McIvor Family History - wjanhorn.cawjanhorn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/McIvor-Family-History.pdf · 2017-10-24 7:22 PM McIver/McIvor/McCann Clan: A Family History “From My Perspective”

2017-10-24 7:22 PM

McIver/McIvor/McCannClan:AFamilyHistory“FromMyPerspective”Myearliestofmemoryofmygrandfather,WilliamJohnMcIvor(afterwhomIwasnamed)andgrandmotherCatherineBradyMcIvor(neeMcCann)weretheirbrogueScottishaccents,particularlythatofmygrandfather.BothwereborninGlasgow,Scotland.MymotherwasextremelyproudofherScottishheritageanduntilmostrecentlyprominentlydisplayedtheCampbellClantartanandplaqueonherwall.Fromveryearlyinmylifewhenaskedaboutmyheritage,IwasquicktoidentifymyselfasGerman(Anhorn)andScottish(McIvor).

Mostrecently,whileconductinggenealogyresearchconcerningourMcIvorfamilytree,Idiscovered,muchtomysurprise,thatmyfamilyoriginatednotfromScotlandbutratherIrelandandthatmyancestryisnotScottishbutIrish!MyGreatgrandfather,DavidMcIverwasbornin1860intheCountyofDown,NorthernIreland.MygreatgrandmotherwasMargaretMaryLivingstonwhotoowasborninCountyDownin1861.TheyweremarriedonJune8th1885inNewtownards,Ireland.The1891&1901Scottishcensusindicatesthattheyhadninechildrenasfollows:

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Agnes- born1886CountyDownIrelandRose- born1887Bridgeton,Lanarkshire,ScotlandRobertJames- born1891Bridgeton,Lanarkshire,ScotlandPatrick- born1895Bridgeton,Lanarkshire,ScotlandWilliamJohn- bornJune8th1898inPollokshaws,Glasgow,Scotland1David- bornJune22nd1900inPollokshaws,Glasgow,ScotlandMaggie- bornapprox.1893May- bornapprox.1905Joseph- bornapprox.1903ThecomparisonbetweenthetwocensuseswouldsuggestthatbetweenAgnes’sbirthin1886andthe1891census,thefamilyhadmovedfromIreland(CountyDown)toScotland,firstlyresidingat24OswaldStreetinBridgeton,Lanarkshire,Glasgow(1891)andlaterattheTownofPollokshaws,Eastwood,Renfrewshire,Scotlandafterthatdateandupto1911.The1911censusprovidesinformationregardingthelatter3children.Maggiewasaged18yearsandtherefore2yearsolderthanPatrick,whichwouldhaveputherbirthdateas1893.Josephasdescribedas8yearsofage,5yearsyoungerthanWilliam,thereforegivinghimabirthyearas1903.May,theyoungestchild,was6yearsoldandthereforehadabirthyearof1905.BoththefatherDavidandthemotherMargaretwere49yearsofagein1911,consistentwiththeirbirthyearsasnoted.DavidoccupationwasdescribedascarpetweaverandtheoldestchildAgnes(24)ascurtainweaver.Rose(22)andMaggie(18)wereidentifiedasbeingharnessweaversandPatrick(16)collieryworker.David’soccupation(20)wasnotspecified.TheremainingyoungerchildrenwereallattendingschoolandwereallnotedashavingbeenborninPollokshaws.MyGrandmotherwasbornCatherineBradyMcCannonMarch16,1902at45StJamesRoadinGlasgow,Scotland.HerfatherwasJamesMcCann,(journeyman1WilliamJohnMcIver,mygrandfatherwasbornJune8th1898.ThefamilywasCatholicandthenameMcIverwastheNorthernIrelandspelling.Whenexactlyandforreasonswhichnotquiteclear,thespellingofthelastnamewentfromMcIvertoMcIvor.

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mason)andhermotherwasMargaretMaryMcIlrone.TheyweremarriedonApril6th1896inLetterkenny,Ireland.SotheytoowereIrish!JamesandMargaretMcCannhadthreechildren:-Margaret McCann who married John McBride-BridgetMcCannwhomarriedGeorgeTracy-Catherine Brady who married William McIvor (McIver) BradywasthemaidennameofthemotherofJamesMcCann.MygrandmotheralwaysusedthemiddlenameTheresaanditispresumedtobeherconfirmationname.BridgetmarriedGeorgeTracyandtheyhad5childrenincludingthreegirls:Sadie(DougMcCarthy),Phyllis(BobAlexander)andCatherine.AllthreeofthegirlsendedupinLethbridgeAlbertaandIhavefondmemoriesofvisitingPhyllisandBobinthatcityandthemtravellingtoMedicineHattovisitus.BobandPhyllisbothhadstrongScottishaccents,whichasachildIfoundmostinterestingandentertaining.Icherishthosetimestogether.What’sinaname?McKeevir,McIver,McIvorOneofthefirstmostconfusingaspectsofmyinitialresearchrevolvesaroundthespellingofmygrandparent’ssurname.Aswascommonintheearlytimes,thespellingofthesurnameoftenwentthroughvariousalliterations.Thereasonforthiswastwo-fold.Firstly,mostofthedatawasrecordedbyquillpenanditwasnotuncommonthatdatawastranscribedfromonesourcetoanotherwithdifferentlettersbymistake.Secondly,nameswere,duetoilliteracy,oftenspelledorwrittenphonetically.OnarecentreviewofthemarriagecertificateofDavidMcIverandMargaretMaryLivingston,IdiscoveredthathewasactuallyidentifiedinthedocumentasDavid“McKeevir”andthathisfatherwasWilliamMcKeevir.Heclearlysignedthe

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documentasDavidMcKeevir.

