2.3.6.1. George Muat (1893-1981)

George Muat was born on 10 July 1893 at 24 Lockhart in Motherwell, Scotland, to John and Ann (Philip) Muat. His father was a journeyman pastry baker. By 1901 the family had moved to 54 Orbiston Street in Motherwell and by 1911 they were living at 6 Airbles Street in Motherwell. George was 18 years old and worked as a pastry baker like his father.

On 8 October 1918 George Muat married Jane Laidlaw Riddell, who went by Jeanie, at the Abbotsford Parish Church in the Gorbals district of Glasgow. he was 25 years old and worked as a cook in the merchant service aboard the S/S Emperor, a freighter built in 1916. The couple had two known sons.

S/S Emperor, photograph courtesy of Wreck Site

On 21 May 1927 George returned to Scotland from Montreal, Canada aboard the S/S Metagama. He had last permanently resided in Canada but intended to settle at 13 Lathom Road in Strathaven, Scotland. Two years later the entire family immigrated to Canada, leaving Greenock aboard the S/S Andania on 20 July and arriving in Montreal on 29 July 1929. They were headed to a friend of George's who lived in Toronto.

Five years later George's wife died of tuberculosis. George and his two sons crossed into the United States at Niagara Falls, New York on 9 January 1934. They were headed to New York City to board a ship in order to return to Scotland. They sailed at noon on 13 January aboard the S/S Tuscania and arrived in Glasgow on 22 January. Their destination was George's father-in-law, Francis Riddell, who lived in Hamilton.

It is not known if George ever returned to Canada. He married Kathleen Mary Gill in 1938 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England. She was 28 years old at the time of their marriage. Both George and Kathleen died in 1981 in Cleveland, England.

_______________
"S/S Emperor," Wreck Site, http://www.wrecksite.eu/wrecksite.aspx
1901 Scotland Census, Parish: Dalziel; ED: 27; Page: 30; Line: 21; Roll: CSSCT1901_261
Canada, Passenger Lists, 1865-1935, 1929 Muat, George
Scotland, Statutory Registrations, 1855-2013, 1893 Muat, George (Statutory Births 639/00 0694)
Scotland, Statutory Registrations, 1855-2013, 1918 Muat, George - Riddell, Jane Laidlaw (Statutory Marriages (644/17 0327)
UK, England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007, 1981 Muat, Kathleen
UK, England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007, 1981 Muat, George
UK, England & Wales, Marriage Index, 1916-2005, 1938 Muat, George - Gill, Kathleen M
UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960, 1927 Muat, George
UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960, 1934 Muat, George
UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960, 1929 Muat George
US, Border Crossings (from Canada), 1895-1956, 1934 Muat, George