Mary Matilda Willson
ID # 2897, (1851-1888)
| Father | Obed Willson (1811-1892) |
| Mother | Rachel Lawrason (1819-1907) |
| Birth | Mary Matilda Willson was born in February 1851. |
| Marriage | She married Robert C. Forrest on 10 April 1870 at East Oxford, Oxford Co., Ontario. Mrge reg. East Oxford, Oxford Co. Robert C. Forest, 25, bachelor, sailor, Church of England. Born County of York, Ontario, residing Eastwood. Parents Robert and Matilda Forest. Mary M. Wilson, 19, spinster, Wesleyan Methodist. Born Dumfries, Ontario, residing Blenheim. Parents Obed and Rachel Wilson. Witness Annetta Forrest of East Oxford. On 10 April, 1870, at East Oxford, by James Preston, Wesleyan Min. The groom's residence, Eastwood, is in Norwich Township. It had a post office from 1855 to 1958. The groom's surname as well as his parents', Forest, is spelled with one R., while the surname of the witness is spelled with two R's. |
| Marriage | She married Franklin Bowman on 8 August 1872 at Burford Township, Brant Co.. Mrge reg. Burford Twp., Brant Co. Franklin Bowman, 28, widower, blacksmith, Congregationalist. Born Burford, residing Windham. Parents John and Nancy Bowman. Matilda Forrest, 21, widow, born and residing Blenheim. Methodist. Parents 'Alfred' and Rachel Wilson. Witness Annetta Forrest On 8th August, 1872, at Burford, by Rev. William Kay. |
| Death | She died on 1 May 1888 at age 37. |
| Burial | She was buried at Drumbo Cemetery. |
| Note | Matilda seems frequently to have gone by Mary. She is with her parents and shown as a widow at the time of the 1871 census in Blenheim Twp., with the surname Forrest. She and her first husband cannot have been married long, for her age is shown as 20. She then married Franklin Bowman in Burford on 8 August 1872. Her date of death is taken from a photo of her gravestone which appears on the website Cemeteries in the County of Oxford, Ontario. Going by the photo, Matilda's name is inscribed on a side of her parents' stone. The inscription reads: Matilda Bowman / dau of / Obed & Rachel / Willson / died May 1 1888 / aged 37 yrs. 3 mo. / likewise infant dau. / of above A death registration for Matilda has not been found. Mary is last found in the 1881 census at Windham Township in Norfolk County. She is with husband Frank, who is shown as a storekeeper. With them is son Frank Bowman, age 7. The 1881 census was begun on 4th April, 1881, So Mary Matilda was dead less than a month later. A birth or death record for an infant has been sought, but not found. |
| Last Edited | 14 Sep 2016 |