Alexander James McGillivray1

#12906, (1866 - 1938)
FatherArchibald McGillivray1 (c 1822 - 1890)
MotherAnn McKinnon1 (1827 - 1921)
RelationshipGrandson of Angus McKinnon
Extended Family
ChartsAngus McKinnon & Mary McFadyen's children & grandchildren
Angus McKinnon & Mary McFadyen - 5 generations of descendants
Rev. Alexander James MacGillivary
(from New St. James Presbyterian Church, London, Ontario, website)

Children of Alexander James McGillivray and Minnie Gertrude Sheridan

Life Events

MigrationBruce County Ontario --> Manitoba --> Princeton New Jersey --> Oklahoma Territory --> Vancouver --> London Ontario --> Guelph Ontario
[and likely other locations as yet undiscovered].
 
BirthAlexander James McGillivray was born on 10 Sep 1866 in Ontario.2
 
(with Parents) 1871 CensusAlexander appeared on the 1871 Census of Saugeen Township, Bruce County, Ontario with his parents. He was 4 years old and born in Ontario.3 
(with Parents) 1881 CensusAlexander appeared on the 1881 Census of Saugeen Township, Bruce County, Ontario with his parents. He was 14 years old, born in Ontario, and attended school.4 
(with Mother) 1891 CensusAlexander appeared on the 1891 Census of Port Elgin, Bruce County, Ontario in the household of his mother Ann. He was 22, born in Ontario, parents born in Scotland, religion Presbyterian, and was a Student minister.5 
MarriageAlexander James McGillivray married Minnie Gertrude Sheridan on 13 Jun 1894 in Trafalgar Tp, Halton County, Ontario.
Information from registration: Alexander Jas McGillivray, 27, residence Port Elgin Ont, born Saugeen Tp Bruce Co, bachelor, Student, son of Archibald & Ann;
Minnie Gertrude Sheridan, 28, residence Palermo Tp of Trafalgar, born Trafalgar Tp, spinster, daughter of Edward & Ann Eliza.
Witnesses were A.H. McGillivray of Port Elgin [Alexander's brother] & Clara Sheridan of Palermo; groom Presbyterian, bride Methodist; License; Remarks: Ministerial Student.1 
Biography[written in 1898]
MacGillivray, Alexander James. –Born, Bruce County, Ontario, 1866; Manitoba College, Canada, B.A., ’91; Princeton Theological Seminary, ’94; Ordained, ’95; S.S. Ponca City Oklahoma Territory, ’95; S.S. Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory, 96.
[abbreviations expanded, S.S. is likely sabbath-school]6 
Item. A forward-looking minister (who later became moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada), Rev A.J. MacGillivray, said he would come and minister at St. James if the congregation moved from their present site to a new area in the developing north end of London. This they did and erected a new church at the corner of Oxford and Wellington Streets in north London, and renamed it New St. James Church. [photo online]7 
1901 CensusAlex and Minnie MacGilvary [sic] appeared on the 1901 Census of London, Middlesex County, Ontario. Alex was 34, born 10 Sept 1866 in Ontario,and employed as a minister, earning $1600 [high wage]. Minnie was 35, born 21 Dec 1865 in Ontario. The family was of Scotch origin and Presbyterian. They had no children but Alex's sister Kate was with them.2 
Item. 1902 Letter to [Rev.] Calvin McQuesten from his mother, Mary Baker McQuesten reads, in part:
We are having special services every night this week up to the Communion, different ministers are speaking. Last night Mr. McGillivray from Newmarket, a brother of the one in London. I was too tired to go out but Mary said he was splendid, I hope to hear him to-night. *footnote reads: Angus H. MacGillivray (?-1919), Knox College class of 1899, was a pastor in Newmarket, Chatham, and in Hamilton, and was a chaplain during the war (BDKC 156).8 
(Minister) Marriage Alexander James McGillivray officiated at the marriage of Alec Dawe and Euphemia Catherine Stafford on 12 Apr 1921 in Port Elgin, Bruce County, Ontario. He was recorded as Presbyterian minister A J MacGillivray of Guelph. The bride Euphemia Stafford is the daughter of his deceased cousin Sarah McKinnon.9 
1921 CensusAlex and Minnie MacGillivray appeared on the 1921 Census of Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario, at 25 Park Avenue. They rented their 6 room brick home for $35. Alex was 54, born in Ontario, parents born in Scotland, and was a Presbyterian Minister, earning $3000 the previous year [this was a good amount]. Minnie was 54, born in Ontario, father in Ireland, mother Ontario. Their children were James (18, student) and Jean (16.)10 
(Informant) DeathAlexander James McGillivray registered the 1921 death of Ann McGillivray. He was recorded as son A J MacGillivray of Guelph.11
Ann MacGillivray
Death Certificate
(Minister) Marriage A J MacGillivray of Guelph officiated at the marriage of [his first cousin] John Fraser McKinnon and Marion Frances Harper on 28 May 1927 in Toronto, York County, Ontario.12 
Note.In 1928, A J MacGillivray of Toronto amended [his son] James Robertson's birth certificate, changing the recorded birth date from August 20th to 22nd.13 
DeathAlexander died on 1 Jan 1938 in Guelph, Ontario.
Details from the certificate: Alexander James MacGillivray, lived in Guelph 25 years, residence 25 Park Ave, married to Minnie MacGillivray, born in Ontario Sep 10th 1867, age 70 years 3 months, Clergyman, last worked in 1937 after 43 years in this occupation, father Archibald MacGillivray born Scotland, mother Ann Mackinnon born Scotland, informant son R MacGillivray of 215 College. Toronto, burial in Woodlawn Guelph.14 
ObituaryHis obituary was published in Jan 1938.
Dr. MacGillivray, Port Elgin Native passes at Guelph
Former Presbyterian Moderator Was One of Most Widley Known Clergyman
Written date 1938
(Canadian Press Dispatch)
Guelph Jan 3.- Rev, A.J.MacGillivary, 70, former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada and one of the most widely known clergyman in the Dominion, died, in the Guelph General Hospital Saturday. His death followed a short illness.
For twenty-five years minister of Knox Presbyterian Church in Guelph. Dr McGillivray was recognized as one of the leadders of the church he has served for more than four decades and his work on various church boards and committees gained for him a wide connection throughtout Canada.
Born near Port Elgin, Dr. MacGillivary was educated at Ridgetown High School and the University of Manitoba. He received his Master of Arts Degree at Princeton University and graduated from the Princeton Theological Seminary.
First Charge in Oklahoma
Starting his ministry in 1894 he went to Oklahoma and served in the territory just after it had been opened to the first settlers, In 1898 Dr MacGillivray took charge of St. James's Presbyterian Church in London Ont., which was built in his time. Seven years later he moved to Vancouver where he was minister of St. John's Presbyterian Church, which was also built during his pastorate.
Dr. MacGillivray received his Doctor pf Divinity Degree from Westminster College, Vancouver. in 1910 as an acknowledgement of his part in the founding of the institution.
In 1926 he was honored with the highest office in the gift of the church when he became moderator of the General Assembly.
Active in Organizations
He was a member of Waverly Lodge, A.F. and A.M., and was active in many organizations in the city.
Surviving are his widow, the former Minnie Gertrude Sherigan, Palermo, Ont., one son James, of the Department of English of the University of Toronto: one daughter, Mrs. H.G Baker, Belmont, Ont: one brother Rev J.K MacGillivray, Ashfield Ont; and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Stuart and Miss Isabel MacGillivray both of Detroit.
Funeral will take place on Tuesday at 3 p.m., with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Guelph. Pg 13.15
 
