Donald McGillivray and Sarah McKaig were married at St. Paul's Anglican Church in Port Robinson, Thorold Tp, which is in Welland County in the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario (photo), by the rector, Rev. Thomas Brock Fuller, on 5 April 18543 . Two days earlier, their license was issued by the county clerk, Jacob Keefer4 . Both Donald and Sarah were said to be residents of Port Robinson. Donald's occupation was given as 'seaman'.
Rev Fuller inserted a marriage notice in the Anglican newspaper called "The Church"5. He added the detail that Sarah was the niece of the late George Jordan , implying that he was a prominent member of the community. Indeed, George Jordan was a landowner, the proprietor of one of the hotels in Port Robinson and a pillar of St. Paul's church. Port Robinson barely exists today, but at this time it was in its heyday as an important cross-roads. Situated on the Welland Canal, it was connected by stagecoach to Buffalo, St. Catharines and Hamilton. In those days, ships were pulled through the canal by horses. It was a two day affair, so many of the canal workers and ships' crews would spend the night at the bars and hotels of Port Robinson which was situated at the half-way point6.
Although George Jordan died on 27 Dec 1852, his widow, Elizabeth, continued to run the hotel. Just months after Donald and Sarah's wedding, in December 1854, a murder took place on the porch of the hotel. Elizabeth Jordan and others gave testimony at the trial which provides interesting glimpses of life at the time. For more information, see The Trial of William Townsend.
We have no documented information on Sarah's parents. One story is that she was born of Irish descent, in Bermuda, as her father was a military man, stationed there with the British troops7 . Another is that she was born at Portedoun, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland 'at a bend in the river'8. In the census, she consistently gives her birthplace as Ireland.
There is general agreement that Sarah was a 'character'. Bert McGilvray (1891 - 1984, son of Albert Edward) remembered his grandmother having a strong Irish accent and the fact that she smoked a pipe9 .
Sarah apparently was sent to Canada to live and work at her uncle's hotel. She was living with her uncle's family in the census enumerated in April 1852, when she was 18 (implying a birthdate of 1834)10 . It seems likely that Donald met her there, as he was working as a sailor on the Great Lakes. At the time the census was taken in fact, there were two sailing captains from Hamilton staying there. (Donald was not living in Thorold Tp at the time11 .) George Jordan's will survives, but it unfortunately does not mention Sarah12 .
Donald and Sarah moved to Hamilton, and Donald went to work with the Great West Railway. Sam McGilvery (1902 - 1986, son of Samuel Duncan) was told that Donald worked on Great Lakes sailing ships until his wife urged him to take up something safer after two ships sank under him. Great Lakes shipwrecks were so common that 138 were recorded in 1854 alone13 .
Ironically, Donald was killed on 20 Sept 1870 while working for the Great West Railway. Donald worked for the Great Western Railway from at least 1860 until his death in 1870. He is always called a labourer except for his obituary14 and death certificate15 in which he is called a conductor . The story, related to me by his grandson Bert McGilvary in 1977, is that he was standing on the caboose inspecting the train ahead when he was struck by a bridge. The information provided by the coroner on the death certificate confirms this story, stating that "he was killed by accident by coming into Contact with a bridge when on top of Railway Train".
Donald was killed at Copetown, which is between Hamilton and Brantford. The train was likely heading east towards Dundas, on a steep grade going down the Niagara escarpment. The Conductor's car was at the rear of every freight train. Train operating rules for the Copetown hill required the brakesman to be on top of the cars and applying the brakes to keep the train fully in control going down the grade.16
Several thought that Donald was involved in the Desjardin Canal rail disaster of 1857, but this is unlikely as his name is not mentioned in the newspaper reports or in the records of the inquest . However, the inquest mentions that a freight train passed over the bridge ten minutes prior to the wreck, and perhaps Donald was working on that train17.
The 1861 census confirms that Donald was born in Scotland. It also apparently bears his signature, showing that he used the spelling 'McGillivray'18 . Sam guessed that he had been born in Glasgow. Others assumed that we were related to the McGillivrays of Dunmaglas, the seat of the clan chiefs, which is near Inverness. (I now believe that Donald was born on Islay and came to Hamilton via Oro Township, Simcoe County. The evidence is presented here.)
