My Family Tree

Elizabeth was the second daughter of Thomas Beer and Jane Robertson, born January 6 1837 on Prince Edward Island. George Livingston, bachelor, and Elizabeth Beer, spinster, were married in June 1872. None of their children were in the PEI Baptismal Index.

According to George's will, transcribed on the Island Register, the five children alive at the time of his death were were WILLIAM BOYD, JAMES ALBERT, GEORGE ARCHIBALD, JANE ROBERTSON and EVA MAY.

However, in the 1881 census record for Elizabeth and George there were three additional children named Livingston, two of whom were born before their marriage: Boyd, Catharine and David. No earlier marriage could be found for either George or Elizabeth. Some genealogies say that David, b. 1872, was George and Elizabeth's son, which was possible. The History of Clyde River says that David died a year after his birth, in 1873. Was David simply a mistake in the 1881 census, and should have been the son William, who is missing from the household? Although William's middle name was Boyd, the Boyd in the 1881 census was almost 5 years older.

It is also possible that the three children were from another family. In a small community like Clyde River, it seems unlikely that Elizabeth or George had two natural children before their marriage.

There are other issues with the census data for this family. In the 1881 census "James" is 6, and Jane is not listed, but in 1891, Jane is 15 and James is 13. Then in the 1901 census, James A. is 29, and Janie R. is 22. The eldest child in 1891 was William, age 18, but there was no William living with the family in 1881. William Boyd was also identified as George's olderst son in his will.

1881 census:
Name: George Livingston
Birth Year: 1849, Birthplace: Prince Edward Island
Religion: B. Presb., Nationality: Scotch (Scotish)
Occupation: Farmer
Province: Prince Edward Island, Queens, Lot 31
Household Members:
George Livingston 32
Elizabeth Livingston 37
Boyd Livingston 13
Catharine Livingston 11
David Livingston 8
James Livingston 6

Elizabeth was a widow in the next census, age 50, with William (18), Janie (15), James (13), Eva (10) and George (6).

In the 1901 census, Elizabeth was the head of household, with William B (born 22 April 1874), James (29 March 1877), Janie (22 June 1879), Eva (13 May 1882), and George A (12 Nov 1885).

Elizabeth's obituary in the Guardian newspaper, February 23 1911: There passed peacefully away at Clyde River, February 1st after a prolonged illness of four years Elizabeth widow of the late George Livingstone aged seventy three years. She was buried at Clyde River Cemetery beside her husband who predeceased her twenty two years. She leaves to mourn the loss of a loving mother, two sons: James and George at Clyde River, and two daughters, Jane, wife of Albert Boyle, Somerville, Mass; and and Eva, wife of Austin Hyde, Clyde River. There were two brothers, James and William Beer, and one sister, Mrs. George Rodd of Milton.

James' obituary also named only George, William, Jane and Eva May.

Some information came from The Livingstons of Clyde River on the Island Register and The History and Stories of Clyde River