1881 Census Loan,Mauchline. 604/6/17 Box manufacturer.Living with second wife Margaret and four children. Second wife is Margaret Wilson married 1873 in Buittle, son George Alexander Davidson 13th October 1874 Mauchline, then 2nd George c 1877 and John 1879ish. I know have the informant on Jane’s parents deaths if you wish it.
Dwelling: Loan
Census Place: Mauchline, Ayr, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203605 GRO Ref Volume 604 EnumDist 6 Page 17
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
George DAVIDSON M 37 M Mauchline, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Box Manufacturer
Margaret DAVIDSON M 27 F Buittle, Kirkcudbright, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Mary DAVIDSON 12 F Mauchline, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Jane DAVIDSON 10 F Mauchline, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
George DAVIDSON 4 M Mauchline, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Son
John DAVIDSON 2 M Mauchline, Ayr, Scotland
Rel: Son
1881 Census living with father
1881 Census living with father
From M/C - Address Whea Frigg,Dreghorn Parish
Emigrated to New York State 1866 with wife,Matthews brother James and Janets brother Alexander.
Settled at Geneseo near New York City.Hello Fraser,I live in Muskoka district about 12 miles from where my grandparents, Matthew Wilson and Janet McBlain, settled on Lake Rosseau in 1870. You were not too far away from here on your trip from Fergus to Ottawa.
My father was the second youngest in the family, and apparently didn�t like making hasty decisions, so he didn�t marry until he was 45 years old. I am the second youngest of five, (two of us still living), and Dad was 53 when I was born, so in effect, one generation was lost. That makes me slightly more closely related to you and Shirley.
Janet McBlane was born March 17, and christened April 4, 1841 in Tarbolten Parish. Janet McBlain (different spelling), age 25, and Matthew Wilson (age 21), were married at Corsehill in the Free Church of Kilwinning on 13 July 1866. Matthew lived at Whea Frigg, Dreghorn Parish at the time of marriage, and Janet lived at Burton End, Dreghorn. Matthew and Janet had twin daughters Agnes and Mary, born September 22, 1866. The twins must have died shortly after birth, because Matthew and Janet left Scotland shortly afterward.
Matthew and Janet Wilson, Mattew�s brother James, and Janet�s brother Alexander McBlane emigrated to New York State, USA, in 1866. Apparently the ship they were on was a combination steam and sail, and the steam engine broke down part way across the Atlantic, so they were at sea for slightly over three weeks.
They settled at Geneseo, New York, which is close enough to New York City that it is a check point for aircraft approaching one of the New York airports.
Matthew and Janet�s daughter Agnes was born Feb. 28, 1869, and their daughter Jessie was born April 16, 1870.
The Canadian government was giving free land, (one hundred acres, or two hundred if it was very rocky), to settlers who built a home in Muskoka, and cleared and cultivated a few acres within five years, I believe. I have seen copies of some of the exagerated advertisements used to entice settlers. In fact, the top soil is only about one and a half inches deep. This probably enticed Matthew and Janet Wilson, and James Wilson and his new bride, Alice Christal, to leave New York in 1870, arriving at their lot on Lake Rosseau on July 9, 1870.
Matthew and Janet had two more children born in Canada, my father Robert, born Jan 31, 1874, and Mary born April 21, 1876. More to follow later. Your cousin, Bruce
rbwilson@vianet.on.ca
Matthew Wilson 1844 - 1936
At his home at Hekkla, Cardwell Township, Muskoka, there passed peacefully away on
Tuesday, February 25, 1936, Mr. Matthew Wilson, one of the most outstanding men in
Muskoka�s history. Born March 25th, 1844, he was in his 92nd year.
The funeral, which was largely attended, took place on the afternoon of February 28th,
Rev. J.D. Richardson, Pastor of Rosseau United Church officiating. Interment took place
in Rosseau United Cemetery. The pallbearers were Messrs Alex Crawford Sr., Alex
Crawford Jr., George Lambert, John Forman, C.K. Beley, and Barney Einarson.
The late Mr. Wilson leaves to mourn his loss one son, Robert, of Hekkla, and one
daughter, Mary, (Mrs. Joseph Jackson) of Haileybury. Mr. Wilson�s wife and two of his
daughters predeceased him, his daughter Jessie (Mrs. Alex Crawford Sr.) dying in 1901,
his wife dying in 1918, and his daughter Agnes (Mrs. John Tough) dying in 1932.
Mr. Wilson was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and resided there until early manhood.
There he married Miss Janet McBlain, a kindly, cultured lady.
In 1866 Mr. and Mrs. Wilson moved to Geneseo, New York, and resided there until
1870, when they came to Muskoka and and Mr. Wilson located a homestead at Bass
Lake, between lakes Rosseau and Joseph. Five years later they moved to Cardwell
Township and there both resided until death called them. Mrs. Wilson passed away in
1918.
