harriet mallandaine + stanley lawrie
Harriet was baptised at Christ Church, Victoria on 14 October 1871, the youngest daughter of Edward Mallandaine and Louisa Townsend. Hattie lived with her parents and helped them manage their two young grandchildren, Mary and Willie Corson. She was recorded in the 1901 Census at home on Simcoe Street and was employed as a teacher.
In 1903, Harriet’s paternal aunt, Caroline Westgarth, died in Ramsgate, Kent in England and left her a legacy of £2000, a substantial sum at the time. Her aunt had lived in Victoria between 1861 and 1882 and obviously developed a strong bond with her niece.
She married Stanley Lawrie at St James Anglican Church on 25 September 1907. Harriet and Stanley were both 35 years old when they married and their wedding announcement appeared in the Daily Colonist:
The bride was married in her going away dress and was supported by her niece, Mary Corson of Vancouver. The bride was given away by her brother, Charles Mallandaine. The happy couple left the church for a trip to the sound cities immediately after the ceremony, where the honeymoon will be spent. The bride was in receipt of many handsome presents from a large circle of acquaintances. The church altar was very prettily decorated for the occasion by the members of St Agnes Guild of St James Church, of which the bride was a member; the service was full choral.
Stanley was born on 28 September 1872 in Shepherd’s Bush, London; he was the son of Edwin Thomas Lawrie and Amy Sweetser. His father was an architect and surveyor in England and Stanley and his five brothers all worked in the building trade. The family emigrated to Victoria in 1893 and sailed from Liverpool on 7 December 1893 on board the Vancouver. The 37 day journey took them first to Portland and then up to Victoria. Edwin Lawrie, known as Thomas, resumed his career as an architect in Victoria and he appears in the 1895 Williams BC Directory at 30 Michigan Street but by 1896, he had built a large family home on Esquimalt Road.
Stanley appears in the 1901 Census living on Williams Road in Victoria West with his brother Percy. He was employed as a House Carpenter with an annual income of $480. It is possible that Harriet and Stanley met through their fathers’ professional association.
Following their honeymoon, they moved into the Mallandaine family home on Simcoe Street with Harriet’s mother and brother Charles. Harriet and Stanley had one son, Stanley Westgarth, born on 27 June 1909. Harriet was very protective of her son and always concerned for his health and safety and unfortunately, her worst fears were realized when Stanley died on 30 May 1917 of bronchial pneumonia. His obituary appeared in the Victoria Daily Colonist:
At 560 Simcoe Street, May 30, 1917 Stanley Westgarth Lawrie, only child of Pte & Mrs. Stanley Lawrie and grandson of Mrs. Mallandaine, age 7 years 11 months; born in Victoria. The funeral will take place at 2:15pm from the residence as above and service will be conducted at St James Church at 2:30.
Stanley Westgarth Lawrie was buried at Ross Bay Cemetery on 2 June 1917. Harriet and Stanley did not have any other children but they later adopted a baby girl although her identity is not known. Harriet died of pancreatic cancer on 14 October 1936 and she was buried at Ross Bay Cemetery. After Harriet's death, Stanley remarried to a woman known only as Effie. He died of prostate cancer on 24 June 1942 and was also buried at Ross Bay.