Private Pliny John Fetterly

Born on 22 May 1897 in Christenville, Ontario - son of Adam Christopher Fetterly, Cornwall, Ontario - at the time of his enlistment in 1915: trade as farmer, single, no current or previous military service, Presbyterian, height of 5 feet 8 inches, chest of 38.5 inches fully expanded, ruddy complexion, brown eyes, brown hair.

Joined the 59th Battalion, CEF, on 10 June 1915 - transferred to the 38th Battalion, CEF, in Barriefield, Ontario, on 30 June 1915 (number 410946) - served with the 319188th Battalion during its period of garrison duty in Bermuda - landed in France with the 38th Battalion on 13 August 1916 - wounded on 29 October 1916 - rejoined the 38th Battalion on 6 November 1916 - struck off the strength of the 38th Battalion on 2 May 1917 - rejoined the 38th Battalion on 18 June 1918 - wounded on 2 or 3 September 1918 - invalided to England on 5 September 1918.

Fun Fact - (Cornwall Mayors - 1919-20 Adam C. Fetterly (my great grandfather) - Pliny’s father.

I didn’t know my grandfather - Pliny John Fetterly. I only met him once in my life but I wish I had had more opportunities. Pliny returned from ww1 in 1918 - married my grandmother in 1919 - they had my mom in 1920 - had a second daughter, my aunt in 1921 and then, sadly, my grandmother passed away in 1922. What’s a man to do with a toddler and an infant? Fresh home from the war. A young man with two babies? Grieving the loss of his young wife. I’m not sure of all the events which led to the adoption - but my grandfather and maternal great-parents came to the agreement that they would adopt the two little girls. I make no judgment. I can’t imagine my grandfather’s sadness. Everyone must have been in shock and dismay and grief-stricken. This was not what they ever imagined happening.

My Mom often spoke so highly of her grandparents. How she loved them. How she gave thanks for her upbringing. She didn’t ever speak unkindly about her father’s decision. Almost until the time of her last breath - she recalled her life with her grandparents - but almost her last words she spoke in this life were - “Mom? Mom? I’m coming!” My mom - who lived to 100 and a half and hadn’t seen her mother for 98 years - called out to her on her death bed. It was touching and emotional for us gathered in her room.

Psalm 68:6 - says - “God sets the lonely in families”. Two babies. No parents. Strong, loving grandparents who stepped in to raise those two little girls to become strong women.

I imagine the 1920’s and 1930’s were not the easiest to raise children. My Mom - a very young girl - would tell us stories about the depression - about the men who would show up at their back door - asking for anything - and her grandmother packing a sack of food for them. So many hungry people.

My grandfather went on to remarry in 1924 and have 6 more children.

Imagine my surprise in the spring of 2022 when I received a letter from the Ministry of the Attorney General/Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee - concerning an aunt who had passed away without a will. My first response - SPAM! But it wasn’t! My cousin had also received such a letter and we decided that she and her brother would follow through and see what was what! A year and a half would go by and not much progress happened.

Fast forward to November 2024. My cousin asked me if I would be interested in working on finding descendants from Grampa Pliny’s second family. Definitely. I was interested.

To make a long story short - thanks to Google - Facebook - Instagram - Ancestry - we have located Grampa’s second family - our Fetterly cousins. One hundred years have passed by since the Fetterly children were born and now their children have found each other. A Fetterly reunion is in the offing - hopefully for this summer.

I think it’s no mistake that my mom was raised by her grandparents. They both died before I was born but I know they both had strong faith - they loved God - they were faithful to attend the Baptist Church in Cornwall - they taught my Mom and my Aunt well and both women grew up to marry strong Christian men - both families staying in the faith that the young girls were raised in. I’m so grateful for our heritage. Psalm 127:3 says that children are a heritage from the Lord. God entrusts parents (and grandparents) with these tiny humans and gives them the responsibility of raising and training those children to know and honour Him.

I love this prayer I found about our Christian heritage - “Gracious Father, we lift our hearts in gratitude for the gift of Christian heritage. Thank you for the faith of those who walked before us, inspiring us with their unwavering trust in You. Forgive us for the times we falter and lose sight of the lessons embedded in the stories of our family. Grant us the wisdom to cultivate an environment where the stories of our Christian ancestors are not forgotten but cherished. May these stories be a source of strength, shaping the foundation of our families and communities.”

I’m grateful for Grampa Pliny. Part of him lives on in me. Strength? Fortitude? Faith? Hopefully the more I get to know my Fetterly cousins, I’ll find out more about my grandfather. I can’t wait.