Descendants of James MacLean & Florence Spears
James, Catherine, Florence and Mary Ellen (1917)
James MacLean immigrated to Canada from Inverness-Shire Scotland in 1896.
He married Florence Maude Spears on October 11, 1911 in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.
Florence was born in 1882 in Beaver Harbour, Nova Scotia.
Florence was the granddaughter of Donald Livingstone, school master of Murray Harbour, P.E.I.
She was previously married to William D. McKay on August 20th, 1898 and they had one son Basil Stanley,
who was born in 1899. William McKay died on October 26th, 1905 at 30 years of age.
James and Florence lived at Lot 60 - Lewes P.E.I. in the early 1920's with Catherine and Mary Ellen.
James MacLean worked in the shipping department of Moirs, Confectioners in Halifax from 1915 to
1921, he was top salesman in Nova Scotia for Fuller Brush Co., in 1926 and the manager of Halifax
Furnishers, Ltd. until his retirement. James was an active member of th Presbyterian Church of Canada.
GENERATION NO.3
Basil Stanley MacLean
When Florence married James MacLean, Basil was 12 years old and took on the McLean surname.
Basil was a Gunner in World War I of the 16th Battery, 5th Brigade of the Canadian Field Artillery,
in the British Expedition Force. He was killed in action in France on August 30, 1918 at the tender
age of 18 years.
Basil Stanley MacLean in Petawawa, Ontario (1917)
Catherine Jane MacLean was born on May 28, 1911 in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.
Catherine was adopted by Florence and James MacLean on October 7th, 1913, at the tender age of 2 years.
Her paternal mother, Mary S......, gave her to the Salvation Army Maternity Hospital & Children's Home
in Halifax. It is suspect that her paternal father actually was James McLean.
Catherine was married to Clifford Thomas Roache, who was a veteran of the Second World War.
He worked as a mechanic at the HMC Dockyard in Halifax for 25 years. Cliff had two sisters,
Alice (Mrs. Holland Sheppard)of Ottawa and Florence (Mrs. Bernard Wright) of England.
Cliff is buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Nova Scotia.
Mary Ellen MacLean was born on September 10, 1914 in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton.
After Mary's mother Florence died, her father married Angusena Singleton (Campbell). This is where she
was aquainted with three step-brothers, Raymond, John, Chester, and one step-sister -Dolly.
Mary graduated from the Halifax Stenography College in 1937. She then worked as a bookkeeper and
stenographer for the Coal-o-matic Heating Co. for 5 years, then the Canadian National Telegraph in Halifax
for 3 years, then she was employed by Stein Bros. Co. Ltd in Halifax. Mary married Frank Edward Keddy
on June 3, 1942 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Mary died on June 24, 1991 in Halifax, of Coronary Heart Disease at 76 years of age
and is buried with her father in Camp Hill Cemetery, Halifax.
Mary was a petite, kind women who spent many hours reading, writing friends and family and watching
television. She loved animals especially their dog "Nicky" who they had for over 15 years. She was
interested in coin collecting, knitting, antiques, and politics.
Her husband of 48 years, Frank Edward Keddy was a strong and patient man who enjoyed a bottle or two of beer.
During the Second World War, he built barracks in Sleepy Cove, on the outskirts of Halifax. After the war, Mary and
Frank moved to Toronto, where Frank continued his carpentry skills working for Bob Grossi and St. Raphel's Nursing Home
until he retired. They lived in Toronto for 25 years. In 1961, they bought a cottage north of Toronto, on Lake Simcoe,
and moved there in 1969. Frank often talked about his childhood in Martin's River, and enjoyed wood carving, singing and playing his accordion.
In 1982, they moved back to Halifax. Frank died on February 27, 1999 at 88 years of age.
He is also buried at Camp Hill Cemetery, in Halifax.
Mary Ellen and Catherine Jane in Halifax (1917)
At the time of the Halifax Explosion: James, Florence, Catherine and Mary Ellen lived at
10 Grafton Street in Halifax. During the explosion Florence was badly injured when the living room window
shattered cutting her face and resulted in blindness.
Florence greaved for her son Basil's passing and became very depressed until her own death on February 14, 1921.
Florence is buried in Caledonia, Prince Edward Island.
3rd Generation Continued 
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