My Family Tree

Elizabeth McFadyen was the seventh child, and youngest daughter, of Archie and Mary Anne (Beer) McFadyen of Lot 31. According to the PEI Baptismal Index she was born on 24 March 1865 and baptized 10 June 1869; since the records for other members of the family show a baptism within months of the birth, the 1865 is perhaps an error and should be 1869.
In the 1881 census, her age is smudged, and could be read as 14 or 16; in 1891 as 22; and in 1901 as 31; in the 1901 census she gave her date of birth as 22 March 1870. She gave her age as 50 in the 1921 census. According to a note in the Summerside Journal, she died at the age of 89 in 1956.
Elizabeth McFadyen married Johnstone Mann in Zion Presbyterian in 1892.
She must have been a strong woman. When her husband died suddenly in his forties, she was left with a farm to manage and a baby girl, twin toddlers and three older boys, the eldest of whom was 9. Census records don't mention a hired man living in the house, although some of her husband's brothers lived on neighbouring farms and may have helped. Elizabeth gave her occupation as farmer in the 1911 census, and the three older boys were "farmer's sons".
During the war, Robertson went overseas, where he was wounded; in the second world war, son Johnstone was on a submarine cable ship, working in a potentially dangerous situation.
In 1921, Elizabeth was the head of household and a farmer, with children Leslie (27), Keir (24), Johnstone (21) and Hazel (20). Robertson and Allison were living together on another farm. Leslie was a farmer; Keir was a lobster fisherman; and Johnstone was a cheesemaker. Hazel was keeping house.

1911 census:
Name: Elizabeth Mann
Marital Status: Widowed, Age: 41
Birth Date: Mar 1870, Birthplace: Prince Edward Island
Tribal: Scotch (Scotish)
Province: Prince Edward Island, District: Queens, Sub-District: Part - Township 20
Place of Habitation: Burlington
Elizabeth Mann 41
Leslie A Mann 18
Robertson A Mann 17 - 2 months in school
William K Mann 15 - 6 months in school
Johnson A Mann 11 - three youngest, all 10 months/year in school
Allison B Mann 11
Hazel E Mann 10

She was healthy into her 80s, and it was her custom to walk from her farm, outside of Kensington, into the town of Kensington once a week. She was known as Mother to her grandchildren, and the snapshot of her as an older woman is how they remembered her.

A lengthy obituary was published in the Guardian.

Many relatives and friends from far and near were filled with deep regret to hear of the sudden passing of Mrs. Johnstone Mann in her 89th year.
Mrs. Mann was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Archibald MacFadyen of Clyde River a family of seven. She came to live in Burlington as the wife of Johnstone Mann where in her home, her church and her community she was loved, revered and honoured. Early in her happy married life she was called upon to mourn a most devoted husband leaving her with six small children with her own hands and the help of God she kept them all together, until they were able to do for themselves.
All who were near and dear to her as one by one her sisters and brothers were taken from her.
Possessed of unusual Christian grace she bore these great sorrows as only a real Christian could.
She was a woman that was loved by old and young. She will be greatly missed in her home where many pleasant evenings were spent there by friends and neighbours. Words cannot express what she meant to her family and her vacant place can never be filled. she leaves to her family not worthy goods but a shining example of a good mother and a true friend.
Honest, trustworthy and possessed of a cheerful and humorous disposition and those who lived near her knew what a kind friend and neighbour she was as at any hour of the day or night she was ready and willing to assist anyone in time of sickness or trouble. At a early age she affiliated herself wit the Presbyterian Church and was ever a loyal and consistent member.
She leaves to mourn a family of six: Leslie, Kensington; Robertson, Kensington; Keir, Burlington; Allison, Kensington; Johnstone, Moncton; Hazel (Mrs. Roscoe MacDonald), York; twenty-two grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren who mourn the loss of a loving and devoted mother. the many letters and cards of sympathy received of which her family gratefully acknowledge were silent testimonies to her memory.
The funeral was the largest seen for many years from the Geddie Memorial Church.