Itisofsomeinteresttonotethatoneofthewitnessestotheceremonysignedwithan“X”.HistoricaldataclearlyindicatesthatthelastnameofthisIrishsideofthefamilywaslaterspelled“McIver”.HowthenamewentfromMcKeevirtoMcIverissomewhatofamystery.ThereissomesuggestionthattheformersurnamewastheGaelicpronunciationorspelling,whichwaslatertransformedortranslatedintoMcIver.Asnotedearlier,myGreatGrandfatherwasDavidMcKeevir(laterMcIver)andhemarriedMargaretMaryLivingstononJune8th1885inNewtownards,NorthernIreland.Sometimebetween1886and1891,thefamilymovedfromCountyDowninIrelandtoScotland.Mygrandfather’sbirthrecordclearlyindicatesthe“McIver”surnameandthatatthetimetheywereresidingat7DuncanStreet

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Pollokshaws,Glasgow,Scotland.The1911Scottishcensusindicatesthatthefamilynamewasrecordedas“McIvor”withthefamilyresidingat100/106KingStreet,Glasgow,Scotland.ThiscensusrevealsthatthehomewasintheCivilParishofEastwood,4thBurghWardofPollokshaws,intheCityofGlasgowandthattheParliamentaryConstituencywasEastRenfrewshire.Mygrandfather“William”wasnotedasbeingaged13years.ARecordofServicePaperformygrandfatherdatedJanuary26,1917indicatedhisenlistmentformilitaryserviceinWWIshowshisnameclearlyas“WilliamJohnMcIvor”.Heisnotedasbeing18yearsand5monthsofageatthattimeandresidingat106KingStreet,Pollokshaws,Glasgow.Ithasbeensuggestedthatthename“McIver”wastheNorthernIrelandCatholicspellingandthatthechangeto‘McIvor”waspromptedbythemovetoScotlandwheretheProtestantspellingwasmoreacceptableorpoliticallycorrect.MymotherthroughoutherlifeadoptedthesurnameMcIvorasbestevidencedbythemarriagecertificatewhenshemarriedmyfather,TheodoreJohnAnhornonApril14th,1950.Itshouldbenotedthatwhetherbyaccidentordesign,theoriginalsurname“McIver”wasreferencedinmygrandfather’sobituaryhavingpassedawayonJune29,1980inVancouver,BritishColumbia.TheIrishConnectionandA‘little’HistoryLessonInordertoputmattersintoperspectiveandunderstandthemotivationthatledtothefamiliestomigratefromIrelandtoScotland,andlatertoNorthAmerica,itisnecessarytoabriefhistorylesson.IrishimmigrationtoScotlandwaspartofawell-establishedfeatureofearly19thcenturylifeinIreland:theannualharvestmigration.SinceScotlandwasIreland'sclosestneighbour(only13milesseparatethetwocountriesatonepoint),itwasanobviouschoiceforthosethatlivedinthenorthpartoftheisland.Inthe1820s,upto8,000economicmigrantscrossedbackandforthacrosstheIrishSeaeveryyear,boundforseasonalagriculturalworkorothertemporarycontractualworkinnorthernEngland,WalesandScotland.Bytheearly1840s,thenumbermakingtheharvestmigrationalonehadrisentoabout25,000.

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Permanentsettlementusuallyrequiredagreaterskillbasethanthoseheldbyagriculturallabourers.Mostofthenon-harvestmigrantscamewithhighlyvaluedtextilesandjuteknowledgeandcamefromtheIrishcountieswherelinenandyarnwereproduced�Derry,Donegal,Monaghan,SligoandTyrone.TheseearlytricklesofIrishimmigrationtoScotlanddonotconformtothestereotypesofmigrationinlateryears,whichwerelargelyaboutthearrivalofunskilledanddestitutepeople.WhilemostofthetemporarymigrantsandprobablyasmallproportionoftheskilledworkerseventuallyreturnedhometoIreland,somechosetosettlepermanently.ThiswasmorelikelytohappeninScotlandthaninEnglandorWales,possiblybecauseofthestrongculturaltiesbetweenScotlandandUlster,theprovincethatprovidedmostmigrantstoScottishindustries,especiallyintextiles.ItshouldnotgounnoticedthattheMcIversideofthefamilyappearedtobeinvolvedinthetextileindustrybothbeforeandafterleavingIreland.

Uptothe1830s,Scotlandcouldofferifnotrichpickings,atleastachanceofaregularwage.Thecountrywasexperiencingaboomintheconstructionofhomes,

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factories,roads,canalsandotherinfrastructurewhilethecoal,textileandsteelindustrieswerealsoincreasingproduction.WholetownsgrewuptoprovideaworkforcetosomeoftheseindustriesandsawthedevelopmentofsignificantIrishcommunitieswithinthem.InGirvan,Ayrshire,forexample,somethree-quartersofthe6,000inpopulationwasIrish-bornin1831.By1841,whentheearliestScottishcensuswastaken,some125,321(4.8%)ofthe2.6millionpopulationwasIreland-born.Incontrast,theIrish-bornmadeuponly1.8%inEnglandandjust0.78%inWales.ThenextdecadesawtheGreatFamineexodusfromIrelandwhenthepoorandstarvingarrivedinportsindesperatestraits.By1851,theIrish-bornpopulationofScotlandhadreached7.2%.TheIrishweretobefoundingreaternumbersinGlasgow,Dundee,intheminingcommunitiesoftheLothian’sandinAirdrie,CoatbridgeandMotherwell.ThesemigrantscameatatimewhenmanyScotswereemigratingtoEngland,wherewageswerehigher,ortomoredistantpartsoftheBritishEmpire,lookingforgreaterprosperity.Astheyleft,theycreatedworkfortheIrish,whowentontosustainScotland'sindustrialrevolution.Theywereespeciallyfamedas“navvies”buildingcanals,bridges,railwaysandports.WhilethesignificantminorityofIrishProtestants(aboutaquarterofthetotalwhoarrivedinthelate1840s)founditrelativelyeasytosettleinProtestantScotland,theCatholicshadaroughertimeofit.SomemightspeculatethatthechangeinthespellingofthelastnamefromtheCatholicIrishspelling“McIver”tothemoreacceptableform“McIvor”mayhavebeenoccasionedbythisreality.Anti-CatholicScotswereactiveintheScottishReformationSocietyandsometimescausedriots(asinGreenockin1851).Thismid-centurytensionmayhaveencouragedthesettingupofdistinctIrishCatholiccommunities,oftenbasedaroundthegrowingnumberofCatholicchurches.Throughfundraising,CatholicorganisationswereestablishedtohelpthepoorandCatholicschoolswerefounded.Whiletheseself-helpeffortswerewelcomed,inmanyways,theyraisedethnicawarenessandhadthelonger-termeffectofkeepingthecommunityseparateanddelayingintegration.WhilenegativeperceptionsofIrishimmigrationtoScotlanddiminishedasthecenturymovedon,theydidnotdisappearaltogether.Employersgenerallyhadnooppositiontothis

