Fleming Branch

My Maternal Grandfather - George Fleming Jr.

This page is dedicated to my maternal grandfather George Fleming Jr.  George was the 3rd son born on the 3rd day of the 3rd month of 1933.  George was born at home, on the farm, just outside Grassland, Alberta.  

George left us on February 16, 2024 and a celebration of his life, a party not a funeral, was hosted in his honour on what would have been his 91st birthday, March 3, 2024.

My Great Grandparents - George Fleming Sr. & Hellen Peebles Blackie

My Great-Grandparents were George and Hellen Fleming.  They lived about 7 kilometres from me while I was growing up so I was very lucky to spend lots of time with them.

George Fleming (1904-1995)

George Fleming was born August 11, 1904 in Roughrigg, New Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland.001 

On September 24, 1904 George (infant) and his family: James (age 40), Isabella (age 39), Isabella (age 16), John (age 14), Andrew (age 12), Matthew (age 8), Marion (age 6), Alexander (age 4), and James (age 2) left Scotland on board the S. S. Sicilan and arrived in Canada on October 4, 1904003; please see sub-page for details. 

Some of the Fleming Family returned to Scotland in October 1905 the passenger list does not include George so it is not sure if he made the trip at this time or stayed behind; passengers on board the S. S. Sicilan were: Isabel Fleming (age 43), Isabel (age 17), And (age 11), Matthew (age 9), Minnie (age 7) and Alex (age 4).012  I have three unsourced documents I have received from various family members over the years and one says George's father James returned to Scotland in 1907 and the 2nd and 3rd say that the Fleming family returned to Scotland in 1907 & 1909.U01,U02,U03

George Fleming (age 6) was enumerated in the 1911 Scotland Census at 110 Leicester Terr, Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland with his family: James (age 47), Bella (age 45), Bella (age 23), John (age 21), Andrew (age 19), Matthew (age 15), Minnie (age 13), Alex (age 10), and James (age 8).004

In October 1916 George (age 11) and his family: James (age 53), Isabella (age 51), Minnie (age 18), Alex (age 16) and James (age 11)  returned to Canada on board the S. S. Pretorian which departed Glasgow, Scotland on October 4, 1916005 and arrived in Quebec, Canada on October 15, 1916; their destination is to Mrs Isabella Thistlewaite, Toronto.006

George Fleming (age 17 - Painter) was enumerated in the 1921 Census of Canada at 611 Pape, Ward 1, Toronto, Ontario, Canada with his family: James (age 57), Isabella (age 55), John (age 31), Andrew (age 29), Marion (age 23), Alexander (age 21) and James (age 18)007; please see sub-page for details.

In August 1922 George Fleming (age 18; occupation: Painter; name and address of nearest relative whence alien came: father James 611 Pape Ave, Toronto; destination: Fresno, Cal brother Matthew; height 5 ft. 9 in; hair: brown and eyes: blue)008 passed through immigration at Port Huron, Michigan with his family:  Isabella (age 57), Minnie (age 24), Alexander (age 22) and James (age 20).009 

Hellen Peebles Blackie (1912-1994)

Hellen Peebles Blackie was born August 1, 1912 in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, Scotland.002 Her parents were William John Chamberlain Blackie & Catherine Hall Hogg.

In April 1926 the Blackie Family came to Canada on board the S.S. Montcalm which departed Greenock, Scotland on April 24, 1926011  and arrived in Montreal, Quebec on May 3, 1926.033

