Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

McRAE and SHAVER

Roderick McRae was born on 4 October 1887 in Roxborough Township, Stormont, Ontario to Alexander (Alex) McRae (1819-1910) and Annie Robertson (1847-1924). His father was first married to Marguerite (Margaret) McAuley and had four children: Finlay (1855-1923), Annie (b 1857), Christina (Christy) (1861-1894) and Mary Ann (b 1863). Roderick's full siblings were: Flora Annabella (Bella) (b 1876), Duncan Alexander (b 1878), Maggie (b 1881), Donald (b 1883) and John Angus (b 1885).

Roderick was raised in Roxborough Township and moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba by 1906. He married Maud Mabel Mitchell in Rockwood, Manitoba on 23 December 1909. Maud was born on 24 February 1886 in Manitoba to Andrew Robert Mitchell (1844-1922) and Jane Wood (Jennie) Storey (b 1947). Maud was raised in Rockwood and was also a lodger in Winnipeg in 1906. Roderick and Mabel had three children: Annie Jane "Evelyn" (1911-1971), Edmond "Alexander" (b 1914) and Dorothy Margaret (1917-1984). Roderick and Maud were enumerated in Winnipeg in 1911. By 1916 they had moved to 1036 Aird St in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where they were still living in 1921. Roderick was employed as a manager for R G Dun and Co. He died on 8 January 1945 and Maud on 14 August 1962. Both died in Saskatoon and were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. Evelyn died on 29 December 1971 and her inscription is on the same stone as that of her parents.

Roderick's half sister, Christy, married George Elias Shaver (1861-1911). They had three children, Mary Gertrude Pearl (b 1885), Edwin Alexander (b 1891) and Elias Johnston Alexander who was born on 30 December 1886 in Avonmore, Roxborough Township, Stormont, Ontario. Elias was raised in Roxborough. By 1906 he was living in a town in Assiniboia East, Saskatchewan. Although the town was not identified in the census record, it is believed that he was living in the town of Carlyle - many street names match that town - particularly street names present in the 1911 census. He married Margaret Ellen (Ella) Ector who was born on 29 October 1889 in Durham, Grey, Ontario to Cunningham Ector (1861-1916) and Margaret Martha Lawrence (b 1865). Her siblings were: James MacLellan (1888-1937), Isabella Moore (Bell) (b 1892) and Annie (b 1893). Her family lived in Glenelg, Grey, Ontario (1891), Durham (1901) and Arcola, Saskatchewan (1906-1911). Arcola is 17 kms from Carlyle where Elias was probably living. Ella and Elias were likely married in Saskatchewan sometime between 1911 and 1912 as their first child, Eileen Ector, was born on 1 November 1913 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Another child, George Cunningham (1915-1996) was also born in Saskatoon. The Shavers lived at 1031 Aird from 1916 until at least 1918 and Elias was employed as a Deputy Sheriff. It was interesting to note that this home was very close to the Roderick McRae home at 1036 Aird. By 1921, the Shavers had moved to 817 15th St E. Elias died on 9 November 1944 and Ella on 25 December 1972, both in Saskatoon. They were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. Eileen married Enoch "Duncan" Farmer on 24 June 1939. He was the son of Walter Farmer (b 1888) and Annie (b 1889). Eileen and Duncan had a family of four boys and three girls. Eileen died on 19 August 2012 and Duncan on 23 November 1966. Both died in Saskatoon and their inscriptions are on the same stone as that of Eileen's parents.

Duncan "Arthur" McRae was born on 30 December 1873 in Stormont, Ontario to Malcolm Angus McRae and Mary McAuley (b 1853). His siblings were: M Lillian (b 1880), Mary Margaret (1883-1946), Bessie Estelle (1886-1982) and Gladys "Bertha" (b 1893). His tree likely ties into the tree discussed above via several lines as the McRae, Shaver and McAuley families all lived in the same part of Ontario in the early days. However, the family two trees definitely link via Arthur's sister, Bessie who married Clarence Shaver, a cousin of Roderick Shaver who signed the quilt. By 1880, Arthur's family had moved to Saginaw, Michigan and remained in the States for some time as many of his siblings were born there. They returned to Ontario between 1886 and 1893 based on the birth places of two of Arthur's sisters. Arthur married Mabel Lillian Harrop on 23 July 1899 in Dundas, Ontario. She was born on 6 June 1877 in Orangeville, Dufferin, Ontario to Robert Harrop (1843-1926) and Sarah Ann Jackson (1844-1923). Her siblings were: Anne Mary (1869-1949) and Robert Louis (1871-1930). The Harrop family was enumerated in Orangeville in 1881 and in Chesterville, Dundas, Ontario in 1891. Duncan and Mabel had the following children: Lyell Arthur (b 1900), Harold (b 1907), Vera (b 1909), Bruce (b 1916) and Robert (b 1916). This McRae family was in Charlotenburg, Glengarry, Ontario in 1901 and North Battleford, Saskatchewan in 1911. As Harold was born in Saskatchewan, the family made the move to Saskatchewan between 1901 and 1907. By 1916 they were living at 810 University Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and by 1921 had moved to Strathcona, Alberta. Arthur was listed in Saskatoon Henderson City Directories until at least 1918 and was chief dispatcher for the Canadian National Railway (CNR). Arthur died in 1954 and Mabel in 1959.

Although it is possible that the A McRae signature was signed for one of the two children of Roderick and Mabel McRae , Annie Jane "Evelyn" or Edmond "Alexander", it is unlikely that it was for Annie as she was always referred to as Evelyn in the records. Edmond went by the name Alexander and so he is a more viable candidate. Although only four years old in 1918, the name of a five year old relative, Eileen Shaver, was almost definitely signed on the quilt. However, Eileen was signed near the name of her mother, as were the names of Roderick and Mabel McRae. The A McRae name was signed in a totally different area of the quilt, suggesting that it was not part of this group. Thus it seems most likely that Duncan "Arthur" McRae or some other unidentified person was the A McRae signer.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave McRae/Shaver Tree.

Annie Jane "Evelyn" McRae

Edmond "Alexander" McRae

Duncan "Arthur" McRae