James Edgar Paterson (1886 - 1973)

Born 10 Aug 1886 in Bexley, Victoria County, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Ethel Jane Smith — married 21 Sep 1915 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

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Biography

James Edgar Paterson is born on August 10, 1886 in Bexley, Victoria County, Ontario, Canada [1][2]. His parents are Andrew Paterson (1858-1906) and Melissa Jane Elliott (1857-1944). His father is a descendant of Scottish settlers from Scarborough Township who had moved west to a farm near Ingersoll in Oxford Township. His mother was born in Canada West (Ontario), probably in or near Ingersoll, and her parents were English, probably from Devonshire. Bexley no longer exists – it has been incorporated into the city of Kawartha Lakes. However, in 1886 it was a small village about 150 kilometres northeast of Toronto.

James (“Edgar”) first shows up in the 1891 census records where he is a four-year old boy living with his parents and an older sister in Eldon Township [3]. Eldon Township is just to the west of Bexley where James was born. James’ father is a miller and presumably he is carrying on this occupation in Eldon (the census record is not too clear about his occupation).

James next shows up in the 1901 census as a 14-year old living in Ridgetown, Elgin County [4]. Ridgetown was a village a few kilometres from the shores of Lake Erie in the furthest southwest corner of Ontario – it is about 375 kilometres west of Eldon Township. The census record shows that Andrew Paterson is a flour miller.

James’ father dies in 1906 and Melissa moves to Hamilton with her two children. The family can be found there in the 1911 census records and James, who is now 24, is employed as a draftsman [5].

On September 21, 1915, James marries the 24-year-old Ethel Jane Smith in Hamilton [6].

In the 1921 census records, James is 32-years old living in Hamilton with Ethel [7]. They have one son:

• Stuart Paterson c1916-? + Joyce Mary Newton 1915-1986

They also have James’ mother, the 63-year-old Melisa, and James’ sister, 35-year-old Isabel, living with them.

James dies in 1973 and is buried in the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery with his parents and sister [8].

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

[1] The 1968 Paterson family tree by Marjorie Paterson shows Edgar as the 2nd child of Andrew Paterson & Mellisa Elliot. It shows Edgar’s spouse as Ethel Smith and it shows one child: Stewart.

[2] "Ontario Births, 1869-1912", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FMZ1-ZYM : accessed 18 January 2015), James Edgar Patterson, 1886. The record shows James Edgar Patterson (sic) born on 10 Aug 1886 in Bexley, Victoria County, Ontario. The parents are Andrew Patterson & Melissa Elliott. Andrew Patterson is a miller.

[3] 1891 census, Ontario, 170 North Victoria, Eldon Township, pg 1, household 1, Andrew Patterson (sic) (32), father born Ontario, mother born United States, occupation [difficult to read but appears to be something like “. . . General Store” and then the column “wager earner” appears to be ticked off, so the best guess is that he was employed some sort of store] ; Melissa (33), both parents born England; Isabella (6); Edgar (4). The family is C. Presbyterian.

[4] 1901 census, Ontario, 58, Elgin, Ridgetown, pg 2, household #23: Andrew Paterson (42), born Dec 6, 1858; Melissa (42), born Oct 4, 1858; Bella E., (16), born Aug 10, 1884; Edgar J. (14), born Aug 10, 1886. Andrew’s occupation appears to be “Miller flour”. He makes $624/yr. Andrew and the 2 children are labelled “Scotch,” and Melissa is labelled “English.” The family’s religion is Presbyterian.

[5] 1911 census, Ontario, Hamilton West, 18, Ward 5, pg 18. household #209: Mrs Melissa J. Paterson (53), born Sept 1857; Isabel E (26), born Aug 1884; Edgar J. (24), born Aug 1886. The family is living at 113 Kent. No occupation is shown for Melissa, but both children have some occupation --- Isabel is a stenographer earning $260/yr and Edgar is a draftsman, earning $720/yr. Melissa is labelled “English,” and the 2 children are “Scotch.”

[6] "Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKM5-3Q86 : 13 April 2015), James Edgar Paterson and Ethel Jane Smith, 21 Sep 1915; citing registration , Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 2,057,023. The record shows that the 29-yr old James Edgar Paterson, from the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, married the 24-yr old Ethel Jane Smith in Hamilton on 21 Sept 1915. The parents of James are Andrew Paterson & Melissa Elliott. The parents of Ethel Jane, who is also from Hamilton, are Wm Smith & Margaret Shaw. The place of birth of James is difficult to read; it could be Victoria County. His occupation is almost impossible to read [?draughtsman] His religion is Presbyterian. It appears that Ethel Jane was born in Hamilton and her religion is Baptist.

[7] 1921 census, Ontario, Hamilton West, pg 11, family #148: James Paterson (32), Ethel (30); Stuart (5); Mellisa (63); Isabel (35). The family lives at 26 [?Bruce?] in a rented house that cost $27/month. All residents were born in Ontario as were all of their parents with one exception: Mellisa’s [Melissa’s] parents were born in England. The family’s religion is Presbyterian. James has an occupation [? It might be draughtsman] and he makes $1768/yr. Isabel, his sister, also has an occupation –stenographer – and she makes &720/yr.

[8]] Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208860717/james-edgar-paterson : accessed 05 November 2021), memorial page for James Edgar Paterson (1886–1973), Find a Grave Memorial ID 208860717, citing Ingersoll Rural Cemetery, Ingersoll, Oxford County Municipality, Ontario, Canada ; Maintained by A.W. Bauer (contributor 49122991) .