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sourceofcheaplabour,butasoftenhappens,whenevertheeconomydeclines,anti-immigrantfeelingsrose,andthehate-fuelledandcruelstereotypeofthe'savageIrish'wouldbewheeledoutforanotherairing.TheIrishwereahandyscapegoatforallScotland'sills.Eveninthe1870s,theRegistrarGeneral,WilliamPittDundas,claimedthatIrishimmigrationtoScotland'hadundoubtedlyproduceddeleteriousresults,loweredgreatlythemoraltoneofthelowerclasses,andgreatlyincreasedthenecessityfortheenforcementofsanitaryandpoliceprecautionswherevertheyhavesettled.'Asthe19thcenturyworeon,IrishimmigrationtoScotlandcontinued.Bytheendofthe1860s,theIrishhadreachedeverycountyeventhedistantislandsofShetlandandtheRegistrarGeneralreportedin1871that'insixcounties,fiveofwhichareonthewesternsideofScotland(andnearestIreland),theproportionofIrish-borninthepopulationexceedsthemeanofScotland'.The“mean”bythistimewas6.2%.ButthemainareasofsettlementwerethewesternLowlandsandthecentralbelt.WhiletheproportionofIrishwaspushingtowards20%insomecitiesincludingnotsurprisinglyGlasgow.ThePotatoFamineandtheIrishImmigrationtoNorthAmericaBetween1845and1855morethan1.5millionadultsandchildrenleftIrelandtoseekrefugeinNorthAmerica.Mostweredesperatelypoor,andmanyweresufferingfromstarvationanddisease.TheyleftbecausediseasehaddevastatedIreland’spotatocrops,leavingmillionswithoutfood.ThePotatoFaminekilledmorethan1millionpeopleinfiveyearsandgeneratedgreatbitternessandangerattheBritishforprovidingtoolittlehelptotheirIrishsubjects.TheimmigrantswhoreachedNorthAmericasettledintheUnitedStatesincitieslikeBoston,NewYork,andotherlargemetropolitancitiesalongtheeasternseaboard,wheretheylivedinharshanddifficultconditions.Butmostmanagedtosurvive,andtheirdescendantshavebecomeavibrantpartofAmericanculture.

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Evenbeforethefamine,Irelandwasacountryofextremepoverty.AFrenchmannamedGustavedeBeaumonttravelledthecountryinthe1830sandwroteabouthistravels.HecomparedtheconditionsoftheIrishtothoseof“theIndianinhisforestandtheNegroinchains....Inallcountries,...paupersmaybediscovered,butanentirenationofpaupersiswhatwasneverseenuntilitwasshowninIreland.”InmostofIreland,housingconditionswereterrible.Acensusreportin1841foundthatnearlyhalfthefamiliesinruralareaslivedinwindowlessmudcabins,mostwithnofurnitureotherthanastool.Pigssleptwiththeirownersandheapsofmanurelaybythedoors.Boysandgirlsmarriedyoung,withnomoneyandalmostnopossessions.Theywouldbuildamudhut,andmoveinwithnomorethanapotandastool.Whenaskedwhytheymarriedsoyoung,theBishopofRaphoe(atowninIreland)replied:“Theycannotbeworseoffthantheyareand...theymayhelpeachother.”AmajorcauseofIrishpovertywasthatmoreandmorepeoplewerecompetingforland.Irelandwasnotindustrialized.Thefewindustriesthathadbeenestablishedwerefailing.Thefisherieswereundeveloped,andsomefishermencouldnotevenbuyenoughsalttopreservetheircatch.Andtherewasnoagriculturalindustry.EnglishProtestantgentry,whocollectedrentsandlivedabroad,ownedmostofthelargeandproductivefarms.Manyownersvisitedtheirpropertyonlyonceortwiceintheirlifetime.Middlemen,whosplitupthefarmsintosmallerandsmallersectionstoincreasetherents,managedtheirproperty.Thefarmsbecametoosmalltorequirehiredlabour.By1835,threequartersofIrishlabourershadnoregularemploymentofanykind.Withnoemploymentavailable,theonlywaythatalabourercouldliveandsupportafamilywastogetapatchoflandandgrowpotatoes.Potatoeswereuniqueinmanyways.Largenumbersofthemcouldbegrownonsmallplotsofland.Anacreandahalfcouldprovideafamilyofsixwithenoughfoodforayear.Potatoeswerenutritiousandeasytocook,andtheycouldbefedtopigsandcattleandfowl.Andfamiliesdidnotneedaploughtogrowpotatoes.Alltheyneededwasaspade,andtheycouldgrowpotatoesinwetgroundandonmountainsideswherenootherkindsofplantscouldbecultivated.MorethanhalfoftheIrishpeopledependedonthepotatoasthemainpartoftheirdiet,andalmost40percenthadadietconsistingalmostentirelyof

