Profiles: Lewis Dyer [1838-1906] & Fanny Sophia Williams [1853-1924]
Lewis Dyer was born 30 January 1838 in Devonshire, England [D04846, D04848, D04885]. He immigrated to Canada and worked as a dry goods clerk, initially in Uxbridge, Ontario [D04846, D04847, D05263].
Fanny Sophia Williams was born 27 Mar 1853 in Guelph, Wellington, Canada West [D04846, D04848, D04849]. She was the daughter of Isaac Amos Williams and Caroline Seymour Sanders.
She grew up in Guelph [D03763], but later moved with her family to Mount Forest, Wellington [D03788] and then later Port Perry, Ontario County [D04846] where she met Lewis. The two were married on 11 July 1875 in Port Perry, Ontario [D04846]. As a couple, they first lived in Uxbridge, but later moved to Lindsay in Victoria County [D04848].
Lewis and Fanny had two children, Ethel Verena Seymour Dyer, born 23 Mar 1880 [D05265] and George Harold Lewis Dyer born 26 November 1884 [D05884].
Lewis died 2 May 1906 in Toronto at the age of sixty-eight [D04855] of apoplexy. After Lewis died, Fanny moved in with her daughter and son-in-law [D05268]. She herself died 23 July 1924 at the age of seventy-one [D04849]. They are both buried in St. James Cemetery in Toronto [D04849, D04854]
Sources
[D03763] 1861 census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, Wellington, Guelph, p. 31; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 20 May 2018). Rec. Date: 5 Feb 2018. Cit. Date: 20 May 2018.
[D03788] 1871 census of Canada, Ontario, district 35, sub-district e, Mount Forest, p. 49, dwelling 173, family 173; RG 31; digital images(accessed 20 May 2018). Rec. Date: 4 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 20 May 2018.
[D04846] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages, Reel 18: 339, 6765, Dyer-Williams; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages,"(accessed 26 Dec 2018).
[D04847] 1881 census of Canada, Ontario, district 133, sub-district J, Uxbridge, p. 46, dwelling 218, family 229; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 27 Dec 2018). Rec. Date: 17 Feb 2018. Cit. Date: 27 Dec 2018.
[D04848] 1901 census of Canada, Ontario, district 120, sub-district C-8, Lindsay, p. 8, family 82; RG 31; digital images(accessed 27 Dec 2018).
[D04849] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Deaths, MS940 Reel 16: 2099; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Deaths," Ancestry.ca (27 Dec 2018). Rec. Date: 3 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 27 Dec 2018.
[D04854] St James Cemetery (Toronto, York, Ontario), C Ravine. Rec. Date: 27 Dec 2018. Cit. Date: 27 Dec 2018.
[D04855] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Deaths, MS940, Reel 5: 1269; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Deaths," Ancestry.ca (27 Dec 2018). Rec. Date: 3 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 27 Dec 2018.
[D04885] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Deaths, MS940, Reel 5: 1269; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Deaths," Ancestry.ca (27 Dec 2018).
[D05263] 1891 census of Canada, Ontario, district 102, Uxbridge, p. 30, family 152; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca, Ancestry (accessed 27 Dec 2018). Rec. Date: 30 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 27 Dec 2018.
[D05265] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929, Reel 44: 452, 23008, 19; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births," (27 Dec 2018). Rec. Date: 21 Apr 2017. Cit. Date: 27 Dec 2018.
[D05268] 1921 census of Canada, district 142, sub-district 14, Toronto, p. 24, dwelling 105, family 131; RG 31; digital images, ancestry.com (accessed 27 Dec 2018). Rec. Date: 1 Apr 2017. Cit. Date: 27 Dec 2018.
[D05448] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS 929 Reel 1-245: 590, 35359, 31; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births," (5 Feb 2019). Rec. Date: 21 Apr 2017. Cit. Date: 3 Feb 2019.
Monday, February 25, 2019
Monday, February 18, 2019
Another update on X00121: Who is Ellen McLeod/Reynolds
I've posted recently on X00121 - Who is Ellen McLeod/Reynolds and have also posted one update. And here is another update.
