A Forbidden Romance - Robert Buchanan & Elizabeth Watson

This is the story of Elizabeth Watson (daughter of James Watson jr and Jane Buchanan) and Robert Buchanan (Son of William Buchanan and Ann Thompson) , as told by their grandson Robert "Weldon" Buchanan to his grand-daughter Suzanne.

Robert and Elizabeth were first cousins and their parents tried to discourage their romance. The Watsons were preparing to move to Neepawa, Manitoba, and hoped that distance would help the two abandon their love and find someone else.

Weldon says that Elizabeth got on the train with her family and got off in Palmerston, north of Listowel.  This means that she rode the train for several minutes acting as if everything was normal. In such a large family, as one of the eldest she was likely expected to help keep the younger ones in order, and there was probably some confusion while the family got settled in their seats on the train.

As the train pulled into the Palmerston station, Elizabeth slipped away and got off the train. Weldon says that Robert was waiting at the station to meet her. She wasn’t missed by her family until the train was long gone.

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Robert and Elizabeth prospered in Ontario, and they made frequent visits to family members in Manitoba, and even further west, as shown in this newspaper clipping.

Friday Harbor Journal (San Juan) news clipping from Linda Rose of Lopez Island

August 1924

Mrs. Robert Buchanan and son Alex, of Atwood, Ontario, are spending a few days on the Island, guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Buchanan and other relatives here.  Mrs. Buchanan will visit in Vancouver, B. C., and middle west provinces before returning to her eastern home.