Laura Emma (Hone) McMillan (1867 - 1953)

Born 27 Dec 1867 in Islington, Middlesex, England

Ancestors

Wife of William James McMillan — married 1 Jul 1891 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Descendants

Died 27 Jan 1953 at age 85 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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Biography

On December 27, 1867, twin girls Emily and Lucy Hone, were born prematurely to parents Henry and Celia Hone at their home at 27 Henry Street, Pentonville (Islington, London).^[1][2] Emily was born at 9:30AM and Lucy was born at 10:00AM. 30 hours later, on December 28, Emily passed away with the cause of death listed as premature birth.^[3] Lucy was later baptized as Laura Emma Hone, on March 1, 1868,^[4] presumably an adaptation of both twin's names, and (incorrectly) listed as being born on December 28.

At age 5 in 1873, Laura and family moved to a farm at Cold Harbour, near Whitchurch, Oxfordshire. Then near the end of 1875, Laura's family began operating and living at a series of four public houses.^[5][6][7][8] These public houses were in rather rural areas. Laura and her older sisters felt limited living in these rural areas, and longed for better prospects in a larger town.^[9]

In August 1890 most of the Hone family, including Laura, migrated to Vancouver, Canada,^[10] arriving September 4.^[11] Although her father purchased five acres on North Arm Road and built a house there,^[11] most of the children immediately became engaged in pursuits away from home. In Laura's case this meant working as a dressmaker while living at 308 Richards Street in Vancouver.^[12]

Laura, the youngest of the four Hone sisters, was the first to marry after migration. Within one year of arriving, Laura married William James McMillan,^[13] at her home on West 3rd Avenue.^[14] Initially the couple lived at 306 Gore Avenue.^[15]

The couple went on to have six children in direct succession. Daughter Laura May was born in spring 1892.^[16] Son William Henry James was born in autumn 1894 while the family lived at the corner of Richards & Smithe Streets (907 Richards).^[17] Son John Douglas was born in autumn 1896.^[18] Daughter Alice Ruth was born in winter 1898.^[19] Daughter Celia Mary was born winter 1900.^[20] Finally, son Charles Robert was born winter 1901 while the family lived at 905 Richards Street.^[21]

The McMillans shifted residence a number of times in subsequent years. The 1906 directory has them living at 1064 Haro Street.^[22] The 1911 directory and census have them living at 2328 Yukon Street.^[23][24] In 1912 the family moved into a fancy house in Shaughnessy at 1053 Douglas Crescent, just west of Oak Street.^[25]

A couple of events in 1914 set the stage for significant change. In addition to the break out of WWI, W. J. McMillan & Co. went bankrupt.^[26][27][28] The McMillans continued to live at their new Shaughnessy home for a few years, and in 1917 briefly lived at 3252 Knight Street. The following year they were struck by tragedy when son John Douglas was killed in action just two months before the end of the Great War.^[29] By that time another move was afoot, with most of the children staying at Knight Street, but Laura and William moving to Hazelmere in Surrey.^[30]

Only daughter Celia Mary followed Laura and William to Hazelmere.^[31] The family lived there for most of the 1920s, where William sat on the Surrey city council and operated a modest farm. The family returned to Vancouver by 1929.^[32] Husband William passed away at widowed daughter Alice Ruth's home, in 1931.^[33] The 1931 Canada census found Laura remaining at daughter Alice Ruth's home, along with son Charles and daughter Laura May.^[34]

Laura Emma McMillan continued living with her daughter Alice Ruth, first at 2465 East 3rd Avenue,^[35] and later at 2071 West 48th Avenue,^[36] where they joined the Livingstones and where she passed away in January 1953.^[37]

Research Notes

• The McMillans did well to move out from 1064 Haro, since in 1913 the adjoining properties at 1062 and 1048 were acquired by BC Electric, which constructed a DC power conversion substation for the Vancouver West End street cars.