Donald and Sarah had seven sons: Alexander, George Arthur, William (died as an infant), William John (called John as an adult), Donald, Albert Edward and Samuel Duncan. George Jordan also named one of his sons George Arthur, so this name probably comes from Sarah's side of the family. In fact, Donald and Sarah went back to Port Robinson to have their George Arthur baptized.
The Hamilton assessment rolls and city directories show the family moving every few years, living in rental housing until after Donald's death. Rent varied from $20 in 1860 to $50 in 1865 and 1866. The family moved to 75 Elgin St in 1868/9. Sarah purchased the property on 16 Jan 1871 for $600, possibly a death benefit from the GWR. Sarah lived there until her death in 1903, and her son Sam continued to live there until his wife died in 1920. Bill McGilvery (son of Alexander) told me that Sarah planted seven fruit trees in the back yard, one for each of her sons19 . When I visited the property in the late 1970's (now 127 Elgin St), some of the trees (or their offspring) were still in evidence. Since then, the house has been torn down and a modern house erected on the lot.
The family was somewhat split on religion. In the 1861 census, Donald lists himself as 'FCP' (Free Church Presbyterian) and Sarah as Church of England. This difference was carried forward in the baptism of the children. Alexander was baptized at Knox Presbyterian20 (1856). George was baptized at St. Paul's Anglican in Port Robinson, and William, William John and Donald were all baptized at Christ Church Cathedral21 in Hamilton (1860, 1862 and 1864). William was buried from there as well. In Oct 12, 1866 Donald was admitted to the communion roll of Knox, and Albert Edward was baptized there in November. I do not have a baptismal record for Samuel Duncan.
We do not have any photographic record of Donald and Sarah. Sam said that there was a picture of Donald in the family home showing him to be a tall, raw-boned Scot with a military style moustache. The home broke up after his mother died in 1920, and he did not know what happened to the picture.
As already noted, Donald was killed while working as a conductor for the Great West Railway on September 20, 1870. The funeral took place two days later from his home, and Blachford & Ray were the undertakers. Donald was buried in the Hamilton Cemetery on York Street, in Section A-6, lot 10422 . The tombstone states that he was 38 at death, while his death certificate says 37 (photo).
Sarah lived on at 75 Elgin Street until her death on March 23, 1903 at the age of 75. Her clergyman was Rev. E.A. Henry of Knox and Blachford & Son were the undertakers. Sarah is buried in the plot with Donald.
With Donald's early death, it is not surprising that there is little surviving oral tradition. Moreover, of their seven sons, one died in infancy and three died as young men, leaving their children to be oriented more towards their mothers' families. Two moved to the US, with occasional visits back to Hamilton. The youngest, Samuel Duncan, was born after his father's death in 1870. However, at least Sam's family had contact with Sarah who lived with him until her death in 1903. Compounding this lack of continuity is the fact that the sons' families were not all on good terms with each other and lost contact over the years.
Donald and Sarah had seven sons : Alexander, George, William (who died in infancy), John, Donald, Albert Edward, and Samuel. Despite some academic success, the early death of their father dictated that they go to work as early as 11 years of age. They also lived together at 75 Elgin, even after marriage. When they did move out, some located within a block or two of the family home.
Knox continued to be the home church of five of the sons (John married a Catholic). Some 20 McGillivray cousins were baptized there from 1881 to 1904. Of the 11 boys, 7 were given McGillivray names.
Alexander was born on 24 February 1856 and baptized on 20 July at Knox. In the prizes awarded at Christmas 1868 for the City School (i.e. high school) examinations, Alexander came 7th in the second division.
In 1878, Alexander was living at home and listed as a 'moulder'. In 1884, married and still at 75 Elgin, he was a railway fireman. In 1886 he was listed as a cleaner, and a trackman in 1889. Later he moved to 147 Elgin, but a fire destroyed his home on July 12 1894.
Alexander married twice, first to Esther Jones, who died in 1883, and on 21 September 1887 to Susan Rebecca Allan. She was born in 1864 and pre-deceased her husband in 1902. Alexander had two daughters by his first wife, and two more daughters and a son by his second. All of the children were baptized at Knox.
Alexander was a 20 year employee with the Grand Trunk railway. He was injured by having an engine backed upon him, and was unable to resume work. Sam thought it was the same accident in which his brother Donald was killed. He died at the home of his brother, Samuel (127 Elgin) on April 5 1907 and is buried with his parents.
