STRACHAN

We, unfortunately, know almost nothing about Charles. Through birth and baptism records, we know he was born in 1765 in Scotland. In or prior to 1790, he married Margaret Fairweather, and the two had 10 children. I hope to one day learn a lot more about Charles and Margaret, but for now, all we have are the names of their children. 

Charles and Margaret's children: 

Helen Strachan, 1790 -

Agnes Strachan, 1792 -

David Strachan, 1794 -

James Strachan, 1796 -

Janet Strachan, 1798 -

Elizabeth Strachan, 1802 - 

Charles Strachan, 1804 -

Alexander Strachan, 1807 - 

Isobel Strachan, 1809 -

Frederic Strachan, 1811 -

Like Charles, we know very little about Alexander, my 3x great-grandfather. We do know, however, that he was born on the 23rd of March, 1807, in Dunnichen, Scotland. On the 8th of January, 1830, he married Mary Ann Crocket, and they had 6 children. The 1851 Census lists Alexander as the manager of a flax spring, but nothing more about him is currently known. 

Alexander and Mary's children:

Mary Ann Strachan, 1832 - 

David Crockett Strachan, 1837 - 1909

Charles Strachan, 1842 - 

Hannah Strachan, 1847 - 

Binnie Strachan, 1849 - 

Jemima Strachan, 1852 - 

David Crockett Strachan was born on the 8th of July, 1837 in Dundee, Scotland.  A tailor by trade, David began work at a young age. It's unknown why or when David traveled to England, but on the 17th of September, 1861, he married Margaret Crowfoot in Leeds, England, and the two went on to have and raise 8 children there. David passed away in 1909.

Barbara was born on the 17th of October, 1876, the second youngest child of David and Margaret. She did not wed until she was 35, and her husband, Charles Harding, was almost 10 years older than her and already had a previous family. At least two of his sons from his previous marriage came to live with Charles and Barbara once they were in Canada.

It's unknown why Barbara decided to immigrate to Canada, alone, in 1909, but the fact that both of her parents passed away that year may have been a catalyst. It's unclear how she met Charles Harding - stories range from them meeting on the ship to Canada to her answering an ad Charles had posted for a nanny. In any case, they wed in 1911, and settled in Lethbridge, Alberta, where much of our family remains to this day. Barbara had 3 children with Charles and lived to be over 100. She was very active in her local church, and was apparently called "Mother Harding" by much of the congregation. She passed away in January of 1977, 3 months after her 100th birthday.

To learn more about the children of Barbara and Charles, please visit the Harding page.