The CUMBERLAND Journey

Me - Maurice Cumberland Paterson - Johnston Cumberland Paterson - Francis Paterson - Catherine Muirhead - George Muirhead - Christian Reid - her brother (Cumberland Reid)

 

What is in a name? In family history, a name can lead you on a journey. Since the Scottish like to bequeath their children with names of significance, I just knew there had to be a story in my dad's and grandfather's middle name, Cumberland. When researching this unique name, I've unearthed fascinating family members and a wee bit of Scottish history. 

My eureka moment was when I decide to approach my research by searching for the first name Cumberland in Scotland. Cumberland is not a common name. It always makes sense to find those unusual names. This search yielded me with some interesting results. The one that jumped out at me was "Cumberland Reid" born in 1746. It just happens that I have a fourth great grandmother, Christian Reid. She married a William Muirhead, and they named one of their sons (wait for it) Cumberland Muirhead, born in 1791. Now, this just couldn't be a coincidence. I located Cumberland Reid's will on the ScotlandsPeople's website and purchased it, with my fingers crossed. I love Cumberland Reid; he left a fantastic will.  Cumberland never married and was a man with wealth. In his will, Cumberland names brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, servants, and a housekeeper. A genealogist dream. Of course, he included his sister (Christian Reid), her husband (William Muirhead) and their two children, George and Sara. I assume poor little Cumberland Muirhead didn't survive.

Cumberland's will lead me to discover intriguing cousins, who bear the Cumberland name. I'm quite sure this is where my dad, Maurice Cumberland Paterson, and my grandfather, Johnston Cumberland Paterson,  got their middle name. Now how did my fourth great granduncle get a name like Cumberland? Cumberland Reid was the son of George Reid and Sarah Laurie, born August 28, 1746, in Ratho, Midlothian, Scotland, U.K.  When doing my search for the first name Cumberland, I thought it was quite odd that there were quite a few people born with the first or middle name Cumberland in 1746. The Cumberland name doesn't appear before 1746. Since reading a little Scottish history, I knew the battle of Culloden took place in April 1746. William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland was in command of the government forces against the Jacobite army. My theory is that the Duke of Cumberland had something to do with George Reid naming his son Cumberland in 1746. But could I ever find out why?

My answer came in the Linlithgowshire Gazette dated April 17, 1903, on the website Find My Past. Thanks to the old residenter, Mr. Thomas Scott, giving an account of the old folks in the area. Mr. Scott states that a Reid was a guide for the Duke of Cumberland at Culloden. The guide named his son Cumberland. Amazing! It all fits. My fifth great grandfather George Reid must have been the guide.

"Kirkliston and The Days O' Auld Lang Syne," Linlithgowshire Gazette, 17 April 1903, "Cumberland name"; online archives (https://www.findmypast.com:accessed 29 March 2017); p 6 of 8.

I'm not sure how I feel about my family bearing the name Cumberland after the Duke of Cumberland. From what I have read, The Duke of Cumberland is known as the butcher for the deeds done after the battle. I would like to think my fifth great grandfather knew him as a different man.  But my dad and my grandfather would have been thrilled to know where the name came from and how I traced it back to an epic battle in Scottish history. It was a captivating journey. In genealogy, sometimes there is history in a name.

 

The Battle of Culloden, oil on canvas, David Morier, 1746.

My Ethnicity

My ancestry is neatly divided into three clusters and one melting pot. The three tidy groups are:

SCOTTISH -  my paternal grandfather, Johnston Cumberland Paterson

ENGLISH -  my paternal grandmother, Dorothy Eleanor May Warry (Paterson)

FINNISH - my maternal grandfather, Fidjof Jaakko Waldemar Makie

Then there is my hodgepodge:

AMERICAN - my maternal grandmother, Ruby Alberta Belknap (Makie) This line goes back to the start of immigration to America.

Based on Family Tree DNA Autosomal Test known as Family Finder this is what my ethnic makeup looks like:

  

30% BRITISH ISLES - mostly from my Dad who had a Scottish Father and English Mother and perhaps a little from my Mother's American side.

25% FINLAND - probably all from my Mother's Dad ancestry.

20% SCANDINAVIA - could be from both my Mother and Dad. The Vikings were all over the map.

