!"Just Pick One Already"!

Never mind the maddening Smith & Jones - what about those pesky surnames with just enough of a variation that they really twist yer knickers?@#!

Everett/Everitt, Walsh/Walch, Rositer/Rossiter, MaGee/McGee, Murdock/Murdoch, Livingston/Livingstone, and my latest lament - Johnston, no Johnson, no Johnstone!

According to the Vincent family book, Mary Edna 'Minnie' Vincent married James 'Harvey' JohnstonE but his birth and the marriage entry says it was Johnston and for Pete's sake, his death entry is Johnson!  What's a researcher to do?

courtesy of Jody Marie MacKeil (Find A Grave)

In this case, I went with Johnstone for Harvey because of his stone and the transcription on Find A Grave, and yes, the fact that he went by Harvey but is referred to as J H or James - oy. Note his parents are Johnston'e' as well.

JOHNSTONE / Andrew W. JOHNSTONE / 1864 - 1917 / James JOHNSTONE / 1831 - 1920 / His Wife / Janet / 1831 - 1914 / John D. JOHNSTONE / 1857 - 1900 / His Wife / Matilda F. / 1866 - 1949 / Mary E. / Wife of / J. H. JOHNSTONE / 1876 - 1926 / Harvey / 1873 - 1958

Given that, any children should be Johnstone right?  Well not so fast.....In my need to be fastidious, I doggedly examined the records....

Harvey and Minnie had 2 boys, John David & Curtis Wilfred - just looking thru the JohnstonE entries on FAG resulted in zero entries for the kids - but they are there under Johnston - oy.

John David aka Jack married Bertha Mildred Aitchison - his birth entry is Johnstone but if you look at the record itself, does it really reflect the indexed reference?  Then for their marriage entry, he is Johnson, she is AitchEson, but his father is listed as Johnston!

And finally, his obit below suggests lived as Johnston and dropped the 'e' - without a pic of the tombstone or an official record, I had to go with Johnston for him and his family

Halifax Herald, 19 May 1999
JOHNSTON, John David - 97,Tatamagouche, died May 18, 1999, in Willow Lodge Home For Special Care.  Born in New Annan, he was a son of the late Harvey and Mary (Vincent) Johnston.  He was a farmer all his working life before moving to Tatamagouche 21 years ago. He was a member of West New Annan United Church.  Surviving are his wife, the former Bertha Aitchison; daughters, Edna Langille, Eileen MacKeen, Tatamagouche; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.  He was predeceased by brother, Curtis.  Visitation 2-4 p.m. Thursday in Coulter's Funeral Home, Tatamagouche. Funeral 10:30 a.m.  Friday in West New Annan United Church, Leland MacLean and Rev.  Morley Bentley officiating.  Burial in Bell Gift Cemetery.  Family flowers only. Donations to Willow Lodge Home For Special Care or any charity. Jack was also known as John D Johnston.

Curtis Wilfred married Minnie Blanch Murdock/Murdoch - grr.
His birth record shows Johnston and given his signature, the decision was definitive.  Their marriage was found under Johnson, her Murdoch.  But in this case, the stone and his signature cemented Johnston - no 'e' and her obit led me use the 'k' vs the 'h'

courtesy of Jody Marie MacKeil (Find A Grave)

Chronicle Herald, Oct 1996
JOHNSTON, Minnie Blanche - Bible Hill, died October 16, 1996, in Colchester Regional Hospital, Truro. Born September 21, 1905, in New Annan, she was a daughter of the late John D. and Jennie (Johnston) Murdock. As a young woman she taught school at Byers School, West New Annan, and after her marriage worked in the woods as a cook. She later moved to Truro and worked for the Truro Print and Publishing Co. She was a member of the United Church of Canada and attended St. David's United Church, Bible Hill. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Surviving are son, Blair and wife Betty, Bible Hill; grandchildren, Curtis, Wayne, Lynn. She was predeceased by her husband, Curtis; a son in infancy; sisters, Morna, Helen, Margaret, Ruby; brothers, Freeman, Forman, Eddie. No visitation by request. Funeral service 2 p.m. Friday in Coulter's Funeral Home, Tatamagouche. Burial in Bell Gift Cemetery, New Annan. Donations to West New Annan United Church or St. David's United Church, Bible Hill.

 The morale of the story - just go with it! 

