Harriet & Isabella (Bella) McDonald in Toronto, Canada

[bigmac1x]

Charles was born 1879 and Harriet 1891. I assumed (don't know why) that Harriet was Charles second wife. And Charles was buried with his first wife somewhere. I guess I assumed that because Harriet was buried with her first husband.
Will have to check and see if there's a previous marriage for Charles.

[Jacquie in Canada]

Charles was born 1879 and Harriet 1891. I assumed (don't know why) that Harriet was Charles second wife. And Charles was buried with his first wife somewhere. I guess I assumed that because Harriet was buried with her first husband.
Will have to check and see if there's a previous marriage for Charles.

The marriage registration for Charles and Harriet does say he's a widower. On the 1911 census, Charles is living with his parents, Peter and Elmira in St. Thomas, Missisquoi, Quebec but his birth date is given as Jul 1872. He was listed as being single. Here's a link to the census entry (starts on line 10):
http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/SplitView.jsp?id=115095

I found his birth/baptism in the Drouin Collection:

Clarenceville (Methodist Church)

Charles Colburn Fadden was born 24 Jul 1871 and baptised 7 Dec 1871. He was the son of James Peter Fadden and his wife Almira.

I can't find a 1st marriage or death for Charles.

Jacquie

[RSMACL]

Just a passing query Stephen. 
Are you saying that Harriet was buried with husband Joseph, his parents (Robert McDonald & Agnes Kerr - had they emigrated from Scotland earlier?)and one child (c. 3 yrs. age) from Fadden marriage.  Funeral arrangements were made for Harriet under name of McDonald (name of first husband JOSEPH - not 2nd one Charles as you state).
Re Grace Gagnon - was she a child McDonald (MacDonald?) who married someone named GAGNON.?
Has  anyone been able to find anything further re WILLIAM McDONALD, Harriet's older brother, b. 1887 in Scotland, emigrated 1910, married Mary Callaghan, Toronto 1914. 
Perhaps he was killed in first World War?
Have record of him as Driver 1912-4, joined 123 Btn. C.E.F., Royal Grenadiers, Canada Exp. Forces; was 'Private' as at 8 Dec. 1915, living 26 Bulwer St., Toronto, 1919: living 484 Delaware Ave., driver (shown as 'on active service').  Maybe he died at end of war??  Ruth

[RSMACL]

Another thought - maybe if Harriet and Charles divorced, Grace Gagnon is 'illeg.' dau. to someone called Gagnon.  The plot thickens.

[bigmac1x]

Hi Jacquie,
Must have been sleeping. That "Widower" on the marriage certificate to Harriet is staring me in the face! So my assumption he is buried with first wife may be correct.
It is interesting I can't find Charles and wife #1 in 1891 or 1901 - the spellings must be way off. Those must be the years he was married to her. I wonder if he was in the USA during that period. There is a USA/Fadden connection at some point in that branch of my tree.
Perhaps the 1911 census says single because he divorced wife #1? Guess he wouldn't be buried with her then.

Hi Ruth,
I think you've stated it correctly. Was Grace a Mcdonald or a Fadden - I don't know - yet. And yes I'm assuming she married a Gagnon.
(Maybe she's from Charle's first marriage - hadn't considered that option?)
William is still being elusive. I've been to the library and have copies of all the Toronto street directories from about 1890 (when Joseph, Harriet's 1st husband)  first shows up in Toronto right thru to 1950. I've not had a close look at William but can follow Joseph, Thomas Calder Sr, and Isabella from address to address.

As for the illegal suggestion - I hope not!

[Jacquie in Canada]

So my assumption he is buried with first wife may be correct.

I wouldn't assume anything. He may have lied on the registration for some reason known only to him. I've had too many "what the heck!?!?"-type moments to accept anything at face value when researching.

Jacquie

[RSMACL]

I have forwarded you info. of entry on 1881 Canadian Census in St. Thomas, Mississiquoi, Quebec : for James Peter Fadden, wife Alvira and children, including Charles C. (9 yrs). 
He was born 1871 which puts him 20 years older than Harriet (same age difference with first husband).  He could have died soon after birth of their child in 1924, as Charles would then have been 53 yrs.   Wonder how & where Harriet met him?

[bigmac1x]

In 1871 and 1901 in Quebec with his Parents (about 600 miles from Toronto to Montreal, Quebec).
Logic would suggest he was in Quebec, perhaps with a first wife in 1891 and 1901, but who knows - so far?
Married Harriet in Toronto. Now, how did he get from Quebec in 1911 to Marry Harriet in Toronto in 1920?
I mentioned I have the Toronto street directories from 1890 to 1950. I seem to recall a female Fadden in Toronto in the late 19teens. I’ll have to go through year by year to find her but wouldn’t it be a strange coincidence if it was a Sister?
Then one would have to figure out how, if he was visiting his Sister, how he met Harriet.
Will let you know.
Stephen

[Jacquie in Canada]

In case you aren't aware, the 1881 and 1891 Canada census is available at Library and Archives Canada. They have a searchable by name database with census images. Here's the link:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1881/index-e.html
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1891/index-e.html

Jacquie