Mary Matilda (Petipas) Trites (1881 - 1904)

Born 14 May 1881 in Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Wife of Franklin Noble Trites — married 8 Feb 1900 in Steveston, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

Died 11 Dec 1904 at age 23 in Steveston, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Judith Jordan [send private message]

Biography

Mary Matilda Petitpas was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia on May 14, 1879 to Alexander and Margaret Petipas (Pettipas-18 and McDonald-12337), and baptized in Stella Maris Catholic Church in Pictou on 1 June, 1879, at which tim eher surname was written as "Petipas"^[1].

By the time of the 1881 Census, the family had changed their surname to Pitts. Mary M., 1, was living with her parents, Alex, who now said he was 42, a Seaman, Margaret, 41, and siblings Alex, 14, Harriette, 10, Angus, 8, and John, 4, in Pictou Town^[2].

By the time of the 1891 Census, Mary was 12 and living with parents Margaret, 56, and Alexander Pitts, 57, who was now a Cook, in Pictou Town, Ward 3. Also living with their parents were Harriett, 22 (occupation illegible), John, 14, and Angus, 19, also a Cook^[3].

Mary's sister Henrietta died in 1892, aged 23, in Pictou, Nova Scotia.

Sometime after Henrietta's death and prior to 1898, most of the family moved to British Columbia, where Mary's father Alexander died on 31 December, 1898.

Mamie married Frank Trites (Trites-250) at his residence in Steveston on 8 February, 1900, Rev. J. J. Whelan officiating. The bridegroom was Protestant, 27, and a Hotel Keeper, the bride 21 and Catholic, which is probably why they married at a private residence instead of in a Church. The witnesses were John A. Pitts and Maggie McHugh, both residents of Steveston^[4].

The 1901 Census shows Frank and Mary Trites living at dwelling #252, in Sub-District E, District No 2, New Westminster, British Columbia. There are three lodgers living with them, including Margaret Pitts, Mary's widowed mother^[5]. The census records that Frank is 28, born April 8, 1872 in New Brunswick, of German Origin, and a Baptist. Mary is 29 (an obvious error) born May 16, 1881 in Nova Scotia of French origin, and a Catholic. Margaret is 62, born in 1848 in Nova Scotia, of Scotch origin, and a Catholic. They all declare that they can read, write and speak English. Interestingly, there is nothing recorded for Frank's earnings, although that was a question on the census, however I note that this information is missing on all but a few lines on the Census, so providing this information may have been voluntary and he declined.

Mary gave birth to a stillborn son on November 6, 1904 and died just over one month later on December 11 of Tubercular Laryngitis^[6]. She is buried in St. Peter's Roman Catholic Cemetery in New Westminster with her son. Her headstone reads "Mary M. "Mamie", Beloved Wife Of Frank N. Trites, Died December 11, 1904 Aged 22 Years. Also An Infant Son. R.I.P."^[7].

Sources

1. ↑ Catholic Diocese of Antigonish; Nova Scotia, Canada; FHL Roll: 004113983, Nova Scotia, Canada, Antigonish Catholic Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1823-1905; Parish Record of Baptisms; Stella Maris Catholic Church, Pictou; 1879; for Mary Matilda Petipas, baptized 1 June 1879
2. ↑ Canada. "Census of Canada, 1881." Statistics Canada Fonds, Record Group 31-C-1. LAC microfilm C-13162 to C-13286. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa. Year: 1881; Census Place: Pictou, Pictou, Nova Scotia; Roll: C_13175; Page: 46; Family No: 223
3. ↑ Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1891. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2009. http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1891/Pages/about-census.aspx. Series RG31-C-1. Statistics Canada Fonds. Microfilm reels: T-6290 to T-6427. Year: 1891; Census Place: Pictou Town Ward 3, Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada; Roll: T-6319; Family No: 7
4. ↑ Registration of Marriage #73, Registration District of Vancouver, dated March 9, 1900, for Mary M. Pitts to Franklin N. Trites at Steveston, British Columbia, Canada.
5. ↑ Fourth Census of Canada, 1901. Province, British Columbia, District No. 2 New Westminster, S. District No. 6, page 24, lines 2-6.
6. ↑ Registration and Medical Certificate of Death for Mary M. Trites, Reg. No. 1904-09-23924.
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145111190/mary-m-trites : accessed 10 July 2022), memorial page for Mary M “Mamie” Pitts Trites (1881–11 Dec 1904), Find a Grave Memorial ID 145111190, citing Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Cemetery, New Westminster, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada ; Maintained by Margaret S (contributor 48065071) .