I've since contacted Hamilton Cemetery to ask about the burial records. While they weren't able to give me the plot owners, they were able to confirm that the burial plots for John and Henriette McLeod are quite close to the plot for Ellen Reynolds. They are in the same section, different rows, but quite close to one another.
But more importantly, they provided an interesting piece of information. Both John McLeod and Ellen Reynolds listed John E. McLeod (son of John McLeod and Henriette Mundy) as a next of kin. This would likely indicate that Ellen Reynolds is part of the same family as John McLeod.
Neither of the above two pieces of information are definite proof that Ellen Reynolds and Ellen McLeod are the same person, but they are definitely pointing in that direction.
So, here are the next actions:
* Look for marriage between 1861 and 1871 for Ellen McLeod and John Reynolds
* Look for death record for John Reynolds between 1861 and 1871
* Look for Ellen and John in 1841 census Scotland
* Look for an obituary for Ellen Reynolds
* Look for an obituary for John McLeod
* Check for probate for John McLeod 1889 and see if Ellen Reynolds is mentioned
* Search under the name RENNALS/RUNNALS as well.
In the next few months I'll visit Hamilton Cemetery and Hamilton Public Library to check the proximity of the grave locations myself and search for obituaries for Ellen Reynolds and John McLeod.
I've since contacted Hamilton Cemetery to ask about the burial records. While they weren't able to give me the plot owners, they were able to confirm that the burial plots for John and Henriette McLeod are quite close to the plot for Ellen Reynolds. They are in the same section, different rows, but quite close to one another.
But more importantly, they provided an interesting piece of information. Both John McLeod and Ellen Reynolds listed John E. McLeod (son of John McLeod and Henriette Mundy) as a next of kin. This would likely indicate that Ellen Reynolds is part of the same family as John McLeod.
Neither of the above two pieces of information are definite proof that Ellen Reynolds and Ellen McLeod are the same person, but they are definitely pointing in that direction.
So, here are the next actions:
* Look for marriage between 1861 and 1871 for Ellen McLeod and John Reynolds
* Look for death record for John Reynolds between 1861 and 1871
* Look for Ellen and John in 1841 census Scotland
* Look for an obituary for Ellen Reynolds
* Look for an obituary for John McLeod
* Check for probate for John McLeod 1889 and see if Ellen Reynolds is mentioned
* Search under the name RENNALS/RUNNALS as well.
In the next few months I'll visit Hamilton Cemetery and Hamilton Public Library to check the proximity of the grave locations myself and search for obituaries for Ellen Reynolds and John McLeod.
Monday, February 11, 2019
Profile: Gabriel Williams (1825-1854)
Gabriel Williams [1825-1854]
Gabriel Williams was born in 1825 [D00029, D01459, D01530] in Gloucester, England, the son of Thomas Williams (ca. 1792 – 1868) and Sibyl Foxwell (1798-1874). He was the fourth child and second son of the couple.
Gabriel grew up in Minchinhampton, Gloucester. The Williams family moved to Liverpool in the 1830s and when Gabriel was old enough to begin working, he followed in his father’s footsteps into the clothing industry and worked as a hatter’s assistant in Liverpool [D01530].
The Williams family emigrated to Canada West in the early 1840s and first settled in Orillia, Simcoe County but eventually relocated to Guelph, Wellington County. Thomas Williams set up a business as a brewer in Guelph and like his brothers, Gabriel worked as a brewer as part of his father’s business [D04688].
Sadly, Gabriel died 22 May 1854 at the age of 29 years and was buried on 26 May 1854 [D01459].
Sources
[D00029] (Minchinhampton, Gloucester, England), "Baptism Record - Gabriel Williams," Batch No C049002; Dates 1813 - 1875; Source Call no; 0857041; FHL microfilm.
[D01459] "Deaths," Guelph Mercury, 25 may 1854; digital images, Ancestry.ca (ancestry.ca : accessed 9 Jun 2018)
[D01530] 1841 census of England, Liverpool, Lancashire, folio 45, page 37; digital images(accessed 6 May 2018); citing PRO HO 107/559/15.
[D04688] Canada. Ontario. Wellington. Assessment Roll for the Town of Guelph, 1853. Guelph Public Library, Guelph. Guelph Public Library, Guelph. Guelph Public Library, Guelph.
