Margaret Ann Babcock

     Margaret Ann Babcock was born on 13 October 1886 in Frontenac County, Ontario.¹ She married Gordon Coleman, son of Charles Coleman and Florence Nancy Mulholland, on 5 March 1906 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.² She died on 3 March 1965 in Strathroy, Ontario, at age 78.¹ She was buried in Troy Cemetery, Beverly Twp, Wentworth County, Ontario.¹

Earl Coleman, Margaret Ann's son, gives the following history of his mother: "Margaret Ann Babcock was born in Frontenac, Ontario, a town that no longer exists. It was near Napanee. It is an area that was settled on land granted to English soldiers.
Margaret Ann was sent to live with her Aunt Delia Campsell in Buffalo after her mother died. She lived as a sister to Aunt Dee's children, Lilla, Alberta and Percy. The Campsells also lived in Derby, N.Y. during this time. Douglas (her father) then married a widow by the name of Webster and they decided to take a homestead in the west as it was supposed to be good for TB sufferers. Margaret then returned to live with her father and they all went west with the sick Earl (Babcock). Earl died.
Margaret took a job as a maid in a boarding house in Winnipeg which is where she met Gordon Coleman. Douglas and Grandma No. 2 then moved to Derby, N.Y. and took a farm there which is where I knew them."

Margaret Ann's obituary reads as follows: "Coleman, Margaret Ann - At Strathmere Lodge, Strathroy, on Wednesday,March 3, 1965, Margaret Ann Babcock, widow of Gordon Coleman, formerly of Hamilton and Dundas, in her seventy-ninth year. Dear mother of Jesse and Marvin of Hamilton, Earl of Pomona, California, Mrs. Gordon Doyle (Laural), Strathroy, with whom she resided and Mrs. Clarence Brenzil (Gertrude) of Dunnville. Also survived by 16 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Resting at the Robinson Funeral Home, King East at West Avenue. Funeral announcement later."¹