---

In the first installment, we explored the formative years of both Marshall George Quinn and Flora Pearl Sabean. Born in Nova Scotia in 1871, Marshall’s path led him to Massachusetts, where he began his career as a gas fitter. Pearl was born in New Brunswick in 1886, and would become a skilled milliner. Their lives intertwined in 1907, with their marriage at the First Baptist Church in Brockton. As Marshall continued to work as a gas fitter for the Brockton Gas Light Company, Pearl balanced motherhood with various occupations, laying the groundwork for a life of industry and resilience. However, growing labor unrest and rising tensions during World War I would eventually prompt Marshall and Pearl to leave Brockton and seek new adventures, setting the stage for the family’s next chapter.¹

---

With the purchase of their farm confirmed in the local newspaper, the Quinns faced an exciting yet uncertain transition.² The choice to highlight Pearl as the grantee in the deed raises intriguing yet unanswered questions about their partnership and decision-making. After settling into their new surroundings, Marshall turned his focus to agricultural work. Just a few weeks later, on 19 June 1918, in Canton Point, Maine, the family welcomed their eighth child—a daughter who would be named Eloise Marian Quinn. This addition meant that Pearl had not only been managing the move, but also navigating a pregnancy while caring for seven children, ranging in age from ten years to just fifteen months old. This made their journey to Maine all the more remarkable.³

On 12 September 1918, Marshall Quinn registered for the draft, providing a valuable snapshot into his life. Marshall, claiming to be 42 years old, was living at Canton Point in Oxford County, Maine, where he worked as a self-employed farmer on his recently purchased land. His birth date was recorded as 21 April 1876. The card also confirmed his status as an alien—specifically as a citizen of Great Britain, having been born in Canada. He had not yet declared intention for U.S. citizenship. His alien status disqualified him from being eligible to serve. Describing himself physically, he noted he was tall, stout, with dark blue eyes and light brown hair. His wife, “Pearl Sabean Quinn,” was listed as his nearest relative, and the draft registration includes his signature. This record situates the family amid their transition into rural life, signaling Marshall’s adjustment to a new identity as a farmer, even as the world around him was embroiled in war.⁴

The Quinns appear to have been warmly welcomed into their new community, quickly becoming involved with the local United Baptist Church and Grange Hall in Canton. Pearl, in particular, actively participated in various events, often singing as a soloist for the church and in other local performances, including her role in the play Granny of the Hills.⁵

Pearl became closely connected to the Baptist community in Canton, and local newspapers from the time highlight her association with the church and its pastor, Rev. Frank M. Lamb. A distinguished figure in both ministry and music, Rev. Lamb had a long career as an evangelist and composer. In the early 1900s he had preached at the First Baptist Church in Brockton, Pearl’s childhood parish, and was likely familiar to her and her family, possibly even serving as her vocal instructor. Before being called to the faith, Lamb studied voice in Boston. His musical talents took him to conventions and meetings across the northeastern U.S. and beyond. Known for his hymns like The Bird with the Broken Wing (also called The Bird With The Broken Pinion)—sung by Pearl herself—Lamb’s influence in the local faith community was significant.⁶

In spring of 1919 the Quinns entertained Pearl’s two brothers Clarence and Ernest Sabean at their farmstead, both of having served in the United States military during the Great War.⁷

The Quinn family’s transition to this seemingly idyllic rural lifestyle took a tragic turn in December 1919, marking the beginning of a challenging and harrowing chapter. On the cold evening of December 19, a defective chimney sparked a fire that engulfed their farmhouse at Canton Point. Pearl and the eight children barely escaped with their lives, aided by quick-thinking neighbors who helped salvage a few pieces of furniture. Marshall, working at the nearby Riley paper mill, returned to find his family safe but their home reduced to smoldering ruins. The loss was profound—nearly all their belongings and clothing were gone. The cold was extreme, with temperatures dropping to -10 °F that evening, and the family escaped with nothing but the clothes on their backs.⁸

The news spread quickly through the local papers. Headlines like “Woman and Eight Children Barely Escape from Burning Farm House” detailed the devastation, while neighbors and local organizations stepped in to provide immediate relief.⁹ Temporarily homeless, the Quinns moved into the Delano House in Canton Point before relocating to Jay, Maine, by mid-January 1920 to be closer to Marshall’s workplace at the International Paper Mill at Riley.¹⁰

However, the fire was only the beginning of their trials. Pearl had suffered smoke inhalation during the house fire, and just over a month later, on 21 January 1920, she gave birth prematurely to a son, who tragically passed away the same day.¹¹ The smoke inhalation likely contributed to the complications and premature birth,¹² further compounding the emotional toll of the recent fire. In the days following, seven of the eight Quinn children contracted scarlet fever, forcing the family into quarantine. Worse yet, Pearl, already weakened by the traumatic events, and her eldest son Bernard, both developed tonsillitis.¹³

