Remembrance ~ Home of the free, because of the Brave

A Day of Remembrance

Every year on November 11, Canadians pause in a silent moment of remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace. We honour those who fought for Canada in the First World War (1914-1918), the Second World War (1939-1945), and the Korean War (1950-1953), as well as those who have served since then. More than 1,500,000 Canadians have served our country in this way, and more than 100,000 have died. They gave their lives and their futures so that we may live in peace.



http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/history/other/remember


The Canadian Goverment site about Remembrance Day lists the first group of Veterans that we honour being the ones that fought during WWI .... but my thought and prayers during November 11 go back farther than that.   I come from a very proud Military family with documented references back to the American Revolution and the War of 1812.

it didnt dawn on me until I was writting this blog that I have another "3 Generations" to honour, especially today.

William James Reid  (1881-1967)

~ my Great-Grandfather, was a career soldier.   from what I've been told, he never met a war he didnt like !!
 the picture shown of him here is dated 1899, and was taken while he was a member of the GMP (Garrison Military Police) during the Boer War

1902 ~ he was with Regiment #912 of the 2nd Canadian Mounted Riffles stationed in South Africa

he spent 15 years with the 12th North York Rangers (as per his Attestation papers when he enlisted for WWI in 1914)

in April of 1916 he was struck by a mortar and laid in a foxhole for 2 days before being found & brought to hosptial.   there was shrapnel in his chest, head and his leg was severly crushed/broken.    just before Christmas of that same year, he surprised his wife by walking thru the front door of their home .... a plate in his head, and only 1 1/2 legs (leg was amputated just above the knee) .... "Merry Christmas Dear, I'm home !!" (apparently my G-Grandmother fainted at the site of him walking in the house on only 1 leg)

John Henry Reid (1910 - 1942)

~ my Grandfather.   I grew up hearing very little about my Grandfather.   He died when my Dad was very young, leaving my Grandmother with 4 children under the age of 4.

this picture was taken outside of The Armouries in Hamilton.    it's interesting seeing him holding a bugle and the drum in the background.   I'm "assuming" that it was taken prior to them being shiped overseas ... he was a member of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, R.C.I.C.

Jack was killed on August 19, 1942, Dieppe France.   his death certificate states that he was "Previously reported missing in action now for official purposes presumed killed in action".





~ My Dad ... the 3rd Generation to serve in the Armed Forces.  served one tour with the 82nd Airborne from 1957-1959    What else can I say, this is just one of many reasons why I'm so proud of my Father <3
 

3rd Generation Soldier Boy

1958 ~ Ft Bragg, North Carolina

More Family Military History ....

Christian Price UEL (1757-1832) ~ my 5th Great Grandfather

•  1784 ~ Butler's Rangers (as per New York, Genealogical Records, 1675-1920)
• 1786 ~ From The Old United Empire Loyalist List: Price, Christian.... Home District, Butler's Rangers, wife, P.L.N. 1786, Niagara stamped book.

Oliver Tallman (1737 - 1788) ~ my 5th? Great Grandfather (not proven)

• the son of Jeremiah Tallman, was born at Portsmouth, R.I., June 15, 1737. He resided at Long Branch, Monmouth County, N.J., prior to the Revolutionary War, where he owned a considerable estate. This he forfeited by becoming a Royalist.  During the Battle of Monmouth, he fought on the British side, while his son, William fought under Washington.  At the end of the war his estates were confiscated and sold, and he, accompanied with two of his sons, Peter and Daniel, withdrew to Canada, on the North shore of Lake Ontario, near St. Catharines, where lands were ceded to him for his loyalty to the Crown.

