Thomas Thomson ~ Letters Home From Kananaskis

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 7 (LETTERS & DIARIES)

My great grandfather Thomas Thomson was a guard at Camp 130 – Kananaskis/Seebe (Camp K) during World War 2.

These 2 letters (each have 4 pages) were sent home during that time.

In the Scottish fashion he called his wife mammy, and signed his letters daddy even when not writing to the children. 

The first letter is addressed to Thomas' wife, Elizabeth, and his daughter Mary & new husband Clyde (my grandparents).

This second letter is addressed only to Elizabeth.

It was written just 2 months before Thomas died at Kananaskis.

The author of the letters (my great grandfather)

Thomas Thomson

Birth 10 MAY 1880 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Death 19 NOV 1940 • Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada

The recipient of the letters 
great grandma: 

Elizabeth Young Slicer

Birth 4 AUG 1882 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Death 24 JUN 1958 • Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
grandma:

Mary Elizabeth Thomson

Birth 20 DEC 1915 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Death 3 AUG 2005 • Beausejour, Manitoba, Canada
grandpa:

Clyde Robertson (AKA Max Pellack)

Birth 10 MAY 1910 • San Francisco, California, USA (Clyde claimed)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Clyde's claimed on military records)
homestead, SW, Section: 1, Township: 48, Range: 17, Meridian: W2, Gronlid, Saskatchewan, Canada (Max's actual birth place)

Death 11 JUL 1986 • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Not included in the letters was Thomas' 1st born 

Marion Isabella (Maisie) Thomson

Birth 24 MAY 1914 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Death 14 SEP 1996 • Meadow Vista, Placer County, California, USA
married to

Wallace Mark (Wally) Reemelin

Birth 2 JUL 1918 • Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA

Death 29 DEC 2014 • Placer County, California, USA

Thomas & Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson had the 2 daughters noted above. They lost an infant (or stillborn) son in Scotland after the birth of 2nd daughter Mary who remembered the birth of her brother. There were no further children for this couple.

In reading the letters I began to wonder about Camp 130 – Kananaskis/Seebe (Camp K), and found this video

Holding onto the last words!!! 

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:

Camp 130 – Kananaskis/Seebe (Camp K). POWs in Canada. Research by Michael O'Hagan, PhD. Retrieved February 11th 2025 from
https://powsincanada.ca/pows-in-canada/internment-camps/camp-130-kananaskis/

Internment in the Canadian Rockies | Camp 130. Retrieved February 11th 2025 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4ODHhRl-60

Photos:

Personal

Links:

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

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!

______________________________________________________________

Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson ~ Lizzie

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 3 (NICKNAME)

Several years ago I met my dad's 2nd cousin who said "Oh yes Aunt Lizzie" when I asked her about my great grandmother, Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson. 

This was the first time I had heard she was known as Lizzie.

Not once did my grandmother or dad tell me her name was anything except Elizabeth. 

In the years since I have found a few records for her using the nickname Lizzie.

Slicer Family (Abt. 1897)
Back: Jane, Peter, Dave, Lizzie
Front: Eva, Father (Peter), Jimmy, Adam, Mother (Marion), Mary

My great grandmother
Elizabeth Young Slicer
Birth 4 AUG 1882 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
Death 24 JUN 1958 • Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
also known as Lizzie
married to great grandpa
Thomas Thomson
Birth 10 MAY 1880 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
Death 19 NOV 1940 • Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada

Thomas & Elizabeth (nee Slicer) Thomson

Elizabeth with daughters Marion & Mary

Thomas & Elizabeth (nee Slicer) Thomson

Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson, front row 2nd in from the left

Grave Marker, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

 

When you finally have enough information to search with!!! 

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***

Photos:

Personal

Links:

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

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!

______________________________________________________________

Absentee Landlords ~ 7 years In Scotland

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2024: Week 51 (GOOD DEEDS)

I grew up hearing about how my great grandparents came to Canada from Scotland as newlyweds. They bought a house in Calgary, Alberta that they left in the care of tenants when they went back to Scotland to have their first child. 

Their daughter was born in May of 1914.

World War 1 broke out shortly thereafter, and the family stayed in Scotland until the war was over.

After the war they returned to Calgary, and moved back into their home that had been cared for by the tenants for the duration of the war.

This week I looked at records to see if I could figure out how much of this story was fact or lore.

I know both of their children were born in Scotland via records in Scotland.

Great Grandpa Thomas was in the Scottish Army - there are records.