As if their burdens weren’t heavy enough, Marshall himself became gravely ill with pneumonia. By February, the family’s condition was so severe that local health officials intervened, providing additional care and assistance.¹⁴

Amid these struggles, the family was enumerated on the 1920 U.S. census on 02 February in Jay, Franklin County, Maine.¹⁵ This record for the Quinn family, while valuable, contains notable errors, including misrecorded names and minor age discrepancies. The inconsistencies in information are prominent enough that in the past other researchers believed this to be a completely different family. Careful analysis does prove this is not the case. Given the family’s recent quarantine for scarlet fever and the traumatic events surrounding the fire and death of an infant, it is likely that a neighbor or official, rather than Marshall or Pearl, provided the information. These errors reflect both the challenges of accurate data collection during crises as well as the Quinn family’s dire circumstances

Remarkably, despite the odds, Marshall survived.¹⁶

Pearl continued to help support the family working for private clients as a milliner and seamstress. In the midst of her many challenges, she found herself embroiled in a legal dispute over unpaid work. Prior to the fire, on 26 September 1919, Pearl had filed a writ against Charles H. Buck of Canton, seeking payment for garments commissioned by him. Despite delivering satisfactory products, Buck had failed to compensate her. The court took up the case, and on 27 May 1920, nearly six months after the fire, an execution was issued in Pearl’s favor. Buck was ordered to pay Pearl a total of $75, along with an additional $42.60 to cover the debt, damages, taxes, and costs of the suit (Pearl received about $2000, adjusted for inflation in 2025 USD).¹⁷ This legal victory, though significant, was overshadowed by the Quinn family’s ongoing struggles in the wake of the fire and other hardships, yet it provided Pearl with a small measure of financial relief during a time of overwhelming adversity.

By summer 1920, the Quinn family relocated to Livermore Falls, where Marshall secured a new job at the pulp mill there.¹⁸ Yet, the emotional and physical scars from the fire, the illnesses, and the tragic loss of their newborn son continued to weigh heavily. Flora Pearl, having endured a string of devastating events, would never again carry a successful pregnancy.¹⁹

In 1921, the family made the undoubtedly difficult decision to leave Maine and return to Massachusetts.²⁰ Their years in rural Maine, though filled with moments of community support and resilience, were overshadowed by profound loss and hardship. The fire, in particular, surely became a defining event in their lives, shaping their choices and future paths.

Despite these challenges, the Quinns exhibited remarkable strength, pressing forward with unwavering determination. Their return to Massachusetts marked a new chapter—a chance to rebuild and heal, even as they carried the weight of their experiences.

Jump to part 3.

---

All access dates are from a research period spanning December 2024 through January 2025.

