Adam Slicer ~ Not a Slicer!

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 35 (AT WORK)

In golf the phrase SLICE refers to a poorly executed golf shot. I imagine that my X2 great uncle, Adam Slicer, enjoyed a lot of teasing about his last name since he was employed as a Golf Pro.


This census record was the first evidence I found that Adam was a golf pro.

1935 Vancouver Voter's List, Adam Slicer, Golf Professional
 with wife Mary (nee Graham)

I was intrigued by this because I had never heard that anyone in my dad's family had ever played golf. 


When trying to find more information about Adam and his golf career it was very difficult. All the sites with Adam, Slicer & Golf brought up slicing as a golf shot. 


It wasn't long before I discovered that part of Adam's career had been very close to my own hometown.

 "Our investigation of the Mission G&CC began with an
announcement in the Vancouver Daily Province, April 11, 1925.
“Adam Slicer, formerly the assistant professional at the Calgary G&CC
and latterly attached to the staff at Shaughnessy Heights,
has been appointed professional at Mission G&CC."

By May the club had 6 holes open for play and invited the Chilliwack golfers
to join them for a match. Unfortunately the mighty Fraser appeared
stronger than the dykes erected to protect the course. On June 13, 1925
the course laid submerged under six feet of water.

“Not to be undaunted by this set-back officials of the club proceeded to
look for new ground. Through the energetic efforts of the President R.P. King
a lease has been secured on the property known as the Morton estate.”
This tract of land occupied Lot 165 (see map). The club constructed the course
on the high ground adjacent to the CPR line. Adam Slicer described the new site
“as an ideal one, and when the regulation 18 hole course is completed next year, Mission City will have a golf course equal to the best in the province.”  1

Adam was one of 11 children born to: 
Peter Slicer
BIRTH 23 OCT 1852 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 10 MARCH 1910 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
and
Marion Jack
BIRTH 4 APR 1857 • Whittinghame, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 1917 • Craigielea, North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

8 of their children lived to adulthood, and are pictured in the photo below with parents Peter & Marion.

SLICER FAMILY
 (Adam up front third from right)
BACK: Jane, Peter, Dave, Lizzie (my great grandmother)
FRONT: Eva,  Peter, Jimmy, Adam, Marion, Mary

The three who passed away before reaching adulthood were: 

Harriet Jack Slicer (1883-1884, age 1 - unknown) 

Eva Bruce (Edie) Slicer (1889-1897, age 8 - Diptheria)

James Wright Slicer (1892-1898, age 6 - Diptheria)

It seems that golf skill is a trait from both sides of my dad's maternal family line.  Adam Slicers's sister was my great grandmother Elizabeth Young Slicer (known as Lizzie). She married Thomas Thomson. Their daughter Mary Elizabeth Thomson is my grandmother. 

Thomas' uncle (my grandmother's great uncle) Jimmy Glass was a golf pro in New Jersey (1908) before returning to North Berwick, Scotland in 1911. 

Retrieved August 30th 2019 from
http://www.northberwick.org.uk/clubmakers.html#glass

Jimmy's grandson was Leslie Brownlee the golf pro from Arkansas & Oklahoma. 

Retrieved August 30th 2019 from http://www.northberwick.org.uk/clubmakers.html#brownlee

North Berwick is a small seaside town. In 1871 the population was less than 1500. Both sides of my dad's maternal family tree lived side by side. They shared many interests and activities. I knew many of my ancestors were fishermen, builders, and stonemasons. I now know that Golfing was legitimate employment for my ancestors.

"With a population of just under 7000, more and
more families move to the area each year, while sailors, 
rowers and paddleboarders enthusiastically float
around waters which are rich in wildlife." 2

It seems paddling is in my blood!

     

Me, Dragonboat Medal, April 2019

Me, Paddleboarding, August 2019

Maybe golfing is in my blood too. I had decided to wait until retirement to try golfing, but maybe I need to reconsider. 



Discovering your family's unknown traits & talents!







This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***



Citation:

1 Golf In Mission is at least 90 years old, Early Golf in Mission, BC Golf House Society,  October 12, 2015 by bcgolfhouse_admin, Retrieved August 30th 2019 from
http://www.bcgolfhouse.com/early-golf-in-mission-bc

2 North Berwick named best place to live in Scotland, Edinburgh Evening News, Published Friday 17 March 2017, Retrieved August 30th 2019 from
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/north-berwick-named-best-place-to-live-in-scotland-1-4394313

Sources:

North Berwick, Club Makers, Professionals and Course Designers, North Berwick's Golfing Pioneers, Retrieved August 30th 2019 from 
http://www.northberwick.org.uk/clubmakers_2.html

Roland, James. Golf Slice Definition. Golf Week. Golf Swing Tips. Quick-Fixes. Retrieved Aug 30th 2019 from 
https://golftips.golfweek.com/golf-slice-definition-1864.html


