My Mothers

Happy Mother's Day

Mary Jane Porter ggm

Susanna Johnston 2xggm, Sarah Mavor gm, Mary Johnston 3xggm

1896

Mary Johnston (her maiden name), my 3x great-grandmother, left everything and everyone she knew with her husband William Johnston and their young son and immigrated from Cork, Ireland  in the early 1840s. They settled in Ulverton, South Durham, Quebec. They had nine children. Their third child was my 2x great-grandmother Susanna Johnston. 

Susanna Johnston 1846-1923

Susanna Johnston married John Porter in Ulverton in 1866. They raised 11 children in Ulverton and retired to Jefferson, NH.  Their eldest daughter was my great-grandmother Mary Jane Porter. 

Mary Jane Porter 1867-1957

Mary Jane Porter married Clement King in 1893 in Ulverton and they made their home in Verdun, Montreal, Quebec.  Clement died in 1922 and Mary Jane held the family together during the depression. They had 5 children and their eldest daughter was my grandmother, Sarah Myrtle King. 

Sarah Myrtle King 1894-1984

Sarah (Sadie) King married Herbert James Mavor in 1919 in Verdun, Montreal, Quebec. In the depression years of the 1930s Sadie was fortunate to get employment as Secretary-Treasurer for Mr Fred Shackell at the Coatwell paint and Varnish Co. When Mr Shackell died Sadie and another employee bought the company, saving the jobs of the other people employed there. Sadie and Herbie had 2 children and the youngest was my Mom, Jean Audrey Mavor.

Audrey Mavor 1925-2016

(and me at 5 months)

I think of all my mothers on Mother's Day. I also wish Happy Mother's Day to my daughters, it is not easy bringing up kids in this day and age, and they are doing a wonderful job!

Happy Mother's Day

My dear Mother has gone to join our ancestors. I am a part of each of these strong, caring, wonderful women and I know they are all watching over me. I try to honour them in the way I live my life, and how I brought up my own confident, caring daughters, who make me so proud!

Happy Mother's Day

3x great grandmother - Mary Johnston (1819-1907)

2x great grandmother - Susanna Johnston (1846-1923)

great grandmother - Mary Jane Porter (1867-1957)

grandmother -  Sarah Myrtle King (1894-1984)

mom - Jean Audrey Mavor (Aug 1925- Apr 2016)

Related Posts:  Who's Your Momma?

                      In Honour of the Best Mother Who Ever Lived

In Honour of the Best Mother who Ever Lived!

Northern Pacific Railway Mother's Day postcard - 1915 - white carnations are the symbol of pure love

When I was young there was an elderly couple that lived near us and they sold flowers and plants. On the Saturday before Mother's Day all the kids in the neighbourhood went to their house to get potted flowers for Mom.

My Mom loves Chinese Food, and one of the first places where I worked I was teamed up with a guy from China. His sister gave me some instructions and bought some ingredients for me in Chinatown, and I spent hours (most of it chopping) to make a delicious Chinese dinner for my Mom. Sweet and Sour Ribs, Rice, Chop Suey and Egg Rolls. Mmmmmm. Since the only other entree I had made at home was spaghetti, my Mom was very pleased and impressed!

When I had my own kids, although it was becoming vogue to buy gifts, I steered my girls more toward  doing something nice for me, plus whatever they made for me at school. When they all got old enough, they banded together each year and washed my car.  After a long dirty winter it sure needed it, and the girls had a great time with the hose and buckets of soapy water.  I don't know which was wetter, the kids or the car! The joy for me was merely watching them working and having fun together.

1908 - wear a  white carnation to honour your mother.   "People with bad mothers are also invited to wear the carnation on Mother's Day in honour of someone else's mother who was good." 

1909 - over 50,000 people wearing the white carnation as an expression of filial love.

1913 - Mother's Day is spreading - an appeal to men to honour their mothers ...

 More recent newspapers from the 60's on carried Mother's Day messages like these ones...

 What traditions do you have, and how do you honour your Mother?





Who's your Momma?

My 3x great-grandmother, 2x great-grandmother, great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, me, my daughter and my granddaughter.

With the advent of Mother’s Day come thoughts of all the women ancestors in my family. They were brought up to be strong, independent, caring, thoughtful people. These values were passed on to me and I am proud to say they continue on with my 4 daughters, and their daughters.

While researching our ancestry, we don’t want to neglect the maternal lines in our tree.  Famous or not, women make tremendous contributions to not only their family, but their community.  I have ancestors that were teachers, mill workers, brewers and farmers. Some taught Sunday school, some joined women’s leagues and one was a Major in the Salvation Army. My great-grandmother sent 2 sons to war, one never to return. My other great-grandmother, as a widow, looked after all the women and children of the family during the depression while the men were away looking for work. When the Paint and Varnish Company my grandmother worked for was going to close after the owner died, she and another employee bought it, keeping the workers from losing their jobs.  During WWII my mother built parts for the Mosquito Fighter-Bombers and her sister joined the RCAF Women’s Division. I honour all my women ancestors by being the best person I can be. 

Granny at age 16 front row far left, her mother Granny King middle row, far right.

I won’t be providing too many links today, as everyone must follow the paths of their mothers in their own way.  



These are 3 of my favourite novels depicting strong independent women:

Fortune is a Woman : Elizabeth Adler / A young woman picks herself up and dusts herself off after the earthquake and big fire in San Fransisco.

The Silver Touch : Rosalind Laker / The story of Hester Bateman, famous silversmith.

Domina : Barbara Wood / Young girl in Victorian London dreams of becoming one of the first women doctors, and the hardships she has to overcome.

Relevant Links:

First Mother’s Day

Women on the Home Front

Women in the Great Depression

Women’s Contribution to Farm Life

Women of Medieval England

10 Most Powerful Women in History