Sources

1. ↑ Emily Hone Birth Record, 1867, Clerkenwell, Pentonville, Middlesex, No. 169
2. ↑ Lucy Hone Birth Record, 1867, Clerkenwell, Pentonville, Middlesex, No. 170
3. ↑ Lucy Hone Death Record, 1867, Clerkenwell, Pentonville, Middlesex, No. 40
4. ↑ Baptism Register, Parish Of St Mary's, Islington, 1868, page 310, No. 2476
5. ↑ "...public-house licenses... 'Engineers' Arms', Wokingham, from George Herbert to Harry Francis Hine" (sic) WOKINGHAM, Berkshire Chronicle, December 11, 1875, page 8.
6. ↑ Wokingham Voters List, 1880, page 392, No. 7701, has Henry Francis Hone running "Two Poplars," Finchampstead road
7. ↑ "the license of The White Horse, Burnham, from Cripps to Henry Francis Homes" (sic), Uxbridge and Drayton Gazette, March 13, 1880
8. ↑ "... that The Windmill, Salt Hill, from William Hollis to Henry P. Hone..." (sic) BEACONSFIELD PETTY SESSIONS, Windsor and Eton Express, December 20, 1884
9. ↑ This topic was raised during a lawsuit concerning the transfer of The White Horse, e.g. Windsor And Eton Express, August 1, 1885
10. ↑ Passenger List, Allan Line Steamship 'Assyrian', arriving Quebec City August 26, 1890
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Canadian Department of Agriculture, correspondence file 76339, available for Library and Archives Canada
12. ↑ Williams' British Columbia Directory, Part 2, 1891, Page 156
13. ↑ BC Archives, Marriage Record, 1891, No. 91-09-043773
14. ↑ "McMillan-Hone", Vancouver Daily World, July 3, 1891, Page 1
15. ↑ Williams' Illustrated Official BC Directory, Part 2, 1891, Page 964
16. ↑ BC Archives, Birth Record, 1892, No. 92-09-115795
17. ↑ BC Archives, Birth Record, 1894, No. 94-09-116386
18. ↑ BC Archives, Birth Record, 1896, No. 96-09-117968
19. ↑ BC Archives, Birth Record, 1898, No. 98-09-118658
20. ↑ BC Archives, Birth Record, 1900, No. 00-09-120729
21. ↑ BC Archives, Birth Record, 1901, No. 01-09-121268
22. ↑ Henderson's City Of Vancouver Directory, 1906, page 464
23. ↑ Henderson's City Of Vancouver Directory, 1911, page 904
24. ↑ Government of Canada, Fifth Census of Canada, 1911, British Columbia, District 12, Enumeration District 40, Vancouver City, Page 9, available here
25. ↑ Henderson's Greater Vancouver City Directory, 1913, Page 1065
26. ↑ "Two Concerns Wind Up", Vancouver Province, October 23, 1914, page 15
27. ↑ "Bankrupt Selling-Out Sale", Vancouver Daily World, December 2, 1914, page 8
28. ↑ Vancouver Sun, December 9, 1914, page 2
29. ↑ Government of Canada, WWI Service Record, No. 525292
30. ↑ Vancouver Daily World, October 1, 1919, page 14
31. ↑ Canada Census 1921, British Columbia, District 20, Sub-District 27 (Surrey Municipality), Page 6, household 72
32. ↑ "Surrey. For Sale...", Vancouver Province, May 15, 1928, page 19
33. ↑ "William J. M'Millan Removed By Death", Vancouver Province, April 4, 1931, page 22
34. ↑ Seventh Census of Canada, 1931, British Columbia, Electoral District Vancouver Burrard 255, Enumeration Sub-District No. 57, Vancouver City, page 6, lines 31-34, https://central2.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?id=e011769241&app=census1931&op=img
35. ↑ Wrigley's British Columbia Directory, 1932, page 1069
36. ↑ Sun Directories Ltd, The British Columbia and Yukon Directory, 1944, page 864
37. ↑ BC Archives, Death Record, 1953, No. 53-09-001652