The Story of Frances McPherson

When Rev. Robert Charlton returned from England after the death of his first wife, he brought with him Sister Frances Smurthwaite whom (the family story goes) was there to take care of his two children, Bill and Bert. At some point, she and the Reverend were married but up until now, very little has been known about Sister Frances’ origins.

A break came this past week when my brother Bob found a single piece of paper which lifts the veil of secrecy on my father’s step-mother. According to a hand written note created by my father, the second Mrs. Charlton was born Frances McPherson October 16, 1864. Here is the note:

It reads:

Birth Certificate
Frances Charlton nee McPherson
Born October 16 – 1874
at Brandon Lane North, Brancepeth, Collery
Father – William McPherson
Mother – Margaret McPherson formerly Anderson
Birth Registered in Sub District of Saint Oswald, County of Durham, England

A quick check of Free BMD confirmed her birth in the third quarter of 1874. Cross checking that against Ancestry.co.uk records confirms this date and reveals the rest of her family of origin in the 1881 census. The index of the census is listed as follows:

1881 England Census
about Frances McPherson

Name: Frances McPherson
Age: 6
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1875
Relation: Daughter
Father’s Name: William
Mother’s Name: Margaret
Gender: Female
Where born: Boyne Coll, Durham, England

Civil Parish: Brandon and Byshottles
County/Island: Durham
Country: England

Street address: Office Row No 135
Occupation: Scholar

Registration district: Durham
Sub-registration district: St Oswald

Household Members:
Name (Age)
Dorothy McPherson (3)
Frances McPherson (6)
John McPherson (8)
Margaret McPherson (47)
Martha McPherson (14)
Mary McPherson (12)
William McPherson (48) Coal Miner

What remains a mystery is when and where the marriage took place. It could have been in Newcastle where the two had been working at the Westgate Mission Hall or the couple could have waited until after the family moved back to Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, we don’t know where to look in England and Saskatchewan records for that time period have not yet been put on-line

At least now, we know that Frances Smurthwaite was born Frances McPherson.

Updates – see follow up posts:

1. The Early Life of Frances McPherson
2. The Middle Life of Frances McPherson
3. The Later Life of Frances McPherson