Irish Beginnings

Today's story is in memory of my friend's great aunt, Anne Raby née Wilkinson, who passed away peacefully yesterday morning at her residence in Picton, Ontario. She was in her 99th year. She was special to us, as we discovered her existence only a few years ago when we embarked on researching my friend's family tree.

Finding Anne

We had started with an Immigration Card, a "mystery picture" and a few names and hints.

The "mystery picture"

Names and hints:

• Our key person: Margaret Wilkinson
• She was from Belfast
• Her first husband, William Henry Campbell, was killed at the Somme in WWI
• Margaret, her second husband Thomas Wilkinson, and four children arrived in Canada July 28, 1928, on board the Andania II, coming through Grosse Ile
• The family were supporters of the Orange Lodge
• Margaret lived in Picton, Ontario and was the oldest resident when she died at age 103 in September 1984.

What we found out:

Badge of the Royal Irish Rifles

Anne's mother was Margaret Wilkinson, nee Nelson, from Belfast. She was 25 when she married William Henry Campbell, a gardener at Glenbai Belmont on the Cregagh Road in Belfast. They had 4 children when he signed up for World War I and was transformed from gardener to Rifleman. He was with the Royal Irish Rifles at the Somme where he was killed in action July 2, 1916.

At 37 Margaret was suddenly a widow, with four children to support: William Henry, David Hugh, Elizabeth, and Mary Jane. She married Thomas Wilkinson, who had survived the war, in 1919. They added a little girl to the family in 1921: Anne.

Farewell to Belfast

In 1924, Margaret's middle child, David, emigrated to Canada with the aid of the Salvation Army. He was with twelve other boys destined for "farming" in Manitoba. He may have been part of the "Home Children" scheme, whereby underprivileged and orphaned children were sent to supposedly better lives. We can only speculate why David was amongst these children, but fortunately it was with relief that we found the one of the regular Salvation Army Inspection Reports of David with this note: "Employer states David is one of the best - he appears to be getting along very well. No complaints."

Salvation Army Inspection Report for David Campbell

Margaret Jane (Campbell) Wilkinson, c 1920's

In 1928, when their daughter Anne was 7, Margaret, Thomas and the other three children left Ireland for a new life in Canada. They emigrated on board Cunard Line steamship Andania II out of Belfast bound for Quebec. Their ultimate destination: Ontario. Their third class passage would have put them among approximately 1200 passengers in the same class.

New Lives in Canada

The ship stopped at Grosse Ile which was the main point of entry for immigrants, mainly Irish, coming to Canada. The family did not need quarantine as many did, and were able to proceed to Toronto, where they met with representatives from the British Settlement Society. Most likely with the Society's guidance, the family ultimately settled in Picton, Ontario. 

The Andania - from the Doukhobor Genealogy website  Immigrant Ship Descriptions

It was from there, when World War II broke out, that Anne's older step-brother William Henry Campbell followed in his father's footsteps enlisting as a Private with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment. Tragically, he too was a casualty of war, and is buried far from home in the Commonwealth War Cemetery, at Brookwood, Surrey in the UK.

The three girls, Margaret, Elizabeth, and Anne, strengthened the Campbell-Wilkinson roots to Canada by marrying, starting families, and being active in their new community lives.  Anne herself, married a military man, which must have caused her some concern, but no hesitation. They lived a long and happy life together; he predeceased her in 2003 but as of yesterday they have been reunited.

Anne Wilkinson and Harry Raby on their wedding day.

The Mystery Picture

Oh, and the "mystery picture" was finally identified (thanks to Chris Paton): turns out it is a July 12 Orange Order Parade Triumphal Arch in Belfast. The best part: it could be that the woman in the picture is Margaret Jane Nelson's mother. What do you think?

Margaret Jane at 103

Margaret Jane Nelson's mother?