14% WEST & CENTRAL EUROPE - probably my Mother's American heritage, as I found some German.

7% IBERIA - no clue. I'm thinking part of my hodgepodge.

4% EAST EUROPE - probably my Mother's American side.

Trace of CENTRAL ASIA for fun.

  

Population Cluster Description - Family Tree DNA

To find out more about the autosomal test:

International Society of Genetic Genealogy Wiki

Gone Fishing - Family Search

Lest We Forget – Men who served in the (CEF) WW1

Remembrance Day is a day to remember those men and women who have served and those who are serving today. Here are some of the men in Robert’s and my families who served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during WWI. I’ve included links to the Library and Archives Canada website where the personnel records are being digitized These are the names of the ones that have been digitized with a PDF file where you can find more information.

Sydney Wedford Black (married my grandaunt, Frances Edlora Belknap)

Sydney was drafted under the military service act of 1917. He signed a declaration of recruit in Calgary, Alberta on May 21, 1918 at the age of 23. He served as a private in the 2nd Canadian War Graves Detachment. Regimental # 3211766. Sydney was discharged on August 19, 1919. Sydney married my grandaunt in 1936 and had a large family of nine children. He died on April 10, 1980 at the age of 84 and is buried at the Northwood Baptist Cemetery in Saint-Lina, Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada.

Canadian War Diaries - Miscellaneous Diaries
WW1 personnel records
Find A Grave

Henry Archibald Danskin (my 2nd cousin twice removed)

Henry enlisted on July 16, 1915 in Calgary, Alberta at the age of 25. He served as private in the Field Ambulance Depot. Regimental # 322659. Henry was discharge on June 2, 1919. He married later as his death registration in 1958 lists his wife as May Ellen Hutchinson. Henry died on January 16, 1958 at the age of 68 in the Provincial Mental Hospital in Coquitlam, B.C. Canada. He is buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby, B.C., Canada.

Canadian War Diaries - Medical Units
WW1 personnel records
Death Registration
Find A Grave

Arthur William Danskin (my 2nd cousin twice removed)

Arthur’s military service was very brief. He was a private in the 84th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment). Regimental # 163261. He died at the age of 34 on December 22, 1915 in the Brantford General Hospital at Brantford, Ontario of bronchitis, typhoid and pneumonia. He never even made it overseas.

WW1 personnel records
CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission)
Find A Grave

Seward Cephus Foster (Robert’s great granduncle)

Seward enlisted on April 4th, 1916 in Berwick, Nova Scotia, Canada at the age of 31. He served as a sapper in the 219 Battalion. His regimental # 283381. He was discharged on April 5th, 1919 with the war service badge. Seward returned home to his wife Annie Creemer. He died at the age of 51 on 26 April 1937. He is buried in the Aylesford Union Cemetery in Aylesford, Nova Scotia, Canada.

WW1 personnel records
Find A Grave

Andrew Graham (married my grandaunt, Edith Greenlees Paterson)

Andrew enlisted 16th December, 1914 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada at the age of 19. He served as a private in the 32nd Battalion and 10th Battalion. Regimental # 81330. Andrew was honorable discharge on May 19, 1919 with the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He married my grandaunt on July 2, 1927 and had three children (one passing away young). He died on February 5, 1982 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and is buried at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

The Story of the Tenth Canadian Battalion 1914 -1917
WW1 personnel records
Find A Grave

Allan James Levy (married Robert’s grandaunt, Emelia Alberta Stoddart)

Allan enlisted on July 13, 1915 at the age of 27 in Valcartier,Quebec. He served as a Lance Corporal in the 60th Battalion. Regimental # 415512. Allan was killed in action on June 15, 1916 while in the trenches at Sanctuary Wood. He left behind his wife and four small children. He has a memorial at Ypres (Memin Gate).

60th Canadian Overseas Battalion
WW1 personnel records
CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

George Outhit Lutz (Robert’s 1st cousin 3 times removed)

George was drafted under the military service act of 1917. He signed the declaration of recruit on June 14, 1918 in Aldershot, Nova Scotia at the age of 29. He served as a private in the 17th Reserve Battalion. His regimental # 3189848. George was discharge on July 18, 1919. He returned to his wife, Annie Lamb, whom he married just months before his enlistment. He died on July 13, 1961 at the age of 72. He is buried in the Morristown cemetery in Morristown, Nova Scotia, Canada.

