The Storm of His Century- The Captain's Adventure 

Grandpa Raeburn, aka Ernie or The Captain was said to have been a great story teller. Beth said she loved to sit and listen to her father’s stories when he was home for the winter. Some cousins were lucky enough to have heard some of those stories. Of all the stories noted by my cousins or Aunt Beth, I had never heard of a story that was of the time he thought he’d ‘never see land again’. His newspaper interviews at that time were brief and non-descriptive. He never had an interview after returning home to the Soo, perhaps to not put fright in the minds of his wife Ethel and his children who were still young in 1924, Beth not yet born. Captain Raeburn was interviewed in 1955, and it was at that time that he mentioned the storm of 1924 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence as “the one time I never thought I’d see land again.” 

I decided to find that storm through numerous newspaper articles of the day. Having never been a mariner myself, I have done the best I can to recreate in my mind what grandpa and his crew might have experienced during the end of the shipping season leading to the storm in 1924.

                                            (Fun with AI photo generation, with the BGSU photo)

                       The Long Forgotten Witch of November 1924, Story of the Kenora

It was nearing the end of the Great Lakes shipping season, and the Kenora had one more run from Lake Superior to Montreal. Heading up, the Kenora arrived at Sault Sainte Marie on Friday, early morning at 4am on October 31st. The Kenora steamed on and continued to Fort William. A Lake Superior storm was brewing.

The first day of November saw the first “Gales of November” sweep across Lake Superior from the west. The SS Glenlyon was thrown off course by heavy seas that were reported as ‘mountains high’ and the ship was dashed upon the rocks near Menagerie Island on the southeastern end of Isle Royale on the west end of Lake Superior. The mate and watchman left the ship in a lifeboat, and their fate was presumed lost for some time time but later accounted for; all others had been rescued soon after she ran aground.

Through this, the crew of the Kenora headed west in Lake Superior and was in Fort William, in the Canadian Thunder Bay by November 3^rd, unloading freight, and then went on to Head of Lakes to load up on 592 tons of oats on November 4^th, and soon after set out to Montreal. By November 5^th Storm Warnings were hoisted for Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron. Captain Raeburn and his crew sailed through without much ado as they headed east on the lake.

By Saturday, November 8^th, the Kenora had passed the Soo by 2am and was on Lake Huron heading toward Detroit. The air temperature in the upper lakes had reportedly dropped 31 degrees in 10 hours with 4 to 6 inches of snowfall and a howling gale of 48mph across Lake Huron. Gales had swept north from Kansas, reported as a blizzard in Lake Superior, and winds westward from the Lower St. Lawrence Valley had merged in Northern Michigan and the upper Great Lakes, and this is reported as the first severe storm of the season and the Kenora pushes on in the path of this gale in Lake Huron. The captain checks in at Detroit Monday, November 9^th at 1:10pm, unscathed.

On November 12^th, the Kenora is reported @ Port Colbourne in Lake Erie and through the Welland Canal to Port Dalhousie by 1:10pm that afternoon.  It is becoming colder with fresh southwest shifting to west winds. There is indication a tropical storm near Bermuda and is making its way towards Novia Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean.--

The crew reached the Lachine canal just west of Montreal on Saturday, November 15^th at 3pm, and were cleared for Montreal and above to head eastward. This trip east to St. John’s on the Island of Newfoundland was a last-minute request of the company and would take no more than a week to complete and that would end the season for the Kenora.  

They proceeded without issue to Newfoundland. The weather was partly cloudy and cool with showers and fresh westerly winds. Behind them to the west was stormy weather.  By November 19, lake traffic was reported ‘at a standstill’ in the lower Great Lakes.  To the east, 70-mile gales in the Northern Atlantic were reported.

The S.S.Kenora of the Canadian Steamship Lines is a 250-foot steamer freighter designed to navigate the current 1924 canals and lakes of the Great Lakes region through Montreal, and now she is headed through the Gulf of the St. Lawrence and into the Northern Atlantic Ocean . When the Kenora arrived in Newfoundland by the 20th, there was an ongoing longshoreman’s strike, and the crew was delayed. The Kenora is eventually reloaded with a reported 2500 tons of oil, fish, lobster, and other local produce and is on her way back to Montreal.

The Great Lakes region begins to experience treacherous storm conditions by news of the 27^th. The Atlantic along the eastern coast is also experiencing treacherous storm conditions.

