Me & My Sassanach ~ Scottish & English Roots

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2020 Week 38 (ON THE MAP)


I am a fan of Outlander.
I have read all the books, and watched all the television episodes. 

I always felt the story spoke to me because of my Scottish heritage.
I can claim Clan Graham on my mom's side & Clan MacTavish on my dad's. 

It's also possible my growing up in a town with a strong 'hippy' culture
helped with my belief in the magic of the standing stones,
OR as I like to call them, the fairy circles. 

My great grandfather Thomas Thomson
with his bagpipes

I  love the bagpipes. 

Whenever I hear them I feel like my heritage is calling me. 


Now back to Claire & Jamie's story!

Outlander is a story of love:

across time, 

over battles, 

forever
and 

always
It's a tale of Jamie Fraser and his Sassanach!

The trials and tribulations they experienced throughout their lives is mirrored in the tale of my husband and I. 

Claire and Jamie are involved in many battles where they team together to win against all odds, but their beginning battles were not successful.
There was often ale involved in their successes and failures. 

My husband and I were also involved in battle the first night we met. We met in a nightclub where we teamed up to race tricycles. That first week of races we lost because ale guzzling was not a skill my husband had which slowed us down. The following week he redeemed himself, and we were the reigning champions for a few weeks before moving on to other battles. 


One of them is Scottish (Jamie), and one is English (Claire). 

In our relationship:
one of us is Scottish (me) and one of us is English (him).
Jamie calls Claire his Sassanach.
May I introduce my Sassanach. 

This is where the similarities between us and them ends. 

In considering who to write about for this week's ON THE MAP I was intrigued to find that my husband and I each had one family line that seemed to have stayed put. I think this is the only line in my entire half of the Bramble Bush that had done so. My Slicer/Black line was in the North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland area back to at least the 1600s. My husband's Woolfenden line was in the Rochdale, Lancashire, England area to at least the 1600s.

Source: Google Maps, Retrieved September 19th 2020

Even though these two families were separated by only 240 miles they were far greater apart. The Scottish English divide of the day would have resulted in us never getting close enough to meet.

Then again my research indicates that my Scottish ancestors may have supported the English so maybe we would have met at a grand ball where there was games and ale - sort of like our actual meeting! 

Or maybe we would have rejected our family's expectations because we both have a lot of counter-will and would have still met. 

Part of the English & Scottish ancestors 
that make this BRAMBLE BUSH

On my husband's side his 5th great grandparents were:

Thomas Woolfenden

BIRTH ABT 1766 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England

DEATH 1814 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England

&

Martha (Matty) Holt

BIRTH Unknown

DEATH 1802 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England

Thomas was the son of:

William Woolfenden

BIRTH 1732 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England

DEATH 1792 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England

&

Ann Whitaker

BIRTH NOV 1741 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England

DEATH FEB 1803 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England

My 5th great grandparents were:

George Black

BIRTH 6 DEC 1754 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

DEATH 7 OCT 1828 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
&

Alison (Allison) Kilgower (Kilgour)

BIRTH 7 JULY 1755 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

DEATH 14 SEP 1834 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

George was the son of

George Black

BIRTH 9 NOV 1729 • Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland

DEATH ABT 1785 • East Lothian, Scotland

&

Suffia (Sophia) Fleming

1730–1780

BIRTH ABT 1730 • East Lothian, Scotland

DEATH ABT 1780 • East Lothian, Scotland

Our Bramble Bush is a story of love:

across time, 

over battles, 

forever
and 

always

It's a tale of me and my Sassanach!

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***

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!

___________________________________________________________

Searching Far & Wide ~ Found Across Town

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 15 (DNA)

All the names this week have been changed for privacy sake since they deal with living folks. The only name that is real is mine.  I decided alias names would allow for my story to flow nicely while still protecting the privacy of my new found cousins.

I first began searching because I descend from at least 3 black sheep which resulted in my having no idea where my family came from. I waited patiently for Ancestry DNA to become available in Canada so I could finally figure it all out. The announcement was made that it would be available in Canada a few months after my birthday. My husband gave me a homemade gift certificate for Ancestry DNA in my birthday card that year. I waited patiently until I could order it. Waited patiently for the kit to arrive. Waited impatiently for the test to be processed. Was surprised when the email arrived saying the results were available about a week before expected. 

