52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 24 Prompt - Handed Down

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 24

Prompt – Handed Down

In the past I have posted the story of the special china cup and saucer that my grandmother McLaughlin gave me and that I had to return it because she thought I took it from her without her permission.  This is what I think of when I think of things being handed down.

In August of 2010, I received a parcel from my Aunt Phyllis.  She was married to my Uncle Wally. Uncle Wally was Grandma McLaughlin's third child.  

1987 -Wendy, Aunt Phyllis, Uncle Wally, Jill and Jackie

He was born May 5, 1927 in Calgary, Alberta.  Shortly after he was born, Wallace, my mother, Vivian, and Grandmother moved back to Saskatoon.  My mother(Vivian) was 5 years older than Uncle Wally and the two never got along.  Uncle Wally received his degree in engineering from University of Saskatchewan,  He got his doctorate in Engineering in Purdue University and then moved to Ontario in 1961.  He taught at the University of Waterloo Engineering until 1992.   He also was the Waterloo University Dean of Engineering from 1974 to 1982.  They had 5 children, my cousins. I believe I may have seen them twice in my life.  We were not close to them physically and thus we never got to know this side of the family.

My mother, Vivian predeceased her mother (Grandma Mary McLaughlin).  Grandma predeceased her son Uncle Wally.  When grandmother died, Uncle Wally and Aunt Phyllis came to Saskatoon from Ontario to take care of grandma's estate.  There were many things that were packed up and taken back to Ontario.  Sadly some of those things were promised to various Peters Grandchildren who never seen them again.

Uncle Wally died of cancer on July 5, 2009 in the Kincardine Hospital.

Before Uncle Wally died I had the chance to correspond via mail several times about any family history he knew.  He really had very few stories about his family.

After he died I maintained contact with Aunt Phyllis who over the next several years shared many stories, good and bad, on Uncle Wally and my mother's family.  However more importantly she had a small box of grandma's photos and “Krikau old stuff” and wondered if I would want them because no one in Ontario wanted them.  If I didn't want them they would probably throw them out.   Well of course I wanted them.

When the parcel arrived I could hardly believe the treasure trove of “things” in that small parcel.

It had two small leather bound books that were books given to grandma McLaughlin on her confirmation in 1917.  They were written in German.  One had an inscription inside of it; “From Mother and Father Krikau on my confirmation. April 1917 at Holy Cross Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba.”  There was original certificates for Uncle Wally's Baptism, Mary and Bob Sullivan Wedding Certificate from 1921, and Mary and Benjamin's Wedding Certificate from 1932.  These were the fancy church ones.  They were scrolled up into tight tubes for protection. 

Rolled Tubes with Various Certificates and Leather Confirmation Books

There was a reproduction on photograph paper of a Parochialfchein. This is family information that the Russian church pastor wrote out for those immigrating families and sent along with the family to present to the minister in their new country as a means of introduction and that they were in "good Christian standing" in the church.  Dated in 1911 from Privalnoje Russia.  On the back of this is written; “Mary this is your birth certificate from the Old Country. Henry” 

Grandma's McKague Funeral Home booklet was included.  Inside there was several loose papers such as; a letter dated from June 10, 1977 of grandmother's wish to be buried with her second husband, Benjamin McLaughlin.  There was a church bulletin of Vivian Peters Funeral, a newspaper clipping of Mary's Obituary, and the church bulletin from Grandma McLaughlin's funeral..

There was also a legal size envelope, fan folded manila colored wallet tied together with ribbon. Inside the wallet was 8 pockets with various papers. 

The 1st pocket held Grandma McLaughlin's Certificate of Death.

The 2nd pocket had an envelope named “Naturalization Papers and Passport” dated June 7, 1929.

Mary Sullivan Naturalization Certificate

The 3rd pocket had her original will dated October 4, 1960. 

The 4th pocket had a legal size envelope with “ Krakau-Sullivan-Papers scrolled on the outside.  The papers included "A Certificate of Changed Name" dated August 19, 1957. Also in this same pocket is an official letter; “Declaration To Be Made By Person Whose Birth is Desired to Be Registered:”. Benjamin McLaughlin was a foundling baby and he needed to fill out this paperwork to get an official birth date – this paper work was dated June 8, 1939. The Krikau-Sullivan papers had to do with Uncle Wally making his last name officially McLaughlin which he thought was officially done while Ben McLaughlin was alive, but it wasn't .

The 5th pocket was a Province of Saskatchewan Death Certificate for Mary McLaughlin; also a memorial card for G. Fred Krikau (her brother); and an obituary for Vivian Peters.

The 6th pocket was empty- what was missing I wondered and still am wondering!!

The 7th pocket had a small envelope and written on the outside is “My Brother's Grave No. In Winnipeg, Man.”  This was Willhelm Krikau which at that time I did not know about.   Inside was an official paper from the Winnipeg cemetery.

Also in this pocket there was a Certificate of Registration for Grandmother's middle child who was born Sept 28, 1924 that was dated Oct 27, 1924.

The 8th pocket had grandma's Inspection Card for Maria Krikau. It was the card given to each traveler who landed at Ellis Island in New York. Date was October 3, 1911. 

The box was filled with many many family photos.  Most were photographs that we had given grandma of our own growing families.  Some I had never seen before such as two Black and White photos of Mary and Pat, her first husband.  A photo of Pat's car and I didn't know he had one.  A photo of Grandma with my mother Vivian as an infant.  A 1933 photo of Wally and Vivian, two photos of Vivian at confirmation in 1937.  A shopping photo of grandmother Mary and her mother. The portrait picture of Andreas and Maria Krikau (my great-grandparents). I recall this one sitting on my grandmother's dresser in her bedroom.  A wedding portrait of Benjamin and Mary McLaughlin. Many small photographs of Ben and Mary during their married life.  Several photos of her brothers and sisters and their families.   A few 4 generation photos of Great Grandmother Krikau, Grandmother McLaughlin, Vivian and Betty.

Pat Sullivan's Car

Mary Sullivan Holding Infant Vivian; 1922

Mary McLaughlin Shopping With Mother Maria Krikau; 1940

Back Lt to Rt: Vivian Peters, Mary McLaughlin. Front Row Lt to Rt Betty Peters and Maria Krikau; 1951

 I only vaguely knew about some of this information and now I have the documents to prove these events happened.  Some of it I never knew about like the existence of her baby brother born in Winnipeg or for that matter that my grandmother had a second child who died at 3 months of age.

This “stuff” as Aunt Phyllis called it, was handed down to me.  I feel it was more of me being at the right place at the right time.  I shudder to think that they may have thrown any of these century old papers of my ancestors out in the garbage.  If you are in possession of such significant papers and don't want them; please don't throw them away – find that family member who loves genealogy.

Wendy

  I only vaguely knew about some of this information, but now I have the documents to prove these events. Some of it I never knew about like her the existence of her baby brother born in Winnipeg or for that matter that my grandmother had a second child' who died at 3 months of age.

This “stuff” as Aunt Phyllis called it, was handed down to me. I feel it was more of me being at the right place at the right time. I shudder to think that they may have thrown any of these century old papers of my ancestors out in the garbage. If you are in possession of such significant papers and don't want them; please don't throw them away – find that family member who loves genealogy.

Wendy