Friday, December 28, 2012

George and Kate

Mom and Dad gave me for Christmas these pictures of Kate (Catherine, nee MacSwain) and George Lowe, who lived in the house from 1907 until theuir deaths. The pictures were given to Mom by Jane Aucoin, a grand-niece of Kate's who happens to attend Mom and Dad's church in Murray River. They got to talking and discovered the connection. These are studio photographs and judging by their clothes and their ages, I am guessing these were taken around 1900, maybe before, and the background matches so I'm assuming they were taken at the same time.

Below is their headstone in the Murray River cemetery, a photo I took in 2008. He would have turned 27 in 1900, and she 28. Just guessing, but they could be younger than that a the time that these photographs were taken. I wonder if these were taken at the time of their marriage? Often back then, if you could afford it, you had individual studio photos taken of bride and groom, more often than a picture of them together. White wedding dresses were not the norm yet either, so its a possibility. I have some family information on George and Kate (read on) but no wedding date, which would have helped.
Below is information on the Lowe family that was sent to me by Donna Collings, Curator of the Garden of the Gulf Museum in Montague, and coincidentally, grand-neice of George's.
 
Link to the Museum website:
 
 
Husband: Joseph T. Lowe, Jr.
        Born: 12 March 1797 in Colchester, Essex, England 
        Died: 25 June 1859 in ? 
        Buried: in possibly Murray River (Wilmot, Gladstone) Pioneer
        Cemetery, PEI (no stone) 
        Father: Joseph T. Lowe, Sr.
        Mother: Elizabeth Urla Vail
Joseph immigrated to Murray River, Prince Edward Island in 1819 with his stepfather Philip Sanders. The Lowe's of Murray River area are descendants of this Joseph.

Joseph and Margaret's land is where the Murray River (Wilmot) Pioneer Cemetery is located. He made his will on March 8, 1859 and it was proved on June 25, 1859, witnesses to his will were David Johnston, James McKerson (MacPherson), and Isaac A. Bears.

Wife: Margaret Johnstone
        Married: 7 December 1829 in St. Paul's Anglican Church,
         Charlottetown, PEI 
         Born: in Scotland 
         Died: in ? 
        Buried: in possibly Murray River (Wilmot, Gladstone) Pioneer
         Cemetery, PEI 
        Father: ?
        Mother: ?
Alternate spelling of her name Johnston.

Child 1: Jane Rachel Lowe
        Born: 9 February 1831 in ?  
        Died: 11 September 1916 in ? 
       Buried: in Murray River (Wilmot, Gladstone) Pioneer
        Cemetery, PEI
        Spouse: Ambrose Cleaves Horton born 11 October 1824  died 28
         August 1912 
        Married: 8 Nov 1854 in PEI by Rev. Donald McDonald 
Witnesses to their marriage were John H. Bear and Philip Blake. Alternate date of birth for Jane gravestone 1830.

Child 2: Thomas Johnston Low
       Born: 22 Feb 1834 in Gladstone, PEI 
       Baptized: 30 Mar 1834 in PEI by Rev. Cooney 
       Died: 14 May 1908 in ?  
       Buried: in Murray River (Wilmot, Gladstone) Pioneer
       Cemetery, PEI
       Married: 20 Jun 1861 in PEI by Rev. Jesse Whitlock, to
       Sarah Bell born 21 October 1832 died 11 February 1899 
           Father: James Bell, Sr.
           Mother: Mary Watson

Sarah had one child before her marriage to Thomas Lowe. Witnesses to Thomas and Sarah marriage were William Hawkins and Sarah Sencabaugh. Their property was where the Wilmot Pioneer Cemetery is located in Gladstone, PEI.
 
1881 PEI census Lot 64:  Thomas Lowe, age 47; wife Sarah, age 49; ch: James, age 19; Mary, age 17; Philip, age 15; Margaret, age 12; Demaras, age 10; George, age 7; Etta, age 1; Elizabeth Bell, age 25; - all born PEI.
 
1891 PEI census Lot 64:  Thomas, age 57, farmer;  father b. England;  mother b. Scotland;  wf:  Sara, age 59,  father b. England,  mother b. Scotland, Philip, age 25, farmer;  Francis, age 20;  George, age 17;  Henrietta, age 2; also listed in home:  Mary J. Keenan, age 28;  Sarah J., age __;  Margaret,
age 2.
 
Thomas' will was made 20 March 1908, lists his son Philip John Lowe, who inherited the property.

