The Waugh Family
An historical and photographic perspective

The Waugh Family c 1912
The Waugh Family, 471 Selby Street, Nanaimo, B.C. c 1912

John Waugh &

Christina Orr

Born: August 29, 1867

Born: June 11, 1869

Place: Calderhead, Scotland

Place: Dalry, Ayr, Scotland

Married  March 3, 1893
Place: Timberline, Montana
Died: December 3, 1943

Died: October 13, 1940

Place: Nanaimo, B.C. Canada

Place: Nanaimo, B.C. Canada

Jock Waugh & Winifred Russell | Jock Waugh & Joy Russell

Jock Waugh
Jock Waugh at the University of British Columbia 1927-1934
Jock Waugh's Powell River Years 1934-1943
The Waugh Family During World War II
The Waugh Family after World War II
The Waugh Family in California

John "the Joker" Waugh and Christina Orr were married on March 3, 1893, in Timberline, Montana. See the Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage. They had eight children: Elizabeth McCall Waugh (born September 29, 1892, in Belt), Elexies Millar Waugh (born December 28, 1894, in Belt), Agnes Waugh (born Sept 15, 1896, in Belt), Janet Lindsay Waugh (born March 20, 1898, in Belt), Violet Christina Waugh (born March 16, 1902, in Nanimo), John "Jock" Waugh (born August 8, 1906, in Nanaimo), William Waugh (born June 13, 1908, in Nanaimo), and Christina Orr Waugh (born March 4, 1910, in Nanaimo).

Children Born Place Died Place
Elizabeth McCall Sept 29, 1892 Belt, Montana June 3, 1947 Nanaimo, BC
Elexies Millar Dec 28, 1894 Belt, Montana Aug 20, 1956 Campbell River, BC
Agnes Sept 15, 1896 Belt, Montana Feb 27, 1965 Nanaimo, BC
Janet Lindsay March 20, 1898 Belt, Montana c 1988 Campbell River, BC
Violet Christina March 16, 1902 Nanaimo, BC July 2, 1979 Nanaimo, BC
JOHN (JOCK) Aug 8, 1906 Nanaimo, BC June 13, 1980 Comox, BC
William June 13, 1908 Nanaimo, BC Jan 17, 1962 Powell River, BC
Christina Orr March 4, 1910 Nanaimo, BC Oct 16, 1991 Victoria, BC

S/S Gallia
S/S Gallia, Cunard Line

John Waugh emigrated to the United States from Scotland aboard the Cunard Lines S/S Gallia arriving at Ellis Island, New York on December 20, 1892. See Original Ship Manifest.

He was 25 years of age, his stated occupation was "miner", intended destination "Montana" and he was carrying just one piece of luggage with him. It is believed that he made it to Timberline, Montana within two weeks (probably on the Great Northern Railway from Chicago) to be with Christina Orr (they married two months later). John and Christina Waugh lived in Timberline and Belt, Montana, where John worked in the coal mines (and fly fished in the rivers).

Map showing Great Falls and Belt, Montana, 1898
Map showing Great Falls and Belt, Montana, 1898

John and Christina moved to Nanaimo, British Columbia, around 1899 (possibly with Betsy McCall and Samuel Orr). They probably would have taken the Great Northern Railway to Calgary, Alberta, and the Canadian Pacific Railway through the Canadian Rockies to Vancouver. John and Cristina bought the home at 471 Selby Street from Laurence Manson (the Manson residence of 471 Selby Street is now a registered Heritage Home with the City of Nanaimo). John worked in the coal mine in Nanaimo and later became a police officer for the town of Nanaimo. 

His brothers William (and his wife Catherine McLean), Andrew and Robert also came to Canada and lived in Nanaimo. Robert married Matilda Milligan (born Jan 7, 1879, in  Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland) in Nanaimo on June 30, 1911, and later returned to Scotland where he died sometime after 1955. William Waugh and Catherine McLean lived at 420, 7th St. Nanaimo and were the parents of James McLean Waugh and grandparents of James McLean "Daisey" Waugh. Daisey Waugh was a famous football player with the Naniaimo City Team, Vancouver St. Andrews and the Westminster Royals who was electrocuted in an accident in the Nanaimo coal mine (#1) on Dec 31, 1936, at the age of 24 leaving a widow (Ethel) and 3 month old baby boy. William Waugh died on Jan 18, 1947, in Nanaimo and Catherine died on Oct 17, 1963, in Nanaimo. James McLean Waugh died on March 10, 1966, in Nanaimo.