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potatoes,withsomemilkorfishastheonlyothersourceofnourishment.Potatoescouldnotbestoredformorethanayear.Ifthepotatocropfailed,therewasnothingtoreplaceit.Intheyearsbefore1845,manycommitteesandcommissionshadissuedreportsonthestateofIreland,andallpredicteddisaster.TheBlightStrikesInthesummerof1845,thepotatocropappearedtobeflourishing.ButwhenthemaincropwasharvestedinOctober,thereweresignsofdisease.Withinafewdaysaftertheyweredugup,thepotatoesbegantorot.Scientificcommissionsweresetuptoinvestigatetheproblemandrecommendwaystopreventthedecay.Farmersweretoldtotrydryingthepotatoesinovensortotreatthemwithlimeandsaltorwithchlorinegas.Butnothingworked.Nomatterwhattheytried,thepotatoesbecamediseased:“sixmonthsprovisionsamassofrottenness.”InNovember,ascientificcommissionreportedthat“onehalfoftheactualpotatocropofIrelandiseitherdestroyedorremainsinastateunfitforthefoodofman.”Byearlyspringof1846,panicbegantospreadasfoodsuppliesdisappeared.Peopleateanythingtheycouldfind,includingtheleavesandbarkoftreesandevengrass.LordMontaeaglereportedtotheHouseofLordsinMarch,peoplewereeatingfood“fromwhichsoputridandoffensiveaneffluviaissuedthatinconsumingittheywereobligedtoleavethedoorsandwindowsoftheircabinsopen,”andillnesses,including“feverfromeatingdiseasedpotatoes,”werebeginningtospread.Theblightdidnotgoaway.In1846,thewholepotatocropwaswipedout.In1847,ashortageofseedsledtofewercrops,asonlyaboutaquarterofthelandwasplantedcomparedtotheyearbefore.Thecropflourished,butnotenoughfoodwasproduced,andthefaminecontinued.Bythistime,themassemigrationabroadhadbegun.TheflighttoAmericaandCanadacontinuedin1848whentheblightstruckagain.In1849,thefaminewasofficiallyatanend,butsufferingcontinuedthroughoutIreland.TheFamineTakesItsToll

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Morethan1millionpeoplediedbetween1846and1851asaresultofthePotatoFamine.Manyofthesediedfromstarvation.Manymorediedfromdiseasesthatpreyedonpeopleweakenedbylossoffood.By1847,thescourgesof“faminefever,”dysentery,anddiarrheabegantowreakhavoc.Peoplestreamedintotowns,beggingforfoodandcrowdingtheworkhousesandsoupkitchens.Thebeggarsandvagrantswhotooktotheroadswereinfectedwithlice,whichtransmitbothtyphusand“relapsingfever.”Oncefevertookhold,peoplebecamemoresusceptibletootherinfectionsincludingdysentery.Little,ifany,medicalcarewasavailableforthesick.Manyofthosewhotriedtohelpdiedtoo.Inoneprovince,48medicalmendiedoffever,andmanyclergymendiedaswell.NowheretoTurnManyIrishbelievethattheBritishgovernmentshouldhavedonemoretohelpIrelandduringthefamine.IrelandhadbecomepartofGreatBritainin1801,andtheBritishParliament,sittinginLondon,knewaboutthehorrorsbeingsuffered.ButwhilethepotatocropfailedandmostIrishwerestarving,manywealthylandlordswhoownedlargefarmshadlargecropsofoatsandgrainthattheywereexportingtoEngland.Meanwhile,thepoorinIrelandcouldnotaffordtobuyfoodandwerestarving.ManybelievethatlargenumbersofliveswouldhavebeensavediftheBritishhadbannedthoseexportsandkeptthecropsinIreland.ButstoppingfoodexportswasnotacceptabletotheWhigParty,whichhadtakencontroloftheBritishParliamentin1846.TheWhigsbelievedin“laissezfaire”economics.(Laissez-faireisaFrenchwordmeaning“letdo”or“letitalone.”)Laissez-faireeconomistsbelievethatthestateshouldn’tgetinthewayoftransactionsbetweenprivateparties.Instead,thegovernmentshouldinterfereaslittleaspossibleintheeconomy.Becauseoftheirbeliefinlaissez-faireeconomics,membersoftheWhiggovernmentrefusedtostoplandlordsfromexportingoatsandgrainwhilethepoorwerestarving.TheWhigPartyalsoshutdownfooddepotsthathadbeensetupandstockedwithIndiancorn.TheBritishgovernmentdidtakesomestepstohelpthepoor.Beforethefamine,in1838,thegovernmenthadpassedaPoorLawAct.Itestablished130workhousesforthepooraroundthecountry,fundedbytaxescollectedfromlocallandlordsandfarmers.Conditionsintheworkhousesweregrim.Familieslivedin

