Person:George Thoburn (1)

Name and Relationships

Name: George Thoburn. Source is his 1875 birth certificate.

Parents: William Thoburn and Elizabeth Ann Renforth (source is his George Thoburn marriage registration, Thoburn bible and christening record). Mother's name - Elizabeth (note for other children, she is listed as Elizabeth Ann). Source is Thoburn bible and christening record.

Spouse: Barbara Matilda NcNiven. Source is their 1904 marriage registration.

George Thoburn was Mary McLean Thoburn's biological father.

Personal History

1875 - Birth: George Thoburn was born in Gateshead, Durham on January 3, 1875. Source is a certified copy of his birth certificate and The Wadena Herald, Nov 11, 1909. He lived in Denmark St, Gateshead. Source is PapersPast, Marlborough Express, 1910.

1875 - Christening: On January 17, 1875, George Thoburn was christened. Source is Thoburn bible and christening record.

1891 - Census: In 1891, George Thoburn 16 was living with his grandmother, Mary Thoburn in ??, Cumberland. Source is 1891 UK census.

DATE? - George was a locomotive fireman employed by the North-Eastern Railway Company in England. He lived in Denmark Street, Gateshead, England. Source is 1910 Marlborough Express newspaper.

1901-1902 - Military: "George 26, joined the Imperial Yeomanry and served throughout the South African Campaign." Source is The Wadena Herald, Nov 11, 1909. "My father had been a horse soldier in the British Army in the Boer War in South Africa." Source is Mary M Irwin Story About My Ancestors, 1992, unpublished. George was a Trooper, Regimental Number 31158, Imperial Yeomanry, D Squadron, 21st Battalion and earned a clasp for service in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal 1901 and 1902 in South Africa. Source is the UK Military Campaign Medal and Awards Rolls, Page 161, Ancestry.ca He was originally listed as D. Thoburn in this latter document.

1903 - Immigration: On April 29, 1903, George Thoburn 28, left England and immigrated to Canada. Source for year of immigration is 1906 Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta census, Humbolt District, page 6. What is the source for arrival in Canada? George Thoburn left Liverpool on S.S. Kensington and arrived in Quebec City. He and Passenger lists.

1903? - "George was employed as an engineer on the C.P.R. running on the Mountain Section." Source is The Wadena Herald, Nov 11, 1909. NOTE: The editor of The Wadena Herald was George's brother-in-law - so this source should be very reliable because of personal knowledge.

1904 - Marriage: On July 27, 1904, George Thoburn 29, married Barbara Matilda McNiven (incorrectly spelled MacNiven) 26 in Orillia, Ontario. His residence was listed as Allandale and he is listed as an engineer. Witnesses to the marriage were Hector McLean, Orillia and Mrs Hector McLean (both incorrectly spelled MacLean), Orillia. (WHO ARE THEY?) Source is 1904 marriage registration. A marriage announcement in the Barrie Examiner, Aug 18, 1904 on page 1 stated "At the residence of the bride's parents, Orillia, on July 27, by the Rev. John Gray, Barbara, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John McNiven, to George Thoburn, Allandale." Source is The Barrie Examiner, Aug 18, 1904 provided by the Barrie Public Library, Barrie, Ontario.

NOTE: In 1891, 500 acres (2 km²) of Innisfil was incorporated as the Village of Allandale, now part of the City of Barrie - source is Wikipedia. The settlement of Allandale became more prominent with the construction of the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Railway (later the Northern Railway) from Toronto to Collingwood. The first train from Toronto arrived in Allandale on October 11, 1853. Source is Wikipedia.

"... shortly after [the family] moved to Sarnia where he followed his vocation on the G.T." Source is The Wadena Herald, Nov 11, 1909 (NOTE: They may have gone there because Barbara's family had moved there?)

1905 - Birth of Child: On November 18, 1905, their first child, George, was born. Source is George Thoburn II 1905 birth registration. At that time the family was living in Sarnia at 381 Palmerston St. In that document, he is listed as a ??brake Inspector.

1906 - Death of Father-in-Law: On February 15, 1906, George's father-in-law, John McNiven died in Sarnia. Source is John McNiven's 1906 death registration. NOTE: This event probably prompted the family to move west.

1906 - Residence: "In the spring of 1906, he (George) came west to Quill Lake and took up land at Clair." Source is The Wadena Herald, Nov 11, 1909.

