United States # 88, 1867 3c Washington, rose, on 4 Feb 1869 double-franked cover from Bangor, ME to Clementsport, Nova Scotia. Addressed to G. F. Ditmars, Esq., Clementsport, Nova Scotia. Cancelled Bangor, ME, FEB 4, Backstamps, Digby, FEB – 1869, Clementsport, N.S. FE 11 1869.
Gilbert Fowler Ditmars was 59 years old and Collector of Customs at Clementsport, Nova Scotia (appointed April 15th, 1841) when he received this letter from Bangor, ME in 1867.
Gilbert was born Aug 14th, 1810, the son of a Loyalist immigrant from New York, Douwe Ditmars and his wife Elizabeth Fowler. He would have grown up in the Douwe Ditmars house still standing in Clementsport. He married first, on July 22nd, 1832, Wealthea Ann Ryerson, daughter of John and Sophia (Ruggles) Ryerson. The July 28th,1832 edition of the New Brunswick Courier reported “m. Clements N.S. 22nd inst. by Rev. Edwin Gilpin, Gilbert F. Ditmars / Wealthy Amira Reaison [sic] 3rd d/o John Reaison [sic], Esq.”
Annapolis Co. probate records show that on March 12th, 1851, Letters of Guardianship were awarded to Gilbert F. Ditmars for the child of Amarita Ditmars, widow of Voorhies Ditmars, named Frederick Jones Ditmars, 'about 6 years of age'.
Hutchinson’s Nova Scotia Directory, 1864-1865, for Clementsport, lists Ditmars, Gilbert Fowler, revenue officer.
In the1871 census, Gilbert F. Ditmars, collector of customs, 61, and Wealthea, 61, were residing in Clements, Annapolis Co. William H. Ditmars, house joiner, 32 and Charles Ditmars, merchant, 33 and their families were residing nearby.
He married second, on December 21st, 1875, in Paradise, Wilmot Township, Annapolis Co., Harriet Ruggles, as her 3rd husband. She was the daughter of Thomas H. Ruggles and Sarah Helms. She died in 1893. The December 7th, 1893, edition of The Daily Telegraph reported: “d. Westport, N.S., Nov. 28th, at residence of B.H. Ruggles, Mrs. Ditman [sic] widow of Fowler Ditman [sic], Clementsport, age 85 years.” He is listed as Collector of Customs on 2nd marriage certificate.
The 1875 Belcher’s Almanack listed G. F. Ditmars as Sub-collector, Out Ports, Clementsport, and one of sixteen Coroners for the County of Annapolis.
The Civil Service List of Canada, 1885, for Annapolis County has Ditmars, Gilbert Fowler as Sub-Collector with an annual salary of $200.00.
In the 1891 census, Fowler Ditmars, farmer, 80, parents both born in U.S. and Harriet, 82, parents both born in U.S., were residing in Clements, Annapolis Co. Gilbert died in 1891. Letters of Administration for the estate of Gilbert Fowler Ditmars, of Clementsport were granted to James D. Ditmars of Clementsport on 23 Jun 1891. His widow was Harriet Ditmars. James was her stepson.
Gilbert's father, Douwe Ditmars, was born in Jamaica, Queens County, New York in 1772 to Isaac Ditmars and Jane Vroom. In 1794, he married Elizabeth Fowler. She was born around 1775, and died March 3rd, 1846, aged 72. She is buried in Old St. Edward's Anglican Cemetery, Clements. The March 21st, 1846, edition of the New Brunswick Courier reported “d. Clements, N.S., 3rd inst., Elizabeth Ditmars w/o D.I. Ditmars, age 71.”
In 1827 Dowe J. Ditmars, commerce, was residing in Clements, Annapolis County with a family consisting of 9 males, 6 females, 1 black male servant and 2 female servants. The group probably included his 77-year-old father, 80-year-old mother as well as his youngest son, Gilbert F. who was still unmarried. Some of his children and grandchildren are probably included in the family group. Douwe ran an inn and tavern in the "Ditmars Long House" which still stands in Clementsport. There are two licenses from 1808 and 1809 issued to Douwe "to keep a Tavern or Public House of Entertainment and to retail Spirituous liquors, Rum, Wine, Cyder Beer or other strong liquors of the like nature in his house where he now liveth."
Douwe died May 28th, 1849, and is buried in the Old St. Edward's Anglican Cemetery.
An inventory of his estate presented 28 Aug 1849 showed a value of £1074 - 10 - 5 ½.
Gilbert Fowler was his fifth child and fourth son.
Gilbert's grandfather, Isaac Ditmars was born August 1st, 1751, in Jamaica Township, Queens, New York. He was the son of Douwe Ditmars and Catryntje Snedeker and a descendent of Jan Jansen Ditmars who emigrated from Ditmarsen in the duchy of Holstein obtaining a patent on March 23rd, 1647, for 24 morgens on Manhattan Island. In 1647 he occupied a farm at Dutch Kils, Queens County.
Isaac Ditmars signed a Declaration of Loyalty to the British King in 1775, along with 134 other men from Jamaica. He signed a Representation and Petition to Lord Richard and General William Howe, acknowledging allegiance in October 1776. He married Jane Vroom. She was born October 1st, 1755 in Raritan, Somerset County, New Jersey, the daughter of Joris [George] and Sara (Remsen) Vroom. After Isaac's death, Jane married John Vroom.
Isaac died in 1779. This was during the time of the American War of Independence, 1775 to 1783, and it’s probable he died in that war.
Jane must have been the Mrs. Ditmars (widow), farmer, residing in Clements, Annapolis County in 1827 with a family consisting of 3 males and 4 females. She died January 28th, 1830, aged 74, and is buried in the Old St. Edward's Anglican Cemetery, Clementsport. The children of Isaac and Jane, born in Jamaica, Queens County, New York, were Douwe Isaac, born January 27th, 1772, and Sarah, born in 1774. She married in 1797, in Digby Co., Nova Scotia, Samuel Purdy, and she died July 12th, 1862, aged 84. She is buried in Old Saint Edward Cemetery, Clementsport.
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