Category: Andrew

Family Keepsake - Handcrafted Stained Glass Sun Catcher - #8 (52 ancestors)

2/26/2018

Theme: Heirloom

This heart-shaped stained glass sun catcher was handcrafted by my Aunt Eleanor (ANDREW) Jones at a class she once took, almost certainly in Duncan BC Canada where she lived. Although I don't know what year it was made, I do know that from the start, she intended it to be a birthday present for her oldest sister, my mother Mabel Marion (ANDREW, HENSON) Taylor. She chose a heart because Mom's birthday was on Valentine's Day. The design included leaves and stems and a single flower, probably because Aunt Eleanor loved to garden. So it was a very personalized and appropriate gift, for sure.

After Mom passed away in 2000, I brought this lovely keepsake home with me, and decided it need to be admired rather than stored away in a box. I chose our west-facing dining room window to hang it in, where the afternoon sun could bring its design and colours to life. And it was there every time we looked out the window into our garden. In hindsight, I should have checked the suction cups more often, as one day in 2013 they let go and in the fall, a section of the clear glass was broken. Oh no! I was heartbroken (pun not intended - well, maybe partly intended!) Still beautiful but damaged, I didn't want it to come to further harm. So since then, it's been stored it in a red heart-shaped box to keep it safe. I wish I knew how to repair it, but then again, doing so would remove some of her handiwork which I'm reluctant to do.

I am sad to say that I never confessed to Aunt Eleanor that her beautiful creation had been damaged. She passed away in 2016 without knowing. Yet I still treasure this sun catcher, and her thoughtfulness in creating something so special for my Mom.

A stained glass sun catcher, a gift to my Mom and handcrafted by her sister Eleanor Jones .

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Mabel Marion ANDREW (1918-2000) - Valentine Birthday - #7 (52 ancestors)

2/18/2018

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Theme: Valentine

On Valentine’s Day, I posted a birthday card to my mother, who would have celebrated her 100th birthday on that very day if she was still with us. We always thought it was extra special that she was born on the holiday that celebrated love and devotion, which she certainly gave to us. So we had a double reason to celebrate, and still do. So many happy memories. I now want to continue her story in celebration of her life.

Mabel (ANDREW) HENSON with her two daughters. In honour of her 100th Valentines Day birthday, 14 Feb 2018

Mabel Marion ANDREW, probably in Summerside, PEI

Mabel Marion ANDREW was born 14 Feb 1918 just before the end of WWI on her family farm in North St Eleanors, Prince Edward Island on the east coast of Canada. She was the oldest daughter and second of seven children born to Harry ANDREW and Nell RICHARDSON, and the namesake of her paternal Aunt Mabel MAY who did not have any children. There was work to do on the farm, and all children helped out as soon as they were able. Mom helped care for her younger siblings and was known to work in the fields and garden. But there was also school and church to attend, and many relatives and friends to visit. I grew up on the other side of the country, hearing about the many places and people that occupied my mother’s childhood rural farming community in PEI.

Distances were not large on PEI, but it wasn’t until my teenage years when I looked at a map of PEI (Canada’s smallest province) that I realized the true scale of the place. Prince Edward Island is only 3 miles across from shore to shore in that particular part of Prince County! North St Eleanors is on the north shore and Summerside on the southern shore, but still they are at most 3 miles apart. My perspective underwent a rather abrupt reality check that day. It was literally a “small world”! Now of course Summerside has grown and spread, and the two communities have since amalgamated.

Mom’s generation lived through the post-war recovery years of the 1920s, followed by the stock market crash of 1929 and the depression in the 1930s. While everyone needed food, the price that farmers could get for their crops was often less than the cost of labour to harvest them. My grandfather once told the story of having to abandon a field of turnips because he couldn’t afford to dig them up. It was a very hard time. Then WWII started and in 1941 the family farm was taken over by the government as part of the new air base and training centre for Atlantic Canada, where my grandfather later got work as a boiler man. I don’t think he was too sad to see the farm go.

Barely attaining adulthood by 1939, WWII took away so many of these young men and even women in my mother’s generation while in their prime. Their lives and their families were turned upside down during the six war years, by life altering experiences both at home and abroad. Mom’s life was no exception, as three of her brothers were old enough to enlist including Dean ANDREW who was critically injured while oversees. My Mom had already finished 10 years of school by then, which was as high as grade school went at that time. She moved to Summerside and got a clerical job there in the legal office of a relative Lowell Compton. According to one of her brothers: "She had this job after she left school. She proved very good at it. She had a good mind, and picked up the 'legalese'. It was a Compton firm she worked for." Mom also made new friends, and seemed to enjoy her new freedom and responsibilities. Her best friend during this time was Betty Manderson, known as “Mandy”, who may have been a nurse.

The following photos, many taken by Mom's uncle Fred MAY, give us a glimpse at her earlier years living in Prince Edward Island.

On right: Mabel HENSON holding daughter Claudia
On left: her sister Harriet CLARK and daughter Elaine, in SookeBC

I have already written about Mabel ANDREW's life in the period after WWII, and her decision in 1947 to travel on her own all the way across Canada, leaving her mother, her sister Harriet, and her maternal grandparents behind. Mom’s new life started on the west coast, near the town of Duncan on Vancouver Island, where her father, some of her other siblings, and her aunt and uncle Fred and Mabel May had recently moved. Mom first lived with her parents in a house on Herd Road north of Duncan before the family moved into Duncan, buying a small 2 bedroom house on Garden Street on the east side of the railway tracks.

At some point she met my father Claude Angus HENSON, a veteran as well as a miner and logger, whose sister Ethel KING lived in the area. In 1952 Claude and Mabel moved to Sooke, west of Victoria, and my sister and I were born in rapid succession. Then in 1954, tragedy struck when Claude was killed in a logging accident, leaving the whole family in shock and devastated.

Mom moved back to Duncan with her babies and once again moved in with her parents; it must have been a tight squeeze in their small house. She found work in the nearby Cowichan Senior Secondary School Office (where I later graduated). In 1959 her Aunt Mabel MAY (nee ANDREW) died, and as her namesake, Mom inherited her 2-bedroom house at 667 Coronation Ave in Duncan. She met John Gilbert TAYLOR, an English bachelor who was part owner of Taylor Bros Logging with his brother Geoffrey TAYLOR. He was known as Gilbert and lived in a boarding house two doors down the street from her house. I know very little of their short courtship except that their first date was square dancing in Mill Bay on the outdoor platform which used to be visible from the highway. Mom finally learned to drive using Gilbert’s large red and white Oldsmobile. And she gave up smoking.

Gilbert TAYLOR and Mabel HENSON arriving at the
Duncan United Church for their wedding, 3 Jun 1960

Mom and Gilbert were married 3 Jun 1960 at the United Church in Duncan. Gilbert moved into Mom’s house and Mom quit her job to became a full time housewife. Under legal guidance and following the convention at that time, they both adopted me and my sister the following year, and legally changed our last name from HENSON to TAYLOR. I was not happy about the name change as I was old enough to know what was happening and I realized I was losing the surname given to me by my birth father. But I had absolutely no say in the matter.

In the summer of 1963, they sold Mom’s house in town and bought a farm 5 miles out of Duncan on the old Cowichan Lake Road, between Tansor and Sahtlam. Gilbert proceeded to log part of the property between the house and the road. This may have been necessary for financial reasons, but it was upsetting to lose most of the beautiful large evergreens, and created an awful eyesore that he made little effort to properly landscape. There were more adjustments needed because of the more isolated location, where we needed to bus to new schools, make new friends and meet new neighbours. And visiting my mother’s relatives was no longer within walking distance. We were on well water and septic tanks, and had to be very frugal with our water use, especially in the summertime.