Nanaimo in the 1890s | Map of Nanaimo 1891

Janet Lindsay Waugh Pennykid c1910

John (the Joker) Waugh came from a large family of eight children. His sister Alexis (born July 13, 1874, at Daviesdyke, Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland) married Edward (Ned) Pennykid (born June 14, 1863 in Bathgate, Scotland) on October 30, 1896, in the India Buildings in Edinburgh. Their first child was Janet Lindsay Waugh Pennykid, born on January 3, 1895.

The Vancouver Island census of 1901 indicates that John Waugh was married, 33 years of age, could not read or write, was Presbyterian and a coal miner. It also indicates that Christina was married, 32 years of age, could not read or write and was also Presbyterian. Both Samuel Orr and Betsy McCall were also living in Nanaimo at the time and that they had immigrated in 1899.

The Waugh Family in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

1901 Census of Canada - Nanaimo, B.C.

Name: John Waugh
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 33
Birth Date: 15 Aug 1867
Birthplace: Scotland
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Christina
Immigration Year: 1893
Racial or Tribal Origin: Scotch (Scotish)
Nationality: Canadian
Religion: Presbyterian
Occupation: Coal Miner
Province: British Columbia
District: Vancouver
District Number: 3
Sub-District: Nanaimo (South/Sud)
Sub-District Number: E-4
Family Number: 367
Page: 34
Household Members:
Name Age
John Waugh 33
Christina Waugh 32
Lizzie Waugh 7
Elexies Waugh 6
Janet Waugh 3

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1901 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Canada: Library and Archives Canada. RG31, T-6428 to T-6556. Description: This database is an every name index to individuals enumerated in the 1901 Canada Census, the fourth census of Canada since confederation in 1867.

 

Name: Samuel Orr
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 59
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1842
Birthplace: Scotland
Relation to Head of House: Head
Immigration Year: 1899
Racial or Tribal Origin: Scotch (Scotish)
Nationality: Canadian
Religion: Presbyterian
Occupation: Coal Miner
Province: British Columbia
District: Vancouver
District Number: 3
Sub-District: Nanaimo (South/Sud)
Sub-District Number: G-2
Family Number: 6
Page: 1
Household Members:
Name Age
Samuel Orr 59
James McKenzie 38

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1901 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Canada: Library and Archives Canada. RG31, T-6428 to T-6556. Description: This database is an every name index to individuals enumerated in the 1901 Canada Census, the fourth census of Canada since confederation in 1867.

Elizabeth (Betsy McCall) Orr was living with her son James (22) and her granddaughter Agnes was in the household at the time of the census.

Name: Elizabeth Orr
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Single
Age: 56
Birth Date: 16 Oct 1844
Birthplace: Scotland
Relation to Head of House: Domestic
Immigration Year: 1899
Racial or Tribal Origin: Scotch (Scotish)
Nationality: Canadian
Religion: Presbyterian
Occupation: Dom
Province: British Columbia
District: Vancouver
District Number: 3
Sub-District: Nanaimo (South/Sud)
Sub-District Number: E-4
Family Number: 158
Page: 16
Household Members:
Name Age
James Orr 22
Elizabeth Orr 56
Arnes Waugh 4

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1901 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Canada: Library and Archives Canada. RG31, T-6428 to T-6556. Description: This database is an every name index to individuals enumerated in the 1901 Canada Census, the fourth census of Canada since confederation in 1867.

 

 

 

Elexies Millar Waugh

 

Upper Left: Elizabeth (Lizzie) McCall Waugh, Upper Right: Elexies Millar Waugh
Lower Left: Agnes Waugh, Lower Right: "Bessie", Lizzie & Agnes at Brechin Beach, Victoria, B.C. c 1915

Back row: Jock, Janet & William Front row: Janet, neighbour boy, Ramsey MacDonald (dog) & Chrissie Waugh
471 Selby Street, Nanaimo
Back row: Jock, Janet Lindsay & William Waugh
Front row: Violet, neighbour boy, Ramsey MacDonald (dog) & Chrissie Waugh

It is believed that the dog in the photograph was named Ramsey MacDonald (probably by the Joker) in honour of the socialist member of the British Parliament who would later become Prime Minister of Britain.