George & Hellen - Marriage & Homestead

George and Hellen were married on October 3, 1928 in Bon Accord, Alberta.B01,018,025,089  The book Forests, Furrows And Faith says George & Hellen "decided to spend their honeymoon hunting big game in the area now known as Grassland, which at that time was open for homesteading. So, upon borrowing a team of horses and a wagon from Helen's dad, they headed north via the old Athabasca Trail to Colinton, thence east to what was then called the McKenzie Settlement, the settlers then being mostly McKenzies. The trip took four leisurely days, sleeping at night in the wagon box with a canvas covering and cooking over the open fire.  After spending two or three weeks in the area, enjoying the excellent hunting and the hospitality of the Vince McKenzie family, and also drawn to the general lifestyle, they decided to file on the land."018  On November 13, 1928 George filed on his homestead along Pine Creek: the South East Quarter of Section 23 Township 67 Range 19 West of the 4th Meridian.017,021 In 1929 George built a log shack;025  in 1931 that shack is listed on George's application for homestead as being 14 x 26 made of log + lumber, also listed are: Barn 22 x 24, Work Shop 20 x 22, Grainery 10 x 12 and Hog Pen.021  In 1933 a Homestead Inspector's Report lists the following: House 15 x 24 and 9 x 14 value $150 3 rooms 1 story, Stable 24 x 24 value $50, Granary 8 x 10 value $20, Fencing value $150, Well value $45, and Other Buildings Shop 18 x 22 and pig pen value $80 as well as 4 cattle, 4 horses, and 30 sheep.021  On June 22, 1934 he received notification that a certificate of title would be issued to him;021 George and Hellen retired on the original homestead025 and some of their descendants still live on that land today.

Children of George & Hellen

George and Hellen had eight children. John aka Jack, James aka Jimmy, Doris, George, Doreen, Donald, Gordon, and Linda.  Jimmy died at the age of 10 from diphtheria in 1939,022,025,090 Doreen died in a car accident in 1977,025 and Jack died in 2011.023

George's Jobs

George was: a Painter007,008,025,027, a Farmer025, a Ranger025, an Auctioneer026, and a School Board Chairman018,034.  The book Dreams and Determination says that during the Great Depression "George went from door to door in the better class district of Edmonton where some of the residents such as doctors, lawyers, and such still had a few dollars they could spend on painting and work around the house" and that "he got a job in 1940 as a ranger with Alberta Forest Service.  His first post was at Whitecourt; later he was transferred to Slave Lake and then to the Brasueaue District, west of Drayton Valley."025  In 1943 during George's time in Whitecourt he helped to "rescue three U.S. Army airmen from a damaged airplane".030

George & Hellen Passing

Hellen left us on May 4, 1994 in Athabasca, Alberta.019  Her funeral took place on May 7, 1994 in Grassland, Alberta.019,020   George passed away on November 20, 1995 in Athabasca, Alberta024.  His funeral took place on November 23, 1995 in Grassland, Alberta.024  The ashes of both George and Hellen spread on old home sight in just outside of Grassland, Alberta' and a memorial to them is just down the hill.031,032

George & Hellen Pictures

George & Hellen in History Books

Additional information can be found on George & Hellen in the following history books:

• 1982 Forests, Furrows And Faith : A History of Boyle and Districts; Page 269018

• 1988 Dreams and Determination - A History of Grassland and Districts; Page 223025

• 2010 Separated by Oceans - Snapshots of the Blackie Family; Page 39B01

My Great Great Grandparents - James Fleming & Isabella Forbes

James Fleming was born January 29, 1864 at 8pm in Drumclair, Slamannan, Stirlingshire, Scotland028,029.  

Isabella Forbes was born June 3, 1865 at 2pm in Shieldhill, Polmont, Stirlingshire, Scotland.010  

James (age 7) and his family were listed in the 1871 Scotland Census in Lanarkshire, Scotland.077

Isabella Forbes (age 7) and her family were listed in the 1871 Scotland Census in Lanarkshire, Scotland.088 

James (age 17) and his family were listed in the 1881 Scotland Cenus at Roughrigg Late Westfield, 49, New Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland.087

James and Isabella were married December 31, 1886 at East Shieldhill, Polmont, Stirlingshire, Scotland.035 