William Tallman (1810-1893) ~ my 3rd Great Grandfather

• Private in the home guards under Captain Huston & Gordon.   stood one of the first sentry on the heights at the rebellion of 1837-38

Henry Downie Watson (1873-1935) ~ my Maternal Great Grandfather





1914 ~ Henry Downie Watson ("x")

• joined the 3rd Battalion scottish Rifles in 1890 at the age of 16
• 1900-1902 ~ 3rd Volunteer Battalion H.L.I (Highland Light Infantry)
• 1900-1914 ~ 7th Battalion HLI (during summer training)
• 14 December 1901 ~ 3rd H.L.I. ~ mobilized and readied for service in the war against the Boers in South Africa (January 1902 ~ disembodied and sent home)
• July 1902 ~ 4th Battalion H.L.I ~ regiment took part in the Coronation celebrations of King Edward VII, and recieved their colours from the Duke of Connaught, their honourary Colonel
• May 1909 ~ Lance-Sergeant of A Company ~ selected as on of the Colour Party to proceed to Windsor Castle by London England to receive from the hands of His Majesty, The King, King Edward VII, King's and Regimental Colours
• 1918 ~ Royal Air Force, 2nd Class Air Craftsman
• 4 March 1919 ~ completed service with the Royal Air Force, and also with the Britsh Army

Final Note ....

I dont mean to ignore all of my cousins, uncles and aunts that have been part of the Armed Forces .... Army, Navy, Air Force .... I'm honoured to call you family, and proud of your contribution.   It's amazing, once I sat down to think about it, how many family members I have that chose the Armed Forces as their career.

http://daliscar.deviantart.com/art/Remembrance-Day-Poppy-Day-67984839

What am I ...

I just finished reading "The Stone Thrower" by Jael Ealey-Richardson.   Jael is the daughter of famous CFL Quarterback Chuck Ealey, who I remember watching play during his CFL days especially when he played for the Hamilton Tiger Cats.   The Stone Thrower is a moving story about race and destiny written by a daughter looking for answers about her own black history through the story of her infamous father.   A big part of the story, or at least it seems like some of the motivation for writing it was not only to honour Jael's Father's legacy, but to question her "blackness".  Especially being born and raised in Canada vs the United States like her Father.

now, being a pasty white girl, I've never understood how the colour of your skin constitutes a "culture" ... any more than there being a culture for "green eyed people" or "left handed people" (both of which I'd be a member of), I always thought "culture" was akin to "heritage".   I think Jael's journey in researching and writing her book has given her some comfort in who/what she is .... but it made me wonder about my own identity .... so, what am I, what is my "culture"  ??!!

well that's easy ... I'm Canadian !!  ok, let's look closer at that .... defining a "Canadian" today isn't like it was a few years ago.   I'm polite (at least I like to think I am); like Hockey, poutine and maple syrup; and love to see a Mountie in full dress riding his horse ... does that make me Canadian?   it seems like the influx of "new age" immigrants coming to Canada aren't here to embrace the Canadian culture and become "one", they are coming here to further bend the already weak backbone of our Government and change what ever culture we have as Canadians.   Services must be provided in languages other than our 2 national languages, bank machines screens aren't showing up in English/French (unless you specifically choose it), there are areas on Ontario where street signs and store fronts aren't printed in English/French, Government uniforms had to be changed to accommodate immigrant cultural dress, immigrants want Canadian laws changed to agree to the laws of a country that they left, etc.    anyway I could go on a rant, but that's not what this is about ..... the question is, am I Canadian, and by what definition?   the stock answer is "only Natives are the TRUE Canadians"

Excellent .... then I'm Native !!!!    well, at least part of me is.    Maria Jane Milligan (1843 - 1890) is my paternal 2nd Great Grandmother, and to our knowledge was an Ojibwa Indian.   now granted, that's a few generations back, so although the blood line has been diluted a wee bit I'm Native !!!    that being said, other than my Dad taking my Mum and I to the 6 Nations Reserve in Brantford a few times when I was younger to visit friends of his or attend the odd festival, I have absolutely no connection to Native culture.    in fact, my Dad didn't know that his Great-Grandmother was Native until I discovered it during my research of his Dad's side of the family.  My Dad has friends from the 6 Nations Reserve because he grew up in Mount Hope and went to school with a number of kids from there .... not because we shared a culture with them.    OK, so other than being proud of my Native ancestor, maybe I cant really consider myself "Native".

