#2 Ronald Thomas M.

Birth
Ronald Thomas M. was born on November 2, 1951, in Montréal, Quebec, to Ruby Elizabeth Napper, age 24, and Marlen Sidney M., age 23. He was named after his maternal uncle (Ronald James Napper 1920–1923) who died at the age of two from pneumonia. His middle name is his maternal grandfather (Gordon Thomas Napper 1895–1949)'s middle name.

Early Years
Ron had an older brother, Marlen John born in 1948. His mom miscarried twins between his birth and that of his sister Sandra. His sister Sandra May was born in 1955. His sister Delores Diana was born in 1957. His brother Daniel Gordon was born in 1958. His sister Ruby Winnifred was born in 1963.

In 1967, when Ron was 16, he signed up to serve for 5 years with the Royal Canadian Navy, convincing them he was older. He served on the Donnacona from November 1967 to March 1969 before they found out and gave him an honourable discharge.

Marriage
Ron became engaged to Joan Susan S. in March 1971 and they were married in the Apostolic Church in Montréal, Quebec, on October 30, 1971. He was 19 years old and she was 23.

Family
Ron and Joan had two daughters.

He was ordained as a pastor by the Apostolic Church of Canada in 1977 and they moved to Brazil to be missionaries there. They lived there from 1977-1981, then 1982-1986.

They informally adopted a Brazilian daughter.

They had a son born prematurely in Brazil who only survived one day and is buried there.

They returned to to Canada and had another son.

In 2014 Ron separated from Joan, stating that his church ministry was a higher cause than their marriage.

Work
Ron was a mechanic by trade and became the proprietor of a garage.

He valued education and his work as a church planter. He received many degrees and diplomas: Master of Arts (Canada Christian College), M.A. and B. Theology, Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.), Doctor of Theology (D. Th.), Master of Divinity (M. Div), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Pastoral Counselling (honoris causis).

Ron published various dissertations and books: Helenistic Influences in Christian Thought to the year 100.; How to Get God to Bless you.; How to Plant Third World Churches in Toronto; Introduction to Creeds; Introducao a Hermaneutica; Pentateuco, 1 & 2 Corintios, Salmos, Introducao ao Novo Testamento.

Death of Mother
His mother Ruby Elizabeth passed away on July 2, 1995, in Montréal, Quebec, at the age of 68.

Death of Father
His father Marlen Sidney passed away on September 4, 2017, in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, at the age of 89.

Health and Death 
Ron suffered from the effects of concussions incurred in his youth and twenties, as well as from asthma, COPD, and diabetes. 

In January 2025 while in Brazil he developed a blood infection and pneumonia. He thought he had recovered, but he collapsed on January 20. CPR was performed, and he was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he was intubated and sedated. His four children travelled to Brazil immediately, however he never recovered consciousness. Ron passed away on January 30, 2025 at the age of 73, surrounded by his children.

His desire was to be buried in the country that he loved so much and those wishes were followed. 

Who are the 52 Ancestors?

Taken from Wikipedia: Genealogical numbering systems (accessed March 25, 2019)

Ahnentafel
Ahnentafel, also known as the Eytzinger Method, Sosa Method, and Sosa-Stradonitz Method, allows for the numbering of ancestors beginning with a descendant. This system allows one to derive an ancestor's number without compiling the list and allows one to derive an ancestor's relationship based on their number.

The number of a person's father is the double of their own number, and the number of a person's mother is the double of their own, plus one. For instance, if the number of John Smith is 10, his father is 20, and his mother is 21.

Helpful chart.

(First Generation)
1 Subject (me!)

(Second Generation)
2 Father
3 Mother

(Third Generation)
4 Father's father (Marlen S. M.)
5 Father's mother (Ruby E. Napper)
6 Mother's father (Malcolm G. S.)
7 Mother's mother (Mary Beaton Cox)

(Fourth Generation)
8 Father's father's father (Marlen E. M.)
9 Father's father's mother (Ruby E. Wade)
10 Father's mother's father (Gordon T. Napper)
11 Father's mother's mother (Winnifred G. Wade)
12 Mother's father's father (John S.)
13 Mother's father's mother (Edith E. Carter)
14 Mother's mother's father (Rowland H. Cox)
15 Mother's mother's mother (Mary C. Beaton)

(Fifth Generation)

paternal

16) 2G GF (Joseph A. M.)