James (age 27) and Bella (age 26) Fleming are listed in the 1891 Scotland Census, at the address 4 Loughbog Cottages with their children: Bella (age 3) and John (age 1).  In the census it lists James place of birth as Drumclair, Stirlingshire and his occupation as a Coal Miner, and Bellas place of birth as Shieldhill, Stirlingshire; the birthplace of their children is listed as Roughrigg, Lanarkshire; James' brother Matthew Fleming and father John Fleming are listed on the same page of the census.036

James (age 37) and Bella (age 35) Fleming are listed in the 1901 Scotland Census, at the address of Flemings Buildings in Lanarkshire with their children: Bella (age 13), John (age 11), Andrew (age 9), Matthew (age 5), Marion (age 3) and Alex (11 months).  In the census it lists James place of birth as Slamannan, Stirlingshire and his occupation as a Coal Miner.039,Z01

In 1904 James (age 40) and Isabella (age 39) and their children: Isabella (age 16), John (age 14), Andrew (age 12), Matthew (age 8), Marion (age 6), Alexander (age 4), James (age 2) and George (infant) came to Canada on board the S. S. Sicilan003; please see sub-page for details. 

Some of the Fleming Family returned to Scotland in October 1905 passengers on board the S. S. Sicilan were: Isabel Fleming (age 43), Isabel (age 17), And (age 11), Matthew (age 9), Minnie (age 7) and Alex (age 4).012  It is unknown when the rest of the family returned,

James (age 47 - Coal Miner Hewer), Bella (age 45) were enumerated in the 1911 Scotland Census at 110 Leicester Terr, Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland with his family: Bella (age 23), John (age 21), Andrew (age 19), Matthew (age 15), Minnie (age 13), Alex (age 10), James (age 8), and George Fleming (age 6); it listed their duration of marriage as 24 years and that 8 of their 9 children are still living.004

In October 1916 James (age 53) and Isabella (age 51) and their children:  Minnie (age 18), Alex (age 16) and James (age 11) and George (age 11) returned to Canada on board the S. S. Pretorian which departed Glasgow, Scotland on October 4, 1916005 and arrived in Quebec, Canada on October 15, 1916; their destination is to Mrs Isabella Thistlewaite, Toronto.006

James Fleming (age 52) crossed the border in November of 1916 into the USA at Port Huron, Michigan, USA his destination was listed as Terre Haute, Ind and his last permanent residence is listed as Toronto, Canada, and his occupation as a Coal Miner.040

James (age 57 - Miner), Isabella (age 55) were enumerated in the 1921 Census of Canada at 611 Pope, Ward 1, Toronto, Ontario, Canada with his family: John (age 31), Andrew (age 29), Marion (age 23), Alexander (age 21) and James (age 18) and George Fleming (age 17 - Painter)007; please see sub-page for details.

Isabella Fleming (age 57) crossed the border in August 1922 into the USA with her children: Minnie (age 24), Alexander (age 22) and James (age 20) and George (age 18).009 

James (age 66) and Isabella (age 64) Fleming are listed in the 1930 US Census as living at 4221 Hopkins in Oakland, Alameda County, California;  their children Marion (age 32), Alexander (age 29) and James (age 28) were also listed at this address. Other interesting tidbits from that census: the value of their home was $6000, they had a radio set, and their year of immigration to the United States was 1920.041

According to a Biography of Scotsman in 1930 James, Isabella and James Jr aka Jimmy "drove their Nash Super 6 from Oakland to Toronto, north of the Ontario Great Lakes and back across the border to New York."043  It was from there that James (age 66) & Isabella (age 65) Fleming and their son James Jr. (age 29) returned to Scotland on board S. S. Majestic which departed from New York and arrived in Southampton, England on November 7, 1930.042 

Isabella died on July 24, 1941 in Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, Scotland.053

James Fleming died on January 9, 1946 in Denny and Dunipace Cottage Hospital.044  At the time of his death he was living at 38 Bonnybridge Road, Dennyleanhead with his son James.044

