Today’s blog #7 on genealogy features my SCOTTISH roots. Before my AncestryDNA results, I hadn’t spent too much time on this line – it follows my father’s line – through my 3x grand father George Richards’ wife, Cecelia —> see tree below. I’m unable to go back any further – the records stop at Andrew and Elizabeth.
I will document what I know as of now and I continue to research and reach out to genealogical societies as are more records become available, I will update.
I assumed we had some Scottish in us given my GGG Gramma’s last name was McKenzie. I hadn’t spent all that much time on this line yet. Not because I didn’t think it wouldn’t be interesting, just that I have my hands in so many different lines at the moment that sometimes I bounce around and forget to go back to a line I started.
Generation 1
ANDREW MCKENZIE married ELIZABETH SCOUGAL
At this stage I can’t confirm who the immigrant family was. Was it Andrew and Elizabeth who brought over Andrew or did Andrew Jr leave his family behind in Scotland for Canada? I can confirm father’s name – mother’s name is confirmed as Elizabeth (last name in documents in McKenzie) – saw somewhere that someone located the last name of Scougal – I am going to use it for my searches now. If it changes, I’ll update.
Scougal is an unusual name and is of early medieval Scottish origin, and is a locational surname derived from the place called Scoughall in the old parish of Tyninghame, on the coast near North Berwick.
Not a lot is known, I have a lot of investigating to do.
Generation 2
ANDREW MCKENZIE II was born about 1810-1811 in Scotland. We know this because his Marriage Certificate to his second wife states that he was 66 yrs old on Jan 8/1877. The 1891 census has him at 71 y/o, with a year of birth of 1810. At this point it’s negligible, it could a matter of a difference between the month the census was taken and the month he was married. We do not have a location as to where he was born in Scotland, yet.
We know he immigrated to Canada before 1836 since he was married in Canada, that year. We know that he was one of the original settlers in Lancaster County Ontario based on his obit in the Perth Courier.
He married (1) AGNES LECKIE on 21 Oct 1836 in Ramsay Township, Ontario. He was 26 years old and Agnes was 23. She was born in/about 1813, in Scotland. She died on 27 Feb 1875 in Pembroke, Renfrew, Ontario, Canada.- I am unable to confirm this – it was just a “hint” I had on my Ancestry.ca site.
Andrew and Agnes had the following children (I will add children and DOBs once I confirm them):
- Robert
- Andrew
- William
- Alexander
- Agnes
- Georgina
- Cecelia
- Mary-Anne
We know from his obituary that Andrew was a Colporteur for 20 years visiting shanties in the Ohio Valley. Which years did he do this? Unsure – I’m leaving it wide open starting in 1836 since it’s his marriage date and I’m stopping at 1871 as in that census he is noted as being a retired farmer.
The first time I’m able to pick up Agnes and the kids is the 1861 census. They’re living in Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada. Agnes is noted as being married, however she is the Head of the household. Andrew is not identified. A man by the name of Alexander McKenzie is named on the census w/ them (he is 51) – is this a typo? Was he colporting at the time of this census? Who is Alexander McKenzie if it’s not a typo? I know from the Library and Archives through the gov’t of Canada that the 1861 census started on January 14, 1861 for Canada East and for Canada West. It is known that as a Colporteur he would visit shanties in the cold of winter based on his obit from the Almonte Gazettte.
Note: the Andrew listed in this census is only 16 (he’s their son, and note that he’s already working as a Labourer at that age).
I locate them both again in the next 10 year census. They are noted as being Presbyterian. He is now documented as being a Farmer. Andrew is 60 and Agnes is 57. Living with them are ___ 22, Agnes 20, Cecelia 19, Mary Anne 17 and Mary 4 (1 of the children’s daughter?). They are household 206 in the census. They’re living in the same region, Admaston Township, which is still in Renfrew County.
After Agnes passed on Feb 27, 1875, he then married (2) JANET GREVILLE TOSHACK on 08 Jan 1877 in Almonte, Ontario, daughter of William and Margaret. She was born about 1821. She died on 15 Nov 1893 in Ottawa, Ontario. Andrew was 66 and Janet was 50 y/o. Janet was from Ramsay, Ont. Witnesses were Alexander Gray Almonte and James Snedder Ramsay. I queried if the witnesses were kin of Almonte/Ramsay who founded the towns? However, I know just think that they’re documenting where each were from. But, I’m not ruling out that their ancestors founded Almonte and Ramsay just yet.