17) 2G GM (Jennie McKeiver)

18) 2G GF (Sidney T. Wade)

19) 2G GM (Elizabeth Holloway)

20) 2G GF (John W. Napper)

21) 2G GM (Mary Ann Botting)

22) 2G GF (Joseph Wade) - same as #36

23) 2G GM (Harriet J. Swaffield) - same as #37

maternal

24) 2G GF (Thomas M. S.)

25) 2G GM (Susan S. Grant)

26) 2G GF (William Carter)

27) 2G GM (Elizabeth Simpson)

28) 2G GF (William C. Cox)

29) 2G GM (Emily M. Gardner)

30) 2G GF (Peter Beaton)

31) 2G GM (Euphemia Campbell)

(Sixth Generation)
paternal
32) 3G GF (Elzear M.)

33) 3G GM (Corinne Aube)

34) 3G GF - adopted, brick wall

35) 3G GM - adopted, brick wall

36) 3G GF (Joseph Wade) - same as #22

37) 3G GM (Harriet J. Swaffield) - same as #23

38) 3G GF (Edmond Holloway)

39) 3G GM (Emma Puffett)

40) 3G GF (William Napper)

41) 3G GM (Harriott/Harriett Cooper)

42) 3G GF (Richard Botting)

43) 3G GM (Jane Cook)

44) 3G GF - Joseph Wade's father, unknown

45) 3G GM - Joseph Wade's mother, unknown

46) 3G GF (Charles Swaffield)

47) 3G GM (Eliza M. A. Copper)

maternal

48) 3G GF (John S.)

49) 3G GM (Euphemia G. Sampson)

50) 3G GF (William Grant)

51) 3G GM (Jane Lamb)

52) 3G GF (William Carter)

53) 3G GM (Hannah Morton)

54) 3G GF (Thomas Simpson)

55) 3G GM (Elizabeth Stapleson)

56) 3G GF (Charles Cox)

57) 3G GM (Margaret Ellen Cooling or Cowling)

58) 3G GF (William S. Gardener)

59) 3G GM - (Emma Harper)

60) 3G GF - Peter Beaton's father, unknown

61) 3G GM - Peter Beaton's mother, unknown

62) 3G GF (Duncan Campbell)

63) 3G GM (Anne McPherson)

#11 Winnifred Glaydis Wade

Birth

Winnifred Glaydis Wade was born on July 21, 1895, in Kent, England, to Harriet Jane Swaffield, age 36, and Joseph Wade, age 42. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

She reportedly had blue eyes and brown hair. Her nickname was Doie.

Early Years

Winnifred's older siblings were Joseph Henry Wade, Sidney Thomas Wade, William Stanley Wade, Ruby Wade, Henry Wade, and May Violet Wade.

Younger siblings were Edith Phoebe Louise Wade, and Charles S Wade.

Her father Joseph passed away in June 1899 in London, London, England, at the age of 46.

Later that year, Winnifred was baptized on November 26, 1899 at Merstham Parish Anglican Church in Merstham, Surrey, England. [2, 3]

The 1900 Survey of homes in Essex county lists Harriett and her children Joseph (bricklayer labourer), Sydney (railway), William (firing on stationary engine), Ruby E., May V., Henry G., Winifred G., Edith P., Charley S., and Harriet's niece Alice L. Swaffield.

Winnifred's mother Harriett remarried sometime after the census of March 31, 1901 to Timothy William Brown. [5]

Her half-sister Ivy Mary Brown was born on October 22, 1901. Her half-brother George Edward Swaffield Brown was born on February 11, 1905.

At some point she immigrated to Canada.

Marriage
Winnifred Glaydis Wade married Gordon Thomas Napper at Livingstone Church in Montréal, Quebec, on October 28, 1916, when they were both 21 years old.

