Death of Mary Forsyth - June 27, 1935

Death Certificate:

District of Temiskaming,

Township of Dymond

Date: June 27, 1935

Length of stay in place where death occured: 15 years

Female - English - Widowed - retired

Birthplace: Twp of Cane [King], Ontario

Date of Birth: Septmeber 22, 1840

Age at death: 94 years, 9 months, 5 days

Husband: John Forsyth

Father's Name: Dales, born England

Mother's Name: Diana Otheram, born England

Informant: Mrs. W. J. James, New Liskeard, daughter

Burial: Bracebridge, June 28, 1935

Undertaker: E.O. Perrin (?)

Doctor attended: June 22 - June 26, 1935

Patient last seen: June 26, 1935

Immediate cause of death: arteriosclerotic heart disease due to general arteriosclerosis

Other morbidity: cerebral arteriosclerosis

Surgery: No

Signed Robert Nelson, New Liskeard, June 27, 1935

Counties of Scotland - Pre 1974

CLICK on map to enlarge it.

Mention of Fairliehope in a Rebecca West Letter of 1910

An internet photo of the Fairliehope area today.

Rebecca West was an English author, journalist, literary critic and travel writer. Click on the title above for information about a book of her letters. Quoting from this website: "By April 1910, West had made her move to London, where she settled with her mother and sisters in the house they named Fairliehope." It seems that William Morris, a very famous designer of the Arts and Crafts movement, had popularized the name 'Fairliehope' after a farm in the Pentlands. West named her home in London 'Fairliehope, but in her walk to West Linton mentioned in the letter below, she doesn't say that they saw the farm. Our ancestor, James Forsyth, was a farmer 'of Farleyhope' in 1808, a hundred years earlier, and would have lived in a/the cottage on the Fairliehope farm.

To: Letitia Fairfield 24 Buccleuch Place Edinburgh 20 March 1910 My dear Cow, We are so sorry to hear that you are run down again! It will be good to be nearer you so that we can inspect you at more frequent intervals. It's very unfair that a fine Cow like you should be weakly. * I expect you have heard as much as we have about Fairliehope Cottage—I hope you like the name. If you don't you ought to be ashamed of yourself, because it is a most beautiful William Morris word and the name of a wonderful old farm on the Pentlands looking over towards the Clyde. Podge [Winifred Macleod] is planning to cut a garden—herbaceous borders, rosepoles, and such like. Mother's only stipulation is that there must be wallflowers, and I demand a lilac bush and almond tree, so she has a free hand. ............ * Yesterday Flora, Ada and I went a 15 mile walk. We trained to Balerno, walked along the Old Lanark Road and crossed over Carnwath Moor by Harperrig Reservoir, and climbed up to the pass between the East & West Cairn Hills. This is the Cauldstaneslap—the one in The Weir of Hermiston—a most awful wilderness of bare moors—1300 ft above sea level. We had to go rather out of our way, as we couldn't walk in the snow, which lay pretty thick on the mountains. The hills are about 2,000 ft, and in wild shapes. We walked for six miles without seeing a house, and in the whole 15 miles only met 2 people. When we got to West Linton—which is a lovely place, in the prettiest part of Peebleshire,—we found that the benevolent railway company insisted on us leaving at 4.45 or not at all till 8 o'clock. So—as the station is 2 miles from the village—we couldn't have tea. For 1/6 the N. B. R. gave us 2 hrs of travelling including half an hour's repose at a station, dropped, for some reason, beside a couple of cottages. No stuffing anywhere, and we'd wolfed all our sandwiches among the mountains! The dear child did wonders when it returned to the bosom of its fambly [sic]! The bother is that my left leg is quite lame today. I don't know if its possible, but I feel as if that burn had affected it. It's been queer ever since. ............. Your loving Baby West, R., MSS

Walter and Agnes Forsyth of Penicuik

Click on the title of this post to see the Spittal Farmhouse close to Penicuik. I don't know if this is the farmhouse that Walter Forsyth lived in, but it is the general area.

