Margaret Jane Knowles Genealogy Source Records

**Margaret Jane Knowles Genealogy Source Records**
Contents Baptismal Record Birth Record Marriage Records Divorce Records Death Record Obituary Cemetery Records Tombstone (possibly a plaque) Last Will and Testament

**Birth and Baptism Record**
St. Matthew's Presbyterian Church
Montreal, Canada
Superior Court Prothanotary Office Province of Quebec District of Montreal True Extract on the reverse, from the register of civil status of St. Matthew's Presbyterian Church for the year 1878 Montreal, February 7th 1977 Birth and Baptism Margaret Jane Knowles Margaret Jane daughter of William Knowles Policeman Montreal and Isabella Catherine Black his wife, born on the nineteenth day of April Eighteen hundred and Seventy Eight. and baptized by me on the Tenth day of July same year, S. Somoville Shobbs Minister William Knowles Somoville Shobbs

**Birth/Baptismal Record Comments**
Margaret Jane Knowles Baptismal Record at St. Matthew's Presbyterian Church in Montreal indicates she was born April 18, 1878 and baptised on 10 July 1878. While it is quite clear on the Baptismal record, the 1900 Census indicates Margaret's birth was March 1878 and her death record and cemetery record indicate March 19, 1878 instead of April 18, 1878. Perhaps the early death of her mother when she was 14 caused confusion for Margaret on her exact month and day of birth or it is possible that the minister made an error in this record. For consistency and because the Birth/Baptismal record is the earliest record, April 18, 1878 has been used as her date of birth.

Marriage Application
State of Illinois Cook County
No. 258013 James Oscar Jordan of Chicago, in the County of Cook, State of Illinois, being duly sworn and deposed says that he is of the age of 26 years, and that Miss Margaret Jane Knowles of Chicago, in the County of Cook, State of Illinois is of the age of 18 years, and that said above named persons are single and unmarried, and may lawfully contract and be joined in marriage. Subscribed and sworn before me this 30 day of December 1896 James Oscar Jordan (signature) Philip Knopf Clerk of the County Court (signature) By Illegible Deputy (signature)

**Marriage Application Comments**
James Oscar was born in February 1868 and was thus 28 and not 26. This Marriage record and the 1900 Census record suggested James was born in either 1870 or 1872 and had me on the wrong track for a long time. While it is possible that he wanted to imply to his wife or her family that he was younger, I found in James' case that he had a long history of providing misleading information.	Margaret was born in April 1878 and was 18 years old.

Marriage License
State of Illinois, Cook County
No. 258013 The People of the State of Illinois To any Person Legally Authorized to Solemnize Marriage, Greetings Marriage may be Celebrated between Mr.James Oscar Jordan of Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, of the age of 26 years, and Miss Margaret Jane Knowles of Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois of the age of 18 years. Witness Philip Knopf, County Clerk and Clerk of the County Court of said Cook County, and the Seal thereof, at my office in Chicago, this 30th day of December A.D. 1896. Philip Knopf (signature) County Clerk and Clerk of the County Court State of Illinois, Cook County I, Reverend H. Francis Perry a Clergyman hereby certify that Mr. James Oscar Jordan and Miss Margaret Jane Knowles were united in Marriage by me at Chicago in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, on the 30th day of December 1896. *Rev H. Francis Perry* (signature) 513 - 62nd Street

**Marriage License Comments**
The Decmber 31, 1896 Chicago Tribune on Page 5 listed the Marriage Licences for the previous day (December 30th, 1896). Listed was "James O. Jordan Margaret Jane Knowles 26 18", the 26 and 18 being their ages.	Their clergyman was Reverend H. Francis Perry. Rev. Perry's address was listed in 1902 Directory as 513 W. 62nd at Englewood Baptist, 62nd and Stewart.

**Divorce Records**
James and Margaret Jordan's Divorce Records are stored separately because of their length.	Link to James and Margaret Jordan's Divorce Records

Marriage License
State of Illinois, Cook County
No. 873353 Marriage License State of Illinois, Cook County To any Person Legally Authorized to Solemnize Marriage Greetings Marriage may be Celebrated in the County of Cook and State of Illinois between Mr. Robert A. Graham of Chicago in the County of Cook and State of Illinois of the age of 45 years, and Miss Margaret J. Jordan of Chicago in the County of Cook and State of Illinois of the age of 42 years. Witness Robert M. Sweitzer, County Clerk of the County of Cook and the Seal through any office in Chicago this 24 day of June A. D. 1920. State of Illinois, Cook County I, R. Keene Ryan Presbyterian Clergyman hereby certify that Mr. Robert A. Graham and Miss Margaret J. Jordan were united in Marriage by me at Chicago in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, on the 28th day of June 1920. *R. Keene Ryan* (signature) 5614 Green Street