Staying on my Dad's side ... I must be French-Canadien then !!!!   Eva Rose Arbour (1917-1981) was my Paternal GrandMother, and there's no doubt that she was French-Canadien.   My 7th Great-Grandfather, Michel Arbour (1647-1699) emigrated from Normandie France to Neuville Quebec in 1671.   That same year he married Marie-Catherine Constatineau in Quebec.  Skipping ahead a few generations, in 1883/84, my 2nd Great-Grandfather, Joseph Magloire Arbour (1845-1924) brought his wife Leocadie Cartier dit Robert (1850-1926) and children to Simcoe County in Ontario.   My Great-Grandfather, William Joseph Arbour (1884-1965) was the first of their children born in Ontario.   my Grandmother's Maternal side, Robillard were also from Quebec, coming to Ontario in the 1870s.   the Giroux family came from Quebec to Ontario in the 1850s.  The families all settled in the Victoria Harbour area, until my Grandmother's Parents moved to Hamilton with their children before WWII.   My Grandmother didn't marry into the French-Canadien "culture" and I don't think I ever heard her or any of her siblings and their families speak french (unless prompted by me because I had a french test the next week).   my French-Canadien culture is my ancestry connection to French-Canadien families (some of whom were instrumental in building the foundations of Ontario, Quebec and Canada), a simple dessert my Grandmother would make me called "tremper" (slice of bread, soaked in milk and sprinkled with sugar ... it was yummy, but she never put enough sugar on it), and of course Tourtière at Christmas time.    OK, so other than being proud of my French-Canadien ancestors, maybe I cant really consider myself "French-Canadien".

so on my Mother's maternal side .... I'm UEL !!!  um, or am I ??   WHAT ??!!!    OK, first of all, UEL = United Empire Loyalist.   The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British failure in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris.  well, technically, I'm not a UE .... yet.   My Mum, daughter and I are currently going thru the application and proof process to see if we will be accepted .... but for sake of argument, let's "assume", shall we  :~D   I've always thought of, Doris Adelia Elliott (1911 - 1979), my Maternal Grandmother as "British".   part of that I think was due to the Scottish/British influence of my Grandfather, but after doing research on her side of the family I see how much of her own British culture she brought into our family, even though both of her Parents were born in Canada.   her Maternal Grandfather, Joseph Woon (1835 - 1897) was born in Cornwall England, and with his trade & business as a tailor travelled back to England almost yearly to purchase new materials for his shop.  her Paternal side was a mixture of English (Woodlans & Warr families from Somerset England, arriving in Canada in 1848) and Canadians (possibly UEL ?).   her Maternal Grandmother, Mary Ann Tallman (1837 - 1877) was a UEL daughter, on both of her parents side.   it's interesting how, although the assumption of "culture" around the UELs today is a very British background, many of them (most in my case) originally came to the United States from Holland, Belgium or Germany ... but it was so long ago, there can hardly be a connection to any of those cultures, except for maybe a special Loyalty to Britain ... but other than that, is UEL really a culture ?

so again, on my Mother's side ... I'm Scottish !!!   um, or am I ??     I am a Watson, there's no doubt about that .... but does that make me Scottish??   The Watson's are VERY clannish, proud of their Scottish heritage ... but how Scottish are they really ?   my Grandfather, Robert McCracken Watson (1911-1977) and all of his siblings were born in Glasgow Scotland, as was their Father Henry Downie Watson (1873-1935) ... that's 2 generations born in Scotland .... before that, from what I've researched (almost) everyone else was born in IRELAND (OMG, if that isn't sending some of the Watson's spinning in their graves nothing will !!!).    well, other than a history of ancestors born in Ireland, the most recent being 1850, I don't think I can really consider myself Irish .... but what about my 2 (or so) generations born in Scotland.    well, based on what a Canadian was when my Scottish relatives came to Canada, I may be of Scottish descent but I'm a true Canadian.   But, based on the immigrants of today, where their homelands seem to be of a high cultural priority than their chosen homeland, then yes I guess I'm Scottish ... or based on that logic, am I Irish; with the same number of generations born in Canada as in Scotland, should we go back to Ireland for our heritage/culture ??   at least I have more connection to Scottish culture than any other that I have claim to ... I look Scottish (pale white skin with a ruddy complexion, freckles, red/auburn hair, green/hazel eyes); I grew up with a family full of Scottish accent speaking relatives (especially after a wee dram or 2 on a Saturday evening); I was raised around Scottish/British foods, slang terms, television programs & entertainment; my Daughter was a Highland Dancer; I play the bagpipes; we attend the yearly local Highland Games ... but most importantly, I grew up being TOLD by my Watson family that we are Scottish.    I am very proud of my Scottish heritage, but I'm the 2nd generation to be born in Canada, and have never even been to Scotland for a visit .... maybe I cant really consider myself "Scottish".