Gabriel Williams was born in 1825 [D00029, D01459, D01530] in Gloucester, England, the son of Thomas Williams (ca. 1792 – 1868) and Sibyl Foxwell (1798-1874). He was the fourth child and second son of the couple.
Gabriel grew up in Minchinhampton, Gloucester. The Williams family moved to Liverpool in the 1830s and when Gabriel was old enough to begin working, he followed in his father’s footsteps into the clothing industry and worked as a hatter’s assistant in Liverpool [D01530].
The Williams family emigrated to Canada West in the early 1840s and first settled in Orillia, Simcoe County but eventually relocated to Guelph, Wellington County. Thomas Williams set up a business as a brewer in Guelph and like his brothers, Gabriel worked as a brewer as part of his father’s business [D04688].
Sadly, Gabriel died 22 May 1854 at the age of 29 years and was buried on 26 May 1854 [D01459].
Sources
[D00029] (Minchinhampton, Gloucester, England), "Baptism Record - Gabriel Williams," Batch No C049002; Dates 1813 - 1875; Source Call no; 0857041; FHL microfilm.
[D01459] "Deaths," Guelph Mercury, 25 may 1854; digital images, Ancestry.ca (ancestry.ca : accessed 9 Jun 2018)
[D01530] 1841 census of England, Liverpool, Lancashire, folio 45, page 37; digital images(accessed 6 May 2018); citing PRO HO 107/559/15.
[D04688] Canada. Ontario. Wellington. Assessment Roll for the Town of Guelph, 1853. Guelph Public Library, Guelph. Guelph Public Library, Guelph. Guelph Public Library, Guelph.
Monday, February 4, 2019
X00289 Birth and death dates for Annie Louisa Williams
I'm researching the family of John Williams and Charlotte Ann Perry and I've been trying to get the birth and death dates for one of their daughters, Annie Louisa Williams.
The only definite record that I have found for her so far is the 1861 census [D03739] which puts her birth date at 1859 or 1860.
A number of trees on Ancestry have her listed with the following dates:
Born: 14 Apr 1860
Died: 25 Oct 1861
However, none of these trees provide sources for these dates.
So, I’ll need to do some more research. Since she evidently was born and died before civil registration, so I’ll have to find other sources. I’ve checked the standard websites for cemeteries but have had no luck.
Next steps:
- Check Guelph newspapers for birth/death announcements
- Check Wellington County OGS grave transcriptions
- Check Guelph Public Library/Wellington county archives for church records
- Check possibility that birth/death dates are wrong
- Check possibility that Annie Louisa Williams is confused with another one of the sisters
Sources:
[D03739] 1861 census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, Peel, sub-district Brampton, Brampton, p. 15; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 13 May 2018).
The only definite record that I have found for her so far is the 1861 census [D03739] which puts her birth date at 1859 or 1860.
A number of trees on Ancestry have her listed with the following dates:
Born: 14 Apr 1860
Died: 25 Oct 1861
However, none of these trees provide sources for these dates.
So, I’ll need to do some more research. Since she evidently was born and died before civil registration, so I’ll have to find other sources. I’ve checked the standard websites for cemeteries but have had no luck.
Next steps:
- Check Guelph newspapers for birth/death announcements
- Check Wellington County OGS grave transcriptions
- Check Guelph Public Library/Wellington county archives for church records
- Check possibility that birth/death dates are wrong
- Check possibility that Annie Louisa Williams is confused with another one of the sisters
Sources:
[D03739] 1861 census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, Peel, sub-district Brampton, Brampton, p. 15; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 13 May 2018).
Monday, January 28, 2019
Profile: Private George Wilfred “Fred” Smith (1888-1918)
For Week 4 of the 52 Ancestors Challenge, I'm going off theme
George Wilfred “Fred” Smith [1888-1918]
George Wilfred Smith (or Fred Smith as he was later known) was born 5 September 1887, the son of Adam Smith and Kate Julianna Williams and the twin brother of Charles Smith [D04795]. Like his brothers and sisters, he was born in the family home in Eugenia Falls [D04832]. He spent his early years in Eugenia Falls and for a time worked as a sawmill operator [D04736].