1906 - Census: On July 14, 1906, George Thoburn 30, was living with his wife Barbara 26, baby George and mother-in-law, Mary McNiven 68 on the homestead near Quill Lake, Saskatchewan. Source is 1906 Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta census, Humbolt District, page 6. NOTE: In this census, the Alexander K Thom family (including wife Annie 31 and daughter Mamy J. 2) are listed directly after the George Thoburn family. This means that at this time the Thom family were living very close by. However, their exact habitation location is not listed.

1907 - Birth of Child: On November 22, 1907, their second child, Mary McLean Thoburn was born in Saskatchewan. Source is Saskatchewan birth records website.

1909 - "He was a hard working industrious man and by untiring efforts secured a start and was doing well. This fall he thrashed over 7,000 bushels of grain." Source is The Wadena Herald, Nov 11, 1909.

1909 - Murder: On November 1, 1909, George Thoburn 34, his wife, Barbara Thoburn and his mother-in-law, Mary McNiven, were all murdered by John Mescei 20, George Thoburn's hired man. Source is John Mescei's trial transcript, National Archives, Ottawa, Canada. Various newspaper accounts list incorrect details of this event. CANNOT FIND HIS DEATH REGISTRATION. NOTE: His father died on the same day in England. Source is a letter from George's sister (E. Renwick) to Ruth Harper Sept 10, 1911.

1909 - Burial: George Thoburn was buried in Quill Lake Cemetery SW Plot, Lot 8. Source is the Quill Lake Cemetery record and a photo of the grave marker in that cemetery. In the cemetery record, his name is incorrectly spelled "Thobourne".

Grave Marker: GEORGE THOBURN Died Nov 1, 1909 His wife BARBARA Died Nov 1, 1909 Aged 32 years. Source is grave marker, Quill Lake Cemetery, Saskatchewan

Many years later, "My uncle Alex Thom told me that my father had a violent temper." Source is Mary M Irwin Story About My Ancestors, 1992, unpublished.

Homestead Chronology

NOTE: The homestead was on Part SE, Section 18, Township 35, Range 15, Meridian W2. Source is Land Grants of Western Canada, 1870-1930. The house that they were living in was actually on the Section 19 and this is where they were killed. Source is the Mescei trial documents and the Probate Court documents. See George Thoburn for additional details on the homestead.

NOTE: All of the following information about the George Thoburn homestead located at SE Quarter, Section 18, Township 35, Range 15, Meridian W2, Quill Lake, Alberta is taken from the file held by the Province of Saskatchewan.

1905 - On September 22, 1905, George Townend sent a Declaration of Abandonment to the Dept of Interior, Ottawa requesting that they cancel his entry to this property because the land was "Low, flat and unsuitable for cultivation". Alex K Thom signed the form.

1905 - On October 4, 1905, the Secretary of the Dept of Interior advised that George Townend's entry to the land would be cancelled and the land made available to someone else. In this letter, it was noted that there were no improvements (i.e. buildings) on the land.

1906 - On May 30, 1906, Archibald Keevil, Clair, Saskatchewan, made entry to the land.

1907 - On January 8, 1907, Archibald Keevil signed a Declaration of Abandonment of the land saying "Too much alkali".

1907 - On January 31, 1907, the Secretary, Dept of Interior, Saskatchewan, agreed to the abandonment and to make the land available to others.

1907 - On May 31, 1907, George Thoburn entered SE-15-35-17-W2 (This was handwritten on the 1908 Seed Application Form.)

1907 - On June 10, 1907, George Thoburn signed a Supplementary Declaration to be made by a person obtaining a Homestead entry for an Abandoned or Forfeited "Homestead" (Form 215) swearing that no transactions had occurred between the applicant and the previous entrant: Archibald Keevil. This form was sent to the government on June 13, 1907.

1907 - On August 28, 1907, the Homestead Inspector reported that 2 1/2 acres of land had been broken on SE-18-35-15-W2.

1907 - On September 10, the Land Agent requested payment from George Thoburn of $5.00 for the 2.5 acres of land that had been broken.

1908 - On February 14, 1908, George Thoburn opened a Seed Grain Account Application

1908 - On February 10, 1908, J. Lewis, Quill Lake NW-19-35-15-W2 signed a Neighbours Declaration that he had known George Thoburn for one year. NOTE: This was part of the Seed Grain Application process.

