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Jane Rafferty was born at 6:45 am on February 17, 1879, at 21 Catherine Street, District of Anderston, Burgh of Glasgow. Her birth certificate shows her father as William Rafferty, an iron foundry laborer. Her mother, Mary Ann Martin, the informant of the birth, could not write. In place of her signature, she put an X. Jane’s: sister, Agnes Violet, was born August 28, 1885 at 116 Richard Street, Glasgow. Jane also had a half-brother John, and a half-sister Mary, children of Ann McNestby, William’s: first wife.
Childhood would have been very difficult for Jane and Agnes. Because her father William was ill for a long time from chest disease, Jane had to stay home from school to look after Agnes, while her mother Mary went out to work. William died on November 26th, 1888.
On the 17th of November, 1890, Jane and Agnes were placed in The Orphan Homes of Scotland at Bridge of Weir by their mother, Mary Ann. Jane would have been twelve in a few months and Agnes just over five. Records from the Home state, "...they were neglected and almost naked. Jane was only on her first book at school having been kept at home to tend to Agnes who has very sore eyes probably through cold and neglect. Mother Mary Ann lives at 20 Union Place, Anderston. She is a Roman Catholic and says she has applied to the priest although she does not attend chapel regularly and he told her he might be able to help with the children in a month or so and meantime she should go with them in the Poor House. She was advised to again see him but said she would not and would prefer children coming here. She says she went to her mother in Ireland about two years ago expecting help but got none and had to return. A Mrs. Devlin living at 20 Union Place, a Roman Catholic comes to recommend and says she has known Mary for 18 years. Mother who knows about Canadian work signs paper and is told it is giving full control but she would be consulted if to be found before they were sent away."
At 12:00 noon on May 27th, 1892, Jane and Agnes left Scotland for Canada on the S.S. Sarmation. The S.S. Sarmation arrived in Quebec on the 6th of June. From Quebec, the 120 orphan girls would have traveled by Grand Trunk Railway to Brockville to the Orphan Homes of Scotland’s: distribution home "Fairknowe". The ship’s: passenger list shows Jane as thirteen and Agnes as six years of age. A book entitled "The Village - A History of Quarrier’s:", dated 1984, shows one page from the passenger list of the S.S. Sarmation. Jane’s: name is included on that page.
After a short time at Fairknowe, Jane and Agnes were sent to farms in Shawville, Quebec. Jane went to the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McDowell. Which farm Agnes went to is unknown.
Records from The Orphan Homes of Scotland of August 1896 note that Jane gave birth to a child by James Cotter. I believe this child was my Aunt Muriel.
In February of 1897, Jane wrote to The Orphans Homes of Scotland, Bridge of Weir, asking about her mother. On August 5th, 1898, Jane again wrote asking about her mother; this time her mother’s: address was sent to her.
On July 18, 1903, Mary Ann went to The Orphan Homes of Scotland asking for the girls. Mary Ann was then living at 384 Dobbie’s: Loan, Cowcaddens, Glasgow. Whether or not mother and girls ever got in touch with each other is unknown. It would be nice to think they did. How lonely Jane and Agnes must have felt, being put in a "home" and then sent to a strange country to live and work for strangers. Mary Ann too must have suffered knowing she could not provide for her children and doing what she thought was right by giving them up for a better life.
On September 21, 1898, Jane and James Cotter were married in Ottawa, Ontario. Marriage records show Jane as twenty and James nineteen; they are both shown as Methodist. Witnesses were Eddie Empey and Kate McArthur and Rev. John Scanlon officiated.
Jane and James went on to have many children of whom six survived. During the early years of their marriage, James made several sea voyages, leaving Jane with the responsibility for the children.
Around 1907, the family finally moved from Shawville to Ottawa, where Jane lived for the rest of her life.
Jane was admitted to the Ottawa Civic Hospital on December 20, 1937, with a diagnosis of diabetes and gangrene in the left foot. Jane underwent amputation of the left leg below the knee, due to the gangrene. She never came out of the diabetic coma she had succumbed to, despite the fact that the medical staff were able to get the diabetes under control. She died on January 4th, 1938 with a final diagnosis of acute pulmonary o edema. It was also revealed that Jane had been diagnosed as a diabetic eleven years prior to admission.
Jane Rafferty is buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Ottawa, beside her husband James. Only his name appears on the gravestone.