so, now that it's all as clear as mud, what am I ??    now, don't get me wrong, I'm as proud as I can be of my Scottish ~ French-Canadien ~ Native ~ ULE roots, without them I wouldn't be who, or what, I am today.   without the varied heritages and cultures of my ancestors, their courage to all come together in Canada, to accept and honour the Canadian culture over that of their homeland without showing any disrespect from where they came from .... because of this, I know who I am ...

I AM CANADIAN

Happy Anniversary

I realize today it may not be the order than things are always done .... but "in theory" without celebrating a marriage, we would not be able to celebrate the joys of having "3 Generations".

Today is my Parent's wedding Anniversary.    it's a time to look back at a couple's joys, honour the life they have shared together, and to look forward to the future they will have together.

It's funny, as I'm doing my family tree research, the focus seems to be on births and deaths.   Marriage registrations and certificate are exciting finds because it confirms or reveals the names of Parents and birth locations.    With births and deaths it's so easy to get emotionally caught up in the event ... but Marriage is such a wonderful part of our family and who we are.   it joins 2 families and brings them together into one family tree.    from now on, I'm going to take a better look at the marriage registrations I find, look at the signatures on the documents .... did they have a big wedding or a small one, was the Bride as beautiful as I imagine, what was everyone wearing, did they arrive in horse drawn carriages or motor cars.

no marriage is perfect, but my Parents have had a wonderful marriage.   today I think of my Parents wedding .... of what an exciting day it must have been.   the fall colours that were in their glory outside the Church, my Dad waiting at the alter with his best friend, my Mum standing at front of the Church with my Grandfather holder her arm and walking her down the isle.   two very different families (country vs city), from different backgrounds (French Canadian vs Scottish/UL/UEL), and different Religions (R.C. vs Protestant) .... all comming together in a union so that I could have the best family tree of all.

So, Cheers to my Parents as they celebrate their Wedding Anniversary .... here's to another 100 more !!

3 Generations ... Grandmother, Mother, Daughter

my blog is called "3 Generations" because of my maternal Grandmother.   as the story goes, many years ago, my Grandmother was showing a picture of herself, my Mum and me to my Dad.   she apparently went into great detail about this being a picture of "3 generations", how and why it contained 3 generations.    needless to say, it ended up being a silly joke, resulting in some teasing at my Grandmother's expense.    that being said, it's a very important phrase to me, it means family, it means history ... and apparently it can not be taken lightly as it can be rather rare.   

the last time the women in my family had 3 generations like this ended in 1855 when my 4-times Great Grandmother, Elizabeth Price-Culp, passed away leaving her Daughter Catherine Culp-Tallman (1813-1897) and her Granddaughter Mary Ann Tallman-Woon (1837-1877).   Sadly, Mary Ann passed away only 5 years after the birth of her Daughter (my Great Grandmother), Mary Louise Woon-Elliott (1872-1941).    Mary Louise passed away 6 weeks prior to the birth of her Grandaughter (my Mum).

December 11, 1963 ~ Doris Adelia, Jacqueline Louise & Della Christine .... the 1st "3-generations since 1855, and we were fortunately to have each other for 15 years.   Unfortunately, on October 16 1979, my Grandmother passed away.

but, life goes on, and apparently so does tradition .... exactly 12 years later, we were blessed to have "3 generations" in our family once more.   October 16th 1991, my Daughter was born.    