Fred enlisted on 22 September 1914, just shortly after World War One began [D04976]. He was one of the very first from the area to enlist [D04864]. Upon enlisting, he joined the 15th Battalion and was made a private in Company D, regimental number 27543 [D04976] [D05062].
Fred trained with the battalion for a few months and sailed over to Europe to join the rest of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in France. In April of 1915, he fought in the battle of St. Julien which was part of the larger second battle of Ypres and one of the first occasions that the Germans used poison gas on the western front. Fred was one of the soldiers gassed and taken prisoner in that battle on April 24, 1915 [D04976, D04864].
Fred spent most of the war in a German prisoner-of-war camp. Despite living in less-than-favourable conditions he kept his spirits up and wrote many letters home to his family. His letters home were usually quite cheerful despite his circumstances [D04830, D04865, D04836].
Fred wrote the letter below to his twin brother Charlie on May 1, 1916 from his prison camp in Germany. It was very likely never read by Charlie as it probably arrived after he had died.
In September of 1916 a letter was received from Fred, written from his prison camp in Germany thanking the Eugenia Women’s Institutes for the boxes of comforts sent to him [D04910].
In February of 1917, a letter was received from Fred in Germany thanking his many friends for the many little comforts they have sent him [D04912].
In May of 1917, Kate received a letter from Fred from his prison camp in Germany. The letter included a photo to show that he was still in good health [D04913].
In June of 1917, Kate received another letter from Fred in Germany stating that he was ill, but a second letter arriving in July indicated that he was feeling well again [D04916].
In the fall of 1917, Fred was freed from the prisoner-of-war camp as part of a prisoner exchange. He was sent to a hospital in Switzerland [D04864, D05025 p404].
In the summer of 1918, Fred wrote a letter home from Switzerland under the pseudonym “Old Bill”. The letter was published in the Flesherton Advance, June 13, 1918. Having seen many atrocities and feeling the effects of having been involved in the war for almost four years, he wrote the anonymous letter as a call for anyone who was able to help out with the war effort.
In July of 1918, Adam and Kate were waiting to hear word about Fred’s return. Unfortunately, the message that they received was not at all what they were expecting because on 27 July 1918, Kate Smith received news by cable that her son Fred had died in Concert, Switzerland. No further details were given at that time. [D04865, D04921]
Fred’s mother, Kate received a letter later in August 1918 from Switzerland. In the letter, one who had attended Fred’s funeral in Switzerland had indicated that he had died in hospital of influenza [D04919]. Later correspondence confirmed that he had died on 22 August 1918 at the age of 30 at a hospital in Switzerland due to influenza [D04839]. This must have come as a surprise to the family, as they had no idea that he had been in such a serious condition [D04830, D04865, D04836]. The last letter that they had received from him was written on June 15th and he seemed to be in good health at the time [D04864].
Back in Eugenia Falls a memorial service was held on Sunday September the 8th at noon in the Eugenia Presbyterian Church [D04920, D04921]. Rev. McVicar performed the service and the church was overflowing with community members, including a large number of Fred’s fellow Orangemen [D04921]. Many people in the town came to help the Smith family deal with the tragedy as this loss represented their third son to have been lost in two years after Charlie drowned and Emerson was killed in 1917 [D04830, D04865, D04836].
Fred’s remains were buried in Vevey Cemetery in Switzerland. The cemetery is also known as St. Martin’s Cemetery. The inscription reads “He is not dead, just gone before” [D04839]. A funeral service was held for him in Switzerland. He is also commemorated in Flesherton Cemetery along with other members of the family [D04351].
After the war, Fred’s mother was a big part of ensuring that a war memorial was set up in Eugenia Park to commemorate the fallen soldiers from the area, including her two sons. The memorial was officially dedicated on 21 July 1921 and list both Fred and his brother Emerson [D05025 p 401 & 402].
Sources
[D04351] Flesherton Cemetery (Flesherton, Grey, Ontario).
[D04736] 1911 census of Canada, Ontario, district 72, sub-district 4, Eugenia, p. 7, dwelling 70, family 70; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.com (accessed 20 Oct 2018).
[D04795] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929; Reel: 81: 309, 9796, 32; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births," (25 Oct 2018).
