This photo was uploaded to Wikitree by Christine Maier, a distant cousin. The couple celebrating their 60th anniversary are Charles and Susannah Reed. I haven’t done much research on the Reed family, but it appears that my 4th great-grandfather Henry Reed was Charles’ uncle. Henry has his own story worthy of a separate post.
The Reeds came to Canada from Suffolk, England. They settled in Nassagaweya Township, Halton County. Nassagaweya was amalgamated into the Town of Milton in 1974.
What also piqued my interest is that this photo was taken in 1917 at Burlington Beach, Hamilton, Ontario. Of course, that is the Beach Strip where I grew up. I can’t quite place the house, though.
Thanks Christine for letting me share this picture. It’s a great photo.
My great-grandmother, Nancy Ellen Reed, was born on this day in 1881. I have only recently starting delving into the Reed line in my family tree. But, others have done quite a bit of research already. I thought a nice way to celebrate her birthday was to build out her profile on Wikitree.
Nancy Ellen Reed was one of seven children born to Nathaniel and Harriet (Howard) Reed. The family lived in Glanford Township, Wentworth County, Ontario where Nathaniel was a farmer for many years. Eventually, they moved to Hamilton.
On April 23, 1903, Nancy married Jonathan Wesley Finch, my great-grandfather. Together they had five children: Margaret, George, Nile, Charity “Cassie”, and Eric Clifford (my grandpa).
Around 1910, Nancy and Jonathan – along with her parents – took the family west to Birtle, Manitoba. I’m not certain why they decided to go to what looks to me like the middle of nowhere. Perhaps cheap land and better job prospects influenced their decision. Clearly, though, they felt their future was brighter on the Prairies.
Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out the way they expected. Nancy’s mother, Harriet, died in 1911. Then, sadly, in 1917 Nancy Ellen died as a result of childbirth complications a week after my grampa was born. She was only 36 years old. Soon after, the family returned to Ontario.
I knew very little about my great grandmother growing up. I just knew that my grampa never knew his mother as she had died shortly after giving birth to him. My cousin shares her name, so it’s nice that her legacy lives on.
My Dad’s cousin Verna shared pictures with me of both Nancy Ellen’s and her mother’s grave markers, two monuments to remind us of our family’s brief presence on the Prairies. They’re buried in a small cemetery in Solsgirth, Manitoba. It looks like a very peaceful spot. One day I hope to visit this cemetery “in the middle of nowhere” and pay a visit to these women.
Grave markers of my great-great grandmother Harriet (Howard) Reed and my great grandmother Nancy Ellen (Reed) Finch, Saint James Anglican Cemetery, Solsgirth, Manitoba. Photo taken by Verna Loewith.
