1. Home
  2. Pedigree Charts
  3. Bio List
  4. Name Index

William STUART (b 1880)

William was his parent's second son and fourth child. An elder brother, given the same name, died at birth. This William, born at 7:45 a.m. on 26 May 1880 at 59 West Milton Street in Glasgow, survived. His given name conformed to the pattern of naming the first son after the father's father. (Note: There is no question that William was born in 1880 even though multiple records informed by both William and his wife Isabella as well as William's gravestone, give 1882 as his year of birth.)

William appeared in the 1881 Census with his grandmother Helen Hardie and mother Mary Stewart at 43 West Milton Street in Glasgow. He was reported to be 11 months old. For some reason, on this day in 1881, the family was spread among three addresses. William was with his mother at his maternal grandmother's home. His older sisters were with his paternal grandmother's sister, Mary Little Thomson. Father William was in his parent's home at

When the census was taken in 1891, William was at home with both parents at 20 Raeberry Street in the Kelvinside area of Glasgow. He was attending school. Ten years later in 1901, at age 20, he was still with his parents, but he had already settled on an occupation, picture frame maker.

William left his parents' home and Scotland when he turned 21. He was listed on the manifest of SS Sardinian bound from Glasgow to Montreal, departing 02 May 1903 and arriving on 13 May 1903. He reported his occupation as frame maker and his destination as Toronto.

William married Isabella Glendenning on 01 Jun 1909 in Toronto (York) Ontario. William was described on the marriage registration as a bachelor, age 28, a frame maker, and a Presbyterian. Isabella was described as a spinster, age 25, a maid, and a Presbyterian. The marriage was performed by Andrew T Taylor at 118 Pembroke Street in Toronto. Isabella had grown up on North Woodside Road in Glasgow, only blocks away from William's home on Raeberry Street. I do not know if the couple met in Glasgow or later in Toronto.

The couple's first child, a daughter, Isabella Ruby, was born on 13 Aug 1910 at 182 Waverly Road in Toronto. The birth was recorded on 31 Aug 1910 by her father who reported he was present for the birth.

The 1911 Census of Canada, found William and his wife Isabella and daughter, Ruby, living at 206 Waverly Road in Toronto. Also in the household was William's brother Albert, age 23. A 1912 Toronto City Directory showed Wm Stewart, an employee of the Robert Simpson Company, living at 210 Waverly Road.

A second daughter, Violet Mary, was born on 27 Feb 1913 at 210 Waverly Road. The birth was recorded on 18 Mar 1913 by her father who reported that he was present at the birth. A 1914 Toronto City Directory entry showed that the family had moved to 212 Waverly Road. William was still working for Simpsons.

Agnes Myrtle, a third daughter, was born 15 Aug 1915. Agnes Myrtle was known through her life as Nancy. She was to be the last of the couple's children. William filed his Attestation Paper for the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Forces just two weeks before Agnes Myrtle's birth.

William enlisted in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on September 8, 1915 and shipped out from Halifax on 22 Nov 1915. When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7 inches tall with blue eyes and brown hair, weighed 145 pounds and was said to be in good condition. The family had moved, once again, to 96 Kippendavie Avenue in Toronto. He also stated at the time of his enlistment that he had served five years with the Lanark Engineers and was currently a member of the Governor General's Body Guard militia.

William served the 58th Battalion as a private and bugler in a lengthy tour in Belgium and France during World War I. He was wounded three times and had suffered from shell shock. Two of his wounds required a couple of weeks of hospitalization. The first occurred on 8 June 1916, the second on 16 April 1918, and the third on 10 August 1918.

When William left military service in a general demobilization at the end of March 1919, he weighed only 125 pounds but was judged to be in good health. He had a tattoo on his left forearm (posterior aspect) reading 'W Stuart' and below that a scroll with names Isabella, Ruby, Violet, Myrtle. His address at the time was recorded as 104 Bastedo Avenue, Toronto.

William died at Toronto General Hospital on 13 Nov 1931. The cause of death was a perforated duodenal ulcer and pneumonia. He had undergone surgery on 11 Nov 1931 to close the perforation. An autopsy was performed following his death. William was buried in St John's Cemetery in Toronto on 16 Nov 1931. The couple's address at the time of William's death was 15 Leuty Avenue in Toronto, an address close to the shore of Lake Ontario in and are of Toronto known as The Beaches. William's wife Isabella lived on until 1960.

Sources and Notes:

1880 Birth Registration for William Stuart (b 1880): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1880/Births/644/8/595. Content: The Registry of Births for the District of Milton, Burgh of Glasgow [Lanarkshire] shows that William Stuart, male, [was born] 1880 May 26, 7h 45m am at 59 West Milton Street. Father: William Stuart, Day Police Constable. Mother: Mary Stuart m.s. McHardie. Married: 1874 Jun 25, Glasgow. [Signed:] William Stuart, Father, present. [Registered:] 1880 Jun 2 at Glasgow.