[D04830] "Private Fred Smith Dead in Switzerland," Grey County Surname Collection, 1918; digital images(accessed 17 Nov 2018), Grey County Surname Collection.
[D04836] "Private Fred Smith Died in Switzerland," Grey County Surname Collection, 1918; digital images(accessed 17 Nov 2018), Grey County Surname Collection.
[D04864] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, 1 Aug 1918, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 9 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04865] "Private Fred Smith Dead in Switzerland," Flesherton Advance, August 1, 1918, p. 2, col. 3; digital images(accessed 17 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04868] "A Letter From Germany," Flesherton Advance, July 6, 1916, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 17 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04894] "Ole Bill Writes From Switzerland," Flesherton Advance, June 13 1918, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 18 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04910] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, September 7, 1916, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 18 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04912] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, February 22 1917, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04913] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, 31 May 1917, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04916] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, 26 July 1917, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04919] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, 22 Aug 1918, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04920] "Eugenia," Flesherton Advance, 5 Sep 1918, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04921] "Eugenia," Flesherton Advance, 12 Sep 1918, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04976] Canada, "Service Record Card - Fred Smith"; digital images, 48th Highlanders Museum (http://48highlanders.com/04_03.html : accessed 10 Nov 2018).
[D05025] Mildred Young Hubbert, editor, Split Rail Country: A History of Artemesia Township (Owen Sound, Ontario: Stan Brown Printers Limited, 1986)
[D05062] Canadian Expeditionary Forces Fifteenth Battalion, Nominal Roll of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men (Ottawa: Government Printing Bureau, 1915), 13.
George Wilfred “Fred” Smith [1888-1918]
George Wilfred Smith (or Fred Smith as he was later known) was born 5 September 1887, the son of Adam Smith and Kate Julianna Williams and the twin brother of Charles Smith [D04795]. Like his brothers and sisters, he was born in the family home in Eugenia Falls [D04832]. He spent his early years in Eugenia Falls and for a time worked as a sawmill operator [D04736].
Fred enlisted on 22 September 1914, just shortly after World War One began [D04976]. He was one of the very first from the area to enlist [D04864]. Upon enlisting, he joined the 15th Battalion and was made a private in Company D, regimental number 27543 [D04976] [D05062].
Fred trained with the battalion for a few months and sailed over to Europe to join the rest of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in France. In April of 1915, he fought in the battle of St. Julien which was part of the larger second battle of Ypres and one of the first occasions that the Germans used poison gas on the western front. Fred was one of the soldiers gassed and taken prisoner in that battle on April 24, 1915 [D04976, D04864].
Fred spent most of the war in a German prisoner-of-war camp. Despite living in less-than-favourable conditions he kept his spirits up and wrote many letters home to his family. His letters home were usually quite cheerful despite his circumstances [D04830, D04865, D04836].
Fred wrote the letter below to his twin brother Charlie on May 1, 1916 from his prison camp in Germany. It was very likely never read by Charlie as it probably arrived after he had died.
Langensalza, Germany.[D04868]
May 1, 1916
Dear Brother Charlie:
You can certainly believe that I was glad to get your letter and to read that you and the rest are well. Hope that the warm weather will help father and Uncle Sidney to enjoy better health. The weather is nice and warm here just now and we have a football team so we have that way to cheer us up a little.
Well, how many eggs did you get away with on Easter? I got some for 20 pfennings, or 4e. I had about a dozen Easter week. We have not been getting our letters regular on account of changing camp. Hope it will be better soon. The camp Orrdrufs was taken for convalescent camp. Oh, say! Some one sent me a parcel of underwear, chiclets, magazine, pipe and can of veal and ham and I wish you to thank them in the Montreal paper as the address is blurred so I can't answer and thank them and if it was not intended for me tell that I am sorry. I will put my address on the back of this [sheet?]
Well, Charlie, I do hope this awful old war will soon be over and may God bless and keep you all spiritually and physically, lovingly yours, brother Fred.
P.S. - Give my love to father and mother.
Address - Kriegsgefangenen Laegar, Langensalza, Germany
In September of 1916 a letter was received from Fred, written from his prison camp in Germany thanking the Eugenia Women’s Institutes for the boxes of comforts sent to him [D04910].