Mabel TAYLOR and her parents Harry and Nell ANDREW
at Claudia's wedding in Duncan in 1974

In the 1970s, Mom let her girls “fly the coup” at an early age to make their own way in the world, but she continued to be there whenever we needed her. She was there to help me find a place to stay when I moved 40 miles away to Victoria to attend university. In 1974 she was there when I was married in her church in Duncan, although Gilbert refused to give me away or have anything to do with the wedding. She was there to accompany me to Vancouver just after my younger son was born and needed surgery at the BC Children’s Hospital. She traveled down to the US to visit my sister and help out when her boys were young. Just to name a few examples. Mom did not like to drive over the winding Malahat, necessary if she wanted to visit us, and I regret that our visits to Duncan to visit her were not nearly often enough. In spite of keeping busy on the farm, she must have been quite lonely as Gilbert was not very social and they rarely went out to social events.

In the 1990s, Gilbert decided to buy Mom a house without consulting her, and purchased a 2-bedroom bungalow off of Gibbins Road closer to Duncan. I think the idea was to replace the house she already had when he married her. With the farm not sold, he didn’t stay at the new place that often. And then he announced that he was leaving Mom after over 30 years of marriage. He contacted my sister, then living in the US, and told her to come back home to look after Mom, and in 1995 she arrived with her two sons. It was a hard time for everyone. Gilbert subsequently sold the farm, moved out of the area and remarried twice after Mom died. In the end, he refused contact with my sister and I.

Mom returned to her Anglican faith, and was an active member of St Johns Church where she joined the various women’s groups. She helped out at church bazaars and when closing time approached, she was wont to buy some of the remaining knick-knacks, especially those made by children. They usually ended up in our Christmas packages. It was a lesson in charity and in showing appreciation for their creative efforts.

Never one to complain, Mom nevertheless suffered from arthritis, and underwent knee and hip replacement surgeries in later years. She was active with the Arthritis Society as well. After she turned 80 she would admit that she felt tired and seemed to really need that morning cup of coffee to get going. We all wrote it off as age related, but not long after her 82nd birthday in April 2000, she was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Like many in her generation, she had smoked for a number of years as a young adult, but quit in 1960. Although she never smoked after that, the cancer developed and spread to the lymph nodes, and she was given 6 months to live. Yet just over 3 weeks later on 20 May 2000, Mom passed away in hospital with us all by her bedside. We strongly believe that she chose that day to leave us, as it was the anniversary of her first husband Claude HENSON’s accidental death back in 1954. It took 46 years, but she was finally together with him again.

Mabel’s obituary was published on page 25 of the Cowichan Valley Citizen, Duncan BC on May 24, 2000:

“TAYLOR, MABEL MARION (nee ANDREW)
Passed away peacefully at Cowichan District Hospital on Saturday May 20, 2000, following a short encounter with lung cancer.
Born February 14, 1918, North St. Eleanors, PEI. Moved to Duncan BC 1947. Predeceased by husband Claude Angus Henson (1954), brother George (1976), father Harry Charles (1985), mother Eleanor Louise (nee Richardson) (1992).
Lovingly remembered by daughters Claudia (Terry) Boorman, Vivian Lucas; grandsons Russell and Colin Boorman, William and Warren Lucas; siblings Dean Andrew, Harriet (Charles) Clark, Alan (Doreen) Andrew, Eleanor (Vernon) Jones, Sydney (Barbara) Andrew; numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Service at St. John's Anglican Church, Jubilee Street, Duncan BC, 2pm Friday May 26. Private burial of ashes in St. Mary's Cemetery at later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cowichan Valley Arthritis Society, Canadian Cancer Society or St. John's Anglican Church.”

Mom had arranged to be buried in St Marys Anglican cemetery (the Church has been moved elsewhere, but their cemetery remains on Somenos Road), where her parents are also buried. Claude had been buried just down the road in the Municipal cemetery. But after Mom's memorial service, my sister and I were not yet ready to bury her ashes. Six years later we eventually buried her on the anniversary of Claude’s funeral, in a small private ceremony also attended by a few relatives. All considered, we thought that was the most appropriate time and way to put her to rest.

At the time of her memorial service, the outpouring of love for Mom was extremely heartwarming, and the church was packed to overflowing. One of my cousins shared the following testimonial about Mom, which speaks to both her character and her lasting legacy:

"Aunt Mabel was such a constant in our early lives, partly because of Dad’s powerful affection for her and partly because of his work with Gilbert and his brother. At any rate, because we saw her so often, especially out in the country, I have more of a “sense” of Aunt Mabel than specific recollections. Whenever we arrived, Aunt Mabel was hard at work. But, like Granny, she always had something to offer those of us who dropped in – juice or milk for the kids, tea for the grownups, and usually some cake or cookies. She always made sure we were warm enough and sat us down by the fire or heater – I guess what I think of is that sense of safety and comfort, with grown-ups talking in another room. I do remember going haying at Aunt Mabel’s when we were slightly older: she did up all or most of the food that day, and we had so much fun getting hay stuck in our hair and cutting our fingers. As with all of Dad’s sisters, food was a very important element of get-togethers, and provided the glue that kept the family in touch with one another.

I know that Dad loved Aunt Mabel very much. He was a close friend of Claude’s and I think, after his death, Aunt Mabel’s welfare was often a subject of concern for him. It pained him that she had to work so hard on the farm. I find that Dad’s love for Mabel and Eleanor (and theirs for him) has shaped my own feelings of tenderness for those two. And, like you, I was often struck by how smart Mabel was and how interested in the world – especially when I called to visit in later years."

Another cousin shared a story by her Dad about Mom and her inexperience with controlling horses. It seems that Mom was not a natural rider. I think the horses must have sensed her lack of resolve and knew she wouldn't hurt them, so they took advantage!

It's always revealing to learn other people's memories or impressions of a person we both know. These comments about my Mom were very touching, and I heartily agree. Yet I often saw the other side of Mom that liked to keep in the background and not "force" her opinions, wishes or thoughts on others, even though she did have some strong opinions. She also had a wonderful sense of humour. She was such a caring person, and always seemed to put others first. It was not her way to "rock the boat" and she was rarely outwardly assertive. Mom had her share of insecurities (don't we all?), often second guessing what would be best to do or say or act. I know she carried a lot of guilt around with her about some of the decisions she had made at various times in her life, perceiving they had caused others harm. But she kept the details about the hard times to herself. Although I felt that she was being overly hard on herself, it's difficult to see things from her perspective without more details. I so wanted to reassure her that she really was a wonderful person, but didn't really know how to make her believe it. She WAS smart but I remember her being self-depreciating about that too. We once talked about the final grades she got in school at the end grade 10. If memory serves me, she said she graduated in all but 1 subject. Her best subject was math (perhaps 80%?), but she didn't quite make it in history (perhaps 48 or 49%?) (dear knows where my notes on that little story are so I can't check the details). She obviously regretted that failure. I look on the positive side and celebrate her successes and her strengths and her caring nature.

As mentioned above, food was always at the centre of hospitality for the Andrew women. And I remember those haying "parties" too, when many gathered to help with the work, so needed to be fed (a farmer's wife's duty!) One year was particularly hot when I helped out in the field, stacking, loading and unloading bails of hay. Hard work for sure. Other years I helped Mom in the kitchen and delivered rounds of food and drink to the fields or barn. During the rest of the year we had a herd of polled Hereford cattle to care for. I remember one year after calving season I helped with the paperwork to register the new arrivals, and my Mom was very grateful for my efforts. I enjoyed doing it because I got to dream up appropriate official names for the calves, based in part on their official pedigree. Perhaps that was the first sign of my budding interest in our family’s genealogy!

In 2013 I created a photo book titled “ANDREW, RICHARDSON, COMPTON - Ancestry of Mabel Marion ANDREW HENSON TAYLOR 1918-2000“. It's an overview of the family, with limited text linking the photos and the people together. If interested, you can view all the pages of this book on the Shutterfly website via a link in a previous post: “A Picture Book About My Mother and Her Ancestors”.

Mabel TAYLOR with her mother Nell ANDREW, daughter Claudia and 2 grandsons. 4 generations in 1990.

Mom, we love and miss you and thank you for all your love and your gentle heart. You will forever be my special Valentine. Rest in peace.

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Happy Birthday, Dear Mom

2/14/2018

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Wishing today that my Mom, Mabel Marion (ANDREW) HENSON TAYLOR,
was still with us on what would have been her 100th birthday this Valentine's Day.