Captain Raeburn and his crew aboard the Kenora left St. John’s in Newfoundland on November 27 and steamed through a very heavy easterly gale at her back all the way to St. Paul Island – in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. There is a narrow gap in this region to sail.  The Gulf presents with rocky cliffs and shoals to avoid on any windy day, but now they are battling gale-force winds that can toss the ship around and large waves that can capsize at any moment. The Kenora cannot take on water because she could flood and would run the risk of sinking. The crew is on high alert as they battle these easterly winds. The captain at the helm had better have skill to keep this ship alive, back waves and winds are treacherous to maneuver. There was no wireless communication on the ship, and they were slowed down by this weather.

Every minute and every hour was a constant struggle with the waves and wind, but this turned into days… The captain had to then put back to Sydney, Nova Scotia to refuel as there were limited places to do so. This would be their last communication with anyone beyond the ship for several days.

After a couple of days of battling the easterly winds, they then encountered westerly gales with heavy, blinding snow at their bow and port side. At some point, they took shelter in the Aspy Bay of Cape Breton. Just before they approached the Cap Gaspe’ area, a sustained NW gale struck them.

This sustained gale put the Kenora in a perilous situation, battling a grueling head sea that forced the bow to rise and drop, putting significant pressure on the ship and potential structural damage. The Kenora could pitch or roll, and there is engine strain battling these conditions. The crew is on constant alert.  They eat very little as they constantly work. They are exhausted trying to keep the cargo and ship safe and could very well sustain injury trying.

The captain is wondering if they will ever see land again, but maintains his fortitude and continues on.

This gale drove the Kenora back 150 miles off its course. She is now long overdue, and no one has heard from them since they left Sydney; everyone fears they are lost.

By this time, Ethel knows Ernie is long overdue. She had just lost her father on November 1^st and now knows nothing of where her husband is. Nothing. No word whatsoever…

Captain Raeburn then had to work around on the westerly shore and up along the Gaspe’ coast, steering clear of the shoals and rocky cliffs that provided no ports along the way while battling the gales and waves in the blinding snow.

The Kenora was able to reach Cap des Rosiers by December 9^th, around 6:00, and by 8:30, they reached Fame Point [Lac de Fame Point area], where they were finally able to send their first report back to Montreal. Twelve days- after they had left Newfoundland.

From this point they had what the captain called ‘no misadventures’ and sailed through northernly winds and snow of otherwise no concern. Once the company received word that the Kenora was coming, The Lady Gray, a Canadian government icebreaker, made passage for the Kenora and escorted her back to the port of Montreal with the additional escort aid of Marine Department tugs and buoy tenders.

The Kenora arrived in port at Montreal on December 11 and unloaded, reporting a 14 inch snowfall while in the gulf and much cold but no ice until reaching Quebec. Fourteen days of grueling sailing, all the while with no word out to anyone. An otherwise five-day trip. The Kenora had become last ship into Montreal for the season, being a record breaker of 20 years. There was no time to waste as the waters were freezing up and the Kenora had to sail on to reach her winter destination. While Captain Raeburn is making way back to the Great Lakes in the mid-December days between the 11^th – 14th, reports of vessels missing in storms in Lakes Superior and the Huron through Ontario, and plummeting temps to zero. Storms are raging through the eastern U.S. states.

The Kenora was finally ordered to dock in Kingston for the winter; she could not go any further through the icy lakes.

Grandpa was quite unassuming in his interview. He had given all the credit to his crew and ship. He was 41 years old and had been a captain for 12 years in 1924.

 By Holly Spencer

                                               The Weekly British Whig, December 18, 1924

 The Kenora

The Daily Standard December 15, 1924

Williams first farm?

Williams first farm? C 1851

The agricultural census for Hamilton Twp, Northumberland Co Ontario lists William on page 135 #20.
He is listed next to land holder [Robert] R Weir who has 40 acres on con 2 lot 8. It appears as though the census taker was confused and started to list Wm as holder of the 40 acres....Could R. Weir have sold a small piece of his land to Wm to farm?

Wm Rayborn cons 2 lot 8. / 5 acres held & under cultivation / 1-1/4 a under crops & 3-1/4 a under pasture / 1 a of wheat & 6 bushels produce / 3/4 a of potatoes & 50 bushels produce

A very small farm, but a start. R Weir held the land next to Wm, but Edward Weir lived on the land and is recorded so in the personal census. Robert lived close by.

Ireland family connections; Edward Weir is brother to Margaret Weir Reburn, who married John Reburn and lived in Corvacken Townland, Aughnamullen Parish in Monaghan Ireland.