Royal Burgh Of North Berwick, Retrieved August 30th 2019 from
http://www.northberwick.org.uk/story.html






Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/





Related Previous Blogs 

3 Bricks in the Wall ~ Thomas Thomson (Stonemason, Brick House, Genealogical Brick Wall)
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/04/3-bricks-in-wall-thomas-thomson.html

Elizabeth & Thomas - Together Again
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/05/elizabeth-thomas-together-again.html

Remembering - Thomas & Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson, and politics
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/02/remembering-thomas-elizabeth-young-nee.html

Searching Far & Wide ~ Found Across Town
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/04/searching-far-wide-found-across-town.html

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

 _____________________________________________________________________

Charlotte (nee Watson) North ~ Dying Alone at the Lewisham Workhouse

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 34 (TRAGEDY)

Searching through my family tree for just one person to share about for this week's TRAGEDY prompt was difficult. There are many tragic tales to tell in my bramble bush.

Lewisham Workhouse, circa 1898

The person I chose to focus on for this blog is my 4th great grandmother, Charlotte (nee Watson) North.

Charlotte Watson
BIRTH 1 DEC 1822 • Heckfield, Hampshire, England
DEATH 24 MAR 1903 • Lewisham, London Borough, England


Charlotte was the youngest of 6 children (3 boys and 3 girls) that I could find records for. They were born to:

George Watson
BIRTH 1779 • Stratfield Saye, Hampshire, England
DEATH 1824 • Stratfield Turgis, Hampshire, England
&
Mary Ann Mayers
BIRTH 1781 • Kingsclere, Hampshire, England
DEATH 7 MAY 1860 • Heckfield, Hampshire, England



When Charlotte was 25 years old, on October 11th 1848,  she married
William North
BIRTH 1822 • Heckfield, Hampshire, England
DEATH 29 MAY 1880 • Abode, Battersea, Surrey, England

The marriage took place at Saint Mary's Church in Reading, Berkshire, England. 


I found records for 8 children born to Charlotte & William - 3 girls and 5 boys. 


Their first child (my X3 great grandmother): 
Jemima Jane North
BIRTH SEP 1851 • Hartley, Wintney, Hampshire, England
DEATH Unknown

Their second child:
William North
BIRTH 1853 • Heckfield, Hampshire, England
DEATH Unknown

Their third child:
Eliza North
BIRTH 1854 • White Waltham, Berkshire, England
DEATH Unknown

Their fourth child:
Edward North
BIRTH 1855 • White Waltham, Berkshire, England
DEATH 1922 • Lewisham, Kent, England

Their fifth child:
Mary Ann North
BIRTH 2 JUN 1857 • White Waltham, Berkshire, England
DEATH 12 MAR 1927 • Croydon, Surrey, England

Their 6th child:
George North
BIRTH 10 JAN 1859 • W Waltham, Berkshire, England
DEATH 1940 • Lewisham, Kent, England

Their 7th child:
Obed Job North (known as Job)
BIRTH 24 MAR 1863 • White Waltham, Berkshire, England
DEATH 1946 • Bexleyheath, Kent, England

Their 8th child:
Joshua North
BIRTH 1864 • White Waltham, Berkshire, England
DEATH 1937 • Camberwell, Surrey, England




I haven't researched the children of William & Charlotte (nee Watson) North in depth. I do have death years for the last 5 children. I have no death dates for their first 3 children. 


William died May 29th 1880, and Charlotte died almost 23 years later on March 24th 1903.  

The year after William died Charlotte is recorded in the 1881 census living with sons, Edward & Job. Also residing with them is Charlotte's granddaughter, and my X2 great grandmother, Amy Baker (daughter to Jemima Jane North & Alfred A Baker). Where Amy's parents were for the 1881 census is a mystery.


In 1891 I find that Charlotte was living with sons William & George. Living with them is Charlotte's granddaughter Mary Baker who was the sister to my X2 great grandmother Amy Baker living with grandmother Charlotte in 1881. In the 1891 census Amy is living with her mother along with brother Alfred Augustus and sister Edith Jemima. Why their younger sister Mary was with grandmother Charlotte is a mystery. 

Lewisham Workhouse

In 1903 Charlotte died in the Lewisham Workhouse in a London Borough in England. The tragedy for this week's blog is Charlotte dying in Lewisham Poor Law Union's workhouse when she had 8 children who appear to have been alive and living locally.


When I think of 80 year old Charlotte living and dying in a workhouse in 1903 England I can only imagine scenes from Oliver Twist.


How is it that Charlotte didn't have any family to care for her when she had 8 children. Granddaughter Amy immigrated to Canada in May 1903 with her husband and children. Amy was still living nearby in England when Charlotte was in the workhouse. 


As often happens in families whatever happened to break this family carried forward to the next generation.  


Grandchildren Alfred Augustus and Edith Jemima were in the care of Bernardo's, and already sent to Canada by the time grandmother Charlotte died. I can't find any record of granddaughter Mary who lived with her in 1891.
Click for more about British Home Child - Alfred Augustus Baker & family


The workhouses in England were a tragedy that impacted future generations of the family. It's only in current times that British Home Children are being recognized for the travesties against them when they were put on boats and shipped away from their families and homes.



More about the British Home Children at the links below:

'It's like they never existed': Toronto monument will honour mistreated British Home Children. Many of the 115,000 who came to Canada over 8 decades provided cheap labour and suffered abuse
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/british-home-children-farms-abuse-1.4314384

History Spotlight: British Home Children
Canada declared 2010 the year of the British Home Child to commemorate the thousands of poverty-stricken children sent here from Britain between 1869 and 1948.
https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/settlement-immigration/history-spotlight-british-home-children

Collecting broken branches of my fractured family tree!







This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***



Sources:

Before welfare: True stories of life in the workhouse, Express, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from  https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/475994/Before-welfare-True-stories-of-life-in-the-workhouse

England and Wales Census, 1891, Charlotte North, Page Number: 39, Registration Number: RG12, Piece/Folio: 403/ 88, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from FamilySearch.org
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QCNC-CMM

Alfred Augustus Baker, British Home Children, A Virtual Cemetery, Find A Grave, Retrieved February 5th 2021 from 
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/222328905/alfred-augustus-baker?fbclid=IwAR1SzKI3L1zLtPfJAdY4RYoaFsJeOLjPAkbl_MRwDob1d_sMPGvu3Vjbwxw

Edith Baker Zarn, British Home Children, A Virtual Cemetery, Find A Grave, Retrieved February 5th 2021 from 
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111283305/edith-zarn

Google images, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from
https://www.google.ca/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&authuser=0&ogbl

The Rise and Fall of the Workhouse, History Extra, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from
https://www.historyextra.com/period/victorian/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-workhouse/

Workhouse, Retrieved August 21st from
http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/victorians/workhouses.html

Workhouses, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from
workhouses.org.uk

Workhouses, Lewisham, Kent, London, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Lewisham/

Links:

British Home Child - Alfred Augustus Baker (age 12), and his siblings, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 12 (12), Somehow Related Blog, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from
http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/03/british-home-child-alfred-august-baker.html

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/


*

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

Comedic Relatives ~ Comedy Connections

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 33 (COMEDY)


When I discovered that I am the 11th cousin of Princess Diana through my mother's line friends laughed at how excited I was for such a distant cousin. They also commented if you look hard enough we are all related to everyone.


This week's prompt, comedy, left me wondering if I am related to any famous comedians. Thinking about the belief that we are all related I thought I would have a long list to share in this blog.


I visited FamousKin.com to search for in common matches with myself & Robin Williams.


Turns out that we aren't all related. 


I looked to see if I could find a way to connect Robin Williams to my tree. Robin Williams is my all time favourite comedic actor. I watched him first in Mork & Mindy, and have been a fan ever since. I was very sad when he passed away in 2014. 


I am not related to Robin Williams. 


After I found no connection to Robin Williams I started searching for other famous Comedians. 

I spent hours searching through the in-common relatives I had with famous folks on the FamousKin.com website, and found only three.


They nicely fit this week's prompt because they are Comedians & it really is comedic just how distantly related we are. Yet I can still claim then as kin by marriage since they fit into my family tree.


In alphabetical order I present my comedic relations below.

********

JIM CARREY

4th cousin 6x removed of husband of my 5th cousin 6x removed

James Eugene (Jim) Carrey

BIRTH 17 JAN 1962 • Newmarket, Ontario, Canada

DEATH Living

***

CHEVY CHASE

8th great-nephew of wife of my 1st cousin 9x removed

Cornelius Crane (Chevy) Chase

BIRTH 8 OCT 1943 • Lower Manhatten, New York, USA

DEATH Living

***

ELLEN DeGENERES

2nd cousin 12x removed of husband of my 2nd cousin 9x removed

Ellen Lee DeGeneres

BIRTH 26 JAN 1958 • Metairie, Louisiana, USA

DEATH Living

***

I was very disappointed to not be related to Robin Williams, but being related to Ellen DeGeneres, Chevy Chase, and Jim Carrey is a very nice consolation. I am definitely a fan of all three who I now know I am related to. My family line connection is through my mother's paternal BAYES married MERRILL line. My mother passed away before I found this connected line. She would have taken great delight in her famous relatives.


When I first began researching my family tree it was because I knew very little beyond my immediate family. I had discovered that what I thought I knew wasn't accurate. 