1881 Scotland Census, Household of Helen Buchanan Malcom McHardie (b 1819): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1881 Scotland Census, Parish: Glasgow, Milton (644/8), ED: 61; Line:21; Year: 1881. Content: The 1881 Scotland Census of Milton, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, 43 West Milton Street, on 03 Apr 1881 shows a household composed of (1) Helan Hardie (sic), head, female, age 62, lavatory attendent, born Balfron, Stirlingshire, (2) Mary Stewart, daughter, female, age 24, [no occupation], born Glasgow, (3) William Stewart, grandson, male, age 11, born Glasgow.

1881 Scotland Census, Household of Mary [Little] Thomson (b c1819): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1881 Scotland Census, Parish: Abbey [Barrhead, Renfrewshire] (572/2), ED: 11; Line:25; Year: 1881. Content: The 1881 Scotland Census of Abbey Parish, Barrhead (Renfrewshire) on 03 Apr 1881 shows household 75 on Dunterlie Road composed of (1) Mary Thomson, head, female, age 61, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (2) Jane Thomson, daughter, female, age 29, cotton weaver, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (3) Lizzie Thomson, daughter, female, age 24, cotton weaver, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (4) Thomas Thomson, son, male, age 9, scholar, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (5) Ellen Stuart, visitor, female, age 4, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, and (6) Isabell Stuart, visitor, female, age 2, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire. [Note: Ellen (or Helen) and Isabell are daughters of William and Mary McHardie Stuart. Their father, William was counted with his parents that night, and their mother, Mary, was with her youngest child William in her mother's household that night. Mary Little Thomson was father William's mother's sister.]

1881 Scotland Census, Household of William Stuart (b c1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1881/Census/644/8/60/3.. Content: The 1881 Scotland Census of Milton, Glasgow (Lanarkshire) on 03 Apr 1881 shows a home at 62 Stewart Street with a household composed of (1) Wm Stuart, male, married, head of household, age 55, day constable, born in Renfrewshire, (2) Isabella Stuart, female, married, age 54, wife, [no occupation], born in Renfrewshire, (3) Wm Stuart, male, married, age 29, son, day constable, born in Renfrewshire, (4) Albert Stuart, son, male, age 22, unmarried, umbrella maker, born in Glasgow, (5) Mary Stuart, daughter, female, age 18, warehouse girl, born in Glasgow, (6) Alfred Stuart, son, male, age 16, umbrella maker, born in Glasgow, (7) James Stuart, son, male, age 14, telegraph messenger, born in Glasgow.

1881 Scotland Census, Household of Thomas Glendinning (b c1848): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1881 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Parish: Glasgow Milton; ED: 52; Page: 2; Line: 1; Roll: cssct1881_234. Content: The 1881 Scotland Census of Milton District, Glasgow, Lanarkshire on 03 Apr 1881, 96 No[rth] Woodside Road, lists the household of (1) Thomas Glendinning, male, age 33, head, cabinetmaker, born Glasgow, Renfreshire (sic), (2) Isabella Glendinning, female, age 32, wife, born Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, (3) Charles Glendinning, male, age 10, son, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (4) James Glendinning, male, age 8, son, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (5) Thomas Glendinning, male, age 6, son, scholar, born Maryhill, Lanarkshire, (6) Agnes Glendinning, female, age 4, daughter, born Maryhill, Lanarkshire, (7) Mary Glendinning, female, age 2, daughter, born Maryhill, Lanarkshire, and (8) Isabella Glendinning, female, age 5 mos, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire.

1891 Scotland Census, Household of William Stewart (b 1852): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1891/Census/644/9/87/0/2/002. Content: The 1891 Scotland Census of Barony, Kelvinside, Glasgow (Lanarkshire) on 05 Apr 1891 shows a flat (shcedule 10) at 20 Raeberry Street with a household composed of (1) William Stewart, head of household, married, male, age 38, a self-employed commercial traveller, born in Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (2) Mary Stewart, wife, married, female, age 35, born in Glasgow, (3) Helen Stewart, daughter, female age 15, employed shop girl (hardware), born in Glasgow, (4) Isabella Stewart, daughter, female age 13, scholar, born in Glasgow, (5) William Stewart, son, male, age 11, scholar, born in Glasgow, (6) John Stewart, son, male age 8, scholar, born in Glasgow, (7) Susan Stewart, daughter, female, age 6, scholar, born in Glasgow, (7) Mary Stewart, daughte, female, age 5 years, scholar, born in Glasgow, (8) Albert Stewart, son,male, age 3, born in Glasgow, (9) Victoria Stewart, daughter, female, age 6 mos, born in Glasgow.

