Person:Vera Clay (1)

From The Times, Moncton, Westmorland County, New Brunswick, 1 Sep 1888:

"Born - Summerside, P. E. I., 23rd. Aug., wife of A. A. Clay, a daughter."

NOTE: This daughter would be Vera. Why is it being announced in the Moncton paper?

From Charlottetown Guardian, Saturday, 11 May 1907, in the Summerside column:

"Miss Vera Clay, who has been visiting her aunt, Miss Clara Reid, Summerside, left yesterday to return to her home in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia."

From The Free Lance,7 May 1908, in the New Glasgow column (copied from the New Glasgow Enterprise):

"The Enterprise is always pleased to note the success of Pictou County students, and in this respect we hasten to congratulate Miss Vera Clay, daughter of A.A. Clay, of this town, on the brillant record she has made at Dalhousie. Miss Clay passed the examinations of the second year with honour and credit, making high distinctions in English and French, and winning first place and prize winner in Geology and second in Chemistry. These results are all the more remarkable inasmuch as Miss Clay, after passing the entrance exams at Dalhousie, entered directly into second year. Miss Clay is certainly a young lady who merits high praise for her splendid work."

From Dalhousie Gazette, 1908-1909, page 296, read at Dalhousie Universioty Archives, 1 Sep 2005:

"Exam Results:

French V Vera B. Clay Class I Political Economics Vera B. Clay Passed Junior History Vera B. Clay Passed Latin II Vera B. Clay Class II English IV Vera B. Clay Passed"

From the Halifax Herald, Thursday, 9 June 1910, page 1, column 2 - read on film #F6779 at NSARM, 1 Sep 2005: (copy on file)

" Miss Vera Clay Passes Away

Was Dalhousie Student and Had Many Friends in the College

             	          Circles

New Glasgow, June 6 - Many friends in Halifax and throughout the province will learn with regret the news of the death of Miss Vera Clay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Clay of this town. Miss CLay, who was twenty years of age, was a student at Dalhousie University, and was to have graduated this year, but owing to ill health was obliged to give up her studies. She was a graduate of New Glasgow high school and the Pictou Academy, and had a brillant career at Dalhousie. Miss Clay was a member of First Presbyterian Church and an active worker in the Sunday school. The family will have the sympathy of all in their bereavement.

From the Eastern Chronicle, Friday, 10 Jun 1910, page 8, column 2 - read on film # F4381 at NSARM 1 Sep 2005. (copy on file)

" Obituary

The death occurred at noon on Wednesday of Vera, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Clay, Little Harbour Road. Miss Clay was only twenty-one years and particularly bright, possessing a sweet and winsome character that endeared her to many friends. She was a student at Dalhousie College and had passed the exams of the fourth year at Christmas excellently, and her life gave great promise of a bright and glowing future. But her health was not good and it was thought better that she should drop all work for a month or two. She gradually grew worse and within the last few weeks sank rapidly, although all that medical skill or loving hands could accomplish was done to arrest the disease but all efforts were in vain, the end coming on Wednesday. The heartfelt sympathy of the whole community will go out to the heart brokne parents, brother and sisters. The funeral will take place on this (Friday) afternoon at three-thirty to Riverside Cemetery."

From The Enterprise, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, 11 June 1910, page 1:

(NOTE: The original of this issue is in the possession of John A. H. Clay, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, as is a portrait of Vera Blanche Clay by Gauvin and Gentzel, Halifax)

" Obituary

Vera Clay

"Vera Clay is dead," was the sad news that was passed through the town on Wednesday. Death is always sad, but when a maiden is struck down on the threshold of budding

womanhood, it is doubly sad.
The young lady was born at Summerside, P.E.I., and came over with her parents to Trenton in 1891, where Mr. Clay opened a general store. She next moved with her parents to New 
Glasgow in 1899. She was a talented girl,and always stood first in her classes in school, and was successful both in the New Glasgow High School and in Pictou Academy in winning the 
Young Scholarship by which she entered Dalhousie University. She studied there, passing all the examinations of different years with credit and honour, and in the natural course of events 
would have graduated this Spring, but it was not to be, for she came home at Christmas holidays and did not go back, because she was not feeling well, and she gradually faded away, until at 
noon Wednesday, just as whistles were sounding for 12 o'clock, God's finger touched her and she slept. It is great consolation to her parents and friends that her mind was conscious and bright 
to the end, and half an hour before she died she read a long letter from the gentleman to whom she was engaged. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, and an active worker in the Sabbath school.

Vera Clay was a girl of lovely character and disposition. She had not a thought but was gentle and true and kind. She was the light of the eyes of her home and friends. May time bring to them its resignation, and may the shores of eternity that receive her spirit surround it with everlasting sunshine and flowers, until we see not darkly, but face to face. The funeral took place yesterday at 3pm, to Riverside Cemetery, services being conducted by her pastor, Rev. Mr. Forbes."

From Charlottetown Patriot, Saturday, 11 June 1910, under Summerside News:

"Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Clay of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, and formerly of this town, have the sincere sympathy of their many friends in the death of their eldest daughter, Vera, which occurred on Wednesday last after a prolonged illness. Deceased was 21 years of age and leaves to mourn two sisters and two brothers. The funeral took place this afternoon."

E-mail from Judy DeRonge, 19 Feb 2004:

Isolated memory.... Vera Blanche Clay died of Tuberculosis/pneumonia. They drank raw milk at Dalhousie at that time. A significant number of students died during this crisis that took Vera. Wonder if Dalhousie kept any articles of this sad event? I think that milk deprived us of a very interesting Aunt. J

On 6 Sep 2005 we visited Riverside Cemetery, Trenton Road, New Glasgow and recorded the following:

Black marble stone:

CLAY/Alexander A Clay/1858-1925/His wife/Grace Lydia/1861-1953/Vera Blanche/1888-1910/ Gwendolyn Howat/ 1902-1985