In February of 1917, a letter was received from Fred in Germany thanking his many friends for the many little comforts they have sent him [D04912].
In May of 1917, Kate received a letter from Fred from his prison camp in Germany. The letter included a photo to show that he was still in good health [D04913].
In June of 1917, Kate received another letter from Fred in Germany stating that he was ill, but a second letter arriving in July indicated that he was feeling well again [D04916].
In the fall of 1917, Fred was freed from the prisoner-of-war camp as part of a prisoner exchange. He was sent to a hospital in Switzerland [D04864, D05025 p404].
In the summer of 1918, Fred wrote a letter home from Switzerland under the pseudonym “Old Bill”. The letter was published in the Flesherton Advance, June 13, 1918. Having seen many atrocities and feeling the effects of having been involved in the war for almost four years, he wrote the anonymous letter as a call for anyone who was able to help out with the war effort.
Dear Sir, - Having head through a certain source that you would be pleased to get a letter from anyone in the army, I determined to immediately send you one. I would like it to be one that would bring good results. You see it is with an eye to the interests of the good old flag that I am writing this at all.
What I am going to say relates to manpower, as they say today. Is it possible for Canada to send many more men to the army? Can the women of Canada do any more than they are doing to allow of more men joining up? If not, do they not realise what they owe the army for protecting them against German Militarism? But then, if only all men would only try to imagine what their feelings would be just supposing that all men were slackers and that Germans were in possession of Canada, why everyone medically fit at all would insist on going to the front. Just imagine for a moment our women and children undergoing the horrible treatment the inhuman outrages and insults as the unfortunate Belgians received. It's up to every man who is physically able to do his utmost and the women's duty to see that every man available shall go, as they are doing in "Blighty." No one knows better than I do for experience (I believe that old saying) is the best teacher. If there is anyone who does not believe that, I advise them to try only one month in Germany. So you see, the prospect of being under German rule during a life time (if you don't like to think of any one else) would not be very pleasant, would it? Yours till 1920 or the end of the war.
- Old Bill
[D04894]
In July of 1918, Adam and Kate were waiting to hear word about Fred’s return. Unfortunately, the message that they received was not at all what they were expecting because on 27 July 1918, Kate Smith received news by cable that her son Fred had died in Concert, Switzerland. No further details were given at that time. [D04865, D04921]
Fred’s mother, Kate received a letter later in August 1918 from Switzerland. In the letter, one who had attended Fred’s funeral in Switzerland had indicated that he had died in hospital of influenza [D04919]. Later correspondence confirmed that he had died on 22 August 1918 at the age of 30 at a hospital in Switzerland due to influenza [D04839]. This must have come as a surprise to the family, as they had no idea that he had been in such a serious condition [D04830, D04865, D04836]. The last letter that they had received from him was written on June 15th and he seemed to be in good health at the time [D04864].
Back in Eugenia Falls a memorial service was held on Sunday September the 8th at noon in the Eugenia Presbyterian Church [D04920, D04921]. Rev. McVicar performed the service and the church was overflowing with community members, including a large number of Fred’s fellow Orangemen [D04921]. Many people in the town came to help the Smith family deal with the tragedy as this loss represented their third son to have been lost in two years after Charlie drowned and Emerson was killed in 1917 [D04830, D04865, D04836].
Fred’s remains were buried in Vevey Cemetery in Switzerland. The cemetery is also known as St. Martin’s Cemetery. The inscription reads “He is not dead, just gone before” [D04839]. A funeral service was held for him in Switzerland. He is also commemorated in Flesherton Cemetery along with other members of the family [D04351].
After the war, Fred’s mother was a big part of ensuring that a war memorial was set up in Eugenia Park to commemorate the fallen soldiers from the area, including her two sons. The memorial was officially dedicated on 21 July 1921 and list both Fred and his brother Emerson [D05025 p 401 & 402].
Sources
[D04351] Flesherton Cemetery (Flesherton, Grey, Ontario).
[D04736] 1911 census of Canada, Ontario, district 72, sub-district 4, Eugenia, p. 7, dwelling 70, family 70; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.com (accessed 20 Oct 2018).
[D04795] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929; Reel: 81: 309, 9796, 32; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births," (25 Oct 2018).
