Allen Goldwin Thomson (1883 - 1953)

Born 11 Jul 1883 in Scarborough Township, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 18 Nov 1953 at age 70 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Fred Nix [send private message]

Biography

Allen Goldwin Thomson is born on July 11, 1883, in Scarborough Township, Ontario, Canada the son of James George Thomson (1839-1917) and Agnes Glendinning (1840-1916). He is baptised on April 24, 1884 in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bendale, Scarborough [1][2]. Scarborough Township is now a part of the city of Toronto.

The Paterson family tree and some census records spell the first name “Allan.” However the baptism record and the headstone at Bendale spell it “Allen.”

On his father’s side, Allen is descended from two of the earliest Scottish families to settle in Scarborough – the Thomson’s who were the first European settlers in Scarborough in 1799 and the Paterson’s who settled in 1820 along what is now the east side of Kennedy Road between Finch and Sheppard Avenues in what is now Toronto. His Thomson ancestor was the brother of the first European settler. On his mother’s side, the Glendinning’s were also Scottish and also among the first settlers in Scarborough. The Glendinning’s are so inter-married with both the Thomson and the Paterson families that it is sometimes difficult to keep relationships straight.

In the 1891 census, Allen is seven-years old living with his parent on the family farm in Scarborough [3]. This farm, Springfield Farm, in Lot 23, Concession 1 of Scarborough, is a part of the original Thomson settlement. In today’s geography, this is on the north side of Lawrence Avenue, west of McCowan Road in Toronto. The original farm, which would be at 142 St. Andrew’s Road, now sits beside the Thomson Memorial Park. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bendale, was built on the northern part of the farm.

Allen (“Allan G.”) is still on the farm at age 17 in the 1901 census [4]. On December 29, 1910, Allen marries Annabella Third (1879-1981) in Scarborough [5]. They have two children:

• Marjorie Isabel Thomson 1919-2015 + Ewart Vernon (“Vernon”) Macklin 1917-1978

• Joyce Louise Thomson 1922-2006 + (1942) Morley Ewart Harman 1920-2011

In the 1911 census record, Allen and Annabella are living with Allen’s parents on the Springfield Farm [6]. It is assumed that Allen takes over the farm from his father, although how long he continues to farm is not known. It is known that one of his children is born on this farm in 1922 and the 1921 census record shows him on this farm [7]. The 1921 census record shows Allen and Annabella on their farm, with their first child, and with Annabella’s 79-year old mother who is now a widow.

Allen dies on November 18, 1953, and is buried in the cemetery of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bendale [8]. Annabella dies on July 14, 1981 and is buried with him.

Sources

[1] 1968 Paterson family tree by Marjorie Paterson shows Allan (sic) as the 6th child of James & Agnes; it shows his spouse as Annabella Third; it shows 2 children: (1) Marjorie + Vernon Macklin; and (2) Joyce + Morley Harman.

[2] St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bendale, Baptism Registry: “Allen (sic) Goldwin” born 11 July 1883, baptised 24 April 1884, father “James G. Thomson,” mother “Agnes Glendinning,” father’s occupation “farmer.”

[3] 1891 census, Ontario, 130 York East, Scarboro Township, 66, household 327: James G. Thomson (50). Father born Ontario, mother born Scotland, farmer; Agnes (49) [not too clear where parents were born but it appears to say father born Ireland, mother born Scotland? –if this is what is says, the have the countries reversed as James’s father was born in Scotland and his mother in Ireland] ; Oliver (23); Agnes (21) ; Allen (7). Everyone was born in Ontario. The religion is shown as “CPres” [Canadian Presbyterian]

[4] 1901 census, Ontario, 129 E York, Scarboro, pg 10, household 96: James G. Thomson (61), Born June 30, 1839, farmer; Agnes (60), born Apr 9, 1840; Allan G. (17), born July 11, 1883. Everyone was born in Ontario. The family is labelled “Scotch.”

[5] "Canada, Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS8M-TX4 : 8 March 2021), Allan Goldwin Thomson and Annabella Third, 29 Dec 1910; citing registration , Scarborough, York, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,887,557. Allan Goldwin Thomson (28) married Annabella Third (32) on 29 Dec 1910 in Scarborough. Allan is a farmer. His parents are James G. Thomson and Agnes Glendinning. Annabella’s parents are George [?Marr] Third and Margaret Anderson. The religion of both the groom and the bride is Presbyterian.

[6] 1911 census, Ontario, 136 York Centre, Scarboro Township pg 6, household 70. James G. Thomson (71) born June 1840, farmer; Agnes (71) born Apr 1840; Alen G. (28) born July 1883, farmer; Anabell (32) born Nov 1879. The location is given as Lot 22 & 23, Con 1 of Scarborough. All household members are labelled “Scotch” and their religion is shown as Presbyterian.

[7] 1921 census, Ontario, York East 142, Scarboro Twp, pg 2, family #15: Allen [possibly “Allan”] G. Thomson (38), farmer; Annabella (41), born in Ontario, parents born in Scotland; Marjorie (1); Margaret Third (79), mother-in-law, born in Scotland. The family is living in Lot 23, Concession 1 of Scarborough Township.

[8] St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bendale, cemetery, headstone: “In loving memory of / Allen C. THOMSON / July 11. 1883 – Nov 18. 1953 / beloved husband of / Annabella THIRD / Nov 18. 1879 – July 14. 1981” (The middle initial “C” for Allen may be a transcription error.) [row 27.3]

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Katharine E for creating WikiTree profile Thomson-2061 through the import of andrew thomson.ged on Jun 7, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Katharine and others.

The current biography was prepared by Fred Paterson Nix on Oct 25, 2014 (with major revisions in March 2022)