I remember when I first realized that my daughter was born on the same date that my Grandmother passed away, and how sad I thought it was, how I wanted to avoid my daughter seeing that when we were doing family tree research together.    Today my baby turns 21, she has grown into a beautiful young woman, and I am SO proud of her.   As I look back at the 3-generations I had in my youth, and the 3-generations that my daughter has had her entire life, I often think of my Grandmother and how much she would have loved to been part of my daughter's life .... then I wonder, is the date a co-incidence?   after all, my daughter was born 3 weeks past her due date, and I was in labour for 3 days ... what the heck was she waiting for ??!!    Has my Grandmother been more involved in our current 3-generations that we're aware of ?

I suppose by the time I find out if my Grandmother has been watching over us it will be too late to blog about it .... but isn't it a wonderful feeling, to think that passed family members are still with us, at least in spirit.

Happy 21st Birthday to my baby girl, with special thoughts & prayers for my Grandmother ... 2 amazing women that I have been blessed to have in my family, and in my life <3

Della & Jacquie

if you want to read a wee bit more about my baby on her 18th-birthday


Della & Kelsey

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet."

first of all a special thanks to William Shakespeare for the title .... not from one of your more cheerier tales, but good none the less.

I grew up considering myself a "Watson" ..... now that being said, Watson is my Mother's maiden name, so TECHNICALLY I'm only part watson.   Now not only did I spend a large part of my childhood with my Watson Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts and cousins, but with my family if you have Watson blood, you're a Watson (we do tend to be a wee bit clannish).    now the question is .... should we REALLY be Watsons ??!!     without meaning to ruin the end of the story, the answer is "no".

ok, it started in Scotland back in the 1800s (well actually it started in Ireland, but that's another story, and possibly another bone of contention within the family ... dont tell a proud Scottish family they actually have more history in Ireland !!).  

the first reference to my 2xGreat-Grandmother, Mary Chalmers Watson was in the 1851 Scotland Census, as a 12 year old girl living in Queensferry, West Lothian with her parents (James & Helen Watson) her brother John (14) and sister Martha (8).    I wonder back to that wee Irish girl, now living in Scotland, can she even imagine the impact she will have on so many lives, how she will be challenged but revered and honoured by the son she is going to have in the future, and that she will be "remembered" by her ancestor 112 years after her death.

let's jump ahead 10 years, to the 1961 Scottish census .... Mary Watson  is now 22 and  although the address has changed (13 Kirk Street, Glasgow), she's still living with her Parents .... a husband Richard Malloy (21) and a son James Malloy !!    

I know very little about Richard Malloy, other than he died 21 January 1869 .... leaving Mary with potentially 6 children !!!

• John 1859-1914
• Archibald 1861-?
• Jeanie 1863-?
• James Watson 1865-?
• Archibald 1867-?
• Helen 1868-1916

10 years later and it's 1871, Mary is still living at 13 Kirk Street.   I cant find any record of her parents I'm assuming that they have passed away by this time, but she has 2 of her children living with her, John (11) and Ellen (9).    it's interesting that her name in this census is her married name of Maloy, not Watson like it was in the previous census where she was living with her parents and (I assume) her husband.

on March 19th, 1873, Mary Watson-Malloy gave birth to a son ... but there's a catch .... who is the Father, and where is he.    why dont we let my Great-Grandfather tell you, in his own words ...

My parents were never married, through an unfortunate circumstance which arose prior to my birth. My father, Henry Downie by name, stone mason by trade, Roman Catholic by religion, met my mother while he was a member of the Eastern Division Glasgow Police Force. My Mother was a widow at the time.

Her deceased husband being one by the name of Richard Maloy, a dyer by trade, who died at a premature age of tubercular trouble of the lungs, after living a short and uneventful life. (This disease is the workers’ heritage.) He left her nothing but a sad heart and three children, two boys and one girl. The eldest, John Maloy, dying at 54 years of age, the next, Ellen Malloy, dying at about 48 years of age, and the last, Richard, dying about one year old.

