Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

SIDNEY RUPERT ROSS and WALTER ROSS,

MURIEL R WILSON and MILLIE ROSS

Sidney Rupert Ross was born on 21 January 1880 in St Andrews, New Brunswick to James Robert Ross (1845-1927) and Elizabeth (Bessie) Stinson (1846-1943). His siblings were: Leo Warren (1869-1956), William Vernon (Verny, Viney) (b 1870), Alberta Maude (b 1873), Frances Viola (Fanny) (1874-1967), Robert (1875-1968), Percival (Percy) (1878-1940), George (b 1883), Walter (1886-1964) and Vera Hall (1888-1965). Sidney lived with his family in St Andrews until at least 1901.

Sidney married Jennie Eva Townsend sometime between 1913 and 1916, likely in Saskatoon. In 1906 Ella Townsend and four of her children were living with Sidney in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Sidney was the head of the household, Jennie was listed as a servant and Sidney's brother, Edwin, was also living with him. By 1911, Ella and Jennie were living at 201 Ave A and Sidney (real estate), whose relationship was described as a cousin to Ella, was living with them. Brothers Leo (contractor) and Walter (broker) were living in the same residence. Jennie was born on 11 December 1879 in Woodstock, New Brunswick to Robert Henry Townsend (1850-1903) and Ella Louise Faulkner (1855-1913). Her siblings were: Robert Jackson (1875-1941), Harry Gordon (1877-1898), Walter Treadwell (1882-1955) and Ella Louise (1886-1927). Jennie was living in Carleton, New Brunswick in 1881 and in Woodstock from 1891 to 1901.

By 1916 Sidney and Jennie were living at 803 Temperance St, Saskatoon with a daughter Helen P (b 1914). They were at the same address in 1921. Sidney and his brother Walter ran a Real Estate business named S R & Walter Ross with business premises at 102 Ross Building, 116 3rd Ave S, Saskatoon. Sidney died on 1 December 1946 in New Westminster, British Columbia and Jennie died on 5 February 1951 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Sidney's brother, Walter, was born on 6 August 1886 in St Andrews, New Brunswick. By 1916, Walter's parents and many other members of his family had moved to Saskatoon and he was living with them at 801 Temperance St. In 1921 he was living with his father and a couple of his siblings in Victoria, British Columbia. Some time after 1921, Walter married Kathleen Argue (b 1899) and had at least three daughters . Walter died in Victoria on 9 December 1964. His wife was still alive at that time.

Muriel Ida Wilson was born on 30 January 1902 in Lanark, Ontario to Robert Wilson (b 1862) and Ida Virginia Roberts (1864-1920). She was in Lanark with her family in 1911. The first record of her in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is a Henderson Directory Listing in 1919. She was living with her father at 105 20th St and was employed as a clerk with Government Phones. From 1920 to 1922 she was living at 133 Ave E South. She was employed at McGowan & Co in 1920 and as a stenographer at Ross Bros Ltd in 1921 and 1922. In 1921, she was enumerated in the same household as her father and two of her brothers. From 1924 to 1929 she lived at #1 416 21st St E and continued to be employed by Ross Bros as a stenographer and in 1929 as a book keeper.

It is presumed that she married James Cecil Brenton Ross in 1929 as that is when her name disappeared from the Henderson Directories. James was born on 20 September 1893 in St Andrews, New Brunswick to Leo Warren Ross (brother of Sydney Rupert Ross) and Eliza Adelaide Key (b 1865). James had one brother, Harrison Leo (b 1892). Muriel and James had at least two children, a son Ronald Brenton (1932-1965) and a daughter. Muriel and James were living in Toronto, Ontario in 1962 and 1965. James died on 25 May 1968 in Ontario. Nothing further could be discovered about Muriel.

There is some doubt that the Muriel Wilson discussed above is the one that signed the quilt Muriel R Wilson. We first found her name in the Henderson Directories in 1919 and the quilt may have been completed by 1919. However, many people who lived in Saskatoon were not included in the directories in every year and it is also possible that she arrived in Saskatoon in 1918 after the directory for that year had been printed. The other problem is the middle initial R in the signature when her middle initial is I. We have found that sometimes people took on additional middle names that were not included on their birth records and have pondered that perhaps Muriel added her mother's maiden name "Roberts" to her name.

One of the things that makes us think she is a good candidate for the signature is that she was working for Government Phones in 1919. Kate D Chisholm, Louie McNeil and Muriel R Wilson all worked for Government phones and signed right under one another. Lillie Coleman who also worked in the same place signed very near them. The proximity of their names on the quilt and their common employer suggests that they all signed at once and had something in common. It is possible that sections of the quilt were taken to various businesses to try to sell signatures to raise money for the Red Cross. We did an exhaustive search for a different Muriel Wilson candidate, but could find none. Of course it is possible that a visitor to the city was the signer, but we felt there was compelling evidence that the one in this tree may have been the signer. If anyone knows of a Muriel R Wilson who had connections to Saskatoon, we would be very interested to hear from you.

Millie Ross also signed the quilt. Attempts to find a Millie Ross associated with Saskatoon or with people living there failed. There were several Ross males in the family discussed above for whom we could find no information. Perhaps one of them married a Millie or had a daughter Millie. If anyone knows of a Millie Ross who may have been the person who signed the quilt, we would like to hear about her.

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