Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

THRASHER/WAITE FAMILY

Charlotte Amanda Thrasher was born on 17 March 1892 in Beachburg, Renfrew, Ontario to Abram Thrasher (1852-1927) and Frances Jane (Jennie) Holt (1860). Her father was first married to Elizabeth Bingham (1852-1886) on 28 April 1875 and had the following children: James Bingham (1876-1941), Samuel (b 1877), Harvey Earnest (b 1878), Mary Ethel (b 1880), William Moiston (b 1881), George E (b 1883) and Elizabeth Bingham (1886-1941). On 1 October 1888, her father married Frances Holt and besides Charlotte, they had three children: Fannie (Frances May) (Annie) (b 1890), Myrtle "Edna" (b 1899) and Beatrice Alexandra (1901-1986).

In 1901, the Thrasher family was living in Ross Township, Renfrew County, Ontario. By 1911 they had moved to 27-13-W3 in Saskatchewan. Abram filed for homesteads on SE-2-27-12-W3 (grant #124746A) and on NW-32-27-12-W3 (grant #078907A). The first grant was issued on 13 April 1909 and the second on 15 December 1915. It was interesting to note that John Curry Thrasher had a grant issued on NW-02-27 and Harvey Ernest on SW-02-27, both in 1909. John was likely Abram's brother, and Harvey was his son. Several other Thrashers filed for homesteads on nearby pieces of land and the homestead index shows several other pieces of land in the same area for an Abram, but it is impossible to know if there was more than one Abram. This land was in the Rural Municipality (RM) of Milden. It generally took about five years to complete all of the necessary requirements of a claim, so this would mean that the Thrashers likely moved to Saskatchewan in about 1904. Oddly, the 1906 Saskatchewan census did not list any of the younger children, but both Abram and Jane were present in the household.

By 1916 the Thrasher family had moved to 36-26-12-W3 in King George RM and they were still there in 1921. Charlotte married William Henry Waite on 5 June 1912 in Victoria, British Columbia which was where Charlotte was residing at that time. William gave his residence as Zealandia, Saskatchewan. William was born in August of 1882 in Spalding, England to George Waite and Emily Kyme. He had at least one brother, Herbert (b 1884). According to census records, he immigrated to Canada in 1903 and Herbert, in 1906. In 1906 the two brothers were working in real estate in Zealandia. A daughter, Jennie Emmaline (Penny), was born to William and Charlotte on 4 April 1914 in Zealandia. In 1916, William, Charlotte and Jennie were living in the town of Zealandia. William Thrasher was born on 23 April 1918.

By 1921 the family had moved to 36-T29-R3-W3. In both the 1916 and 1921 census years, William gave his occupation as farmer. Two more sons were born after 1921. To protect their privacy, their names are not mentioned here. Jennie died on 7 February 1986 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, William Thrasher on 26 February 2000 in Saskatchewan, William Henry on 4 December 1947 in Saskatoon and Charlotte on 16 April 1985 in Rosetown, Saskatchewan. Jennie and her parents were buried in Sovereign Cemetery, Sovereign, Saskatchewan and her brother was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon.

Beatrice Alexandra Thrasher, Charlotte's sister, also signed the quilt. She was born on 1 March 1901 in Foster's Falls, Renfrew County, Ontario and died on 24 June 1986 in Lakeside, San Diego, California. From Charlotte's obituary, it was learned that Beatrice married a man with the surname Haughtelin and that she lived in El Calon, California in 1985.

As Zealandia is only 100 km from Saskatoon and this was the nearest large city, it was likely that the Waite family had occasion to visit Saskatoon during the time that the quilt was being made. It took a while to find candidates for the Waite signatures - Mrs W H Waite, Jennie and W T Waite, but the fact that the names were all signed in a column with Beatrice Thrasher second from the top, added support that they all belonged to the same family and were related to Beatrice. W T was only a baby at this time, but it seemed plausible that one of the two sisters signed for Charlotte's children.

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