A Walter Forsyth (perhaps the brother of our James Forsyth [Helen Scott], but most certainly a relative of James) married Agnes Ferguson Dec 12, 1812 in Penicuik. Agnes was probably the daughter of William Ferguson and Jean Buyer baptised September 23, 1778 in Biggar, Lanark. This town is not far from Penicuik and Agnes provided this town as her place of birth in the 1851 census, as shown below.

Three daughters were baptised in Penicuik: Jean, 25 August, 1814; Marion, August 16, 1816; and Joan, December 5, 1818. Alison, born about 1826, is with her father and sister, Joanna, in the 1841 census below.

A Thomas BROWN married Jean Forsyth on July 20, 1832 in Penicuik, Midlothian. Marion died in 1838 at 22 years of age and is buried the Penicuik churchyard. Alison married William ROBB in 1841, and Joan(na) married a Thomas MURRAY in 1849.

The 40 year old John Forsyth in the 1841 census who is married to Isabella Sinclair is probably the son of a John Forsyth, substantiated by an 1821 baptism of a child of John and his wife, Isabel Sinclair when one of the witnesses is a John Forsyth, Senior. Note that there is a 15 year old John Forsyth, an apprentice, living with Laings in 1841. He is probably a son of John and Isabella.

The facts which seem to suggest that James and Walter were brothers are:
i) Walter witnessed the baptism of a son of James in Penicuik
ii) both had a second daughter named Marion...perhaps their mother's name *

Therefore, there appears to be two Forsyth brothers living in the Penicuik area in the first decade of the 19th century. Walter lives there until his death, but James moves to East Lothian. There might have been a third brother, John, in the area, but there was definitely a John, son of John Sr.
1841 Census - Penicuik -Midlothian Address: -
FORSYTH, John, M, 40, Ag. Lab, b. Outside County
FORSYTH, Isabella (Sinclair), F, 40, b.Midlothian
FORSYTH, Isabella, F, 15, Paper Mill, b. Midlothian
FORSYTH, Jane, F, 10, Paper Mill, b. Midlothian

1841 Census -Place: Penicuik -Midlothian Address: Spittal Farm
FORSYTH, Walter, M, 70, Farmer, b. Outside County
FORSYTH, Joanna, F, 20, b. Midlothian FORSYTH, Alison, F, 15, b.Midlothian BROWN, David, M, 8, b. Midlothian SOMERVILLE, Mary, F, 18, Servant, b. Outside County
SOMERVILLE, Isabella, F, 15, Servant, b. OutsideCounty *

1841 Census Place: Penicuik -Midlothian Address: Monks Burn Cottage
BROWN, Thomas, M, 34, Wright, b. Outside County
BROWN, Jean, F, 25, b. Midlothian BROWN, Walter, M, 6, b. Midlothian
FORSYTH, Agnes, F, 62, Independent, b. Outside County
FORSYTH, Agnes, F, 3, b. Midlothian ** see 1851 below- Agnes Brown
ROBB, John, M, 18, Wright Journeyman, b. Outside County
HURT, James, M, 15, Wright Apprentice, b. Outside County
MASON, Mary, F, 15, Servant, b.Outside County

1841 Census Place: Penicuik -Midlothian Address: Silver Burn Smithy
LAING, Andrew, M, 55, Wright J&M, b. Outside County
LAING, Jean, F, 55, b. Outside County (1841)
LAING, John, M, 23, Wright Journeyman, b. Midlothian
LAING, Elizabeth, F, 19, b. Midlothian
LAING, George, M, 12, b. Midlothian
STODDART, Robert, M, 20, Wright Journeyman, b. Outside County
THOMSON, James, M, 15, Wright Journeyman, b. Outside County
WHITE, Adam, M, 20,Wright Apprentice, b. Midlothian
FORSYTH, John, M, 15, Wright Apprentice, b. Midlothian
BAILEY, George, M, 15, Agr. Labourer, b. Midlothian
HISLOP, Margaret, F, 15, Servant, b. Midlothian *

