This page traces the direct paternal line of the Makinson family, beginning in Newfoundland in the nineteenth century, passing through the North in Iqaluit, and continuing into present-day British Columbia.

It is designed to be a living document—something that can be corrected, expanded, and annotated as new records and memories are discovered.

Any details that are uncertain or still being confirmed are clearly marked. As new birth records, marriage certificates, obituaries, and stories are found, this history can be updated so that what remains for the next generation is as accurate as possible.

This is an evolving archive. Every edit—no matter how small—is part of the work of remembrance.

The earliest firmly documented ancestors in this line are a couple whose lives were rooted in nineteenth-century Newfoundland:

Marriage

17 June 1862 · Brigus, Newfoundland

Role in the Line

George and Elizabeth are the earliest confirmed “root” couple of the known Makinson lineage. While the local details of their day-to-day lives are still being uncovered, existing records place them at the beginning of the documented family tree. From their marriage in Brigus, the line would ultimately stretch westward across Canada.

The specific child of George and Elizabeth who directly connects down to later generations has not yet been fully identified in the surviving records used here. Based on dates alone, that person would likely have been born sometime between c. 1865 and 1885.

There are clues that the given name George may repeat in this branch, suggesting a possible son named after his father. However, until a birth record, marriage record, census entry, or another primary document clearly confirms that connection, this individual is treated as probable but not final.

This section of the tree is intentionally left open. As more archival materials are located, this unnamed link will be updated with a confirmed name, dates, and any surviving details about their life and movements.

The next clearly documented person in the direct line is:

David represents a turning point in the family story. In his lifetime, the lineage begins to shift decisively toward western Canada, especially British Columbia.

Marriage to Barbara Ross

Married 21 August 1950 · Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Significance

The marriage of David and Barbara anchors the Makinson line in British Columbia and links together Newfoundland origins, prairie roots, and West Coast life.

From this point on, Vancouver and the surrounding areas become central to the family narrative. The move west, and the life David and Barbara built there, created the foundation on which later generations—right down to the present—would stand.

Barbara (Ross) Makinson

Much of what is known about Barbara comes from her obituary, which offers a concise but vivid picture of her life:

Birth: 22 May 1926 · Assiniboia, Saskatchewan Death: 11 May 2015

She grew up on a Saskatchewan farm, earned a teaching degree, and eventually moved to British Columbia, where she raised her family. Her obituary notes that she was predeceased by her husband, Dave (David) Makinson, who died in 1971, confirming both the match of the names and the timeline.

Source: obituary listing from Maple Ridge Funeral Chapel for Barbara Makinson.

Iqaluit marks an important, if still partly undocumented, chapter in the Makinson story. It does not belong to the earliest Newfoundland generation, but rather to the twentieth-century descendants who carried the family name into new places and roles.

At present, the exact individual or individuals in the direct line who lived or worked in Iqaluit—and during which years—are still being confirmed. What is clear is that this northern period formed a meaningful part of the family’s experience, connecting the eastern roots of Newfoundland with the western home in British Columbia.

When the details are ready (for example, “X Makinson lived in Iqaluit from c. 19XX–19YY while working as …”), they can be added here as a focused narrative, turning Iqaluit from a reference point into a well-documented chapter of the lineage.

The line continues into the present day through:

Written records and everyday family language do not always line up neatly. In this family, there are a few points worth keeping straight:

• Barbara Ross (1926–2015) appears in official records as Barbara Ross and as Barbara Makinson. She is part of the paternal Makinson line, married to David Lincoln Baird Makinson (1907–1971).
• Grosch is the surname of Katherine Grosch, who married James ("Jim") Makinson. This places Grosch in the maternal line for the present generation.

Around a kitchen table, it is natural for nicknames and blended references—like “Grandma Barb” or “Grandma Barb Grosch”—to show up. On a history page like this, though, it helps to keep the lines clear:

This layout follows the evidence currently available, while staying flexible enough to be updated if new documents suggest a correction.

A working summary of the main figures and dates in the Makinson lineage described above.

• 1827–1911 · George Makinson
  Root generation · Newfoundland.
• 1843–1916 · Elizabeth (Norman) Makinson
  Married George in Brigus, Newfoundland (1862).
• c. 1865–1885 · Unconfirmed child of George & Elizabeth
  Research in progress.
  Likely link to later generations.
• 1907–1971 · David Lincoln Baird Makinson
  A key transition figure toward western Canada.
• 1926–2015 · Barbara (Ross) Makinson
  Born in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan · Later settled in British Columbia · Wife of David.
• 1950 · Marriage of David & Barbara
  Vancouver, British Columbia.
• 1959–present · James ("Jim") Makinson
  Paternal line into the modern generation.
• 1961–present · Katherine (Grosch) Makinson
  Maternal line connection.
• 1994–present · Sarah Makinson
  Modern generation.
• 1995–present · Gary Makinson
  Current custodian of this written history.

This history is not finished. It will grow as:

• More records are discovered and digitized
• Family members share memories, photographs, and documents
• Conflicting details are carefully compared and resolved

Every small addition—a date corrected, a place name spelled properly, a story written down before it’s forgotten—sharpens the picture of how this family moved from Brigus to the North, and ultimately to the Pacific coast.

Above all, this page is a testament to the effort being made now: to gather, to verify, and to honor the people whose lives quietly led to this one.

The Makinson Lineage · A work in progress, preserved with care for those who come next.