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 met in Linlithgow, Scotland. Christina's father was a Shale Miner as was John Waugh. Their first child would have been conceived around December of 1891 while both families were still living in Linlithgow. John 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 Timberline, 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

 

1892 ..........

Elizabeth McCall born on Sept 29, 1892, in Belt, Montana, USA, so it would seem that John and Christina  had been together in December of 1891 in Scotland. 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 Belt, Montana (near Great Falls), where John worked in the coal mines (and fly fished in the rivers).

S/S Gallia
S/S Gallia, Cunard Line

Ellis Island New York Harbour

Ellis Island Passenger Record for John Waugh
Ellis Island Passenger Record for John Waugh

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway c. 1892
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway c 1892

Map of Montana Railroads c 1892
Map of Montana Railroads c 1892

John Waugh probably took the Great Northern Railway to Great Falls, Montana.

Map of Great Northern Railway in Montana showing Fort Benton, Great Falls and Belt c 1892
Map of Great Northern Railway in Montana showing Fort Benton, Great Falls and Belt c 1892

1893 ..........

"The Depression of 1893 was one of the worst in American history with the unemployment rate exceeding ten percent for half a decade... The Depression of 1893 can be seen as a watershed event in American history. It was accompanied by violent strikes, the climax of the Populist and free silver political crusades, the creation of a new political balance, the continuing transformation of the country's economy, major changes in national policy, and far-reaching social and intellectual developments. Business contraction shaped the decade that ushered out the nineteenth century.

The depression, which was signaled by a financial panic in 1893, has been blamed on the deflation dating back to the Civil War, the gold standard and monetary policy, underconsumption (the economy was producing goods and services at a higher rate than society was consuming and the resulting inventory accumulation led firms to reduce employment and cut back production), a general economic unsoundness (a reference less to tangible economic difficulties and more to a feeling that the economy was not running properly), and government extravagance ."

From The Depression of 1893, David O. Whitten, Auburn University

1894 ..........

Elexies Millar Waugh born on December 28, 1894, in Belt, Montana.

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.

1896 ..........

Agnes Waugh born on September 15, 1896, in Belt, Montana.

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

1898 ..........

Janet Lindsay Waugh born on March 20, 1898, in Belt, Montana.

1899 ..........

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. 

Nanaimo in the 1890s | Map of Nanaimo 1891

1901 ..........

His brothers William (and his wife Catherine McLean), Andrew and Robert also came to Canada in the early 1900s and lived in Nanaimo.

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.

 

1911 ..........

At the time of the 1911 Census of Canada, John Waugh and his brothers William, Andrew and Robert were living in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

1911 Census of Canada - Nanaimo, B.C.
John Waugh & Family

Name: John Waugh
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 41
Birth Date: Aug 1864
Birthplace: Scotland
Relation to Head of House: Head
Immigration Year: 1841
Tribal: Scotch (Scotish)
Province: British Columbia
District: Nanaimo
District Number: 10
Sub-District: Nanaimo
Sub-District Number: 24
Place of Habitation: Selby St
Household Members:
Name Age
John Waugh 41
Christina Waugh 41
Elizabeth Waugh 17
Eleseeis Waugh 16
Agnes Waugh 15
James Waugh 12
Violet Waugh 9
John Waugh 5
William Waugh 2
Christina Waugh 1

Source Citation: Year: 1911;Census Place: Nanaimo, Nanaimo, British Columbia. Page 9, Family No: 116. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1911 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2007. <http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1911/index-e.html>. Series RG31-C-1. Statistics Canada Fonds. Microfilm reels T-20326 to T-20460. Images are reproduced with the permission of Library and Archives Canada. Description: This fifth census of Canada covers the nine provinces and two territories of Canada as of 1911: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, the Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territories. The census provides many details about individuals and families including: name, gender, age, birthplace, year of immigration, nationality, and origin. The names of those listed in the census are linked to actual images of the 1911 Census.

Note: The "James Waugh" above should be Janet Waugh.