Needless to say, when Father and Mother met, it was a love match. Locks, bolts or bars cannot keep love back. Neither can religion. Love laughs at all things, and so they loved like a true son and daughter of old Adam and Eve. I don’t want to condemn Father for leaving Mother when her great sorrow was coming on her. Maybe he regretted it. Maybe he was sorry. Maybe he was pained. Maybe he suffered. God knows, who knows. I just want to think kindly of him.

In the month of February, a month before I was born, Father was working at his trade in scaffolding, quite a few feet from the ground, when one day the man working next to him started quarrelling with him. Blows were struck, the man was knocked off the scaffold, which resulted in his death some time after. My Father had to flee the country going to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. We never saw him again. My Mother only heard of him casually through his parents. It is said that he sent money again and again to Mother, but she never got it. His parents being Roman Catholics were very angry at Mother, because she was a Protestant. So, I never knew the touch of a Dad’s hand on my head or a kiss of a Dad’s lips or a hug or a Dad’s voice saying ‘sonny mine’.

so, my Great-Grandfather was named for his Father, but kept his Mother's maiden name for his own .... Henry Downie Watson.    In order to appease the Downie family, my Great-Grandfather was baptised in a Roman Catholic Church, although it doesnt seemed to have done anything to help with the realtionship between the Watsons and the Downies (and I'm sure it didnt impress the Watson clan at the time at all !!)

as a side note, Mary Chalmers Watson-Malloy did marry again, in 1882 to William Killin, so the name on her death certificate is Mary Killin, but it shows her as the widow of Richard Malloy and widow/wife of William Killin.

Henry Downie Watson had a son, Robert McCracken, who had a Daughter, who had ME :)

so ... now the $64,000 question is ..... am I a "Watson", or a "Downie" .... OR, does is really matter.   it's odd to think that something you are so proud of being, you only are because of a freak accident that happened 139 years ago.

NHL Lockout ... but you cant, Hockey is in my blood !!!

well, maybe not in my blood, but definitely in my family's DNA !    I come from a hockey family.   If we were home on a Saturday night, then hockey was on the TV... me cheering on the Habs, while my Dad cheered on the Leafs (booooo, hisssss).    I remember my Dad telling me that, Al Arbour, who played with Detriot, Chicago, Toronto and St Louis was a distant cousin.    I dont think my Dad knew exactly how, but I thought it was pretty cool none the less .... well, it turns out our family ties to hockey and the NHL goes even deeper than that !!

My Dad's Mother was an Arbour.   My 7th Great-Grandfather, Michel Arbour (1647-1699) emigrated from Normandie France to Neuville Quebec in 1671.   That same year he married Marie-Catherine Constatineau in Quebec.  

Skipping ahead a few generations, in 1883/84, my 2nd Great-Grandfather, Joseph Magloire Arbour (1845-1924) brought his wife Leocadie Cartier dit Robert (1850-1926) and children to Simcoe County in Ontario.   My Great-Grandfather, William Joseph Arbour (1884-1965) was the first of their children born in Ontario.   They settled in Victoria Harbour, where my Grandmother was eventually born.

Althought many of my ancestors stayed in Quebec, some decided to join family members in Ontario.   My 3rd Great-GrandUncle, Narcisse Arbour (1874-?) was one of the family that also ended up settling in Victoria Harbour.   Narcisse Arbour married Marie Jean Laforge (1877-) after arriving in Ontario, and hey had a son Joseph Amos Arbour (1895-1943), my 1st Cousin 4x removed.

Joseph Amos Arbour, or Amos "Butch" Arbour, as he came to be known as, was an original member of the NHL.

Amos Arbour came by his nickname obviously enough. "Butch" was a butcher by trade, while playing two seasons for the National Hockey Assoiation and six seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Hamilton Tigers and Toronto St Patricks.   Butch was a member of the 1916 Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens team.

Born in Victoria Harbour, Ontario way back in 1895, Arbour first arrived on the big league hockey scene back in 1915 when he joined the Montreal Canadiens. This was back when there was no such thing as the NHL. Instead, the Canadiens were part of the NHA - National Hockey Association - the forerunner to the NHL.

