Mabel Christena (MacDougall) Ross (1890 - 1977)

Born 7 Nov 1890 in Stellarton, Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Wife of James Robert Ross — married 25 Oct 1911 in Stellarton, Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: William Ross [send private message]

Biography

Birth

Mabel Christena MacDougall was born on 7 November 1890 in Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her parents were John George MacDougall and Janie Fraser Cumming. ^[1]

Life

Early Years

Marriage of Parents

Janie Fraser Cumming was 21 years old when she married John George MacDougall. Janie was born in Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada. At the time of her wedding she lived in Thorburn, 6 miles east of Stellarton.

John George MacDougall was 25 years old when he married Janie Cumming on 17 August 1889 at Thorburn, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada. John was born in Stellarton, and lived there at the time of his wedding. He was an Engineer.

Rev. A. W. MacLeod, pastor at Thorburn Presbyterian from 1885 to 1899 ^[2], was officiant at their wedding. Their witnesses were R. Appleton and Annie M. McGillvery. ^[3]

Siblings

Mabel MacDougall was the oldest of six siblings .

1. Mabel Christena MacDougall - (1890-1977)
2. Allan MacDougall - (1893-1893)
3. Marguerite MacDougall - (1896-1897)
4. Thomas Cumming MacDougall - (1897-1943)
5. Lewis Fraser MacDougall - (1902-1956)
6. Jean Alfreda MacDougall - (1904-1977)

FIG. 1 - Mabel MacDougall's Victorian Cradle. Mabel MacDougall was born in 1890 in Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. She slept in this cradle as an infant. Twenty-one years later, in 1911, Mabel MacDougall married James Ross. They lived in Stellarton. Each of their children slept in this cradle as infants. Later, one of Mabel's children used this cradle for her children (Mabel's grandchildren). Then one of Mabel's granddaughters used this cradle for her children. Afterwards she gave the cradle to a cousin who was also a grandchild of Mabel. Then more great grandchildren of Mabel were cared for and rocked to sleep in this cradle. In 2011 a great-great-granddaughter of Mabel, who slept in this cradle as an infant, and whose mother slept in this cradle as an infant, used this cradle for her great-great-great grandchild of Mabel. After more than 120 years of use by Mabel and five generations of her descendants, Mabel MacDougall's Victorian cradle was donated to the Carmichael Stewart House Museum in New Glasgow. Mabel's cradle is an authentic heirloom, a beloved home furnishing antique, and a piece of living history from Stellarton in the late 1800s. [4]

1891 Canada Census

The 1891 Census marked the third regularly scheduled collection of national statistics. It officially began April 6, 1891. ^[5]

Mabel MacDougall lived with her parents in a three person household in Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. The MacDougall household was counted on 21 April 1891. ^[6]

1. John MacDougall, male, age 26 years, married, head of household, birthplace Nova Scotia, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia, occupation Stationary E. Driver, wage earner.
2. Jane MacDougall, female, age 22 years, married, wife, birthplace Nova Scotia, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia.
3. Mabel MacDougall, female, age 5 months, daughter, birthplace Nova Scotia, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia.

1901 Canada Census

The 1901 Census marked the fourth regularly scheduled collection of national statistics in Canada. The census officially began March 31, 1901. ^[7]

Mabel MacDougall lived with her parents in a four person household in Ferrona, near Eureka, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. ^[8]

1. John McDougall, male, head of household, married, birthdate 1 July 1866, age 35 years, religion Presbyterian, occupation Machinist.
2. Janie F. MacDougall, female, wife, married, birthdate 29 August 1870, age 31 years, religion Presbyterian.
3. Mabel C. MacDougall, female, daughter, birthdate 7 November 1890, age 10 years, religion Presbyterian.
4. Thomas C. MacDougall, male, son, birthdate 29 May 1897, age 3 years, religion Presbyterian.

1911 Canada Census

The 1911 Canada Census marked the fifth regularly scheduled collection of national statistics. It officially began on June 1, 1911. ^[9]

In 1911 Mabel MacDougall was 20 years old and lived with her parents in a 6 person household on Jubilee Avenue in Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada. ^[10]

1. John McDugal*, Jubilee Ave., male, Head of Household, married, born July 1866, age 44 years, born in Nova Scotia, Canadian citizen, religion Presbyterian, occupation Engineer, employer Coal Company.
2. Janie MacDugal*, Jubilee Ave., female, wife, married, born August 1869, age 41 years, born in Nova Scotia, Canadian citizen, religion Presbyterian.
3. Mabel MacDugal*, Jubilee Ave., female, daughter, born November 1890, age 20 years, born in Nova Scotia, Canadian citizen, religion Presbyterian.
4. Thomas MacDugal*, Jubilee Ave., male, son, born May 1894, age 14 years, born in Nova Scotia, Canadian citizen, religion Presbyterian.
5. Fraser MacDugal*, Jubilee Ave., male, son, born January 1902, age 9 years, born in Nova Scotia, Canadian citizen, religion Presbyterian.
6. Jean MacDugal*, Jubilee Ave., female, daughter, born April 1907, age 4 years, born in Nova Scotia, Canadian citizen, religion Presbyterian.

