Pat
This timeline deals with the Pat of Silver Bush series by L. M. Montgomery. It includes the events occuring in and predating Pat of Silver Bush and Mistress Pat. The timeline is dated by Pat’s statement that the armistice to World War I was signed when she was five years old. (PoSB ch.25,3.)
| 1827 | Great-great aunt Hannah Selby is born. | She’s 93 years old when Pat is 8 years old. (PoSB ch.9,1) | |
| 1874 | Uncle Tom Gardiner is born. | He’s 60 when suspected of courting. (MP ch.1,5) | |
| 1879 | Josiah Tillytuck is born. | He states he’s 55 upon joining Silver Bush.(MP) ch.1,3) | |
| 1893 | Judy begins to work at Silver Bush in May. | Judy says it’s the 41st May she’s worked at Silver Bush. (MP ch.1,9) | |
| 1905 | Long Alec Gardiner marries Mary Selby in March. | At Rae’s birth, Judy wears the silk dress she got 15 years ago for Long Alec’s wedding.(PoSB) ch.4,4.) They celebrate their anniversary in March.(PoSB ch.13,3) | |
| 1906 | Joseph Gardiner (Joe) is born. | Joe is 19 when Pat turns 13.(PoSB) ch.22,2.) | |
| 1909 | Winnifred Gardiner (Winnie) is born. | Winnie is 10 at Aunt Hazel’s wedding in August.(PoSB) ch.6,4.) She is 13 when Aunt Helen wants to adopt her, in March 1922. (PoSB ch.14,2.) She is 18 when Pat joins the Queen’s entrance class. (PoSB ch.25,1.) | |
| 1911 | Hilary Gordon (Jingle) is born. | Hilary is 15 when his mother visits, after Pat’s 13th birthday.(PoSB ch.23,1.) He is 20 when Pat is 18.(PoSB ch.39,2.) | |
| 1912 | Sidney Gardiner (Sid) is born. | Sid is a year older than Pat.(PoSB ch.4,2.) | |
| 1913 | Patricia Margaret Gardiner (Pat) is born in September. Elizabeth Gertrude Wilcox (Bets) is born on the same day. |
Pat is born. | Pat was 5 when the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.(PoSB ch.25,3.) Pat writes to Bets on their birthday in September. (PoSB ch.21,1. |
| 1914 | Grandmother Gardiner dies. | Pat turns 1 year old. | At Rae’s birth, Judy wears the silk dress she had last worn at Grandmother Gardiner’s funeral 6 years ago.(PoSB ch.4,4.) |
| 1920 | Pat of Silver Bush begins. Rachel Doris Gardiner (Cuddles/Rae) is born. Pat starts school. Aunt Hazel marries Robert Madison. |
Pat turns 7 years old. | (PoSB ch.1-8) |
| 1921 | Pat meets Jingle in October, before Thanksgiving. Jingle and Pat save McGinty at the end of October. |
Pat turns 8 years old. | (PoSB ch.9-13) |
| 1922 | On the Gardiner’s wedding anniversayr in March, Jingle “proposes” to Pat. Uncle Brian, Aunt Helen and Norma visit. Winnie visits Aunt Helen, who wants to adopt her. Pat makes her first visit away from Silver Bush with Aunt Helen in Spring. She meets Bets Wilcox. The Wilcoxes move to the Long House and Pat and Bets’ friendship blossoms. |
Pat turns 9 years old. | (PoSB ch.13-16) |
| 1923 | Pat is caught dancing naked by Aunt Edith. Long Alec goes out West in Septmber. |
Pat turns 10 years old. | (PoSB ch.17-18) |
| 1924 | Pat attends her first evening party at Aunt Hazel’s. Pat and Jingle are caught by the tide at Tiny Cove. |
Pat turns 11 years old. | (PoSB ch.19-20) |
| 1925 | Pat visits Aunt Hazel in September, where she remains stranded while there are measles at Silver Bush. | Pat turns 12 years old. | (PoSB ch.21) NOTE: LMM miscounted. Pat was “nearly 11″ at Aunt Hazel’s party in early 1924, and suddenly turns 12 in this chapter. |
| 1926 | Joan and Dorothy Selby visit in September, around Pat’s birthday. | Pat turns 13 years old. | (PoSB ch.22) |