1851 Census Place: Penicuik -Midlothian Address: Nether Friarton
FORSYTH, Agnes, Head, Wid, F, 73, Annuitant, b. Lanarkshire - Biggar
BROWN, David, Grnson, Unm. M, 18, Wright, Midlothian - Penicuik [In 1851, Agnes is the only Forsyth surname in Penicuik] *

1851 Census Penicuik -Midlothian Address: Monk B(urn) Cottage
BROWN, Thomas, Head, Mar. M, 45, Joiner & Cart Wright Emp 2 Men, b. Lanarkshire - Dunsyre
BROWN, Jean, M, F, 36, Wife, b. Midlothian - Penicuik
BROWN, Walter, Son, Unm, M, 16, Cart Wright, b. Midlothian - Penicuik
BROWN, Agnes, Dau, F, 13, Scholar, b. Midlothian - Penicuik
BROWN, Joanna, Dau, F, 7, Scholar, b. Midlothian - Penicuik
BROWN, Thomas, Son, M, 4, b. Midlothian - Penicuik
BROWN, Jean, Servnt, Unm, F, 22, House Servant, b. Peebles-shire * *

Marriages of Children of Walter and Agnes Forsyth:
Jean Forsyth=Thomas Brown 20 July 1832 Penicuik
Alison Forsyth=Wm Robb 21 Dec 1841 Penicuik (at 9 Mile Burn in 1851)
Joanna Forsyth=Thomas Murray 17 July 1849 Penicuik

Marriages of Children of John &
Isabella Forsyth:
Isabella Forsyth = James Whyte, 14 Dec 1851 Penicuik
Jane Forsyth = Walter Easton 20 Feb 1857 Penicuik

Burials in Penicuik Churchyard:
1838, Nov. 16 - Marion Forsyth, dau of Walter, Farmer of Spittal, age 22 years

1849, Jan. 27 - Walter Forsyth, Farmer, Spitthall, age 80 years

Map of the Pentland Hills

PENTLAND HILLS

This map doesn't enlarge very clearly. If you click on the title, you can find the map on the website it was borrowed from. Penicuik is on the bottom edge just to the left of the top of the elevation key. Fairliehope is close to the river just above the purple dot at the lowest portion of the map. There appears to be a Spittal Hill above Fairliehope and right of a lake. James and Helen Forsyth lived at Farleyhope in 1808 and a Walter Forsyth lived on the Spittal Farm in the 1841 census for Penicuik.

Looking for parents of James Forsyth, died 1842

The three eldest sons of James Forsyth and Helen Scott were John, Robert and James. According to the traditional naming pattern, John would have been the father of James; Robert, the father of Helen; and James named after himself, the father of the child.

The witnesses at the baptism of John Forsyth in 1806 were Robert Scott and John Forsyth, perhaps the two grandfathers of the child. Of course, these men might have been brothers of James and Helen. However, it is a good clue for searching for the parents of James and Helen.

In the 1808 baptism of the son, Robert Forsyth, the witnesses are Robert Scott again and Alexander Davidson. In 1811, the witnesses are John Thomson and Walter Forsyth.

In the 1841 census for Scotland we find:
*
FORSYTH, James, Male, 70, Shepherd of Haddington, born E. Lothain (not correct), Address: Hardgate Street, Haddington (East Lothian)
*
FORSYTH, Walter, Male, 70, Farmer, born Outside Midlothian, Address: Spittal Farm, Penicuik
*
FORSYTH, John, M, 60, born outside Midlothian
FORSYTH, Jean, F, 50 born outside Midlothian
(Living with 25 year old married son, Alexander, farmer)
Address: Briechmill, West Calder -Midlothian

Calder is reported as the place of death of our James Forsyth. There are three Calders, but they are all within miles of each other south of Edinburgh.

This means we could be looking for a family headed by a John Forsyth
with two elder sons named Walter and James and a younger son named John.
The sons were not born in Midlothian or East Lothian and perhaps in SELKIRK or PEEBLES.