Quebec the first stop

Where in Quebec did the Raeburn's first go? William & Margaret Raeburn's daughter Mary was born in the "Montreal area" c 1844.
Their daughter Margaret Ann was baptised in Chatham, Argenteuil Co Quebec in 1846.

Then there is Margaret Raeburn Livingston b c1786 Ireland.
She married John Livingston in Carrickmacross, Magheross Parish, Monaghan in 1818, close to the proposed townlands of Ireland William & Margaret lived-
It appears that the Livingstons were in Quebec by 1826 per census recording daughter Mary Livingston as born Quebec.
They lived in Terrebonne Quebec 1851 per census, next door to Patrick Hamill.
Patrick Hamill was listed as joint tenant with Wm Reaburn in 1824- Drumcunnion townland, Monaghan Tithe record.

Are the Livingston/Hamill families related to William Raeburn? Did William first bring his family to the "Montreal area" of Terrebonne Quebec to be near the Livingston's?

Reflections of the Captain

Friday sadly was my daughter in law’s father’s funeral. She and her family lost their rock, a much loved and cherished man. Ray was a resident of our small community all of his life, and was well known all around by all. He was a good man, and raised a family of five with his wife JoAnn of forty years. I watched Ray’s grandson, Torin [also my grandson of course] on Friday while they paid their respects. As I looked after Torin now almost two years old, and watched him play, it reminded me…..

I was five years old when my Grandpa Raeburn died. Not old enough to form vivid lasting memories of my own. Very, very few cameo appearances flash within my mind of him. I must rely on family members to tell the story of our very interesting patriarch. Many of those folks that could tell the story have come and gone, and few remain that can still tell me about the Captain. Miscellaneous photographs, newspaper clippings and a little oral folklore are what remain. No scrapbook of his life, or written accounts of his tales on the lakes. I am, a witness in the third person to his life, but will try in any event to put together a recollection of who this man was. In time. Not all to be done in just a day…..

Ernest Ferrier Raeburn died April 6, 1965 at his home in Sault Saint Marie, he was 82 years old. A then retired Great Lakes captain, father of five grown children, and husband to Ethel for fifty-two years; he was also granddad to eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was a grand story teller and weaved stories of adventures on the lake when he came home in the winter to his children, perhaps the townsfolk when he took his daily winter strolls around town. Ernest was raised on a farm in Ontario near Collingwood, and came to the Michigan Soo with his parents at age 16. He may have developed a love for the water visiting relatives in Collingwood, near the shipyards. I have been told he left home and joined an academy for sailing in Ontario, and as we know now later became a captain after a few years as a shipmate.

As I am told a large funeral was attended by not just his family and local friends, but also old lake captains and shipmates he knew. Remembrances of lake tales, and events of old times. Someone told me that my father, who was 46 years old at the time, was pacing back and forth (for what reason I am not aware) baring a ‘striking resemblance’ to Ernie. In my mind I tried to picture my grandfather, at 46 years old, in his captain’s uniform. I really should have written down the stories I was told, but at the time never thought I would want to be recalling the details. I was young, and we all know the young are foolish. I need someone to wave their magic wand and make those stories reappear! I have some work to do…perhaps, more to come : )

My sister Kim, my Dad and I, and Grandpa Raeburn at grandpa's house in the Soo.

Ethel, Ernie & the Titanic

Ethel and Ernie were just a few months away from getting married. The anticipation and excitement was in the air, the dress, the church, the dream of a life beginning. This was certainly a consuming vision in any bride’s dreams. Ernie would have to take time away from his job for the wedding, as he worked a bit far from their soon to be home in the Soo. They were to be married in St. Luke’s Cathedral in Sault, Ontario on July 6, 1912.

As the couple both worked through the months to the wedding, they woke to news one morning that would rattle the nerves of many, and send them to despair and grief. The world was small, and this was the kind of news that would reach around it quickly and hard.

The biggest ship ever built, with a reputation as the ‘Unsinkable’ dove to an icy grave at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, on its virgin voyage. Just a few days after it set sail from Southampton, England, the Titanic did the unthinkable. It sank on April 15, 1912 and took over 1500 of its passengers with it, only some 700 managed to survive the horror. We can only imagine the terror that went through the minds of those fated people that night. The frightening knowledge of fate of those left on the ship. The grief and pity of those who had to leave their loved ones behind as the lifeboats floated them away in the frigid night air.

