Milne 50th Anniversary Celebration in 1947

Almost seventy years ago, on December 17, 1947, friends and family from far and wide gathered to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of my great grandparents, Alex and Jeannie Milne at Hargrave School.   More than just a celebration, the Milne's reenacted a Mock Wedding in front of friends and relatives to mark the occasion. Jeannie can be seen holding her bouquet and Alex is wearing the boutineer in the photo below along with some of their children.

The details of the evening were carefully recorded in a soft suede leather covered guest book pictured below.  The book along with the cards and telegrams were saved by the daughter, my  Grandma,  among her prized possessions. My Mom says the handwriting in the Guest Book  belonged to Bessie Carruthers (wife of Lorne)  and I understand she was keen on family history as I am.  Thanks to her, I am able to tell the story of the night so many years later. Telegrams were received from the Virden and Elkhorn Masonic Lodges, R.H. Mooney, M.L.A., Jack Mooney, Wallace Council, Hargrave Church Board and Elsie and T.A. Kerr. 

The photographer in this group shot below seems to be new to the camera or else was focusing on the flower girl, Margaret Kinnaird (my Mom) and the page boy Alec Milne (son of Charlie and Louise).  Mary Reid and Jeannie Milne are standing behind them and Alex would be the man with the boutineer in his lapel.  

The bridesmaid was Mary Reid, wife of William who was given the honour of standing in for the father of the bride to give her away.  A three tiered wedding cake was made for the occasion by Evelyn Kyles, Florence Stinson and Margaret Hitchins.  Six friends were named as the event decorators (Bert & May Foster, Jim & Gladys Odell, Marion Gordon and Harvey Odell) and three as dressmakers (Elsie Kerr, Gladys Odell and Bessie Carruthers).

The evening's entertainment was introduced by chairman Harvey Odell and started off with games of Euchre, then the Mock Wedding was held.  Instrumental musical entertainment was supplied by Lorne and Bessie Carruthers and Tom Gordon performed 2 songs dressed in Scottish costume.  Dancing in Scottish costume by Morine Hitchins and Joan Braybrook was next .  Community singing of Hymn 238 accompanied by pianist Marion Gordon followed.  I wonder what hymn this would have been?

Over 100 names signed the guest book and more were listed as "Guests but not present".  The honoured couple were presented with an electrical lamp and clock by Marion Gordon on behalf of the community of family and friends.  Margaret Kerr was noted as being a soloist and well as having the honour of poring the tea at the Guest Table. Reverend Fargey of Elkhorn gave a toast to the couple and it would ironically be the same man who would minister at both of their funeral services, hers the next April and Alex's in June of 1950.

Alexander Milne married Jeannie Morrison Jamieson on December 24, 1897 at the Lodge in the Mayne House at Rothiemay, Scotland.  Both were 21 years old (although he looks so much younger in their wedding picture above).  Alex emigrated to Canada in the spring of 1904 and Jane and their 3 eldest boys followed the next year.  Five more children were born in this country as they worked hard to become successful farmers and community members.  

It makes me happy that they had a chance to celebrate this milestone anniversary surrounded by their loved ones and especially happy that the pictures and guest book remain to share the celebration with my readers today.  As I write this post, tomorrow is my Mom and Dad's 57th anniversary.  Best wishes on your special day!  Love, Sharon

Today's Mystery - James Jamieson

The postcard style photo above and the two men in uniform below are part of the Jamieson mystery in my family tree. The were recently found on the same page in a family photo album, making me think someone placed them together for a reason.   The above one has Uncle Jimmy written on it, I wonder if it's Grandma's writing?

That would make him the brother of her mother, Jeannie Jamieson Milne.  The only sure information have about James is from the 1894 Scotland census where it says he was age 7 (born around 1884) and his birthplace was Banff, Banffshire, Scotland.  At the time, he was living with his 36 year old mother Margaret (nee Duncan) at 18 St Catherine Street, with brother William Duncan Jamieson age 8 and 11 year old sister Susan A. Jamieson. The only other fact I know is that James was mentioned in Jeannie's obituary in 1948 still living in Banff along with his sisters Mrs. McKenzie and Mrs. Greenlaw.   Some recall it being said James and perhaps his brother served in WW1 but with such a common name, it is hard to trace. The two military pictures seem to support this theory.

