Rhoda Thomson (1863 - 1881)

Born 14 Dec 1863 in Scarborough Township, Canada West

Ancestors

Died 19 May 1881 at age 17 in Scarborough Township, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

Rhoda Thomson is born on December 14, 1863, in Scarborough Township, Canada West, the daughter of Barbara Paterson (1832-1904) and Archibald Parshall Thomson (1824-1894) [1][2]. She is baptised in St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bendal, Scarborough March 1864 [2].

Rhoda’s father is a farmer in Scarborough, and he spends all or most of his life on a farm in Lot 26, Concession 2 of Scarborough. This is just to the south of the village of Agincourt. In today’s terms, this is the southwest corner of Sheppard Avenue and Brimley Road in Toronto. Rhoda is likely born on this farm. Her paternal grandfather was also born and died in Scarborough Township and his father, Elizabeth’s great grandfather, had emigrated from Westerkirk, Dumfrieshire, Scotland to the United States in 1773. Her maternal grandparents and great grandparents had emigrated from Roxburghshire, Scotland in 1820 and were the original homesteaders on land between what is now Sheppard Avenue and Finch Avenue on Kennedy Road in Toronto, very close to her parent’s farm.

Rhoda can be found in the 1871 census records at the age of seven, living on the farm with her family [3]. She is still there, at the age of 17, in the 1881 census records [4].

Rhoda dies on May 19, 1881 and is buried in the cemetery of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church [5].

Sources

[1] 1968 Paterson family tree by Marjorie Paterson shows Rhodia (sic) as the 5th child of Barbara Paterson & Arch Thomson.

[2] St Andrew Presbyterian Church, Baptism Register: Rhoda was born on 14 Dec 1863 and baptized in March 1864. The Register shows “2 con” beside the name --- ie, they lived on the 2nd concession (presumably of Scarborough).

[3] 1871 census, Ontario 45 East York, Scarboro, Div 4, pg 18, household #58: Archibald Thomson (45) O. Ch Presby, Scotch, farmer; Barbara (38); Isabella (17); Lydia (15); Elizabeth (13), in school; Mary (11), in school; Rhoda (7); Barbara (5); Charolette (1).

[4] 1881 census, Ontario, York East 135, Scarborough (A) pg 21-22, household #109: Archibald Thomson (55); Barbara (48); Isabella (27), dressmaker; Lydia (25); Elizabeth (23); Mary (21), sales (?) woman; Rhoda (17); Barbara (15) ; Charolette (11).

[5] St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bendale, cemetery, headstone: “In memory of Rhoda THOMSON died May 19, 1881; aged 17 y’rs 5 mos & 5 days.” [row 29.4]

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Katharine E for creating WikiTree profile Thomson-2717 through the import of george thomson.ged on Jun 20, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Katharine and others.

The current biography was prepared by Fred Paterson Nix on abt Nov 26, 2013 (revised Nov 2022). Fred and Rhoda are first cousins, three times removed.