1908 - On February 10, 1908, George Thoburn, Quill Lake, applied for 120 bushels of oats, 30 bushels of barley to be seeded on SE-18-35-15-W2. He stated that he had 46 acres ready for seeding in 1908 and that in 1907, he had had 30 acres ready for seeding for which he received $115 in total receipts from his crops.

1908 - On April 13, 1908, Form #264 Lien #4 for $102 for 120 bushels of oats and 30 bushels of barley. George Thoburn agreed to pay back the lien with 5% interest by March 1, 1909. He also agreed that if the lien was not repaid, he, or his heirs, could not apply for letters patent on the land.

1908 - May 12, 1908, Form #264 Lien #4 for $33.90 against the homestead for 30 bushels of #2 grade barley for seed on SE-18-35-18-W2. George Thoburn agreed to pay back the lien with 5% interest by March 1, 1909.

1908 - On ??, 1908, in a hand written note, George Thoburn complained to the Land Agent that the barley was full of wild oats.

1908 - On May 22, 1908, telegram to J. A. McTavish from Regina directing him to proceed to Quill Lake investigate complaint from George Thoburn about the barley car.

1908 - On June 8, 1908, the D. L Inspector replied that the barley was of a higher grade than usually supplied.

1908 - On August 21, 1908, the seed grain lien was registered by the Dept. of Interior, Ottawa.

1909 - December 31, 1909, a legal form saying: In the Surrogate Court of the Judicial District of Saskatoon, LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of all and singular the real and personal estate and effects, rights and credits of George Thoburn late of the Post Office of Clair in the Province of Saskatchewan, farmer, who died on or about the 1st day of November, 1909 at Clair aforesaid and at the time of his death was a resident of said Post Office of Clair in the said Judicial District of Saskatoon, WERE GRANTED to the Standard Trusts Company of the City of Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, they having been first sworn to faithfully administer the same by paying the just debts of the said deceased and distributing the residue (if any) of the said estate and effects according to the law and to exhibit a true and perfect inventory of all and singular of the said estate and effects, rights and credits and to render a just and true account of their administration within two years or whenever required by law to do so. Signed by J. Fawcett, Deputy Clerk.

1910 - On May 16, 1910, the Clerk of the Surrogate Court of the Judicial District of Saskatoon in the matter of the estate of George Thoburn late of the Post Office of Clair in the Province of Saskatchewan, deceased, certified that the foregoing instrument was a true copy of the Letters of Administration.

1910 - On May 19, 1910, The Standard Trusts Company, regarding the Estate of George Thoburn, sent a letter to the Secretary, Dept. of Interior enclosing a certified copy of the Letters of Administration in the above estate, requesting that the patent in S.E. 1/4 of 18-35-15-W2nd may be issued in the name of Standard Trusts Company as Administrators in the Estate of George Thoburn of the Post Office of Clair in the Province of Saskatchewan, farmer, deceased.

1910 - On June 14, 1910, the Secretary of the Dept. of Interior replied with the request that Form No.36 should be returned at once showing what residence and improvements have already been performed in order that it may be determined whether application can be made for patent.

1910 - On June 20, 1910, The Standard Trusts Company filled out Form No. 36 advising that: The homestead was entered for on May 21, 1907. Residence was taken up by the deceased on adjoining section in the spring of 1907. Residence was continuous by deceased and family until their decease Nov 1, 1909. During the whole period, the wife and family resided with the deceased. The whole 1/4 section has been fenced. The livestock owned on the homestead was five horses valued at $1200, 4 oxen valued at $600, 7 cows , 8 young cattle, 80 hens and 10 pigs. There was no house on the homestead. Instead, erected a house on adjoining section at a cost of $400 in 1907. Erected house on NE 1/4 19-35-18 valued at 800 in 1909. Had 140 acres in crop on adjoining 1/4 in 1909 (i.e. 18-35-15). Broke 50 acres on SE 1/4 19-35-18 in 1909. In the said homestead, 140 acres was hay land and 20 acres was lake. The Standard Trusts Company advised that the deceased was a very energetic farmer and fulfilled the letter of the law regarding settling and cultivating the land, though he did not improve the particular piece of land described in the Homestead it was used by the whole neighborhood for grazing. The lake in one corner providing water for stock during the entire summer but rendering the land too low for any other use.

