Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

L MASON

Lilian (Lily) Mason was born circa 1902 to Alexander Mason (1879-1961) and Lilian (Lily) (b 1881). She had a brother Alexander born in 1906 in England. There is a good chance that this family was the one residing at 259 Aston Church Road, Saltley, Aston, Warwickshire, England in 1911. If this census record belongs to them, all members of the family were born in Doncaster, Yorkshire. However, there are a few things that are inconsistent with later records. In the census, Lily Sr has a birth year of 1886. Her immigration record and the 1916 census support a birth year of 1881 and the 1921 census, 1883. Also, in the census Lily Jr has a birth year of 1904. In all later records her birth year calculates to 1902 or 1903 which supports the claim in her 2003 obituary that she was 101 when she died.

There was also a third child, Albert (b 1908) who most likely died by 1913 as he did not immigrate to Canada with the Mason family that sailed from Liverpool, England on SS 'Corsican' and landed in Quebec City, Quebec on 12 May 1913 giving their final destination as Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

In 1914 the Mason family was living at 239 Ave J North in Saskatoon. Over the years, they lived at a number of different locations in Saskatoon, 834 Ave I (1917), 839 Ave J N (1918-1935) and 838 Ave J N (1945-1961). In 1918 Lily worked as a stenographer for Cockshutt Plow. Some time after 1921, Lily married Frederick J (Fred) Urton. In Calgary voters lists after her marriage, she was also identified as a stenographer. Lily and Fred had tree sons, John, Richard and Robert A who were all deceased by the time of Lily's death. In 1949 Lily and Fred were living at 721 5th Ave W, Calgary, Alberta. In the 1960s they were located at 215 29th St, Calgary.

Lily died in Calgary on 13 August 2003 at the age of 101.

Candidate 1

Candidate 2

Lilian (Lily) who was born in England in 1881 married Alexander Mason in England circa 1902. Alexander was born in the first quarter of 1879 in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England to Alexander Mason (b 1846) and Elizabeth Kendall (b 1849). His siblings were: Lily (b 1872), Edith (1873-1946), Harold (b 1881), Jessie (1885-1973) and Albert (1887-1954). Alexander was a carpenter and worked for J Priel in 1918 and A W Cassidy in 1921. Two of his siblings, Jessie and Albert, also immigrated to Saskatoon. In 1945, Albert lived next door to Alexander and from at least 1945 to 1961 Jessie lived with Alexander and was listed as a housekeeper in the Henderson Directories. Alexander died on 28 February 1961 in Saskatoon and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. There was no mention of a wife in his obituary and no records could be located for Lily Sr after 1921.

Either of the Lilian's in this tree may have signed the quilt L Mason. Perhaps the younger Lilian is the more likely candidate as she was working in the down town area and many business people signed. It is also possible that the candidate discussed below was the signer. He was Methodist which also makes him a good candidate.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Mason 2 Tree.

Three possible candidates were located who may have signed the L Mason signature. Two were in one family and one in another.

Candidate 3

Lawrence Ashton Mason was born on 16 May 1846 in Bradworthy, Devon, England to Lawrence Mason (1808-1891) and Elizabeth Ann Walter (1817-1876). His siblings were: Elizabeth Anne Walter (1839-1910), Emma Grace (1839-1910), Charlotte (1841-1935), William Walter (1843-1923), Joseph V (b 1848), Ambrose Wilcox (1851-1935), John Henry (1853-1921) and George (b 1855). In 1851 the Mason family was living in Bickleigh, Devon, England.

The family immigrated to Canada in 1856. Lawrence married Mary Elizabeth Grigg on 2 January 1878 in Blyth, Huron, Ontario. Mary was born on 8 January 1854 in Cartwright, Durham, Ontario to William Grigg (1825-1879) and Margaret Hargrave (b 1834). Her siblings were: Sarah (1848-1849), John (1851-1851) and William (1853-1932). Lawrence and Mary had eight children: William Lawrence (1879-1963), Annie Louise (1881-1978), Walter Ambrose (1882-1967), Alfred Henry (Fred) (1884-1968), Ethel Grace (1886-1888), Emily Frances (1889-1977) and Ernest Wesley (1892-1893).

In 1881 the Masons were living in Cartwright and in 1891 in Howick, Huron, Ontario. In 1906, Lawrence was living with his son, William, and his family on 18-49-4-W3 in Canwood RM, Saskatchewan. From 1911 to 1916 Lawrence and Mary lived on their homestead, NE-28-39-10-W3 in Great Bend RM, Saskatchewan. Lawrence had a homestead grant issued on this land on 25 May 1916.

In 1917 they were living at 823 12th St in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Lawrence died on 24 June 1918 in Saskatoon and Mary was listed as a widow in the 1918 Henderson directory at the 12th St address. Mary died on 4 October 1932 in Fielding, Saskatchewan. Both Mary and Lawrence were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Lawrence was one of three candidates identified who may have signed the quilt L Mason.

Ruth Edna Grigg the daughter of Mary's brother, William Grigg, has been identified as a person who signed the quilt R E Grigg. Her biography can be here.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Mason 1 Tree.

Lilian (Lily) Mason
b 1881

Lilian (Lily) Mason
 1902