We miss you, Mom! Here's a birthday card for you,
with love from your two daughters and four grandsons.

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ANDREW Cousins At My First Family Reunion - #2 (52 ancestors)

1/13/2018

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Theme: Favorite Photo

Harry & Nell ANDREW with 14 of their grandchildren, 1959, Duncan, BC, Canada

This picture, taken in the summer of 1959, is important because it truly represents FAMILY to me. It captures a precious moment at an important event in my childhood, when I was surrounded by cousins at a reunion of my mother Mabel ANDREW’s immediate family. This photo was taken by my Uncle Charlie CLARK (husband of my mother’s sister Harriet ANDREW) in their large back yard in Duncan, BC, Canada. It shows a somewhat disorderly group, featuring my maternal grandparents Harry Charles ANDREW and Eleanor Louise "Nell" RICHARDSON with many of their grandchildren. It must have been hard trying to corral this large group of young children for the photo!

Uncle Charlie told me in later years that, not only did he take this picture (I forget the exact details of the make and model of the camera which he clearly remembered), but he also developed the film himself and made a limited number of copies for family. A man of many talents! I doubt that the negative has survived, but thankfully some of the copies have.

This event was the first organized reunion of my mother’s ANDREW family that I attended. It was also their first full reunion that I know of since the end of WWII when parts of this family moved their base camp from the Prince Edward Island (PEI) on the east coast of Canada to Vancouver Island (BC) on the west coast. Mom’s brother George ANDREW settled in Ontario, and another brother Alan ANDREW re-enlisted in the Air Force, so was stationed in a number of locations. But in 1959, the other siblings were all living in Duncan, BC, close at hand for the reunion.

Growing up, I learned that I was one of 21 grandchildren on my mother’s side, all born between 1946 and 1964. We were the offspring (natural and adopted) of Harry and Nell ANDREW’s 7 children. So my sister and I had 19 maternal cousins, and I am so proud of that! In this photo I see only 12 of these grandchildren, with 2 others hidden. In 1959, 5 cousins had not been born yet, one was a toddler and probably napping, and the last one missed the photo. I’m the one wearing glasses, sitting cross-legged right in front.

This reunion was also memorable because it was the first time I had met my Ontario cousins. George had 4 girls and the youngest one is only 4 months older that me. So I remember being very excited to meet them. Three of these new cousins are in the above photo, and I don’t know why the 4th one was missed. Perhaps she wasn’t feeling well, or was camera shy.

There were other photos taken that day, and in the days surrounding the reunion, that expand and enhance the story told by this photo. I can't help but include 4 of them:

My grandparents Harry and Nell ANDREW in front of their house on Garden Street in Duncan BC where I lived with them for at least 4 years of my early childhood. In this photo they are likely waiting for a ride to the reunion, only a short distance away. I never knew them to have their own car.
Harry & Nell ANDREW with their 7 children, organized in order of birth: George, Mabel, Dean, Harriet, Alan, Eleanor and Syd. It was to be a very rare event for all 7 to be together. I’m not even sure if they every did again, as George ANDREW died of cancer in 1976. As of 2017, they have sadly all passed.
This is the whole reunion group: Harry & Nell, their 7 children with 5 spouses, and 16 grandchildren. I count 30 people plus Charlie who took the photo.
A group photo in front of a huge tree was likely taken in Goldstream Park just north of Victoria. Charlie and Harriet CLARK and 4 children took a road trip with the visiting George & June ANDREW & 4 girls from Ontario, and Alan and Bobby ANDREW. Charlie CLARK took the photo. Missing from the photo is George ANDREW.

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Rest in Peace, Aunt Eleanor (ANDREW) JONES

5/23/2016

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Eleanor Isabel JONES (nee ANDREW) (1927 - 2016)

On Tuesday 8 March 2016, my mother's youngest sister Eleanor JONES unexpectedly but peacefully slipped away while in the hospital for some tests. She was one month shy of her 89th birthday. Even in death, she was independent. As was her nature, she didn't complain and didn't want to inconvenience anyone. She just quietly went to sleep.

Eleanor Isabel ANDREW was born on 11 Apr 1927 on the family farm in North St Eleanors, Prince Edward Island near Summerside, the youngest daughter of Harry Charles ANDREW and Eleanor Louise "Nell" RICHARDSON. After their farm was sold during WWII to become part of the new air base, many in her family decided to make a new life on the west coast. Over a period of several years (1945-1953), most travelled across Canada to Vancouver Island, settling in the Duncan area in the Cowichan Valley. On Dec 17, 1945, Eleanor and her brother Alan ANDREW traveled mainly by train from PEI and arrived in Vancouver BC on Christmas Day. Their last stop was on Vancouver Island where they reunited with at least their brother Dean ANDREW. Others would soon follow.

Eleanor met her husband Vernon G JONES at a dance, and they were married on 12 Nov 1949 in Duncan BC. They remained there for the rest of their lives, raising three caring sons in a loving home, remodeling and maintaining their house and garden on Beech Avenue.

A celebration of life was held on 30 Apr 2016 in Duncan. Almost all of Eleanor's immediate family attended, along with other relatives, friends, and neighbors. There was no shortage of stories about this very special woman. Some in attendance were brave enough to stand in front of the microphone so everyone could hear their thoughts and memories. My sister was among them and I was grateful that she shared memories for both of us. It was a real gift to hear all these stories about different aspects of Eleanor's life, and to meet those who shared these experiences with her. Of course there was also time to offer more private condolences during the reception, with hugs all around.

I have many fond memories of my visits with Aunt Eleanor, especially in more recent years, sometimes at restaurant lunches and at larger family gatherings which she often hosted. Quiet but strong-willed, with a ready laugh and wonderful sense of humour, she was always a joy to be with.

Aunt Eleanor LOVED seafood!

Adding to her memorial gathering, Eleanor's granddaughter and her friend prepared a very moving slideshow of special family photos through the years, some of which I had never seen before. There was also a table filled with photos and documents, including her 1949 marriage certificate (showing the signature of my mother Mabel ANDREW as one of the witnesses), and her shorthand qualification cards. Uncle Syd, Eleanor's younger brother who attended, told me that Eleanor had learned shorthand and then worked for the Fox Breeders Association while still in PEI - a glimpse at another unknown part of Aunt Eleanor's life.

There was also a picture on display of Aunt Eleanor taken on board a cruise ship during a crab eating contest. She loved seafood! Although it looked like the huge mound of crab in front of her was for her sole consumption (no seafood pun intended), I was told that she had help from two others at her table. In spite of being outnumbered by those at other tables, Eleanor's hearty appetite and enthusiasm helped her table secure second place. Way to go!

We were also treated to a musical interlude by Eleanor's niece Lorelei, who chose to honour Aunt Eleanor by singing "Keep On the Sunny Side". This song was first popularized by the Carter Family in 1928, the year after Eleanor was born. Lorelei was accompanied by her partner Guy on guitar, and many joined in on the chorus. She explained that "I thought this song was fitting because Aunt Eleanor, while being sensitive to others' feelings and not a stranger to life's challenges and troubles, had the ability to keep such a positive outlook. I think her cheerfulness was one of her many gifts." Well said, Lorelei, and well sung:)

Aunt Eleanor's ashes were also in attendance at the celebration of her life, ensconced in a beautifully decorated wooden marquetry box, hand crafted by her niece Elaine for this purpose. So she was very well "dressed" for the occasion.

The following day on 1 May 2016, Eleanor's ashes were buried with her husband Vern in the Mountain View Cemetery on Somenos Road outside of Duncan. Never forgotten.

A touching obituary written by her family was published on 6 Apr 2016 in the Cowichan Valley Citizen, page 25:

Jones, Eleanor Tuesday, 08 Mar 2016
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Eleanor Jones after a brief stay at Cowichan District Hospital, one month short of her 89th birthday.

