WWII Flight Log Book

An Old Flight Log Book 

This blog is a bit different, I've yet to see the grave of this gentleman but I have seen something quite personal and what would have been important to him. 

On 22 March 2026, John purchased a flight log at a military show in Toronto, Ontario.  The flight log was for a man named Harry Thewlis with service number 1624445 who served with the Royal Airforce in South Africa. 

John had done some preliminary searches for the gentleman via google but was not able to find any information. He wondered if the gentleman was born in South Africa and asked me to see if I could find more information about his service, determine where he was born, and find out how the log book found its way to Canada. 

The Flight Log  

The first two pages of the book provided us with key information about Harry. 

Pasted to the front cover of the flight log were its instructions, which also stated that it was an official document and property of the Union Government.   Stamped in the upper left-hand corner in red was: R.A.F Harrogate.  [North Yorkshire, England] 

N.V.C 14/32(printed in blue ink)  

Signed UJG? 3/0 

Date 27.10.42 

Pasted on top of the instructions was a smaller piece of paper entitled Aerodrome Control Instruction, which certified that 1624445 Thewlis. H. was given instructions in the duties of Aerodrome Control Pilot on 21.11.43 by Inspector A Brown and Duty Pilot on 16-12-43 by W Lan Garde? Lte. 

A second piece of paper indicated that L.A.C  Thewlis received instruction on the Oxford Cockpit Drill Trainer on 15 December 1942 at No 2. Air School Randfontein. 

The first page of the log book shows us that Harry executed his first successful solo spin and recovery on 2 November 1943. Beside this entry, presumably pasted by Harry is a Canadian stamp featuring the de Havilland Tiger Moth, which was the primary aircraft used at the school(1).  It also states that on 3 March 1944 he was qualified to carry passengers for Bombing, Machine Gun Practices, and Cross Country Exercises.  Stricken from the list of qualifications was to act as a safety pilot for Instrument Flying practices. 

Loose papers between the cover and first page include: 

• Sergeants’ Mess Royal Air Force North Luffenham Subscription Card, which shows that Harry paid into the subscription in June (no year) was number 445 and had the rank w/o. North Luffenham was an RAF Air Force base in Rutland, England.(2) 
• A Royal Air Force Physical Fitness Test Record Card, which provides us with Harry’s age (26), height (5’ 7”) and his rank at the time (F/SGT).  There are two dates on the card: 19 July 1945 and 13 December 1945.    
• Photo of the men of “A’ Navigation Flight 43 Air School Port Alfred [South Africa] dated 20 April 1945.  The names of each man in the picture appear on the back.  Harry is not one of the men in this picture. Port Alfred is on the ocean while Randfontein is in the interior and 11 hours 35 mins away by car. 

The rest of the book contains meticulous records of each of his flights, his progression in the ranks and a summary of his record of service (unit and dates) as well as which aircraft he had flown. 

It appears that his service started in A.C.R.C [Air Crew Reception Centre]  St John’s Wood 26 October 1942 and ended in 7 PRC [Personnel Reception Centre] Market Harborough on 14 December 1945. 

The search and the answer

The quickest source of information for most of my research is Ancestry.  A cursory search of showed there was more than one Harry Thewlis in both England and Canada. The results in Canadian records were limited to Ontario voters lists (for a Harry Thewlis in North York, Ontario) and a man who lived in Alberta.  In England, there were a couple of men who were born in Yorkshire and at least one marriage index for a Harry Thewlis who married Sylvia Hallas around 1940. 

I turned to Google and was able to quickly find Harry’s obituary online.  He died at 82 on 25 February 2000 at home.  According to his obituary, he was married to Syliva for 59 years.  Together they had at least one child, Maxine, who married Basil Peters. Harry had at least 2 grandchildren, Ross and Gareth.  His obituary goes on to say that he served in WWII as an instructor pilot with the R.A.F and after the war worked for the City of Toronto.  In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to the North York General Hospital [Ontario, Canada](3).   

The log book and obituary coupled with the index to the marriage record gave me a lot of critical information. He was likely born in England and was married before he served in Yorkshire in 1939/1940 to Sylvia Hallas.   

I decided to order a copy of the marriage record from the GRO and wait patiently for it to arrive in the mail.   Upon review, the marriage record gave me important information to narrow down Harry and complete the picture. 

Harry Thewlis was born 31 October 1917(4) 

In 1921, the Thewlis family was living at 3 Royd St Avenue, Longwood, Golcar, Huddersfield.  The household included: 

• Fred aged 32 years, 6 months 
• Anne, aged 33 years 
• Mary, aged 7 years 6 months 
• Harold, aged 4 years 8 months 
• And Harry, aged 3 years 7 months(5) 

In 1939, Harry , a plumber and electrician, was living with his parents and sister at 16 Moorcroft Avenue, Colne Valley, Yorkshire.  His father was a brass moulder.(6)  

On 19 October 1940, 22 year old Harry Thewlis, still living on Moorcroft Ave, married 19 year old Sylvia Hallas, a weaver, at St Saviour’s Church in Ravensthorpe, County Burrough of Dewsbury.   Sylvia lived at 52 William Street  in Ravensthorpe.  Sylvia’s father’s name was not listed but the certificate include Harry’s dad, Fred. Fred’s occupation matches the 1921 census. 

Harry and Sylvia welcomed Maxine Lesley on 15 December 1941 at the Princess Royal Maternity Home and they were living with his parents at 16 Moorcroft Avenue.(7) 

In 1945 while Harry remained in service, Sylvia (and presumably Maxine) were living with Fred and Anne on Moorcroft Avenue.(8)  

On 16th March 1948, Sylvia and Maxine set sail from Southampton on board the SS Aquitania bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. (9)  Harry does not appear on the ship manifest and perhaps went on ahead to get settled in Canada. As per Harry's obituary, he worked for the City of Toronto, it's not certain what prompted him to move his little family to Canada or when he arrived.