Family

All the children were born in Montreal, Quebec. Son Harold G T was born on July 29, 1917. 

Son Ronald/Roland James was born on February 7, 1920, in Montréal, Quebec. He passed away in 1923 at the age of 3.

Son Gordon Thomas was born on May 9, 1923. Daughter Ruby Elizabeth, my paternal grandmother, was born on January 3, 1927.

Death of Husband
Her husband Gordon Thomas passed away on March 25, 1949, in Montréal, Quebec, at the age of 54. They had been married 32 years.

Second Marriage
Winnifred Glaydis Wade married William Lematy around 1952 when she was 57 years old.

Death
Winnifred Glaydis Wade died on September 30, 1975, in Montréal, Quebec, when she was 80 years old. Conditions contributing to her death were congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease.

She was cremated and buried at Mount Royal Cemetery (G 1892 B) in Quebec, along with her husband Gordon. Her daughter Ruby was later buried there too.

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Sources:

1. England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915

2. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

3. Surrey, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1912

4. UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960

5. 1901 England Census

#50 William Grant (3G GF)

The Grant Clan
The origin of the name Grant is Scottish. The crest is an image of a burning hill. The burning hill represents “Craigelachie”, the rallying point for the Grants. When signal fires were lit upon the summit of Craigelachie, or “The Rock of Alarm”, members of the clan would gather there in order to organize for an attack or defense. The Coat of Arms contains a red shield with three gold crowns. The family motto is "Stand fast." [1]

Birth

William Grant was born in 1837 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland, to Isabella Fleming and David Grant. [2, 3, 4, 5]

Marriage

William Grant married Jane Lamb in Dundee, Angus, Scotland, on December 31, 1858, when he was 21 years old. [6]

Family

Their son Peter was born on September 23, 1859, in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

Their daughter Elizabeth was born on October 8, 1860, in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

The 1861 Census shows the family living in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. [2]

Daughter Jessie was born on March 25, 1863, in Forfar, Angus, Scotland.

Daughter Jean was born on December 26, 1864, in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

Daughter Isabella was born on April 21, 1868, in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

The 1871 Census shows the family still living in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. [3]

Daughter Susan Smart was born on April 2, 1872, in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. William was working as a boiler maker at the time. [7]

William Grant lived in Dundee, Angus, Scotland, in 1881. [4]

The 1901 Census shows him living in St Andrew, Angus, Scotland. [5]

Death

William's date of death is unknown.

-----

Sources:
1. Scotweb Clan, accessed January 18, 2019

2. 1861 Scotland Census

3. 1871 Scotland Census

4. 1881 Scotland Census

5. 1901 Scotland Census

6. Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910

7. Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950

#33 Corinne Aube (3G GM)

Birth
Corinne Aube was born around 1866 in Montréal, Quebec, to Anthime Joachim Aube and Victorine Langevin.

Early Years

Corinne had a number of older sisters: Marie Alexandrina Aube, Marie Melina Corilda Aube, Marie Joseph Euphrasine Aube. Her younger sister, Marie Cordelie (Delia) Aube was born around 1868 in Quebec.

Given that many of her sister's names start with Marie, it's possible that Corinne's name was actually Marie Corinne.

Marriage
Corinne Aube married Elzear M. in Montréal, Quebec, on May 29, 1882, when she was around 16 years old and he was 32.

Her parents were living in Albany, New York so her uncle, Belone Aube, gave her away.

Family

Her son Joseph Amedee was born on May 20, 1885, in Montréal, Quebec.

Her daughter Marie-Delia, named after her aunt (who was also her godmother), was born on January 14, 1887, in Montréal, Quebec. She passed away on March 16, 1889, at the age of 2.

She is pictured with her children in this tin-type photo that was given to me by her grand-daughter Margaret McKeiver M.

Death
Corinne died as a young mother on July 9, 1889, in Montréal, Quebec, at the age of 23. She was buried on July 11 in the Notre Dame parish cemetery.

