George Nicholas Wilson and Jane Strahan

George Nicholas Wilson (1880-1955) was born in Baltinglass, Ireland,  one of six children born to William Wilson (1846-) and Sarah Willoughby (1854-1878) whose parents were Nicholas Willoughby (1823-1901) and Jane Dowzard [Dowzer] (1823-1900).  Nicholas was the son of Nichoas Willoughby (1780-1861).  Jane Strahan (1873-1960) of MacCreddin was the daughter of William Strahan (1834-1917) and Ellen Plant ( -1878).  George N. Wilson and Jane Strahan married in 1903, she being the older by 7 years.  The Wilsons and Strahans were protestants and lived around the small Protestant community of Moyne, County Wicklow, Ireland.  George appears to have inherited (at the age of 22) land and a business in Moyne from the Willoughby family,perhaps from Nicholas on his death in 1901.  Their comfortable life was interrupted by the Irish revolution of the early 1920s and in 1921 the family auctioned the property and emigrated to Canada, moving to Limerick, Saskatchewan, where George had two brothers – Charles Wilson and Thomas Wilson.  Charles remained in Limerick (he claims he named the town) where he became a man of some influence and he and his wife had a son who became a well known author writing about Saskatchewan events.  Thomas moved to Saskatoon and then to the Vancouver area.

We also know that that Nicholas Willoughby as well as George, Charles and John owned or leased land and building in Ballinacor, Kilpipe parish.  This is also where the Dowzard [Dowzer] family lived.  The Dowzer family came to Ireland in 1713 to work on the Earl Fitzpatrick estate in Wicklow.

• Nicholas Willoughy (1780-1861).
  • Nicholas Willoughy (1823-1901).  Married Jane Dowzard (1823-1900).
    • Sarah Willoughby (1854-).  Married William Wilson (1846-) in 1878.(I can only find a baptism for William Wilson in 1853 and 1855.) Note:   I do have a family tree written in 1864 which goes back to Joseph Wilson (about 1691-177) and wife Alice who had a son John (1717-1810) and wife Hannah Cooper – whose father was Nicholas Cooper, but I can make no link to the names I am sure of.   John and Hannah had 12 children one of whom was called Nicholas Wilson born in 1756.
      • Charles Wilson (abt. 1884-1979).  Married Florence Sproule of Nova Scotia.   Lived in Limerick, SK. where he had arrived in 1905.
        • Garrett Wilson (1932-).  Married Merle Neville.  Became a lawyer and successful.
          • Leslie
          • Taralyne
          • Kevin.
        • Kevin Wilson ( -1943).  Trained as a pilot and lost his life in WW11.
      • Jane Wilson
      • George Nicholas Wilson (1880-1955).  Married Jane Strahan (1873-1960).
        • Edith Wilson (1904-?) who eventually married,  moved to Winnipeg and worked as a teacher.
        • William (Bill) Wilson (1906-?) who spent some time as a member of the Regina    Police and then moved to Vancouver.
        • Albert Wilson (1908-1969) worked in Regina where he became an alderman. He    married Dorothy Edwards (1915-1963) of Broadview, Saskatchewan.   Albert married again to Elizabeth Barrett of Ireland.
        • Herb Wilson (1910-2011) joined the RCMP (became a member of the musical ride, performing in NY in 1934) and retired to the Vancouver area where a large number of family members still live.
        • Eleanor Wilson (1912-1993) married Durward Simpson in 1929 and she and her husband lived in Broadview,  Saskatchewan.  See the posts on the Simpson family of Ontario.  for more on this family.
      • Katie Wilson (1883-).
      • John Thomas Wilson (1885-1965).  Emigrated to Limerick, SK. in 1907 where he stayed until 1921.  Died in North Delta, BC.  Married Hilda Brooks.  Served in WW1.
      • William Willoughby Wilson (1896-1973).  Married Katherine Eager.

      Also a male birth to Jane and Nicholas in October, 1865

George appears to have been an unlikely farmer, being more comfortable with the world of conversation and dreams.  Their financial resources kept them alive, not his labour.  One example of these attributes is provided by his son Herb who estimates his father spent 25% of his life writing letters.  The family file contains a letter from Viscount Bennett of London, England – formerly Prime Minister R. B. Bennett, who apologizes for not having time to phone him during a visit to Winnipeg – stating that if George writes to him in London he will do whatever he can to meet his wishes.  One wonders what those wishes might have been.

And the children as young adults, attending the 1929 wedding of Eleanor Wilson and Durward Simpson.  From left:  Albert, Jane (mother), Durward Simpson, Eleanor, Bill, Edith, Herb.

Some may be interested in this plaque which is located inside the church in Moyne. (Thanks to Mary Wilson.)

Below, grave marker of George and Jane located in the Masonic cemetery in Burnaby, British Columbia.