Jessie Houston
Jessie Turnbull Houston (nee Currie) (27 April 1896 - 23 November 1980) was a wool industry worker in Almonte, and later, Perth, Canada.
Parentage
- John Currie and Mary Riddell are listed as her parents on her 1915 marriage certificate
- She is listed in Mary Riddell's 1929 obituary as being her daughter
- She is listed in Grace Wilson's 1983 obituary as being her sibling
However:
- She is listed in the 1911 census as being the granddaughter of John Currie
- John Currie's 1911 obituary does not count her as among his daughters, despite mentioning her name
- Most damningly, Mary would have been at least 51 years old at the time of Jessie's birth.
Thus, Jessie was likely born out of wedlock to one of John's children. At the time, Walter was married since 1893, but John would have been 17, Christena 23, and Mary 15. Christena is therefore the likeliest to be the true mother.
Marriage
On 11 November 1915 she married Alex Houston (1890-1972), a bricklayer.
A description of the event appeared in the local newspaper:
Houston-Currie. At the Presbyterian manse on Wednesday evening of this week, at 7 o'clock, Miss Jessie T. Currie was united in marriage to Mr. Alex. Houston, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Houston, Rev. S. G. Brown performing the ceremony. The bride was dressed in cream serge with shadow lace blouse, and was attended by Miss Grace Currie as bridesmaid, Mr. Wm. Ryder being groomsman. After the ceremony the wedding party, accompanied by a few of the near relatives, motored over to the home of Mr. John Ryder, New England, where the wedding supper was partaken of, and a few hours spent in social intercourse and merriment. Among the gifts received was a rocking chair from the bride's co-workers in the knitting mill. Sincere good wishes for future happiness and prosperity are extended by their friends and well-wishers.
— The Almonte Gazette, 12 November 1915
Later life
According to Marilyn's obituary, Jessie had two "daughters", although only Marilyn was a biological one:
- Marilyn Ruth, who married an Arnold Clarence Gilmour
- Vivian, who married a Russell Rose
Death
Just months after the early death of her only biological daughter, she died in 1980.
Sources
Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1826-1936 Record
The Almonte Gazette, 19 November 1915, [1]