The Postmaster of Arundel, QC

[Mr. Story]

Hello, All!

This is my first post on this forum, do forgive me if this isn't the best board for my queries. I've been working diligently on my family tree for a little over a year now, and have hit the ULTIMATE snag. No matter what I do, which rock I look under, I cannot seem to trace the ancestry of my 3rd Great-Grandfather on my mother's side, the Postmaster of Arundel, QC. His name was William Thomson, he was born in Glasgow and married to one Margaret Currie. He also left a career as a teacher in Belle-Riviere to develop some land which would eventually become Arundel. Back when he served as Postmaster, the hamlet was known as Fitzalan. I'm hoping to get in contact with anyone who might know more about this man's family, his Scottish origins, or the origins of his wife Margaret Currie.

Many thanks!

- Mr. Story

[Little Nell]

Welcome to RootsChat.

Could you indicate some possible dates for this couple, please?  Do you know when they married and perhaps where?  Their children's names might also provide clues for their parents' names.

Am I right in thinking that he and his wife lived in Canada? 

Nell

[*Sandra*]

source ancestry tree - Are these William and Margaret ?  Married 1833 -
20 April 1833 - Montréal (Presbyterian Saint Andrew), Québec



William Thomson
Birth 1801 - Glasgow, Lanarkshire, , Scotland
Death 29 December 1873 -  Quebec, Canada.

and Margaret Miller Currie - Birth 1812 -Greenock, Renfrewshire, , Scotland
Death 7 JUL 1885  - Quebec, Canada.

Sandra

Added - a variation to the death according to Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968

William Thomson
Record Type   Enterrement (Burial)
Death Date   13 déc. 1874 (13 Dec 1874) - Burial Date   2 janv. 1874 (2 Jan 1874)
Burial Place   Lachute, Québec (Quebec), Canada
Burial Church   Lachute
Place of Worship or Institution   Presbyterian Church
Religion   Presbyterian
Spouse    Margaret Currie

[*Sandra*]

Not a lot of detail to go on - A possible, Glasgow 1801 birth ??

William Thomson - Baptism Date   7 Jun 1801
Baptism Place   Great Hamilton Street Reformed Presbyterian, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Residence Place   Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Sandra

[Mr. Story]

Hey Nell,

Yes, my research suggests that they lived in/near Belle-Riviere until close to the mid 1850s, when William uprooted the family to start a homestead in what would become Arundel.

William Thomson married Margaret Currie on April 20th, 1833, at the Presbyterian Church of St. Andrew. I've been able to confirm Mary, William, and John as definite children for this couple, but the majority of historical records referencing this family of Thomsons says there were six. To that end, I've added to the list Elizabeth, Margaret (Maggie), and Agnes Thomson as most likely to be the other children.

Ancestry keeps giving me suggestions for a Margaret Currie who was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland between 1810 and 1813, but I can't seem to corroborate these suggestions with any records available on ScotlandsPeoples.

Any help is appreciated!

- Mr. Story

[Mr. Story]

Hey Sandra,

These facts mirror what I have in my family tree thus far. As I said in my previous reply, however, I'm slightly doubtful of Greenock as the place of Margaret's birth. She never appears as Margaret Miller Currie in any of my other collected records.

A head-scratcher, to be sure!

- Mr. Story

[*Sandra*]

Background info


The son ??  William Thomson Jnr (1846 - 1916)  took over as postmaster 1/1/1874  ?

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=posoffposmas&idnumber=4522&ecopy=

FIND A GRAVE

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61468948/william-thomson

William and spouse Mary Drennan Thomson (1846 - 1945)

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

Is this a coincidence - a Currie buried Arundel Public Cemetery. Might he be related to Margaret ?

Did you have a look at James B Currie born 1831 - 1905 buried Arundel Public Cemetery
Arundel, Laurentides Region, Québec ?  Initial B is "Browning"   One of the signatures was Jemima Thomson ?

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64470952/james-b-currie

James B Currie - Record Type   Enterrement (Burial)
Death Date   15 mars 1905 (15 Mar 1905)
Burial Date   16 mars 1905 (16 Mar 1905)
Burial Place   Arundel, Québec (Quebec), Canada
Burial Church   Arundel
Place of Worship or Institution   Methodist Church
Religion   Methodist
Father    Daniel Currie  ?

The signature of Jemima Thomson (on the burial of James B Currie) was the spouse of John Thomson - John Thomson, born 1858, son of William Thomson and Margaret Currie, farmer of Arundel, and husband of Jemima Morrison. Died on Sunday November 9, 1919, in his 82nd year. Remains were interred in the Methodist Cemetery at Arundel November 11, 1919. Witness: W.R. Thomson.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65283666/john-thomson

Sandra

[dbree]

Hi and Welcome to Rootschat,

There is a small history of Arundel that mentions William Thomson, Postmaster, Crown Land Agent and Captain of the Militia (pg .6) There is a photo of his first house built in 1856 with Mr. and Mrs. William Thomson (II) with their daughter Nellie (Mrs. S. MacArthur) and Elizabeth (Mrs. Porter) daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Thomson (I).

Pg. 13, mentions that William's brother John acted as a carrier for mail and walked 35 miles once a week to Lachute, Quebec ....yikes.
https://arundel.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Arundel-1856-1954-part-I.pdf

DB