1911 Census of Canada - Nanaimo, B.C.
William Waugh & Family

Name: William Waugh
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 44
Birth Date: Oct 1866
Birthplace: Scotland
Relation to Head of House: Head
Immigration Year: 1910
Tribal: Scotch (Scotish)
Province: British Columbia
District: Nanaimo
District Number: 10
Sub-District: Nanaimo
Sub-District Number: 24
Place of Habitation: Selby St
Household Members:
Name Age
William Waugh 44
Sarah Waugh 24
William Waugh 23
Jane Waugh 22
Ella Waugh 21
Daniel Waugh 18
Nobert Waugh 15
Thabe Waugh 14
George Waugh 11

Source Citation: Year: 1911;Census Place: Nanaimo, Nanaimo, British Columbia. Page 9, Family No: 115. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1911 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2007. <http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1911/index-e.html>. Series RG31-C-1. Statistics Canada Fonds. Microfilm reels T-20326 to T-20460. Images are reproduced with the permission of Library and Archives Canada. Description: This fifth census of Canada covers the nine provinces and two territories of Canada as of 1911: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, the Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territories. The census provides many details about individuals and families including: name, gender, age, birthplace, year of immigration, nationality, and origin. The names of those listed in the census are linked to actual images of the 1911 Census.

The "Jane" Waugh above would be James McLean Waugh (father of Daisy?), Ella is Elexies, Nobert is Robert
 

1911 Census of Canada - Nanaimo, B.C.
Andrew Waugh & Family

Name: Andrew Waugh
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Age: 34
Birth Date: Aug 1877
Birthplace: Scotland
Relation to Head of House: Head
Immigration Year: 1910
Tribal: Scotch (Scotish)
Province: British Columbia
District: Nanaimo
District Number: 10
Sub-District: Nanaimo
Sub-District Number: 25
Place of Habitation: Prideaux St
Household Members:
Name Age
Andrew Waugh 34
Ann Waugh 34
John Waugh 8
Mary Waugh 4

Source Citation: Year: 1911;Census Place: Nanaimo, Nanaimo, British Columbia. Page 1, Family No: 6. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1911 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2007. <http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1911/index-e.html>. Series RG31-C-1. Statistics Canada Fonds. Microfilm reels T-20326 to T-20460. Images are reproduced with the permission of Library and Archives Canada. Description: This fifth census of Canada covers the nine provinces and two territories of Canada as of 1911: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, the Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territories. The census provides many details about individuals and families including: name, gender, age, birthplace, year of immigration, nationality, and origin. The names of those listed in the census are linked to actual images of the 1911 Census.

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. They had two children: John Waugh (birth date unknown) and May Waugh (born about 1913 in British Columbia).

William Waugh and Catherine McLean lived at 420, 7th St. Nanaimo and were the parents of James McLean Waugh and grandparents of James McLean "Daisy" Waugh. Daisy 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.

 

 

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, Nanaimo, 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.

1916 ..........

News from Nanaimo
From Hub City Nanaimo 1886-1920 by Jan Peterson

In December Arthur (Leighton) received news from Elizabeth Waugh from his law office in Nanaimo. She mentioned that the Beck and John Dick estates had been settled and that MLA William Sloan had been appointed minister of mines. She wrote about him and the Nanaimo scene:

He (Sloan) has made quite a record for himself since he received his appointment; the South Wellington Mines came out on strike again, and he settled it for them within one week. Some record, eh! Things in Nanaimo are pretty quiet this Xmas. It did not seem at all as it used to. Two days before Xmas about 70 Nanaimo boys who had enlisted left for overseas and I have a feeling that perhaps that accounted for the dullness...

 

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

1925 ..........

John "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

 

1934

..........

Jock Waugh, UBC Soccer Team 1931-1934
Jock Waugh, UBC Soccer Team, 1931-1934

The UBC Soccer Team played the Nanaimo Team on March 6, 1934. This placed Jock Waugh on the team opposite Daisy Waugh.

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

1936 ..........

Daisy Waugh (hands on hips), Oct 10, 1936
Daisy Waugh (hands on hips), Oct 10, 1936
People In Bleachers Watching Northshore Reds Scoring On Nanaimo
At Con Jones Ball Park, Vancouver, BC. Nanaimo Won 2-1.
Courtesy University of Winnipeg

"Daisy" Waugh Killed in Mine
Game Cancelled, Dies at Work

Nanaimo. - James "Daisy" Waugh, well-known British Columbia soccer player and a member of the Nanaimo City Football Club in the Intercity League, was electrocuted here shortly before midnight Thursday while working in the Canadian Colleries coal mine. - Excerpt from The Vancouver Daily Province, Saturday 02 January, 1937, page 21

1939 ..........

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

 

1940 ..........

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.

1943 ..........

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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