By the 1881 census, he and Janet were still living Almonte, he is noted as being a retired Farmer. Living with He is 71 and Janet was 57.
Later that same year, on October 16, 1881, Andrew passed away at the age of 72. His death registration states that he died of Lung Congestion (likely pneumonia) and suffered with it for at least 10 weeks. His death reported by R. McKenzie assuming his son, Robert (who was a Farmer). Robert reported that his father was a “Bookseller” i.e. Colporteur
——————–
Almonte Gazette, Friday, October 28, 1881:
OBITUARY: Another old settler has gone to his last rest. Mr. Andrew McKenzie died of congestion of the lungs at his residence in Almonte on the 17th Oct., 1881, aged 72 years. Mr. McKenzie was for over twenty years a *colporteur in the service of the Ottawa Valley Branch Bible Society. In the winter time he visited the shanties in the Ottawa Valley, selling bibles to the shantymen, and speaking to them of Him who came to seek and save the lost. Dreary and long were the journeys he often took, and many were the hardships he endured, and the dangers he escaped as he passed from shanty to shanty. But his work is done, and we doubt not but he has received his Master’s approval, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Lord, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.”
* A colporteur is a peddler of devotional literature.
From The Renfrew Mercury, Friday, October 21, 1881: DEAD – The corpse of Mr. A. Mackenzie, the colporteur, a former resident of Renfrew, was taken through the village on Tuesday, from Almonte, for interment in Admaston.
Andrew is mentioned in the blog Up and Down the Shantymen Used to Roam, posted on February 6, 2017
Note for Andrew McKenzie: Admaston Cemetery records show Georgina McKenzie Brown, wife of John Brown, born June 11, 1850, died March 4, 1939. It is probable that Georgina is the daughter of Andrew and Agnes since Andrew’s will mentions Georgina Brown, wife of John Brown. The will of Andrew’s second wife, Janet, refers to “Mrs. John Brown”. Georgina’s relationship to Andrew has to be verified but she is included with his children based on the circumstantial evidence in the estate files.
Generation 3
CECILIA MCKENZIE was born on 09 Dec 1851 in Ontario. She died on 12 Sep 1921 in Mattawa, Ontario. She married GEORGE RICHARDS in 1886 in Mattawa, Ontario, son of Ambrose Abraham Richards and Olive Moore. He was born on 26 Jul 1858 in Eardley Township, Ottawa County, Quebec. He died on 25 Apr 1942. 
1881 Census: George Richards, married, 23, born: in Ontario, Scottish, Farmer, Presbyterian. Rosy Richards, married, 19, Irish, born in Ontario, Presbyterian.
The next entry on this census is the family of Donald and Agnes Fraser. We find Cecelia McKenzie living there, with her sister Agnes, at the time. She and George likely knew one another and married after the death of his first wife, Rosy. Cecelia was employed as a Seamstress.
Their son, Ambrose Richards was born in 1885 (according to his death certificate), however Cecelia and George were married in 1888. Some 3 years later, was he born out of wedlock?
Generation 4
AMBROSE RICHARDS (B: Dec 12 1887 – Mattawa Ontario, D: 1957 – Mattawa Ontario) m. BRIDGET ANGELINA MULLEN (B: Jan 3 1887 – Vinton, Québec, D: April 10 1976 – Témiscaming, Québec) on 20 Nov 1912 in Sacre Coeur Parish, Sturgeon Falls, Nipissing, Ontario.
Of interest, Ambrose converted to Roman Catholic from Presbyterianism – apparently to marry Lina as he was baptized only 10 days before they were married.
His Godparents were Denis Leaghy & Mary Brown. He was baptized Catholic on 10 Nov 1912 in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Generation 5
BENJAMIN GEORGE RICHARDS (B: Feb 10 1916 – Sturgeon Falls Ontario, D: June 17 1977 –Montréal, Québec) m. SARAH ANN LEE (B: Dec 7 1922 – Meltham Mills, Yorkshire England, D: March 1993 – Montréal, Quebec)
Refer to my blogs on the LEE family and Pte. Benjamin Richards for details about my grandparents.
