Individual 64: Mary Catt

Individual Record 64

Name} Catt, Mary

Family History} Hancock

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Female

Birth: Date} Fam 5 Jul 1847

Place} Northiam, Sussex, England

Marr.: Date} Exa 30 Dec 1869

Place} Port Huron City, St. Clair, Michigan (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 18 May 1925

Place} Bosanquet, Lambton, Ontario

Burial: Date} Exa 21 May 1925

Place} Pinehill Cemetery, Thedford, Lambton, Ontario

Grave Marker}

Source 1}	967 =1851 Eng cen
Source 2}	95 =1861 CAN cen
Source 3}	1373=Marriage rec
Source 4}	69 =1871 CAN cen
Source 5}	98 =1881 CAN cen
Source 6}	100 =1891 CAN cen
Source 7}	960 =1901 CAN cen
Source 8}	961 =1911 CAN cen
Source 9}	823 =Letter
Source 10}	824 =Greetings
Source 11}	733 =Photograph
Source 12}	35 =Death certif
Source 13}	120 =Obituary
Source 14}	825 =Funeral rec
Source 15}	1617=Cemetery rec
Source 16}	963 =Family hstry

Parents: } Stephen Catt (#2) & Frances Jane Ridley
Relationship No.} 183

1st Household No.}

Occupation 1}
Occupation 2}

Religion/Church} Salvation Army

Spouses: Prime} Fisher, Charles (#2)
Total Number of} 1

Notes: Mary Catt was born 5 Jul 1847 in Northiam, Sussex, England. She was the sixth of eight children of Stephen Catt and Frances Jane Ridley. In the 1851 England census, Mary, 2, was living with her parents Stephen, 44, and Frances, 38, in Northiam, Kent, England. Her father was an agricultural laborer. Her brothers were Stephen, 17, and Henry, 15, both agricultural laborers. Her sisters were Sarah, 11, Jane, 8, Harriet, 5, and Caroline, seven months.

Mary came to Canada from England with her parents about 1860. In the 1861 census, Mary, 12, was living with her parents, Stephen, 58, and Frances, 42, in Bosanquet, Lampton, Canada West. Her father was a labourer, and listed as Church of England. Her mother was listed as Primitive Methodist, as were all the children. Her siblings at home were Henry, 24, a labourer, Harriet, 16, Caroline, 11, and Alfred, 5. They were living in a single-family, one-story, log house.

Mary Catt, 21, married Charles Fisher, 22, on 30 Dec 1869 in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan. Both were residents of Bosanquet, Ontario. They had one daughter, Mary Ellen, born 13 Oct 1870 in Bosanquet.

In the 1871 Canada census, Mary, 22, and Charles, 23, were living in Bosanquet, Lampton, Ontario. Charles was a farmer, and they were Episcopal Methodist. Their daughter Mary was 6 months old.

In the 1881 Canada census, Mary, 32, and Charles, 35, were living in Thedford, Ontario, and Charles was farming. Their daughter Ellen was 12 years.

In the 1891 Canada census, Mary, 41, and Charles, 43, were still living in Lampton East, Ontario. Charles was a labourer, and they were now listed as members of the Salvation Army. Their daughter Mary was 20 years.

In the 1901 Canada census, Mary, 52, and Charles, 52, were living in Thedford Village, Lampton East, Ontario. Charles was a laborer.

Sad times began on 26 Sep 1902, when her only child, Ella died from Typhoid fever. Mary was present in Wallaceburg when her daughter died and traveled with the remains to the funeral in Forest. Mary returned to Wallaceburg two days later to take charge of her five grandchildren until she could bring them to her home in Thedford. However, shortly thereafter her son-in-law Frank Hancock moved to California (where his parents resided) with his five children. The three youngest girls were then farmed out to be raised by other California families. Thus, Mary was permanently separated by over 2,000 miles from her five grandchildren. She kept in touch with Wilfred Hancock, the oldest grandchild, via letters, greeting cards, and an occasional photo.

In the 1911 Canada census, Mary, 63, and Charles A., 66, were living on King St., Thedford, Lampton East, Ontario. Charles was a laborer, and they were listed as Salvation Army. By 1913 Charles had become very ill and could no longer work. He died Friday, 11 May 1917 at their residence on King Street, Thedford.

Mary is not found in the 1921 Canada census. As seen in the 1921 photo below, Mary was thin and parted her hair in the middle. During her final five years she resided at the 8th Concession, Bosanquet, home of her nephew, George Catt.

Mary died 19 May 1925 in Bosanquent. Her funeral on 25 May 1925 was in George's home; her nephew, Stanley Catt, the undertaker of Arkona, was in charge. The bearers were six of her other nephews: George and Charles Catt of Bosanquet, Frank and Arthur Catt of Warwick, Dr. R. B. Catt of Dashwood, and Joseph Moloy of Thedford. She is buried with her husband in the Pinehill Cemetery, Thedford, Lambton, Ontario.