Butch, a 5'8" 160lb left winger, played 20 games with the Habs that season, scoring 5 goals. He seemed to be hitting his stride with linemates Goldie Prodgers and Louis Berlinquette when World War I interrupted his career. Even though his commitments to the Canadian military prevented him from playing with the Habs, he continued playing in the NHA while stationed in southern Ontario. Arbour scored an impressive 13 goals in 10 games with the Toronto 228th Battalion entry in the league.

There is no statistical evidence to suggest Arbour played at all during the 1917-18 season, possibly because he was in Europe fighting in the war. He eventually resurfaced, playing a single game of the 1918-19 season back with the Habs now of the NHL.

Arbour's best big league season came in 1919-20 when he scored 21 goals in 22 games with the Habs. He would play another season in Montreal before being traded with Cully Wilson and Harry Mummery to Hamilton for the infamous Sprague Cleghorn. Arbour played two seasons in Hamilton and a final season with the Toronto St. Pats in 1923-24 before retiring and returning to his meat counter.

His NHL totals were 52 goals and 20 assists in 113 games. In the NHA he scored 19 goals and 3 assists in 30 games.

start at the beginning .... how it all began

I have always had a strong sense of "family", I'm not sure if it's an "only child" thing or it's just the way I was raised.   My Mum and I have always had a good/close relationship (the teen years, being typical, should probably be excluded from this statment), like the one that she had with her Mum.   I have been blessed with a wonderful daughter, and for the most part, we have followed in the same tradition, and also have a close relationship.

My growing up was all about "being a Watson".   Yes, I'm a REID (and I'm VERY proud of my Father's family history, and you'll see why in later blogs), but I'm a Watson, thru and thru.    

That being said, my interest in family history all started because of my Maternal Grandmother's family.   I remember my Grandmother speaking a wee bit about her parents, about her sadness regarding her Mother passing just weeks before my Mum was born (I couldnt even consider my Mum not watching my daughter growing up and being part of her life !!!), and about her Uncle Alex (her Mother's Brother).  I remember her sister from when I was young, and my Grandmother mentioning that there was a sibling (sister Hazel) that died at birth (or very young).    BUT, the stories that really got me interested in family history were:

• her Maternal Grandmother was a Tallman.   The Tallmans were United Empire Loyalists who settled in the Beamsville area, and "some how" we were related to Tallman Brass/Bronze.  Unfortunately she had lost contact with the Tallman side of the family.
• her Father was Samuel Ira Elliott, and thru his side ... apparently our Elliotts wer connected to (in some way) Pierre Elliott Trudeau's Mother (a rumour that I have yet to prove)
• Samuel Ira Elliott's mother was Sarah Urquhart .... I was always told that her family were connected (in some way) to Urquhart Castle in Scotland (a rumour that I have yet to prove)
• AND thru the Elliott side of the family .... we were related to Laura Secord !!!!   OMG, as a child that was AWESOME (not that as a child I really cared and her and the cow hiking thru the forest to save the British troops from the hords of "un-Godly Americans" .... but she had an ICE CREAM Shoppe !!!!)

Laura Secord ... my how-ever-many-times great Aunt/Cousin!    Now, the kicker was, my Grandmother had absolutely NO idea HOW we were related to her, just that we were.     This was confirmed to me when we had a couple of Elliott reunions in Smithville (where my Grandmother's Father was born & raised).   