Generation 6
PATRICK JAMES RICHARDS (B: Jan 15 1954 – Témiscaming Québec, D: Nov 18 2014 – Témiscaming, Québec) m. MONA ROSE LAMOTHE (B: Jan 20 1956 – Bonfield Ontario, D: —-)
Generation 7
MOI – TINA RICHARDS
UPDATE: As of today, February 14, 2021 – I have emailed the Lanmark County Genealogical Society to see if they are able to locate any further information on Andrew, Agnes and/or Janet.
Stay Tuned ….
My gramma, Sarah Ann Lee, affectionately known as Sally, was born on December 7, 1922. Her father, Joseph, was 26, and her mother, Ellen (née Plant), was 30.
I’ve located her birth registration in 
maiden voyage to New York on 30 May 1914. Aquitania was the third in Cunard Line’s “grand trio” of express liners including the RMS Mauritania and RMS Lusitania, and she was the last surviving four-funnelled ocean liner. Widely considered one of the most attractive ships of her time, Aquitania earned the nickname “Ship Beautiful”. In her 36 years of service, Aquitania survived military duty in both world wars. After completing troopship service, the vessel was handed back to Cunard in 1946, and was used to transport war brides and their children to Canada under charter from the Canadian government. This final service created a special fondness for Aquitania in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the port of disembarkation for these immigration voyages
Joseph Edward Lee
When
When 
Hannah Crabtree
When Samuel Lee was born in January 1826 in Holmfirth, Yorkshire, England, his father, William Lee, was 26 and his mother, Mary Raine, was 22.
dad’s name is John Lee. He and William both worked as Weavers. So her maiden name is Lee as well?
on March 4, 1821, in Middleton in Teesdale, Durham, England. They had ten children in 21 years. He died on May 17, 1883, having lived a long life of 83 years.
I know I already posted a blog today. But, as I was walking out the door, I got an email from Ancestry that my DNA results were in and I had to check them stat!
Of all of the crystal skulls, the Mitchell-Hedges skull is probably the most famous and beautiful. The skull was allegedly discovered in the 1924 (or 1925/1926/1927 her account of dates vary), by Anna, who was the adopted daughter of a British adventurer and traveler Frederick Mitchell-Hedges. Anna claims that she found the skull beneath the altar of a Mayan temple in Lubaantun, a ruined city in Belize, on her 17th birthday. The city was rediscovered in 1924 by her father, Frederick, who is said to have inspired the well known character, Indiana Jones.
gave many talks/interviews. Now deceased, Anna Mitchell-Hedges had the skull to her death, though it was mostly kept locked away in a bank vault. Anna moved away from her Kitchener home and stayed with friends in the United States until she passed away.
Genealogy story #4 features my Great Grand Father, Émile Lamothe, whom I called Grand-Pépère Lamothe. I figured since my last two blogs featured the other Veterans in my family, that I’d continue on that note.
There was some question as to whether he volunteered or whether he was drafted. So, I did some research, turns out volunteers for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) were questioned at the place of enlistment to complete the two-sided Attestation papers which included the recruit’s name and address, next-of-kin, date and place of birth, occupation, previous military service, and distinguishing physical characteristics. Recruits were asked to sign their Attestation papers, indicating their willingness to serve overseas. By contrast, men who were drafted into the CEF under the provisions of the Military Service Act (1917) completed a far simpler one-sided form which included their name, date of recruitment, and compliance with requirements for registration. Having reviewed his Attestation Papers/Particulars of Recruit – I was able to deduct that grand-pépère was drafted.
Émile was short in stature, only 5’2.5″ and was 20 years and 11 months old when he enlisted. He was noted as being single and a Farmer. He was listed a Class One, Category A2.
June 23 1919: Embarked at Liverpool on the SS Belgic. The White Star Line vessel was to be named Ceric & intended to replace Titanic in 1914. The outbreak of WWI changed all of that. During construction, White Star decided to go with the name of Belgic IV. She was launched in Jan 1914, but was not yet completed when WWI began later that year and the work was stopped. Belgic IV was eventually completed in 1917, but as a troop transport and freighter rather than the passenger liner she was designed to be.
granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who voluntarily served on Active Service and honourably completed eighteen months total voluntary service from 3 September 1939 to 1 March 1947. A silver clasp, a maple leaf at its centre, was awarded for 60 days service outside Canada.