1. Lather, Christopher M., “#31. Hazel Quinn: Her Parents, Part 1,” CML Genealogy Blog (https://cmlgenealogy.com/2025/01/02/31-hazel-quinn-parents-1/ : posted 02 January 2025). ↩︎
2. “Frank D. Childs Has Sold His Farm at Canton Point to F. Pearl Quinn of Bridgewater, Mass.” Lewiston Saturday Journal (Lewiston, Androscoggin, Maine), 01 June 1918, p. 6; OldNews (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?lang=en&record_id=record-10622-870881). ↩︎
3. For date and place of birth see, “Maine, U.S., Birth Records, 1715-1922,” database with images, Ancestry.com
   (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1960/images/31515_204131-02208) > Oxford > 1918 > Q > image 1; birth of female Quinn, 19 June 1918, Oxford Co.; citing Maine State Archives, Augusta; 1908-1922 Vital Records; roll number 46. As she was unnamed at birth, see also, “U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007,” database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60901/records/26542694); entry for Eloise Marian Quinn. ↩︎
4. “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918,” imaged database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6482/images/005207060_00018) > Oxford County > ALL > Draft Card Q > image 8; Marshall George Quinn, serial no. 1925, order no. A-3967; citing World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918, Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, microfilm M1509, roll 4,582. ↩︎
5. “A Community Sing Enjoyed at the United Baptist Church.” Lewiston Evening Journal (Maine), 24 February 1919, p. 3; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?lang=en&record_id=record-10622-874466); “The Cast of Characters for ‘Grannie of the Hills.’” Lewiston Saturday Journal (Maine), 30 August 1919, p. 12; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?record_id=record-12013-323383539); “‘Grannie of the Hills’ to Be Presented Thursday Evening at Grange Hall.” The Lewiston Daily Sun (Maine), 30 August 1919, p. 4; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?lang=en&record_id=record-10622-1283996); “A delightful occasion was the observance of the 77^th birthday anniversary of Mrs. Mary Briggs French,” The Lewiston Daily Sun (Maine), 26 November 1919, p. 7; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?lang=en&record_id=record-10622-12848068). ↩︎
6. “Canton, June 11—Rev. Frank M. Lamb, Pastor of the Canton United Baptist Church…” The Lewiston Daily Sun (Maine), 12 June 1918, p. 5; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?lang=en&record_id=record-10622-1283299). The Morning Star and Free Baptist, vol. 82, no. 12, 5 December 1907, p. 9, citing “Rev. Frank M. Lamb of Brockton, Mass.” Google Books (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Morning_Star_and_Free_Baptist/ezvXAvFkchcC). “Maine Religious Notes,” Daily Kennebec Journal (Maine), 20 July 1908, p. 9; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?lang=en&record_id=record-11024-13721597).Perkins Institution Scrapbook of Clippings, vol. 25 (Jan. 1907–May 1908); imaged, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/perkinsinstituti25perk/page/n13/mode/2up), contributed by Samuel P. Hayes Research Library, Perkins School for the Blind. Theron Brown and Hezekiah Butterworth, The Story of the Hymns and Tunes (New York, 1906); imaged, Bible Hub (https://biblehub.com/library/brown/the_story_of_the_hymns_and_tunes/chapter_vi_christian_ballads.htm). Donald A. Spencer, “Frank M. Lamb,” Hymnary.org (https://hymnary.org/person/Lamb_FM1). ↩︎
7. “Mrs. Marshall Quinn of Canton Point is entertaining her two brothers,” Lewiston Saturday Journal (Maine), 03 May 1919, p. 2; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?record_id=record-10622-875413). ↩︎
8. “Oxford County Notes,” The Oxford Democrat (South Paris, Maine), 23 December 1919, volume 86, number 51, reverse of the front page; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/882202722/), image 2.; “Marshall Quinn’s Home Burns at Canton,” Lewiston Saturday Journal (Maine), 20 December 1919, p. 15; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?record_id=record-12013-297027293). For historic weather see, “Portland Weather in 1919,” Extreme Weather Watch (https://www.extremeweatherwatch.com/cities/portland-me/year-1919). ↩︎
9. “Woman and Eight Children Barely Escape from Burning Farm House.” The Lewiston Daily Sun (Maine), 22 December 1919, p. 5; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?record_id=record-12013-246639894). ↩︎
10. “Marshall Quinn and family, who were recently burned out, have moved unto the Delano house, so-called at Canton Point. They are planning to move to Jay so as to be nearer his work at Riley,” Lewiston Evening Journal (Maine), 23 December 1919, p. 9; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?record_id=record-12013-351216330). ↩︎
11. “Maine, U.S., Birth Records, 1715-1922,” index with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1960/images/31515_204131-02264) > Franklin > 1920 > Q > image 1; birth of male Quinn, 21 January 1920, Franklin Co.; and “Maine, U.S., Death Records, 1761-1922,” index with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1962/images/31515_204131-02286) > Franklin > 1920 > Q > image 3; death of male Quinn, 21 January 1920, Franklin Co.; both citing Maine State Archives, Augusta; 1908-1922 Vital Records; roll number 46. ↩︎
12. Basilio, Emilia, et al., “Wildfire Smoke Exposure during Pregnancy: A Review of Potential Mechanisms of Placental Toxicity, Impact on Obstetric Outcomes, and Strategies to Reduce Exposure,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 21 (2022): 13727; (https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192113727). ↩︎
13. “Mr. Quinn Not Expected to Live,” Lewiston Evening Journal (Maine), 9 February 1920, p. 5; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?record_id=record-12013-437757930). ↩︎
14. Ibid. ↩︎
15. 1920 U.S. census, Franklin County, Maine, population schedule, Jay town, ED 53, sheet 12A, dwelling 241, family 253, Matthew Quinn household; Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4300997_00577); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 642. ↩︎
16. “Marshall Quinn of Jay, formerly of Canton is recovering from pneumonia,” Lewiston Evening Journal (Maine), 2 March 1920, p. 10; and “Marshall Quinn is recovering from an attack of pneumonia,” Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine), 11 Mar 1920, p. 8; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?record_id=record-12013-229137301). ↩︎
17. For Pearl’s occupation see, 1920 Franklin County Directory (Farmington, Maine: Franklin M. Strout, Inc., 1920), “Quinn, Mrs. M.G., milliner, North Livermore by Chisholm, call at Dry Goods in Jay.” See also, 1920-1921 Androscoggin County, Maine Directory (Auburn, Maine: Merrill & Webber Co., 1921); “Androscoggin County (Maine) directories,” imaged database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/009180085). For the court case see, “Maine, State Archive Collections, 1718-1957,” FamilySearch; Supreme Judicial Court records, vol. 39, p. 155, no. 161, Quinn vs Buck; as well as, “Oxford S. J. Court N. E. Business Women,” Lewiston Daily Sun (Maine), 11 February 1920, p. 3; imaged, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/828299745). For inflation calculation see, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, “Inflation Calculator,” (Minneapolis, MN: https://www.minneapolisfed.org/about-us/monetary-policy/inflation-calculator), “$117.60 in 1920 is worth $1845.09 in 2024.” ↩︎
18. “Marshall Quinn has come from Rumford and has a position at Livermore Falls. He will move his family to the rent owned by L. F. Whittemore in Jay,” Lewiston Evening Journal (Maine), 29 July 1920, p. 6. “Marshall Quinn and family are soon to move to Livermore Falls, where he has obtained employment,” Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine), 04 August 1920, p. T1. “Marshall Qwinn [sic] has moved his family to Livermore,” Lewiston Evening Journal (Maine), 02 March 1920, p. 10. ↩︎
19. Four more infants were born and died between 1921 and 1926, see “Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638–1927,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/), Film #105725536, digital image 354 of 547, Norfolk County, Randolph, “Standard Certificate of Death,” 3 July 1921, Infant Quinn; citing Massachusetts Death Records, small short volumes, Vol. 61 (Quincy–Rehoboth, 1921), State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts; and “Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638–1927,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ ), Film #106182262, digital image 262 of 537, Norfolk County, Randolph, “Standard Certificate of Death,” 4 August 1922, Roy Quinn; citing Massachusetts Death Records, small short volumes, Vol. 67 (Quincy–Revere, 1922), State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts. ↩︎
20. 1920-1921 Androscoggin County, Maine Directory (Auburn, Maine: Merrill & Webber Co., 1921); “Androscoggin County (Maine) directories,” imaged database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/009180085); entry for “Quinn, M.G., removed to Mass.” ↩︎