**Marriage License Comments**
Robert Graham's age of 45 suggests that he was born 1874-75.	.

**Certificate of Death**
**State of California**
State File: 59-080019 Certificate Number: 7034-01557 1. Name of Deceased: Margaret Jane Graham 2. Date of Death: August 20, 1959 7:50 P.M. 3. Sex: Female 4. Color or Race: White 5. Birthplace: Canada 6. Date of Birth: March 19, 1878 7. Age: 81 8. Name and Birthplace of Father: William Knowles - Ireland 9. Name and Birthplace of Mother: Elizabeth Black - Ireland 10. Citizen of What Country: U. S. A. 11. Social Security Number: None 12. Last Occupation: Homemaker 13. Number of Years at last Occupation: 62 14. Name of Last Employer Company or Firm: None 15. Kind of Industry or Business: Own Home 16. If Decendent was ever in Armed Forces give War: None 17. Marriage Status: Widowed 18a. Name of Present Spouse: --- 18b. Present or Last Occupation of Spouse: --- 19a. Place of Death: Pine Tree Lodge 19b. Street Address: 3815 Markridge Road 19c. City: Glendale 19d. County: Los Angeles 19e. Length of Stay in County of Death: 32 Years 19f. Length of Stay in California: 37 Years 20a. Last Usual Residence: 135 N. 13th Street 20b. If inside City: Yes 20c. City: Santa Paula 20d. County: Ventura 20e. State: California 21a. Name of Informant: Arthur S. Jordan 21b. Address of Informant: 135 N. 13th Street, Santa Paula, California 22a. Physician: I hereby certify that death occurred at the hour, place and date stated above and the causes are related below and that I attended deceased from 11/20/59 to 8/20/59 and that I last saw the deceased alive on 8/19/59. 22b. Physician: Hebard, Glendale, Cal. 22c. Date Signed: 8-21-59 23. Type of Internment: Cremation 24. Date: 8-24-59 25. Name of Cemetery: Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Crematory 26. Name of Embalmer: Richard Decher 27. Name of Funeral Director: Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Assn. Glendale, California 29. Cause of Death 29a. Death was caused by: Chronic Myocarditis - Unknown Duration 29b. Due to: General Arteriosclerosis - Unknown Duration

**Death Record Comments**
The informant was Margaret's son, Arthur Jordan. Sixty-two years as a homemaker is exactly correct since she was married on December 30, 1896. The record states indicates her father was born in Ireland. That is correct although there were claims that he was born in Scotland. The birthplace of her mother was either within the province of Quebec or Ireland. Since the data in this death record appears fairly accurate, it raises the liklihood she was born in Ireland. What is unusal is the her date of birth is listed as March 19, 1878. The year is correct and the month matches the 1900 Census; however, the baptismal certificate indicates April 18th quite clearly. It is almost as if she used March 19th from at least the time she was 18 and possibly before. Perhaps the early death of her mother when she was 14 caused confusion. Since she was widowed, Robert Graham died before 1959.	Thirty-seven years in California implies 1932-1933. There is a date 2-06-34 written nearby. Is it possible that February 6, 1934 is the date she came to California? While she stayed with Art in Santa Paul, Ventura County, she died in Los Angeles County. The record indicates she lived 32 or 37 years in California in Los Angeles county. Probably it was the first 32 years with the later being with her son Art. The dates the physician attended probably are 11/20/58 to 8/20/59 not 11/20/59 to 8/20/59.

Obituary
Los Angeles Paper
Sunday August 23, 1959 Page x
Margaret Graham, beloved mother of Herbert A. Jordan, Mrs. Frances F. Hollinshead, Edward A., Charles J. and Arthur S. Jordan, sister of William F. Knowles and Mrs. Murial Leonhardt; also survived by 15 grandchildren. Services at 11:30 am Monday, Wee Kirk o' Heather, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale. Forest Lawn Mortuary in charge.

**Obituary Comments**
The obituary was obtained November 26, 1976 and the text transcribed to notebook paper. The newspaper was not recorded but most likely it was from a microfilm copy of a Los Angeles area newspaper.	The page number was not recorded.

**Cemetery Record**
Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks and Mortuaries Glendale, California December 9, 1976 Dear Mr. Jordan, This is a reply to your letter requesting information concerning Margaret Jane Graham. Mrs. Graham was born March 19, 1878 in Montreal, Canada. Her mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Black, born in Ireland. Her father's name was William Knowles also born in Ireland. Her service was held in the Wee Kirk o' the Heather on Monday, August 24, 1959 at 11:30 AM. Her cremated remains were inurned in Niche 19049, Columbarium of Consecration on September 4, 1959. Date of Death was August 20, 1959. The surviving immediate family were 4 sons, Herbert A., Edward A., Charles J. and Arthur S. Jordan. A daughter, Francis F. Hollinshead, brother William F. Knowles, and sister Muriel Leonhardt.

**Cemetery Record Comments**
Thetranscription included key parts of the December 9, 1976 letter. The data in this record is consistent with the death record. It is believed that at the time of her death, all her children lived in California.	The location of her remains are at Forest Law Memorial-Parks and Mortuaries, Glendale, California in section Columbarium of Consecration, Niche 19049.

**Last Will and Testament and Distribution of Estate Search**
A request was in 1978 of the Clerk of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles to search for the last will and testament for Margaret Jane Graham who died on August 20, 1959.	The January 1978 response was as follows. A search of the indexes for the matter referred to From 8-20-59 to 12-31-65 has been made and we find no record in this office. Dated 1-9-78, County Clerk of Los Angeles.