Edward Vial + Ella Robertson

This little family stayed with me…

Ella Amelia Robertson was born at Prince Edward Island to James William Robertson & Catherine Arbuckle.  Ella met and married a Quebec born boy named Dennis ‘Edward’ William Vial, the son of Dennis Vial of England and Azilda Cloutier of New York.

The pair married and remained in Massachusetts where they had 3 boys – Edward, Norman & Donald - and they ensured their children were well educated.

Edward Sr did various jobs such as a steam fitter assistant to selling beef wholesale but by 1930, he was the owner/operator of a taxi business in Boston.   
Unfortunately, Ella died at Boston in 1942 and later, Edward moved to California to be with his son Norman – this is where he died in 1960.

Edward Robertson Vial, the oldest boy, was the only one who married.  He was born in 1912 and married Anna Sarkiunas in 1935 and they had one son, Ronald in 1937.  He was a reporter turned news editor.

Edward was 32 when he died....

Berkshire Evening Eagle, 20 Jan 1945
Sailor Injured By Helicopter
Quonset Point, RI (AP) - Seaman First Class Edward R Viall, Boston, suffered a fractured skull yesterday when struck by the stern propeller of a helicopter shortly after it landed at Quonset.  Navy officers said his condition was critical.

I couldn’t find any military documents for him so I don’t know if he had enlisted or was working on a story when the accident occurred.  Also, I don’t know what became of Anna and Ronald – I found them on the 1940 census and a couple of directories but then nothing.

Donald Gregory Vial, the baby of the clan, attended Harvard and studied mathematics. He did enlist and joined the fight in Yugoslavia but sadly, he died there in 1944 at the age of 20.  His body was returned for a military burial in 1949 as a part of the Belgrade-Yugoslavia WWII Dead Program.

Norman Gifford Robertson was the middle child and was a building inspector.  Although he outlived the rest of his family but...was only 58 years old when he died!  He was buried with his father at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) at Los Angeles, CA. 

Sadie Tucker

Sadie Laura Tucker married Benjamin Franklin Norton in 1908 at Portsmouth, RI and they had one son who never married.  Ben & Sadie divorced in 1926.

courtesy of June S

Portsmouth Herald, Sat, 23 Mar 1963
Mrs Sadie Laura Norton, 75, of 1346 Islington St, widow of Benjamin F Norton, died at Portsmouth Hospital Friday.  She was born in Portsmouth Jan 22, 1888, daughter of the late Daniel R and Maria M (Arbuckle) Tucker.  Mrs Norton was a member of Christ Episcopal Church.  Survivors include a son, Justin G Norton of Portsmouth; two sisters, Mrs Ethel Greer of Boston, Mass and Mrs Dorothy Eslinger of Portsmouth; and several nieces and nephews.

courtesy of June S

Portsmouth Herald, 12 Jul 1972
Justin Greer Norton, 61, 1346 Islington St, died Tuesday at Portsmouth Hospital.  He was born in Portsmouth Aug 10, 1910, the son of the late Benjamin and Seddie Tucker Norton, and was a graduate of Portsmouth High School in the Class of 1929.  He was a World War II Navy veteran, serving in the Pacific.  He attended Bentley College of Accounting in Boston and was employed as a budget analyst at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, retiring in 1969.  He was a communicant of Christ Episcopal Church, a member of Porstmouth Lodge of Elks, Portsmouth Country Club, St John's Lodge, F&Am, and Frank E Booma American Legion Post.  He is survived by two aunts and several cousins.

 

courtesy of ELouiseME

I am debating whether this Find A Grave memorial for the Oak Grove Cemetery in Bath, ME is Ben’s.  Maine is his home state, but the year of birth on the records vary - the draft cards put it 1880 and the SSN index has 1881 & 1882, I didn't find anything with 1879, 1880 – I went with 1881 until proven otherwise.