1901 Scotland Census, Household of William Stewart (b 1852): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1901/Census/644/9/84/11. Content: The 1901 Scotland Census of Barony, Kelvinside, Glasgow (Lanarkshire) Scotland on 31 Mar 1901 shows a flat of 3 rooms at 20 Raeberry Street with a household composed of (1) William Stewart, head, married, age 49, hardware merchant, employer, born Renfrewshire, (2) Helen Stewart, daughter, single, age 26, hardware assistant, worker, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow, (3) Isabella Stewart, daughter, single, age 22, hardware assistant, worker, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow, (4) William Stewart, son, single, age 20, Picture Frame Maker, worker, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow, (5) John Stewart, son, single, age 18, Pastry Baker, worker, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow, (6) Susan Stewart, daughter, single, age 16, in school, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow, (7) Mary Stewart, daughter, single, age 15, in school, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow, (8) Albert Stewart, son, single, age 12, in school, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow, (9) Victoria Stewart, daughter, single, age 10, in school, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow, (10) Alfred Stewart, son, single, age 8, in school, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow.

1903 Passenger Manifest listing William Stuart (b 1880): Citation: Ancestry.com. Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Series: RG 76-C; Roll: T-481. Content: A 1903 Passenger Manifest for SS Sardinian arriving in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on 13 May 1903 list Wm Stuart, Jr, age 23, male, frame maker, born Lanarkshire, embarked in Glasgow, bound for Toronto.

1909 Marriage Registration for William Stuart (b 1880): Citation: Ancestry.com and Genealogical Research Library (Brampton, Ontario, Canada). Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801-1926 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Reel: 138. Content: A 1909 County of York, Division of Toronto [Canada] Marriages (002243) reads as follows: Name of groom: Stuart, William; Rank or profession: Frame Maker; Bachelor; Age: 28; Religious Denomination: Pres[byterian]; Usual Residence: Toronto; Name and surname of father: Wm Stuart; Rank or profession of father: Confectioner; Name and maiden name of mother: Mary McHardy; Name of bride: Glendenning, Isabelle Miller; Rank or profession: Maid; Spinster; Age: 25; Religious Denomination: Pres[byterian]; Usual Residence: Toronto; Name and surname of father: Thos Glendenning; Rank or profession of father: Carpenter; Name and maiden name of mother: Isabella Miller; When, where and how married: 1 day of June 1909 at Toronto, York by L[icense]; Name and address of witnesses: Hawkins, Geo, Nellie, Rae, Toronto; Date of return: June 2, 1909; Signature and Address of person solemnizing marriage: [signed] Andrew T Taylor, 118 Pembroke Street.

1910 Birth Registration for Isabella Ruby Stuart (b 1910): Citation: Ancestry.com. Ontario, Canada Births, 1832-1916 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Series: Registrations of Births and Stillbirths, 1869-1913; Reel: 207; Record Group: Rg 80-2. Content: A 1910 County of York [Ontario, Canada] (entry 5843, 006864) shows that Isabella Ruby Stuart, female, was born on 13 Aug 1910 at 182 Waverly Rd to married parents. Father: William Stuart, picture frame worker. Mother: Isabella Glendinning. Parents were married in Toronto in June. Certified by Wm Stuart, parent, in house at time of birth; Address: 182 Waverly Road. Recorded 31 Aug 1910.

1911 Canada Census, Household of William Stuart (b 1880): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1911 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Year: 1911; Census Place: Ward 1, York South, Ontario. Page 41, Family No: 422. Content: The 1911 Census of Canada of Toronto (Ontario) on 11 Jun 1911 shows home (409/424) at 206 ?Waverly? Road with household composed of (1) William Stewart, head, male, age 28, born May 1883, born in Scotland, immigrated in 1902, Canadian, Presbyterian, picture ?framer?, (2) Isabella Stewart, female, wife, age 25, born in Nov 1885, born in Scotland, immigrated 1908, Canadian, Presbyterian, no occupation, (3) Ruby Stewart, female, daughter, born Aug 1910, born Canada, age 10 months, (4) Albert Stewart, male, brother, born, May 1888, age 23, born Scotland, Canadian, Presbyterian, upholsterer.

1913 Birth Registration for Violet Mary Stuart (b 1913): Citation: Ancestry.com. Ontario, Canada Births, 1832-1916 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Series: Registrations of Births and Stillbirths, 1869-1913; Reel: 237; Record Group: Rg 80-2. Content: A 1913 County of York [Ontario, Canada], Division of Toronto (entry 2518, 003519) shows that Violet Mary Stuart, female, was born on 27 Feb 1913 at 210 Waverly Rd to married parents. Father: William Stuart, picture frame maker. Mother: Isabella Glendining (sic). Parents were married in Toronto on 01 Jun 1909. Attending physician: O A McNicol. Certified by Wm Stuart, parent, in house at time of birth; Address: 210 Waverly Road. Recorded 18 Mar 1913.