-----

Source:

Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968

#32 Elzear M. (3G GF)

Birth

Elzear M. was born in 1850 and was baptized at the Basilique Notre-Dame in 1865 in Montréal, Quebec.[1] His mother was Genevieve Magdeleine Dufour and father was Jean M.

Early Years
He was around 17 years old in 1867, when the autonomous Dominion of Canada was formed. He was 25 when the city hosted the first official game of hockey on March 3, 1875. Our family maintains a strong tradition of cheering for the Montreal Canadiens and a first cousin of mine is the Head Physiotherapist at the Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club.

He was a day labourer, a worker who did whatever physical jobs he could find, usually hired for just days or weeks at a time.

Marriage

Elzear married Corinne Aube on May 29, 1882, in the Basilique Notre-Dame in Quebec.[2] He was twice her age at 32, she was 16. Her parents were living in Albany, New York so her uncle, Belone Aube, gave her away. 

When their son Joseph Amedee M. (my 2nd great-grandfather) was born on May 20, 1885, in Montréal, Quebec the Canadian Pacific Railroad was under construction. 

His daughter Marie-Delia was born on January 14, 1887 and passed away on March 16, 1889, at the age of 2. She shared a name with a maternal aunt.

Joseph, baby Marie-Delia, and Corinne c. 1888

Elzear's wife Corinne passed away on July 9, 1889, in Montréal, Quebec, at the age of 23. They had been married 7 years. 

He married Louise Sophie Verrault a few months later on November 27, 1889.[2]

Death

Elzear died on January 7, 1915 and was buried on January 9. He was 65 years old and was a member of the parish of St. Jean de la Croix.[2]

-----

Sources:

1. Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 / Institut Généalogique Drouin; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Drouin Collection

2. Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968 / Institut Généalogique Drouin; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Drouin Collection

#30 Peter Beaton (2G GF)

Birth
Peter Beaton (my maternal 2nd great-grandfather) was born around 1859 in Skye, Inverness-shire, Scotland.[1, 2] Who his parents were and whether or not he had siblings is unknown to me. His parents may have been Peter Beaton and Peggy Gillies.[3, 4]

From The Imperial gazetteer of Scotland; or, Dictionary of Scottish topography

Inverness-shire is Scotland's largest county, and the second largest in the UK as a whole after Yorkshire. It borders Ross to the north, Nairnshire, Moray, Banffshire and Aberdeenshire to the east, and Perthshire and Argyll to the south.

It covers a large mainland area and various island areas off the west coast. The mainland area has coastline in both the east and the west. The island areas include North Uist, South Uist and Harris in the Outer Hebrides and Skye and the Small Isles in the Inner Hebrides. Principal settlements include Inverness, Fort William, Fort Augustus and Portree.[5]

The ancestors of the Beaton family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. The family name comes from the names of Macbeth and Bethune, or Beaton. The Macbeth and Bethune families, who were hereditary physicians to the Chiefs of Macdonald, practiced medicine on the Isles during the Middle Ages and their names merged in English into the one surname of Beaton. The Macbeths were concentrated in Islay and Mull, whereas the Beatons were concentrated in Skye. However, the Beaton family was not restricted to the Isles and it later branched to other counties such as Fraser. Nonetheless, by the 17th century, the Beaton family "ceased to practice the healing art" and the last of the hereditary physicians was Niel Beaton who practiced medicine in about 1763.[6]

Family

Daughter Cathrine was born in 1876 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland and eventually married Jack MacCaskill. Cathrine and Jack had 4 children.

Son William was born in 1878 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland and was a sailor. In recounting her grandmother's history to me, my grandmother (Mary Beaton nee Cox, daughter of Mary Campbell nee Beaton) had referred to one of the boys being in a Navy and lost at sea, perhaps it was William.

Marriage
Peter Beaton married Euphemia Campbell in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on September 24, 1880, when he was 21 years old and she was 23 years old. Skye is about a 6 hour modern day drive from Irvine, I wonder how they met.