---

Back to the top of this post.

---

In my 16 Great-Greats Project, I will explore the lives of my children’s sixteen great-great-grandparents, beginning with Hazel Elizabeth Quinn, their direct maternal ancestor. This time-limited project involves a structured schedule for researching each ancestor, with an initial focus on Hazel’s parents to understand the context of her early life.

---

#62. Marshall George Quinn,¹ born Marshall George Patriquin,² was likely born 21 April 1871, in or near Tatamagouche, Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Canada,³ the son of David Patriquin and Elizabeth McIntyre.⁴ Marshall was the youngest of their nine known children:

1. John Wesley Patriquin
2. Johnston David Patriquin
3. Flora Gertrude Patriquin
4. Jessica Elizabeth Patriquin
5. Mitchell McIntyre Patriquin
6. James Henry Patriquin
7. Mary Ellen Patriquin
8. Stanley Murphy Patriquin
9. Marshall George Patriquin

In his youth, Marshall and family likely remained in the greater Tatamagouche area, with his father leasing farmland in New Annan, Wentworth, and Lake Road.⁵

Marshall Quinn’s paternal ancestors, the Patriquin family, were among the first settlers of Tatamagouche. They came from a region along the French-German border, seeking refuge from persecution in the wake of the Edict of Fontainebleau of 1685, which revoked religious freedoms previously granted to Protestants in France. Many sought escape, traveling down the Rhine to Rotterdam, where they were recruited by Scottish merchant John Dick to settle in Nova Scotia. This French-speaking Protestant population was often misidentified as Swiss in local records as a means to distinguish them from the French-speaking Catholics.⁶

Throughout the 1890s the Patriquins frequently traveled between Nova Scotia and Massachusetts by ship.⁷ Marshall’s father, two brothers, and brother-in-law were all recorded in the 1890 and 1891 Mansfield, Massachusetts city directories,⁸ while at the same time being enumerated on the 1891 Canada Census,⁹ suggesting regular back-and-forth movement. Marshall’s presence in Massachusetts during this period is confirmed in the Mansfield News of 9 October 1891, “Fred Lishman, who has been assisting J. L Brazzille, and Marshall Patrican have gone to Nova Scotia, where they propose spending the most of the winter.”¹⁰ Perhaps Fred and Marshall were headed home to avoid another Massachusetts winter, or simply to refuel with some of that famous Nova Scotia hospitality?

Marshall’s continued verified presence in Brockton, Massachusetts begins in 1899, and between then and 1903 he resided at 24 East Elm Street,¹¹ a large tenement operated by Mrs. Kate Driscoll.¹² The stories Mrs. Driscoll could tell about the comings and goings of her many tenants would be fascinating. The shop Marshall first worked out of as a gas fitter was that of T. J. Kinney, Dr., Plumber, Steam and Gas Fitter, located in the same building at 24 East Elm,¹³ so he didn’t have to go very far to get to work. However in 1901, Marshall began his work at the Brockton Gas Light Company, working as a gas fitter at their building on 46 Centre Street.¹⁴

In the early 1900s, gas fitters were responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing gas lines and appliances in residential and commercial buildings. Their work ensured the safe and efficient delivery of gas for heating, cooking, and lighting, in a period where gas lighting was still the norm. Their work involved tasks such as laying gas pipes, connecting appliances, and conducting safety inspections to prevent leaks and hazards.¹⁵ The job wasn’t without its risks—one wrong move, and you might be cooking yourself instead of the evening meal!