1914 Birth Registration for Myrtle Agnes Stuart (b 1914): Citation: Ancestry.com. Ontario, Canada Births, 1832-1916 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Series: Registrations of Births and Stillbirths, 1869-1913; Reel: 247; Record Group: Rg 80-2. Content: A 1914 County of York [Ontario, Canada], Division of Toronto (entry 11781, 012847) shows that Myrtle Agnes Stuart, female, was born on 15 Aug 1914 at 96 Kippendavie Ave to married parents. Father: William Stuart, 96 Kippendavie Ave, frame joiner. Mother: Isabella Glendinning. Parents were married in Toronto in 1909. Attending physician: O A McNichol. Certified by Wm Stuart, parent, in house at time of birth; Address: 96 Kippendavie Ave. Recorded 22 Oct 1914.

1915 WWI Attestation Paper for William Stuart (b 1880): Citation: Ancestry.com. Canada, World War I CEF Attestation Papers, 1914-1918 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2006. Images are used with the permission of Library and Archives Canada.Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Canada; Soldiers of the First World War (1914-1918). Content: A 01 Aug 1915 Attestation Paper shows William Stuart, born Glasgow, Scotland, next-of-kin Mrs Isabella Stuart (wife), address: 96 Kippendavie Ave, Toronto, Ont, date of birth: 1882 28th May (sic), trade: picture frame maker, married, willing to be vaccinated, now belongs to G G B G militia, ever served: Lanark Engineers 5 years, understands nature and terms of engagement, willing to be attested to serve in the Canadian Over-Seas Expedictionary Force. [signed] Wm Stuart. Witness: Wm Taylor. 01 Aug 1915. Description: age 33, height: 5'7", Complexion: Medium; Eyes: Blue; Hair: Brown. Presbyterian. [Examination found him fit to serve on] 08 Sep 1915. at Niagara Camp.

1931 Death Registration for William Stuart (b 1880): Citation: City of Toronto Archives, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. MS935, Reel #410. Record transcribed from microfilm by the author. Content: Province of Ontario [Canada], 1931 Registration of Death, p 6638, Registration number 007700 reads as follows: Death: Toronto, College Street, Toronto General Hospital; Named of Deceased: Stuart, William; Residence: 15 Leuty Ave; Sex: Male; Racial Origin: Scotch; Married; Birthplace: Scotland; Date of Birth: May 28, 1882 [sic]; Age of Deceased: 49y 5m 16d; Occupation: Picture Framer, R. Simpson Co.; Length of Residence: At place of death: 3 days, In province: 23 years, In Canada: 23 years; Name of Father: William Stuart; Birthplace of Father: Scotland; Maiden Name of Mother: Mary ----; Birthplace of Mother: Scotland; Name of Informant: Isabelle Stuart; Address: 15 Leuty Ave; Relationship to Deceased: Wife; Date of death: Nov 13, 1931; Physician’s Statement: I attended deceased from Nov 12, 1931 to Nov 13, 1931 and last saw him alive on Nov 13, 1931; Cause of death: Perforated Duodenal Ulcer, General Peritonitis; Contributing cause: Pulmonary ?Orclence?, Bronchial Pneumonia; Where contracted: At home Did operation precede death? Yes; Date: Nov 11, 1931; Reason for operation: To close perforation; Was there an autopsy: Yes; [signed] C Herbert Greig, MD, Toronto General Hospital; Date: Nov 13, 1931; Place of Burial: St. John’s Cemetery; Date of Burial: Nov 16, 1931; Name of Undertaker: Mack Burial Co., 1989 Queen Street East; Burial permit was issued Nov 16, 1931; Received Division Registrar: Nov 17, 1931. [Note that William's year of birth is incorrect not only in this record but also on the stone that marks his grave.]

Find A Grave Memorial for William Stuart (b 1880): Citation: Find a Grave Memorial 138961590 . Content: Attached obituary reads: William Stuart, for 23 years attached to the picture-framing department of the Robt. Simpson Co, died at his home, 15 Leuty Ave, yesterday in his 50th year. The late Mr Stuart was born in Glasgow, Scotland, coming to Canada 29 years ago. He served overseas with the 58th Battalion, CEF, and was a member of King Solomon Lodge, AF and AM. He attended the Presbyterian church. Surviving are his widow, formerly Miss Isabel Clendenan (sic), and three daughters, Misses Ruby, Violet and Myrtle at home.

Entries from the Toronto City Directory: The Toronto City Directories available at the Toronto Archives, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The referenced entries were transcribed by the author from those volumes.

Service Record for William Stuart (b 1880) with the 58th Battalion of the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force in World War I: William Stuart #451074, Accession 1992-93/16-6, Box 9596-48. The attestation paper can be viewed on the web site of the National Archives of Canada.