Maggie Morton Young (1883 - 1941)

Born 7 May 1883 in Scarborough Township, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 19 Mar 1941 at age 57 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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

Biography

Maggie Morton Young is born on May 7, 1883 in Scarborough Township, Ontario, Canada (now Toronto), the daughter of Robert Hamilton Young (1852-1931) and Elizabeth Paterson (1856-1930) [1][2]. She is baptised in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bendale, Scarborough on June 25, 1883 [3]. Both parents were also born in Scarborough in what was then Canada West and they were both descended from the original Scottish settlers of the township.

Maggie is in the 1891 census as a seven-year-old girl in St Alban’s Ward of West York [4]. In today’s geography this is the Parkdale area of Toronto (the land bordering Lake Ontario, west of Dufferin Street). Her father, who appears to be a real estate agent (the writing is not very legible) must have been doing well as the family has a servant.

Maggie’s family moves to Rat Portage, the original name for Kenora, Ontario, probably in the early 1890s. Rat Portage, by today’s roads, is about 2,000 kilometres to the northwest of Toronto. Maggie is 17-years old in the 1901 census and living with her family in Rat Portage [5].

On June 2, 1906, Maggie marries Silas Seth Griffis in Rainy River, Ontario [6]. “Si Griffis,” as he was known to hockey fans, would go on to be on two winning teams for the Stanley Cup. At some point (probably 1908), when Si Griffis is hired by a hockey team in Vancouver, British Columbia, the couple moves west. They can be found in Vancouver in the 1911 census records, along with their two-year old son, Robert. In the census record, Silas’ occupation is listed as “Real Estate” [7]. They are also in the 1921 census records in Vancouver. Seth’s occupation is not legible but he is making a good living -- $4500 a year [8].

Maggie dies on March 19, 1941 and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium in Vancouver [9][10]. Silas re-marries in 1944 but dies six years later – on July 9, 1950, just two weeks after being elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. He is buried with Maggie.

Maggie and Silas had one child:

• Robert Silas Griffis 1908-1980 + (1) (1934) Hazel Walker c1910-? + (2) (1941) Elsie Milne Walker 1908-1987

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Sources

[1] The 1968 Paterson family tree shows Margaret (not Maggie) as the 3rd child of Elizabeth & Robert, it shows her spouse as “Silas Grittis” (sic), it shows the couple with one son, Robert.

[2] "Canada, Ontario Births and Baptisms, 1779-1899", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLGZ-67H : 13 February 2020), Maggie Morton Young, 1883. Maggie Morton Young was born on 7 May 1883 in Scarborough Township, York County, Ontario, Canada. Her parents were Robt H. Young and Elizabeth Patterson (sic).

[3] St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bendale, Baptism Registry: Maggie Morton (? Morlon) born 7 May 1883 baptised 25 June 1883.

[4] 1891 census, Ontario, 132, West York, St Albans Ward, pg 13, household 57: Robt H. Young (39), both parents born in Scotland, Presbyterian, Real Estate Agent; Elizabeth (35), both parents born in Ont.; Allan (14); Annabelle (12); Maggie (?) H. (7).; Lottie Thompson (21), servant

[5] 1901 census, Ontario, Algoma 44, Rat Portage (Town/Ville), Page 1, family #6: Robert H Young (48) born Aug 31, 1852; Elisabeth (45) born March 20, 1856; Andrew A. (24) born Dec 1, 1876; AnnaBelle (22) born Feb 4, 1879; Maggie M (17) born Mar 7 1883; Jean Scott (26), lodger. Robert H appears to be working at “Grants Furnishing” (writing is not clear); the family is listed as “Scotch” and they appear to be Presbyterian. Andrew A. may also be working at Grants Furnishing.

[6] familysearch – information on marriage of Maggie and Silas.

[7] 1911 census, British Columbia, 12, Vancouver, 33, pg 18, household #200:  ?? Griffiths (28), born Jan 1883; Margaret (28), born May 1883; Robert (2), born Nov 1908. The first name of the head of the household is almost impossible to read. However the transcribers at automatedgenealogy have transcribed it as “Silas.” All three family members are shown to be born in Ontario [Silas was born in the USA], they are labelled “Scotch” and they are Presbyterian. The street address for the family is 1563 [can’t read name, it possibly begins with a “G” or a “T” and ends with a “ley”]. The occupation shown for Silas is “Real Estate.”

[8] 1921 census, British Columbia, 22, Vancouver, Ward 4, pg 19, family # 213 : Silas Griffis (39); Margaret (38); Robert (12). The family lives at 1563 [?name not legible but something like “Gravely St”] Silas was born in the USA; Margaret in Ontario; and Robert in B.C. Silas has an occupation, but it is not legible. He appears to earn $4500/yr.

[9] http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/Results? Maggie Morton Griffis died on March 19, 1941 in Vancouver. She was 58 years old.

[10] http://www.findagrave.com . . . “ Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium, Maggie M. Griffis death Mar 19, 1941; Silas Seth Griffis death July 9, 1950.

Acknowledgments

The current biography was prepared on Dec 29, 2013 by Fred Paterson Nix (revised in Nov 2017 and, again, in Nov 2021). Fred and Maggie are first cousins, twice removed.

Thank you to Fred Nix for creating Young-9558 on 4 Oct 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Fred and others.