William Slater

Other Events and Attributes:

• _FGLINK: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127157134
• _FGRAVE: 127157134
• Alt. Birth: 1800, ancrum, Scottish Borders, Scotland; as recorded in find a grave

Notes:

Died:
in the 86th year of his age
1885, Friday November 27, The Almonte Gazette front page
Another Old Resident Gone.
-- Some time ago we published Mr W. Slater's recollections of Sir Walter Scott, which were very interesting and characteristic. To-day we have to record the death of the narrator, which took place at his son's residence, White Lake on Monday last. The deceased was well known in Almonte, and he had a somewhat interesting history. He came to Canada about 55 years ago, and worked in Montreal for a year. About the end of the year he engaged with Mr Kerr, of Montreal, but whilst walking round the city the two became separated, and Mr Slater set out on a hunt for Mr Kerr, to whom he has lent his watch, as that gentleman's was in the hands of a watchmaker, During his search for Mr Kerr he fell in with the late Mr John Gemmill, of Almonte (father of the gentleman so well known as "Major" Gemmill) who at that time had to drive to Montreal, when business called him there. The two entered into an agreement, and as the result Mr Slater, minus his watch, came to Almonte and remained with the Messrs Gemmill (father and son) about fifty years. About three years ago Mr Slater paid a visit to Montreal, and was successful in finding Mr Kerr, and from that gentleman received his watch, which was ticking away as cheerfully and steadily as it was fifty years before. Mr Slater lost his wife -- a sister of Messrs William, John and Allan Gilmour -- about 33 years ago, and did not again marry. He was a very robust and vigorous man, never having known to be ill, and died at the very advanced age of 85, of general breakup of the system. He was perfectly conscious to the last. He went to White Lake to live with his son about one year ago. He has left behind him a family of three sons and three daughters. The body of deceased was brought to the 8th line cemetery for burial on Wednesday, where were gathered many who had known him in by-gone years. Mr Slater lived through a very interesting period of the world's history, and could talk very pleasantly about the changes he had seen, as well as about the events of his boyhood days. Thus the links binding the present to the past are being broken one by one.

William married Isabelle Gilmour in 1839 in Lanark County, Canada West. Isabelle (daughter of Allan A. Gilmour and Margaret Anderson) was born on 3 Apr 1815 in Neilston, East Renfrewshire, Scotland; was christened on 9 Apr 1815 in Neilston, East Renfrewshire, Scotland; died on 30 May 1852 in Lanark County, Canada West; was buried in Auld Kirk Cemetery, Ramsay, Mississippi Mills, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Mary Slater
2. Allan Slater was born on 12 Oct 1840 in Ramsay Township, Lanark County, Canada West; died on 4 Oct 1934 in Manitoba, Canada.
3. Margaret Ann Slater was born in 1843 in Ramsay Township, Lanark County, Canada West; and died.
4. William James Slater was born in 1850 in Ontario, Canada; died on 25 Nov 1870 in Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada.