52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2021: Week 8 (POWER)
This is my 3rd year with the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. The first year I focused almost entirely on my side of the Bramble Bush. The second year I followed a plan to alternate fairly on all sides of the Bramble Bush. This year I decided to wing it. So far all of the 2021 blogs have been about my husband's side of the Bramble Bush. This week is no different.
My husband's great grandmother on his mother's maternal line was:
Catherine Cameron Power
BIRTH 5 JUL 1888 • Tain, Rosshire, Scotland
DEATH 5 MAY 1978 • Simcoe, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada
I have been unable to find much about great grandmother Catherine Power before her 1911 arrival in Canada.
She married widower:
Thircul Murney Aspden
BIRTH 4 APR 1883 • Houghton Tp, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 25 APR 1963 • Courtland, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
Who had one child:
Doris Elizabeth (Dottie) Aspden
BIRTH 26 AUG 1908 • Simcoe, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 6 JAN 1998 • Simcoe, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
With his first wife:
Tenneta May (Nettie) Yeager
BIRTH 25 MAR 1892 • Woodhouse Tp., Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada
DEATH 24 DEC 1908 • Woodhouse Tp., Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
Thircul & Catherine had 7 children.
My husband's maternal grandmother was their 5th.
Andrew John Ross (Ross) Aspden
BIRTH 25 MAR 1914 • Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 11 MAY 1991 • Courtland, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
Thomas Grant (Tom) Aspden, SGT
BIRTH 17 MAR 1916 • Woodhouse Twp., Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 30 AUG 1993 • Eden, Elgin, Ontario, Canada
Margaret Jane (Marg) Aspden
BIRTH 20 JUL 1918 • Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 11 MAY 1997 • Simcoe, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
Clara Rebekah (Cy) (pronounced Kai) Aspden
BIRTH 22 JUL 1920 • Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 27 NOV 1991 • Port Rowan, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
Eva Alice Aspden
BIRTH 4 SEP 1922 • Simcoe, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada
DEATH 23 AUG 2008 • Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
Catherine Cameron (Kate) Aspden
BIRTH 27 JUL 1924 • Woodhouse Twp., Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 28 JUL 2003 • Simcoe, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
Thircul Murney (Murney) Aspden
BIRTH 25 NOV 1926
DEATH 1 MAR 2011 • Tillsonburg, Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada
Catherine departed Glasgow, Scotland on August 19th 1911 traveling on Allan Shiplines, Grampian. When I first found the record it appeared as though she was traveling alone, and I wondered how it was that she decided to go to Canada.
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| Canadian Passenger Arrival List |
It was only when I found the outgoing record that things got clearer.
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| UK, Outward Passenger List |
It appears as though Catherine came to Canada as a domestic.
She was part of the Buchanans Party.
She traveled in the ship's steerage accommodations.
She arrived on August 26th 1911.
She was headed to Toronto, Ontario, Canada according to the ship's manifest.
How she met widowed Thircul is not a part of the story I have heard.
Catherine's usual residence on the marriage registration below is Simcoe.
Some of the passengers she traveled with were headed to Simcoe - she may have too.
Thircul's first marriage & first child's birth happened in Simcoe.
How they met we don't know, but they were married July 1st 1912.
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| Thuircul & Catherine (nee Power) Aspden Marriage Registration |
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| Thircul Murney & Catherine Cameron (nee Power) Aspden |
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I have been unable to find any records of Catherine before she was on the ship heading to Canada. I haven't found any information about the Buchanans Party. The only record I have found of her parent's names are from her marriage registration.
While searching for more information about Catherine's arrival as a domestic in Canada I found a full digital copy of Marilyn Barber's Immigrant Domestic Servants in Canada which I have included a link in the sources below. It is a very enlightening read for anyone with an immigrant ancestor who arrived as a domestic. There is also a section the British Home Children. It will interest folks who like learning about the people who formed Canada, and their way of life.
If you have details or hints to assist please add them in the comments section below or email me. I would love to connect!
February 23rd 2021 ***Edited to update how Thircul and Catherine met:
"Grandma travelled from Scotland with her friend Maggie Christie. She went to work on a farm. One day she was singing in the kitchen & Grandpa happened by and heard her. He said right then he was going to marry that girl with the beautiful voice. That’s how the story goes. I just found an old letter from Aunty Gladys" Source: my husband's aunt
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| Mary Christie seems to have been known as Maggie - this record backs the letter details! |
When the story is backed by records!!!
Trying to knock down brick walls!
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:
Barber, Marilyn, Immigrant Domestic Servants in Canada, Canada's Ethnic Groups, Department of History, Carelton University, Canadian Historical Association, Ottawa, 1991 Retrieved February 21st 2021 from
https://cha-shc.ca/_uploads/5c374ddbea8a9.pdf
Links:
Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/
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