Margaret Joan Etta Paterson is born on December 23, 1906, in Scarborough, Ontario, the daughter of Malcolm McGillivray Paterson (1875-1950) and Annie Cathetta Wright (1883-1941) [1][2]. Her parents live on a farm in Lot 33, Concession 4 of Scarborough Township. In today’s geography, this farm is north of Finch Avenue on Warden Avenue in the city of Toronto. Margaret’s middle name may be “Joanetta” (the birth record) or “Joan Etta” (her obituary).
Margaret is in the 1911 census, at the age of four, living with her parents and three siblings on a farm in Scarborough [3]. She is also in the 1921 census at the age of 14 [4]. In the 1921 record, the family has now moved to Markham Township. Markham lies to the north of Scarborough.
On February 17, 1932, Margaret marries John (Jack) Snowball [5]. They have one child:
• Margaret Jean Snowball 1936-2005 + (1957) Robert Bruce Middleton 1936-2015
Not much else is known about the life of Margaret and John. As far as is known, they stay in Markham for the rest of their lives. They can be found there in 1957 [6]. And John is buried there in 1991. Margaret lives on to the remarkable age of 103 and dies in Alliston, Ontario in 2009 [7]. She outlives her daughter by four years. She is buried, with John, in the Saint Andrew Presbyterian Cemetery in Markham [8].
[1] The 1968 Paterson family tree by Marjorie Paterson shows Margaret as the 2nd child of Malcolm & Annie; it shows her spouse as John Snowball. It shows 1 child: Margaret + Bruce Middleton.
[2] "Ontario Births, 1869-1912", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QV9H-8GXY : accessed 02 Dec 2014), Malcolm Macgilliveay Paterson in entry for Margaret Joanetta Paterson, 1906. The record shows Margaret Joanetta Paterson born on 23 Dec 1906 in Scarborough. Her parents are shown as Malcolm Macgilliveay (sic) Paterson & Annie Cathetta (sic) Wright.
[3] 1911 census, Ontario, 136 York Centre, Scarboro Township, pg 10, household 92: Malcolm Paterson (37), born March 1874, farmer; Annie (28), born March 1883; Cora (5), born Oct 1905; Margaret (4), born Dec 1906; Isabell (2), born Oct 1908; Annie (8 months), born Sept 1910; Robert Luck (50), labourer. Malcolm and the children are “Scotch,: and Annie is English. The religion of the family is Presbyterian. They live in Lot 33, Concession 4 of Scarborough.
[4] 1921 census, Ontario, district 144, Markham, pg 3, family #22: Malcolm M Paterson (48), farmer; Annie (38); Cora C. ??? (15); Margaret J. E. (14); Isabella (12); Annie (10); Malcolm (8); Andrew (5); John Alfred (2). All residents were born in Ontario; their religion is Presbyterian. The father and all the children are labelled “Scotch,” the mother is labelled “English.”
[5] https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MJSR-QQ5/john-snowball-1900-1991 This source shows the name of the mother of John Snowball as “Ellen Nellie Spence.” It shows John married Margaret Joanetta Paterson on 17 Feb 1932. It does not show any children.
[6] 1957 Paterson Family Reunion contact list: “* A Mr. & Mrs. John Snowball, Markham, Ont.” The “* indicates they attended the reunion; the “A” indicates they are from the Andrew branch of the Paterson clan.
[7] http://www.obitsforlife.com/obituary/202831/Snowball-Margaret.php: “Margaret Joan Etta Snowball Obituary: “Snowball, Margaret Peacefully in Alliston, Ontario on Wednesday September 9, 2009. in her 103rd year. Margaret was the beloved wife of the late John (Jack) Snowball and dear mother of the late Margaret Jean Middleton and her surviving husband Bruce. Loving grandmother of Wayne Middleton and his wife Barbara and Laurie and her husband Gary Waldrum and great grandmother of Nicole, William, Leith, Alycia, Darcie and Katharine. “
[8] Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/168604769/john-snowball : accessed 04 December 2021), memorial page for John Snowball (12 Sep 1900–17 May 1991), Find a Grave Memorial ID 168604769, citing Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Markham, York Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada ; Maintained by LMK (contributor 47573469) . Gravestone reads: “SNOWBALL / In Loving Memory Of / John Snowball / Sept 12, 1900 – May 17, 1991 / His Beloved Wife / Margaret J. Paterson / Dec 23, 1906-Sept 9, 2009 / Forever in Our Hearts”
This biography was written by Fred Nix in Dec. 2021. Fred and Margaret are second cousins, twice removed. They are both descendants of Andrew Paterson (1797-1884) and Isabella Brunton (c1799-1862).
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