"She's gone that one we loved so dear, on earth no more we will see her there and hope on heaven's bright shining shore we'll see her there to part no more." These are the words that are found on the tombstone of Mary Willson (nee McKenzie, previous marriage Chambers).
Mary McKenzie began her life in Dumfrieshire, Scotland. She was the sixth known child of James McKenzie and Catherine Brown. She was baptized
Her mother most likely died when Mary was a young girl. By the 1841 census, her mother is not listed and Mary is living with her father and siblings. She came to Canada by 1850. Her father and some of her siblings also came as well. Did she marry James Chambers in Scotland?
Mary and James Chambers had eight children. Sarah born about 1845 in Canada; James; Catherine "Kate" about 1850; Janet about 1851; Mary A. born about 1853, Agnes born about 1855, William born about 1857. and James about 1858.
Her husband died tragically in 1858 when he drowned at the mill pond. On 10 February 1860, Mary maried James Willson in Pickering Township. He was also a blacksmith. Mary had three more children: John about 1861, Robert about 1863 and James about 1864.
Mary died 12 September 1875. She is buried in the Mennonite Cemetery in Altona.
1841 Census of Scotland Ancestry online database James McKenzie household, Parish: Dumfries; ED: 5; Page: 18; Line: 1340; Year: 1841.
Ancestry.com and Genealogical Research Library (Brampton, Ontario, Canada). Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
citing Ontario marriage registrations for Mary McKenzie -- James Willson, microfilm MS 248 Reel 11, Archives of Ontario, Toronto.
Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Census Returns For 1861; Roll: C-1057.p 154-155, James Willson household
© 2014 Janet Iles
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