I quickly signed in to see my results feeling super excited that all would be revealed.  I was sad to see that I had a long list of extended relatives in the distant cousin range with no way of figuring out how they were related to me. I did have one closer 2nd cousin match, but I was already collaborating with him so his match didn't provide any more information. 

About a year later I convinced my dad to do his Ancestry DNA, and then later still my mom's mom and sister did theirs for me. With all of these DNA matches I was able to figure out how I was related to many of the matches, and my tree began to expand in ways that traditional paper researching may not have done for me.

Sometime last summer I signed on to Ancestry to find that I had some new DNA matches to explore. I found that I had two that the only in commons were the three of us. I sent a message to them both. 6 Months went by, and I never heard anything from either of them. Finally one of them replied saying that they were adopted so didn't have much info for me besides the name of their natural father's mother, Iris Fletcher. This person said that they didn't know anything besides the name. I immediately replied that I had grown up listening to my grandmother's Iris Tales, and had quite a bit on that side of the family in my tree. I sent an invite to my tree. I now had a little more information to send to the other match we had in common. I sent a more detailed email outlining what I knew about  our connection, and asked if they were related to Iris' sister Holly. This time I also mentioned where I lived, and added my last name.

In mere minutes I received a response asking if I was married to Carson Buchanan. My immediate thought was 'really, what does he have to do with my dad's side of the tree'. I asked Carson to come look at my computer monitor. He looked over my shoulder, and says "Oh yah, it's Rob". I'm sitting there surprised, and ask him "How do you know Robert Chapman?". Carson says "You know him too. I worked with him here before he moved back to his home community."  He then casually mentioned that Robert's mom Jenny lives across town.

I had been searching far & wide for folks on all branches of my tree, and all this time some of the answers were just across town. 

The story becomes even more shocking when I realized that Jenny had been attending a genealogy group at my work's other location. The same location I had worked at previously, and very likely helped Jenny a time or two.  At no time did Jenny's research produce the fact that I was living locally.

Then I discovered my husband sat at Jenny's table with clear view to a family photo that I have. It didn't look familiar to him because hers is large, in colour and framed. Mine is this small black & white photocopy. 

Slicer Family
Back: Jane, Peter, Dave, Lizzie (my great grandmother)
Front: Eva, Father (Peter), Jimmy, Adam, Mother (Marion nee Jack), Mary
(as recorded with the photo by the cousin who provided the photo)

The initial email exchange with Robert Chapman took place shortly before Thanksgiving 2018. That Thanksgiving we had had cousin Jenny join us. A while later Jenny's sister came to visit, and I met another new cousin. At Christmas Robert came over, and cooked us an amazing prime rib meal. Throughout all three visits the conversations revolved around how folks were related, what they were doing now, and many photos were shared. 

Since that time I was able to use Ancestry DNA matches along with MyHeritage to confirm the research in my tree. I have gotten a couple of generations further up the tree. I now have more cousins who know a whole lot more about my family tree than my side of the family ever knew.

When searching far & wide don't forget to look in your very own neighbourhood.

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***

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!

3 Bricks in the Wall ~ Thomas Thomson (Stonemason, Brick House, Genealogical Brick Wall)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 14 (Brick Wall)

#8 Clifford Road, backyard,  retrieved from Google Maps Streetview April 1, 2019

My great grandfather Thomas Thomson (jr) was a stonemason. He lived in the brick houses pictured below. He is also my brick wall for researching. I think he nicely covers this week's prompt of BRICK WALL

The reason he is my genealogical brick wall is that he belongs to a family full of Thomas Thomsons from Scotland. His hometown of North Berwick is full of Thomsons, and his grandmother's married and maiden name were both Thomson. Further complicating online searching is that he shares a name with a famous Canadian artist. Searching for a connection between my family and the artists family is for another time.  

Back at the beginning of my searching journey I found a 2nd cousin X1 removed in New Zealand who had paid for genealogy researching in the relevant areas of Scotland. His research and details assisted me greatly in my confidence of my tree searching. When I first met Murray I expressed my disappointment that his ancestor had a very cool unique name (James Devlin Glass Thomson) whereas mine was boring (Thomas Thomson). It didn't take me long to realize both carried family history that we both could be proud of.

