Saturday, February 14, 2015

Happy Valentine's Day - True Love

Valentine's is the day we get all mushy and sentimental. This article seems very appropriate for this romantic day.  I found this couple intriguing as my Scottish ancestors were from Lanark, Scotland.  What a great story of love although I'm skeptical of the details - baptized the same day, same church, same birth date, same death date, and of course no ailments.  What a busy midwife to be helping two babies into the world within the same hour. Like all documents written many years ago William Douglas's wife is not mentioned by name.  I've tried to find who the Douglass were but I've not been able to discover their identity.
 

The Carolina Federal Republican
                                (New Bern, North Carolina)
                             14 March 1818 • Page 2 

Friday, February 6, 2015

52 Ancestors - Robert's Roots - Milford Clayton Stoddart - Plowing Through

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.  Each week focus on one ancestor and post something about him or her. This year there is an optional theme of the week.  This week's theme is plowing through. I've decided to post about Robert's great grandfather Milford Clayton Stoddart who was a farmer. I'm a little late in posting this but better later than never.

Robert - his Mom - Maurice Randall Stoddart - Milford Clayton Stoddart

Milford Stoddart
Milford was the great grandson of Sergeant Robert Stoddart whom I've posted about previously. Milford was born February 23, 1884 at Falkland Ridge, Nova Scotia, Canada in the same area his great grandfather, Robert Stoddart received his land grant. His parents were Robert Stoddart and Pheobe Ann Drew. 

On August 25, 1907 Milford marries Alice Randall, a teacher in the area from Aylesford.They were married by Reverand H.S. Davidson in the presbyterian church in Annapolis county . Witnesses are Christine B Davidson and Jean Bruce. Their first two children, Ella Anna Stoddart and George Harold Stoddart are born at Falkland Ridge. In the 1911 census the family is living in Kingston, Kings county, the records state Milford is working at a saw mill. 

Milford and Alice with family
In the obituary for his wife, Alice it states that the family moves to her old home at Harmony in 1918.  The 1921 census confirms this.  Milford and Alice have four more children, Leila, Maurice, Glen, and Pauline. In this census  Milford is now listed as a farmer. It's interesting to note that under religion denomination that Milford is stated as a Baptist and his wife, Alice and the children are Methodist. Milford's obituary says that he was a member of the Baptist Church at Falkland Ridge, but was active with the United Church in Nicholsville.

Farming can be filled with danger and according to his death certificate on October 1,1935 (his obituary states it was September 23)  Milford is kicked by a horse in the abdomen. He dies of his injuries on October 18 at the Western Kings Memorial Hospital in Berwick.

Milford is laid to rest in the in the Aylesford Union Cemetery in Aylesford, Nova Scotia next to his infant son Robert. His wife Alice passes away eight years later.

On October 22, 1935, Alice Stoddart makes a application for administration of the estate of Milford Stoddart along with J.G. Lutes of Millville. Valuation for personal is $1000 and real estate is $2500. There is a bond for $1000. Follow the link below to see the actual record on Family Search.


More posts about the Stoddarts:
52 Ancestors - Robert's Roots - Robert Stoddart - Irish Sergeant

Sources:
1921 census, Nova Scotia, population schedule, district Kings 60, subdistrict 22, division Greenwood, p 11, family 121, entry for Milford Stoddart ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 February 2015).

Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics Marriages, Registration Year: 1907 - Book: 1802 - Page: 77 - Number: 79, marriage of Milford C Stoddart and Alice Randall, 1907; digital images, Province of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Archives (https://www.novascotiagenealogy.com : accessed 13 May 2011).


Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics Deaths, Registration Year: 1935 - Book: 148 - Page: 688 13 May 2011), death Milford Calyton Stoddart, 1935; digital images, Province of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Archives (https://www.novascotiagenealogy.com : accessed 13 May 2011).