The war ended in 1918, but the family didn't return until 1920.

I found the documentation for their departure from Glasgow on October 1st 1920, and arriving in Canada on October 11th 1920.

The first question I had was why they hadn't returned to Canada earlier.

I couldn't find the address enumerated in the 1916 census so can't confirm there was anyone living in the house at that time.

I know I was browsing the right documents because the same neighbours were there for the 1921 census with grandma and her family.

In thinking about GOOD DEEDS I began thinking about this tale. 

I can't confirm they were actually living there, but I do know my great grandparents left in late 1913 or early 1914, and the house was still standing when they returned in 1920.

Looking through today's lens of how the world operates the tenants did a very good deed in caring for the house in Calgary for about 7 years.

I was left wondering if the good deeds of the past could even exist in today's world.

I think the odds are low the house would still be standing, and ready for them to move back into if the same scenario were to occur today. 

My great grandparents with their 2 daughters lived at 923 5th Street Northwest, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Thomas Thomson
Birth 10 MAY 1880 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
Death 19 NOV 1940 • Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada
&
Elizabeth Young Slicer
Birth 4 AUG 1882 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
Death 24 JUN 1958 • Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

The House In Calgary

When you spend hours searching, but are left with more questions than answers!!! 

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***

Photos:

Personal

Links:

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

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!

______________________________________________________________

103 Years Old ~ X2 Great Aunt Mary Thomson

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2023: Week 40 (LONGEVITY)

My paternal grandmother was named after her aunt,
Mary Thomson, who lived to 103 years old. 

In the photo below is my grandfather (Thomas Thomson) on the left, Mary in the middle, and brother James Devlin Glass on the right.

Mary never married, and had no children. 

According to the stories my grandmother told me, about the aunt she was named after, Mary was very connected to her siblings.
Looking at the photo above I definitely got the sense they were close. 

On her 100th birthday she received a letter from the Queen. 

The photo above was taken on her 100th birthday. 

That's her brother, Henry who was 96 years old, with her. 

They were the last 2 surviving children of Thomas & Isabella (nee Glass) Thomson. 

Henry died less than a year later. 

Mary lived for 3 more years.

She was the oldest of 8 children, and outlived them all. 

Mary's family

Father:
Thomas Thomson
BIRTH ABT. 1849 • Buckhaven, East Wemyss, Fife, Scotland
DEATH 22 FEB 1919 • Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Mother:
Isabella Glass
BIRTH ABT. 1849 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 29 JUL 1943 • Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland

Their 8 children (1911 census confirms they had 8 children and all were still living):

Mary Thomson, lived to 103 years
BIRTH 28 NOV 1870 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 16 DEC 1973 • Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
Never married, no children

Isabella (Bella) Thomson, lived to 77 years
BIRTH 6 JUN 1872 • North Berwick, Haddingtonshire, Scotland
DEATH 5 MAY 1950 • Deaconess Hospital, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
married: William Haughie, had 3 children (I have found records for)

Henry Thomson, lived to 97 years
BIRTH 19 JAN 1874 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 8 AUG 1971 • Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
married: Bessie, had 1 child (I have found records for)

Agnes Thomson, lived to 80 years
BIRTH 07 MAR 1876 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 30 JUL 1956 • 205 Berea Street, Pretoria, Eastern Cape, South Africa
married: Herbert William Smith, had 2 children (1911 census notes 2 children with both living, no records for other children have been found)

Thomas Thomson, lived to 60 years
BIRTH 10 MAY 1880 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 19 NOV 1940 • Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada
married: Elizabeth Young Slicer. had 3 children (2 lived to adulthood)
My great grandparents

James Devlin Glass Thomson, lived to 80 years
BIRTH 26 SEP 1883 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 31 AUG 1966 • Raumati Beach, Kapiti Coast, Wellington, New Zealand
married: Elsie Winifred Genge, had 6 children

Laura Edward Thomson, age at death is not known at this time
BIRTH 14 FEB 1887 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH AFT. 1940 (was listed as a survivor in brother Thomas' obit)
married: John Cleghorn (Cleghorn) Robertson, no records for children found

Richard Alexander Thomson, age at death is not known at this time
BIRTH 12 JUL 1892 • Tynemouth, Northumberland, England
DEATH BEF. 1940 (not listed as a survivor in brother Thomas' obit)
One Ancestry tree says he died of the Spanish Flu Epidemic 1918-1920

When you have family members who live to over 100 years old!!! 

