Mary Glendinning

1768 - 1847  (79 years)

• Name	Mary Glendinning
  Birth	28 Jan 1768	Meikleholm, Langholm, Dumfries
  Christening	1 Feb 1768	Langholm, Dumfries
  Gender	Female
  Death	8 Nov 1847	Scarborough,York Co.,Upper Canada
  Burial	St. Andrew's Cemetry, Bendale,ON
  Person ID	I5907	Whisperspast | David
  Last Modified	21 Jul 2023

  
  

  Father	James Glendinning,   b. 17 Dec 1738, Westerkirk, Dumfrieshire, Scotland d. 9 Jan 1810, Glendinning, Dumfrieshire, Scotland (Age 71 years)
  Mother	Isabella Beattie,   b. 16 Jul 1744, Dalbeth, Westerkirk, Dumfriesshire d. 25 Sep 1816, Locherben, Scotland (Age 72 years)
  Marriage	1 May 1762	Westerkirk, Dumfrieshire, Scotland
  Family ID	F2147	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	David Thomson,   b. 30 Sep 1763, Netherknock Westerkirk, Dumfrieshire, Scotland d. 22 Jun 1834, Scarborough,York Co.,Upper Canada (Age 70 years)
  Marriage	30 Nov 1787	Westerkirk, Dumfrieshire, Scotland
  Children	1. James D. Thomson,   b. 29 Apr 1789, Netherknock, Westerkirk, Dumfriesshire,Scotland d. 26 Mar 1867, Scarborough,York Co.,Ontario (Age 77 years)   2. Andrew D. Thomson,   b. 23 Nov 1790, Netherknock Westerkirk, Dumfrieshire, Scotland d. 27 Jul 1854, Scarborough,York Co.,Upper Canada (Age 63 years)   3. Isabella Thomson,   b. 8 Jan 1793, Westerkirk, Dumfrieshire, Scotland d. 15 Aug 1872, Scarborough,York Co.,Ontario (Age 79 years)   4. Richard D. Thomson,   b. 18 Oct 1794, Westerkirk, Dumfrieshire, Scotland d. 22 Feb 1878, Scarborough,York Co.,Ontario (Age 83 years)   5. Archibald D. Thomson,   b. 2 Aug 1796, Scarborough, York, Upper Canada, British Colonial America d. 27 Dec 1877, Scarborough,York Co.,Ontario (Age 81 years)   6. David Thomson,   b. 27 Feb 1798, York, Upper Canada d. 12 Oct 1852, Scarborough,York Co.,Ontario (Age 54 years)   7. Janet (Jennet) Thomson,   b. 18 May 1800, Scarborough Junction, Upper Canada d. 11 Jan 1862, Scarborough,York Co.,Ontario (Age 61 years)   8. William D. Thomson,   b. 4 Mar 1802, Scarborough Junction, Upper Canada d. 3 May 1877, Scarborough,York Co.,Ontario (Age 75 years)   9. John D. Thomson,   b. 10 Apr 1804, Scarborough Junction, Upper Canada d. 4 Dec 1888, Scarborough,York Co.,Ontario (Age 84 years)   10. Mary Thomson,   b. 10 Jun 1807, Scarborough Junction, Upper Canada d. 9 Dec 1879, Scarborough,York Co.,Ontario (Age 72 years)   11. Helen Thomson,   b. 5 Aug 1809, Scarborough Junction, Upper Canada d. 23 Jul 1844, Scarborough,York Co.,Ontario (Age 34 years)
  Family ID	F2144	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2024

  
  

• Notes

  David Thomson, a small landed proprietor and also a tenant farmer in the County of Dumfries, Scotland, took up this land on what was then forest near where now stands St. Andrew's Presbyterian church, and developed it as the future homestead for himself and his wife, Mary. As soon as ever a house was built. David was joined by Mary, like himself a native of the "land of brown heath and shaggy wood," and there they dwelt for years until a more suitable dwelling could be erected. Throughout the winter David worked at his trade in York and Mary fed their four young Scottish bairns and nursed their first Canadian, Archibald, born on August 2, 1796. The first years of the pioneers were hard and often lonely. Mary was endlessly occupied with innumerable household tasks. Often she was left for weeks to do the milking, feeding and all the outside chores. For seven months Mrs. Thomson never saw the face of another female, and when she did see one of her own sex that woman was not of her "ain countree," but an native. The sight though was a gladsome one, and though Mrs. Thomson's visitor was unable to speak a word of English, and Mrs. Thomson was equally ignorant of the Indian tongue, they were able by the subtle instinct inherent in woman's nature to understand that the visit was pleasurable to both. Years afterwards Mrs. Thomson used to relate what pleasure this chance visit of the indigenous squaw gave her. One day in the spring a loud squealing rose from the rail-fenced yard around the barn. A hungry bear was about to carry off a pig. Without a moments hesitation Mary seized the axe stuck in a stump outside the door, ran at the bear, struck him and made him drop his prize. Mary had brought a small collection of books with them and added new volumes as the years passed. These they loaned to others. As the years passed their home came to house an incipient library, which was Mary Thomson's special care. In 1846 a substantial frame building was put up west of St. Andrew's and it served the double purpose of the library and a Sunday school until 1878. "Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY7S-JRP : accessed 8 November 2015), Mary Glendining, 28 Jan 1768; citing , reference 2:1633PXK; FHL microfilm 1,067,971. "Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTGQ-LQJ : accessed 8 November 2015), David Thomson and Mary Glendinning, 30 Nov 1787; citing Westerkirk,Dumfries,Scotland, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,067,972. Langholm Parish Record of birth and baptism "1768 Feb 1 Mary Daugtr Lawfull to James Glendining in Meikleholm & Isobel Beattie his Spouse. Born 28 last" Note surname spelling varies in written records, but is consistently Glendinning in gravestones, so is the preferred spelling Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com/memorial/13888055/mary-thomson), memorial page for Mary Glendinning Thomson (28 Jan 1768–8 Nov 1847), Find A Grave: Memorial #13888055, citing Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Scarborough, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada ; Maintained by Sandi Sullivan (contributor 46834811) .