The unidentified photos posted below were found in Grandma's trunk and we wonder if it is James on the left and W.D. on the right as in comparison to the soldiers above? Please do contact me if you have any further information on my Jamiesons.  I'd love to know more about them!

P.S. - An online source called Worrall's Directory of the north-eastern counties of Scotland from 1877  indicates a James Jamison farmed at Crannabog near  Aberchirder and a Jas Jamieson at Ribrae in the same area.  I wonder if they are ancestors?  

Talon Brooches

I'm baaack!  You must have guessed that I'm not finished with my stories now that the 52 Weeks is over since you're here.  There's so many more great stories to tell.  I can't say it will be every week but I have more to write about and keep learning more by hearing from family connections through this blog!

I published my year's worth of blog posts into a book using Blurb.ca that you can see the link to here   I had 2 copies printed, one for my Mom and Dad and one for me, and am really pleased with the finished product!  

But now to today's post.  The above wedding photo of my Mom's grandparents, Jeannie Morrison Jamieson and Alexander Milne was recently sent to me from cousin Greg from B.C.  It would have been taken near Rothiemay, Scotland where they were married on December 24, 1897. I put the picture on my computer as a desktop background and then noticed the interesting brooch on her neck as enlarged below.

 

It looks like a claw of some poor animal but it also brought back a memory for my kids as something they loved to play with at Grandma and Grandpa's house at Oak River.  On my last visit there, I found them in the box of toys and took the photos below.  With a bit of help from Google, I found that these are Bird Talon Brooches!  I have links to a few pages of similar ones here , here and here  

 The one above seems to be from a ptarmigan as is written about in this blog. She says:

Since the Victorian era when Scottish jewellery became popular, the birds foot of the Ptarmigan has been used in the jewellery industry, to produce claw brooches.
Originally worn on kilts, shawls and cloaks - it was prized for good luck especially when on a game hunting trip. Still very collectible vintage jewellery today.

It seems they were made in Scotland as well as Birmingham, England in the Victorian era, mid 1800's to 1900.

The one above is more like the one Jeannie is wearing in the photo and it looks a little worse for wear with only 2 talons remaining.  It would seem to be from a falcon, as it has less fur. 

These brooches originally belonged to my Dad's Mom's sister, Lizzie Sinclair Morcom.  She is pictured above in with her husband Jack in a Souvenir Photo from the Sheraton-Brock Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario.  The photo was likely taken when they were in Toronto for the Royal Winter Fair with their heavy horses, maybe in the forties.  Jack was from England and his father was a gold miner, in South Africa and later Bisset, Manitoba.  The brooches may have belonged to his mother or perhaps were given as gifts to Lizzie.  They are certainly unique and would raise eyebrows if worn today!  

Week 26 - William Duncan Jamieson

William Duncan Jamieson ( 1883- 1962)

 

William was the younger brother of my great grandmother. Jeannie Morrison Jamieson Milne.  He was born in Banff, Banffshire,Scotland in 1883. He was the son of Margaret "Maggie" Duncan and James "W.D." Jamieson. 

 

He can be found as an 8 year old scholar on the 1891 Scottish census living at 18 Catherine Street in Banff with his family.  His mother Margaret is 36, a sister Susan A. is 11, and his younger brother James is 7 years old. This is the only sure thing I know about James, besides being mentioned in Jeannie's obituary in 1948 as living in Banff.  It is a very common name and without a distinct middle name, it may be impossible to find him.

 

 

The next online document for William Duncan Jamieson is in March 30, 1907 at the Holy Trinity Church (pictured above) where at 23 years old, he married Frances Lelia Evelyn Robinson in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. 

 

The 1911 English census finds the couple with 2 children, Margaret Dorothy (3 years) and Frances Edith (8 months) in England.  William's occupation is listed as a journalist.  I have completed many searches but have not yet come up with any reference to where he worked or if any of his writing was published. 