NOTES: Surname mis-spelled "MacDugal," correct spelling MacDougall

FIG. 2 - Mabel C. MacDougall, 20 years old, 1911.

Later Years

Marriage

Mabel Christena MacDougall was 20 years old when she married James Ross on 25 October 1911 in Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Mabel's twenty-first birthday was less than two weeks after her wedding.

James Robert Ross was 31 years old when he married Mabel MacDougall. He was born and raised in Piedmont, about 20 miles east of Stellarton.

Rev. W. A. Cunningham was the officiant in a Presbyterian marriage ceremony. The witnesses were John A. Ross and J. R. Ross. ^[11]

Children

James R. Ross and Mabel C. MacDougall raised three daughters in Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada.

1. (unnamed daughter) Ross - (1912-1912) - premature
2. Jean Campbell Ross - (1914-yyyy)
3. Shirley Nan Ross - (1917-yyyy)
4. Sarah Lois Ross - (1920-yyyy)

1921 Canada Census

The 1921 Census marked the sixth regularly scheduled collection of national statistics. It officially began on June 1, 1921. ^[12]

Mabel MacDougall Ross lived in a five person household on Jubilee Avenue in Stellarton with her husband and three children. The Ross family lived across the street from Mabel's parents. ^[13]

1. James R. Ross, Jubilee Avenue, Stellarton, own home, single family home, wood construction, head of household, male, married, age 40 years, birthplace Nova Scotia, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia, Canadian citizen, religion Presbyterian, occupation Assistant Agent, employer Railway Station.
2. Christine Ross*, wife, married, age 30 years, birthplace Nova Scotia, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia, Canadian citizen, religion Presbyterian.
3. Jean Ross, daughter, age 7 years, birthplace Nova Scotia.
4. Shirley Ross, daughter, age 4 years, birthplace Nova Scotia.
5. Lois Ross, daughter, age 1 year, birthplace Nova Scotia.

NOTES: "Christine" Ross (i.e., Mabel MacDougall) was named after her grandmother Christena Fraser (1833-1917). "Christene" was the correct spelling of the informal version of Mabel's middle name, and "Christena" was the correct spelling of her formal middle name. In Mabel's father's family Bible and on her own tombstone Mabel's short formal name was "Mabel C. MacDougall." The tsunami of alternate spellings and formulations of her name during her lifetime were typos in the public record. To Mabel and her family she was Mabel C. MacDougall. ^[14]

FIG. 3 - A 2022 photograph of the house on Jubilee Avenue in Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada where Mabel MacDougall and James Ross lived for many decades while raising three daughters. It was across the street from the house where Mabel was raised and where her parents lived.

Death of her Father

John George MacDougall, Mabel's father, died on 12 November 1923 in Stellarton, Nova Scotia. He was 59 years, and was survived by his widow Janie Cumming. James Ross, who lived across the street, was the informant on his father-in-law's death registration. ^[15]

1931 Canada Census

The seventh census of Canada began on 1 June 1931. The preliminary census count for the population of Canada, published on 30 November 1931, was 10,362,833. ^[16] C. Mabel Ross lived in a six person household with her husband, three children, and a cousin. Their residence was on Jubilee Avenue, Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. ^[17]

1. James R. Ross, head of household, home owner, value $4,000, single family dwelling, wood structure, 7 rooms, no radio, male, married, age 50 years, birthplace Nova Scotia, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia, Assistant Station Agent, steam railway.
2. C. Mabel Ross*, wife, female, married, age 40 years, birthplace Nova Scotia, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia.
3. Jean C. Ross, daughter, female, age 16 years, birthplace Nova Scotia, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia.
4. Shirley N. Ross, daughter, female, age 13 years, birthplace Nova Scotia, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia.
5. Sarah L. Ross, daughter, female, age 11 years, birthplace Nova Scotia, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia.
6. William Ross, cousin, male, age 18 years, birthplace Nova Scotia, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia.

Census Notes.