George was born on 3 January 1858, and was baptized at Port Robinson. In the Hamilton directories of 1884 - 1888 he is listed as a conductor, with the N&NW (railway?). In 1888, George emigrated to Spokane, Washington, where he was an conductor for the OR & N railway.
George married Robinette (Ruby) Howers in 1881. Two daughters were baptized at Knox in January 1887. A son George Floyd was born Apr 1888 in Oregon, possibly as the family was on route to Spokane. Another daughter was born in Washington. The family visited Hamilton from time to time, especially to see Ruby's mother, and these visits were remembered by relatives. George gave his sister-in-law Maggie a wicker tea trolley (now owned by Ann Elson), and he commended her as 'a damned comfortable woman'.
William was born on 3 March 1860 and baptized privately on 13 May by George A. Brell, missionary of Christ Church Cathedral. The baby died, aged 4 months, 26 days, from water on the brain, and was buried on 30 July. His death is noted in the 1861 census. There is a small headstone for William in the family plot, which reads 'William son of Donald and Sarah McGilvery died 18 July 1860 age 4 mo and 16 ds'.
William John was born on 5 October 1861 and baptized at Christ Church on 10 August 1862. He carried on the name of his deceased infant brother, but as he grew up, he was known by his second name, John.
William attended the Henry Street primary school in St. Andrew's ward. At the Christmas exams, 'Willie' received 2nd prize in the 2nd division in 1867, and place 10th in Miss Cussack's division in 1868.
John's schooling was cut short by the death of his father, and he went to work at the office of the Dominion Telegraph Company at the age of 11. The company amalgamated with the G.N.W. Telegraph Company and John was a book-keeper there until the illness which led to his death when he was only 23.
John married a Catholic, Ann Galagher, and had a daughter.
John had been ill for some time, and went to Orillia to recuperate. He died there on Sunday August 2, 1885. According to later family remembrances, John's death was by drowning23 . There is no death registration, nor a mention in the Orillia papers. A story is that at John's wake, his brothers kept watch in front of the house to keep the priest away.
His obituary calls John McGillivray "a man of steady habits, upright character and gentle disposition, faithful to his employers and courteous to everyone"24 .
After John's death, Ann remarried and had a son.
Donald was born on 8 March 1864 and baptized on 8 May at Christ Church.
Donald married Margaret Ann Russell daughter of jeweler Richard Russell and Agnes Aikman Christie of James St. S in Hamilton, in 1887. Both families attended Knox. Margaret was reputedly engaged to the second richest man in Hamilton, while Donald was a mail clerk with the railway. (Photo).
Donald and Margaret had four boys and four girls. Margaret was four months pregnant with their last child when Donald was killed. All were baptized at Knox.
Bert McGilvary believed that Donald went to the Klondike and brought back a few nuggets, but this story is not shared by Donald's family.
Donald was killed in a rear end collision on the Grand Trunk Railway on the night of October 27, 1903 at Stevensville, near Fort Erie. A brakeman, he was on the last car of the train which was run into, and after the accident his body was found under the 'mogul' engine. His head and both legs were cut off, a detail the Hamilton Spectator did not omit in its front page coverage. He was 39, about the same age his father had been when he was killed on the railway. When the coffin was brought into the house, Maggie exclaimed 'That can't be Donald : its too short'.
Rev. Henry officiated at the funeral which was from Blachford & Son, and Donald was buried in the Hamilton Cemetery.
Albert Edward was born on 30 September 1866 and was baptized on November 4 of that year at Knox.
Albert Edward married Millicent Amanda O'Dell in 1889, and the couple had three sons and a daughter. In the 1891 census Bert and Millicent are living with their in-laws, Edmond and Julia O'Dell. Bert is listed as a dry goods salesman.
They lived for some ten years in the U.S., and at the time of his death, lived in Newberry, Michigan. He died, aged 43, on 6 Dec 1909 and is buried in Hamilton Cemetery. The family returned to Hamilton, and Millicent remarried.
Samuel Duncan was born on 18 August 1870 and was a month old when his father was killed.
Sam married Emma Kellner in 1895, and they had five boys and three girls. One daughter died tragically at home after consuming a bottle of 'health' pills. Emma died in 1920. Sam continued to live at 127 Elgin after his mother's death until that of his wife, when the family home of 50 years was finally broken up.
