The Extract of entries from an Old Parochial Register in Scotland reads as follows: 11th October 1836 “James Barrie Mason in New Scone and Margaret Anderson his wife had a daughter born the 6th current and baptized by the name of Emilia.” “James Barrie Mason in New Scone & Margaret Anderson his wife had a daughter born the 6th May 1834 and baptized by the name Barbara Stratton.” There was an additional daughter, named Ann, but I have not found much information about her.
Emilia (also known as Emily) was my mother’s maternal great grandmother. She is one of my favorite ancestors. She had great fortitude as you will see. And she was from Scotland!
My mother’s Aunt Emily Slaback Anderson gave an accounting of Emily and her husband Ephraim Sanford to her son Jim Anderson. I am fortunate that he shared a copy with me. I will share some excerpts with you.
In Emily Anderson’s words: “The history of the Barrie-Sanford family started in Scotland with the James Barrie family. My great-grand father had three daughters: Ann, Barbara and Emily. He lost his wife when the girls were quite young and later married a woman who, according to Grandma, did not make a good step-mother and was rather indolent.
A daughter, Jane, was born to them and this didn’t help the family situation….The step-mother spent much time in front of the fireplace toasting her feet. The girls secretly wished her clothing would catch on fire. Lo and behold, one day it really happened much to the pleasure of the three girls. Grandma like to tell about this incident, and would chuckle while she was telling it.”
In March of 1853, Emily, along with her Uncle David Barrie and other relatives sailed from Liverpool and landed in Montreal seven weeks later. From Montreal, they went to New York state, spent a short time there and then eventually made their way to Wisconsin.
Emily Barrie married Ephraim Sanford on October 8, 1855 in Kickapoo, Vernon County, WI. I have no knowledge of where they actually met. They had 10 children: Mary Jane (1856-1923), James Bernard (1858-1931), Charles (1859-186?), George D (1860-1934), Barbara Ann (1862-1950), Elmer (1863-1927), Eliza Adeline (1864-1962), Alice (1869-1962), Ruth Elnora (1871-1956), Ona Marguerite (1872-?). Ephraim enlisted in the Wisconsin infantry during the Civil War. Emily saved Ephraim’s army pay and with this they were able to buy a farm on Camp Creek.
Emily Anderson continues: “I cannot remember when Grandma wasn’t bothered with rheumatism; her rugged life left her quite crippled. She not only care for her own family, but helped the neighbors when there was sickness in the family. She was always on call when a new baby was born–a doctor was nearly unheard of at that time. She raised herbs and made her own medicine. “
The part that Emily doesn’t mention is that after the war Ephraim came back a changed man. He had suffered from chronic diarrhea and had contracted typhoid fever while in Georgia during June of 1864. He complained of headaches. And it eventually became clear that he could not stay at home. He was admitted to the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane on March 26, 1872. It was said that he had become increasingly violent and the older boys had found him trying to hang himself one morning when they went to the barn to do chores. This occurred while Emily was pregnant with Ona, who was born in November of that year.
Eventually, Emily Sanford sold the farm and bought a house in Viola where she lived the rest of her life. She received a government pension for Ephraim’s service and disability. She paid her taxes and lived on a pension that ranged between 8 and 12 dollars per month. She was a thrifty Scots woman! She spent much of her time in the dining room as it had a big double window with a southern exposure, a wide shelf or sill to hold plants and her sewing equipment. Her sewing consisted mostly of piecing quilts and sewing carpet rags.
Emily Barrie Sanford died January 10, 1911 and is buried beside Ephraim in the Viola Cemetery.