WW1 personnel records
Find A Grave

Thriller Thrusday - A Wicked and Felonious Conspiracy

Me - My Dad - Johnston Cumberland Paterson - Francis Paterson - Johnston Paterson - his brother (Francis Paterson)

This intriguing case in 1859 involved my 2nd great granduncle, Francis Paterson, turning the tables on a group of conspirators trying to entrap him for assault to extort money.. Francis was a writer(solicitor) and  house factor (one who manages property) for his uncle, George Hunter of Renfrew. The trouble began  in February of 1859 when Francis took John Boyle to small-debt court in Glasgow for not paying rent at McAlpine Street. This is when John Boyle, his wife (Margaret Gallocher), James Boyle, Charles Kerr, John Stewart, and others devised a wicked scheme to  entrap Francis for assault on Mrs. Boyle. They lured Francis to the shop with suggestion that some of the amount owed would be paid, then asked him to go to the back room to check on a faulty water pipe. Mrs. Boyle was waiting for him in the dark room and pulled him down while exposing herself. The police were summoned and Francis was taken to the police office. He was charged with alleged assault, with intent to commit rape and disorderly conduct. Francis was tried at the police court where the charges were dropped due to discrepancy in the evidence. The perpetrators were then charged with conspiracy to extort money , for assault, and perjury.

The trial was conducted in October of 1859 in the autumn circuit court and received a lot of attention. It appeared in numerous newspapers in England and Scotland. The Glasgow Herald had the whole trial in the paper on October 7, 8, and 10th. During the trial, Francis had many people vouch for his good character.

• His cousin (Henry Spence) a draughtsman states he’s a man of good moral character and has been married for two years past in August.
• Sarah Vass or Watt whom house is right above Mr. Boyle’s kitchen said that Mr. Paterson was a nice modest man that she wouldn’t expect that he would assault a woman.
• Jessie Beatton or McDougal had a shop next to the Boyle’s. She affirmed that Mr. Paterson was a respectable man.
• William D. Hall (writer) declared that he had known Mr. Paterson for the last 15 years and that Mr. Paterson had a first-rate moral character both professionally and otherwise.
• William Burns (writer) affirm that Mr. Paterson’s character was excellent. Mr. Burns had known Francis professionally.
• Jane (Francis Paterson’s wife) spoke that they had been married for two years.

Francis finally got his justice at the end of the trial when the jury came to an unanimous verdict, finding the perpetrators guilty of the crime of conspiracy as libeled, to extort money, or found a false claim for damages against Mr. Francis Paterson, by means of a false accusation of a criminal offense knowing it to false, and by means of perjury. John Boyle and his wife, Margaret were sentenced to seven years of penal servitude. James Boyle, Charles Kerr, and John Stewart to five years of penal servitude.

You can read the case before the high court from google books


More about the Patersons:
52 Ancestors - James Paterson - Glasgow Spirit Dealer
Sympathy Sunday - The Patersons in Scotland
Workday Wednesday - Bank Treasurer 

Sources:

"Autumn Circuit Court - Oct. 6," The Glasgow Herald, 7 October 1859, page 4 of 8; digital image, Find My Past (http://www.findmypast.com : accessed 10 October 2015).

Not available on Google News.

"Autumn Circuit Court - Oct. 7," The Glasgow Herald, 8 October 1859, pages 3 & 4 of 4; digital image, Find My Past (http://www.findmypast.com : accessed 10 October 2015).

Also found on Google News.

 

"Autumn Circuit Court - Oct. 8," The Glasgow Herald, 10 October 1859, page 6 of 8; digital image, Find My Past (http://www.findmypast.com : accessed 10 October 2015).

Also found on Google News

Those Places Thrusday - Gordon Terrace, Ayr, Scotland

Me - My Dad - Johnston Cumberland Paterson - Francis Paterson - Catherine Muirhead - (her sister) Christina Muirhead

Some places are just as much a part of the story as the people, such as Gordon Terrace, in Ayrshire, Scotland.  I first came across the name of Gordon Terrace in my 2nd great grandmother’s, Catherine Paterson (nee Muirhead)  inventory at her death in 1897. It’s listed as rents of heritage property with the names and amounts of who owed rent. I thought it was interesting that she had property in Ayrshire when she lived in Lanarkshire by Airdrie.