What was the sentiment of the people around the world? Outrage, most definitively, the builders of the ship never had enough life boats to accommodate all of its passengers. The wealthy lives were regarded higher than any other passengers. People beginning new lives had them preempted by way of arrogance.

What was the sentiment of my grandparents, I wondered. Ethel, was a feisty outspoken young suffragist about to marry…. a steamship captain of the Great Lakes. Ernie, who had been sailing on the Great Lakes since 1905 as a first mate took his first command in that ill-fated year of 1912. Captain Ernest Raeburn took the helm of the City of Chatham, a passenger ship that sailed between Sault Saint Marie and the Blind River. He went on to sail the Great Lakes from The Superior through to the St Lawrence Seaway to Montreal for 46 years. The Great Lakes may not have been the treacherous Atlantic Ocean, but the lakes could take the lives of those who rode the waves just as cruelly.

Did Ethel wish Ernie had picked a different profession? Did the fate of the Titanic spark conversations of prudence, safety and….arrogance of man? Would they weather this life with strength and courage? Absolutely! Did I say Ethel was feisty? Outspoken? A strong woman that was able to keep up with this salty ol’ character….who would have never given up this love of the water, it flowed through his veins. Observances were made and lessons were learned and taught. She kept any fears in check. She lived their married life on land and raised a family, and when the ice froze the path he came home to her, every winter. And they never sank.

Tombstone Tuesday, Wm Jr & Melissa Jane

I wonder....were thse stones once standing?





William Raeburn & Melissa Jane Lillie Raeburn
Pine Grove Cemetery in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan

William Stewart and Family, Queries and Theories

William Stewart the son of Samuel Stewart was born abt 1800 and lived in County Monaghan Ireland. Susan McCormack was born abt 1800 in Ireland and the two married sometime about 1818, the year their first son was born, Samuel born 1818 County Monaghan Ireland. The couple had a total of 8 children born in County Monaghan Ireland; Samuel, John, William, George, Mary, Alexander, Margaret and Richard.

William took his family to Canada around 1850, and first lived in Toronto area near a Stewart relative. He later moved the family to Grey County, Ontario in the Maple Valley region of Osprey Township. Here they were members of the Presbyterian church and were neighbors of William Raeburn and family.

Williams son Richard married Mary Raeburn the daughter of William Raeburn & Margaret McCormack. They lived on the farm that Richards father established in Maple Valley. Richard and Mary had 7 children; Two twin sons that died after birth, Margaret, William, James, George and William all grew to adulthood.

William Stewart died in 1876, his wife Susan died in 1860 and they are buried in the Badjeros Cemetery in Osprey Twp.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Theory ~ William Stewart and William Raeburn knew each other in County Monaghan. Perhaps attended the same Presbyterian church, along with the McCormack families. If so there are quite a few Stewarts listed in the
Tithe Applotment Book for 1829/30 in Monaghan:

Ematris Parish ~ Samuel and William Stuarts as well as McCormacks.
Aughnamullen Parish ~ Samuel and other Stuarts and one [McCormack in Cordevlis townland] near Ematris.

Query ~ Were Susan McCormack and Margaret McCormack related? HOW?

What churches might these folks have attended when living in Monaghan?
[William Raeburn in Aughnamullen Parish - Corvacken to Drumcunnion townlands]

Are We Cousins?

Imagine a Raeburn family moving from Monaghan Ireland into Quebec , through Ontario into Sault Saint Marie, Michigan and at last settling into Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan. The Wm Raeburn family.

Now imagine another Reburn family moving from Monaghan Ireland to New York, USA, and later settling in Sparta, Kent County, Michigan. The Edward Reburn family.

We never met. My line is from Ontario...when my family moved to * my new friends asked me “Are you related to the * Reyburns? “ NO, I said, besides they spell their name different. I was 14 years old. They were only 12 miles away. Some [untold] years later the ancestor hunt begins. I met Edward Reburn’s descendant Rick Reyburn through this hunt only to find out the * Reyburns may indeed be related.