In the modern day of Family searches for Family Tree (Genealogy) Google Street View is amazing. I think Google Street View is a fabulous tool for reference as noted in the scenario below – this time mine, but it could be anyone’s family. I was able to input the address of the old family home in Scotland where my Grandmother was born, and see it standing today as it was when my grandmother was a baby.The second photo had the house name CRAIGIELEA on the back with Great Auntie Maisie standing in front of it, and the note on the back said that it was down the street. My dad and I sat at my computer in Canada, and 'walked' the street looking at each house while holding the photo until we found the correct house and noted that the address was #20 Clifford Road. Online searching found a listing for Craigielea at #20 Clifford Road. Those brick houses were built to last. 

Both houses on Clifford Road in the photos were designed and built by James Glass who was Thomas's uncle. James was the brother of Isabella Glass married to Thomas Thomson (sr). Thomas & Isabella (nee Glass) Thomson were parents of Thomas Thomson( (jr.) married to Elizabeth Young Slicer. Elizabeth's brother, Peter Slicer, assisted in building Craigielea. 


My great grandfather's British Army WW1 Service Record records the family's residence as #8 Clifford Road, North Berwick in 1915. My grandmother was born in December 1915. She was born at #8 Clifford Road. I believe her older sister Marion (known as Maisie) was born at their grandparents home, Craigielea #20 Clifford Road. Their grandparents were Peter & Marion (nee Jack) Slicer. Both the Thomson & Slicer families were residing at Clifford Road in North Berwick by 1901 according to the census records. Thomas Thomson (jr.) & Elizabeth Young Slicer were married the 31st of December 1908 when he was 28 and she 26. They had been neighbours for a minimum of 7 years prior to their marriage.  

Clifford Road, #8 on the left, #6 on the right, retrieved from Google Maps April 1, 2019

  Craigielea, #20 Clifford Road, North Berwick, Scotland, retrieved from Google Maps April 1, 2019

Recorded on back as Craigielea, Marion (nee Jack) Slicer & one of her daughters

I haven't yet found the records of when Thomas (jr.) & family originally arrived in Canada, and built their house in Calgary. My grandmother told me that her parents had difficulty conceiving and carrying children so when Elizabeth got pregnant in 1913 the couple decided to return to Scotland for family assistance for the impending birth. They rented their house in Calgary out to a young couple, and went home to Scotland by ship to await their first child. The first daughter was born in Scotland in May 1914, and before they could head back to Calgary World War 1 broke out in July of 1914, and they were trapped in The United Kingdom (Scotland) until after the war. Their second daughter (my grandmother) was born in December 1915. 

Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson with daughter Marion & Mary
note on back: "Dad had this picture in France during WW1" as recorded by daughter Marion

After the war the family returned to Canada via ship in 1920, and returned to their home in Calgary where the couple who was still caring for their home moved out, and grandma and her family moved back into the house. She resided in the home her father built (Thomas Thomson jr. - the Stonemason) in Calgary until she married my Grandfather in 1942. 

While growing up in Canada my grandmother and her family traveled to the United States where her father's mason skills were sought. There are buildings in several places in the United States that feature his stone gargoyles & others. He also carved and created in many places in Canada and Scotland. Sadly I have not seen any of his public work, and don't know exactly where his pieces are located. I have only seen two small stone carvings he did for his two daughters.

Many of the old census records list the residence address which makes looking the address up fairly easy. Many of the old residences are no longer as they were, but some are still - as I found in North Berwick for my ancestors.

Take a walk down memory lane with Google Street view.

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:

Robertson, Mary Elizabeth (nee Thomson), as recorded by her granddaughter, the writer of this blog. 

Craigielea listing retrieved April 1, 2019 fromhttp://www.192.com/address/details/north+berwick/eh39+4pw/craigielea+20/

Google Street View, #6/8 Clifford Road, North Berwick, Scotland, retrieved April 1, 2019 from
https://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode&q=6+Clifford+Rd%2C+North+Berwick%2C+UK&aq=0&oq=6+cl&sll=49.137236%2C-121.949857&sspn=0.308625%2C0.610428&vpsrc=0&t=h&ie=UTF8&hq&hnear=6+Clifford+Rd%2C+North+Berwick+EH39+4PW%2C+United+Kingdom&ll=56.054534%2C-2.719738&spn=0.008232%2C0.019076&z=16&layer=c&cbll=56.055216%2C-2.721033&panoid=s3F-gj79mqOdtLZaQXTvpA&cbp=12%2C6.82%2C%2C0%2C0