 

No other traces of William can yet be found in online searches but his sister Jane's obituary in 1948 says he was still in Sheffield, England then.  Jane and Alex Milne named one of their sons William Duncan in his honor.

 

William Duncan Jamieson died at age 79 in Sheffield on December 4, 1962 at 79 years old at 64 Archer Lane.  His effects were valued at £42385.  The only beneficiary mentioned is the Williams Deacon Bank Limited.

I hope to find out more about him someday and maybe someone reading this blog can help me!

 

Week 3 - Jeannie Morrison Jamieson Milne

Jeannie Morrison Jamieson Milne (1876 - 1948)

 

Jane circa 1896 - thank you Greg



My Mom's family tree in Canada is well documented in a binder of pages collected and recorded by my Aunt Marjorie and the Jamieson line in that resource started with Jeannie Morrison Jamieson. I was curious to know where she came from and luckily had help with finding out about her. I had email contact with Donna Marie who had been to Scotland in the area she came from and she was curious as well for confirmation of census records she had found online back in 2012. 

 

 

This picture of my great grandparents was from my Aunt Marjorie who had written on the back Grannie and Grandad. I think Jeannie, or Jane as she was  known, bears a striking resemblance to Aunt Marge here in the way she smiles. Beautiful ladies indeed! Jane was born in Aucherless, Aberdeen Scotland and had 2 sisters and 2 brothers.  On the 1881 Scotland Census I believe they lived in nearby Gartly.  Her father James W.D. Jamieson was listed as a railway porter and her mother was Margaret "Maggie" Duncan.  He father appears to have died by the time Jane and Alex Milne were married on Christmas Eve 1897. Alex's father was John Milne and his grandfather was Lewis Milne. 

Text of invitation: Mrs. Jamieson requests the pleasure of ___ company at the marriage of her daughter, Jeannie to Mr. Alex. Milne at the Lodge, Mayne House, Rothiemay, on Friday, twenty-fourth December at half-past two o'clock.  The Lodge , Mayne House.  An early reply will oblige. 
Reply Envelope Address:  Mrs. W.D. Jamieson 34 Shaftesbury Avenue, Chesterfield

 

I got a the above scan of their wedding invitation from Judy and her husband Sheldon and the location of their wedding Mayne (or Mayen) House was listed for sale online so current pictures of the property are below.   Rothiemay, Scotland is in Aberdeen but the only 34 Shaftesbury Avenue, Chesterfield that "Google" can find is in Derbyshire, England.  Donna Marie heard that Jane's mother lived to an old age in England so that piece fits the puzzle too.  I believe Jane's brother W.D. (William Duncan) can be found in Chesterfield on a 1911 census as a journalist.  I do wonder why their wedding was in Mayen House and what the "Lodge" is, however. 

 

Aunt Marjorie had also given me this photo of the young Milne family. My grandma, Frances Jeannie, is on her mom's knee which dates this picture to around 1906 when they lived and farmed near Virden. Her husband Alex Milne and three boys John, Alexander, and William Duncan Jamieson are also pictured. Alex emigrated to Canada in the spring of 1904 and then Jane and her three boys followed into the unknown the next spring. What a voyage and then a happy reunion that must have been!  They eventually had eight children - 5 boys and 3 girls.  She would have been a busy farm wife through the war years and the depression in between.

 

 

The photo above is of their gravestone in Virden Cemetery and one wonders how her maiden name on it came to spelled  without the "e". My mom was one of  26 grandchildren and she remembers hearing the Scottish brogue of her Granny and Grandad when they lived with her Aunt Nan and Uncle Jim near Hargrave.  When Mom had to leave for school and it was raining she was told she couldn't go.  She replied not to worry that she would "run between the raindrops!" Granny knit socks that Mom remembers giving at a White Gift service at church and she recalls that Jane suffered from "shingles" in her later years. 

 

 

Sheldon found and shared her obituary notice from the provincial archives in Winnipeg and that helped confirm the 1881 census was indeed her family when she had 2 sisters and 2 brothers.

This biography of my great grandmother was truly a co-operative effort and I hope that anyone with further (or correcting) information will include it in the comments below!