---

#63. Flora Pearl Sabean—known simply as Pearl—was born 12 July 1886 at the home of her maternal grandparents in Bloomfield, Carleton, New Brunswick, Canada. It wasn’t just any house; it was the parsonage of the Wilmot Parish Baptist Church where her grandfather Rev. Adoniram Judson Cogswell served as the local Baptist minister. Pearl’s mother, Ella Penelope Cogswell, stayed with her parents while her husband, Handley Chipman Sabean, a butcher by trade, worked in Massachusetts to establish himself and secure a home for the family.¹⁶ Pearl was the third of their seven known children:

1. Bernard Stowe Sabean
2. Laura May Sabean
3. Flora Pearl Sabean
4. Royston Ellsworth Sabean
5. Ella Finston Sabean
6. Clarence Handley Sabean
7. Ernest Ewart Sabean

In early 1889, two-year-old Pearl entered the United States with her family via Calais, Maine. Like the Patriquins, the Sabeans also made frequent trips between Canada and the U.S. Despite this back and forth travel by 1894 the Sabeans were firmly rooted at 155 Belair Street in Brockton, where Handley operated his provisions store out of their home.¹⁷ Pearl’s beloved grandfather Rev. Adoniram Judson Cogswell passed away the day after her 11th birthday, on 13 July 1897 in her childhood home at 155 Belair.¹⁸ His influence surely lingered, shaping her devout Baptist faith—a foundation that would guide her throughout her life.

At a young age, Pearl became involved with the Baptist choir, and was a celebrated soprano vocalist in her community.¹⁹

Enumerated on the 1900 U.S. census, the Sabean family lived at 63 Wheeler Avenue in Brockton, where their household consisted of Handley, Ella, their seven children, as well as Ella’s mother Mary A Cogswell, the widow of the reverend. 13-year-old Pearl was listed as a student.²⁰ She would go on to complete four years of high school and apprentice with a local milliner (women’s hat maker), honing her skills in fashion. Born into a lineage of ministers and entrepreneurs, she was shaped by a balance of tradition and progress, seamlessly blending the influences of her roots with the new opportunities of her adopted American home. Between 1905 and 1907, she worked at E. E. Taylor Company Shoe Factory in Brockton as a clerk, bookkeeper, as well as a shoe trimmer and stitcher, showcasing her versatility and work ethic.²¹

---

---

---

On Valentine’s Day, 14 February 1907, Marshall George Quinn was married to Flora Pearl Sabean at the First Baptist Church, Brockton. The officiant was Reverend George Boice Titus. Perhaps Flora was charmed not only by Marshall’s dashing good looks and gas-fitting skills, but also by his apparent knack for choosing memorable wedding dates. The Sabean and Titus families became more than just associates when later that year Pearl’s brother Bernard Sabean married Reverend Titus’ daughter Leila.²²

---

The former First Baptist Church at Brockton is now home to the Brockton Assembly of God; photographed by Aaron Knox, 2011.

---

Eight months and five days after the wedding, Pearl gave birth to their first child, Bernard Marshall Quinn, on 19 October 1907, at a home they rented on 23 Spring Street, Brockton. Nineteen months later came their second child, a daughter, Hazel Elizabeth Quinn, born 19 May 1909 at 23 Glenwood Street, also rented. While Marshall continued his steady work as a gas fitter for Brockton Gas Light Co., Pearl juggled motherhood with her industrious spirit, working as a milliner and seamstress between 1907 and 1911, both for private clients and out of Fraser’s Dry Goods in Brockton.²³

In April 1910, the young family lived with Flora’s parents, Handley and Ella Sabean, back at 63 Wheeler Ave—a bustling, multi-generational home. Handley, operated his now prominent provisions shop, while Ella kept a steady hand over the household. The Quinns added to the lively atmosphere. One can imagine Marshall returning from his gas-fitting job to find his toddlers Bernard and Hazel underfoot, and his wife’s grandmother, Mary Cogswell, offering a watchful eye. Flora’s younger siblings still at home, Ella, Clarence, and Ernest, likely kept things lively, ensuring there was never a dull moment.²⁴

When Pearl became pregnant with their third child in summer 1910, her parents may have started to wonder just how much longer the Quinns would stay. By spring 1911, Marshall and Pearl had saved enough to move to West Bridgewater. There at a rented home on Merritt Street their son Arnold Boice Quinn was born on 21 April 1911, followed by a daughter, Muriel Eleanor Quinn, on 30 December 1912.²⁵

On 11 October 1913, Marshall Quinn made an unexpected appearance in the headlines of The Boston Globe, though likely not the kind of publicity he—or the Brockton Gas Light Company—had in mind! Marshall, at the wheel of a hefty gas company truck, skidded at the intersection of Main and Center Streets in Brockton, striking Wilbur Merry, a Bay State Street Railway starter, and August Christenson, a local resident. Merry was unharmed, but Christenson suffered a bruised leg and sore spots, though no bones were broken. Marshall likely never expected his skid to land him—and his truck—on page three of the Globe.²⁶

