| The following TRELFORD family history was given at the Dedication of the Memorial Window in memory of George TRELFORD and his wife Sarah Shaw TRELFORD on June 7th, 1959.
Edward TRELFORD and his wife lived in Donegal Ireland.
In 1821 they decided to sail for Canada with their two children, Sarah (later Sally Lee) aged 3 years and a young baby George. Also a maid to help with the children.
It was a dangerous trip, which took seven weeks. Ship fever broke out and many adults and children died and were buried at sea. The maid cleaned her trunk out and said, "If our baby dies, he will not be buried at sea. I will stow his body away and he will be buried on land." He must have been a very loveable baby since this quality remained with him throughout his life. The baby lived, so that branch of the TRELFORD tree grew making it possible for this gathering today.
The Edward TRELFORD family settled at Athlone in Adjala Township and attended "Old" St. John’s Anglican Church in Mono
In the year 1847, the baby George married Sarah Shaw of Loretto. Their first child, Mary, was born on October 12th 1848. When their second child Thomas was born in 1850, Grandmother Shaw took Mary home with her for a couple of weeks. Later her father came for her but she had become so attached to Grandmother Shaw and two uncles, Jonas and Thomas Shaw that she cried the greater part of the first night home. Being unable to calm his small daughter, George TRELFORD dressed her and carried her back to the Shaw home, a distance of some 3 miles. Again we see the gentle, loving nature of our grandfather.
Great Grandfather had four brothers - Uncles Henry, William, John and Copeland; and five sisters - Aunts, Sarah TRELFORD Lee (Sally), Mattie TRELFORD Riley, Betsy TRELFORD Kennedy, Elizabeth TRELFORD Sparling and Susan TRELFORD Bau. Sarah and George were the only ones born in Ireland. The rest were born in Canada.
In 1867, all the families decided to move to Bruce County, Arran Township with the exception of Mary and Sally. Mary, of course, stayed with her Grandmother Shaw, and in 1870 married James Patterson. They resided on a farm near Edgar, Ontario.
The rest of the families settled on Concession 7 of Arran Township. Edward on Lot 23, Copeland on Lot 22 and George (our Grandfather) on Lot 27. Our Grandfather brought with him Elizabeth, Phoebe, Maggie, Sarah Jane, Thomas, John, Jonas and the twins William and George aged 21/2 years. They looked so much alike that after baptism, their mother tied a string of beads on one and Aunt Elizabeth cared for that one. This family had all been baptized in "Old" St. John’s Anglican Church in Mono before coming to Arran.
While Wilmer Palmer (married to a granddaughter of Sarah Lee’s) was warden of "Old" St. John’s the cemetery, which had been sadly neglected, was cleaned and made a real beauty spot. It now has perpetual care with a sizeable fund. A great many people of the Lee family are buried there. The last Sunday in June each year a memorial service is held in the church and cemetery.
In 1877 the congregation decided to build the present Christ Church (Anglican), Invermay. In 1958 when Reverend Freeborn, a former member of the church and now living in Toledo, Michigan dedicated a Freeborn Stained Window in memory of his Mother and Father, he referred to an early meeting of the congregation in an Invermay Hotel. At this meeting it was decided to wipe off the remaining debt. We are told that the TRELFORD brothers each donated $100.00, which was a considerable sum in those days.
Many of our children have been baptized, confirmed, and married in Christ Church, Invermay. We are very proud of this church, and thankful to our forefathers who handed down such a heritage. In appreciation, the grandchildren of George TRELFORD and Sarah Shaw decided to install a stained window in their memory.
Two Great Grandchildren - Frank TRELFORD of Toronto and Russell McAvoy of Owen Sound - also wished to contribute so on June 7th 1959 the window "Ruth the Reaper" was unveiled by Edna Dean Mowat of Toronto escorted by Roy TRELFORD of Waubaushene Ontario.
It was a beautiful warm June day. The Church was filled to capacity. The two centre aisles were reserved for the TRELFORD families. The ushers were great grandchildren of George and Sarah TRELFORD - namely Earl TRELFORD, Robert TRELFORD, William McDougal and Jack Ruff.
A family party was held in the Parish Hall after the Dedication. Reverend Elliot thanked the families for the window in the name of the Wardens and the congregation. Norman TRELFORD welcomed the gathering; Margaret TRELFORD Ruff gave the history of her grandfather and grandmother.
Grandfather died in 1894 aged 73 Born 1821.
Grandmother died in 1886 aged 62 Born 1824.
They were buried in Christ Church Cemetery, Invermay. | 