One of my favourite memories of growing up was meeting and the many times I got to just sit and listen to my Great-Aunt Bertie talk about her life.   OMG, what a pip !!!!    Aunt Bertie, was my Great-Grandfather's "baby" sister, born in 1882.   I remember her 90th birthday party, that was held in the house that she was born in !!!   (which, unfortunately is no longer in the family).     She was amazing!!    She told me about the "secret passage" and told me to go find it (it came out in a TV room where many of us kids ended up hanging out).    I remember Aunt Bertie coming into the kitchen where all the Ladies were preparing lunch, she looked at me and said "do you know this is where I was born?".  "Yes, Aunt Bertie, I know", I said.   "NO", said Aunt Bertie, "THIS is where I was born!  This room used to be my Mum's bedroom".     my first thought was "ICK", LOL.     Aunt Bertie then took me upstairs, where we sat together on a window seat of a bedroom.    She sat me down, patted my hand and told me how this was her bedroom, and as a girl she would sit on this same window seat doing her homework, watching the carriages drive up and down the street.   She would watch for her Dad to come home from work.   I swear, I could see it all in my mind when I sat there with her !!    Aunt Bertie was an amazing person to talk to, I could listen to her stories for ever.   I think she knew that I was truly interested in listening to her, and I had a special place in her heart (as she will always have in mine)

The one thing Aunt Bertie did do, was confirm that there was REALLY a connection to Laura Secord !   BANG, there it was !!! (unfortunately, I never thought to ask HOW .... aww, the sharp mind of a child).  One day, an Elliott cousin and her husband stopped by to visit with my parents.    They brought with them a few "Secord" items, that Aunt Bertie wanted me to have.    it was a pair of candle sticks, a candle snuffer and a tray to put the snuffer on.    the one candle stick had been damage/repaired at one time (I've always pictured "Great-Aunt Laura" bashing some Yankee Soldier over the head as she makes her escape with the cow ..... but it probably just fell off a mantle or shelf at some point, but either way, these family items will ALWAYS be cherrished by me).      The last time I saw Aunt Bertie, she had moved in with her Daughter, and her GrandDaughter, as she was over 100 and needed a wee bit more supervision.     it was an amazing visit, as frail as she may have been, and maybe even a wee bit forgetful (but who isn't, for heaven's sake, dont ever ask me what I had for breakfast today !!), she was still filled with amzaing stories of her life !!     Just before leaving she took me into to her bedroom and gave me a mantle clock.    It was very plain/simple, but I thought it was the most beatiful clock I had ever seen.    At the time I was playing the violin, which Aunt Bertie also played when she was young.    She told me, she wished she had her violin to give me, but wanted me to have the clock instead ...... OMG, I was walking on air !!   Unfortunately, my Parents didn't seem to agree, and wouldnt let me accept the clock from Aunt Bertie.   Aunt Bertie was the top of 5 living generations, I wasn't even a "grandchild", I was her brother's g-granddaughter .... there were so many other ahead of me.   Also, as my parents explained at the time, she was getting very "generous" with visitors, and there was the concern that she's was going to give everything away (and not to those that were truly in line for them).      As much as I understood, I was still devistated, and will always carry this wee bit of sadness and hurt with me.    I know that as many family members were ahead of me,  part of me wonders if the person that finally ended up with this little clock really appreciated it (and where is it now).  

OK ...... enough reminiscing, back to Laura Secord!!    Of course, as I was raised, thus I shall raise my daughter .... who grew up being taught that she is related to Laura Secord (and yes, she often asked why we didnt get free ice cream).     it was back when my Daughter was in Grade-2 (or 3), and was in Brownies, she had to do a geanology project for School/Brownies.    The obvious choice was let's find out link to Laura Secord ... AND, we did !!!

The good news:

• we have a definitely link, on our family tree, from "us" --> Laura Secord

The bad news:

• to say there's no blood relationship would be an understatment !!!

so, here's the scoop ..... my Great-Aunt Bertie was married to George Warrender.   George's Mother was Maria UPPER (1857-?).   Maria's Mother was Phebe SECORD (1839-1884).  Phebe's Father was George SECORD (1801/6-1881).  George's Brother was James B Secord (1773-1841) .... who married Laura Ingersoll (1775-1868) !!!!!

so, basically .... my Great-Aunt married a man, who's Great-Grandfather's BROTHER Married Laura Ingersoll-Secord.     GOOD, now we all see how I'm (not) related to Laura Ingersoll-Secord ... but it made a good story growing up and it got my Mum, myself and my Daughter hooked on family tree research and "cemetery stomping" :-)   The rest as they say .... is history.