John Forsyth

Parish Registers of Penicuik Parish, Midlothian:
"Forsyth, James Residenter (?) in Pennycuik and Helen Scott his spouse had a child born 3 November 1806 and baptized 17th named JOHN
Witnesses: John Forsyth and Robert Scott"

The three eldest sons of James Forsyth and Helen Scott were John, Robert and James. According to the traditional naming pattern, John would have been the father of James; Robert, the father of Helen; and James named after himself, the father of the child. Of course, these names might have been the names of brothers of James and Helen. However, this is a good clue for searching for the parents of James and Helen.

Tracing Movements of James and Helen Forsyth

Marion Forsyth (Mrs. John Cochrane) was the second daughter of James and Helen Forsyth and was born about 1803. In the 1861 census, Marian Forsyth Cochrane gave her birthplace as West Linton, Midlothian. (In an earlier census, she said her birthplace was Pennycuik). West Linton now appears to be in Peebleshire

Penicuik Parish, 1806 -"Forsyth, James Residenter (?) in Pennycuik and Helen Scott his spouse had a child born 3 November 1806 and baptized 17th named JOHN Witnesses: John Forsyth and Robert Scott"

Pencuik Parish, 1808 - 'Forsyth, James, Farmer of Farleyhope, Parish of Linton and Helen Scott his spouse had a child born the 29th of August 1808 and baptized 28th named ROBERT Witnesses- Robert Scott and Alexander Davidson'

Penicuik Parish, 1811 - "Forsyth, James and Helen Scott from the Parish of Lasswade had a child born the 15th of March, 1811 and baptized the 20th /29th (?) named JAMES Witnesses: John Thomson and Walter Forsyth

Marriage of James Forsyth and Helen Scott 1801

Map showing Penicuik, Mid-lothian and Yarrow, Selkirk, the parishes of James Forsyth and Helen Scott

Parish of Penicuik, Mid-Lothian - "Forsyth, James, Tenant in Spittal of this parish and Jean Scott of the Parish of Yarrow gave in their names for Proclamtion in Order to Marriage (sic), January, 1801 and were married the 20th of February, 1801."

The above record is from the Parish of Yarrow, Selkirk which was the home of Helen Scott. James Forsyth is reported as 'in Pennycuik Parish.' The column on the right is the fee paid on January 25 for the marriage. Note the burial of Robert Scott of Catslackburn, Yarrow at the top. This could be the father of Helen.

The Children of James Forsyth & Helen Scott

Christian Forsyth 1801-1881
b. Penicuik, Mid-Lothian (no parish record of baptism)
Married: Apr 30/May 1, 1825, Dirleton
= Francis Hewat, Blacksmith
of Nisbet Loanhead, East Lothian
Died: April 21, 1881 @ 80
Buried: Pentcaitland Cemetery

Marion Forsyth 1804-1877
b. West Linton, (now Peebleshire) Mid-Lothian (Source 1861 census)
(No parish record of baptism found to date)
M. 1821, Edinburgh
= John Cochrane, Dyer of Haddington, East Lothian
Died: February 27, 1877
Buried: St. Mary's Haddington, East Linton

John Forsyth 1806-1884
Born: November 3, 1806, Penicuik, Mid-Lothian
Baptised: November 17, 1806 in Penicuik
Parents residents of Penicuik
Witnesses to Baptism: John Forsyth and Robert Scott
M. 1828, Dirleton
=Charlotte Cockburn
of Dirleton and Dunbar, East Lothian
Died: November 7, 1884
Buried: Falkenburg Union Cemetery, Muskoka, Ontario

Robert Forsyth 1808-1900
b. 29th of August, 1808, Farley Hope, Linton, Peebles
Baptised: September 28, 1808, Penicuik, Mid-Lothian
Parents were residents of Farley Hope, Parish of Linton, Peebleshire
Father - Farmer
Witnesses to Baptism: Robert Scott and Alexander Davidson
(Baker? oral history)
=