6 years ago I started this blog, and wrote this introduction at the top:

This is my space to share my quest to collect as many broken branches as I can in my fractured family tree which resembles a bramble bush more then a proper tree. As I go forward in this blogging journey I hope to share how I have searched far & wide for family - with no regard for where they come from or if I should really want them. 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know! 

Blood, marriage, adoption, attachment - all are included in my tree!




This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***



Sources:


FamousKin.com, Jim Carrey, Retrieved August 14th 2019 from 
https://famouskin.com/family-group.php?name=95438+jim+carrey&ahnum=1

FamousKin.com, Chevy Chase, Retrieved August 14th 2019 from 
https://famouskin.com/family-group.php?name=42906

FamousKin.com, Ellen DeGeneres, Retrieved August 14th 2019
https://famouskin.com/family-group.php?name=43480

FamousKin.com, Robin Williams, Retrieved August 14th 2019
https://famouskin.com/family-group.php?name=29131

Google Images, Retrieved August 14th 2019 from
https://www.google.ca/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&authuser=0&ogbl


Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

***

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

Irish Twins ~ Hand-In-Hand

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 32 (SISTER)


My husband has a sister who is only 10 months younger than he is. They were very close growing up as 'Irish Twins'. Their mother always put him in charge because he was older, but the two months of the year they were the same age his sister would argue they were the same age. Their mother never agreed. 

my husband and his sister, about 1973

Last spring my husband and his sister traveled to visit their mom who was very ill. Both of them were very busy with work, life & family. Their relationship with their mom was complicated. Neither of them were looking forward to the trip, but their mom was very sick. We drove for a full day. His sister and her husband flew. We picked them up at the airport, and checked into the hotel that was fairly close to the hospital. When we arrived at the hospital brother & sister walked into their mother's hospital room hand-in-hand just like they did when they were small children. The tears were flowing as the love shared between them was spoken and unspoken.

My husband & his sister on the trip to see their mom
spring 2019

This trip was healing in so many ways. They made peace with their past. They reconnected as a family. They had a chance to say goodbye. 

Brother & Sister, Spring 2019

5 weeks ago their mother passed away.

Mary Lee

Urn made by her son

This past weekend,  at a graveside service, family came together to bury their mom's remains with her parents.

Mary's parents: Clifton & Eva (nee Aspden) Lee

My husband and his mother,
May 1996 

   
     

My husband with his mother,
August 2019

my husband with his mother,
about 1980

                       

The graveside service was very moving. As expected there was many tears, but there was also some laughs. 

Little sister, and family, speaking from the heart

~

Big brother standing watch over little sister & her family

As the stories were told there were many smiles among the tears. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal.


Their mother's graveside service was on the Friday of the long weekend. My husband and I had arranged to spend the weekend with his sister and her family. His sister lives in a dry & sunny area with many beaches. After the graveside service the family went to the beach with a family dinner after. The following day we visited a community market & visited a couple of wineries for wine tasting.

Brother & Sister, August 2019

On the day we were heading home the decision was made to take us out for brunch via a 1 hour boat trip. The trip over was beautiful. 

The sun was shining, the water was crystal blue. The mountains were gorgeous. The water was a bit choppy, but our brother-in-law is a good Captain

Brother-in-law, Boat Captain, August 2019

The walk on the sunny boardwalk was spectacular, brunch was amazing, and the trip back was very nice. I decided that their boat was my favourite boat in the whole world until the moment his sister decided to open the sun canopy. That was the moment things got a little batty. 


There was a bat village living in the folded up canopy. At first there was only a couple as we all began scrambling as fast & far from the back of the boat as we could. When they flew away we discovered that bats can swim. By the time we were back at the dock all of the bats opted for a safer quieter refuge under the boat dock. By our best count about 40 bats had been residing in the boat canopy.

Bats can swim!

Right below that canopy cover is a bat

  
My favourite boat?  That was so half a trip ago. My husband's sister and I dashed to the front of the boat where the trip was very rough. We were no longer willing to sit on the comfy couch in the smooth riding back. The rest of the trip back we sat in the bow being splashed and tossed about, but safely away from the bats. If you click the video below you can hear my husband warning his sister about the bumpy waves, and you can see his little sister being tossed around on the trip back. If you listen carefully you might hear what sounds like a bat. Or at least I think you can.


No family trip is complete without a good bat story!

(click video to view)
(listen carefully to hear the bat)

Big brother warning little sister
about the upcoming bumpy waves

Beautiful little sister

Funerals & weddings – reconnecting families!





This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***



Sources:

Earth Touch News Network, Newsflash: Bats can swim ... and they're surprisingly good at it, retrieved August 6th 2019 from https://www.earthtouchnews.com/natural-world/animal-behaviour/newsflash-bats-can-swim-and-theyre-surprisingly-good-at-it/

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!