By late 1913 the Quinns relocated to Bridgewater, and Marshall—despite his mishap—was promoted to foreman at the Brockton Gas Light Company. Life was busy and growing—literally. Over four years, Pearl welcomed three more children: Handley Sabean on 30 October 1914, Phyllis Penelope on 29 January 1916, and Melba Pearl on 26 February 1917. That made seven little Quinns underfoot.²⁷

By early 1918, the Great War’s ripple effects—rising gas prices, labor unrest, and strikes—created uncertainty at Marshall’s job.²⁸ For a family of nine, stability was paramount. Perhaps Pearl and Marshall, reflecting late at night, saw the mounting uncertainty of industrial life as a threat. Or maybe Marshall, raised on a Nova Scotia farm, longed for the rural simplicity of his childhood. Whatever the reason, the Quinns made a bold move. On 30 May 1918, the local paper out of Lewiston, Maine announced: “Frank D. Childs has sold his farm at Canton Point to F. Pearl Quinn of Bridgewater, Mass.”²⁹ But why was Pearl, not Marshall, listed as the grantee? Was it practical, strategic, or something else? The answer remains a mystery. As the Quinns embarked on their Maine adventure, one thing was certain—this new chapter would test their resilience, resourcefulness, and faith.

Jump to part 2.

---

All access dates are from a research period spanning December 2024 through January 2025.

