Isabelle Brown (Smith) McLean (1862 - 1933)

Born 20 Jul 1862 in Belfast, Queens, Prince Edward Island

Wife of William James McLean — married 11 Jan 1882 in Prince Edward Island, Canada

Descendants

Died 11 Apr 1933 at age 70 in Lot 16, Prince, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Biography

William James (Willie) MacLean married Isabelle Smith from Eldon after she came to Lot 16 to teach. The couple moved in with his grandparents, Hector and Agnes MacLean, to care for them in their old age; an uncle, Alexander (the postmaster), lived there as well. The land is now the property of Bruce MacLean, great-grandson of Willie, and the house is owned by Marcia and Dennis Bright. Willie, a short, wiry, quick-turned man, was said to have never learned to walk, just to run. To support and educate his family, Willie farmed, fished oysters and lobsters, and operated a fox ranch. His son, Roy E., was involved with him in the foxes and traveled to Alaska at one point to bring back a pair. Willie served as an elder of the Presbyterian Church in Lot 16 for many years. Once a year, Willie and Isabelle drove from Lot 16 to Eldon, a trip of two days by horse and buggy, to visit her parents, Andrew and Anne Smith.

They had six children: James G. 'Mac' (Harriet Clark), Roy E. (Isabel MacGregor), Elvira (Prescott Forbes), Blanche, Georgie (Giles Cannon), and Rev. Vans (Beatrice Campbell). Isabelle, as a teacher, insured that her children were well educated. Elvira, Blanche, and Georgie were all teachers. Blanche was a commercial teacher and the owner and principal of Summerside Business College. Georgie received her MA and was principal of Academy which she was requested to establish by the provincial government. In 1936-37, she received a Carnegie Educational Fellowship to London University in England. Vans became a minister (see Ministers chapter five). ^[1]

Isabella died in 1933. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Lot 16 United Church and its People from Island Lives.ca
2. ↑ Name Isabella N. MacLean Age 74 Residence Central Lot 16 Date of Death 11 April 1933 Entry Number 219 Source RG19/s2/ss6: Death registration books, 1933

• Personal Knowledge of Jamie Forbes rec'd via email 5 Dec 2007.
• Wm James McLean and Isabelle B. Brown in the Prince Edward Island, Canada, Marriage Registers, 1832-1888, married January 11 1882
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192923846/isabelle-maclean: accessed 06 December 2022), memorial page for Isabelle Smith MacLean (1860–1933), Find a Grave Memorial ID 192923846, citing Lot 16 United Church Cemetery, Rosehill, Prince County, Prince Edward Island, Canada; Maintained by D Sharp Major (contributor 48853124) .
• 1881 Census of Canada. Year: 1881; Census Place: Lot 57, Queens, Prince Edward Island; Roll: C_13164; Page: 63; Family No: 238 B. Isabella Smith, age 19, school teacher, daughter of Andrew and Anna.
• Guardian Thursday April 13, 1933 pg 10