Wilbert MacDonald
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Wilbert Clyde MacDonald (1885 - 1972)

Capt. Wilbert Clyde MacDonald
Born in Clyde Falls, Ontario, Canadamap
Brother of [half]
Husband of — married 21 Aug 1915 in Rockport, Knox, Maine, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 86 in Taftville, Norwich, New London, Connecticut, United Statesmap
Problems/Questions Profile managers: Janet MacDonald private message [send private message] and Donald Delagrange private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 14 Sep 2018
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Biography

Capt. Wilbert MacDonald served in the United States Merchant Marine in World War I
Service started:
Unit(s):
Service ended:
Scottish flag
Wilbert MacDonald has Scottish Ancestors.


The 1900 United States Census shows that Wilbert, age 15, was living in District 4 Duluth City Ward 7, St. Louis County, Minnesota with his father Robert J McDonald, age 52. It lists his father as a widower and shows that Wilbert was a student in the 9th grade. MacDonald family history dictates that Robert and his son Wilbert left Minnesota to settle in New York where Robert drove transit trains.

Neither of them show on the 1910 United States census record, Wilbert would have been 25 years old at that time. It leads me to believe that Robert John MacDonald had passed away by that time but I am not sure where Wilbert was living in 1910. By 1915, Wilbert was in Rockport Maine, but no sign of his father Robert.

Wilbert eventually settled along the coastline of Maine and began a seafaring way of life marrying his bride Agnes Collamore from Rockport Maine in 1915. He lists his parents as Robert J. MacDonald and Mary E. McCoy, both deceased.

He enlisted for service during World War I and his occupation at that time is listed as Motorman. A motorman is the senior most rate in the engine room of a ship. The motorman inspects equipment such as pumps, turbines, distilling plants, condensers and prepared records of condition. A motorman was QMED certified.

Wilbert served during World War I as a Merchant Marine and sailed the world, most notably when he sailed to northern Africa in search of his son Edgar Neil who had been shot down over Italy during WWII. Edgar Neil escaped his captors and returned to his Air Base badly wounded. He returned to the States with his father aboard ship and was honorably discharged due to the severity of his wounds.

Wilbert worked for the Cullen Transportation Company Broad Street New York. The 1930 census report shows the MacDonald family living in Rockport Maine. By 1943 they were living in Connecticut on Toll Gate Road in Groton. When Wilbert wasn't out to sea he worked at the shipyard in Groton, CT.

Wilbert passed away in Taftville, Connecticut in 1972. He and his wife Agnes are buried in the Sea View Cemetery in Rockport Maine.

Sources

  • MacDonald family history as told by Edgar Neil MacDonald and Anna Roessler MacDonald.

Familysearch: Wilbert C MacDonald 1900 United States Census Record shows Wilbert, age 15, living with his father Robert J. MacDonald in Duluth City, Ward 7, St. Louis, Minnesota. His birth date is listed as June 1885 in Canada, his father is listed as being born in Virginia and his mother is listed as being born in Scotland.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M93R-RCN

Familysearch Wilbert C McDonald 1920 United States Census Report, shows Wilbert, age 34, living in Knox Maine with wife Agnes and 3 children. It also indicates that he immigrated to the United States in 1897 from Canada. Lists his father as being born in Virginia and his mother as being born in Canada.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFZP-WTG

Familysearch Wilbert C MacDonald 1930 United States Census Report shows Wilbert, age 43, living in Rockland Maine with wife Agnes and 7 children

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMD9-8ND

Familysearch: Wilbert C MacDonald 1940 United States Census Record shows Wilbert, age 54, living in Groton Town, Groton Connecticut with his wife Agnes and 8 children.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWM7-H26

Wikipedia: Motorman

Find a grave Seaview Cemetery Rockport Maine Find A Grave: Memorial #206690015





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Categories: United States Merchant Marine, World War I