1910 - June 20, 1910, The Standard Trusts Company sent the above form along with a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Interior advising that: We beg to inform you that there has been no improvements placed on the homestead other than fences on the same, but the late George Thoburn was farming a whole section of land adjoining this quarter section and had about 7,000 bushels of grain in the year 1909. He also had some $3,000 of stock and we understand that if a party farms an adjoin piece of land and has a certain number of stock that his residence on the land first named will be accepted in lieu of residence on the homestead and he having said stock in lieu of improvements on the homestead.

1910 - On July 5, 1910, the Secretary of the Department of Interior sent a letter to The Standard Trusts Company advising that: ... I beg to say that before patent can be successfully applied for, it will be necessary to file with the Department proof of ownership to date of the purchased land, which is presumably the North East Quarter of Section 19, Township 35, Range 15, West of the 2nd Meridian; also the number of stock in each year and by whom owned, and finally what portion of the homestead has been fenced and when.

1910 - On July 12, 1910, The Standard Trusts Company sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Interior containing the following reply: ... we beg to enclose herewith statement of the stock and implements which belong to this estate and were disposed of on March 1, 1910. We also beg to state that 5,000 bushels of oats and 1,200 bushels of wheat were shipped off the estate during the month of February 1910. We also hold an Agreement from Mrs. McNiven to George Thoburn dated the 4th day of October, 1907 whereby the South West 1/4 of 18-35-15 was bought by the late George Thoburn. We beg to inform you that these stock and implements were all owned by G. Thoburn. The South West 1/4 of 18-35-15 was all fenced in the year1908 and had been used by the neighbouring farmers for pasturing their cattle. An 8 page Sale of Chattels Re George Thoburn Estate was enclosed with this reply.

1910 - On September 14, 1910, The Standard Trusts Company sent another letter to the Department of Interior complaining that they had not heard anything about the patent. In this letter, they advised that the value of the auction sale was about $1,400.

1910 - On October 6, 1910, the Secretary of the Department of Interior replied that: ... I beg to say that the information furnished does not set forth the number of stock the late homesteader actually owned in each year that he was proving up. Your letter of the 12th of July simply states that the stock and implements which belonged to this estate were disposed of on March 1, 1910. It will be necessary to have definite information as to the number owned by the homesteader each year, and also the date when he first became owner of such stock. Your letter states that the South-West quarter of Section 18 was all fenced in the year 1908. Kindly say what amount of fencing has been done on the homestead quarter section, the S.E. quarter of the same section, and when erected. The agreement of sale between Mrs. McNiven and the late George Thoburn of the South West 1/4 of Section 18 should also be submitted here for inspection and will be returned to you.

1911 - On August 14, 1911, The Standard Trusts Company sent a letter to the Secretary, Department of Interior enclosing a sworn affidavit by Alex K Thom. This letter stated that: ... which sets out the number of cattle owned by the late George Thom (Note: should be Thoburn) during the years, 1907-8-9, also setting out the number of acres of land cultivated during the yeas 1908 and 1909 and the number of bushels of grain marketed off the said land in the year 1909. In view of these facts we would thank you do advise us if the patent for the SE 18-35-19-W2 (NOTE: is this an error? Did he mean SE 18-35-15-W2 as is noted at the top of the letter?) could not be granted to the Administrators of the estate there being two infant beneficiaries of the late George Thoburn who are dependent on the proceeds of this land for their maintenance and owing to the tragic manner in which the family were murdered we would thank you to assist us in obtaining the patent without incurring additional expense.

NOTE: In the affidavit dated July 11, 1911, Alex Thom, Wadena, Editor, states that he is the owner of NE 19-35-15 W2 (which adjoins lands owned by the late George Thoburn) for the past 5 years and that in 1907, George Thoburn cultivated 18 acres of SE 19-35-15-W2. In 1908, he cultivated 20 acres of SE 19-35-15-W2 and 25 acres on NW Section 25-35-16-W2 (which was leased), and 25 acres on NE 18-35-15-W2. In 1909, he cultivated 20 acres on SE 19-35-15-W2, 50 acres SW 19-35-15-W2 and 110 acres on NW 19-35-15-W2. Also, George Thoburn did fence the whole of the South East quarter of Section 18-35-15-W2 and that for the three years 1907-8-9 he pastured cattle on SE 18-35-15-W2. NOTE: Why did it take so long to prepare this reply to the Dept. of Interior?

