James Margaret MacDonald (1871 - 1923)

Born Feb 1871 in South West Margaree, Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada

Husband of Janet (Fraser) MacDonald — married 19 Sep 1900 in Brook Village, Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada

Descendants

Died 5 Sep 1923 at age 52 in South West Margaree, Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lorna Conway [send private message]

Biography

Janet Fraser, daughter of Angus, married James MacDonald with issue: a. Alexander, b. Angus, c. Joseph, d. Roderick, e. Colin, f. Jessie, g. John, h. Finlay and i. Bernard. The last two are deceased.

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Marriage Record - Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics

Jennie Fraser and James M MacDonald married 1900 in Inverness County Item can be found in Registration Year: 1900 - Book: 1825 - Page: 166 - Number: 57

Sep 19/00, W. Lake Ainslie, by B[anns]

• James M. McDonald, 31, B, Store Keeper, S.W. Margaree, b. S.W. Margaree, parents Alexander & Jessie, Farming, witnesses John A. McDonald, Flora Fraser
• Jennie Fraser, 26, S, Port Hastings, b. Antigonish, parents Angus & Margaret, Telegraph Repairs

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Marriage Record

• Jennie Fraser
• Nova Scotia, Antigonish Catholic Diocese
• Name James M Mcdonald
• Event Type Marriage
• Event Date 19 Sep 1900
• Event Place St. John the Baptist, Brook Village, Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Gender Male
• Spouse's Name Jennie Fraser

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[cannot find Census data for 1901]

Census Year: 1911 Item Number: 2403870 Province: Nova Scotia District Name: Inverness Sub-District Name: Craignish poll district Sub-District Description: Rhodena, Queensville, Essex, Craignish Rear, Troy, Craigmore, Low Point

• McDonald, James M, SW Margaree, M, Head, M, Feb 1871, 40, b. N.S., Scotch, Canadian, R.C., [occupation illegible], H. of Commons, can read/write, speak Gaelic
• McDonald, Jennie, F, Wife, F, Feb 1874, 37, b. N.S., Scotch, Canadian, R.C., none, can read/write, speak Gaelic
• McDonald, Alex William, M, Son, S, May 1903, 8, none, can read/write, speak Gaelic
• McDonald, Allan Angus, M, Son, S, Jul 1904, 6, none, can read/write, speak English
• McDonald, Angus Joseph, M, Son, S, Jun 1906, 4, none
• McDonald, Angus R, M, Son, S, Mar 1908, 3, none
• McDonald, Collin, M, Son, S, Aug 1909, 1, none
• McDonald, Jessie M, M, Son, S, Mar 1911, 2/12, none
• McInnis, Florence G, F, Niece, S, Dec 1908, 2, none, can read/write, speak English

[Note: I am sure the niece is Elizabeth Gertrude McInnis, one of Jennie's sister Florence's girls, who was born Dec 1908]

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Census Year: 1921 Item Number: 5792036 Province: Nova Scotia District Name: Inverness Sub-District Name: Broad Cove Marsh Polling District no 7 Sub-District Description: Deepdale, Broad Cove Chapel, Dunvegan, Rear Dunvegan, South Margaree, Gillisdale

• McDonald, James M, SW Margaree, Head, M, M, 51, b. N.S., parents b. N.S., Canadian, Scotch, can speak English & Gaelic, R.C., can read/write, Farmer, own farm
• McDonald, Janet, Wife, F, M, 45, can speak English & Gaelic, none
• McDonald, William Alexander, Son, M, S, 18, can speak English & Gaelic, can read/write, Farmer's son, Father's farm
• McDonald, Angus Allan, Son, M, S, 16, can speak English & Gaelic, can read/write, Farmer's son, Father's farm
• McDonald, Angus Joseph, Son, M, S, 14, can speak English & Gaelic, can read/write, Student
• McDonald, Angus Roderick, Son, M, S, 13, can speak English & Gaelic, can read/write, none
• McDonald, Colin Francis, Son, M, S, 10, can speak English & Gaelic, can read/write, none
• McDonald, Jessie Margaret, Daughter, M, S, 10, can speak English & Gaelic, can read/write, none
• McDonald, John Aloysius, Son, M, S, 8, can speak English & Gaelic, can read/write, none
• McDonald, Finlay Lawrence, Son, M, S, 6, can speak English & Gaelic, none

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Date of birth may be 1869.

James was secretary to a government official in Ottawa. He was remembered by his nieces in Antigonish as a nice man. On his way to Ottawa, he would stop over at their home. Florence (MacDougall) remembers sitting on his knee at the back door of the MacDougall house in a thunder and lightening storm and credits her lack of fear of electrical storms to this. At the age of 50 years, Jim died of a cerebral hemorrhage. His children were 9 months of age and up at the time. The youngest were John A, Finlay and Bernard Alexander.

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Death Certificate Cause of death: Cerebral Embolism

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Obituary (unknown source):

On the morning of 5th September, 1923, James M. McDonald, S.W. Margaree. He took sick only five days before with a blood colt on the brain. He rallied after the first attack and it was thought and hoped that the worse was over; but after a couple of days the trouble came back with greater severity. Kind nursing and medical skill were of no avail and after devoutly receiving the last sacraments of the church he passed to his eternal reward. He was in his 54th year and was the son of the late Alexander McDonald (Capt. Allan). In his younger days he taught school in various districts of Inverness and Victoria counties with considerable success. In 1896, upon the recommendation of the late Dr. McLennan, M.P., he was appointed messenger in the House of Commons. His ability, courtesy, and strict attention to duty soon secured for him promotion to clerkship in the civil service. This position he held until a year ago when he received another promotion, this new position being in the permanent class. He was home on a short vacation, and was returning to Ottawa the evening of the day he took sick. Truly man proposes, but God disposes. He was well read, gentle and unassuming, and very much attached to home and family. He is survived by his widow, whose maiden name was Jennie Fraser, eights sons and one daughter; three brothers and three sisters - Hector Y., Judge of the Supreme Court, Regina, Sister St. Alexander, Inverness, Catherine A., who arrived from Boston the day before the funeral, Angus, Allan and Annie at home. His funeral on the 8th was a large one, friends coming from far and near to pay their last tribute to a man who was held in high esteem wherever he was known. R.I.P.

Sources

1. ↑ Mabou Pioneers by A.R. MacDonald p. 719
2. ↑ https://www.novascotiagenealogy.com/ItemView.aspx?ImageFile=1825-166&Event=marriage&ID=84062
3. ↑ "Nova Scotia, Antigonish Catholic Diocese, 1823-1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JVSL-5ZN : 9 March 2018), James M Mcdonald and Jennie Fraser, 19 Sep 1900; citing Marriage, St. John the Baptist, Brook Village, Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada, Catholic Church parishes, Antigonish Diocese, Nova Scotia.
4. ↑ https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1911&op=pdf&id=e001972324
5. ↑ https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1921&op=pdf&id=e002910521
6. ↑ Family notes researched and compiled by Anne Marie Helm (grandniece by marriage)
7. ↑ https://www.novascotiagenealogy.com/ItemView.aspx?ImageFile=90-637&Event=death&ID=171091