Isabella (Paterson) Traill (1865 - 1955)

Ancestors

Died 31 Jan 1955 at age 89 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

Isabella Paterson is born on May 16, 1865, in Scarborough Township, Canada West (Ontario, Canada), the daughter of John Archibald Paterson (1827-1912) and Joanna Glendinning (1831-1910) [1] [2][3]. In the family, she was known as “Aunt Bella.” Scarborough Township is now a part of the city of Toronto.

In the 1871 census record, Isabella is shown as five years old, living with her family on a farm in Scarborough [4]. The age of Isabella (5) is important. The census started in April 1871 and Isabella was born in May 1865 so, assuming the Paterson family was visited early during the census, Isabella is almost six-years old. Later records will “fudge” this birth year. Isabella is 16-years old in the 1881 census and still living with her family on the farm in Scarborough [5]. Again, note that the age of Isabella is in accord with a birth year of 1865 (assuming the census taker visited the family after May 16, 1881).

The family leaves the farm at some point and moves into Toronto. In the 1891 census records, Isabella is 24-years old living with her family in St Mathews Ward which is the area east of the Don River and north of Queen Street [6]. The census shows her name as “Bell.”

The 1901 census record shows Isabella (“Isabel”) still living with her family in Toronto [7]. Notice that in the previous census (1891) she apparently has chopped two years off her age. Now, in 1901 census, it becomes official. Her birth date is shown as May 16, 1867 instead of May 16, 1865.

She marries William Allan Traill (1870-1963) on September 9, 1902 in Toronto [8]. The marriage record shows her age as 35, maintaining the fiction that she was born in 1867. William is 32-years-old and he is an accountant living in Port Dalhousie. Port Dalhousie, on Lake Ontario, is now a part of Saint Catharines—today it is a couple of hours drive from Toronto. There is one other curious aspect to the marriage record: it shows Isabella’s mother as “Joan Borthwick.” Isabella’s mother was Joan (Joanna) Glendinning. Her grandmother was Elizabeth Borthwick.

In the 1911 census records, Isabella (“Isabel”) and William are living on Albert Street in Port Dalhousie [9]. William’s occupation is shown as a secretary-treasurer of some company that has something to do with rubber. Living with them is the 84-year John Paterson, Isabella’s father. He is a widower as Isabella’s mother had died the year before.

The 1921 census records shows them living in Montréal and William’s occupation is shown as an “agent” for what looks like a rubber company [10]. At some point, they move back to Toronto and live at 282 Brooke Avenue [11]. Brooke Ave. runs east-west off of Avenue Road, between Lawrence and Wilson.

Isabella dies on January 31, 1955 (12). She is buried in the cemetery at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bendale, Scarborough with her husband. William dies on September 29, 1963. He was living at The Homewood Sanitarium in Guelph, Ontario, at the time.

Isabella and William had no children.

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Sources

[1] 1968 Paterson family tree: shows Isabella and her husband, no children

[2] St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bendale, Baptism Register: Isabella Paterson born 16 May 1865, baptized July 1865.

[3] Some of the early clues in finding information on Isabella came from Ian Glendinning’s web site: https://www.glendinning.name/ancestry/glenfam/pafg12.htm#17611 He shows Isabella born 16 May 1867.

[4] 1871 census, Ontario, 45 East York, Scarboro Division 4, pg 32, family #109: John Paterson (43), farmer; Joan (39); Andrew (17), farmer; Elizabeth (15); Archibald (11); William (8); Isabella (5) The family is “Scotch” and their religion is Presbyterian. They were all born in Canada.

[5] 1881 census, Ontario, 135, No 6, Township of Scarboro, pg 48-49, household #244: John A. Patterson (sic) (53), farmer; Joan (50); Andrew (27), farmer; Archibald (21), farmer; William (19), farmer; Isabella (16). All family members were born in “O” (Ontario); they are “Scotch,” and their religion is “C. Presbs” (Canadian Presbyterian).

[6] 1891 census: Ontario 130 York East, St Mathew Ward, pg 51, household #277: Isabella (“Bell”) (24) is living with her parents in Toronto (St Mathews Ward). .

[7] 1901 census, Ontario, 129 York East, Ward 1, Toronto, household 136: John Patterson (sic) (74), born Mar 30, 1827; Joan (69) born Oct 18, 1831; Isabel (33) born May 16 1867; Agness Glendinning (20) cousin, born Oct 17, 1880, dress maker.

[8] "Canada, Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZBJ-SVV : 8 March 2021), William Allan Traill and Isabella Paterson, 09 Sep 1902; citing registration , Toronto, , Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,871,082. William Allan Traill (32) married Isabella Paterson (35) on 09 Sept 1902 in Toronto. William’s parents are James Traill and Agnes H. Greenhill. . William’s residence if Port Dalhousie and he was born in Brampton. His occupation is an accountant. Isabella’s residence is Toronto and she was born in Scarboro. Her parents are John A. Paterson and Joan Borthwick [the familysearch translation is “Borthevick”]. Isabella’s mother is actually Joan (or Joanna) Glendinning and her maternal grandmother is Elizabeth Borthwick.

[9] 1911 census, Ontario, 93 Lincoln, Village of Port Dalhousie, pg 7, household 81, William Traill (39) born July 1870; Isabel (36) born May 1867; John Patterson (sic) (84) born 1827 – he is “father-in-law”. The family is living on Albert Street. William’s occupation is “sec. treasurer” of something to do with the rubber industry. Their “race or tribal origin” is “Scotch” and their religion is Presbyterian.

[10] 1921 census, Québec, 197 Sainte-Antoine, Montréal, pg 13, family #151: William Traill (50) ; Isabel (46) . William and Isabel were both born in Ontario. Isabel’s parents were born in Ontario; William’s were born in Scotland. It looks as if they live on St Mark Street. They are “Scotch” and their religion is Presbyterian. William’s occupation looks like “agent” and it could be for a rubber company (writing is not very legible).

[11] Barbara Paterson (1927-2007) files: information on where Isabella and William lived is from correspondence by Frank Chester Paterson (Isabella’s nephew). The 1957 Paterson Reunion contact list shows Mr. William A. Traill, 282 Brooke Ave, Toronto 12.

[12] St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bendale: headstone: “In loving memory of Isabella Paterson passed away Jan 31 1955 beloved wife of William Allan Traill July 11 1870 - Sept 29 1963” (row 20, gravestone 20)

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Fred Nix for creating Paterson-742 on 19 Sep 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Fred and others.