Sam retired after 45 years with the Dennis Moore Stove company. He started as a tinsmith. He died, age 71, in 1941, and is buried in Westmount Memorial Park Cemetery.
1. While I standardize on the spelling 'Donald McGillivray', in fact there is wide variation in the records. He is often called Daniel, and his surname receives a multitude of phonetic spellings. Interestingly, his sons settled on not one, but several different spellings: McGillivray, McGilvray and McGilvery. Also of note, the 1861 census return appears to contain his signature, and this reads Don'd McGillivray.
2. In the baptisms and marriages of her sons, Sarah is sometimes called Sarah Ann, and her surname is given several phonetic spellings: McKaig, McKeige, McKeigh and McCaigh.
3. "A Register of Baptisms, Marriages & Burials performed by The Reverend Thomas Brock Fuller commencing Jan 3rd 1841", file S/W 23, Archives of the Niagara Diocese, Anglican Church of Canada, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. Donald and Sarah's marriage is on pp 155-156. Their son George Arthur was also baptized at Port Robinson on 18 July 1858 (pp 126-127).
4. "Records of Marriage Licenses Issued at Thorold by Jacob Keefer, 1838-1874", National Archives, Ottawa, MG24 I33 File 10
5. "The Church" (Toronto: 13 Apr 1854), in Ontario Marriage Notices, comp. by Thomas B. Wilson (Lambertville NJ: Hunterdon House, 1982), p. 248
6. Thompson, John M. Jubilee History of Thorold Township and Town, (Thorold: Thorold and Beaverdams Historical Society, 1897-8); NYPL 971.338 T STR.
7. Margaret McIlroy (1902 - 1979, daughter of Donald) to author, 17 June 1976. Original in possession of writer.
8. Sam McGilvery, interview with Russ McGillivray, Mar 19, 1979.
9. Bert McGilvary, interview with Russ McGillivray, Nov 11, 1977
10. 1851 Census; Thorold Tp; Dist 2; pg 67; Reel C-985
11. "1851 Census, Thorold Tp Dist 2", Indexed by Niagara Peninsula Branch, OGS. Oct 1985. NYPL
12. Will of George Jordan, Welland Co. Wills #283, Archives of Ontario, GS 1-675
13. Erik Heyl, Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes 1847-64, PAC MG31 A3
14. Hamilton Daily Spectator, 22 Sep 1870.
15. Death registration 8516-70; Ontario Archives MS-935, Reel 2
16. Rules & Regulations for the Conduct of the Traffic and for the Guidance of the Officers and Servants in the Employment of the Great Western Railway Co. London, Ontario 1879, pp. 25, 94
17. Full Details of the Railway Disaster of the 12th of March, 1857 at the Desjardin Canal, on the line of the Great Western Railway. William A. Shepard & Co., Hamilton, 1857. PAC I-2663
18. 1861 Census; Hamilton; St. Lawrence Ward, District 1, pg 239. In Hamilton, the enumerator erroneously dropped the census forms off at the homes to be filled in by the resident on Sunday Jan 13 and picked up the following day. The result is that the return is apparently in Donald's handwriting, including his signature.
19. Bill McGilvery (1891 - 1987, son of Alexander) interview, 15 Sept 1978. At the time of the interview, Bill knew only of six sons, not realizing the one had died in infancy, and had always been puzzled by the fact that seven trees were planted.
20.Knox Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, Baptismal records; Ontario Archives GS-1616
21. Christ Church Hamilton, Baptismal Register Feb 1850-Sept 1864, Parish Register D, Reel 61. Archives of the Niagara Diocese, Anglican Church of Canada, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
22. Hamilton Cemetery Office. Donald, Sarah, Alexander, Willie and John are buried in Lot 104 -106, Section A6. There is a headstone for Donald and a small stone for William. Others buried in the same plot are Susan Allan (Alexander's first wife), Emma Kellner (Samuel's wife) and Albert Edward, a young son of Samuel and Emma.
23. Drowning as the cause of death was cited by Bert McGilvray and Margaret McIlroy. However, John's obituary suggests that he died because his illness took a sudden turn for the worst.
24. Hamilton Spectator, 5 Aug 1885.
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