic Merchant and Eliza and settled on the Scotch line the next spring. Read a more detailed account here: Perth Historical Society Web Page
The picture was published in the Perth Courrier May 20, 1998 with the following description: "Barn raising, on the farm of J.D.Moodie, Scotch Line, June 30, 1886. On beam at top, sitting: Jas. Ferrier, John Ferrier Sr., John Palmer, Jas. Robinson. Standing: Robt. McLaren, Abram Ferrier Jr., Harry Acheson, Isaac Ferrier, Alex Moodie, Robt. Strong. Sitting: John McDonald, Albert Wilson, Home Boy (Name not known), Alex Dodds, Jas. D. Allan, Robert Brash, Jas. Wilson. Sitting on beam beside ladder: Jas Cameron, Blacksmith, Fallbrook. Middle beam, standing at left: Andy Turnbull, John Ferrier. Middle beam, sitting at right: R. Davidson, Abe Moodie, Frank Allan Sr., name unknown. Standing on Barn Floor: Geo. Farnell (ed. sitting on chair), Jas. Fraser, Abraham Ferrier Sr., Mac Ferrier, Robt. Allan, Rathwell, Manitoba, Robt. Moodie, Frank Allan Jr., Jas. Moodie, John Allan, Od. Consitt, Chas. Walker, John Armour. Between rows: Wm. Acheson, John Moodie. Sitting on Gangway: T.A. Moodie, John McGowan, Matt Balderson, Issac Ferrier Sr., Barney Hogan, Alex Abercrombie, Sloan (first name unknown). Sitting far right: Jas. Moodie Sr., Wm. Cowie. The picture was donated to the Perth Museum by James G. Ferrier on the Scotch Line, who died on March, 9 1987, at the age of 95 years and 10 months. Both his father (Abram Ferrier Jr., and his grandfather, Isaac Ferrier Sr.) are in the picture. Jas. D. Moodie was married to a sister of Abram Ferrier Jr.. Photo courtesy the Perth Museum"
I have researched each of the people based on the names provided above and prepared a list of genealogical notes, where possible for each of the Barn Raising Participants. The numbers in the listing conform with the numbers that I have added to the photo on the right. (Click on the photo to get a larger size) The key families in this affair were the Moodies, Wilsons, Ferriers and Allans. Twenty nine of the people in the picture can be found in the Covell family tree.