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crowdedandmiserableconditions,andmenwereforcedtowork10hoursadaycuttingstone.Manypeopleavoidedworkhousesiftheycouldbecausemovinginmeantalmostcertainillnessandlikelydeath.Thegovernmentalsoestablishedapublic-worksprogram.Theprogramwassupposedtoberunbylocalcommitteesthatwouldemploylabourerstobuildrailroadsandotherpublic-worksprojects.TheBritishgovernmentadvancedmoneyfortheprojects,butthelocalcommitteemembershadtosignacontractpromisingtorepaytheBritishgovernmentintwoyears(plusinterest).Theprojectsweretoofewtosupportthehundredsofthousandsofdesperatefamiliesthatneededhelp.Mostoftheworkers—includingwomenandchildrenwhowereputtoworkbuildingstoneroads—weremalnourishedandweakenedbyfever,andmanyfaintedordroppeddeadastheyworked.Inearly1847,about700,000Irishworkedonprojects,butdidnotearnenoughmoneytoeat.BetweenMarchandJuneof1847,thegovernmentshutdownthepublic-worksprojects.Intheirplace,ParliamentpassedtheSoupKitchenActinJanuary1847.TheSoupKitchenActwasintendedtoprovidefreefoodinsoupkitchenssponsoredbylocalreliefcommitteesandbycharity.Freefoodwasdesperatelyneeded.InJuly1847,almost3millionpeoplewerelininguptogeta“vilesoup”ora“stirabout”porridgeconsistingofIndiancornmealandrice.Formostofthepoor,thiswastheonlyfoodtheyhadeachday,andmanywerestilldyingofstarvation.BySeptember1947,thelocalreliefcommitteesthatoperatedthesoupkitchenswerealmostbankrupt,andthegovernmentshutdownthesoupkitchensafteronlysixmonths.Withnomoresoupkitchenstofeedstarvingpeople,littlehopewasleft.LeavingforNorthAmericaDrivenbypanicanddesperation,afloodofemigrantsleftIrelandin1847.Manyleftdressedinragswithnotenoughfoodtolastthe40-dayjourneyacrosstheAtlanticandnotenoughmoneytobuyfoodsoldonboard.SomewenttoGreatBritainandtoAustralia,butmostintendedtogotoAmerica.BecausefaresontheCanadianshipswerecheaper,manyemigrantswentbywayofCanadaandwalkedacrosstheborderintoMaineandthensouththroughNewEngland.ManystayedinCanada.

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TheemigrantstravelledonCanadian“timber”ships,whichcarriedlumberfromCanadatoEuropeandwouldotherwisehavereturnedempty.Theshipownerswerehappytocarryhumanballast,buttheirshipswerenotequippedforpassengertravel.Theconditionsonthetimbershipswerehorrible.Onephilanthropist,namedStephendeVere,travelledasasteeragepassengerinthespringof1847anddescribedthesufferinghesaw:“Hundredsofpoorpeople,men,womenandchildrenofallages,fromthedrivellingidiotofninetytothebabejustborn,huddledtogetherwithoutair,wallowinginfilthandbreathingafetidatmosphere,sickinbody,dispiritedinheart...dyingwithoutvoiceofspiritualconsolation,andburiedinthedeepwithouttheritesofthechurch.”TheCanadianshipsbecameknownas“coffinships”becausesomanyemigrantsdiedduringpassageoraftertheyreachedlandandwereputintoquarantine.Oneexperthascalculatedthatalmost30percentofthe100,000immigrantstoCanadain1847diedontheshipsorduringquarantine,andanother10,000diedontheirwaytotheUnitedStates.OtherswhocouldaffordthefaretravelleddirectlytoNewYorkonAmericanshipswhereconditionsweremuchbetter.SomewerealreadysufferingfromfeverandwerekeptinquarantineonStatenIsland.Butthevastmajorityofimmigrantswhocamebetween1845and1855didsurvivethejourney.NoIrishNeedApplyAlmostalloftheIrishwhoimmigratedtotheUnitedStatesofAmericawerepoorpeasantsfromruralcounties.Mostwereilliterate,andmanyspokeonlyIrishandcouldnotunderstandEnglish.Andalthoughtheyhadlivedoffthelandintheirhomecountry,theimmigrantsdidnothavetheskillsneededforlarge-scalefarmingintheAmericanWest.Instead,theysettledinBoston,NewYork,andothercitiesontheEastCoast.Thementookwhateverjobstheycouldfind—loadingshipsatthedocks,sweepingstreets,cleaningstables.Thewomentookjobsasservantstotherichorworkingintextilefactories.Moststayedinslumtenementsneartheportswheretheyarrivedandlivedinbasementsandatticswithnowater,sanitation,ordaylight.Manychildrentooktobegging,andmenoftenspentwhatlittlemoneytheyhadonalcohol.

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TheIrishimmigrantswerenotwelllikedandoftentreatedbadly.Thelargenumberofnewarrivalsstrainedthecities’resources.(The37,000IrishimmigrantswhoarrivedinBostonin1847increasedthecity’spopulationbymorethan30percent.)ManyunskilledworkersfearedbeingputoutofworkbyIrishimmigrantswillingtoworkforlessthanthegoingrate.TheIrishalsofacedreligiousprejudice,asalmostallofthemwereCatholic.WiththelargenumberofIrishimmigrantsfloodingintothecities,CatholicismcameclosetobeingthelargestsingleChristiandenominationinthecountry.ManyProtestantsfearedthattheIrishwereunderthepowerofthePopeandcouldneverbetrulypatrioticAmericans.ThepressdescribedIrishimmigrantsas“aliens”whoweremindlesslyloyaltotheirCatholicleaders.Asanti-Irishandanti-Catholicsentimentgrew,newspaperadvertisementsforjobsandhousingroutinelyendedwiththestatement:“NoIrishneedapply.”2Glasgow(Pollokshaws)Scotland–HomeSweetHomeTheMcIverandMcCannfamiliesseemeddestinedtomigratetoScotlandforreasonswhichnodoubtweretiedtotheeconomicconditionsinIreland,whichiswell-documented.TheMcIver/McIvorfamilysettledinPollokshaws,whichwasatown/suburboutsideofGlasgow.Anunderstandingofthehistoryofthiscommunitywouldbeinstructiveasfarasthefamilyhistoryisconcerned.Pollokshawshasalongrecordedhistorydatingfrombeforetheyear600AD.Amonknamed,Conval,sonofanIrishprince,leftIreland,hisnativecountryandaccordingtolegendcrossedtheseastandingonaslabofstone,andsteppedashoreatInchinnanontheClyde.ThemeaningheremaybethatthestonewasofsomesignificancetotheCelts,orwassimplybeingcarriedinsomekindofcraftasballast.Twostones,whichwerereputed,tobeconnectedwiththiseventcanbeseenlyinginasmall-railedenclosureneartheNormandyHotelinInchinnanRoad,Renfrew.FromthereConvaljoinedSt.Kentigern(orSt.Mungoasheisbetterknown),andwasdirectedbyhimtopreachtheChristianfaithtothepaganpeopleinthewoodedareatothesoutheastofPaisley,aregionnowknownasEastwood.Here,besideaspringofclearwater,hebuilthislittlewattle-and-daub