So when the indexes for the Valuation Rolls on ScotlandsPeople were made free for a short period of time earlier this year, I had to take a look. Going through the records from 1865 to 1925 lead me to discover that Gordon Terrace was important to the Scottish women of my family. These records even revealed the married name of  my 2nd great grandmother’s older sister, Christina. The 1885 valuation roll listed the owner’s name as Christina Muirhead or Riggs. 

5 Gordon Terrace, Ayr, Scotland

Just looking at the indexes of the valuation rolls for the 60 years from 1865 to 1925 shows how this property was passed along the female line. From 1865 to 1885, Christina Rigg  (nee Muirhead) was listed as the owner. After Christina’s death in 1889 the property goes to her sister, Catherine Paterson (nee Muirhead) Mrs. Paterson is listed as the owner in 1895. Catherine died in 1897. Gordon Terrace now goes to Catherine’s eldest daughter, Kate Greenlees (nee Paterson) and her youngest daughter, Jessie Paterson. The valuation roll for 1905 list Miss Jessie Paterson or Mrs. Kate Paterson or Greenlees as owners.  Kate Greenlees dies in 1905 leaving the property to her sister, Jessie Paterson. Miss Jessie Paterson is the owner in 1920 and 1925.

From there I found more records to tie the family together. In both Christina’s and Catherine’s death records, George Muirhead and  Catherine Kennedy were listed as their parents. Just the verification that I needed to tie the sisters together. Christina’s death records is very informative.  She died at the age of 80 years at 5 Gordon Terrace, St Quivox, Ayrshire on August 27, 1889. Christina is listed as the widow of the spade manufacturer, James Rigg. Her niece,  Kate Paterson (Catherine’s daughter) is the informant at her death.

Gordon Terrace seem to be rental property. The only one who lived there was Christina as she was listed there in the 1881 census and in her death record. I love the fact that not only were the men of my Scottish ancestry property owners but the women as well. This is just a part of the story of Gordon Terrace. Who had the property before 1865? What happened to the property after 1925 or when Jessie dies in 1938?  Did the property pass on to another woman, maybe Jessie niece (Jessie Paterson White)?

More on Paterson and Muirhead women:

52 Ancestors - Catherine Paterson (Greenlees) - Doting Daughter

Sympathy Saturday - The Patersons in Scotland 

Wordless Wednesday - Jessie Paterson White

52 Ancestors - Catherine Paterson (Greenlees) - Doting Daughter

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.

Me - My Dad - Johnston Cumberland Paterson - Francis Paterson - Johnston Paterson (Catherine is the daughter of Johnston and sister of Francis)

My great grandaunt Catherine Paterson or Kate, as she is named in some records, is another one of my ancestors who may be forgotten as she married late in life and never had any children. She was the oldest daughter of Johnston Paterson and Catherine Muirhead. She was named after her mother and her grandmother Catherine Kennedy. Kate was  born about 1844 in Glasgow, Scotland. 

Shortly after her birth Catherine, her parents, and her older brother, Johnston, moved from Glasgow to Braehead Cottage,  Moffat Mills near Airdrie, Scotland. Three baby boys died and were buried in Glasgow before the move. Kate grows up at Braehead Cottage watching the family grow and shrink as babies are born and children die. Her mother gives birth to four more boys and two more girls. Her little brother George Hunter dies at only two years old of a fever for 8 days. When Catherine is 24 years old, her sister Elizabeth dies at 12 years old of pneumonia. Then her brother Edward at 15 years old dies of water in head. Two years later Kate's brother William dies at 24 years old of struma (enlarged thyroid?) that he had for several years. How sad it must have been for the family to bury so many children. Only two of Kate's siblings marry and have children. Although, I'm not sure about her older brother, Johnston. (He's some what of a mystery.) Her sister, Ann marries John White, a farmer  from Shotts in 1872. Her brother Francis (my great grandfather) marries Ewenina Kennedy in 1881 and after her death marries Elizabeth Danskine (my great grandmother) in 1883.

