Charles Blair (abt. 1852 - 1911)

Born about 10 Oct 1852 in Albion Twp., Peel Co., Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Jane (Weir) Blair — married 29 Mar 1872 in Albion, Peel, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 8 Sep 1911 at about age 58 in Newmarket, York Co., Ontario Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Fred Blair [send private message]

Biography

Charles was born about 1852. He was the son of James Blair and Anne Dailey. He passed away in 1911.^[1]

Family history confirmed that Charles and his wife had 17 children.

On Oct. 10, 1852 (C), Charles was born in Albion Twp. His death registration gave the year as 1853 and his obituary recorded him born in Allandale.

On Mar. 29, 1872 (M), Charles married Mary Jane Weir. Both were recorded as Irish, Presbyterian, and residents of Albion. Charles was listed as a laborer. Mary was born June 23, 1853 in Ontario to David Weir and Elizabeth Rutherford (Rebford on Mary’s death registration) of Albion Twp. The marriage was witnessed by Sarah Ann Blair of Albion. Mary’s brother, Thomas, married Charles’ sister, Martha. See source notes on the Weir family history.

In 1871 (G), John James was born in Albion Twp. The 1901 Census recorded his birth date as Oct. 15, 1875.

On Oct. 10, 1874 (Reg. 901055), Milton was born in Albion Twp.

About 1877 (D), Robert Hilliard was born. The 1881 Census had him born about 1880. On Aug. 26, 1886 (Reg. 013017), Robert died at 9 of croup in Albion Twp.

In Sept., 1878 (C), Henry was born in Albion Twp. Henry was not recorded in the 1881 Census.

On Oct. 25 or 26, 1879, Alfred was born in Albion Twp.

On Nov. 15, 1880, Emerson was born. Emerson was not recorded in the 1881 Census.

The 1881 Census, Albion Twp., recorded Charles, 28, labourer, Mary J., 27, Irish, John, 8, Milton, 7, Alfred, 4, and Robert H., 1, all Presbyterian.

On Dec. 17, 1882 (Reg. 026101), Livinia was born in Albion Twp. Charles was a labourer living on Con. 2, Lot 15. Levinia was recorded at age 6 in the 1891 Census, born about 1885. The 1901 Census recorded her as Vina, age 14, and born Apr. 1, 1887.

On Mar. 22, 1884 (Reg. 026023), Herbert was born in Albion Twp. On Sept. 3, 1886 (Reg. 013929), Herbert died at 3 of diphtheria.

An 1884 directory recorded Charles as a farmer on Con. 3, Lot 15, Albion Twp. This was not confirmed by the land record. He was more likely on Lot 16.

On July 20, 1885 (Reg. 029096), William Edward was born in Mono Road (M). Charles was a farmer on Con. 3, Lot 15. William later declared his birth date as July 16, 1890. William was not recorded in 1891 or 1901 Censuses.

October 23, 1887 (C)(M), Marjory was born in Caledon East (M)(Ob). The 1901 Census recorded her as Martha, born October 10, 1882. Someone mixed up the birth years of Livinia and Marjory in that census. Marjory could not have been born in October, 1882 as her sister Livinia was born 2 months later and her birth date was registered. In the 1891 Census, Martha was recorded at age 8, born about 1883. In her 1910 marriage and the following census years Martha was recorded as Marjory or Marjorie. On Apr. 27, 1910 (Reg. 002042), Marjory married Calvin Davis in Toronto. Marjory was 23 and of Newmarket. Calvin was 21, of Newmarket, and son of Daniel and Elizabeth Davis. One of the witnesses was Lena E. Blair of Toronto. The marriage was performed by G. Robinson. The microfilm copy was not clear. The marriage was not reported in the Toronto Star. The 1911 Census, Newmarket, recorded Calvin, 21, born May, 1890, English, Methodist, tanner at Davis Leather Co. and Marjorie, 23, Oct. 1887, Scotch. They had a lodger named Herbert Walls. The Davis Leather Co. was founded in 1834. There is no evidence that Calvin was related to that Davis family. The 1921 Census, Newmarket, York Co. recorded Calvin Davis, 30, a foreman, and Marjorie, 20, both born in Ontario and Presbyterian, living on Main St. with boarders, William Brack, Edward French, and John Plackhurst. In 1929, at the time of her mother’s death, Mrs. Davis was a resident of Newmarket. (The 1935 Voters List recorded Calvin Davis, secretary, his wife, and Phyllis Davis, an assistant, at 20 Ontario, Hamilton East electoral district.) On Sept. 11, 1940 (Ob), Marjory died at 55 at home at 183 Main St. North, where she had lived for 29 years, of a heart condition and was buried in plot I10.8 in Newmarket Cemetery. Her grave marker had her death on Sept. 14 but her obituary was published in the Express Herald and Newmarket Era of Newmarket on Sept. 12th. The funeral service was held in the Chapel of Roadhouse and Rose by Rev. Burton Hill. The pallbearers were Alvin Blair (nephew), Donald Blair (nephew), Kenneth Blair (nephew), Homer Blair, Clifford Pipher (nephew), and Gordon Brillinger (nephew). She was survived by seven brothers and sisters, Alfred Blair, Fire Valley, BC; Emerson Blair, Newmarket; William Blair, Niagara Falls; Mrs. Welly Pipher, Newmarket; Herbert Blair, Owen Sound; Norman Blair, London; and Mrs. Wm. Brillinger, Angus.” In 1951, Calvin died and was buried with Marjory.

In 1888, Laura was born in Albion Twp. Laura was not recorded in the 1891 Census. On June 21, 1894 (D), Laura died at 6 of blood poisoning.