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churchinwhatisnowEastwoodOldCemetery,andcommencedhisworkofbringingChristianitytothedistrict.ThechurchwasnomorethanasmallhutusedbyConvalforhisdevotions,andhepreachedtothepeopleintheopenair.Astimepassedhegatheredroundhimanumberofconvertswho,asmonkswholivedinotherhutsnearby,formedagroupwhichinthecourseoftimebecameasmallvillagenamedKirkton.Thisvillageexistedinvariousformsuntilindustrialdevelopmentnearbyfromthemiddleofthe18thcenturycausedthespringtodryup.Convalwascanonisedlater,becomingSt.Conval,andisbelievedtohavediedonthe18thofMay612.ThenextsignificanteventinthedevelopmentofEastwoodcamearoundthemiddleofthe14thCentury.DescendantsofaSaxonNoblemannamedMaccus,whohadpreviouslysettledinanareaknownasMaccuswellnearDumfriesinthe12thcentury,acquiredlandintheEastwooddistrict.IntimethefamilynamebecameMaxwell,andbrancheswereestablishedaroundthesouthandwestofScotland.Oneofthese,theMaxwellsofNether(lower)Pollok,weregivenacharterfortheirlandsin1494,andSirJohnMaxwellbuiltHaggsCastle,thoughttobethethirdbuildingbelongingtothefamilyinthearea,duringtheyearsleadingupto1585.ThroughthecenturiestheMaxwellswerebenevolentbenefactorsofthepeopleofPollokshaws,anditissignificantthatthefirstmentionofPollokshawsshouldbeinadocumentconcerningmembersofthefamily.ItoccursinaPapalBull(aproclamationbythePope)issuedin1536,andthestorybehinditisthatsomeyearsbefore,aLairdofPollokhadthreesons,theeldestofwhomwastosucceedhim.Thefirstson'smarriageproducedadaughterwhowastheheiressofPollok.Whenthesecondsonmarried,hisfathergavehimthelandsofCowglenthathadbeenpurchasedfromtheEarlofLennoxin1518.Thismarriageproducedason,andthetwo,theheiressofPollokandtheheirofCowglenwishedtomarry,butastheywereFirstcousinstheconsanguinitylawsofthechurchdidnotallowthis.However,itwaspossibletoovercomethebarrierbyapplyingtothePopeforaspecialdispensation.

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TheLaird'sthirdsonhadenteredthechurchandbecameBishopofOrkney,andhewaspersuadedtoapplytothePopeforthedispensation.PermissionwasgrantedforthemarriageinaPapalBullofthetime,whichalsoreferredtoPollokshawsanditsmealmill.Atthistime,underScotsLaweachLairdhadtoerectandmaintainamillfortheuseofhistenants,anditisevidentthatfromthenontherewassuchamillandthatPollokshawswaswellestablished.ThefirsthistoricalmentionofthetownisinCrawford’s‘HistoryofRenfrewshire’publishedin1710,whereitisdescribedas‘avillagewithastonebridgeoftwoarchesovertheriver’.In1764JohnWilson,inhispoem‘TheClyde’referstotheexpandingPollokshawsinthelines:HereyouthfulShawsbyvigorousindustryAspiresinfame,withancienttownstoviewInJohnGalt’snovel,TheEntail(1822),atonepointoneofthecharactersisdepictedaslivinginaslated(i.e.notthatched)cottageinPollokshaws(calledCamrachleinthestoryp218/21andmentionedagaininafootnoteonpage400).Theruralsurroundingsarecongenial,andthereisabriefdescriptionofthevillage’ssettingasitwasattheturnofthe18th/19thcenturies.Thereisalsoareferencetoastream,whichjoinstheRiverCartnearbythatcanonlybetheAuldhouseburn.ThetownalsofeaturesinanovelbyWilliamBlack,‘WhiteHeather’publishedin1886.Inhisnovel‘StrongerthanhisSea’,RobertWatson,whowasborninPollokshawsandemigratedtoCanadaaround1900,usedthetownasitssettingunderthepseudonymPiershawinthestory.Watsonalsoproducedanunpublishedbookletentitled‘TheNativeReturns’,averypoignant16pagesdescribinghisreturnwithhisyoungdaughtertohisbirthplace.ThetownisalsomentionedinRudyardKipling’s‘McAndrew’sHymn’andinJohnBuchan’s‘Huntingtower’.3

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LetterkennyandNewtownards:OurNorthernIrelandConnectionTheNorthernIrelandtownsofLetterkennyandNewtownardsareidentifiedashavingahistoricalconnectiontoboththeMcIver/McIvorandMcCannfamiliesasnotedearlier.Abriefdescriptionofeachwouldbeinorder.LetterkennyisknownastheCathedralTown,andisthelargestandmostpopulousurbansettlementinCountyDonegal.ItsEnglishnameisderivedfromtheIrishnameLeitirCeanainn,meaning"HillsideoftheO'Cannons"–theO'CannonsbeingthelastoftheancientchieftainsofTirConaill.Withapopulationof19,588,LetterkennyislocatedontheRiverSwillyineastDonegal.AlongwiththenearbycityofDerry,LetterkennyformsthemajoreconomiccoreofthenorthwestpartoftheislandofIreland.