James Forsyth 1811-1890
Born: March 15, 1811 - Lasswade, Mid-Lothian
Baptised: March 20, 1811, in Penicuik, Mid-Lothian
Parents of Lasswade at time of baptism
Witnesses: John Thomson and Walter Forsyth
M. before 1836, Edinburgh
= Jane Fraser, dau of Wm
In St. Cuthberts, Edinburgh in 1851

Helen Forsyth
b. abt 1814 b. Dirleton, East-Lothian (no baptism found)
M. 1846, Aberlady, E.L.
=Peter Wallace, Labourer

Thomas Forsyth 1818 -
b. Dirleton, East Lothian, 22 May 1818
Railway Guard-Berwick to Edinburgh
=Ann (maybe Ann Cameron of Canongate, Edinburgh)

Janet/'Jessie' Forsyth 1822 -
b. Dirleton, East Lothian -13 July 1822, Baptised Dirleton
in Roxburghshire with nephew in 1861
(Australia?)

Aerial View of East Lothian

............. Aerial view looking onto the Firth of Forth east of Edinburgh.

James FORSYTH and Helen SCOTT

(This post has been revised since parish registers were searched in Dec/10)

James Forsyth and his wife Helen appear in the 1841 census records for Haddington, a town now in East Lothian, but at that time a prosperous town which gave its name to the shire. They were living on the same street as their married daughter, Marion who was Mrs. John Cochrane. In this census, both James and Helen gave their birthplace as 'within the census county' while John and Marion Cochrane gave their birthplace as outside of the census county. This is in conflict with oral family history which provides Penicuik, about ten miles south of Edinburgh (now Mid-lothian) as James Forsyth's birthplace.

In the 1851 census, when Helen was widowed, she gave her place of birth as Selkirk, Selkirkshire which is not far from Penicuik, reportedly the birthplace of her husband, James. In looking at the marriage extracts, we find two which could be our James and Helen:

James Forsyth and Helen Scott
Married 25 Jan 1801,
Yarrow, Selkirk

James Forsyth and Jean Scott
Married 20 Feb 1801,
Penicuik, Midlothian

The following information about the proclamation of banns of marriage was extracted from 'Scotlands People' website:

'The proclamation of banns was the notice of contract of marriage, read out in the Kirk before the marriage took place. Couples or their 'cautioners' (sponsors) were often required to pay a 'caution' or security to prove the seriousness of their intentions. Forthcoming marriages were supposed to be proclaimed on three successive Sundays, however, in practice, all three proclamations could be made on the same day on payment of a fee. If the bride and groom lived in different parishes, the impending marriage was proclaimed in both parishes, although not necessarily on the same days, therefore the dates in each register may be different. You may also find that one register may show the proclamation date and the other the date of the marriage itself.'

One wonders if the above records from Yarrow, Selkirk and Pencuik, Midlothian are indeed for the same couple, the second record recording the bride's given name incorrectly. I will refer to these parish registers in the next few months. (Marriage in Yarrow has been checked and Helen Scott was of the parish of Yarrow and James Forsyth was 'in Pennycuik.' I'm not sure what this means. Could it mean he was from Yarrow, but living/working in Penicuik or does it mean he was from Penicuik? Will look into this.)

Death records for James and Helen's children suggest that Christian and Marion were the eldest children, but their baptisms in Penicuik (or any other place) do not appear on the IGI as parish extracts. Someone has submitted some information; however, the only extracts from parish records for Penicuik are for the three sons John, Robert and James. These records will be checked in the next few months. (Records now checked. See later posts for results.)

