A Matriarch’s 100th Birthday: 52 Ancestors 2021 Prompt “Mothers’ Day”

Celebrating a Century of Life

Margaret Sutherland Shields: 1837-1937

John Sutherland Shields 1865-1959

 John Sutherland Shields’ mother, Margaret Sutherland Shields, was an amazingly long-lived woman, celebrating her 100^th birthday on May 25, 1937. Most of her children and some of her grandchildren traveled back to Scotland to celebrate the occasion, including John Aird’s grandfather, John Sutherland Shields. John Shields was 71 years old at the time, and sailed across the Atlantic aboard a Cunard Star Line ship called the Samaria, arriving in Liverpool on May 24. Two days later, he wrote to his wife and children back in Detroit from his mother’s home, Ellangowan, near Kirn, Scotland, describing the birthday festivities. This was the last time he saw his mother alive; she died ten months later on March 6, 1938.

 As we can see from the letter, this was quite the occasion—a true Mother’s Day.

Ellangowan 5/26/1937

My dear Jane and all there:

I got up early and using pencil so as to get started with at least some of the passing events. From my Post Card you would doubtless learn or guess that we had made port after a pleasant and uneventful voyage, Sunday morning the 23rd. The Irish coast was just barely visible at 4 A.M. but as we neared the Mull of Kintyre ad Arran, the haze lifted and from then all the way to the tale of the bank, the panorama was beautiful. We landed about 11 and as there was no boat across till later I had dinner at a Hotel, the only place open and then took a bus to Largo. The roads, shore, parks en route were crowded with busses, cars, bicycles, picnickers, campers, football players, etc. etc. etc. like a Saturday afternoon, and everybody seemed to be having a great and strenuous time. "Scotland is no dead yet."

Passenger records for the Samaria, showing John Sheilds

I got the 6 P.M. boat and made Ellangowan 1/2 hour later, found Grandma, Aunt Bethia and Effie, Kay, Effie, Dick, May's boy all well. Grandma sitting by the fire in her bedroom looking very well, good color, rosy cheeks and bright eyes that easily brighten into a smile. She enquired after you all, and there is her only difficulty, to place those whom she has only heard of or seen their photo. She remembers especially Archie, having seen him often and their recent visit and says he is full of fun.

Coast at Kirn circa 1900. Kirn was the closest town to the Shields' home, Ellangowan.

Uncle A. and Aunt Louise came across Monday with the 11 A.M. boat. Dick and I went down to meet them. They are both looking very well; Louise much improved, looking almost younger and stouter than ever and a very healthy color, bright eyes and lots of talk. Aunt B. and E. too are very well.

We had Monday to ourselves then came the eventful 25th when we were carried away completely with 33 cables and telegrams, 10 letters of congratulations, 3 great bouquets of flowers, tulips, yellow and red roses, sweet peas, carnations, lilacs, etc. Then came the company- Aunt Bethia, Harriet, Bethia and husband (Mr. Bruce). They had driven in the car a Ford V8 from Coatbridge to Greenock, parked it there. I went down to meet them at the boat, where at the same time, I picked up Aunt Sarah, looking as fresh as the rest of them. Jim Smith's, son and --together with Willie Carrick, Daisy and the boy drove all the way from Newton Mairns where they live. Daisy and Willie are the only two thin ones in the whole crowd.

Harbor at Dunoon, which blends into Kirn. May be where John went to meet the boats carrying guests.

That was all that sat down to dinner but all day with the delivery of cables came interested natives to offer well-wishes and congratulations, amongst them Mr. an Mrs. Atchison, they stayed to the crowning event of afternoon tea and the cutting of the century cake, a baker-made affair about 16 in. diameter, 5 in thick, crowned with usual icing and superscription- Margaret Sutherland Shields, 100th birthday and 100 little Union Jack Flags stuck in around the top edge. Grandma came down for this event and enjoyed it all immensely, putting the knife in the cake, then Bethia did the cutting and serving. Amongst the letters received was one from the church at Kirn and also one from the church at Coatbridge. They had just celebrated their 100th anniversary and as my grandfather was one of the founders, mother was one of the first babies baptized there by Dr. Am. Anderson of Glasgow. And by the way, one of the telegrams was from their Britanic Majesties, George and Elizabeth offering their official congratulations. I'll get a copy of it later.

Back to the afternoon tea and cake- when everyone had their cake and tea and I think 9 of the tea cups and saucers were Mother's marriage china, 75 years old and at the most artistic and shapely of any-that heavy china with gilt edge- they looked newly out of the case- Mr. Atchison made a few sensible remarks to the company and prayed , giving thanks: Grandma suggested the 23rd Psalm so Mr. Atchison at the piano and Grandma said, suiting action to her word, "Let us all stand", so standing up we all joined in the well known psalm and tune and as I stood holding her hand she sang out heartily in a wonderfully sweet and clear voice that was simply delightful.

Margaret Sutherland Shields at Ellangowan--probably taken on her birthday.

Soon after she went up stairs and left the party to enjoy a friendly chat until leaving time and this morning; only Aunts Bethia, Effie, Effie, Uncle A. & Louise and myself are left.

I have pressing invitations to visit all including Jersey, of which I am doubtful of being able to take in but all the others in our immediate neighborhood I will certainly visit.

The garden at Ellangowan is profuse with flowers even at this early date and although the mornings are gray and cloudy when the sun breaks thru, it is pleasant and the beautiful outlook from the house is always inspiring.

Much love to all. I will mail at once and you'll hear from me again soon.

Papa

*Note: this letter was posted on Ancestry by Archie Shields’ daughter, Mary Bethia Shields