Lost In A Tragedy
Last week, I told you what item I would chose; when being asked “What’s The One Family Item You Wished You Had”. I’ve been talking to another genealogist and he has told me a very interesting story behind his choice. Luckily he’s provided me with information and allowed me to post this article.
He chose: photos of his maternal Great-Grandmother, Grace Downie McLeod. She was born on the 28th February 1919 in Lumphinnans, Fife. She married Peter Nelson McKean in 1937 and had 4 children in Scotland, before migrating to Canada from Southampton on the 29th March 1949.
Sadly, due to complications in pregnancy she died in Lethbridge, Alberta on the 26th March 1951. Leaving her widowed husband, Peter, with many children. It was also 2 days before their daughter’s (the Grandmother) 4th birthday. On the 17th May 1953 they arrived back in Britain, probably for family support.
Peter then remarried to Elizabeth Duncan in 1962 and soon migrated again to Miami, Florida. Where the photos were unfortunately destroyed. However, we do not know if the family photos were destroyed in a hurricane or in a fire. This is a big family debate as the grandmother states that they were lost in a fire, whereas the rest of the family say they were lost in a hurricane. Florida is also well known for its ‘Hurricane Seasons’ so that would be my guess; but fires can happen anywhere, so we don’t know for sure what happened.
If you have any photos of Grace or would like to contact Andrew you can email him at [email protected] or comment below.
Published: 26 February 2015
He chose: photos of his maternal Great-Grandmother, Grace Downie McLeod. She was born on the 28th February 1919 in Lumphinnans, Fife. She married Peter Nelson McKean in 1937 and had 4 children in Scotland, before migrating to Canada from Southampton on the 29th March 1949.
Sadly, due to complications in pregnancy she died in Lethbridge, Alberta on the 26th March 1951. Leaving her widowed husband, Peter, with many children. It was also 2 days before their daughter’s (the Grandmother) 4th birthday. On the 17th May 1953 they arrived back in Britain, probably for family support.
Peter then remarried to Elizabeth Duncan in 1962 and soon migrated again to Miami, Florida. Where the photos were unfortunately destroyed. However, we do not know if the family photos were destroyed in a hurricane or in a fire. This is a big family debate as the grandmother states that they were lost in a fire, whereas the rest of the family say they were lost in a hurricane. Florida is also well known for its ‘Hurricane Seasons’ so that would be my guess; but fires can happen anywhere, so we don’t know for sure what happened.
If you have any photos of Grace or would like to contact Andrew you can email him at [email protected] or comment below.
Published: 26 February 2015
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*Note - No copyright infringement was intended. If there is a breach in copyright contact me through the 'Contact' section so it can be removed. All photos are Copyright © 2015 Harry Clarke. All Rights Reserved. The photo on the 'Home' page for this article is courtesy of Tuna Point Lighthouse.