From the birth places of the children of James and Helen found in the census records, we can trace the movements of the family. It seems that they lived in and around Penicuik as a married couple from early in 1801. Their fifth child and third son James was probably born is Lasswade, closer to Edinburgh, but he was returned to Penicuik for baptism.) Their next known move was to Haddingtonshire (East Lothian). In 1814, their daughter, Helen, was born in Dirleton, now East Lothian and about 10 miles east of Edinburgh and very close to North Berwick. Their youngest daughter, Janet, was born in Dirleton in 1822.
By 1841, James and Helen were living in Haddington. In the 1841 census, James gave his occupation as 'shepherd,' and it should be noted that his son-in-law, John Cochrane, was a dyer, of wool no doubt. James was deceased by 1851 and apparently died in Calder which is south of Edinburgh and not far from Penicuik. (The significance of this place should be investigated.) Helen lived another ten years in Haddington, probably in the same home, but definitely on the same street. They are reportedly buried in the church yard of St. Mary's although no burial record has been found to date. There is a monument for their daughter, Marion Cochrane in St. Mary's churchyard. The records for burial are actually records for the purchase of mort cloths, and therefore not as complete as later burial records.

A Scottish Canadian Folksong

Click on the title above for more information about this song.

Several places mentioned in the song are close to Penicuik, Mid-lothian.

Penicuik, Midlothian

click on title for town website

Penicuik is located on the River Esk, in the Scottish county of Midlothian, approximately 395 miles north of London and 10 miles south of Edinburgh.The town has a population of around 25,000. Administratively it is within the unitary council region of Midlothian which covers an area of approximately 354 sq kms and which has a population of around 81,000.

It is an attractive town set amongst the Pentland Hills. At it's heart is the High Street, a busy wide tree-lined thoroughfare which is dominated by the Town Hall, Penicuik's most impressive architectural landmark. The pedestrianised John Street is the main shopping focus. There are some notable historic sites in the area, including several Iron Age forts on the Pentland Hills, the most interesting of which is Castlelaw which was occupied from Roman times, and the old Parish Church of St Mungo. Penicuik is home to the renowned Edinburgh Crystal works, and it is a good base from which to explore the surrounding area and its numerous visitor attractions.

The town's modern history dates from around 1770, when Sir John Clark planned and began building on the town's present site, and to the east of the original hamlet which had existed here. This development included High Street and John Street. The town grew as a result of its paper making industry which only finally ceased during the 1970s.

The nearby Pentland Hills saw the Battle of Rullion Green in 1666 when the Covenanters were defeated by the army of Charles II. At the end of the Napoleonic Wars, around 1815, the paper mill was converted for use as a prison camp for captured French soldiers. The French Prisoners' Monument, built in 1830, commemorates this.

Historically the town's economy was based upon paper-making, but with this industry's decline the town has undergone a process of regeneration. Industries remaining include the Edinburgh Crystal works and Dalmore Paper mill, some eight miles outside the town. Midlothian Council is the area's largest employer, with many residents also commuting to work in Edinburgh.

The name Penicuik derives from the Cymric 'pen-y-cog' which means 'hill of the cuckcoo'.

Map of South-Eastern Scotland

Bartholomew Map showing south-eastern Scotland. Click on map to enlarge.

Distance from Edinburgh

Selkirk 31 miles, Penicuik 10 miles

Dirleton, East Lothian

Parish Registers - Dirleton, Haddingtonshire (East Lothian)

1796, 19th March - Charlotte COCKBURN, daughter of Charles COCKBURN, Taylor in West Fenton and Alison MORTON was born 11th March, baptized the 19th of the same month - Witnesses: James Cockburn, G. Smith, Wm Graham, SC (clerk?)
Above - Parish Register Entry

' John FORSYTH and Charlotte COCKBURN both of this parish gave their names for proclamation 18 October 1828 and were duly proclaimed and married 25 October 1828'

1830, January 1 - James, son of John FORSYTH, Labourer in Fenton and his wife Charlotte COCKBURN was born this day and baptized publickly p. 114
1831, April 13 - Alison, daughter of John Forsyth, Labourer in Fenton and his wife Charlotte Cockburn was born this day and baptized publickly - p. 123

1833, April 14 - Charles, son of John Forsyth, Labourer in W. Fenton and his wife Charlotte Cockburn was born this day and baptized publickly p. 137

1835, May 17 - John, son of John Forsyth, hind and Charlotte Cockburn born this day and baptized publickly (no page number)

(ABOVE - Research of LDS records by SLB )

*1837, December 16th - Robert born in West Fenton

*Robert's birth / baptism record was either lost or he was never baptised, as on August 13, 1854 when he was 17, a note was made in the Parish records that Hugh Goodlet (the husband of Robert's maternal aunt) appeared before the Kirk Session of Dirleton and made an affidavit that Robert was born in Dirleton.