At the 1881 Scotland Census, taken on Sunday, April 3, Euphemia and Peter were living at 275 Coburg Pl Springburn Rd, in the registration district of St Rollox, civil parish of Glasgow Maryhill, in Lanarkshire County. Peter was working as a labourer. The other members of the household were Cathrine McDonald, age 5, and William McDonald, age 3. These were likely Euphemia's children from a previous marriage given that they have a different last name and were born before Euphemia and Peter's marriage in 1880. 

Euphemia and Peter's son Peter was born in 1883 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

There's a Mary born in 1885? Who is she? Did she die? I need to see the details of the 1901 Scotland Census to know more.

Daughter Margaret was born in 1887 in Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. She married Malcolm MacCaskill, a policeman, on November 27, 1908 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[7]

Daughter Euphemia McCaskill was born on February 12, 1889, in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland and, according to my grandmother, was Mary's favourite sister. She married Joseph Aitken on June 14, 1912 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.[8] They had 9 children. She and her husband were Free Masons, Euphemia being involved with the Eastern Star (Masonic Lodge). She was diabetic later in life and died on December 29,1972.

The 1891 Scotland Census, taken on the night of 5/6 April, finds the family living at 5 Bowling Green St in Midlothian with these children in the home: Katie/Kattie McDonald (age 15), William McDonald (age 13), Peter Beaton (age 8), Mary Beaton (age 6), Maggie Beaton (age 4), Euphemia Beaton (age 2). Peter's occupation is a "ships mak" -- ships maker?

Son Duncan was born around 1892. He married Edith Southern and they had 2 children. He worked for the CNR and drove a team of horses. She ran a rooming house in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and they took in students.[10] He died in 1975.

Daughter Mary Campbell (my maternal great-grandmother) was born on March 1, 1894, at 4:45 a.m. in Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, UK. It borders Edinburgh, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders council areas. The county included Edinburgh and was formerly known as Edinburghshire, or more formally as the County of Edinburgh, until 1890.[9] Mary married Rowland Cox (my maternal great-grandfather) on June 18, 1920 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. They had one child - my grandmother!

Son John was born in 1895. In due course he married Louise Lillian Goldsmith. He was a clerk in the CNR and did everything he could to help his widowed sister Mary financially.

John passed away on January 13, 1932, in Montréal, Quebec, at the age of 37. An article in the paper said he had been ill for only a few days and his death came as a great shock to his many friends. He served with the 5th Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada overseas and played soccer for the regimental team. John was active in boxing circles for many years and while in France won the championship of his regiment. He was the Vice-President of Quebec Branch A.A.U.C. (Amateur Athletic Union of Canada) and was prominent also in Masonic circles. He was a member of Transportation Lodge No. 103, A.F. and A.M.

Daughter Ruth Jean Lang's birth year is unknown. She married Robert McNeilly and they had 2 children. She was very active in Salvation Army and church and always had people into her house for meetings, tea, and everything else. Ruth had cataracts and was diabetic and died in 1974.[10]

The Great Depression of 1873–1896

Progress made by the United States and Germany in manufacturing and agriculture in 1881, affected many in the United Kingdom, including Peter Beaton during the Great Depression of 1873 to 1896.

The 1901 Scotland Census, taken on Sunday, March 31, finds the family living in Ayrshire. 

Euphemia was a widow when she came to Canada. Records show her daughter Mary departed from Glasgow, Scotland on the Letitia ship on June 1, 1912 and arrived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on June 9, 1912.

Death

Peter Beaton died before June 1912 in Leith, Midlothian, Scotland, when he was 90 years old [11, 12]

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Sources:

1. 1881 Scotland Census

2. 1891 Scotland Census

3. 1871 Scotland Census

4. Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950

5. Wikipedia: Inverness-shire, accessed February 1, 2019

6. House Of Names: Beaton, accessed February 1, 2019

7. Original data: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin.

8. Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967

9. Wikipedia: Midlothian, accessed February 1, 2019

10. As told to me by Euphemia's granddaughter Mary Beaton nee Cox

11. Euphemia was a widow when she came to Canada. Records show her daughter Mary departed from Glasgow, Scotland on the Letitia ship on June 1, 1912 and arrived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on June 9, 1912.