1. The 1931 census enumerator recorded Mabel's name as "C. Mabel Ross," but from the perspective of her family her correct name was Mabel C. Ross. For example, the photograph (FIG. 5, below) of the monument she shares with her husband at their burial site in Brookside Cemetery inscribed her name as Mabel C. MacDougall. The alternate spelling of Mabel's name in the 1931 Census is part of a steady stream of alternate spellings for her name in civil records during her lifetime.
2. Mabel grew up across the street from the home on Jubilee in Stellarton where she and her husband raised their three daughters. The 1931 census also recorded Mabel's mother Janie MacDougall living across the street as a 61 year old widow with two adult children in the household, ages 27 and 29, who were Mabel's younger siblings, in the house where Mabel was raised.

Marriages of their daughters

Jean Ross and Winston Thorpe, 7 January 1939

Shirley Ross and Donald Arthur, 25 June 1941

FIG. 4 - In this family photograph Mabel MacDougall and James Ross are parents of the bride in Stellarton, Nova Scotia on 21 June 1941. On that sunny day their daughter Shirley Nan Ross, age 23 years, married Donald Cameron Arthur, also age 23 years. The bride, a stenographer at a bank, was born and raised in Stellarton. The groom, a brakeman for CNR, was born and raised nearby in New Glasgow.

Death of her mother Janie Fraser (Cumming) MacDougall

Janie Fraser MacDougall died on 11 June 1948 at home in Stellarton. She was 78 years old. The cause of death was Cerebral sclerosis. The informant on her death registration was her daughter Jean MacDougall. ^[18]

Death of her husband James Robert Ross

James Robert Ross died on 26 April 1959 at Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was 78 years old and a resident of Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. The informant on his death registration was his widow Mabel MacDougall. ^[19]

Death and Legacy

Mabel C. MacDougall, widow of James R. Ross, passed away in 1977.

FIG. 5 - Photograph of monument over the grave of James R. Ross and Mabel C. MacDougall at Brookside Cemetery, New Glasgow, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Research Notes