1911 - On August 28, 1911, the Assistant Secretary of the Dept. of Interior replied that: ... according to the evidence furnished the duties required by a homestead entry before the issue of patent have not been performed in connection with SE 18-35-15-W2.... He further advised that The entry is at present in serious default and liable to summary cancellation ... ...the necessary cultivation must be performed as well as a habitable home erected.

1911 - On September 5, 1911, The Standard Trusts Company implored the Dept to grant a Patent for this land stating ... We beg to call to your attention the fact that the late George Thoburn and his wife and his mother-in-law were murdered on Nov 1, 1909 leaving two children aged four and six (NOTE: this is incorrect - should be 2 and 4), and as the estate is almost dissipated the children are dependent on the money received from the sale of the land which constitutes the homestead above referred to and should we as administrators be required to expend further money in completing the duties on the land and erecting a house there will be nothing left for those infants. In view of the late George Thoburn having cultivated so much land in the vicinity of the homestead we would thank you to advise us if the Department could not be prevailed upon to grant the Patent for this land.

1911 - On September 18, 1911, JH Fowler submitted an internal Dept. of Interior memorandum to the Assistant Deputy Commissioner asking ... if there is any way the cultivation conditions can be waived in this case and patent issued to the children of the deceased homesteader. and goes on to quote from the Standard Trusts Company letter.

1911 - On September 20, 1911, the Assistant Secretary wrote that ... receipt of your letter of the 5th instant ... and in reply to say that the statements contained therein have received careful consideration but a definite reply cannot be sent to you until a Homestead Inspector has had an opportunity of reporting on the actual duties which have been performed on this land, either by the deceased or his legal representatives and until you furnish definite information showing whether or not the children of the deceased homesteader are cared for by relatives and also whether or not your company is acting as administrators of this estate with the consent of the legal representative.

1911 - On September 26, 1911, the Standard Trusts Company advised that ... we beg to inform you that we are administering the estate with the consent of the Beneficiaries who are as already stated two infant children who are being cared for by the two sisters of the mother of the children. We are writing one of those sisters by concurrent mail and will furnish you with her letter directly it has come to hand.

1911 - On November 15, 1911, the Agent Dominion Lands, Dept. of Interior, directed Homestead Inspector Duggan, Humboldt, to ...make the report called for on the 27th of September in connection with the South East 1/4 of 18-35-15-W2.

1912 - On March 18, 1912, A.I. Thom, Wadena, Housewife, signed a Statutory Declaration that: 1. I am a sister-in-law of the said George Thoburn... 2. ... George Thoburn died leaving him surviving two infant children, namely, Mary Thoburn and George Thoburn, Jr. 3. That the said Mary Thoburn has been left in my care and that George Thoburn Jr. is in the care of a sister of mine residing in the Province of Ontario. 4. Now I, this deponent, desire that the Standard Trusts Company , the duly appointed Administrators to the estate ... shall apply for patent to the homestead.... This declaration was also signed by Alex K Thom. NOTE: Item 3 is false - Mary Thoburn was taken to Ontario by Ruth Harper and George Thoburn Jr. remained in Wadena with the Alex K Thom family. Evidence of this is supported by the Canada census. NOTE: Why did it take so long to prepare this declaration?

Land grant - SE Quarter, Section 18, Township 35, Range 15, Meridian W2. Source is Land Grants of Western Canada, 1870-1930, Library and Archives Canada, item #549267. NOTE: The entry is listed as "Geo Thoburn the late, The Standard Trusts Company". (no date is provided for this item - however, it must have been in 1910)

NOTE: In the Mescei trial documents, the murder of George Thoburn was listed as occurring in Section 19 not 18. Source is the Charge sheet for John Mescei's trial in the Supreme Court of Saskatchewan, November 11, 1909. Also, the Probate Court documents also list the land at Section 19 not 18.

NOTE: One of the conditions of Proving Up the homestead is the settler must cultivate and live on the land for 3 years and must build a habitable house before the end of the second year. Source is Homesteading, Saskatchewan Archives Board website.

1. ↑ Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth
   CG 904390, 22 Sep 1977.
2. ↑ England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, George Thoburn.

   https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NY76-YYT