Biographical sketch: Mary Machar ("Minnie") Mullan was the second daughter and second child of Rev. James Scott Mullan and Eliza Jane Sommerville. She was born 6 March 1866* in Ontario and died 2 December 1905 in Stanley, New Brunswick. On 7 August 1901 in Stanley, she married James Pringle (c1866-1944) of Red Rock, New Brunswick, son of William Pringle and Eleanor Taylor. Pringle was a graduate of the St. John Business College and worked for six years as a bookkeeper for Douglass's General Store in Stanley. In 1899, Pringle left for service in the Boer War as a member of "G" Company of the 2^nd Royal Canadian Regiment. For service in that conflict, he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal, with three bars. In 1903, he became the first commercial traveller for James S. Neill and Sons. With the coming of war in 1914, James Pringle was appointed to the 26^th Battalion, New Brunswick Regiment, as Major and Quartermaster and served the duration of the war with the rank of Major. (He had held these same ranks for a number of years with the 71^st York Regiment in Fredericton.) Twice mentioned in despatches for distinguished service at Vimy Ridge and at Passchendaele in 1917, he was also awarded the Military Cross for his service at Amiens in 1918 (in later years, he was still referred to as Major Pringle, M.C.). After the war James Pringle entered into a partnership with R. L. Phillips to establish Phillips and Pringle, a Ford car dealership on Phoenix Square in Fredericton. He was a member of two fraternal organisations - the Sons of Scotland and Foresters - was President of the Fredericton Society of St. Andrew, serving many years as the Society's treasurer, and was the first President of the Fredericton Branch, Canadian Legion, established in 1926.

Minnie and James Pringle had a daughter, Georgie Machar, born 8 May 1904, who later married Harold P. True. Mrs. True died in Lincoln, NB on 2 October 2002. Another daughter, May, died as an infant in 1902. On 15 June 1910, James Pringle married Mary Edna Hanning (1885-1957). Their son was J. Donald Pringle (1914-1979). Major Pringle died in Fredericton on 8 February 1944 at his home on George Street and is buried in the Fredericton Rural Cemetery (Extension).

*She was named for John Machar (1796-1863), a Presbyterian clergyman and educator in Kingston, Ont. who is chiefly remembered for his part in founding and fostering Queen's College (later University) in that city, where Minnie's father was himself a student and young clergyman.

Sources:
CAIN no. 16746; 1901 census, Stanley, N.B.; Stanley Cemetery listings, PANB MC1288, MS 3C; New Brunswick Vital Statistics Index . Marriages 1902-1910, v.2; PANB, MC80 / 1814 "Pringle Family History"; Velma Kelly's The village in the valley. A history of Stanley and vicintiy, 1983; Prominent people of the Maritime provinces, 1922; Dictionary of Canadian Biography, v. 9.

Custodial history: Material received by Dr. D. Murray Young from Georgie (Pringle) True, daughter of Minnie and James Pringle.

Scope and content: The fonds consists of two (2) items:

1. a diary kept by Minnie Mullan during the first six months of James Pringle's service in the Boer War, 22 Oct 1899 to 6 June 1900. The diary includes notes on domestic and family matters, the weather, visitors, comments on the health of family members and remarks on her father's activities (travels, funerals, marriages etc.); and

2. James Pringle's personal account book partially covering the years 1903-1904, kept after his return from the South African War. In his early employment days Pringle worked for J.S. Neill, earning $11.50 per week, later increased to $12.50. The account book includes notes of expenses of setting up housekeeping in Fredericton and the costs associated with the arrival of children.

Notes:

Title based on the creators of the fonds.

Immediate source of acquisition: received from Dr. D. Murray Young 13 February 2002. Prof. Young is the great-nephew of Minnie Mullan and James Pringle.

Restrictions: open access

Associated material: James Pringle fonds. New Brunswick Museum. Archives and Research Library, ID 226 1

Related groups of records:
MG H 181      James Scott Mullan fonds
UA RG 181    D. Murray Young fonds
MG H 141      Donald Pringle fonds
UA RG 363    James K. Chapman fonds

File 2:  James Pringle personal account book, 1903-1904

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