BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS #10- SUSAN MC WATTERS WHERE WAS SHE BORN??

SUSAN MC WATTERS( MAC WATTERS, MAC WATTERS, MC WATERS)

Susan was one of my maternal great-great-grandmothers. All variations of the last name are searched each and every time. Variations could include Macwatters, McWatters, McWaters, MacWaters, Mc Watters, Mac Watters.

She was the wife of George Witheridge- married in Ontario. There is a comprehensive history of the Witheridge family but for the purposes of this article just Susan will be the topic. They had 9 children. One of those children was my great-grandmother Elizabeth Maude Witheridge who married Patrick Arthur English.

Susan was said to be born in County Armagh, Ireland. However in this article, there is documentation to state she was born in Ontario. One documentation states she emigrated to Canada in 1870.

Copious amounts of research has been done to find Mc Watters roots both in Canada and Ireland.

So what do we know about Susan. Born February 20, 1846. No definitive birth certificate found yet so no definitive name of her mother and father. There is a John Mc Watter in Family Search documents and a marriage in 1839 to Susanna Johnston. In Find My past, he was also married to a Barbara Dick in 1836. The original note on this marriage can be found in the Ballymoyer Parish Church Records- Ballymoyer, County Armagh. Three children- Susan, Thomas born 1844, Ireland and Agnes who may be a twin of Susan.

Kathleen ( Kathy) Witheridge whose research on the the Witheridge family stated in her letter of March 7, 1993 that Susan was young when she came to Canada. They settled in the Newcastle area. Susanna died August 10, 1847 and little Agnes died August 7, 1847 at 18 months, 3 days prior to her mother. A family correspondent to Kathleen had stated Susanna and John were Susan's parents.

In the 1881 Canadian Census, Darlington, Durham West, Ontario Canada- Susan is married to George Witheridge. her birth year is 1846 and birthplace is Ontario of Irish roots. George Witheridge, Jr., age 35; Susan age 35; William age 13; John age 11; Elizabeth age 9; Albert age 7; Arman age 6; Annie age 4; Frederick age 2. All children born in Ontario.

Kathleen did pay a researcher- David McElroy from Irish Roots- Holbeek House in 1989 in Ireland to find information. Here is a summary of his results before reviewing the two factual pages.

There are only 3 families with the surname of McWatters in County Armagh in the mid-nineteenth century. He found more Johnstons in the area than McWatters. There was a James McWaters in 1835 in Killevy Parish. Killevy tithe book had 3 MacWat(t)er families in 1864 but no Mc Waters remained there in 1864. He found the McWaters/Johnston marriage in 1839 previously mentioned. In the Baptism records he found some Johnston families but no Mc Waters in Ballintemple. Due to fire in Dublin in 1922 that destroyed many records in Ireland, he could not do further research. The John that is mentioned in the summary of the research could be Susanna's father or brother. He stated most of the Johnstons in Ballintemple were relatives of Susanna.

Page one of facts found by David.

Page two of facts found by David.

In an earlier census, it was cited that Susan was born in Ontario. In the 1891 census Susan and George are living in Durham West. In this census, it states she was born in 1846 and in Ireland.

In the 1901 Canadian census, she is living in Toronto with her husband George and children in Toronto West. In this census as an addendum, it was cited that Susan was born in Ireland and immigrated to Canada in 1870. This contradicts the family thinking as well as other documentation that she was born in 1846 after her parents came to Canada. So were Susanna and John her parents or other relatives? After Susanna died, did John remarry? He did have another wife before Susanna- Barbara Dick that he married in 1836. However, I still have not found him to confirm anything.

I subscribed to the Find My Past genealogical website. I have not found any records of Susan in county Armagh.

After George died Feb. 14, 1916, according to my mother- May Arline Ellis, great-granddaughter, Susan lived with daughter Elizabeth Maude to almost 89. She was noted for her crocheting and tatting. She liked to eat Scotch mint peppermints.

Susan on left with her daughter Elizabeth Maude Mitchell( nee English ).

Susan died August 22, 1934 in Toronto Ontario age 88, 6 months, 2 days. Her death certificate states she was a widow, living at 88 Walmer Road, retire, born Ireland but the names of her mother and father unknown. It also states she was in the province 85 years.

The certificate was completed by a physician who obviously would not know much of her history. She had sustained a hip fracture in May and was bedridden dying from paralysis agilnas in August. She is buried in St. John's Norway Cemetery, Toronto, York, Ontario. Range 5, Section 6, Grave 33. On the burial cards obtained  in 1989 from the cemetery, there were 2 addresses- 101 Sumach Street and 735 Coxwell Ave.

