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| THE _ _HOODLESS _ FAMILY In the midst of our Anna P. Lewis Institute Branch area, stands the historic little country church known as "Trinity Anglican Church". It is located three miles south of Tavistock on # 59 highway. Next to the church in the well tended cemetery lie many of the early pioneers who came to this part of Oxford County in the 1830‘s and 1840‘s. One tombstone bears the name, "Hoodless" and this family has a link to the Women‘s Institute Organization, world wide and the Anna P. Lewis Branch. In 1844, John Hoodless left his native Cumberland England with seven of his eight grown children and settled in Zorra Twp. lot 20, concession 10. The mother whose maiden name was Sarah Clarkson, probably d ied before the family came to Canada. The oldest daughter Jane, married and stayed in England. The family that settled in Zorra were as follows: JOHN HOODLESS, the father, was born in England and died in East Zorra, Oxford County on Dec. 25, 1870 and is buried in Trinity Anglican Cemetery. . MARY HOODLESS, born in England 1812. She was the second daughter in the family and came to Canada with the family in 1844. She lived on the home farm with her father brothers and sisters. She never married and lived in Woodstock for several years prior to her death. She is buried in Trinity Anglican Cemetery. WILLIAM HOODLESS, He was born in England in 1815 and died in Oxford county, Canada. He was married to Rachel Youngs and they farmed near Maplewood in West Zorra. He is buried in Trinity Anglican Cemetery and also his wife.They had no family SARAH HOODLESS, born in England in 1818 and came to Canada in 1844. She married George Skelton and they farmed in East Zorra, lot 17, concession 11. They had a family of five children and many of their decendants still live in Oxford county. Sarah and George are buried in Trinity Anglican Cemetery. MARCARET HOODLESS, She was born in England in 1819. She married Donald McLevin. After her brother John Jr. died they took over the home farm lot 20, con. 10, East Zorra. They had five children and raised a neice Josephine Hoodless after her mother died. There are still decendants in this area. The McLevins are buried in Woodstock. JOSEPH HOODLESS, born in England inl1820. For a few years he lived with the family and in the 1861 census he is living in Woodstock and listed as a chairmaker. By 1871 he is in Hamilton and owner of the Hoodless and Sons Furniture Factory He married Annie McNeil and they had four children. JOHN HOODLESS JR., born in 1823 in England. He farmed the home farm and also owned the farm in West Zorra that his brother William later owned. He was never married but took an interest in his community. He is buried in Trinity Anglican Cemetery. ROBERT HOODLESS, born in England in 1828 he was the youngest of the family, coming to this country with the family in 1844. He married Mary Ann Robinson. He appears in the 1861 census in Woodstock as a chairmaker. Later he moved to Hamilton and was in the furniture business. After his wife‘s death, his younger son and daughter were raised by family. A few interest items about the Hoodless family in East Zorra. In 1851 census there is a John Hoodless listed as a shoemaker and his name appears on a petition to have a school section developed for the many children in this area, it was known as Dunlop School. John Hoodless and his family first attended Huntington Anglican Church and he is listed as a Peoples Warden. A few years later when Trinity Anglican Church Congregation was organized the Hoodless family became members there. The names of the family buried in Trinity are, John Hoodless Sr., John Hoodless JR., William and his wife Rachel and daughter Mary. Sarah . Hoodless and her husband George Skelton are also buried here. One of Joseph Hoodless"s sons, John married Adelaide Hunter. She along with Erland Lee began a movement of women later known as the Women‘s Institute, which is now a world wide organization. That John Hoodless was a grandson of the pioneer in Trinity Anglican Cemetery, thus the link between the Hoodless family and the Anna P. Lewis Institute. Dec. 1990.D,R.