Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Thomson, John |
Born |
02/03/1840 |
Places of residence |
Claremont, Ontario area Leith area, Sydenham Township, Grey County (Rosehill Farm, Lot 36 Concession A) Owen Sound, Grey County |
Father |
"Tam" Thomson (b. 1806-d. 1875) Thomas T |
Nationality |
Canadian |
Notes |
John Thomson was born at _____________. He married Margaret Matheson/Mathieson on ___________. They were in the Claremont area until 18___. After moving from the Claremont area, the Thomsons resided in Sydenham Township, Grey County. They had "Rose Hill Farm". They later moved closer to Owen Sound in 1905. In the 1901 census of Sydenham Township.: Lot 36, Concession A Thomson, John, b. Feb. 3, 1840 Ont. age 61 Presbyterian Farmer His wife, Margaret, was born Nov. 3, 1842, age 58, born in P.E. Louisa Thomson was born July 4, 1873 and was 27 years old in 1901. Minnie Thomson was born April 16, 1875, age 25 Thomas Thomson b. Aug. 5, 1877, age 23 Ralph Thomson, b. March 19, 1880, age 21 Margaret Thomson, Jan. 22, 1884, age 17 Fraser Thomson, b. July 15, 1886, age 14 Henrietta Matheson (sister-in-law of John's), b. Feb. 14, 1853 in P.E. William Bone, a Farm Labourer, 25 years of age (b. Dec. 30, 1873) was also living with the family. When he was a young fellow at Leith, the eldest son, George Thomson, used to help his father John by rowing out a boat off the point to catch enough fish to bring home to salt and fill some barrels with. This salt fish helped supply the Thomsons with food in the winter-time. The Thomson farm, "Rosehill", was next to Colonel James P. Telford's property, and Col. Telford was an avid fisherman, and a friend of John Thomson's. George Thomson later married J. P. Telford's daughter, Jean Telford, in 1914 (his second marriage). John Thomson also reportedly (according to Col. Telford) shot down one of the last passenger pigeons seen in the area, on ___188_. John and Margaret's family was a musical one. Two of their sons also became well-known artists: Tom Thomson and George Thomson. One of the daughters, Margaret (later Mrs.Tweedale), also painted. The youngest of the family, Fraser Thomson, started painting in 1945, and painted numerous scenes of the Owen Sound area. While they resided at Leith, John's family attended the Auld Kirk Leith Presbyterian Church (now known as the Historic Leith United Church). When their son Tom Thomson drowned under mysterious circumstances in Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park in the summer of 1917, the family had his remains disinterred and brought back to Leith and he was re-buried beside the church that he had attended as a child and young man. Archival and Artefact Items: John and Margaret had moved to Owen Sound in 1905. The Grey Roots archives has a photograph (1986.027.004) of the John Thomson residence at the eastern side of Owen Sound (where Sydenham School later was, or nearby?). This was a brick building. There is also a "chickencoop chair" that was built by John's father, "Tam". The family's wooden spool cradle, and the family christening gown, are also at Grey Roots. The Tom Thomson Art Gallery has several personal effects of Tom Thomson in its collection. Also, there is a wooden quaich that was made by Tam Thomson, John's father. |
Occupation |
Farmer Hunter |
Publications |
Gillard, William & Tooke, Thomas, THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT: FROM TOBERMORY TO NIAGARA FALLS, 1972, has an image of the Thomson family home in Sydenham Township Littlefield, Angie, THE THOMSONS OF DURHAM: TOM THOMSON'S FAMILY HERITAGE, 2005, includes a couple images of John Thomson (one shows him with his hunting dog) Ross, Allan, REMINISCENCES OF NORTH SYDENHAM, 1924, reprinted in 1991, has several pages about the Thomsons in the the newer edition (see pages 270-276). |
Relationships |
Neighbour and fishing friend: Colonel James P. Telford Grand-daughter: Jessie Fisk (nee Harkness) |
Role |
Farmer |
Spouse |
Margaret Matheson / Mathieson, m. ___ |
Children |
George Thomson (b. Feb. 10, 1868 on a farm one mile east of Claremont, Ontario) Elizabeth Thomson (Mrs. Harkness) Henry Thomson Louisa Thomson (Mrs. Henry) Minnie Thomson (Mrs. William Henry) Tom Thomson (b.1877-d. 1917) Ralph Thomson Margaret Thomson (Mrs. Tweedale) James Brodie Thomson Fraser Thomson (b. July 15, 1886-d. 1968) |