Google Street View, Craigielea, #20 Clifford Road, North Berwick, Scotland, retrieved April 1, 2019 from
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=22+Clifford+Rd%2C+North+Berwick%2C+UK&hl=en&ll=56.055277%2C-2.722678&spn=0.008232%2C0.019076&sll=56.055277%2C-2.720318&sspn=0.008279%2C0.019076&t=h&hnear=22+Clifford+Rd%2C+North+Berwick+EH39+4PW%2C+United+Kingdom&z=16&layer=c&cbll=56.055266%2C-2.722477&panoid=3HiDS3eXH6W0h-tP2D-Q8g&cbp=12%2C12.28%2C%2C0%2C0

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!

Remembering - Thomas & Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson, and politics

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 8 (Family Photo)

Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson was born in 1882 in North Berwick, Scotland. She married Thomas Thomson who was also born in North Berwick, Scotland in 1880. Thomas came from a traditional North Berwick fishing family.  Elizabeth's father was a Stonemason whose skills were likely in high demand in the seaside fishing village they called home. I haven't yet found the records to figure out if Thomas was a Stonemason when he met Elizabeth or if he was influenced by her father, and became a Stonemason after meeting her. 

Regardless of when it happened Thomas was a Stonemason who traveled the world creating artistic and functional stone products. This may have been how they ended up coming to Canada, and settling at 923 5th St NW, Calgary, Alberta in their newly purchased home. I haven't yet found the documents to support what year they initially arrived, but I do know when they arrived for the second time. It was important to Elizabeth to be with her family while having her first child. They rented out their home in Calgary, and set off for North Berwick, Scotland in early 1914.

Their first daughter was born in May of 1914. World War 1 broke out in July. They found themselves unable to go back to Calgary due to the war, and hoped their tennants were looking after their home while they were away. Their second daughter (my grandmother) was born in December 1915. My grandmother told me there was a baby brother who died, but I haven't found any records to indicate if he was born still or died after birth. I have found no evidence, but we remember. No one should be forgotten. Elizabeth and Thomas had no other children. When the war ended the family of 4 set sail on the 1st of October 1920 from Glasgow to Quebec on the Cassandra (I have the ship's manifest). They settled back in their home in Calgary as shown on the 1921 census. Grandma told me her parents were so happy to find their tenants had looked after the house the entire time they were gone.



Thomas was a father & husband before his time. He supported his daughters in their educational endeavors. He supported his wife in all her endeavors.  The time was 1932 when women were still expected to be caring for hearth & home, and yet we find my great grandmother in this historic photo. 

The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) was founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta. In 1961 the CCF joined with the Canadian Labour Council (CLC) to become the New Democratic Party (NDP). My great grandmother was there to start what would become the NDP we still know today. Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson is in the white hat, second in from the left in the front row. She was a woman I am proud to call my ancestor. She is one of the many strong woman I descend from.

                         Thomas & Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson, 1940



I began my genealogy researching in the hopes of finding my role in my own family story. I discovered that politics runs deep. During the 2014 municipal elections in British Columbia I discovered several of my newly found family members were in politics. In the 2018 elections I discovered these family members were very committed since they successfully ran again. I have several politicians in my family tree, and now know my great grandmother was part of building the New Democratic Party (NDP) which I definitely lean towards.

I had never considered getting involved in politics before I was approached to run in the 2013 British Columbia provincial election. In the end I decided that it wasn't a good fit for the party in question. The only real reason I truly pondered getting involved was ego. I was flattered that anyone would consider me a good candidate to represent their party in an election.

The most important part of being a politician I think is being sure you have no skeletons in your closet.

My personal closet is difficult to close due to things I am not particularly proud of over the years. But none of these are truly big skeletons in the big picture of life. Just stupid choices made at different times during the growing up years.

I have copies of The Vancouver Sun & Province in 1949 regarding my grandfather. The Province newspaper dubbed him 'The Shotgun Bandit' in a bold headline about a taxi robbery and pulling a sawed off shotgun on a 'Plucky Rookie Police Officer'.  

Since I have no idea what other skeletons are in my family closets due to having really no idea where I actually come from I feel unsure at the idea of politics.


BUT given that political ambitions seem to run in my family tree maybe I need to think twice before I decide life with books is enough for me.


Skeletons falling out of closets makes for interesting searching!

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 to the blog post***

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!