Christina Waugh, Nanaimo, B.C. c 1921
Christina Waugh, Nanaimo, B.C. c 1921

Airport, Duncan, B.C. c 1925
Waugh Girls at Airport, Duncan, B.C. c 1925

Garde 7 Class, Harewood School, Nanaimo, B.C. 1927
Grade 7 Class, Harewood School, Nanaimo, 1927

Jock Waugh became Principal of the Harewood School in Nanaimo in 1925 (when he was 19 years old). He attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver from 1927-1934. In 1932, he was teaching at Ocean Falls, B.C.. After graduation from UBC he taught at Brooks High in Powell River before becoming the Supervisor of Schools for the Powell River District.

Jock Waugh at the University of British Columbia 1927-1934
Jock Waugh's Powell River Years 1934-1943
 

Waugh Family Home, 471 Selby Street, Nanaimo, B.C. Canada c 1930
John "the Joker", Christina, Violet, Christina, William, John "Jock" and Janet Waugh
Waugh Family Home, 471 Selby Street, Nanaimo, B.C. Canada, c 1930

Agnes Waugh & Charlie Mottishaw (married Aug 8, 1923), George Cassidy II, George Cassidy III, Violet Waugh & Chrissie Waugh
Left to right: Agnes Waugh & Charlie Mottishaw (married Aug 8, 1923),
George Cassidy II, George Cassidy III, Violet Waugh & Chrissie Waugh

Postcard from Agnes & Charlie Mottishaw to John Waugh, Aug. 23, 1939
Postcard from Agnes & Charlie Mottishaw to John Waugh, Aug. 23, 1939,
on a trip to visit  Uncle Tommy Orr

Christina Orr & John Waugh c 1940
Christina Orr & John Waugh c 1940

Mrs. John Waugh Funeral Service is Held Today, Nanaimo District Free Press, October 15, 1940 (pdf)

Private funeral services were hold today for Mrs. Christina Waugh, aged 71, who passed away suddenly at her residence on Selby Street Sunday Morning. Born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Mrs. Waugh had been a resident of Nanaimo for the past 40 years. She came to British Columbia from Montana. Surviving her are her husband, two sons, John and William of Powell River; six daughters, Mrs. W. Newbury of Nanaimo; Miss Elexies, at home; Mrs. Charles Mottishaw, of Los Angeles; Mrs. George Cassidy, ofCedar District; Miss Violet Waugh, of Victoria; and Miss Christina Waugh, at home; one brother Thomas, of Billings, Montana. Three grandchildren also survive her.

Private funeral services were held from the residence at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Pall-bearers were Harry Martin, John McKenzie, Wyman Walkem, George Addison, Frank Cunliffe, Ernest Booth. Re. E. G. McDonald officiated. Internment was in the family plot in the Nanaimo cemetery. Westwood Hirst Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Jock Waugh enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on November 29, 1943, and was immediately transferred to Camp Borden, Ontario, for training as a Flying Officer (Navigator) aboard the Lancaster bombers. See The Waugh Family During World War II. His father (John "the Joker" Waugh) died a few days later on December 3, 1943.

John Waugh Dies At Noon, December 3, 1943 (pdf)

Following a protracted illness John Waugh, 76, resident of Nanaimo for 45 years, died at Nanaimo General Hospital at Noon today. Native of Linlithgowshire, Scotland, Mr. Waugh first came to Ontario from the Old Land, but, moved to Nanaimo after 4 years' residence in the eastern province (ed. note - the "Joker" was not known to have lived in Ontario). Since coming here he had been identified with the local coal mines, and had also been a city police officer.He was formerly active in sports, and was president of the Nanaimo Football Club in the heyday of that organization. He was a member of the Vancouver Caledonian Society and was registered as champion B. C. quoiter in 1928. He was an ardent amateur gardener.

His wife pre-deceased him, her death occuring on October 13, 1940. He is survived by two brothers William Waugh, of Five Acres, and Andrew Waugh, of Vancouver, also several brothers and sisters living in Scotland. Immediate family survivors include six daughters and two sons. The daughters, Mrs. Wm. Newbury, Nanaimo, Elexies M. Waugh of Nanaimo, Mrs. Charles Mottishaw of Los Angeles, Mrs. George E. Cassidy of Milton Street, Miss Violet Waugh of Victoria and Mrs. Leo Lidiatt of Nanaimo. The sons are John, now enroute to an eastern point where he is to take special RCAF training, and William of Powell River...

The Waugh Family During World War II

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