Eleanor was predeceased by her husband Vernon in 2000 as well as her parents and 5 siblings. She is survived by her three sons Kerry (Cindy), Daryl (Cindy), and Michael (Gillian); her eight grandchildren Christopher, Candace, Sarah, Paul (Jennifer), Pamela (Matt), Evan, Graeme, and Colin; two great-grandchildren Connor and Aubrey; one brother Sid Andrew (Barb); sister-in-law Elaine Jones (Tom Browne); and numerous nieces and nephews.

Eleanor was the second youngest of seven children born in North St. Eleanors, P.E.I. to Eleanor (Nell) and Harry Andrew. She was a strong, independent and positive person, who gardened with great skill and was very resourceful in maintaining her home of 60 plus years. She bought a much wanted truck at 77 years old, loved her computer, and was always interested in the latest technology. Eleanor loved family gatherings, seafood dinners, and going out for lunch. She was well-liked by all who met her and much loved by her family, who were not expecting to lose her so suddenly. Mom will be sadly missed.

The family would like to thank Dr. Nadine Robertson, Beth (CDH), Kelly (Home Care) for all their help, and the Duncan Fire Department, which was a big part of Eleanor and Vernon’s life.

A celebration of her life will be held in the near future. [held 30 Apr 2016]
Online condolences may be made at www.hwwallacecbc.com

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Harriet Washbourne COMPTON (1849-1923) - #51 (52 Ancestors)

12/22/2015

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Theme: Nice | Images: Click on many to enlarge

Harriet Washbourne ANDREW (nee COMPTON), PEI Canada

My mother Mabel Marion ANDREW was only five when her paternal grandmother Harriet Washbourne ANDREW nee COMPTON died in 1923 at the age of 74. It would have been nice if my Mom had been granted even a few more years to enjoy her Granny Andrew. My grandfather Harry Charles ANDREW was the youngest of Harriet’s nine children, born when Harriet was forty, so she was almost 69 when my mother was born. It’s also sad that Harriet died before she could meet four of her twenty-nine grandchildren, and that she outlived her youngest daughter Sadie who died in 1906 at the age of twenty.

Harriet Washbourne COMPTON was the oldest of eleven children born to Albert “Harry” COMPTON and Mary Robinson COATES on 8 May 1849 in St Eleanors, Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada. She was four months old when she was baptized on 9 Jul 1949 in St Johns Anglican Church, St Eleanors. Her grandfather Thomas Compton COMPTON emigrated as a teen in 1803 from Hampshire England to PEI with his father Harry Childeroy COMPTON. Harriet's middle name WASHBOURNE (multiple spellings found) has been traced to her maternal grandmother Sarah ROBINSON whose older sister Harriet ROBINSON (born 1790) married a Henry WASHBOURN in Norfolk England, but didn’t have any children. So Mary decided to carry on this name through her own daughter - a bit of a twist on a family tradition, I think.

Harriet grew up to be a tiny woman with a round face and apple cheeks, quite the contrast to her tall, long-faced husband William ANDREW, a first generation Islander whom she married on 27 Oct 1870 in St Johns Anglican Church, St Eleanors. She was 21. Harriet's daughter Delores (Dot) looked the most like her. I have no first hand accounts of Harriet’s personality but I must assume that she was a loving and “nice” person, judging by her descendants! Fortunately some photos of her have survived, and in general I sense a quiet, kind nature. The exception is earliest photo where she looks rather severe and tense, perhaps because she is trying to keep still for the photo and follow tradition by not smiling. Could this formal portrait have been taken as early as her marriage in 1870? The other photos were taken when she was much older, some not long before her death.

Grave of William and Harriet ANDREW and their daughter Sadie,
St Johns Anglican Cemetery, St Eleanors, PEI

William and Harriet operated their family farm of about 200 acres in St Eleanors PEI on land once owned by her great-grandfather Harry Childeroy COMPTON (see my posting on William ANDREW for more details of their homestead). There was always work to do: tending the garden, crops and animals, as well as raising, feeding and clothing their nine children: Alice, Albert, Delores, Horace, Isa, Fanny, Mabel, Sadie and Harry. Everyone had to pitch in to help with the chores as they grew old enough. Their children were born there between 1871 and 1889; many went by their middle names. One photo shows Harriet sitting on a couch, busily mending a blanket. No idle hands allowed! They were thrifty, took care of what they owned, and made items last as long as possible.

Harriet's youngest living daughter Mabel Hetty ANDREW graduated as a nurse in Charlottetown in 1918, and likely worked for a short time afterwards in that city. But her father William ANDREW’s health was failing and she may have returned to St Eleanors to care for him before his death on 19 Jul 1920. Certainly by 1921 Mabel was living with her widowed mother Harriet in St Eleanors next to her brother Harry and family (I think that Harriet and Mabel had their own apartment sectioned off in what had become Harry ANDREW’s home). Harriet only lived another two years, dying in 1923. Five of her ten younger siblings had died before her.

Harriet and William ANDREW are buried together in the St Johns Anglican Cemetery. A memorial plaque in their honour was later mounted inside the church by their growing family, unveiled by the youngest of their twenty-nine grand children in 1938. At last count, they had sixty-eight great children (although there may be some I don't yet know about), and many younger descendants. Although Harriet and her husband lived their whole lives on Prince Edward Island, I don't believe that any of her descendants still live there.

I have posted additional information on my ANDREW and COMPTON families elsewhere on this website.

"52 Ancestors" is a reference to the "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge I am participating in.
Reference the No Story Too Small blog by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow for more details.
It is giving me the much needed incentive to write and publish my family stories.

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Major Frederick Farrer MAY (1883-1951) - #45 (52 Ancestors)

11/12/2015

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Theme: Veteran | Images: Click on many to enlarge
Updated: 16 Nov 2015 - added photo and posting with 1st Depot Battalion, NB, 1918

Shortly after I started this blog in 2012, I wrote of my “Remembrance Day Thoughts” about my uncles Dean ANDREW, George ANDREW and Alan ANDREW and their cousin Ben ANDREW (all WWII veterans) and about the sacrifices of war in general. I’ve also written about my great-uncle Albert Edward ANDREW who earned a Military Cross for his bravery in WWI, and Terry’s father William Irvine BOORMAN who served in the Canadian Navy during WWII.

Major Frederick Farrar MAY
Canadian 26th New Brunswick Battalion, WWI

On this Remembrance Day I’d like to honor the life and military service of my Great Uncle Major Frederick Farrar MAY who married my grandfather’s sister Hetty Mabel ANDREW in St Johns Anglican Church, St Eleanors, Prince Edward Island on 21 Jul 1921. He was a banker and an army man as well as a veteran of WWI.

Fred was the only child of Robert MAY Jr. and Henrietta Farrer STEWART. There is some confusion about the year of his birth. His baptism record says he was born 18 Oct 1883 in Charlottetown PEI, but was baptized 16 Dec 1880 (3 years earlier). His parents were married in 1879, so either year could be true, but Fred’s military records confirm his birth in 1883. When Fred was less than six months old, his father died in Apr 1884 at the age of 32. According to a brief biographical note published in the Charlottetown Guardian in 1934, his father Robert MAY Jr. was born in St Malo, Brittany, France where Fred’s grandfather Robert May Sr. served as the British Vice Consul. Robert Sr retired to St Helier Channel Islands then emigrating to PEI sometime before his son Robert’s marriage in 1879. Fred descends from a proud and distinguished line.

Fred’s mother Henrietta was dealt a double blow when her father died the same year as her husband. She was left to raise her young son alone; she never remarried. Her STEWART ancestors were originally from Scotland via London who became well-to-do land owners in PEI. Henrietta was born in Charlottetown in 1848.

Fred F May and his buggy. Aug 1921. Home from their honeymoon.

Fred was sent to military school at quite a young age; I think he had quite a strict upbringing and was certainly not used to children, having no siblings and perhaps not much opportunity for unstructured play at home or at school. After his mother died late in 1920, Fred married Mabel ANDREW the following summer. They were both 38 years of age. They built a house near Mabel's ANDREW and COMPTON relatives in St Eleanors PEI. At times Fred was overwhelmed amid the noise and social dynamics of this large family. They were a boisterous bunch.