Both James045 and Isabella046 are buried in Denny Cemetery, Scotland.048

TO DO: Add to table above

1950 Census for John Fleming... Ref 092

1950 Census for Matthew Fleming... Ref 093

My 3x Great Grandparents - John Fleming & Marion Hoggan

John Fleming was born December 7, 1838 in Stirlingshire, ScotlandD.   Marion Hoggan was born in May 23, 1842 in Scotland. They married on October 29, 1858069 in Scotland, and had eleven children together.  John was a Butcher.  John died November 1, 1913 in Banknock, Stirlingshire, ScotlandH01,096, and Marion died March 30, 1914.097

Children of John [#1]A & Marion

The 1861 Scotland Census lists John [#1] (age 22 - Coal Miner) & Marion (age 19) Fleming and their son John [#2] (age 2) as living at Drumelare Row, Slamannan, Stirlingshire.076

The 1871 Scotland Census lists John [#1] (age 32 - Coal Miner) & Marion (age 28) Fleming and their family: Matthew (age 9), James (age 7), John [#3] (age 5), and Alexander (age 2) as living at Rows E of Langrigg, New Monkland, Lanarkshire.077

The 1881 Scotland Census list John [#1] (age 42 - Coal Miner) & Margaret (age 39) Fleming and their family: Matthew (age 19), James (age 17), Alexander (age 12), Joram (age 7) and Jane (age 0) as living at Roughrigg Late Westfield, 49, New Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland; there is also a two cousins list living with them: Hlen Hogon (age 21) and James Hogon (age 15).087

The 1891 Scotland Census lists John [#1] (age 52 - Coal Miner) & Marion (age 49) Fleming and their family: Alex (age 22), George (age 17), Andrew (age 7), and John [#4] (age 2) as living at Loughbog Cottages, New Monkland, Lanarkshire; there is also a Robert Hoggan (age 36 - Widow) and his daughters: Maggie (age 11) and Lizzie (age 9) listed as boarding with them.037

The 1901 Scotland Census lists John [#1] (age 63) & Marion (age 59) Fleming and their family: Andrew (age 17), and John (age 12).  Also listed is their son Matthew (age 39) with his children: John (age 14), Mary (age 9), and Elizabeth (age 3).078

Research Notes for John and Marion Fleming:

A. John and Marion had 3 children named John to designate between them I have add [#1] to designate the father and [#2], [#3], and [#4] to designate each child.

B. John [#2] is listed in the 1861 Census; John [#3] was born in 1866.

C. John [#3] is listed in the 1871 Census but not in the 1881 Census.  Robert and Elizabeth are also not listed on the 1881 Census

D. John's [#1] Birth Location in the Census: 1861 = Denny, Stirling; 1871 = dowing, Stirling; 1881 = Denny, Strlingshire; 1891 = Haggs, Stirlingshire; and 1901 = Hollandbush, Stirlingshire

E. There is an error on Matthew's birth record it says his parents are John Fleming and Jean Wallace (which would be this Matthew's grandparents); it is believed that Matthew's Father, also John, misunderstood and instead gave the names of his own parents when registering the birth.075

My 4x Great Grandparents - John Fleming & Jean Wallace

John Fleming was born about 1813079; his parents were John Fleming and Agnes Angus.079

John Fleming married Jean Wallace on October 26, 1838 in Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland.080

John (Coal Miner - age 47) and Jane Fleming (age 47) are listed as living at address Drumelare Row in Slamannan, Stirlingshire, Scotland in the 1861 Census with their children: Robert (Coal Miner - age 18), Margaret (Domestic Servant - age 16),  George (Coal Miner - age 10), William (Scholar - age 8), and Andrew (Scholar - age 6).098

John Fleming died on December 15, 1864 in Drumclair, Slamannan, Stirlingshire, Scotland.079

Jane Fleming (age 50) is listed as living at address Brownrigg in Slamannan, Stirlingshire, Scotland in the 1871 Census with her sons: George (age 20),  William (age 17) and Andrew (age 15) who are all listed as coalminers.099

My 5x Great Grandparents - John Fleming & Anges Angus

John Fleming and Agnes Angus.079