Arbuckle Girls

Below are the obits of two girls who were the daughters of Charles David Arbuckle and Lydia Mason Patton from Pictou Co, Nova Scotia

 

courtesy of Jody Marie MacKeil

New Glasgow Evening News, Mon, 20 Apr 1987
New Glasgow - Mrs. Edith May Riggs, 75, 221 Abercrombie Road, died Sunday in Aberdeen Hospital. Born in Lower Barney's River, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Lydia (Patton) Arbuckle. She was a member of Trinity United Church, New Glasgow, where she was a Sunday school teacher for 32 years. She was a member of the Golden Link Rebekah Lodge, Past Noble Grand Club, Past Chiefs Club, LOBA and past-president of the Ladies Auxiliary Royal Canadian Legion Branch 29. She was a member of the Golden Years, Heritage Club, and Pythian Sisters. She is survived by her husband, Warren; a daughter, Doris (Mrs. Hubert Mahnion), Auburn, Ca.; a grandchild; a sister, Loretta (Mrs. Stirling O'Donnell), Stellarton; three brothers, Willard, Merigomish; Alexander, Pictou; Norman, Downsview, Ont. She was predeceased by her first husband, Harry C. Nason; two brothers, Wesley and Raymond, and two sisters. The remains will rest in R.H. Porter Funeral Home, New Glasgow, after 7 p.m. today. Funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Trinity United Church, New Glasgow.  Interment will be in Murray's Point cemetery, Lower Barney's River. She was buried on 22 Apr 1987 at Murray Point Cemetery in Merigomish, Pictou Co, Nova Scotia.

courtesy of Jody Marie MacKeil

Chronicle Herald, 31 Oct 1964
Thorburn - Mrs. Charles Feit died in the Aberdeen Hospital Thursday night. She was 51.  The former Catherine Arbuckle of Lower Barney River, she had lived all her married life in Thorburn.  Mrs. Feit was a member of Union Presbyterian Church and active in the women's organization of the church; a past Noble Grand of Dorcas Rebekah Lodge; a member of the PNG Club; past mistress of Prentice Sisters, LOBA; past president of the Home and School Association; and had been band mother of the New Glasgow Ceilidh Girls Pipe Band.  She is survived by her husband; two sons, Philip at Upper Stewiacke, and Fred at St. Peter's; two daughters, Emily (Mrs. Don MacGregor), Fredericton, and Shirley (Mrs. R.K. Harper), Old Barns; five brothers, Wesley, Alexander, Raymond and Willard, all of Lower Barney River, and Norman in Toronto; three sisters, Laurie (Mrs. Simpkin), Lower Barney River; Edith (Mrs. Harry Nason), California, and Jean (Mrs. William Nash), Saint John; and four grandchildren.  The remains are resting at the home and the funeral will be held from Union Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in Murray Point Cemetery She was buried on 1 Nov 1964 at Murray Point Cemetery in Merigomish, Pictou Co, Nova Scotia.

Halifax Herald, 17 Apr 1999
FEIT, Karl A. "Charlie" - 89, MacPhersons Mills, Pictou Co., formerly of Thorburn, died April 15, 1999, in Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow. Born in Czechoslovakia, he was a son of the late Charles and Marie Frances (Vanik) Feit. He came to Canada with his family in 1913 at the age of three. They settled in Cape Breton later moving to Stellarton and Thorburn.  At an early age, he worked in the woods with his father and then went on to work in the coal mines for some 25 years. During the depression he sold fish, meats and vegetables in Pictou and Guysborough counties and later was employed at the former Archibald's Home Furnishing Store, New Glasgow, where he sold, delivered and repaired furniture up until his retirement. He was a member of the Union Presbyterian Church and was a choir member for over 50 years. He was an accomplished accordion player and had played for various organizations and functions throughout the county. He was an ardent fisherman and loved his cottage and his friends. He is survived by his wife, the former Ann Ashton Grant; daughters, Shirley (Mrs. Ronald Harper), Emily (Mrs. Sandy MacGregor), both of Brookville; sons, Fred (Ruth), Westville; Phillip (Joan) MacPhersons Mills; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; stepson, Dougald Grant (Jane), British Columbia; two step-granddaughters; two step-great-grandsons; a step-great-granddaughter, and brother, Joseph, Thorburn. He was predeceased by his first wife, the former Catherine W. Arbuckle; sister, Annie and by brothers, Frank and Albert. His remains are resting at H.W. Angus Funeral Home, New Glasgow, with visitation today from 2-4, 7-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday from the Union Presbyterian Church, Rev. Glen MacDonald officiating, assisted by Jessie Johnson. Burial will be in Murray Point Cemetery, Merigomish. Donations in his memory may be made to Union Presbyterian Church, Thorburn, or to a charity of one's choice.