William Kingdom

SJHS document # 500120

Copied to file Nov 1996

Source unknown

Rains farm

Through the years the history of St Joseph Island has been very interesting. Some of the farms have stayed in the same family since they were purchased from the Crown. The Rains name has been in the history of St. Joseph Island since 1835.

Prior to William Kingdom Rains entry to Canada he had made history in a European affairs under the Duke of Wellington earning a "Major" title. His heart was drawn to our new country so he brought his family to St. Joseph Island. He was empowered to " colonize St. Joseph Island in a tract of land between 80,00 and 100,00 acres, to sell the land to settlers at the rate of one shilling per acre in lots of two hundred acres each". He was already Commissioner of Peace for the area.

The site they first chose was at Milford Haven. Later he moved the plan of a store and saw mill to the selling of wood and food for the boats that were calling to the area and moved his location to the present Sailors Encampment. His family name of Rains and sons are on 17 different lots in Neebish area in the 1850's to 1880's.

One particular parcel (Lot 1 on C Line) was owned for over 100 years in the Rains family is still being farmed from Raymond R. Rains the Original Locator. The family Brian Rains are present owners - Century Farm actively.

A re-union of the William Kingdom Rains family in 1990 was enjoyed by 300-400 at the original homestead.