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Newtownardsisalargetown,andacivilparishinCounty,NorthernIreland.ItlaysatthemostnortherntipofStrangfordLough,10miles(16km)eastofBelfastontheArdsPeninsula.ItissituatedinthecivilparishofNewtownardsandthehistoricbaroniesofArdsLowerandCastlereaghLower.NewtownardsisthelargesttownintheformerBoroughofArds.Thelocalscolloquiallyrefertoitasthe“Ards”.WorldWarI-MyGrandfather’sServicetoCountryMyearlyrecollectionsofmygrandfather,WilliamJohnMcIvorwasthathehadservedgallantlyinWWIandsawactionoverseas.Subsequentresearchrevealsthathehadenlistedatage18intheBritisharmyonthe26thofJanuary1917andbecameamemberoftheScottishRifles,5/6thbattalion.(MilitaryRegiment#41711).Hewasdischargedfromservicein1919atage21.(Regimental#16687).BelowisRecordofServicePaperrecordingtheenlistmentintomilitaryservice.

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TheScottishrifleswereknownasthefamous“Cameronians”whichhaditsoriginswiththe3rdLanarkshireRifleVolunteers.

The3rdRegimentoftheLanarkshireRifleVolunteers(1872)werevolunteerforcesraisedduringtheNapoleonicWarsbutmostweredisbandedaftertheFrenchdefeatatWaterlooin1815.Frenchnavalexpansioninthe1850’scaused‘invasionpanic’andin1859VolunteerCorpswerere-created.TheLanarkshireVolunteersweremadeupofthe1st,2nd,3rdand4thCorpswiththe3rdbasedintheStrathbungoareainthesouthsideofGlasgow.The3rdLanarkshireCorpwasmadeupbytheamalgamationofseveralindependentunitsincludingthe‘8thCoyEtnaFoundry’andtheremainderofthe’78thCorpsOldGuardofGlasgow.’Theirincreasing‘professionalism’wasconfirmedintheVolunteersActof1863bywhichtimetheVolunteerscouldnowbecalledoutforactivemilitaryserviceinsteadofbeingutilisedsolelyfordefencepurposes.

InMay1881,therewasamajorreorganisationintheBritisharmy.Regimentsceasedtobenumberedandinsteadtooknamesassociatedwiththeirrecruitingareaoranelementoftheirhistory.TheVolunteerCorpswerenowlinkedwiththeregulararmyandthefourLanarkshireRifleVolunteerCorpsbecamethe1st,2nd,3rdand4thVolunteerBattalionsattachedtotheCameronians(ScottishRifles).TheCameronians(ScottishRifles)wereformedin1881bybringingtogethertwosingle-battalionregiments:TheCameroniansorthe26thRegimentFoot(raised1689),andthe90thPerthshireLightInfantry(raised1794),whichrespectivelybecamethe1stand2ndBattalionsofthenewRegiment.TheCameronianswereuniqueinthattheyweretheonlyregimentintheBritishArmytohaveareligiousorigin,havingbeenformedbyCovenanters.

Eachregimentnowhadtworegularservicebattalions,onebasedathomerecruitingandtraining,andoneservingoverseas.Atregularintervalsthetwobattalionswouldexchangeroles.TheRegiments1stBattaliontookthenameThe“Cameronians”,whilsttheotherBattalions,includingtheVolunteers,wereknownasScottishRifles,adistinctionwhichremaineduntilthe1920safterwhichallBattalionsusedtheRegimentsfullname.ItwasQueenVictoria’swishes,thatthe

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Regimentbecamearifleregiment,asaresultoftheirgreatskillasmarksmen,ratherthanordinaryinfantry,thusbecomingtheonlyScottishRifleRegiment.Thisdistinctionwas,byarmytradition,consideredagreathonour.

TheHaldaneArmyreformsof1908wastoheraldtheendofthefamousnameofthe3rdLanarkshireRifleVolunteerswhentheyweredisbanded,onlytoreformasthe7thTerritorialBattalionoftheCameronians(ScottishRifles).The1st,2ndand4thVolunteersbecamethe5th,6thand8thTerritorialBattalions,respectively.TheturningpointfortheVolunteerscamewhentheyservedoverseasforthefirsttimeintheBoerWarandhaddistinguishedthemselvesfightingalongsidetheregularbattalions.Theultimatetestforthenewterritorialbattalionswasnotfaraway,withtheadventin1914,ofwhatwastobethemostcataclysmicconflictofthosemoderntimes,theGreatWar.

Battalions oftheTerritorialForceoftheScottishRifles-WWI

Thefollowingidentifiesthebattalionsofthefamous“Cameronians”andtheirdeploymentduringWWI.

1/5thBattalionAugust1914:at261WestPrincesStreetinGlasgow.PartofScottishRifleBrigade,LowlandDivision.November1914:lefttheDivisionandmovedtoFrance,landingatLeHavre5November1914.Cameunderordersof19thBrigadein6thDivision.31May1915:transferredwithBrigadeto27thDivision.19August1915:transferredwithBrigadeto2ndDivision.25November1915:transferredwithBrigadeto33rdDivision.29May1916:mergedwith1/6thBntobecome5/6thBn.

1/6thBattalionAugust1914:atMuirhallinHamilton.PartofScottishRifleBrigade,LowlandDivision.March1915:lefttheDivisionandmovedtoFrance,landingatLeHavre21March1915.24March1915:transferredto23rdBrigadein8thDivision.2June1915:transferredto154thBrigadein51st(Highland)Division.12January1916:becameDivisionalTroops,trainingasPioneers.