| 1927 | Jingle’s mother visits. Pat joins the Queen’s Entrance class. Joe leaves to go to sea. |
Pat turns 14 years old. | (PoSB ch.23-25) |
| 1928 | Pat has scarlet fever in June. Pat has a crush on Harris Hynes in September. |
Pat turns 15 years old. | (PoSB ch.26-28) |
| 1930 | Joe visits. Bets dies in April. Pat and Jingle go to Queen’s in September. |
Pat turns 17 years old. | (PoSB ch.29-32) NOTE: LMM miscounted. Pat repeats her school year after she has scarlet fever, and should go to Queen’s when she is 16. However, Pat met Bets at age 8 and now mourns their 9 years’ friendship. (PoSB ch.31,1) |
| 1931 | Pat dates Lester Conway. Pat’s mother has surgery in the summer. Winnie marries Frank Russell in September. Hilary goes to college. Pat of Silver Bush ends. |
Pat turns 18 years old. | (PoSB ch.29-32) |
| 1933 | Mistress Pat begins in autumn. Tillytuck joins Silver Bush in November. Winnie gives birth to Mary Laura Patricia Russell at Christmas. |
Pat turns 20 years old. | (MP ch.1,1-8) Cuddles is 13 years old.(MP ch.1,1) |
| 1934 | Pat, Judy and Rae spring-clean the attic in May. Lady Medchester visits. Pat helps Uncle Tom with his courtship. |
Pat turns 21 years old. | (MP ch.1,9-ch.2,2) |
| 1935 | David and Suzanne Kirk come to live at the Long House in June. Pat and Suzanne are rained in at Mr. Butterbloom’s in August. Uncle Horace visits. Rae goes to Queen’s in September. Judy plans a trip to Ireland in November. |
Pat turns 22 years old. | (MP ch.2,3-ch.3,2) |
| 1936 | Rae earns her teacher’s license in spring, and a position at the North Glen school. Go-preacher Larry Wheeler comes to North Glen. Pat and Rae quarrel in November. |
Pat turns 23 years old. | (MP ch.3,3-ch.4,2) |
| 1937 | Rae receives a scholarship for a 3-month’s course at the OAC in Guelph, Ontario. Rae and Pat make up. Rae swithers between suitors Peter and Bruce. Pat meets the eligible Donald Holmes. Gentlemen Tom leaves in November. |
Pat turns 24 years old. | (MP ch.4,2-6) |
| 1938 | Rae is engaged to Brook Hamilton in September. | Pat turns 25 years old. | (MP ch.5) |
| 1939 | Sid elopes with May Binnie on Pat’s birthday in September. | Pat turns 26 years old. | (MP ch.6) |
| 1940 | Joe marries Enid Sutton. Aunt Edith dies in August. Pat hears that Hilary is engaged to Anna Loveday. Hilary’s mother dies. Pat and David Kirk are engaged. |
Pat turns 27 years old. | (MP ch.7) |
| 1941 | Mrs. Tillytuck calls. Tillytuck leaves Silver Bush in November. |
Pat turns 28 years old. | (MP ch.8,1-2) |
| 1942 | Hilary visits in spring. Winie has twins, Winnie and Rachel. Rae marries Brook. |
Pat turns 29 years old. | (MP ch.8,3-ch.9) |
| 1943 | Suzanne marries. Pat and David break their engagement. Judy dies in October or November. |
Pat turns 30 years old. | (MP ch.10) |
| 1944 | Silver Bush burns in autum. Great-Aunt Frances dies and leaves Bay Shore Farm to mother. Hilary and Pat are engaged. Mistress Pat ends. |
Pat turns 31 years old. | (MP ch.11) |
NOTE:
You may wonder why the Pat timeline runs into the 1940’s without any mention of World War II (1939-1945). Mistress Pat was published in 1935, before the war began. Not only would L. M. Montgomery have been unable to anticipate the future; Montgomery’s novels, aside from Rilla of Ingleside do not deal with specific historic dates and events. They usually reflect general historical background of the time period when she is writing the novel. In the case of Pat of Silver Bush, the books are set generally in the 1930’s.
Last modified: January 10, 2009