1. FamilySearch ID - KL2W-RSR

Sources

1. ↑ Christena Mabel MacDougall delayed registration of birth, female, 7 November 1890, Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada, father of child John George MacDougall, mother of child Janie Fraser Cumming, residence of father at birth of child Stellarton, current residence of father Deceased, occupation of father at birth of child Machinist, birth place of father Stellarton, applicant Marilyn Beaton, declaration: "Family Bible gives name as Mabel C. and school record gives surname McDougall but the full correct name is Christena Mabel MacDougall as she has always been known." Declared at Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia on 5 June 1959 by J. B. Baker, barrister of the Supreme Court of N.S., registered 8 June 1959, Pictou County Register General, Birth Registration Year 1890, number 99100320, digital images of handwritten records, Nova Scotia Archives, https://archives.novascotia.ca/images/vital-statistics/births/1890/1890-99100320b.jpg, accessed 5 February 2022.
2. ↑ J. P. McPhie, Pictonians at home and abroad, Pincton Press, Boston, Massachussetts, 1915, page 88, digital copy of printed book, https://archive.org/details/pictoniansathome00macp/page/88/mode/2up, accessed 20 March 2024.
3. ↑ John G. MacDougall and Jennie L. Cumming marriage, 17 August 1889, Thorburn, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada, groom age 25 years, groom's occupation Engineer, groom's residence Stellarton, groom's birthplace Stellarton, groom's parents John and Margaret, groom's father's occupation Fireman, bride age 21 years, bride's residence Thorburn, bride's birthplace Stellarton, bride's parents Thomas and Christy, bride's father's occupation Blacksmith, witnesses R. Appleton, Annie M. McGillvary, officiant Rev. A. W. MacLeod, Presbyterian ceremony, Pictou County Marriage Register, year 1889, book 1832, page 47, marriage number 121, Nova Scotia Archives, digital image of handwritten record, https://archives.novascotia.ca/images/vital-statistics/marriages/1832/1832-00047.jpg, accessed 7 February 2022.
4. ↑ Doris Gates Thorpe, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, [e-address for private use], to William Ross III, email, 10 October 2020, 08:08 PM, "Mabel's Victorian Cradle"; privately held by William Ross III, [e-address for private use], Philo, California, United States.
5. ↑ https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng, accessed 24 September 2021.
6. ↑ John MacDougall household, Canada Census 1891, Nova Scotia District 39, Pictou County, Sub-district Stellarton, page 30, Schedule No. 1, Nominal Return of the Living, lines 5-7, enumerated on 21 April 1891, digital image of handwritten enumeration page, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, document name 30953_148122-00033.jpeg, https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng, accessed 7 February 2022.
7. ↑ "Census of Canada 1901," Library and Archives Canada, https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng, accessed 22 September 2021.
8. ↑ John McDougall household, Canada Census 1901, Nova Scotia District 38, Pictou County, Sub-district Ferrona, page 1, Schedule No. 1, Nominal Return of the Living, lines 47-50, enumerated on 5 and 6 April 1901, digital image of handwritten enumeration page, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, document name z000044838.jpeg, https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng, accessed 14 February 2022.
9. ↑ Census of Canada, 1911, Library and Archives Canada, https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng, accessed 16 October 2020.
10. ↑ John MacDougall household, Canada Census 1911, Nova Scotia, District No. 50 (Pictou), Sub-district No. 32 (Stellarton), Schedule No. 1, Population, Page 30, lines 39-44, digital image of low quality analog microfilm image of handwritten paper enumeration page, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, document name e001974726.jpeg, https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng, accessed 15 February 2022.
11. ↑ James Robert Ross and Christina Mabel McDougall marriage, 25 October 1911, Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada, groom age 31 years, Presbyterian, occupation Tel. Operator, residence New Glasgow, birthplace Piedmont, Pictou County, groom's father Donald Ross, occupation Section Agent, bride age 21 years, Presbyterian, residence Stellarton, birthplace Stellarton, bride's father John A. McDougall, occupation Machinist, witnesses John A. Ross, J. R. Ross, officiant Rev. W. A. Cunningham, Pictou County Marriage Register, year 1911, book 1833, page 75, number 218, Nova Scotia Archives, digital image of handwritten record, https://archives.novascotia.ca/images/vital-statistics/marriages/1833/1833-00075.jpg, accessed 2 February 2022.
12. ↑ Census of Canada, 1921, Library and Archives Canada, https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng, accessed 15 February 2022.
13. ↑ James Ross household, Canada Census 1921, Nova Scotia, District No. 62 (Pictou), Sub-district No. 55 (Stellarton), Schedule No. 1, Population, Page 28, lines 31-35, digital image of low quality analog microfilm image of handwritten paper enumeration page, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, document name e002913222.jpeg, https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng, accessed 15 February 2022.
14. ↑ add source citations to emails with Doris Gates Thorpe.
15. ↑ John George MacDougall death registration, date of death 12 November 1923, place Jubilee Avenue, Stellarton, age 59 years, male, married, birthplace Stellarton, birthdate 15 July 1864, occupation machinist, father John Allan MacDougall, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother Margaret Munro, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia, informant James Ross, relationship son-in-law, place of removal Stellarton, undertaker H. C. MacQuarie, date of burial 15 November 1923, cause of death Carcinoma of stomach, filed with registrar 30 November 1923, registered at Pictou County, Nova Scotia, year 1923, file 99, number 700, Nova Scotia Archives, digital image of paper record, https://archives.novascotia.ca/images/vital-statistics/deaths/99/99-00700.jpg, accessed 6 February 2022.
16. ↑ Seventh Census of Canada, 1931, Volume 1, Dominion Bureau of Statistics, Ottawa, filename CS98-1931-1-eng.pdf, https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.832354/publication.html, accessed online 20 March 2024.
17. ↑ James Ross household, lines 43-48, page 7, Stellarton (sub-district 65), Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada, digital image of handwritten census enumeration page, document file name e011553148.jpg, accessed online at https://library-archives.canada.ca, 20 March 2024.
18. ↑ Janie Fraser MacDougall death registration, 11 June 1948, Jubilee Avenue, Stellerton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada, length of stay in town where death occurred 78 years, length of stay in province 78 years, residence Jubilee Avenue, Stellarton, age at death 78 years, female, Canadian, Widow, birthplace Stellarton, birth date 29 August 1869, husband John G. MacDougall, father Thomas Cumming, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother Christene Fraser, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia, informant Jean MacDougall, informant address Stellarton, relationship to deceased Daughter, cause of death Cerebral sclerosis, filed with registrar 9 October 1948, Province of Nova Scotia, Certificate of Registration of Death, number 005477, Nova Scotia Archives, digital image of handwritten paper record, https://archives.novascotia.ca/images/vital-statistics/deaths/1948/1948-05477.jpg, accessed 7 February 2022.
19. ↑ James Robert Ross death registration, at Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada, 26 April 1959, residence Jubilee Ave., Stellarton, Pictou County, male, Canadian, married, birthplace Nova Scotia, birth date 16 January 1881, age 78 years, occupation Station Agent, employer CNR, date last worked 1946, years worked 40, widow Mabel McDougall, father Donald Ross, father's birthplace Nova Scotia, mother Mary Campbell, mother's birthplace Nova Scotia, informant Mabel Ross, Stellarton, relationship widow, burial Stellarton, 28 April 1959, cause of death Cerebral Hemorrhage, filed 28 April 1959, Nova Scotia Archives, Halifax, digital image of paper record, https://archives.novascotia.ca/images/vital-statistics/deaths/1959/1959-03376.jpg, accessed 28 December 2021.