In 1889, Hannah was born in Albion Twp. Hannah was recorded in the 1891 Census but was not found in the 1901 Census. In 1911, Hannah was not recorded in her father’s obituary. Were Hannah and Laura the same child?

On Dec. 7, 1890 (C), Herbert was born in Albion Twp.

On July 11, 1891 (C), Norman was born in Albion Twp. On Oct. 23, 1911, witnessed Lena’s marriage as a resident of Newmarket, York Co. In 1940, Norman was recorded living in London in his sister Marjory (Blair) Davis’ obituary. Norman may have died in Lindsay. A Private Norman Blair was buried in plot K1.7, Newmarket Cemetery. Norman was not listed as a Canadian casualty of World War II. Was he Charles and Mary’s son?

The 1891 Census, Albion Twp., recorded Charles, 40, farmer/labourer, Mary J., 42, John, 18, Milton, 17, labourer, Henry, 14, labourer, Alfred, 13, labourer, Emerson, 11, Martha, 8, Levinah, 6, Hannah, 2, and Herbert, 1, all Presbyterian.

On Oct. 27, 1892, Charles signed an instrument to sell 1/4 acre in the E half of Con. 3, Lot 18, Albion Twp.

On July 6, 1893 (C), Nellie Ellen was born in Albion Twp. On Oct. 23, 1911, Nellie witnessed Lena’s marriage as a resident of Newmarket, York Co. On Mar. 1, 1913 (Reg. 019814), Nellie married Ralph Rutherford Ganton in Newmarket, York Co. Nellie was 21, Presbyterian, and of Newmarket. Ralph was 19, a fireman, Methodist, of Newmarket, and born in Victoria Square to Thomas Ganton and Mary Jane Monkhouse. They were married by H.F. Thomas and the witnesses were F.C. Thomas and H.A. Thomas both of Newmarket. On Jan. 26, 1916, Ralph enlisted in the 127th York Rangers in Newmarket as born Sept. 17, 1893, married then later changed to widower, mechanic (wood). On Mar. 19, 1916 (D), Thomas Carl was born in Newmarket. On Mar. 26, 1916 (Reg. 038927) Nellie died at 22 of peritonitis in Newmarket. On Mar. 29, 1916 (D), Thomas died at 10 days of acute indigestion in Newmarket. Nellie and Thomas’ deaths were reported in the Newmarket Era but there was no obituary.

On Aug. 27, 1894 (C), Edna May was born in Albion Twp.

On Aug. 11, 1896 (C), Aylmer was born in Albion Twp. In 1911, Aylmer was not recorded in his father’s obituary or the 1911 Census.

The 1901 Census, Albion Twp., recorded Charles, 48, farmer, Mary J., 48, born Jan. 23, 1853, Martha, 18, Oct. 10, 1882, Vina, 14, Apr. 1, 1887, Herbert, 10, Norman, 9, Nellie, 7, Edna, 6, and Almyer, 4, all born Ontario, Presbyterian, and living in a 3 room house on 1.25 acres of Con. 3, Lot 18, next to their son John J. on Lot 19.

About 1903, the family moved to Newmarket, York Co. as Herbert’s marriage registration in 1911 recorded that he had lived there for 8 years. Charles’ sister Elizabeth’s family lived in Newmarket as well.

On Oct. 21, 1905, Charles completed the 1892 sale of his 1/4 acre to James H. Rutherford for $150.

In 1911, Charles was recorded as a farmer on Herbert’s marriage registration.

The 1911 Census, St. Andrew’s Ward, Newmarket, recorded Charles, born Oct., 1858, 52, gardener employed 40 weeks in the last year and working 60 hour days, with Mary Jane, Oct., 1858, 52, Lucia, Apr., 1888, 23, Helen, Oct., 1891, 19, Norman, July, 1893, 17, and May, Mar., 1895, 16, all born in Ont. and Methodist.

On Sept. 8, 1911 (Dt), Charles died in Newmarket at 58 of organic heart disease that had lasted several months. The Newmarket Era published Charles’ obituary. Five of his children had predeceased him and 12 survived: “John J. of Owen Sound; Milton, Lindsay; Emerson and Norman of town; William, Mono Road; Alfred, Edgwin, BC; Harry, Toronto; Herbert, Owen Sound; Mrs. Davis, Lena, Nellie, and Edna, all of town. He was an industrious, upright citizen and an affectionate husband and father. Those who attended the funeral from a distance were: Mrs. J. Flatt and daughter of Toronto, Mrs. Thos. Weir of Caledon East and Mrs. Blair of Lindsay.” Where was he buried?

The 1921 Census recorded Mary living with her son-in-law, Wellington Pipher, in Newmarket.

On July 12, 1926, Mary signed a declaration in Newmarket certifying the date of Milton’s birth.

On Apr. 19, 1929 (Reg. 040764), Mary died at 75 of pneumonia in Newmarket. She had lived there for 25 years. The informant was Mrs. Calvin Davis.

Sources

• "Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMKC-QFP : 10 April 2015), Charles Blair and Mary Jane Weir, 29 Mar 1872; citing registration , Albion, Peel, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,862,697.

• "Canada Census, 1881," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVF8-RKN : 18 November 2014), Charles Blair, Albion, Cardwell, Ontario, Canada; citing p. 4; Library and Archives Canada film number C-13252, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 1,375,888.

• "Canada Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KH26-BJL : 13 November 2014), Charles Blair, B, Cardwell, Ontario, Canada; citing p. 3, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa.

1. ↑ A source for this information is needed.