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| Peter Dougall family home, Renfrew, Ontario. Photograph BDM family collection. |
Like many GeneaBloggers, I have decided
to pay tribute to the ancestors by remembering them more often in my blog. It
will be monthly, minimally, in my case. Starting in January. Perhaps
not always regularly (the old CYA principle) in case I get caught up
in something else displacing all other rational thought. It happens.
A writer must go with any sudden new creative current and paddle like
mad or perish.
Renfrew. A place I have never seen. My
great-grandparents--Peter and Catherine “Kate” Dougall--spent
the majority of their lives there. I've pored over Renfrew
newspapers. I did the usual census returns, vital stats
registrations, Presbyterian church records, cemeteries, wills/estate
files, local correspondence, and family papers and reminiscences.
I've contributed to a local history of the place. I'm lucky enough to
have old photographs showing Peter and Kate at different stages of their lives.
I regret I still don't really know
them. Peter and Kate raised nine children during the late nineteenth
century when Peter adapted his blacksmithing trade to
carriage-building. Some of the sons took it up and eventually adapted
the trade to motor vehicles. It seems the couple had their share of
progeny who either prospered, sadly stumbled, or quietly carried on.
As a preview for my proposed monthly
discipline, Kate (Fraser) Dougall was born
and died in December. My favourite photo of her was previously shown here.
©
2011 Brenda Dougall Merriman
3 comments:
Hello, I just came across your blog today, and was looking at the lovely photo of the house your ancestors lived in. Any idea what street in Renfrew it was on? I live in Renfrew, and am curious to know if it still exists.
That is a fine-looking house; I wonder if it still stands? Am I correct in thinking this Catherine is my namesake?
To both: I'm sorry to say I don't know if the house is still there, or what street it is/was on! Visiting Renfrew is one of my "unfinished business" goals. Yes Cathy, shall we call you Kate?
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