Research has always been helped by connecting with others doing research. I revisited all my McWaters research. Phyllis Litton from Cincinnati Ohio was very helpful. She was an avid family historian. Unfortunately she died, March 8, 2008.

Kathy Witheridge has been instrumental in helping may North American Descendants search for their Witheridge history and roots.

So how much do I really know about Susan. Not much. The conflict between being born in Ontario or Ireland or coming in 1870 has not been resolved.Since she can not be located in Ireland, it seems plausible that she really was born in Ontario and did not come to Canada in 1870. The only possibility is her father returned to Ireland after Susanna's death, remarried and stayed there or returned to  Canada. More research will be done to try to solve this conundrum.

REFERENCES

Witheridge, Kathleen- Unpublished letter March 7, 1993. Updated and compiled Withridge family history.

Family- Search-John MC  Watters is found- batch number 89011932, source Call no- 1553330, Type Film, County Armagh, Ulster Province, Ireland.

1881 Canada Census- Susan Witheridge- page 25, household ID 624258, Digital folder number 4466081, Image Number 00074 and GS film number 1375878.

1901 Census- Ward/Quartier o.2., Toronto ( East/Est) (City/cite) , Ontario, district Number 117, Subdistrict Number-b-9. Archives Microfilm: T-6498. Automated genealogy 1901 Census Indexing Project online- 4/26/2010

Ellis-Park, May. Oral recollection of family history.

Ontario Deaths- 1869-1937. 1934- County of York, Township of York, city of Toronto.

Litton, Phyllis- Family researcher. Unpublished correspondence and information. 1988. 1991.

Blammoed Parish Church Records- Ballymoyer County Armagh- 1839

County Armagh research 1989 by Irish Roots researcher- David McElroy.

Find my Past website researched for MC Watters information.

Witheridge Family history. Witheridge Family History Society.

Barbara Di Mambro
Copyright 2018
#Mcwattershistory#SusanMcWatters#GeorgeWitheridge#ElizabethMaudeWitheridge#CountyArmagh#Irelandfamilyhistory#conflictingplacesofbirthforSusan#SusannaJohnston#JohnMcWatters#MacWatters#McWatters#McWaters#Macwaters#Canadiancensus

BUTTERFLIES IN A CANADIAN GARDEN

A wild garden attracts many different natural beings. Butterflies are one. I captured this one.
There was another one mostly black that I did not get a photo.

I love this photo. However, who know what kind of butterfly is getting nectar from one of my purple flowers.

My Monarch ones that visit. I have the Milk Weed plant for them.

Of course there have been little white butterflies fleeting around in the front and the back. I am still trying to get their picture. The life of a photographer is not easy. Nature does not always cooperative.
#butterflies#monarchbutterfly#whitebutterflie#butterfliesarepretty#backyardgardenbringsnaturetohome#tryingtotakepicturesofbutterfliews#photograpyisfun

NANA SAYS YEAH BACK TO SCHOOL

The majority of mother and fathers too are not disappointed school starts next week. 9 weeks of summer vacation is long and often challenging keeping the children busy.
Children do need routines just like adults. Too much idle time only brings idle activities. Yes it is important to know how to use one's time well. Learning how to use hobbies and activities to bring joy to life is lifelong. As a child, I loved to read which has passed over to my life.
Getting children back to lessons and sports and school activities works too.
The last week I have heard so many parents that can not wait for school to start. Even with lunches and homework and the very busy morning routines parents seem to be ready. The children may not be ready!!

WHO SAID VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE?

Some quotes do not have an author listed.
So who first discovered that variety is the spice of life. Who said it?
Does it mean we all must have variety or do we accept that there are others who think and do differently?
Some people like to think they are different? But different from whom?
For the average person it may simply mean to try something different occasionally. Try a new coffee. Ice cream flavour. Listen to some new music. I hope it does not mean the need for an affair. Hum!
Reading a new author. Seeing a movie not in your usual genre. Not being stuck in a rut I suppose.
So what have you done lately to spice up your life??
#vairetyisthespiceoflife#trysomethingnew#don'tbestuckinarut#doyouseekoutnewopportunitiesjustforfun#anewflavouroficecream#anewmovie#differentmusic#changeitupalittle#noneedforanaffair#somethingnewspicesupyourlife#doyouliketofacechange

WHEN YOU CHANGE AND OTHERS DON'T- TROUBLE WITH FRIENDSHIPS

Life brings change and growth. However, we are often judged and yes judged about how we used to be. For example, I drove into a ditch on a side street at age 19 in front of an Italian acquaintance's house. Do you know for the next 25 years and counting, the woman from that house would always comment to me at each and every social event about how I drove into a ditch!!! I was married, had children, a responsible job and had moved on in my life and no more ditches but to her that one event defined me. She never asked about anything else about me!! Good thing she was not a close friend!

