On November 15, 1920 – eight months to the day from my grandmother Helen Charlton’s death, Frances Smurthwaite (nee MacPherson) married my grandfather Robert Charlton.
The marriage took place at the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Sunderland on the east coast. They likely left for Canada soon after the ceremony in order to make the ocean and then transcontinental passage back to Saskatchewan in time for Christmas.
Frances Smurthwaite, age 46 is listed as a widow, a Wesley Deaconess living at The Retreat, Sunderland at the time of the marriage. Robert Charlton was 37, being listed as a widower, a Canadian Methodist Minister living at Belle Vue Terrace, Tyne Dock.
Robert’s Father, William Browell Charlton is listed as an Association Secretary while Frances’ farther, William MacPherson, is listed as a deceased Coalminer.
Frances stayed with Rev. Charlton, raising his son’s Robert Good Charlton and William Browell Charlton as her own. From what I can gather, the relationship between my father and Frances was never the best, my father having much more difficulty than his younger brother in accepting Frances as his maternal guardian.
Here is a photo of the couple in their garden in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec in later years.
Related Posts:
The Middle Life of Frances MacPherson
The Early Life of Frances MacPherson