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:

Family stories

Photos:

Personal

Links:

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

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!

______________________________________________________________

Happy Birthday X4 Great Grandfather Thomas Thomson ~ Born 232 Years Ago

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2023: Week 29 (BIRTHDAYS)

As I sat down to write this week's blog about BIRTHDAYS I decided to find someone in our Bramble Bush who was born on July 18th. 

I found:
Thomas Thomson
BIRTH 18 JUL 1791 • Wemyss, Fife, Scotland
DEATH 26 MAY 1833 • Dalkeith, Scotland

Exactly 232 years ago my paternal 4th great grandfather was born to 

John Thomson
BIRTH 12 JUL 1763 • Seggie, Orwell, Kinross, Scotland
DEATH BEF. 1829 • Scotland, United Kingdom
and
Jean Beveridge
BIRTH BEF. 20 OCT 1765 • Portmoak, Kinross-shire, Scotland
DEATH Unknown

My 3rd great grandmother is their daughter
Agnes Thomson
BIRTH ABT. 1826 • Inverkeithing, East Wymess, Fife, Scotland
DEATH 7 FEB 1898 • Inverkeithing, Fife, Scotland

Agnes retained her maiden name as her married name when she married:
Henry Thomson
BIRTH ABT. 1825 • Buckhaven, East Wemyss, Fife, Scotland
DEATH 3 OCT 1901 • Buckhaven, Fife, Scotland

who was the son of
Alexander Thomson
BIRTH 4 MAR 1796 • Buckhaven, Fifeshire, Scotland
DEATH 5 FEB 1875 • Buckhaven, Fifeshire, Scotland
and
Williamina (Minnie) Cargill
BIRTH ABT. 1795 • Wemyss, Fife, Scotland
DEATH ABT. 1855 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

I have not yet wrapped these 2 Thomson family lines back together again, but I have no doubt that Agnes and Henry were somehow related.

My X2 great grandfather, son of Agnes & Henry Thomson was
Thomas Thomson
BIRTH ABT. 1849 • Buckhaven, East Wemyss, Fife, Scotland
DEATH 22 FEB 1919 • Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
married to
Isabella Glass
BIRTH ABT. 1849 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 29 JUL 1943 • Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland

My great grandfather, son of Thomas & Isabella was
Thomas Thomson
BIRTH 10 MAY 1880 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 19 NOV 1940 • Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada
married to
Elizabeth Young Slicer
BIRTH 4 AUG 1882 • North Berwick, Haddingtonshire, Scotland
DEATH 24 JUN 1958 • Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

When I first started searching the Thomson line I was very confused by the number of Thomas Thomsons to be found.

This is the area the family is predominantly from. 

Today I found X4 great grandfather Thomas Thomson who was born 232 years ago exactly, and realized I know nothing about him because each time I try I get mixed up in the Thomson lines.

Up next I will try to find more information about this X4 great grandfather and his ancestors. 

When you realize you don't know enough about a particular line!!! 

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***

Map:

Google Maps. Retrieved July 18th 2023 from
https://www.google.com/maps/place/North+Berwick,+UK/@56.0784257,-3.2576583,10.66z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x48870656577f27a3:0x70433f000895b52e!8m2!3d56.058363!4d-2.719646!16zL20vMDIyeWtf?hl=en&entry=ttu

Links:

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

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!

_____________________________________________________________

Freemasons Secret Society ~ Thomas Thomson Stonemason

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2023: Week 12 (MEMBERSHIP)

I have always been fascinated by secrets. 

It's why I first began genealogy. 

I had a desire to find out who my grandfather really was. In the end I discovered there was more than one secret in our Bramble Bush, and I am confident I will find more.

I grew up hearing about the secret society of Freemasons. 

The idea of a secret society that was sort of public knowledge always sounded fascinating to me.

It was only this week that I discovered the original members were all Stonemasons. 

I was struggling to understand why Stonemasons needed to have a secret society with only other Masons accepted so decided to learn more about the members of this secret society for this week's prompt. 

I has always thought Freemasonry was a secret religion with secret symbols & rituals. 