When the Township of Cardwell was incorporated, in 1878, Mr Wilson was elected a
member of the first council and from that time til his death he always took an active
interest in Cardwell�s municipal affairs. After serving as councillor he became Township
Clerk, and his period of service to the municipality, as councillor and clerk, extended
unbroken from the township incorporation in 1878 until his retirement, due to advancing
age, in 1930, a period of well over half a century.
Mr. Wilson was a real authority on municipal law, finance and procedure, and the
township was most fortunate in having his guidance.
When the Muskoka Municipal Association was formed he was a valued officer and
shortly before his retirement from municipal work that association presented him with a
gold headed cane as a mark of esteem.
Like many other pioneers, he helped to lay the firm foundations of our present day
Muskoka and in so doing endured all the hardships of the original homesteaders. But no
other man left his mark on a Muskoka municipality�s public affairs like Matthew Wilson
did - his service to the public having covered ably and honourably, the first fifty-two of
Cardwell Township�s fifty - eight years of municipal history.
When, in 1930, the heavy hand of time obliged Mr. Wilson to lay down the cares of
public office, he was succeeded as Township Clerk and Treasurer by his son Robert who
has ably continued the high standard set by his father.
Though his physical activities have been circumscribed of late years, Mr Matthew
Wilson�s bright mind never lost its grip and he read the newspapers and took a keen
interest in world affairs until a very few days before he peacefully passed away.
He was always a man of literary tastes and was very widely read indeed.
And so there passed to the Great Beyond a real gentleman, kindly, scholarly, able and
industrious who departing left behind him �footprints in the sands of time�.Copied from the Bracebridge Gazette March? 1936
From M/C - Address ,Burton End,Dreghorn Parish.
Matthew Wilson 1844 - 1936
At his home at Hekkla, Cardwell Township, Muskoka, there passed peacefully away on
Tuesday, February 25, 1936, Mr. Matthew Wilson, one of the most outstanding men in
Muskoka�s history. Born March 25th, 1844, he was in his 92nd year.
The funeral, which was largely attended, took place on the afternoon of February 28th,
Rev. J.D. Richardson, Pastor of Rosseau United Church officiating. Interment took place
in Rosseau United Cemetery. The pallbearers were Messrs Alex Crawford Sr., Alex
Crawford Jr., George Lambert, John Forman, C.K. Beley, and Barney Einarson.
The late Mr. Wilson leaves to mourn his loss one son, Robert, of Hekkla, and one
daughter, Mary, (Mrs. Joseph Jackson) of Haileybury. Mr. Wilson�s wife and two of his
daughters predeceased him, his daughter Jessie (Mrs. Alex Crawford Sr.) dying in 1901,
his wife dying in 1918, and his daughter Agnes (Mrs. John Tough) dying in 1932.
Mr. Wilson was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and resided there until early manhood.
There he married Miss Janet McBlain, a kindly, cultured lady.
In 1866 Mr. and Mrs. Wilson moved to Geneseo, New York, and resided there until
1870, when they came to Muskoka and and Mr. Wilson located a homestead at Bass
Lake, between lakes Rosseau and Joseph. Five years later they moved to Cardwell
Township and there both resided until death called them. Mrs. Wilson passed away in
1918.
When the Township of Cardwell was incorporated, in 1878, Mr Wilson was elected a
member of the first council and from that time til his death he always took an active
interest in Cardwell�s municipal affairs. After serving as councillor he became Township
Clerk, and his period of service to the municipality, as councillor and clerk, extended
unbroken from the township incorporation in 1878 until his retirement, due to advancing
age, in 1930, a period of well over half a century.
Mr. Wilson was a real authority on municipal law, finance and procedure, and the
township was most fortunate in having his guidance.
When the Muskoka Municipal Association was formed he was a valued officer and
shortly before his retirement from municipal work that association presented him with a
gold headed cane as a mark of esteem.
Like many other pioneers, he helped to lay the firm foundations of our present day
Muskoka and in so doing endured all the hardships of the original homesteaders. But no
other man left his mark on a Muskoka municipality�s public affairs like Matthew Wilson
did - his service to the public having covered ably and honourably, the first fifty-two of
Cardwell Township�s fifty - eight years of municipal history.
When, in 1930, the heavy hand of time obliged Mr. Wilson to lay down the cares of
public office, he was succeeded as Township Clerk and Treasurer by his son Robert who
has ably continued the high standard set by his father.
Though his physical activities have been circumscribed of late years, Mr Matthew
Wilson�s bright mind never lost its grip and he read the newspapers and took a keen
interest in world affairs until a very few days before he peacefully passed away.
He was always a man of literary tastes and was very widely read indeed.
And so there passed to the Great Beyond a real gentleman, kindly, scholarly, able and
industrious who departing left behind him �footprints in the sands of time�.Copied from the Bracebridge Gazette March? 1936