Church of Scotland, Dirleton
(Click on the title to see the website from which the photo and information below were taken)

'Dirleton is situated about 2 miles west of North Berwick, just off the A198 on the B1345. The village, which has a population of around 700 people, is one of the most picturesque villages in Scotland. It is centered on a large, flat village green, with all the main visitor attractions within short walking distance. The village dates from the early 16th century.

The Church of Scotland Parish Church was built in 1612. In 1836 the tower was decorated with gothic style pinnacles. The Church is located down a short lane at the western end of the green. '

Haddington, East Lothian

Click on title for more information

Photo of St. Mary's Haddington, East Lothian where James Forsyth and Helen Scott are apparently buried
http://www.visiteastlothian.org/home.asp

Two photos of the Tyne River in Haddington

McNee Monuments

Stephenson Memorial Cemetery
280 Muskoka Road 10
Port Sydney, Stephenson Township
Muskoka District



James McNee, husband of Alison Forsyth

Alison Forsyth, Mrs. James McNee

James, Son of James McNee and Alison Forsyth

John, son of James McNee and Alison Forsyth

*

Their daughter, Ellen, probably died in Michigan.

Their daughter Charlotte died in California and is buried

Acacia Memorial Park (Masonic)801 Scenic Drive, Modesto, CA 95350, 209-522-0452.

Hamilton, Charlotte R. - 1873 - Jan 10,1947 - TR 20 GR 153

"In Loving Memory of_____" - Plot owner Bertha Klaus

Mary and Emma Forsyth

Mary Forsyth (Mrs. Harry Mortimer) and Emma Forsyth (Mrs. Tom Peacock)

Mortimer Monuments

St. James Cemetery, Mortimer Point, Township of Muskoka Lakes

Charlotte R. C. McNee Hamilton 1873-1947

On August 1st, 1928, Charlotte R.C. Hamilton, a Grad. Nurse, crossed the Canadian-American border from Canada to Port Huron, Michigan. The hand-written document was prepared in Toronto, and may have been an application for permanent residence in the US.

The record of the border crossing provides the following information. Charlotte was 55 years old, was 5 feet 5 inches tall with grey hair and blue eyes. She was born in Falkenburg, Ontario about 1873 (January 15, 1873). Her last permanent address was Moosejaw, Saskatchewan. The form included this wording, "Seen $6,000.00," probably to prove that she was able to support herself. Another question asked who had purchased her ticket; she had paid for it herself.

Charlotte was travelling to Modesto, California to join Bertha Klaus at 1739 Almond Street, and had been living in the US from 1923 to 1928, the current year and was a permanent US resident. (Modesto is in the interior of California east of San Franscisco. It is in the county of Stanislaus.)

We know that Charlotte lived with her parents and then with her brother and widowed father until her marriage at 41 years of age on June 14, 1916 to William Joseph Hamilton of Watt Township, son of Edward Hamilton and Sarah Taylor.

It seems that between 1916 and 1923, Charlotte studied to be a nurse and also lived in Moosejaw, presumably with her husband.

Charlotte gave her next-of-kin as John McNee, Utterson. Her brother, John was five years older than she was, and Utterson was probably the address of the McNee land which was north of Falkenburg. John was married to Jessie Mina Grant, a school teacher in about 1912. John and Charlotte's father died in 1917.

Charlotte's full name was Charlotte Robina Cockburn (McNee) Hamilton. She appears in the 1930 census for Modesto City, California. She was 57 years old and widowed at that time, and her work was 'Special nurse - general duty.' Charlotte died January 10th, 1947 in Stanislaus, California.

It is not known if Bertha Klaus was a friend or an employer; however, the cemetery plot in which Charlotte was buried was owned by Bertha Klaus. (See July / 2010 post)