By the 1891 census it looks like Catherine will remain a spinster. Her father dies this year and she is still living at Braehead Cottage with her mother and youngest sister, Jessie. Maybe Catherine was just being a devoted daughter caring for her parents or nobody came around to her liking. But three years after her father's death, at the age of 54 (although the marriage record states 47), she marries John Greenlees, a watchmaker, from Ayr. Her brother includes the names Greenlees in his youngest daughter's name, Edith Greenlees Paterson. 

Catherine's mother dies in 1897. Her sister Jessie probably moved in with Catherine and John at this time as she is listed in the 1901 census as living with them. Jessie is 17 years younger than Kate. Young enough to be her daughter. 

Kate never had children of her own but she seemed to be surrounded by her own sibling, nieces, and nephews. She died in Ayr, Scotland at the age of 61 of influenza and pneumonia. 

 

Other posts about the Patersons:

Sunday's Obituary - Johnston Paterson (her father)

Thriller Thrusday - Disappearance of Francis Paterson (her brother) 

Workday Wednesday - Bank Treasurer (her father)

Sources:

New Monkland, Scotland, Statutory Deaths 1855-2013, death of George Hunter Paterson; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 29 August 2008); 651/02 0028.

New Monkland, Scotland, Statutory Deaths 1855-2013, death of Elizabeth Paterson; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 1 February 2012); 651/02 0038.

New Monkland, Scotland, Statutory Deaths 1855-2013, death of Edward Paterson; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 1 February 2012); 651/02 0074.

New Monkland, Scotland, Statutory Deaths 1855-2013, death of William Paterson; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 29 July 2014); 651/02 0115.

Glasgow, Scotland, Statutory Marriages 1855-2014, marriage of John Greenlees & Kate Paterson; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 28 July 2014); 651/01 0106.

Ayr, Scotland, Statutory Deaths 1855-2013, death of Catherine Greenlees; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 28 July 2014); 578/01 0537.

52 Ancestors - James Paterson - Glasgow Spirit Dealer

 

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.

Me - My Dad - Johnston Cumberland Paterson - Francis Paterson - Johnston Paterson - James Paterson

The surname Paterson is special to me as it's my birth name. The furthest I've been able to go back on my paternal side is my 3rd great grandfather, James Paterson.  He was born about 1766, probably in Glasgow, Scotland as that is where he was married, had his children, and died. 

James is listed as a spirit dealer in Glasgow when he marries Ann Hunter on June 5, 1810 by  Mr. William Kidston, Burgher Seceder Minister in Glasgow. James and Ann had five boys and one girl that I've discovered in the Old Parish Registers for births and baptisms. Their children:

James born May 1, 1811 is in the May 1811 register. James is listed as a spirit dealer and witnesses are George Crofs & Walter Graham. 

Francis born December 12, 1812, Johnston born December 29, 1814, and George born February 19, 1819 are all in the December 1820 register. James is listed as a porter and witnesses are Edward Crossgrove & James Dow. 

Alexander born August 3, 1823 is in the December 1823 register. James is listed as a grocer & spirit dealer and witnesses are Matthew Anderson & David Drysdale.

Mary born June 7, 1826 is the January 1834 register. James is listed as a labourer and witnesses are Andrew Wortherspoon & William Kerr. Also, at the end of the birth entry it's written: by order of F. Georges' [Sepica]. Not sure what that means.

Some of his children I've been able to trace through the records. I'm still looking into the witnesses to see if any are related to the family.  But I've not found much beyond the birth dates for James and Alexander. Paterson seems to be quite a common surname and so are some of the given names. The easiest given name to find has been Johnston (my direct paternal line) as it's an unusual first name. 

I believe that James died in January of 1840 in Glasgow at the old age of 74. His funeral was January 27, 1840 with a hearse with 2 horses. James is buried  in the lair of George Neilson at St. David's church yard in Glasgow .  He's listed as a grocer. I think this is likely my James as I've found other Patersons buried in the same lair of G. Neilson in St. David's. One of the best clues would be the burial of wee George Paterson, only 2 months old, whom father is listed as Johnston Paterson.  Probably James' grandson. 

 I've discovered an interesting book on google that looks at the evidence of  drunkenness in Glasgow, Ireland and London.  On page 175, Mr. William Collins, a bookseller and the vice president of the Scottish Temperance Society states that in 1832 in Glasgow there were 1360 spirit dealers, making one to every 14 families. Evidence on Drunkenness Presented to The House of Commons published in 1834. 

