My maternal 2nd great-grandmother Susan Smart Grant was born just after 3 a.m. on April 2, 1872 at the Davies Land Hospital in Dundee, Angus, Scotland, the daughter of William Grant and Jane Lamb.
Early Years
Her grandson Malcolm Grant S., my grandfather, told me that Susan came from Scotland to Canada in her teens and worked for the Massey family. According to him, she was a good dancer (Scottish, highland, sword dance) and singer and had a cousin who was a famous opera singer. [2]
Marriage
Susan married Thomas Millar S. in the Church of Scotland in Dundee, Angus, Scotland, on June 29, 1894, when she was 22 years old and he was 23.
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| Susan Grant |
Family
All of the children were born in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. Their first son, my great-grandfather John, was born on March 1, 1895. Their second son, William, was born on December 18, 1896. Their third son, Thomas Miller, was born in 1900. Their fourth child, also a son, David, was born in 1903.
The family immigrated to Canada in 1906. Sadly the youngest son, David, passed away in 1906 on the boat during the voyage at the age of 3.
The 1911 and 1921 census show that the family lived in the Ste Anne area of Montréal, Quebec.
Established in the 19th century, St. Anne's ward occupied the entire southwest area of Montreal. It was known as an Irish neighbourhood but was not a solely Irish area. While a large proportion of its inhabitants (up to half in 1871) were of Irish origin, between a quarter and a third were French-Canadian, and others were English or Scottish. Living conditions in St. Anne's ward were hard, especially because of the epidemics that struck Montreal. Being next to the river, the area was also frequently hit by flooding, with sewage and waste ending up inside the dilapidated houses, fostering the spread of mould, infections and disease. [3]
William passed away on December 17, 1912, at the age of 15. His father purchased grave 1701 w, section G at Mount Royal Cemetery for him the next day. His parents were laid to rest with him in due course. The reason for his death was not shared subsequent generations so we don't know why he died so young.
Susan's husband Thomas passed away on April 28, 1943, in Montréal, Quebec, at the age of 72. They had been married 48 years.
John was described as being of fair complexion, with bluish grey eyes, and auburn hair. He also had a small star shaped tattoo on his left arm. He married Edith Emily Carter on June 14, 1920, in Montréal, Quebec and their children were all born in Montreal, Quebec. Their only daughter, Marjorie Elizabeth, was born on March 13, 1921 but passed away on June 7, 1921. Their son John Carter (known as Jack) was born on July 12, 1922. Their son Malcolm Grant was born on January 22, 1924. Their son William David died as an infant on March 30, 1926, and was buried in grave 1926 d, section G at Mount Royal Cemetery.
Their younger son, Malcolm, was given Grant as his middle name. He married Mary Beaton C. in 1946 and they had five daughters. The oldest daughter is my mother.
The baby is my mother on the lap of her great-grandmother Susan (nee Grant) S.,
next to her grandfather John S. The baby's father, Malcolm S. is standing behind them.
All of the children were born in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. Their first son, my great-grandfather John, was born on March 1, 1895. Their second son, William, was born on December 18, 1896. Their third son, Thomas Miller, was born in 1900. Their fourth child, also a son, David, was born in 1903.
The family immigrated to Canada in 1906. Sadly the youngest son, David, passed away in 1906 on the boat during the voyage at the age of 3.
The 1911 and 1921 census show that the family lived in the Ste Anne area of Montréal, Quebec.
Established in the 19th century, St. Anne's ward occupied the entire southwest area of Montreal. It was known as an Irish neighbourhood but was not a solely Irish area. While a large proportion of its inhabitants (up to half in 1871) were of Irish origin, between a quarter and a third were French-Canadian, and others were English or Scottish. Living conditions in St. Anne's ward were hard, especially because of the epidemics that struck Montreal. Being next to the river, the area was also frequently hit by flooding, with sewage and waste ending up inside the dilapidated houses, fostering the spread of mould, infections and disease. [3]
William passed away on December 17, 1912, at the age of 15. His father purchased grave 1701 w, section G at Mount Royal Cemetery for him the next day. His parents were laid to rest with him in due course. The reason for his death was not shared subsequent generations so we don't know why he died so young.
Susan's husband Thomas passed away on April 28, 1943, in Montréal, Quebec, at the age of 72. They had been married 48 years.
John was described as being of fair complexion, with bluish grey eyes, and auburn hair. He also had a small star shaped tattoo on his left arm. He married Edith Emily Carter on June 14, 1920, in Montréal, Quebec and their children were all born in Montreal, Quebec. Their only daughter, Marjorie Elizabeth, was born on March 13, 1921 but passed away on June 7, 1921. Their son John Carter (known as Jack) was born on July 12, 1922. Their son Malcolm Grant was born on January 22, 1924. Their son William David died as an infant on March 30, 1926, and was buried in grave 1926 d, section G at Mount Royal Cemetery.
Their younger son, Malcolm, was given Grant as his middle name. He married Mary Beaton C. in 1946 and they had five daughters. The oldest daughter is my mother.
next to her grandfather John S. The baby's father, Malcolm S. is standing behind them.
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| back: Euphemia, Susan (nee Grant) middle: Thomas, Mary (nee Beaton) C. front: John S., Mary (nee C.) S., my mother |
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| Edith Carter, Thomas S., Susan Grant, the baby is my aunt "E," Mary C., John S., Olive Whitford, front: my mother, Jack S., John S. |
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| 1956 Susan with her great-grandchildren: my mother and her younger sisters |
Death
Susan Smart Grant died on October 6, 1969, in the Outremont region of Montréal, Quebec, when she was 97 years old.
I named my first son Grant in honour of my grandfather and his grandmother.
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Sources:
1. Scotweb Clan, accessed January 18, 2019
2. As told by her grandson Malcolm S. June 28, 1995.
3. McCord Museum, accessed January 19, 2019
I named my first son Grant in honour of my grandfather and his grandmother.
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Sources:
1. Scotweb Clan, accessed January 18, 2019
2. As told by her grandson Malcolm S. June 28, 1995.
3. McCord Museum, accessed January 19, 2019
I always enjoy reading about immigrants and the trials they faced. Losing a child on the trip had to be the worst.
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