Mabel wanted a family of her own, but tragically their only child was stillborn. Fred’s in-laws made him feel more than welcome, resulting in his peace being continually interrupted with visits from his many ANDREW nieces and nephews and other relatives. There were family picnics, gatherings and outings to contend with, as well as at least one family trip to Nova Scotia to visit Mabel’s oldest brother. Fred was often enlisted to chauffeur visiting relatives in his horse and buggy or sleigh, and later his automobile. And we can be grateful that he had an interest in photography. As the first one with a camera, he was counted on to capture family events on film.

My Aunt Harriet (ANDREW) CLARK once told me a wonderful story about her Uncle Fred MAY. He liked to dress up his nephews and even his wife in his army uniform. She said he was scared of kids and didn’t know how to act with them. Harriet used to visit them a lot and help out with baking, dusting and looking at photo albums to avoid dusting! At first, she was intimidated by her Uncle Fred until she discovered his weak point: shortbread. One day he came into the kitchen to sneak some of the shortbread she was making and whispered in her ear "Don’t tell your aunt!" Harriet realized he was just like a big kid, and was better after that.

Captain Fred MAY is second from the right, shown with his fellow officers of the 26th Battalion before leaving New Brunswick for England.
26th Battn. Officers, 4/15. (Left to Right) :
Capt. A.O. Dawson, Capt. Alex McMillan, Major A.E.G. McKenzie, Lt. E. Alban Sturdee, Lt. Col. J.L.McAerty, O.C. Capt. (Rev.) E.B. Hooper, Capt. W.R. Brown (Adjutant), Capt. F.F. May, and Lt. Gordon M. Johnston.
(From Fred MAY’s photo albums, in his own handwriting.)

Fred had a distinguished military career. Back in 1906, Fred was appointed as an Officer in the Active Militia of the Dominion of Canada to the 62nd Regiment of the St. John Fusiliers on Sept. 14, 1906, starting rank: Lieutenant. By 1911 he and his mother were living in a boarding house on Union Street in St John, New Brunswick where he was stationed. In Aug 1914 Canada committed to fighting in WWI and Fred enlisted in St John on 2 Nov 1914 as an existing officer. He was awarded the rank of Captain with the newly-formed Canadian 26th New Brunswick Battalion, known as the "Fighting 26th". The 26th New Brunswick Battalion was one of the first twelve battalions of the Second Canadian Division. According to his attestation papers, Fred declared himself to be a banker with 17 previous years of military experience: 5 years in the Charlottetown Engineers, 2 years in the 4th C.A. and 10 years in the 62nd Regiment. So his military involvement must date back to about 1897 when he was only 14.

The 26th Battalion website says that their original battalion of 1250 left for the battlefront in France on 13 Jun 2015 and fought in many major battles. Included is a fairly detailed overview of this battalion’s movements and engagements published originally on newsprint. The battalion sailed for Britain aboard the Caledonia steamship and trained in Kent England where they were reviewed by the King of England on 2 Sep 1915 at Beachborough Park near the camp grounds. Camp was broken Sep 13, and they crossed from Folkestone, landing at Boulogne Sep 14. They took a train from Pont-aux-Birque to Wisernes then marched to Renescure then to Bailleuil, 5 miles back from firing line. The 26th Battalion first located at Kemmel-Vierstadt near Poperinghe and Ypres in Belgium, on the right hand side of this spur in the German line. They began fighting in trenches Sep 21 2015.

Fred’s portrait is included at least three times on the 26th Battalion’s website. One caption reads:

Captain F.F. May who was wounded in the early months of the unit’s occupancy of the front line, when a high explosive shell demolished a dug-out in which he was seated. He is now Deputy Chief Recruiting Officer for New Brunswick and hope to return to the front with the new army.

The family version of this story says that Fred May was injured in WWI when he was buried alive by a shell at Ypres and was dug out by his men. So exactly where and when was Fred wounded? I have now "unearthed" some of the details. While the 26th Battalion was still in the area surrounding Ypres, their Company A was involved in a brief but important offensive on 13 Oct 2015 which they called the “Crater Fight”. A further mention is made of Fred on the above website:

Capt. F.F. May, a reliable officer of C company soon after the crater fight was seriously wounded by a shell explosion. He is only now fully recovering from the effects of the wounds, and it is expected that he will take an imporant appointment in the new army.

From this I assumed that Fred was injured near Ypres sometime in the latter half of October 2015, only about a month after arriving at the Western Front. Then I located the war diaries of the 26th Battalion and found two additional notes about Fred:

27 Oct 1915, K & L Trenches:
“Major E.E.G. McKenzie, Capt. F. F. May and Lieut. F. E. Lockhart with 50 men from the Battn. attend an inspection by His Majesty the King at the village of Loere [?] His Majesty was accompanied by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.” ...
1 Nov 1915, Scherpenberg:
“Very rainy. Battn attended baths at Westontre [sic]. Capt. F. F. May wounded.”

Major Frederick Farrer MAY, commanding officer of "A" Company,
1st Depot Battalion, New Brunswick Regiment

Although I was very grateful to learn the exact date of Fred's injuries, these entries brought up additional questions (of course!). It doesn't say exactly how Fred was wounded, although that was explained in published story of the 26th Battalion (as above). While the rest of the battalion was assigned to the "K & L Trenches" on Oct 27, Fred was lucky enough to represent the 26th Batallion to the King of England. What an honor! Then just five days later when the Battalion was assigned to their billets in Sherpenberg (quite a distance away the other side of Antwerp according to recent maps), and enjoying the baths in Westouter (close to Ypres and Poperinge), Fred seems to have been on duty in the trenches. Surely he would not have been wounded in the baths! So Fred's assignments seem to have been at odds with his battalion in general. From the surrounding entries in the war diary, they had been getting heavy rains for weeks, the weather had turned cold, and the trenches were flooding and collapsing and in need of constant attention. So the shell explosion that wounded Fred must surely have also buried him in wet, cold, heavy mud. What a terrifying experience that must have been.

Once Fred was fit to travel, he would have been transported back to Canada, and likely continued his convalescence at the hospital in Charlottetown PEI. The family thinks this may be where he met his future bride Mabel ANDREW, who was a nurse in training there at that time. Once recovered, Fred returned to New Brunswick where he continued to serve in his new army postings. He probably made frequent trips over to PEI. I don’t believe he saw any further action overseas. From family photos we know that in 1918 Fred was the Commanding Officer of Company "A", 1st Depot Battalion, New Brunswick. This battalion was formed on 15 Apr 1918 to provide reinforcements for the 26th Battalion and other reserves, and at least some of their training was held at Camp Sussex.

At some point Fred’s mother returned to Charlottetown and then became ill. She passed away after the war on 14 Dec 1920, and Fred arranged a private funeral for her two days later, with burial at St Peters Cemetery in Charlottetown. On the same day as her funeral, another notice was published in the Personals section of The Charlottetown Guardian:

HOME AGAIN - Major F.F. May has returned to Charlottetown, and we understand that he intends to reside here in future. Major May went overseas with the original 26th N.B. Battalion.

Fred MAY and his horse Tom in PEI

Fred must have been a man with a new mission. He formally announced his engagement to Mabel ANDREW on 2 Feb 1921. Five months after that he was married and living in St Eleanors PEI. Fred and Mabel went to Quebec for their honeymoon. They built a new house, which burned down before they had moved in, so they built it again. They endured further heartache when their child was stillborn. Fred maintained his military connections through involvement in the Canadian Legion. In 1928 he delivered a speech to its Charlottetown branch about "his recollections of the 26th Battalion outlin[ing] its adventures from the time the first detachment left Prince Edward Island until the fighting was done.” And again in 1931 he addressed the Summerside branch. In 1932 there was a veteran’s reunion held at Mt Stewart PEI, and Major F.F. May was appointed Chairman for the coming year. In 1936 he talked in Kensington about the self sacrifice of veterans and the need to strive for self control as an example to the younger generations. He was promoting temperance. Fred was a very active speaker during the 1930s and still a military man at heart.

The Second World War brought further changes to his life. Nearby farms in North St Eleanors were taken over to build an air base (including the farm of his brother-in-law Harry ANDREW). Nephews and many young men from the area went off to fight for our country and freedom. It must have been so hard to go through the strife of war yet again, even from the sidelines.