Another post about James and his wife, Ann Hunter:

Fearless Females - Favorite Female Ancestor 

Sources:

Glasgow, Scotland, Pre 1855 Banns & Marriages, marriage of James Paterson and Ann Hunter; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 30 April 2008); OPR 644/001 0280 0127.

Glasgow, Scotland, Pre 1855 Births & Baptisms, birth of James Paterson; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 25 January 2012); OPR 644/01 0200 0554.

Glasgow, Scotland, Pre 1855 Births & Baptisms, birth of Francis Paterson, Johnston Paterson, and George Paterson; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 29 April 2008). OPR 644/001 0300 0133. 

Glasgow, Scotland, Pre 1855 Births & Baptisms, birth of Alexander Paterson; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 25 January 2012); OPR 644/01 0310 0327.

Glasgow, Scotland, Pre 1855 Births & Baptisms, birth of Mary Paterson; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 25 January 2012); OPR 644/01 0330 0642.

Glasgow, Scotland, Pre 1855 Deaths & Burials, death of James Paterson; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 20 April 2012); OPR 644/01 0630 0099.

Glasgow, Scotland, Pre 1855 Deaths & Burials, death of George Paterson; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk/: 20 April 2012); OPR 644/01 0630 0095.

52 Ancestors - Elizabeth Danskine (Paterson)

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. Since March is Women's History Month, I'm posting about my female ancestors. 

Elizabeth in Scotland 1903

Elizabeth Danskine is my Scottish great grandmother. She was the 2nd youngest child of William Danskine and Agnes Findlay born in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland on March 12 1858. Elizabeth was one of three sisters in the family who lived beyond the age of 31. Seven of her siblings died from diseases that may have been curable in this time period. Four dying from phthisis (tuberculosis), one from gastric fever (typhoid), one from morbus coxarius (hip disease) and one from peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal area). How terrible it would have been to watch your siblings pass away.

On July 11, 1883,  at the Free High Church in Airdrie, Elizabeth becomes the 2nd wife of Francis Paterson and step mother to his young daughter, Mary. My great grandmother gives birth to seven daughters and one son (my grandfather, Johnston). After her father, William, dies in 1885, Elizabeth's mother, Agnes, moves in with the growing family. Agnes is listed in the 1891 Scottish census as the mother-in-law, a retired grocer living with the family.  Agnes dies in 1892. 

Elizabeth loses one daughter, Ellen Danskine, at the age of two and her step daughter, Mary, at the age of 14 in Airdrie, Scotland. 

In 1907, after hard times hit and the family is left broke, Elizabeth, her husband, and children immigrate to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  Elizabeth was a reliant woman and had some business sense from having parents who were grocers. According to family stories, Elizabeth opened a Confectionery & Fruit Store, so her daughters had a place to work. She, also, took in boarders. 

Shortly after arriving in Edmonton, Elizabeth's oldest daughter, Agnes, dies from typhoid fever. Then her 2nd oldest, Janet, dies of a appendicitis in 1912 in Provost, Alberta.

Elizabeth's husband, Francis, was not happy in Edmonton, Alberta and wants to move on. The rest of the family resisted and stayed, while he moved to Washington, USA about 1918, alone.

Elizabeth and her youngest daughter, Edith, move to South Cooking Lake to operate the South Cooking Lake Store and Post Office. Elizabeth dies unexpectedly  on April 22, 1919 of the Spanish Flu at the age of 61. She was interred in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Edmonton, Alberta beside her daughter, Agnes.

Posts about the Patersons:

52 Ancestors - Johnston Cumberland Paterson (Elizabeth's son)

Fearless Females - Marriage Records

Fearless Females - Immigration

Fearless Females - Six Word Memoir

Sentimental Sunday - Janet Danskine Paterson Abbott (Elizabeth's daughter)

Tombstone Tuesday - Elizabeth Paterson & Agnes Findlay Paterson (Elizabeth & her daughter)

My Scottish Roots

Posts about the Danskines:

Sunday's Obituary -James Danskin  (Elizabeth's grandfather)

Fearless Females - Family Document

Surname Saturday - DANSKINE