Version 6.01

02 January 2023

David March © 2014

Thomas Walsh McCann was born on 6 July 1883 in Belfast, Ireland to Daniel McCann & Helen (Ellen) Scott. Thomas had five brothers, William Duncan (1881-1944), James (1885-1914), Daniel Jr (1887-1954), David (1889-1959) & George (b 1893). Thomas, his mother Ellen and his brother William left Londonderry, Ireland about 26 August 1883 on SS ‘Sardinian’, arriving in Quebec on 30 August. It is likely his father had sailed earlier in the year. In 1891, the family was in Ottawa and Daniel Sr was a gardener.

By 1911 aged 28, Thomas came west to Saskatoon and roomed at 136 5th Ave N. He was a clerk for Cockshut Plow Co. The following year he bettered himself to become a bookkeeper for the City Stores Department and moved to 517/519 Ave E South.

On 24 January 1918, Thomas enlisted in the Depot Battalion of the Saskatchewan Regiment and he subsequently married Caroline Jane (Carrie) Briggs around 1918/19. Carrie was born on 4 December 1886 in Maberly, South Sherbrooke Township, Lanark Co, Ontario to Christopher Briggs & Mary Ann Buchanan. Carrie had four sisters, Hannah Susanna (1886-1954), Elizabeth (b 1873), Maggie (b 1876) & Mary (Minnie) (b1879) and three brothers, Thomas (1868-1946), William John (b 1871) & Christopher Jr (1883-1913). Prior to her marriage Carrie worked as a stenographer and then clerk for Imperial Oil Co.

Thomas and Carrie had two children, Mary born about 1919 and Daniel Allister was born in April 1921. Daniel served in the RCAF during WWII and was killed in action over Germany on 6 April 1942 just after his 21st birthday.

Carrie died on 22 May 1959 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon. Thomas died on 29 November 1970 and is also buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Their family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Briggs/McCann Tree.

 THOMAS WALSH McCANN and CAROLINE JANE (CARRIE) BRIGGS

As Carrie’s name is on the quilt in her maiden name, Briggs, the date of her marriage could be very helpful in determining when the quilt was made. Unfortunately we have been unable to find a record of their marriage.