| Notes |
- Emily Elizabeth Skinner born 07 Oct 1914 in Ste. Agathe des Monts, Terrebonne in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal in Quebec. Married 27 July 1946 to THOMAS WILLIAM BARNETT born 01 Apr 1915 in Montreal, Quebec. He served as a soldier in World War II from 1940 to 1945 overseas in England, Italy, and Sicily.
Information herein given by Emily Barnett:
I can’t remember anyone ever telling me stories as a child.
I only knew my maternal grandmother. She was a calm person and as I don’t fly off the handle too often or let things get me down much I guess I am somewhat like my mother’s mother - easygoing.
I think John is more easy going - not so excitable as Karen.
My maternal grandmother was an invalid for many years when I was a child. She always said we could have cookies when we visited her in spite of my Aunt (her daughter) saying “NO”. We liked that.
My mother’s family were French Huguenots who came out of France to settle in England. Their surname was Portel - later changed to Porch. Her father was in the British Military and was transferred to St. Helen’s Island across the St. Lawrence River from Montreal in Quebec. I know of two sisters she had but I understand they had one sister who died. Of course they are all dead now (1996).
I have no idea how my mother and father met. He was a chauffeur for a family in England where they were married.
My oldest sister, Florence, was born in England but they moved to Montreal when she was a baby. My parents had four more daughters all born in Montreal, Quebec area.
My parents celebrated their 25th anniversary about 1933. My mother died at 61 in 1943.
My mother was very kind and caring and loved her girls. She used to sing while working around the house.
My father was a hard man with a bad temper.
I look more like my father’s side of the family but have more of my mother’s disposition.
I’m not very good at judging looks - ask your mother if she thinks you look like either of your grandparents. (??? )
I was very quiet and shy. Wouldn’t talk in school. Loved to read and always did well at school. I have one photo of me with my grandmother when I was around 10 I guess.
My earliest memory is walking 3 miles to school. We would hitch a ride on the back of a coal wagon especially in the winter. The snow was so deep in places that we had to literally crawl over it on our hands and knees.
We were four girls - about 2-3 years between us. We all played ok together as there were no other children around. There was a farm back of us where we got milk and some vegetables and eggs. We did have chickens and some vegetables planted.
I remember we weren’t allowed out on Halloween - we were way out in the country - very lonely and scary at night.
We used to go on picnics the odd times.
Your grandfather’s father was a professional singer and your grandfather was also a singer and sang the Messiah in a very well known Notre Dame Cathedral in Montreal. The choir was the Elgar Choir. Very well known as a professional choir in the Montréal area.
A favourite family recipe was my mother’s (your great grandma) Christmas pudding and also her tomato chutney.
My maternal grandma was one of the oldest I met and also her brother (great Uncle Tom) who died at 84 when he fell down some stairs. He always had candies in his pockets for us.
When I was about 10 I made a hopscotch with chalk on a neighbor’s sidewalk. They were annoyed and my mother gave me a brush and a bucket of water to scrub it off. All the neighbors watched laughing and I was really embarrassed and in tears.
We went to a park one Sunday. All dressed up in special dresses and shoes as we wore every Sunday. There was a lake in the park and I fell in - my pretty, nicely pressed Sunday clothes were a mess. I wasn’t very popular with my parents.
Under our bed was a cut out square to let the heat up from the kitchen. I can remember on Christmas Eve we lay on the floor looking down into the living room. That’s when we discovered about Santa as our parents dressed and loaded the Christmas tree. We thought it was a great joke.
I didn’t have any future dreams. Was sent to a high school with my cousin to learn shorthand and typing. Ended up as a secretary to an Assistant Manager of the Royal Trust Company.
In high school I was in an all girls class - so no crushes.
My best friend growing up was my cousin Emily as we went to high school together (Commercial High). I stayed with her most weekends and went to a silent movie every Saturday. It cost us $.05 each. We also went rollerskating.
Your grandpa and I met at a young people’s church group. I was 26 years old. I was in the plays as an actress at this church and your grandpa looked after the stage, lighting, and opening and closing the stage curtain. That was before World War II. He was engaged to someone when he went overseas as a soldier.
I met him again shortly after he returned home after the war. He was overseas for five years - England, Sicily, Italy. We started going to movies, etc., but didn’t get engaged for some six or seven months later. Got married 27 Jul 1946.
We had our wedding in St. James the Apostle Church in Montreal where he sang in the choir and we again joined the young peoples group. Our reception was in the Berkeley Hotel in Montréal. Had a nice dinner and your grandpa’s dad sang, and we danced. The next day we drove to lake Champlain in New York State across the border from Canada.
No special surprises. Your grandpa was a kind and caring person.
We both worked. Played tricks on each other. Shopped together for groceries and both helped getting meals.
We joined a bowling group and also played tennis. Went to movies and played cards with your grandpa’s sister and husband.
Had no plans about how many children to have. The two we had were unplanned but greatly loved.
Your mother’s birth was a long 22 hours labour. The nurse asked me if I’d like to see my baby but I said no take her away. But I was happy and pleased with her once the long delivery faded and she’s been loved ever since and we were always proud of her.
Your parent’s name was chosen Elizabeth because that is my middle name.
No, your parent didn’t remind me of anyone else in the family. She is her own person and very special.
As a child your mother Elizabeth was a pretty blond. She was very particular and always wanted to do things perfectly. Wanted perfect marks at school and any project she worked on had to be just right. She wasn’t a bad child and always had friends to play with.
One mischievous thing she did was to put salt in her dad’s coffee instead of sugar on April Fool’s Day. He made a face but didn’t drink it after the first sip.
We were always proud of both our children. Your mother was an excellent scholar and was very well behaved and pretty. When we took her visiting she never caused any trouble and we told her to do something there was never any disagreement over it.
Our children when they were young were easy to handle and didn’t cause any great trouble. We used to take them down by the river St. Lawrence in Verdun and they’d play along the boardwalk. They were quite good friends. We often had picnics together and also took rides by car into the country to explore.
I think our family was always special because we were always honest and caring for each other. Your mother and her brother Bill were and still are good friends. E would all go to the library for books and spent time reading together. We stuck together as a family and were honest and thoughtful with each other.
One time she brought home some brand new cosmetics. I ask where she got them and she said from a girl. This girl had stolen them from the drugstore so I made Elizabeth take them back. That was upsetting. She never did it again and never got into drugs. We were lucky.
We used to visit a farm.
|
Our Family History
1914 - 2004 (89 years)