                    Child 1: Elizabeth Ann 'Lizzie' Bell
                               Born: 4 April 1855 in PEI (see note 1)
                               Died: 18 February 1915 in PEI age 59 yrs. 10 mos. 
                               Buried: in Murray River (Wilmot, Gladstone)
                               Pioneer Cemetery, PEI
                               Spouse: John P. Brennan born ca 1854
Elizabeth was stepdaughter to Thomas Lowe born to Sara out of wedlock. Time of 1881 PEI census Elizabeth was living with Thomas and Sara. There are two stories on why Elizabeth and John never married until later years. (1.) Tradition has Elizabeth was Protestant and her husband John was of the Roman Catholic faith. He wasn't allowed to marry her or he would be disinherited, they had a daughter before they married. Elizabeth went to the United States to work for a time, later when John's father died she married John. (2.) In notes of Oma (Blanche Hollinghurst). Oma's grandmother wouldn't let Elizabeth marry John as he was a Catholic and they had to wait until after her death to marry.

                     Child 2: James Watson 'Jim' Lowe
                                Born: 23 August 1861 in Gladstone, PEI
                                Baptized: 18 May 1862 in PEI by Rev. McDonald
                                Died: 15 July 1951 in Quincy, Mass., USA
                                Buried: in ?
                                Spouse: Mary Ann MacDonald born 15 August
                                1870 
                                died 17 March 1953
                                Married: in ?

                     Child 3: Mary Jane Lowe
                                Born: 10 November 1863 in Gladstone, PEI
                                Baptized: 1 February 1864 in PEI by Rev. Donald
                                McDonald
                                Died: 20 February 1918 in ?
                                Buried: in ?
                                Spouse #1: Thomas Keenan
                                Married: Jul 1884 in ?
                                Spouse #2: William Allen
Mary Jane and Thomas marriage bondsman was Philip John Lowe (her brother). Mary lived with her parents Thomas Johnston and Sarah Lowe time of 1891 PEI census, also living in household were her two children Sarah and Margaret Keenan.
 
Mary Jane had a daughter Enora born 1903 died 1918, buried at Murray River, which husband was Enora's father?

                       Child 4: Philip John 'Phil' Lowe
                                 Born: 25 March 1866 in Gladstone, PEI
                                 Baptized: 29 January 1868 in PEI by Rev. James
                                 McColl
                                 Died: 30 August 1952 in PEI at age 86 yrs. 
                                 Buried: in Murray River Cemetery, PEI
                                 Occupation: Farmer, Merchant
                                 Spouse: Mary Hume born 3 August 1873
                                 Married: 1 October 1891 in Georgetown, PEI by
                                  Reverend W.A. Mason
Philip and Mary's marriage bond was signed 1 Oct 1891, bondsman George Hume, tanner, Philip Lowe, bachelor and Mary Hume, spinster. Their bond was issued the same day as their marriage license, witnesses to their marriage were George Hume and Isabella Lowe. Philip and Mary lived in Gladstone, PEI. He had red hair. After their marriage break up he went to California, USA to live
with his sons for a number of years because of his asthma. He then moved back to live Gladstone Road, Murray River, PEI and owned and operated a general store in Murray River, this store was later owned and remodeled by Bev Baird. Philip spent his last years in Beach Grove nursing home until time of his death.

                       Child 5: Margaret Catherine 'Maggie' Lowe
                                  Born: 17 June 1868 in Gladstone, PEI
                                  Died: 23 September 1910 age 42 yrs.
                                  Buried: in Murray River Cemetery, PEI
                                  Spouse: Calvin 'Cal' MacLeod born 23 July 1858 
                                  died 15 January 1939
                                  Married: 11 April 1885 in ?
                                  Maggie and Calvin's marriage bondsman was
                                  Archibald Bowles.

                       Child 6: Francis Demas 'Frank' Lowe
                                  Born: 15 March 1871 in Gladstone, PEI
                                  Died: 26 September 1904 in PEI age 33
                                  Buried: in Murray River (Wilmot, Gladstone)
                                  Pioneer Cemetery, PEI
                                  Occupation: Carpenter
Donna Collings: "One time we had a large tool chest that was made by Frank, my grandfather Frank Lowe's uncle, his namesake, given to my grandfather when he was a boy about nine years of age after uncle's death in 1904. Frank never married."

                        Child 7: George Smith Lowe
                                  Born: 21 August 1873 in Gladstone, PEI
                                  Baptized: 29 August 1875 in PEI by Rev. Goodwill
                                  Died: 12 July 1948 in Murray River, PEI
                                  Buried: in Murray River Cemetery, PEI
                                  Occupation: Carpenter
                                  Spouse: Catherine 'Kate' (McSwain) MacSwain
                                 born 1872 died 18 June 1945 
                                  Married: in ?
PEI 1928 Cummins atlas. George Lowe, carpenter, wife, Catherine MacSwain. Geoge had no issue. George left his property to his house keeper Mary Ann (MacDonald) Buell.

