Person:John McNiven (1)

Name and Relationships

Name: John McNiven. Source is his 1873 marriage registration.

Parents: John McNiven and Ann McNiven. Source is John McNiven's 1873 marriage registration. Both were born in Scotland. Source is 1891 Census of Canada.

Spouse: Mary McLean. Source is their 1873 marriage registration.

Children: Barbara Matilda McNiven and Barbara Matilda McNiven. Source is 1891 Census of Canada

Personal History

1843 - Birth: John McNiven was born about 1843 in Argyllshire, Islay, Scotland. Source is 1873 marriage registration and gravemarker. 1881 Census of Canada infers he was born in 1842. 1891 Census of Canada infers he was born in 1841. 1901 Census of Canada says he was born March 25, 1840. 1906 death registration infers he was born in 1840. CANNOT LOCATE HIS BIRTH INFORMATION IN THE OLD PARISH REGISTERS

1851 - CANNOT LOCATE HIM IN THE 1851 CENSUS OF SCOTLAND - HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 11

1861 - CANNOT LOCATE HIM IN THE 1861 CENSUS OF SCOTLAND - HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 21

1864 - Immigration: In 1864, John McNiven (abt 24) emigrated to Canada. Source is 1901 Census of Canada.

1871 - CANNOT LOCATE HIM IN THE 1871 CENSUS OF CANADA - HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 28

1873 - Marriage: John McNiven 30, a Sailor, married Mary McLean 29 on Dec 24, 1873 in Rugby, Oro, Ontario. Witnesses were George Hughes, Barrie and Isabella McLean (his sister-in-law). Source is John's 1873 marriage registration.

1874 - Birth of Child: On September 10, 1874 when Ann Isabella McNiven was born, John McNiven was listed as a Warehouseman and living in Oro Township, Simcoe County. Source is Annie's 1874 birth registration.

1881 - Census: John McNiven 39, Farmer, was living with his wife Mary 39 and two daughters, Annie 6 and Barbara 4 in Oro, Ontario. Duncan McLean 38 (John's brother-in-law and Mary's brother) was boarding with them. Duncan was also listed as a farmer. Source is 1881 Census of Canada. NOTE: In this census, John McNiven is listed as a farmer and maybe he took over his father-in-law's farm since John McLean was quite old and Duncan McLean simply stayed on the farm.

1884 - Death of Father-in-Law: On January 19, 1884, John's father-in-law, John McLean 88, died. He was buried in Knox Presbyterian Cemetery, Oro-Medonte, Simcoe, Ontario. Source is image of grave marker in that cemetery. On the stone it says "Native of Argyleshire Scotland" and "Erected by Mrs J McNiven" (i.e. his daughter Mary McLean). On another side of the same stone, his sons Samuel and Duncan are listed. Under them it says "Sons of John and Bella McLean". NOTE: This cemetery is only a few miles down the road from Rugby where John McLean farmed.

1891 - Census: On May 19, 1891, John McNiven 50, Farmer, was living with his wife Mary, 50 and their two daughters, Annie 16 and Barbara 14 in a 1 1/2 story house in Oro Township, Ontario. Duncan McLean 48, Labourer, was living with them. Source is 1891 Census of Canada. WHERE IS THE FAMILY FARM?

1895 - Death of Brother-in-Law: In 1895, Duncan McLean died. At that time, John McNiven, Farmer, was living in Rugby, Oro Township, (assumed with his family). Source is 1895 death registration of Duncan McLean, his brother-in-law.

1901 - Census: On April 15, 1901, John McNiven 60, Farmer, was living with his wife Mary 58 and her elder sister Margaret Wright 65, widowed, in Orillia. Source is 1901 Census of Canada. NOTE: It appears that they may have sold the farm near Rugby and moved to Orillia.

190? - MOVED TO SARNIA. WHEN?

1906 - Death and Burial: On February 15, 1906, John McNiven 66, died suddenly in Sarnia, Ontario of apoplexy (like a stroke). He was living at 381 Palmerston Ave, Sarnia. His occupation was listed as 'Gentleman' (meaning that he was retired). Source is John's 1906 death registration. John McNiven was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, 1016 Colborne Rd, Sarnia, Section A, Line L, Plot 13. Source is Lakeview Cemetery and Crematorium Burial database. The internment records at the cemetery state that he was buried on February 18, 1906. Next of kin listed his wife.

Grave Marker: FATHER. JOHN MCNIVEN Feb 15, 1906. Aged 66. A native of Argyllshire, Scotland. Gone but not forgotten Source is grave marker in Lakeview Cemetery, Sarnia, Lambton, Ontario.

1. ↑ CAN-ONT-SIMCOE-L Archives 1904 Marriages, Orillia 1.