[D04830] "Private Fred Smith Dead in Switzerland," Grey County Surname Collection, 1918; digital images(accessed 17 Nov 2018), Grey County Surname Collection.
[D04836] "Private Fred Smith Died in Switzerland," Grey County Surname Collection, 1918; digital images(accessed 17 Nov 2018), Grey County Surname Collection.
[D04864] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, 1 Aug 1918, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 9 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04865] "Private Fred Smith Dead in Switzerland," Flesherton Advance, August 1, 1918, p. 2, col. 3; digital images(accessed 17 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04868] "A Letter From Germany," Flesherton Advance, July 6, 1916, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 17 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04894] "Ole Bill Writes From Switzerland," Flesherton Advance, June 13 1918, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 18 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04910] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, September 7, 1916, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 18 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04912] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, February 22 1917, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04913] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, 31 May 1917, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04916] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, 26 July 1917, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04919] "Eugenia Paragraphs," Flesherton Advance, 22 Aug 1918, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04920] "Eugenia," Flesherton Advance, 5 Sep 1918, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04921] "Eugenia," Flesherton Advance, 12 Sep 1918, p. 1, col. 2; digital images(accessed 24 Nov 2018), Grey Highlands Newspaper Collection.
[D04976] Canada, "Service Record Card - Fred Smith"; digital images, 48th Highlanders Museum (http://48highlanders.com/04_03.html : accessed 10 Nov 2018).
[D05025] Mildred Young Hubbert, editor, Split Rail Country: A History of Artemesia Township (Owen Sound, Ontario: Stan Brown Printers Limited, 1986)
[D05062] Canadian Expeditionary Forces Fifteenth Battalion, Nominal Roll of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men (Ottawa: Government Printing Bureau, 1915), 13.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Update on the 52 Week Challenge
I've done 3 posts so far as part of the 52 ancestors challenge. I am planning to continue with the challenge, but I am going to change things up a bit.
For one thing, I'm finding it difficult to keep with the themes of the challenge and also stay focused on the families that I am currently working on. So, I'll continue writing ancestor profiles; they just may not meet with the theme of that week.
Also, it's getting a little much to post two blogposts each week: one profile for the challenge plus the regular X-Files posts. So I'm going to aim for about one post per week. Which means that the profiles will likely get posted after the week of the challenge.
So there you have it. I'll continue the goal of one ancestor profile per week, but they may not follow the weekly themes and they may likely appear after the challenge week.
For one thing, I'm finding it difficult to keep with the themes of the challenge and also stay focused on the families that I am currently working on. So, I'll continue writing ancestor profiles; they just may not meet with the theme of that week.
Also, it's getting a little much to post two blogposts each week: one profile for the challenge plus the regular X-Files posts. So I'm going to aim for about one post per week. Which means that the profiles will likely get posted after the week of the challenge.
So there you have it. I'll continue the goal of one ancestor profile per week, but they may not follow the weekly themes and they may likely appear after the challenge week.
Monday, January 21, 2019
X00155 Thomas Williams death information - Solved!
Until recently the only sources that I had for Thomas Williams' [abt. 1792-1868] date of death were the Greenwood Cemetery Interment listings [D01131] and his tombstone.
Both are consistent with a date of death of 26 August 1868. Unfortunately, the date is before the start of civil registration in Ontario, so a death registration record wouldn't exist. I checked the Owen Sound newspapers from the time period, but none of them had a surviving death notice.
But recently, I checked in the listings for the Guelph Weekly Herald, given that he spent a great a deal of his life living in Guelph, Ontario. Sure enough, I found this listing:
Now the date given there is 22 August 1868. So there is a date conflict that needs to be resolved, but now I have an additional source for his date of death.
Both are consistent with a date of death of 26 August 1868. Unfortunately, the date is before the start of civil registration in Ontario, so a death registration record wouldn't exist. I checked the Owen Sound newspapers from the time period, but none of them had a surviving death notice.
But recently, I checked in the listings for the Guelph Weekly Herald, given that he spent a great a deal of his life living in Guelph, Ontario. Sure enough, I found this listing:
Now the date given there is 22 August 1868. So there is a date conflict that needs to be resolved, but now I have an additional source for his date of death.
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