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25February1916:transferredto100thBrigade,33rdDivision.29May1916:mergedwith1/6thBntobecome5/6thBn.

One of the few photographs of the actual moment of attack; an officer of the 9th Battalion of the Scottish Rifles leads the way out of a trench on 11 April 1917

IwouldberemissifIdidnotmentionmygrandfather’sbrotherRobertJamesMcIvor.4Hewashisolderbrother(1891)andduringWWIjoinedtheBritishNavy.HewasacrewmemberontheHMSBlackPrince,whichwasinvolvedintheBattleofJutland.Thiswasoneofthelargestnavalbattlesofalltimewith250BritishandGermanbattleshipsinvolved.TheHMSBlackPrincealongwithseveralotherBritishwarshipswassunkonMay31st1916byseveralGermanbattleshipswithall857menonboardlostatsea.Firsthandaccountspasseddownthroughgenerations,indicatethatmygreatgrandmotherMargaretMaryMcIvoronreceivingthenewsofherson’sdeath,collapsedtoherkneesandthereafterwasneverthesame.Itisdifficulttoimaginethecountlessnumberoflovedone’swhoreceivedsimilarnewsduringtheGreatWarandtheemotionaltollthatitalltook,whichisoftenoverlooked. Lestweforget!

4ThecircumstancessurroundingthesinkingoftheHMCBlackPrinceremainsoneofthemostfamousnavalmysteriesofWorldWarOne.

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TheImmigrationtoCanadawithHopesforaBetterLifeCatherineMcCannimmigratedtoCanadadepartingfromLondonandarrivingInQuebecCityonAugust17,1923.SheindicatedonthepassengermanifestthatshewasseekingemploymentandthatherintentionsweretostaypermanentlyinCanada.HerstateddestinationwasWinnipegManitoba.WilliamJohnMcIvorimmigratedtoCanadain1926.ThereisastrongsuggestionthattheynewoneanotherinGlasgowbutitisunknownwhethertheymetinCanadabyaccidentordesign.TheyweremarriedinCalgaryABonthe30thdayofApril1929.Mygrandfatherwasa“baker”bytradeandworkedforRichardson’sBakeryinMedicineHatfollowingtheirmarriage.Itisherethatmymotherwasborn.Later,theymovedtoSaskatoon,andbyallaccountshadacomfortablelifestyle.Later,asWWIIbrokeout,hemovedbacktoMedicineHateitheroutofnecessityorforanemploymentopportunityandworkedasabakertoprovidebreadtotheGermanprisonerofwarcamplocatedthere.AccommodationwasscarceandmyDadrecountedthatwhenhemetmymom,thefamilywaslivinginatwo-roomsuiteaboveHutchingsandSharpbuildingdowntownon3rdStreet,inlessthanidealsurroundings.Inthelate40’sorearly50’s,theymovedtoVancouverBritishColumbiaandeitherrentedorownedahouseonSpruceStreet.Irecallasayoungchildeither3or4yearsold,goingonthetraintoVancouverwithmyparentsandvisitingmygrandparents.TheyvisitedMedicineHatonseverallateroccasionsincludingattendingmyweddingandmysisterArlene’swedding.Theyhadthreechildren:-MargaretMary-bornDecember20th1929andwhopassedawaySeptember17th2017atage865

5MargaretMarywasthefirstchildofWilliamandCatherineMcIvorandmymother.ShemarriedTheodoreJohnAnhornonApril14th1950.IwasbornonDecember18th,1950andwastheirfirstchildandthefirstgrandchildofWilliamandCatherineMcIvor.

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-Catherine-bornApril3rd1934-Robert-bornJanuary19,1940andwhopassedawayonNovember13th2004inVictoriaB.C.MymothermarriedTheodoreJohnAnhorn6onApril14th,1950atStPatrick’sChurchinMedicineHatandpassedawayonSeptember17th2017atCamrose,Albertaattheageof86years.ButforafewshortyearsinSaskatoonandthelast5yearsinCamrose,shelivedallofherlifeinMedicineHat.ShegraduatedfromStTheresaAcademyin1948andattendedGarbutt’sBusinessCollege.Afterraisingherfamily,sheworkedasaparishsecretaryatStPat’sChurchforover20yearsretiringin1994.Togethertheyhad4children:William John-December 18th, 1950Arlene Cathryn-November 14th, 1952 Theodore Robert- November 6th, 1954 James Conrad-September 4st, 1959 ThereisNoPerfectEnding Genealogy drives its name from the Greek words “generation” and “knowledge” and is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. The results are often displayed in charts or in written narratives. The pursuit of family history and origins tends to be shaped by several motives, including the desire to carve out a place in one’s family in the larger historical picture and a sense of responsibility to preserve the past for future generations.7 The latter has been my primary motivation. The difficulty with a project such as this is not where to start but… where to end. The hope of any tree that is planted is that it will grow straight and tall,

6See“TheAnhornFamilyHistory-FromMyPerspectivebyWilliamJAnhornwhichcanbefoundatwjanhorn.ca7Wikipedia,Genealogy.

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with a root system that will remain healthy and firm and that it will endure the strongest of storms. The same is true with the family tree. Like any family tree, the limbs can be multiple and the branches and leaves elongated. The purpose of genealogy, in its purest form, is to document the lineage most often from a patriarchal standpoint. It is nonetheless just as important to trace, document and preserve the matriarchal ancestry in order to fully understand and appreciate one’s true “roots”. With that in mind, I have endeavoured to document the McIver/McIvor/McCann family history and established our Scottish/Irish heritage. My hope is that this writing will be of value and interest to the “McIvor Clan” and those both behind, beside and ahead of me will find some comfort in knowing about their heritage and perhaps, at some point, they too will be inspired and motivated to take up a similar cause. William J. Anhorn QC ICD.d Medicine Hat, Alberta October 24th, 2017