Hugh Matheson (1826 - 1885)

Born 14 Oct 1826 in Migdale, Ross-shire, Scotland

Husband of Janet Clezie — married about 1852 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 12 May 1885 at age 58 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Biography

Hugh Matheson was born at Migdale in 1826. (Migdale was then in Ross-shire but later borders were changed so became part of Sutherlandshire.) The 1841 census, at Cashmore, Sutherlandshire, showed him, age 15, the eldest person in the home! Where were the adults?

He emigrated to Canada in 1842. In 1843 - age 17 - he went to study medicine at Hartford, Connecticut. Where did the money come from? My assumption is that his parents died while he was young, and he inherited money. But no evidence has been found.

There was at the same time an Angus Matheson in Toronto, living not far from Hugh Matheson. And Hugh's second son was named John Angus Matheson. I think Angus might have been a brother or cousin of Hugh, but again no evidence has been found.

A book entitled History of Toronto and the County of York, by Charles Pelham Mulvaney and others, gave these details about Hugh Matheson:

"Mr. Matheson was born in Scotland in 1826, and came to Canada in 1842. He studied medicine for three years at Hartford, and one year at Trinity College, and has practised more or less since 1848. In 1843 Mr. Matheson went to Connecticut and remained there for five years. He afterwards returned to Toronto, where he has since resided. He expects to relinquish his present business this year, and will then devote the whole of his time to the practice of medicine."

Despite his medical training, in 1848 Hugh Matheson went into the men's clothing business, under the name McKay & Matheson. This partnership was dissolved in 1861 and Hugh Matheson continued the business as his own.

Hugh Matheson married Janet "Jessie" Clezie about 1852; the exact date has not been found. They had six children, some of whom died in infancy.

Hugh Matheson died relatively young, age 58 on 12 May 1885 - the same year when he intended to sell his clothing business and devote himself full-time to his medical career.

Oddly, the cemetery record shows that he wasn't buried until 10 Jun 1885. Or maybe that was the date when the paperwork was completed?

The Matheson monument at Necropolis cemetery in Toronto says:

IN MEMORY OF

HUGH MATHESON DIED MAY 12, 1885 AGED 58 YEARS

JESSIE MATHESON DIED JAN. 12, 1911 AGED 76 YEARS

NOTE: There were other Hugh Mathesons living at Toronto at the same time. No middle names or other means to tell them apart, so there can be confusion.

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Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Rick Heiser, Feb 15, 2013

• Landmarks of Toronto, by John Ross Robertson, Toronto: J. Ross Robertson, 1894-1914

• History of Toronto and the County of York, by Charles Pelham Mulvany et al., Toronto: C. Blackett Robinson, 1885

• Archives of Ontario - Microfilm: MS935_42

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63819314/hugh-matheson

• https://billiongraves.com/grave/Hugh-Matheson/21147693

Footnotes

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Rick Heiser for starting this profile.

Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Rick and others.