Mary Ellen, daughter of Robert Parr and Hannah Charity, was born ____ June 1836 at ________________ Upper Canada (Ontario). She had a tragically short life, dying at the age of 32 on 8 October 1868. At this point in time, it is not known how she died - childbirth? Disease?

She married Robert Beveridge 22 March 1854, both of Mosa Township, Middlesex County, Ontario by a Rev. W Ames. One of the witnesses to the marriage was one "Is'b Parr." The question is, who is this witness? Is this the wife of Mary Ellen's brother George (since we don’t know who George married yet)? Or is this a sibling to Mary Ellen that was previously unknown. At this point, it's speculation as to the answer.

Robert and Mary Ellen were living in Mosa for the 1861 census living in a 1 ½ story log home, with Robert listed as a farmer. Doing the math from the census, Robert was born about 1830, 1831. Daughter Hannah E. was born about 1855 and daughter "Margret" Jane was born about 1866. A male child was recorded as born in 1860 and having died in 1860 of whooping cough.

The Wardsville Ontario cemetery transcription (Ontario Genealogical Society, London Branch) has several pieces to this family. It lists the death of daughters Margaret and Mary (not in the 1861 census) and two death dates, 1866 and 1868 - but no indication of which one is which. There is no headstone.

This transcription has Mary (Parr) Beveridge’s middle name as "Helen". "Helen" with the daughters plot and "Helen" on Mary’s headstone. The family bible had her listed as "Ellen", and subsequent generations had children named "Mary Ellen" which is curious. The 1861 census had "Ellan" listed. Since Mary Ellen was born in Upper Canada, when government vital statistic legislation did not exist, it's unlikely that a definitive record will be found as to her correct name.

Another piece of information from the cemetery transcription is Hannah Armstrong being buried next to Mary. Hannah had remarried and was the widow of Robert Parr, Mary’s mother.

Next to Hannah was buried Jacob Beveridge. He died in 1877 and was a native of Glasgow, Scotland. It may be coincidence (1. buried two graves away from Mary Beveridge and 2. being from Scotland, like Mary Ellen's husband, Robert as listed in the 1861 census) or it may be that Jacob was the father to Robert. At this point though, it’s unproven.

A Robert Beveridge was found in the County of Middlesex Gazetteer and Directory 1864-6. He was listed as being at 2 Concession lot 17. Another Robert Beveridge was found on the 1876 List of Voters for Mosa as living on the 2 concession shf9. It’s likely that they are the same person, but no other names were included in either listing to confirm that, and land records haven’t been obtained as of yet, to prove that it is the same person.

Regardless though, as yet, no further record of Robert Beveridge has been found in Ontario records. What happened to Hannah Beveridge is unknown as well.