John Bell McLaren (abt. 1854 - 1923)

Born about 2 Mar 1854 in Gorbals, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Ada (Turner) McLaren — married about Jun 1881 in Stepney, London, England

Descendants

Died 31 May 1923 at about age 69 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ailsa McLaren [send private message]

Biography

John Bell McLaren was christened on 17 March 1854 in the Gorbals Parish, Church of Scotland.

The 1871 Census (Scotland) lists him as an Apprentice Pattern Maker -

In 1881, John married Ada Turner in Stepney, Middlesex.

1891 ++check census - John not with Ada in Little Thurrock?

In the 1901 Census, John, aged 47, is an Engine Fitter, living with his family in Queens Road, Erith, Kent. The household is:

• John (born Scotland)
• Ada (born Stepney, Middlesex), age 37
• Ada C (born Stepney, Middlesex), age 19, single
• James (born Limehouse, Middlesex), age 16, single, apprentice pupil teacher
• Albert E (born Leytonstone, Essex), age 15, single, apprentice engine turner
• Malcolm A (born Greys, Essex), age 10, scholar
• John Donald (born Erith, Kent), age 3

The 1911 Census lists John, now aged 57, as an Engineers Fitter, General Engineering. The family are living in Erith, Kent, as follows:

• John (born Lanark, Glasgow)
• Ada, (wife) age 48, born Stepney, Middlesex. John and Ada had now been married 30 years.
• Ada (daughter), age 29, born Stepney, Middlesex. Ada is single.
• Albert (son), age 25, born Leytonstone, Essex. He is also an Engineers Fitter, General Engineering, and is single.
• John (son), age 13, born Erith, Kent. He is at school.

Additionally, Ada's 75 year old widowed mother, Sarah Turner, is listed at this address for the 1911 census. She was born c 1836 in Finsbury, London.

On 31 May 1923 John died in the General Hospital in Johannesburg, age 68 years and 2 months. He had been in hospital for 15 days; the cause of his death was given as cholecystitis appendicitis and cardiac failure.

His probate record confirms he was:

• born in Glasgow, and was British
• the son of Daniel and Christina McLaren of Adelphi Street, Glasgow.
• an 'engineer',
• living at 84a Maddison Street, Fairview, Johannesburg.
• married, and his surviving spouse was Ada McLaren, who he had married in Stepney, London, England. (refers to Married Women's Property Act)
• died on 31 May 1923 in the General Hospital in Johannesburg, Witwatersrand District.

Children (all 'majors') are listed as:

• Ada Christina McLaren
• Stuart Alfred McLaren
• James McLaren
• Albert Edward McLaren
• Malcolm Alexander McLaren
• John Donald McLaren

John Bell McLaren left 'movable property' (Furniture is crossed out), but no 'immovable property'. His estate was valued at less than £300. He did leave a will. Ada McLaren was the executrix testamentary, and was present at his death.

John Bell McLaren was buried in the grave number 7323, Section EC (English Church), Brixton Cemetary, Johannesburg on 1 June 1923.

Sources

• "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X146-5WY : 8 December 2014), John Bell Mclaren, 02 Mar 1854; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 1,042,982."

• "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X146-5WY : 11 February 2020), John Bell McLaren, 1854."

• "Scotland Census, 1871," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBPL-67M : 16 November 2014), John Mclaren, Hutchesontown, Lanarkshire, Scotland; from "1871 England, Scotland & Wales census," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing p. 6, PRO T 1, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 104,034.

• Census 1901 "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9FQ-478 : 29 August 2015), John B Mclaren, Erith, Kent, England; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Bexley subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• Census 1911 "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWDC-BH8 : 2 August 2017), John Mclaren, Erith, Northumberland Heath, Kent, England; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

• Death Certificate "South Africa, Transvaal, Civil Death, 1869-1954,'" database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C91L-VST6-J?cc=2998108 : 15 July 2022), > image 1 of 1; Department of the Interior. Registrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Transvaal.

• Burial "South Africa, Johannesburg, Cemetery Records, 1840-2019", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6N3X-TT1C : 21 September 2022), John Bell Mc Laren, 1923.

• Probate "South Africa, Transvaal, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1869-1958," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP8H-HDFK : 7 April 2020), John Bell McLaren, 1923; citing Probate, Transvaal, South Africa, Pietermaritzburg Archives (formerly Natal State Archives), South Africa; FHL microfilm .'"