Anna Irene Ireland is born in 1882 in Ontario, Canada [1]. Irene’s father, Robert Ireland (c1842<1908), was born in Ireland and came to Canada in about 1860. He farmed in West Zorra Township, Oxford County. Anna Irene’s mother, Jane McSlukin (c1842-?) was born in Ontario. Anna Irene can be found in the 1901 census at the age of 18 living with her family on the farm in West Zorra [2].
On June 24, 1908, Anna marries Ernest Paterson (1874-1960) [3]. The wedding is in Wilton Grove which (it is thought) is now a part of London, Ontario.
Anna and Ernest have two children:
• Leonard Ernest Paterson 1910-1992 + Marion Leak c1911-1991
• Allan Moir Paterson 1913-1989
They have one child in Ontario and then probably around 1912-1913 they move west to Alberta where their second child is born. They can be found there in the 1916 census on a farm near Battle River [4]. The Paterson farm is a bit south of Battle River, near Spondin.. This is east of Red Dear, about 265 kilometres northeast of Calgary or about 290 kilometres southeast of Edmonton. In the census record, Ernest and Irene have two children with them: Leonard and Allan. Also, Ernest’s older sister, Agnes (1863-1944) is living with the family. Ernest’s brother, James Herbert Paterson (1866-1932), moves out to Alberta at about the same time, settling near Coronation. Spondin and Coronation are about 39 kilometres apart.
In the 1921 census record, Irene is now 39-years old and still living on the farm in Alberta with Ernest and the two boys [5]. And the family is still there in the 1926 census records [6]. The minor oddity about the 1926 record is that, while it shows the ages of the two boys correctly, it shows both Irene and Ernest younger than they are. Ernest is about 51-to-52 in 1926 but the census record shows him as 43 years old. Irene is about 44 in 1926 but the census shows her as only 38. There is a possibility that the census taker talked to one of the boys when he came calling and the sons were not too sure of the age of their parents.
In 1953 Ernest and Irene leave the farm and move into Calgary [7]. The sale record lists Ernest, Irene and Leonard as the farm owners. In 1957, Ernes and Irene are living at 1932 33rd Avenue S.W. in Calgary [8]. This is about four blocks east of the Crowsnest Trail, southwest of the downtown core.
Ernest and Irene both die in 1960 and are buried together in the Queens Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Calgary [9]. Their two sons are also buried here.
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[1] The 1968 Paterson Family Tree by Marjorie Paterson shows Irene Ireland as the spouse of Ernest Paterson. It shows 2 children: Leonard & Allan.
[2] 1901 census, Ontario, 161 North Oxford, West Zorra Township, pg 6, household 60: Robert Ireland (58), born March ? 1843 in Ireland, came to Canada in 1860, farmer; Jane (57), born in Ont in Oct ? 1843; John (28), born in Sept ? 1872; Annie (18), born in Oct 1882. The family’s religion is Presbyterian.
[3] "Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KSZF-89N : accessed 11 December 2014), Earnest Patterson and Anna Irene Ireland, 24 Jun 1908; citing registration 013641, Wilton Grove, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,871,868. The record shows Earnest (sic) Patterson (sic) marrying Anna Irene Ireland on 24 Jun 1908 in Wilton Grove, Middlesex County, Ontario. The groom is 34 yrs old and his parents are James Patterson & Isabella Moir. The bride is 26, born in an estimated 1882, and her parents are John Ireland and Jane McSlukin [In fact it is thought that John Ireland is actually Anna’s brother as her father, Robert, died before 1908.] [As far as is known, Wilton Grove is in London, Ontario, just north of what is now the 401 highway.]
[4] 1916 census, Alberta, Battle River, pg 1 (Ernest Paterson is the census taker): Ernest Paterson (41), farmer; Anna Irene Paterson (32), wife; Leonard Ernest Paterson (6), son; Allan Moir Paterson (3), son; Agnes Paterson (53), sister (sister of Ernest’s) The family lives in township 33, range 11, west 4th meridian. It looks as if the township is named [? Hiram #304] There is also one 18-year old “servant” in the house [?John Quast?] All the Paterson’s were born in Ontario except Allan Moir who was born in Alberta. The servant was born in Russia. The religion of the family is Presbyterian, and their racial or tribal origin is “Scotch.”
[5] 1921 census, Alberta, Battle River, pg 13, family # [?165]: Ernest Paterson (46), famer; Irene (39); Leonard (11); Allan (8). In addition, there is one lodger living with the family. The family owns their own, 5-room, wooden house. Ernest was born in Ontario; his father was born in Ontario and his mother was born in the United States. Irene was born in Ontario and both her parents were born in Ireland. Leonard was born in Ontario and his brother, Allan, was born in Alberta. The family’s religion is Presbyterian.
[6] 1926 census, Alberta, Acadia 39, Hiram, pg 7, family #83: Ernest Paterson (43), born Ont, father born Ont, mother born U.S.A., Scotch; Irene Paterson (38), born Ont, parents born Ireland, Irish; Leonard Paterson (16), born Ont, Scotch; Allan Paterson (13), born Alta, Scotch.
[7] Hanna Herald, April 23, 1953, pg 3: “Notice is hereby given that sealed tenders will be received by the Special Areas Board for the holdings of Ernest Paterson, Irene Paterson and Leonard Paterson, farmers of Spondin, Alberta by bona fide residents of the Special Area. “ . . . . Dated at Hanna, Alberta, this 14th day of April, 1953.
[8] 1957 Paterson Family Reunion contact list.
[9] ] www.findagrave.com memorial # 167730828 Queens Park Cemetery and Mausoleum, Calgary, Alberta, • Plot J-11-051 Anna Irene Paterson b 1882 d 1960
Thank you to Fred Nix for creating Ireland-854 on 23 Oct 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Fred and others.
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