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Archiver > QBC-MONTREAL > 2006-11 > 1163278845


From: "hey wyre" <>
Subject: Re: [MONTREAL] McGill, David - 127 Arlington, Westmount
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:00:45 -0800
In-Reply-To: <BAY125-F64D1CDD74482162F061F1B0F60@phx.gbl>


Thanks Doreen - that is a very good description of what my grgrandmother's
life must have been like as she came to Canada from England in about
1899/1900, at the age of roughly 40, pregnant and not married - quite the
disgrace I am sure in those days. She obviously returned to England for a
spell because the census says she did not immigrate until 1907 and my
grandmother, until her death, thought she was born in England. However,
being about 7 years of age when she returned to Canada, she most likely
would have thought that. And, with her being an illegitimate child there
was no way her mother was going to fill in the details. I still cannot find
the ellusive "John CUTLER" she claims to have married in Montreal, or their
marriage details. I am sure, to this day, it was just a way of covering up
the "disgrace" of the illegitimate child

Thanks again

Judy
BC Canada


----Original Message Follows----
From: "D. O'" <>
To:
CC:
Subject: RE: [MONTREAL] McGill, David - 127 Arlington, Westmount
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2006 17:38:56 +0000


Good Morning Judy:

I don't have information about the family, but here is a little insight into
the times. It was common to have a live-in domestic and additional help came
in on a once-a-week or daily basis to do laundry and ironing, wax floors and
other heavy work. The live-in would have taken care of cooking and
housework. There were no day-care facilities in those days and a child had
to be placed with a relative or in an orphanage.

In the 1950's I went to school with a girl whose mother had died and the
father had to put the youngest children in an orphanage during the week and
brought them home on his one day off. There was no nearby family member, no
money for convent boarding school or a live-in domestic and the orphanage
was the only alternative.

$180. a year does sound like low wages, but the lady was provided with her
uniform, her meals, doctor care and a room. The 1927 Eaton's catalogue
shows that a white cotton nightie with embroidery around the neck cost .98;
lisle stockings were .50 a pair. These prices would have been a little
cheaper 10 years earlier too. So out of your great grandmothers' wages of
$15. a month she could do some serious shopping for $5. and have money left
over for a warm coat.

Cheers!

Doreen
............
----Original Message Follows----
From: "hey wyre" <>
Reply-To:
To:
Subject: [MONTREAL] McGill, David - 127 Arlington, Westmount
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2006 08:07:17 -0800

I am searching for anything on the McGILL family that lived at 127 Arlington
in Westmount on the 1911 census.

I am not related to them (unfortunately, because I think they might have
some connections to the infamous James McGill that founded McGill
University) but my grgrandmother was working for them as a domestic at that
time.

David McGILL - merchant, born c1870 in PQ and 41 years of age - married and
of Scottish descent
Margaret McGILL - wife, born c1877 in PQ and 34 years of age - married and
of Scottish descent
Jane McGILL - mother widowed, born c1835 in PQ and 75 years of age - of
Scottish descent

Then there is my grgrandmother, Elizabeth CUTLER, domestic servant.

It is no wonder my grgrandmother had to put my grandmother in an orphanage
(or "the home" as my grandmother referred to it) as she was working 80 hours
per week and making 180 dollars a year!! I would presume that would have
included room and board, but still ....

Anyway, if anyone could give me some information about that family I would
be truly grateful

Judy
BC Canada

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