John Reburn b abt 1805 Corvacken, Monaghan, Ireland m Margaret Weir.
Edward Reburn b 1838 their son [8 total siblings]

William Raeburn b abt 1810 Monaghan, Ireland m Margaret McCormack
William Raeburn b 1853 their son [7 total siblings]


ARE THEY COUSINS?
Edward Reburn William Raeburn Jr


Thank you Rick Reyburn for Edward Reburn photo

William Raeburn & family

William RAEBURN b.1810-Ireland;d.1897-Nottawasaga Twp.,Simcoe Co,Ontario
sp: Margaret MCCORMICK b.1810 Ireland;d.1891-Nottawasaga Twp.,Simcoe Co,Ontario
2. Eliza RAEBURN b.Abt 1834-Ireland;1900-Nottawasaga Twp.,Simcoe Co.,Ontario
sp: James CREIGHTON b.1832-Cobourg Ontario;m.1857;d.1916 Creemore,Ontario
2. James RAEBURN b.Abt 1839-Ireland;d.1881-Nottawasaga Twp,Simcoe Co,Ontario Canada
2. Jane RAEBURN b.1840-Ireland;d.1915-Grantham Twp,Lincoln Co,Ontario
sp: John SCOTT b.1841-Quebec;m.1866;d.1927-Grantham Twp,LC,Ontario
2. Mary RAEBURN b.1844-Montreal area,Quebec;d.1925-Maple Valley,Grey Co.,Ontario
sp: Richard STEWART b.1840-County Monaghan Ireland;m.1871;d.1935-Osprey Twp.Grey Co,Ontario
2. Margaret Ann RAEBURN b.1846-Quebec;d.1914-St. Catherines,GT,Lincoln Co,Ontario
2. Susannah RAEBURN b.1848-Northumberland Co.,Ontario;d.1937-St.Catharines,L,Ontario
sp: Albert SINCLAIR b.1850-Haldimand Twp.,NCO;m.1876;d.1929-St.Catherines,LC,Ontario
2. William RAEBURN jr b.1853-Northumberland Co.,Ontario;d.1935-Sault Saint Marie,Michigan
sp: Melissa Jane LILLIE b.1855-Harrison Twp. Potter Co,Penn;m.1880;d.1927-Collingwood,SC,Ontario

Who are William Raeburn's siblings?

Is John Reburn b c1805 of Corvacken townland - Williams brother?
Is Mary Rayburn b c1803 m John Fleming and lived in Derrygooney townland - Williams sister?
Is William Reaburn listed in the Monaghan Tithe of 1824 Drumcunnion townland related?
George Reburn is listed in the 1848-64 Griffith's Valuation in Drumcunnion - are they also related?

Corvacken, Derrygooney, and Drumcunnion townlands are neighboring townlands in Aughnamullen Parish, Co Monaghan.

The Raeburn Story

Here is the story of the Raeburn's as I have learned and researched through the years. My goal here is to reach out to others in the hunt for our ancestors, and hoping that someone may be able to add family information to the quest.

William Raeburn was born c 1810 in Ireland, as was his wife Margaret McCormack b c 1810.

They have connections to Reburns of Aughnamullen Parish, County Monaghan. Three townlands there in particular are of interest to me; Corvacken, Derrygooney and Drumcunnion. I will never rule out other locations! There are many Reburns concentrated in three parishes of Monaghan; Aughnamullen, Magheross, and Magheracloone. The surname Reburn is recorded in Monaghan as early as the early 1700's. The name is spelled in various ways.

William and Margaret had three children in Ireland- Eliza, Jane and James. The family emigrated to Quebec by 1844 at the latest, when another daughter Mary was born. Another daughter, Margaret was born in Quebec in 1846.

The family moved on to Northumberland Co. in Ontario by 1848 and lived next door to Edward Weir the brother in law of John Reburn of Corvacken, Monaghan. Daughter Eliza married James Creighton and lived in the neighboorhood near her parents in Northumberland County. Son James worked as a harness maker, Jane, Mary and Margaret were schoolgirls. Two more children were born in Northumberland; Susannah and William. By 1863 the family had moved to Nottawasaga Twp of Simcoe County Ontario, again near a Monaghan family of interest- the William Stewart family in Badjeros, Osprey, Grey County.

Daughter Jane married John Scott and lived in Simcoe, later moving to the St.Catherines area, Margaret never married and later moved in with the Scott's. James never married as far as we know and lived with his parents and farmed and worked as a harness maker. Mary married Richart Stewart son of William Stewart & Susan McCormack (formerly of Co Monaghan), and lived in Osprey Twp, Grey County. Susannah married Albert Sinclair, and they later moved to the St. Catherines area also. William married Melissa Jane Lillie and remained on the Raeburn farm in Nottawasaga of Simcoe County until c 1899 when the family moved to Sault Saint Marie, Michigan.