1. Only three known sources reveal Marshall’s middle name of George. His 1907 marriage record in Brockton identifies him as “Marshall George Quinn,” as does his 1918 WWI draft registration card, both likely self-reported. His 1951 death certificate provides the same; see Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, Marriage Register, 1907, p. 3, entry 51, “Massachusetts, U.S., Marriage Records, 1840–1915,” Ancestry.com; Draft registration, Marshall George Quinn, Canton, Maine, 12 September 1918, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918,” Ancestry.com; Stoughton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, death certificate no. 93 (1951), Marshall George Quinn, Town Clerk’s Office, certified copy. ↩︎
2. Marshall shortening his surname from Patriquin to Quinn reflects simplification after emigrating to the U.S. In Canadian records, he appears as Marshall Patriquin in the 1881 and 1891. By 1899, he is listed as “Marshall Quinn” in the Brockton, Massachusetts, Directory. His consistent use of “Quinn” in his 1907 marriage record and subsequent U.S. records confirms this name change. His sister Mary (Patriquin) Henry’s February 5, 1943, obituary in The Mansfield News further connects “Marshall Quinn” to their shared parents, “David Patriquin and Elizabeth McIntire;” see 1881 Canada Census, Tatamagouche, Colchester, N.S., p. 40, family 177; 1891 Canada Census, Tatamagouche West, Colchester, N.S., p. 27, family 110; W. A. Greenough & Co., 1899 Brockton, Massachusetts, City Directory, p. 380; Brockton…Marriage Register, 1907, p. 3, entry 51; and The Mansfield News, 5 February 1943, p. 7, OldNews.com, MyHeritage. ↩︎
3. No birth record for Marshall has been located, but indirect evidence supports this conclusion. The 1881 and 1891 Canada censuses record him as 9 and 20 years old, respectively, aligning with an April 1871 birth. His family was enumerated in Tatamagouche in 1871, confirming their residence there. Marshall’s WWI draft registration and death certificate consistently report 21 April as his birth date; see 1881 Canada Census, Tatamagouche, p. 40, fam. 177; 1891 Canada Census, Tatamagouche West, p. 27, fam. 110; 1871 Canada Census, Tatamagouche, Colchester, N.S., pp. 65-66, family 207; Marshall George Quinn, “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918,” Ancestry.com; Stoughton, Norfolk, MA, death cert. 93 (1951), Marshall George Quinn. ↩︎
4. Marshall’s parentage as David Patriquin and Elizabeth McIntire (McIntyre) is established through his 1907 Brockton marriage record, which explicitly names them as “David Quinn and Elizabeth McIntyre;” census records list “Marshall Patriquin” in their household in Tatamagouche. His sister Mary Ellen (Patriquin) Henry’s 1943 obituary names the same parents and identifies “Marshall Quinn” as her brother. His sister Flora (Patriquin) Stratton’s 1954 obituary further confirms their shared parentage; see Brockton…Marriage Register, 1907, p. 3, entry 51; 1881 Canada Census, Tatamagouche, p. 40, fam. 177; 1891 Canada Census, Tatamagouche, p. 27, fam.110; The Mansfield News, 5 February 1943, p. 7, and 10 June 1954, p. 5. ↩︎
5. Marshall Quinn reported to have been in “Newton Centre” in two Massachusetts records, his marriage and the birth of his son Bernard. This may have been a misinterpretation of him saying “New Annan Center,” which is in the greater Tatamagouche area. His sister Flora (Patriquin) Stratton’s 1954 obituary cites her birth place as Wentworth, also proximal to Tatamagouche. His parents are buried at the cemetery in Lake Road, which was part of West Tatamagouche. ↩︎
6. Patterson, Frank H., A History of Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. Halifax, N.S.: Royal Print & Litho Limited, 1917, p. 25. ↩︎
7. “Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865–1935,” database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1263/records/6895989 : accessed 31 December 2024) > Halifax, Nova Scotia > 1892 > 07 > (digital image) 34 and 45, manifest for passengers on S.S. Olivette, 27 July 1892; citing Library and Archives Canada, Microfilm Publication series RG 76-C, roll C-4515, Department of Employment and Immigration fonds; and “Massachusetts, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1963,” database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8745/images/MAT843_13-0054 : accessed 25 December 2024), digital image 54 of 702, S.S. Halifax, sailing from Halifax, N.S., arriving at Port of Boston, 11 October 1894, line 3, Marshall Petriquen, age 26, single, occupation Tourist; citing National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., series T843, roll 013. ↩︎
8. “Mansfield, Massachusetts, U.S., Directory, 1890,” database, index only, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5486/records/869), entry for David Patriguin; citing A.E. Foss & Co. (Hopkinton, MA: A.E. Foss & Co., 1890); and A.E. Foss & Co., History and Directory of Mansfield, Mass., for 1891 (Needham, MA: A.E. Foss & Co., 1891), p. 93, entries for Abram, David, Mitchell, and Stanley Patriguin; imaged in “U.S. City Directories, 1822–1995,” database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/10094830), image 94 of 124. ↩︎
9. “1891 Census of Canada,” database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1274/images/30953_148113-00013); entry for David Patriquin household, including Marshall Patriquin, age 20, son, clerk in jewelry store, Tatamagouche West, Colchester, Nova Scotia, family 110, lines 7-12 ; citing Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, series RG31-C-1, microfilm reel T-6311. ↩︎
10. “Fred Lishman, who has been assisting J. L Brazzille, and Marshall Patrican have gone to Nova Scotia,” Mansfield News, 9 October 1891, unpaginated; OldNews.com (https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?lang=en&record_id=record-11024-57680917). ↩︎
11. W.A. Greenough & Co., Brockton Directories, 1899–1903 (Boston: W.A. Greenough & Co., 1899–1903), entries for Marshall Quinn, 1899, p. 380; 1900, p. 386; 1901, p. 372; 1902, p. 394; 1903, p. 340; imaged in “U.S., City Directories, 1822–1995,” Ancestry.com. ↩︎
12. W. A. Greenough & Co., 1905 Brockton Directory, No. XXIII (Boston: W. A. Greenough & Co., 1905), p. 170, Driscoll Kate Mrs employment 24 ½ E Elm and lodging house do; imaged in “U.S., City Directories, 1822–1995,” database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/9225528), image 92 of 492. ↩︎
13. Billhead for T.J. Kinney, Dr., plumber, steam and gas fitter, 24 East Elm Street, Brockton, Mass., dated 1 December 1890, ephemera, Historic New England, EP001: Ephemera collection, item 245354; accessed via Digital Commonwealth Massachusetts Collections Online (https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:bz60f8586). ↩︎