Encyclopedia Britannica tells us

"Freemasonry evolved from the guilds of stonemasons and cathedral builders of the Middle Ages. With the decline of cathedral building, some lodges of operative (working) masons began to accept honorary members to bolster their declining membership. From a few of these lodges developed modern symbolic or speculative Freemasonry, which particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries adopted the rites and trappings of ancient religious orders and of chivalric brotherhoods. In 1717 the first Grand Lodge, an association of lodges, was founded in England.
Freemasonry has, almost from its inception, encountered considerable opposition from organized religion, especially from the Roman Catholic Church, and from various states. Freemasonry is not a Christian institution, though it has often been mistaken for such. Freemasonry contains many of the elements of a religion; its teachings enjoin morality, charity, and obedience to the law of the land. In most traditions, the applicant for admission is required to be an adult male, and all applicants must also believe in the existence of a Supreme Being and in the immortality of the soul."  1

It's still not clear to me how Masons evolved into this type of organization. 

The Grand Lodge of Ohio explains

"Freemasonry is one of the oldest fraternal organizations in the world. It unites men of good character who, though of different religious, ethnic or social backgrounds, share a belief in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of mankind. Freemasonry offers a system or blueprint for the good man to further improve his character and actions through its system of degrees, symbols, and fellowship opportunities.  ...

Modern Freemasonry was established in England in 1717, although its exact origins are lost in the unrecorded history of medieval times. Its roots are found in guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons. As a stonemason grew in his craft, he was entered into the appropriate rank: apprentice, journeyman (now called Fellow Craft) and master mason.
At each stage, the craftsman was entrusted with the secrets of each level, which include passwords and grips (or handshake) made known to him only upon due inspection of necessary proficiency by a master of the craft. This way, as stonemasons migrated across Europe to the next job, each man was assured proper pay and privilege commensurate with his skill level, and clients were assured of the quality of work. Today, Freemasonry shares this same system of secrets, ritual and growth, though the work has shifted from building edifices to building oneself in good character." 2

My great grandfather, Thomas Thomson, was a Stonemason. 

Thomas Thomson with brother-in-law Dave Slicer

My dad's notes about his grandfather's carvings as recorded
from conversations with his mom (daughter of Thomas Thomson)

I have never seen any records or symbols attached to him to suggest he may have been. At the same time, he was a Stonemason in Scotland & Canada during the right timeframe so he could have been a Freemason.

He is not the only probable member of the Freemasons.

In researching the Mason members in the areas where my husband's family roots are it's appears as though his family does have membership history with the Masonic Lodges. 

Recorded in the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M of Canada. In the Province of Ontario book (in sources below) a member by the name of FA Buchner died in 1985.

I have yet to figure out who that would be.

Searching Buchner & Freemason I found a reference to William H Buchner who was listed as alive in 1954.
It could be my husband's 2nd cousin X3 removed, but he died in 1953
William H Buchner
BIRTH 20 MAR 1871 • Ontario, Canada
DEATH 23 NOV 1953
This leaves me not sure if the William H Buchner is the same one in our Bramble Bush. 

I am still working on the the connection to the Buckner Masonic Lodge in Missouri.

Are the Buckners and Buchners related?

The Boughners and Buchners are related.

When your research leaves you with more questions than answers!!! 

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***

Footnotes:

1  Freemasonry - secret organization. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved February 22nd 2023 from 
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Freemasonry

2  What is Freemasonry? Grand Lodge of F&AM of Ohio. Retrieved February 22nd 2023 from 
https://www.freemason.com/what-is-freemasonry/

Sources:

Buckner Masonic Lodge #501. Retrieved February 24th 2023 from
https://buckner501.net/

Grand Lodge. A.F. & A.M of Canada. In the Province of Ontario. Retrieved February 24th 2023 from
https://dr.library.brocku.ca/bitstream/handle/10464/3337/grandlodge2001onta.pdf

Photos:

Personal

Links:

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

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!

______________________________________________________________

Family Search's Timeline ~ Thomas Thomson

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2022: Week 34 (TIMELINE)

In considering the prompt TIMELINE I remembered seeing a timeline clickable tab on Family Search. 

Family Search is a fantastic FREE source of documents and records. 

This is my X2 great grandfather's timeline from Family Search. 

THOMAS THOMSON

The details become pretty obvious when you follow the timeline. 

Thomas & Isabella's first child (Mary who lived to 103 years old) was born 4 months after their marriage.

I have observed these 'premature' babies many times while looking at historical records.

Realizing that what happened in the past is no different than today!!!

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:

Thomson, Thomas. Map & Timeline photos. Clipped from Family Search. Retrieved August 22nd 2022 from 
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G7LR-JYZ

Links:

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

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!

______________________________________________________________