Grave of Fred and Mabel MAY, Duncan BC Canada

After the war, when his brother-in-law Harry ANDREW (my grandfather) and part of his family decided to move across Canada to the west coast for a new start, Fred and Mabel decided to move with them. In about 1946 they bought a little 2-bedroom house on Coronation Avenue in Duncan BC on Vancouver Island. But they didn’t have too many years left to enjoy their new home. On 21 Jul 1951 and after only five years in BC, Fred died at home from a heart attack. He was 67 years old. Mabel died seven years later on 8 Dec 1958 from a stroke while fighting cancer. She was 75. They are buried together in St Mary’s Cemetery just outside of Duncan BC.

Fred left a wonderful legacy in the form of photo albums, some of which are now in my care. While he usually gave vague captions such as "The Missus" for family photos, he was much more diligent about giving detailed information for a fair number of military photos. Many are now quite faded with age, so I am in the process of scanning them all. I am hoping to create a separate military page on this website to display and share these wonderful images of Fred's military life.

REFERENCES and FURTHER READING

MAY, FREDERICK FARRER - Soldiers of the First World War - Library and Archives Canada site
The 26th Battalion, New Brunswick - St John Free Public Library site
26th Battalion - Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group site
War Diaries of the 26th Battalion - Canada at War site
WWI Battles - First World War site
Ypres Salient, Poperinge - Great War site
Canada and WWI - Veterans Affairs Canada site
1st Depot Battalion, New Brunswick Regiment - guide to resources, Collections Canada site

I have posted additional information on my ANDREW families elsewhere on this website.
Further military photos from Fred MAY's albums can be found on our military page.

"52 Ancestors" is a reference to the "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge I am participating in.
Reference the No Story Too Small blog by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow for more details.
It is giving me the much needed incentive to write and publish my family stories.

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Paul Sinclair ANDREW (1908-2000), Artist - #42 (52 Ancestors)

10/21/2015

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Theme: Proud | Images: Click on many to enlarge

Self portrait by painter Paul Sinclair ANDREW, c1939

I am proud of my mother’s first cousin, Paul Sinclair ANDREW, a talented and well respected artist who painted until he was over 90 years of age. During his career he witnessed and contributed to the emergence of a unique Canadian art identity, starting in the early 1900s with the famous Group of Seven and their contemporaries including BC’s own Emily Carr. In the 1930s, Montreal was the centre of further change where a group of ten women known as the Beaver Hall Group veered away from the landscapes painted by the all-male Group of Seven still based in Toronto. These Montreal modernists focused more on painting still lifes, the human form, and cityscapes. Paul followed the tides of change, painting landscapes in the Laurentians in Quebec “en plein air”, plus beautiful still lifes, portraits and figures, including a self portrait. He studied with Edwin Holgate, one of the later members of the Group of Seven, among others. For a time his studio was in the centre of the action on Beaver Hall Square in Montreal.

In 1988 when he was 80, Paul Sinclair ANDREW celebrated his life as an artist with a sixty-year retrospective exhibit. A short biography, together with his career timeline and lists of exhibits, paintings and professional affiliations, were published in his art exhibition flyer. I have transcribed the contents of this flyer as follows:

Paul S. Andrew, A Sixty Year Retrospective

During the 1930’s and 40’s, Paul Andrew’s involvement with the Montreal Art community established his position as a gifted and dedicated painter of his time. For over 20 years his work was seen frequently in exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Art, the Royal Canadian Academy and in travelling exhibitions sponsored by the National Gallery of Canada.

Sixty years after these auspicious beginnings, Paul Andrew is now being recognized as a prominent figure in the second wave of painters and sculptors emerging from an important period in Canadian art history. This group of artists are now gaining prominence in the Canadian art community after long being overshadowed by the awesome critical and commercial success of The Group of Seven. Andrew’s long association with these artists of the Beaver Hall studios, (who formed the nucleus of the Montreal academic art community), provided the springboard for a long and rich journey in search of his own painterly vocabulary.

Six decades later, Mr. Andrew’s paintings have recorded this journey, resulting in an impressive and unique body of artwork. The early influences of his teacher Edwin Holgate and the work of James Wilson Morrice are seen clearly in the work of the late 30’s; when the sombre and meticulously painted still lifes, interiors and portraits gave way to a looser approach and bolder palette. Later, work of the French Impressionists lured Andrew even further from his academic roots, becoming the catalyst for a deep and lasting change in his creative sensibilities.

In recognition of both Mr. Andrew’s accomplishments of the past 60 years, and the 80th anniversary of his birth, we are proud to present this retrospective exhibition of one of Canada’s most dedicated and undeservedly overlooked painters.

BIOGRAPHY - Paul Sinclair Andrew
Born February 16, 1908 St Antigonish, Nova Scotia to Rev. A.E. Andrew (Hon. Capt) and M.E. Sinclair.
Attended military school - Windsor, Nova Scotia. Learned telegraph and Morse Code at Western Union - North Sydney.

1926 - In Search of employment moved to Montreal. Worked during summer at CN Telegraph. Studied commercial art during winter with Wilfred Barnes (ARCA)
1927-28 - Worked as commercial layout artist for Bill Finch and George Adams
1929 - Began figure drawing classes wih Paul Caron ARCA in effort to enhance commercial art skills
1930 - Prompted by Caron - entered a red chalk (sanguine) drawing into the MMFA Spring Exhibition - hence, the first sale
1931 - Moved into a studio in Beaver Hall Square. Began fine art study with Adam Sheriff Scott RCA. Accepted as a member of Montreal Arts Club (Leslie Smith recommendation)
1932-33 - Regular sittings in Paul’s studio and Scott’s classes produced a number of portraits and figures. From this period forward Paul’s involvement became more extensive and he began to exhibit regularly at the MMFA Spring Exhibitions (Archives records show his work exhibited: 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1954).
1934 - Involvement in Montreal Arts Club provided creative nourishment and life long friendships: T.R. McDonald, David Morrice, Bob McKay, Sam Borenstein, Norman Bethune.
1935 - Began regular sketching trips with A.S. Scott RCA in Laurentians
1936 - RCA Exhibition - moved into Scott’s studio - St. Famille St. MMFA Exhibition
1937 - RCA Exhibition - “Wall of Honour”. MMFA Exhibitiion
1938 - RCA Exhibition - Began studies with Edwin Holgate RCA (member Group of Seven). MMFA Exhibition
1939 - RCA Exhibition in Toronto - moved into Robert Pilot’s studio (next door to former studio). MMFA Exhibition. November - concluded studies with E. Holgate. Married.
1940 - Canada enters World War II - after an unsuccessful bid as a war artist, enlisted in Signal Corps. Served Canada overseas until 1945.
1945 - Returned to Montreal confirmed Capt. Paul S. Andrew
1946 - Moved to Town of Mount Royal. Formed Mount Royal Arts School on Cote de Neiges St. with Audrey Gautiere, Jean Dunn
1947 - Exhibited One Man Show RCA arranged by R. Pilot PRCA. MMFA Exhibition
1948-52 - Taught Art School Town of Mount Royal. Organized exhibitions Town of Mount Royal Hall. Ran art school for CNR Headquarters
1953 - Exhibited MMFA
1954 - Two Man Exhibition MMFA with Paterson Ewen
1969 - Retired from CN
1970 - Moved to Glovertown, Nfld. Resumed painting full time. Exhibitied several times in Maritimes.
1978 - Moved to Vancouver [BC Canada]
[ARCA = Associate of Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA)]
[MMFA - Montreal Museum of Fine Arts ]

Reproduction of Paul's painting printed
on back of 1988 exhibition flyer, with
handwritten note to his Aunt Nellie

Probably in 1988, Paul sent a copy of this flyer to his Aunt Nell ANDREW nee RICHARDSON (my grandmother). At some point it was folded an extra time, unfortunately leaving a white line through the images. Paul had handwritten a note on the back above the image of his still life painting “Laughing Nymph / Orange Roses” circa 1935 which said: “Nellie, Hope to sell this one to Halifax Art Gallery. P". I’m sure Granny would have loved to attend this special event, but at the age of 94 she was in a care facility in Duncan BC and unable to travel.