So do you do the same thing with people you know. People grow and change. Learn new skills. Take on new responsibilities, yet can be judged for behaviour that was well years ago.
Some people stay stuck in life. Others grab on and develop and change and embrace new ideas and activities.

Friendships can suffer due to the change. It is not a bad thing to move on from some friendships and acquaintances. Not to judge someone for finding new activities in life is difficult.

Remember the jealously thing comes into play. Let's say you were the pretty one, the smart one, the important one then someone in your group breaks away and well overshadows you. It can be hard not to feel some resentment. But you could feel happy for the person who has faced life and added new adventures. Be proud of that person. Be a friend. Or if too much let go and grow on your own.

Try not to be the person who always in a crowd has to bring up the old stories about someone and belittle them in public. Try not to put people in a box! I will tell you sincerely if you did that to me, well I would be moving on from you. You see!! I have grown and changed and am not the same person I was back then.
#friendshipschange#peoplechangeandgrow#areyoutiredofpeopleputtingyouinabox#oldstoriescanbehurtful#respectpeopleinpublic#trynottojudgeothers#lifeisalwaysevolving

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS- #9 DECLUTTERING THE FAMILY HISTORY BINDERS

Genealogy has been an ongoing passion for 34 years.
When trying to go digital, it has been difficult to decide what to submit to the cyber world.
In reviewing one family binder, the Frost one, for example, trying to decide what to discard and what to keep has always been a dilemma.
When I started researching it was copious trips to the library, typed letters to others searching the same name, recording and organizing and photocopying. We were told to keep all references as one day there may be a relation to one of our ancestors.So reviewing many microfische pages from decades ago, it was discovered none of them belong to me. Realizing the work and sometimes cost has been huge.
However, like decluttering a house, decluttering family history is important too. Once the direct lines are known and the descendants one wants to know are established, time to let go.
I have 15 family history, well organized binders. However, not all the information is needed now.
Besides, deciding a year or so ago, to write up the current people backwards for my grandchildren is good enough. Will they want to know about every cousin line in existence, probably not? But my grandparents are their great-great grandparents so they are a good place to end for them.
Then the pedigree charts that go back with the details will be good too. Why just my grandparents? Easy. I know their story. I can find their relevant social details like where they lived, what they did for a living, where they are buried!! And I have some pictures too. I can clean up their information with new data available online so they have proper cited references.
I have listened to others who have done research. Your children will not want all the copious notes, and charts and misc information. If there is a nice well written story with pictures then that is a different story- their story. Of course I will keep the cousin lines that were given to me. I am a little sentimental afterall!!
#declutteirngthefamilyhistorybinders#familyhistory#genealoy#conducts#descendants#barb'sgenealogytidbits

THE MORNING WALK- A LITTLE LATER

I started my retirement with a 545 am morning walk. Finishing just after 610. Now with the darker and cooler mornings, it starts around 630 am. Soon I will not be able to walk with wet hair. Life can have routines but time tell us to adapt. Walking first thing has also thrown my blogging time off. I used to get up, get washed, get my coffee then go to the computer and write my post.Sitting at the computer in the summer is difficult. The nice weather. The urge to read outside first in the sun for awhile then in the shade called to me. Even the little cat nap outside.
Walking in the quiet of early morning is a luxury. Even though close to Yonge Street and traffic it is relaxing and has given me time for reflection. Many people are also up and walking. Often walking their dogs.
I have a short afternoon walk to the mailbox and back. If many of you recall, I used to walk to work and back each day throughout the year. So I am still trying to find the activity to fill the late afternoon walk. I do have some exercise dvds I will use once the cooler weather hits. Again laying down on a rug in the summer heat is not appealing to me right now.
The morning walk has given me some ideas for writing too. It has given me some freedom. I am not walking for a purpose like the walk to work. I am just walking to enjoy. It has helped the rest of the day for me. I can sip my coffee after wards with my husband. I have the sense that I have done something.
The only thing that would make the morning walk better would be if I were walking on a beach. Perhaps it will happen sometime!!
#morningwalk#walkingisreflective#morningwalkasaroutine#morningwalkisaluxury#funwithamorningwalk#timeforeverythingespeciallyamorningwalk