My Family Tree

Alexander was born about 1811 in Prince Edward Island, the eldest son of John Bernard, a tavern keeper in Wilmot Creek, and Margaret Catherine Waugh. He was the descendant of French Huguenots, who had settled in England and then New York. In 1787, Alexander's grandfather Samuel Bernard and his family left New York, not wanting to take up arms against the British King, and moved to what is now Prince Edward Island. Alexander Bernard died in 1890 at the age of 79 years and was buried in St. Thomas Cemetery, P.E.I.

Father: John BERNARD b: 10 NOV 1789 in Queens, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Mother: Margaret Catherine WAUGH b: 1788 in Prince Edward Island, Canada

Although Alexander gave his status as single when he married Amelia Mann, there is a record for an earlier marriage between Alexander Bernard and Catherine B. Graham on 24 December 1842. Witnesses were Rachel Bernard and James Bernard.

A number of local histories in PEI mention the loyalist roots of the Bernard family, dating back to Samuel Bernard.

From The History of Baltic, Lot 16:

"The Bernards are United Empire Loyalists. Samuel left Normandy France on account of religious persecution, crossed to Holland and then to England. He settled for a time in Yorkshire where he was well received and liked the place and people, but hearing favorable stories of America he decided to go where there would be more advantages for his then large family. He settled in New State, was only there a short time when he was asked to take up arms against England. This he did not wish to do and in the 1798 Census, it reports, Samuel Bernard, his wife and five sons and two daughters settling in French River. Five children were born after their arrival. His grandson John Bernard married Barbara Champion and settled in Long River while James Bernard settled in the Baltic Lot 18. "

A similar story is recounted in The History of Long River.

"The story of P.E.I. Loyalists is extremely obscure, but it would seem that the New London Bernard and Cousins families belonged to that steadfast company." (History of New London Parish)

Some branches of the Bernard family spelled their name Barnard, or pronounced the name "Ber' nard".

In his will, Alexander left the bulk of his estate to his wife, Amelia. He left $1.00 each to the following children:
John, Daniel, Watson, Margaret Jane, Catherine, Adeline, Eliza, Russell, Cameron, and Hubert.