The flyer doesn’t list the location of the exhibit, and at first I assumed it was held in Montreal. But I’m rethinking this because his note mentioned Halifax, and he had connections to a variety of other Canadian cities as well. My aunt told me that Paul used to spend summers in Newfoundland (his wife Daphne’s home) and winters in Vancouver, BC (where his brother Geoffrey ANDREW lived). She also mentioned that they were invited to a showing of his self portrait being held in Halifax Art Gallery, but they did not attend due to cost of travel. As a picture of his self portrait was included in the flyer, and as his obituary said the "the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia owns an exceptional collection of Andrew portraits from the 1930's", I’m now betting that the 1988 exhibit was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Paul Sinclair ANDREW had an earlier connection to Nova Scotia, as he was born there on 16 Feb 1908 at St Martha’s Hospital in Antigonish. He grew up primarily in Pictou Nova Scotia where his younger sister and brother were born. WWII started when he was only six, and his father left for a time to serve overseas as chaplain. Paul was the fourth of six children born to Rev Canon Albert Edward ANDREW and Minnie Ethel SINCALIR. An older brother Geoffrey C ANDREW was Dean and Deputy President of the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver. His younger brother Arthur J ANDREW was a Canadian diplomat overseas after WWII, and his oldest brother Gerald W “Bill” ANDREW worked in banking. He had two sisters Marjorie and Elaine.

Most of his father’s ANDREW relatives lived across the water on Prince Edward Island (PEI) where his father was born. As children there were a number of trips back and forth between NS and PEI during the summer months to visit cousins and grandparents. Thankfully a few photos were taken, mostly by Paul’s Uncle Fred MAY who was the one with the camera. The earliest photo I have of Paul is as a baby in the arms of his grandmother Harriet ANDREW nee COMPTON, surrounded by his 3 older siblings. Another photo from his pre-teen years, shows that, at that time, he was taller than his older brother Geoff. I’m not positive of the identity of the two young children in another photo of this family, but based on relative ages I think it must be Paul and his younger sister Elaine. Two other photos show Paul as a teen visiting in St Eleanors PEI.

Paul Sinclair ANDREW, painting in 1936 ...

on location, Laurentians, Que.

As mentioned in Paul's art exhibit flyer, he "began regular sketching trips with A.S. Scott RCA in Laurentians” in 1935. As luck would have it, Fred MAY’s albums contained two special photos with the caption "Paul Andrew 'In Action' in the Laurentians, Que. 1936”. It looks to me that Paul was doing more than sketching, and actually painting on location. “En plain air” painting is still a popular practice today.

I do not know a lot about Paul’s home life, except that he married Dapne in 1939, and she died a number of years before Paul did. They had a son and a daughter. Paul died in Vancouver BC in Aug 2000 (either on the 1st or the 5th, sources vary). He was 92 years young, and left behind an impressive legacy of paintings which can be enjoyed by art enthusiasts wherever they are on display.

REFERENCES and FURTHER READING

Paul Sinclair Andrew, artist index - Canadian Heritage Information Network website
Paul Sinclair Andrew, art - on artnet site
Paul Sinclair Andrew, art auction history - art sales index site
Canadian Painting in the 30s - a book by Charles C Hill - from the National Gallery of Canada site
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA)
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA) History - RCA site
RCA History pdf book - covers 1880 to 1933
Group of Seven Art
The Collection - The Group of Seven - McMichael site
Beaver Hall Group - book previews on google books
"By Woman’s Hand", a 1994 documentary film about the Beaver Hall Hill Group - National Film Board of Canada
En Plein Air Painting
For one of Paul Andrew's art teachers:
Paul Caron Biography - Lock Gallery site
Paul Caron Biography - Klinkhoff Art site
Paul Caron Art - Alan Klinkhoff Gallery site

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Arthur Julian ANDREW (1915-1994) - #36 (52 Ancestors)

9/6/2015

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Theme: Working for a Living | Images: Click to enlarge

Arthur Julian ANDREW in Aug 1962
during a meeting withKadish Luz and Golda Meir
[cropped from a public domain photo, courtesy of wikipedia]

My mother’s first cousin Arthur Julian ANDREW ended his working career as a visiting professor in the King’s College School of Journalism in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the early 80s. His own education was extensive, having attended King’s College School in Windsor NS, subsequently graduating from Dalhousie with both a BA and an MA. He was also granted an honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from the University of King’s College in 1970.

Arthur started his working life with the Canadian Press, and served overseas with the Princess Louise Fusiliers. But he is more publicly known for his distinguished career as a Canadian diplomat. When a relative is accomplished enough to be included in Canada’s Who’s Who, it’s something to be bragged about!

While in the Foreign service Arthur held six important posts. His first posting was as Charge d’affaires to Austria in 1953 and 1954 during the “cold war”, around the end of the post-war Allied occupation of Austria. It was a volatile time in Europe, with worker strikes and uprisings in nearby East Germany.

Between 1957 and 1960, Arthur held the position of Charge d’affaires to Czechoslovakia, which was then a “people’s democracy" and a satellite state of the the Soviet Union under President of Antonin Novotny. In Canada it was the start of the Diefenbaker era, supporting human rights and reforming Canada’s immigration laws.

Between 1962 and 1965 Arthur simultaneously held the foreign posts of High Commissioner to Cyprus, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Israel. He had his hands full! Cyprus had been a British Colony and the a Crown Colony until 1960, and joined the United Nations as an independent nation in 1961. But the continuing unrest between Greek and Turkish factions on the island and the need for international intervention must have created repercussions for Arthur. The Jewish State of Israel, since it’s creation in 1948, has been frequently in the spotlight. They were involved in the Suez-Sinai War in 1956, and the Six-Day War in 1967. In 1963 during Arthur’s posting, Israel had a change of president, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, no doubt causing some upheaval in the diplomatic realm. In August 1962, Arthur had the pleasure of meeting with Golda Meir, Foreign Minister from 1956 to1966, and Kadish Luz, Speaker of the Knesset from 1959 to 1969.

In his final two positions, Arthur served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. In Sweden between 1965 and 1969, the country was enjoying stable years of prosperity. On the other hand, Greece (where Arthur was posted between 1975 and 1978) was in transition. Their military dictatorship that had seized power in 1967 had ended in 1974 when Constantine Karamanlis became the new Premier. But the war in Cyprus and the Greek Junta Trials of August of 1975 helped create turbulent times during Arthur's tenure in Greece.

Cousins Alice, Arthur and Mabel ANDREW
on a visit to Greenhill, Nova Scotia in Sep 1936

Between his postings abroad, Arthur took time to write a book published in 1971 titled "Defence by other means;: Diplomacy for the underdog”. In 1969, he acted as Foreign Service Visitor to the University of Toronto. In 1980 he retired from the Foreign Service.

But where did Arthur get his start? He was born 20 Nov 1915 in Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada, the youngest of six children of Rev Canon Albert Edward ANDREW and Minnie Ethel SINCLAIR. The family had moved to Windsor NS by 1921, and later to Newport and North Sidney, Nova Scotia before returning to live in Pictou in 1926. So Arthur attended grade school in Nova Scotia. Most of his ANDREW first cousins (including my mother) grew up in Prince Edward Island (another maritime province), and there were some summertime family visits in both direction. especially as the children grew older. One of my favorite photos was taken on such a visit to Greenhill Nova Scotia on 2 Sep 1936. It shows three smiling faces of three first cousins, each the child of a different ANDREW brother. Alice ANDREW (daughter of Horace) was born 1918, this Arthur ANDREW (son of Albert) was born 1915, and my mother Mabel ANDREW (son of Harry) born 1918. There were actually two cousins with the name of Arthur ANDREW, the second one born to Horace in 1920 in PEI and the brother of Alice. So the Arthur in Nova Scotia was dubbed “Arthur Pictou” by his cousins.

