THIRD AVENUE METHODIST CHURCH QUILT
A CANADIAN RED CROSS QUILT
Version 6.01
11 February 2025
David March © 2014
Jean Douglas was born in 1868 in Scotland to Archibald Douglas (b 1846) and Jane (b 1844). She married George Gordon Riddel, who was also born in Scotland in 1868. In 1901 Jean, George and their family were living in Wallsend, Northumberland, England. Their children were: John Gordon (b 1899), Jane Marshall (Jean) (b 1901), Hannah Douglas (Anna) (1904-1984) and Isobel Fleming (b 1906) were born in Tynemouth, Northumberland. George was a blacksmith like his father. He left Liverpool on about 8 November 1907 aboard SS ‘Lake Erie’ bound for Montreal, Quebec. Jean and the children followed the following year aboard 'SS Victorian' arriving in Quebec City, Quebec on 4 September 1908. Their final destination was Hinton, Manitoba where they were to join George.
In 1909 or 1910, George bought the blacksmith shop in Punnichy, Saskatchewan from Josiah Anderson. He also applied for a homestead on 10-28-17-W2 where he and his family then lived. There is a bit of family history in the Local History Book: Between the Touchwoods: A History of Punnichy and Districts, p 631.
The family moved to Saskatoon by 1914, first living at 609 Lorne Ave and then 222 Main St, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where George was proprietor of Riddel Carriage and Motor Works. As early as 1914 George was employing nine workers in the carriage business which had premises at 123-125 19th St W. The family were still at the same address in 1921. George died in Saskatoon on 27 March 1934 and Jean in Toronto on 7 November 1951. Both were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon. Their daughter, Jean, who was born in October of 1901, married S Snow and was living in Toronto at the time of her mother's death in 1951.
As we could find no other Jean Riddels living in Saskatoon, we are quite certain that one of the Jeans in this family was the quilt signer. However, it is impossible to know which one.
This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Riddel Tree.
JEAN RIDDEL
A05A05Jean Ridde née Douglas
Jane Marshall (Jean) Riddel