Friday, October 24, 2014

Family Friday - William Henry McCann b. 17 Oct 1867; d. 25 Nov 1934 - Part I

Last year, before I fell off the blog wagon, I published a blog post about my 2X Great Uncle, Will McCann . I never did get back to finish it, so I thought I should pick up where I left off.

According to the 1901 census, William Henry McCann was born in October 17, 1867. Will was the third child, and second son of George William and Mary Jane (Martin) McCann. His death certificate says he was born two years earlier in Newport, Nova Scotia. However, I haven't yet found a church record to confirm which of those dates is accurate. Familysearch.org has a record for his birth citing the 1865 date, but I haven't yet figured out where their record can be found. If I do, perhaps I can find his parents' marriage record and births of his siblings. More research is needed to determine the location of the residences in each census.


By the time the 1871 census was taken, Will's family had moved to Windsor. He was enumerated along with his parents, 1 brother and three sisters. His age was given as 5 which would agree with the October 1865 birthdate.


According to the census, Will's maternal grandmother, Mary Martin and his great aunt, Annie, share a dwelling with them. The following year on Christmas Day, Annie would marry Edward Stockall, an engine driver with the Intercolonial Railway in Halifax. I'm sure this would have influenced Will's employment path later in his life.

By the 1881 census, Will, age 15, is still living with his parents and siblings in Windsor. There is no occupation listed for him and he is not going to school. His father, George's, occupation is Farmer so perhaps he was helping his father at home. Annie is married and living in Halifax. Will's grandmother, Mary, is living with Annie, her husband and three children.

When 1891 rolled around, Will seems to be working as a blacksmith and boarding with a John and Annie Brenton in the north end of Halifax. He was also enumerated with his family in Windsor. Perhaps his parents weren't sure if he'd be staying in Halifax and included him as still living with them. I have no proof that "my" Will is the Will in Halifax, but the age is about right and his occupation is one that "my" Will continued for many years.

After the turn of the century, the census shows Will working as a blacksmith for the Intercolonial Railway. He has been employed for 12 months and has earned $700. Will is boarding with his Great Aunt Annie and her husband, Edward, and their two grown daughters in Halifax. Edward is now a foreman for the same railway.

Stay tuned for Part II of a glimpse into Will's life - from his marriage to Ida Roast, their experience with the Halifax Explosion and Will's career, to his death and burial in 1934.


Until next time, Happy Researching!

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Skittles and Lindy

As requested, here are pictures of my kitties:

Lindy will be two years old around February of 2015:


Skittles will be six in April:



Until next time, Happy Researching!

Nursing My Bruises

You see, I fell off the wagon AGAIN! Last year, I planned on regularly updating this blog, but again, life happened. This is how it went: In September every year, I attend a dollhouse miniature camp called Camp Mini Ha Ha. It's five days of fun, workshops, good food, laughter and hobnobbing with like minded friends. There is some preparation involved like packing tools and supplies. Also, it's a busy time at work since I take two week's vacation around Camp time. Then, I'm always working on an issue of The Nova Scotia Genealogist right up till the minute I leave. On the other end, I need a couple of days rest after Camp, I usually spend a couple of days doing some genealogy research sometimes at the Land Registration Office in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia or at the West Hants Historical Society in Windsor, Nova Scotia. Then a few days resting, visiting my family and doing errands. By that time, we are into October - Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas preparations and yucky weather is well on its way.

Last year at the beginning of December, I got a new kitty, Lindy, from the Halifax Cat Rescue Society. She is a sweet brown tabby that was about 10 months old when I got her. Her introduction into my home and to Skittles is another blog post entirely! Just over two weeks after I brought her home, I fell in the parking lot of my apartment building and broke my right wrist. It's the first time I have ever broken a bone and, wouldn't you know, it would be my dominant hand! Any outstanding Christmas preparations were cancelled and I managed to drag my way through the holidays. In case I didn't have enough fun, just after New Years, a water pipe in the ceiling of my bedroom froze and burst and flooded my apartment. My insurance company paid to have all of my belongings packed and moved to another building for about six weeks while they repaired the pipe and damage to the apartment. Mid-February, I was moved back, had my cast removed and then went back to work. Physio followed for a few weeks and then our short summer was upon us.

The summer was filled with meetings at the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia. Our landlord gave us a Notice to Vacate on July 1 so we had to find a place to house the Association within three months. Lots of busy-ness ensued and we finally got moved to our new location the first week of September.

Then the cycle started again. :) In the coming days, I'm going to work on a realistic schedule so I can post regularly and avoid those bruises!

Until next time, Happy Researching!