All the cousins grew up and went their separate ways. Arthur married Joyce Mowbray SIRCOM at the age of 25 in 1940, and together they had two daughters. Arthur died on 31 May 1994 in Halifax, NS at the age of 78.

This branch of the family has fostered several accomplished, humanitarian and service-minded individuals, often involved at a national and international level. Such was Arthur’s life, and his achievements certainly deserve much admiration.

REFERENCES and FURTHER READING

Arthur Julian Andrew Career - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
Arthur Julian Andrew Bio
Arthur Julian Andrew - wikipedia
Arthur Julian Andrew, author - amazon
Allied Occupied Austria - wikipedia
Cold War (1953-62) - wikipedia
Canada and the Diefenbaker Government, 1957-63 - Canada Channel site
History of Czechoslovakia - wikipedia
History of Cyprus - wikipedia
Israel Modern History and Timeline - Jewish Virtual Library site
Golda Meir
Sweden History - Local Histories site
Timeline of Modern Greek History - wikipedia

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Geoffrey Clement ANDREW (1906-1987) - #35 (52 Ancestors)

9/6/2015

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Theme: School Days | Images: Click to enlarge

Geoffrey Clement ANDREW, 1974, on a fishing trip
Courtesy of UBC Library Digital Collections

When one thinks of school days, the first thing that comes to mind is grade school children attending classes. Of course there is also post-secondary and post-graduate studies to consider, as well as adult education for continued lifelong learning. Regardless of the level, thoughts usually run to the students involved. But where would we be without the teachers?

In 1973 when I lived in Vancouver BC for a year, attending the University of British Columbia as an undergraduate, I was kindly invited to the home of my mother’s first cousin Geoffrey ANDREW. Not only was Geoff a relative, but he had worked in management and on the teaching staff at UBC between 1947 and 1962. So for a shy young woman from a small town, not used to the big city nor experienced in mixing with important academics and professionals, the thought of visiting Geoff and his family was somewhat intimidating. But Geoff was very skilled at putting me at ease, and seemed interested in my education and plans for the future. And I got a sense of family from him. Perhaps his voice as well as his appearance seemed familiar to me (I have recently found an audio recording of one of his lectures online, and his patterns of speech and his sense of humor remind me of my Uncle Dean Andrew, Geoff's first cousin). Of course as I look back I see the missed opportunities for learning more about his own family and life. Now I have so many more questions to ask! But I had a lovely visit and meal at their home on West 13th Avenue, also meeting his wife Margaret and youngest daughter, my second cousin.

Geoff ANDREW in his school days,
throwing discus.

Geoffrey Clement ANDREW was born 3 Jul 1906 in Bayfield Nova Scotia, the third of six children born to Rev Canon Albert Edward ANDREW and Minnie Ethel SINCLAIR. He grew up primarily in Pictou and Windsor NS. According to his family, he had fond memories of his summer holidays on Prince Edward Island, and the "wild antics" he would get into with his cousins there. He attended Kings College in Windsor NS (which burned down in 1920), and earned a BA at Kings College at Dalhousie University in Halifax NS, and a BA and MA at Balliol College, Oxford. Life was not all cerebral as I'm told he played hockey while at Kings. And according to one family photo, he also knew how to throw a discus.

When it was time to start his career, Geoff gained experience as an English Teacher and Senior Housemaster at Upper Canada College in Toronto Ontario, which (according to wikipedia) is a long-established private school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program.

He met and married Margaret Monro GRANT in 1937. She was the daughter of William Lawson Grant, and granddaughter of George Munro Grant, the distinguished president of Queen’s University. Margaret was a graduate in economics, social work and librarianship. They started a family, and it is no surprise that their five children have inherited their parents' combined drive, interests and scholastic abilities.

During the Second World War, Geoff was the Secretary of Wartime Information Board in Ottawa from 1943 to 1945. He subsequently held the position of Director of Canada Information Services from 1945 to 1947. In 1947 he was approached by Norman "Larry" Mackenzie who he had worked with during the war and who was then the president of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver BC. So in September 1947, Geoff and his young family moved west and he started work at UBC as Professor of English and Executive Assistant to President Mackenzie. In 1953 he was promoted to Dean and Deputy President, and became a member of the UBC Senate. Also in 1953 he was appointed by the Carnegie Foundation to study university administration in Canada, the USA, Great Britain and Europe. Sometime before 1960 he was part of an international team that spent three months in New Zealand as consultants to their government on higher education development. I really don’t know where he found the time for it all!

Geoff ANDREW at his desk at UBC (undated)
Courtesy of UBC Library Digital Collections

Judging by the many photos online from the UBC Library Digital Collections, Geoff's responsibilities at UBC also included public relations and participation in ceremonies. He accepted and gave out awards, gifts and money to sponsors, graduates and unidentified individuals. He unveiled art and new plans for the university, dug sod in preparation for new buildings, attended social functions, welcomed dignitaries, and even escorted the young granddaughters of the visiting Lieutenant-Governor Vincent Massey. And of course he gave lectures, did research and wrote articles. He led a very busy professional life.

Geoff decided to leave the University of British Columbia in 1962, and his new job took him back to the nation’s capital as Executive Director of the Canadian Universities Foundation. In 1964 he visited Vancouver and gave a lecture on "Provincial and Federal Responsibilities for Higher Education" for the Vancouver Institute. The organization's name changed in 1965 when it became the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), and Geoff continued working there until his retirement in 1971. He was then 65 years of age.

Geoff and Margaret returned to live in Vancouver where he was active in the Alumni Association, and enjoyed fly-fishing expeditions with his friends in the Harry Hawthorn Foundation. Margaret became active in the school board, which seemed to entail "30 hour days". They were active supporters of the arts and humanities in the community, including involvement in the Vancouver Festival.

On a personal note, I sent Christmas cards to Geoff and Margaret for a few years after my visit in 1973. And in return I was thrilled to get not a card, but a poem written by Geoff, creatively updating us on their past year's activities. Thankfully I have managed to retain three of these special poems, which bring back wonderful memories.

In June 1981, Geoff and Margaret ANDREW attended a dinner at the UBC Faculty Club in his honor. The following month he turned 75, and a year after that his wife passed away. Geoff died at home in Feb 1987 from cancer at the age of 80. He is surely well and dearly remembered. A memorial tribute to Geoff ANDREW was recorded by the UBC Senate. Included were statements about Geoff's character and his roles outside their university:

With the passing of Geoffrey Andrew, this University has lost one of its last links with the great period of its expansion which occurred after the Second World War. Geoffrey Andrew was an active witness to U.B.C.'s transformation from a small provincial university to a major national centre for teaching, research and public service. ...

Dean Andrew participated in a wide range of public service activities —Chairman of the Vancouver Branch of the Canadian Institute for Public Affairs, President of the Vancouver Arts Council, a Director of the Canadian Institute for the Blind and Director of Community Chest.

Geoff Andrew was a passionate believer in liberal education and a staunch defender of the role of the arts in society. He was also a tireless spokesman for greater accessibility to higher education and gave strong support to the expansion of educational opportunity throughout the Province of British Columbia.

From 1962 until his retirement, Geoff Andrew served as executive director of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. His voice in promoting the cause of universities was heard in every corner of the nation.

Geoffrey Andrew maintained his deep affection for this University throughout his retirement years. As an educator in the classic university mould [sic] he had few equals. ...

REFERENCES and FURTHER READING

Photos of Geoffrey ANDREW - UBC Library Digital Collections
Lecture for the Vancouver Institute: Socialized Education in New Zealand [misnamed] - by Geoffrey C Andrew, recorded 1960-11-05 - introduction includes speaker bio
Vancouver Island Institute Lectures, 1950s
UBC, Charles Woodward Memorial Room Collections - transcribed 1985 interview with Geoffrey ANDREW regarding the startup of the medical faculty at UBC
UBC Calendar, Officers and Staff, 1947-1948: Geoffrey C ANDREW listed on pages 9 (Staff) and 18 (English)
The Harry Hawthorn Foundation Collection - Geoff ANDREW's friends for extracurricular fly fishing
University of King's College - wikipedia
A Brief History of the University of British Columbia

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