                        Child 8: Henrietta Johnston 'Etta' Lowe
                                   Born: 26 January 1876 in ?
                                   Baptized: 17 June 1876 in PEI by Rev. Goodwill
                                   Died: in ?
                                   Buried: in ?
 
Child 3: Phillip Lowe
        Born: 1836 in PEI 
        Died: 11 Apr 1923 in ? age 87 yrs 
        Buried: in Alma Cemetery, NS 
        Spouse: Catherine Jardine born ca 1831 died 30 November 1923 
        Married: 21 Jan 1869 in Church of Scotland, NS 
Family Bible belonging to the late Lulu Lowe has Philip born 1836. Philip moved from Gladstone, PEI to Mount William, NS, married and settled there. Marriage record for  Philip Lowe, age 28, bachelor, farmer to Catherine Porter, age 34, widow, parents of Philip, Joseph and Marg (Margaret) Lowe, parents of Catherine, Joseph and Elizabeth Jardine.

Child 4: John Thomas Lowe
         Born: 1842 in PEI 
         Died: 1920 in ? 
         Buried: in Murray River Cemetery, PEI # 149 
         Spouse: Elizabeth White born 1846  died 1921 
         Married: 20 July 1864 in PEI by Rev. Donald McDonald 
Witnesses to John and Elizabeth marriage were Finlay MacDonald and George MacLeod. 1881 PEI Census for Lot 64: family of John Lowe, age 39; wf: Elizabeth, age 34; ch: Margaret, age 13; Joseph, age 10; Isabella, age 8; Frances, age 5; Watson, age 3; John, age 1; mother-in-law: Elizabeth White, age 70; all born PEI.
1891 PEI Census: John Lowe, age 49,  wf; Elizabeth, age 44,  ch: Joseph, age 20, Isabelle, age 18,  John, age 11,  David J., age 9,  Fannie, age 7,  Sarah E., age 2, mother-in-law; Elizabeth White, age 84.

Child 5: Margaret Lowe 
          Born: ca 1843 in ? 
          Died: 29 February 1876 in ? age 33 yrs 
          Buried: in New Dominion Cemetery, Lot 67, PEI 
          Spouse: George Smith
          Married: 14 May 1867 in ?  
Marriage for George Smith, bachelor to Margaret Lowe, spinster, witnesses were John Smith and Barbara MacKay. One child.
Child 6: Catherine 'Katie' Lowe
          Born: 4 June 1846 in ? 
          Died: 27 Oct 1916 in Gaspereaux, PEI of pneumonia age 70 
          Buried: 29 Oct 1916 in Murray Harbour North Cemetery, PEI
          Spouse: David Sencabaugh born 23 May 1833 died 19 June 1896 
          Married: 14 Jul 1870 in PEI by Rev. Stephen G. Lawson 
David was a widower and Catherine a spinster at time of their  marriage, witnesses were James McKay & Mrs. S.G. Lawson.
Newspaper  Memoriam 1916..... "Mrs. David Sencabaugh. There passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. MacLean Graham, Gasperaux, Lot 63, on October 27th, Catherine Lowe, relict of the late David Sencabaugh of that place. Mrs. Sencabaugh and reached the good age of 70 years, and had been in fair health until stricken with pneumonia which in a few days resulted in her death.
Three sons, David, Wilbert and Garfield, and three daughters, Mrs. MacLean Graham, Mrs. James P. Clow, and Mrs. Fred Llewellyn, as well as two brothers, John Lowe and Philip Lowe, are left to mourn the loss of a kind and loving mother and sister. The funeral service was conducted on Sunday, October 29, by Rev. Mr. Sutherland, and was largely attended by friends and neighbours."
 
Thank you Donna for the Lowe family information.

Monday, December 10, 2012

December 9th, 1912

That was the day that Grammy, Janie Evelyn Buell was born. Yesterday would have been her 100th birthday. It is over 15 years now since she passed away. Of all of her brothers and sisters, Maria, Albert, Clara, Jemima, Alex, Freeman, Katie, Myrtle, Lewis, Walter, Eileen and Parker, only Eileen is left, who will be 92 on New Year's Eve.
 
I took this of Grammy late summer 1986. She and I were staying at the house together, and we got up early to pack up, close up the house, and go back to Moncton for another winter. This was the first time she had been to the house after Grampy died the previous April.
Below is the previous summer, the last time Grampy was there.
I took this in 1995. It turned out to be the last time Grammy was on the Island.
Janie and Arthur before they were married, 1931

Miss them both