Thomas James Carson Brittain

Born: April 16, 1861 in Campbell Settlement, New Brunswick, Canada
Died: July 1944
Buried:

Thomas James Carson Brittain was born in Campbell Settlement, New Brunswick, Canada on April 16, 1861. He was a first generation American as his father was born in Ireland. In 1883 he married his wife Clara May Andrews from Northfield Maine and by 1900 they had 4 children. The children were born in Grand Lake Stream, the eldest daughter Grace was a nurse, Arden was a shoe worker and Thomas W. was killed in action in France 1918 during WW1, the youngest child Isabella died before 1900.

In 1897 Thomas built a moccasin factory in Island Falls. Thomas also owned a small tannery on Sly Brook, tanning his own leather for the moccasins. The Moccasin Factory running at capacity employed 4 men and produced 50 pairs of hand sewn moccasins per day. It is said that every man, boy and lumberman wore Brittain Moccasins. In fact Dr. Harrison Hunt, the Arctic Explorer from Island Falls wore a pair on his expedition to the Arctic in 1913.

In 1910 Thomas purchased a farm on Barker Ridge, this farm was considered one of the nicest buildings in town which is now owned by Beth and Gregory Ryan.

Thomas died at the age of 83 in 1944, and his wife passed in 1954. The Brittain’s are all buried in Island Falls except Thomas W. Brittain, who is buried in France.