Last Edited25 Aug 2014

Citations

  1. Ontario Marriage Registration. McGillivray/Sheridan, #004781-94.
  2. 1901 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, London City Ward 4, sub-district d-6, page 16, line 24.
  3. 1871 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Bruce North (28), Saugeen Township (b-2), page 18.
  4. 1881 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Bruce North (177), Saugeen (c-2), Page 25.
  5. 1891 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Bruce North (52), Port Elgin Village (i), page 27.
  6. Edgar Sutton Robinson, editor, The Ministerial Directory of the Ministers in The Presbyterian Church in the United States (Cincinnati, Ohio: Armstrong & Fillmore, 1898), viewed on Google Books.
  7. Online, History of New St. James Presbyterian Church, London, Ontario. <http://www.newstjames.com/history.html
  8. Online, Whitehern Museum Archives. <http://www.whitehern.ca/result.php?doc_id=W4713
  9. Ontario Marriage Registration. Dawe/Stafford, #008134-21.
  10. 1921 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, Wellington South, SD 27, Page 5.
  11. Ontario Death Registration. Ann McGillivray, #009033-21.
  12. Ontario Marriage Registration. John Fraser MacKinnon & Marion Frances Harper, 1927, #002740.
  13. Ontario Canada Birth Registration. James Robertson McGillivray, #026268-02.
  14. Ontario Death Registration. Alexander James MacGillivray, 1938, #036027.
  15. E-mails from Ida King to Jennifer Kolthammer, "transcription of Rev A.J. MacGillivary obituary."
  16. Ontario Canada Birth Registration. Jean Alexander McGillivray, #027817-05.