14. W. A. Greenough & Co., 1901 Brockton Directory (Boston: W. A. Greenough & Co., 1901), p. 372, Marshall Quinn; imaged in “U.S., City Directories, 1822–1995,”database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/9645327), image 370 of 706. ↩︎
15. Hewitt, Jane, “Gas Fitter: Installed gas lamps prior to the availability of electric lighting,” Dictionary of Old Occupations. Jane Hewitt Family Tree Researcher, FamilyResearcher.co.uk (https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/glossary/Dictionary-of-Old-Occupations-jobs-beginning-G.html#Gas-Fitter). ↩︎
16. Two records explicitly give Flora Pearl’s birth as 12 July 1886, both with her husband being the informant, see “Naturalization declarations and petitions (1910-1945) for the Brockton, Massachusetts area,” FamilySearch, images 1092-1095, Marshall George Quinn citing wife’s birth date, and Massachusetts, Vital Records and Statistics, death certificate 1943 no. 2480, Flora Quinn, 10 March, Boston, Suffolk Co. Despite this, multiple other records created during her life, listed subsequently here, strongly corroborate the 1886 birth year, over the 1887 one engraved on her burial marker. For information about Rev. A. J. Cogswell in New Brunswick, see Baptist Missionary Magazine of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, vol. 73, 1889; citing Halifax, N.S. : Novascotian Office. For reference to her father’s residence and occupation, see 1894-1896 Brockton City Directories (Boston: Littlefield Publishing Co.), entries for Handley C. Sabean, provisions, 155 Belair. ↩︎
17. “Naturalization declarations,” FamilySearch, images 1092-1095, for Marshall George Quinn, cites his wife’s arrival date and place. For examples of the Sabeans back and forth travel, see “Massachusetts, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1963,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8745/records/989395) Roll > T843, Arriving At Boston, Ma, 1891-1943 > ALL> 063 > image 340; Handley C Sabean, 15 July 1903; (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8745/records/340879) > Roll > T843, Arriving At Boston, Ma, 1891-1943 > ALL > 025 > image 82, H C Sabean, 05 Sep 1897. For their address see, 1898-1899 Brockton City Directories (Boston: W. A. Greenough & Co.), entries for Handley C. Sabean, provisions, 155 Belair. ↩︎
18. Brockton, Plymouth, MA death register 1897, p. 13, no. 277, 13 Jul, Adoniram J. Cogswell, clergyman; image, “Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DCTW-FM) > 0961522 (004225017) > image 584. ↩︎
19. “Brockton,” society pages, The Boston Globe, 23 March 1904, p. 4; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/430940855/). ↩︎
20. 1900 U.S. census, Plymouth co., Mass., population schedule, Brockton, ED 1096, sheet B-7, Handley Sabin [sic]; imaged, “1900 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4114443_00302). ↩︎
21. 1906 Brockton Directory (Boston, Mass.: W. A. Greenough & Co, 1906), 341, F Pearl Sabean; image, “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/9631299), image 363 of 598. For confirmation of Pearl completing high school see, 1940 U.S. census, Plymouth co., Mass., Brockton, ward 2, ED 12-28, sheet 4-A, household 204, Marshall Quinn. For an analysis on the contribution of women to the workforce in Massachusetts during this period see, Nancy Folbre, “Women’s Informal Market Work in Massachusetts, 1875-1920,” Social Science History 17, no. 1 (1993): 135–60 (https://doi.org/10.2307/1171247). ↩︎
22. Brockton, Plymouth, MA marriage register 1907, p. 3, no. 51, 14 Feb, Marshall George Quinn and Flora Pearl Sabean; “Massachusetts, U.S., Marriage Records, 1840–1915,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2511/images/41262_b139534-00153), image 1539; and same 1907, p. 6, no. 100, 02 Apr, Bernard C. Sabean and Leila C. Titus; “Massachusetts, U.S., Marriage Records, 1840–1915,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2511/images/41262_b139534-00156), image 1542. ↩︎
23. Brockton, Plymouth, MA birth reg. 1907, p. 26, no. 1125, Oct 19, Bernard Marshall Quinn; Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5062/records/2746931), image 1448; birth reg. 1909, p. 12, no. 524, 19 May, Hazel Elizabeth Quinn; Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/5062/images/41262_b139546-00150) image 1440. City directories confirm these residences were rented, as well as occupations, see Brockton Directories, 1907–1909 (Boston: W.A. Greenough & Co., 1907-1909), entries for Marshall Quinn. ↩︎
24. 1910 U.S. census, Plymouth co., Mass, population schedule, Brockton, ED 1180, sheet 8-B, Handley Sabean; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/31111_4330092-00102); citing National Archive microfilm publication T0624, roll 611; FHL microfilm 1374624. ↩︎
25. West Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA birth reg. 1911, p. 1, entry 16, Arnold Boice Quinn, born 21 April; “Massachusetts Birth Records, 1840-1915,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5062/records/8001211), image 2. West Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA birth reg. 1912, p. 2, entry 65, Muriel Eleanor Quinn, born 30 December; “Massachusetts Birth Records, 1840-1915,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5062/records/8045224), image 2. ↩︎
26. “Two Struck By Auto,” The Boston Globe, article for Marshall Quinn of Bridgewater (Boston, Massachusetts), 11 October 1913, p. 3; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/430644013). ↩︎
27. Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA birth reg. 1914, p. 4, entry 161, Handley Sabean Quinn, born 30 October; “Massachusetts, U.S., Birth Records, 1840–1915,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5062/records/8305554). Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA birth reg. 1916, p. 1, entry 19, Phyllis Penelope Quinn, born 29 January; “Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638–1927,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G1GT-X72?i=148). Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA birth reg. 1917, p. 2, entry 47, Melba Pearl Quinn, born 26 February; “Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638–1927,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-81BF-WKF?i=142). ↩︎
28. “Brockton Gas Prices Raised Again,” The Boston Globe, 19 March 1918, p. 11; “Brockton Engineers and Shoe Men in Conference,” Fall River Evening News, 22 March 1918, p. 11; “Discussing Wages,” Biddeford Daily Journal, 22 March 1918, p. 4; “Brockton Engineers Threaten to Strike,” The Evening Herald, Fall River, MA, 22 March 1918, p. 1. ↩︎
29. “Oxford Co. Realty Transfers,” The Lewiston Daily Sun (Maine), 30 May 1918, p. 5; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/828297335). ↩︎

---

Back to the top of this post.