1. Royal Air For Commands, SAAF Training Organisation https://www.rafcommands.com/articles/saaf-training-organisation/#google_vignette, accessed 23 March 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 

2. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_North_Luffenham  accessed 23 March 2026 by Debbie Redmond 

3. Harry Thewlis obituary, https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/harry-thewlis-obituary?id=41874617, The Globe and Mail, published February 28-29, 2000.  Accessed 25 March 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 

4. 1939 England and Wales Register. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/3621C. Accessed by Debbie Redmond, 1 May 2026. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/61596/records/22233414. 

5. The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/21435, ED 2, Sch 19; Book: 21435. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/63150/records/3000101.  Accessed by Debbie Redmond, 1 May 2026 

6. 1939 England and Wales Register. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/3621C. Accessed by Debbie Redmond, 1 May 2026. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/61596/records/22233414.  

7. The Huddersfield Examiner and West Riding Reporter. Published 20 December 1941.  Page 8.  Accessed by Debbie Redmond 1 May 2026. 

8. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers [Colne Valley], 1840-1962 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/3057/records/95862736 Accessed by Debbie Redmond  2 May 2026. 

9. The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; BT27 Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Outwards Passenger Lists; Reference Number: Series BT27-135583. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/2997/records/143838921. Accessed by Debbie Redmond  2 May 2026.  

The Longstanding Farm Hand at the Breckon home

 John and I did a ghost tour at the Breckon House in Bronte Creek Provincial Park last year and were speaking with some volunteers.  One of the people they discussed on the tour was Dolly, a home child who worked for the family at the turn of the century.  I offered to do some research on Dolly but they have enough already from her descendants.   Who they didn't have a lot of information about was Bateson Glasby, the farm hand who worked for 2 generations of the Breckons on the farm.  

 Bateson Glasby(Photo credit: User glazzers on Ancestry.com 1 May 2020)

Intrigued I started the research but didn't refocus until this year.  

Bateson Glasby was born 28 Apr 18301 and christened in South Cave, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom on 23 May 1830.2  His parents William Glasby and Elizabeth Ingram were married 23 November 1805.  William was from Ellerker parish (South Cave).3 One of the witnesses at their marriage was a gentleman named John Baitson 4, perhaps Bateson Glasby was named after John. 

While I haven’t traced all of William and Elizabeth’s children, their son George was christened 1 April 1825 in Brantingham and Ellerker, Yorkshire, England.5    His significance becomes apparent later. 

Bateson appears with his parents in the 1841 census in Ellerker with siblings William (aged 6) and Robert (aged 4).  An additional child, John Wright (aged 8) appears with the family.  His father’s occupation is a labourer.6 His brothers George and John (born 1815) do not appear in the 1841 census with the family but George is in nearby Brantingham7 and John appears to be in Hull, where on July 17 he was charged with being drunk and disorderly.8 

Three of the Glasby boys moved out of England after 1841.  After marrying Maria Ellerby in Hull on 28 Nov 18439, John and his family boarded the Parsee and left England in 1853 to settle in Australia10. Bateson immigrated to Canada in 185011, the ship and location where he initially settled has yet to be determined.  In 1851 George [Glaspe] appears in Nelson Township, Halton County, Ontario in the household of John and Isabella Breckon.12   Ten years later, he appears with his wife Mary and children W[illiam].R[obson] (aged 5), James (aged 3), and George (aged 1) in North Cayuga, Haldimand County, Ontario.13 George and Mary consistently appear in the Canadian censuses in North Cayuga, Haldimand through to the 1901 census.  Unfortunately, his immigration year is not specified in the 1901 census.14 I was hoping it might also be 1850 and we could assume that Bateson and George travelled together. 

In 1871, Bateson resides in Trafalgar Township, Halton County, with Ralph and Martha Breckon and their family, where his occupation is referred to as a labourer.15  Two years later in 1873 in Oakville, Ontario (likely at or near the Breckon farm), Bateson visits with a college friend Thomas Lyman Nicols.16 I haven’t yet been able to determine where Bateson went and when to college. 

In 1881, it appears that the head of the household has changed to the Breckon’s 23 year old son John T.  John’s wife Hannah and his siblings, as well as his widowed mother Martha reside in the household in addition to Bateson, whose occupation is listed as a farmer.17 

In 1891, the head of the household changed again, this time to John’s brother Henry.  Also in the household are Henry’s wife Margaret, their children Christine (aged 5), Bertha (aged 3), and Gordon (aged 6 months).  The household also has 3 domestics in their employment.  Bateson, Alice Burns (aged 17), and John Andrews (aged 16).18  Over the years, Bateson seems to have become an important member of the Breckon household. Henry and Margaret gave Gordon the middle name Glasby.19    

In 1898 tragedy struck on January 6th when his 40 year old nephew James died at his own hand.  He slit his throat with a large kitchen knife at his parent’s house.20 

In 1901, 70 year old Bateson, continues to reside with the Henry Breckon family.  Bateson is employed by the family as a farm labourer for 10 months per year and receives a wage of $100. He can read and write in English and his religion is Church of England.21 At some point prior to September of that year, it looks like Bateson finally retires from a long life of farm labour, moves, and turns to a more spiritual calling. On 10 September, Bateson is living in Merriton (near present day St Catharines) and is visiting friends in Canfield (North Cayuga).22  

The Selkirk Star documented some of Bateson’s travels.  On 11 August 1909, paper reported that Bateson had returned from visiting friends in Hamilton, Bronte and Burlington. On 23 September of the same year, it was reported that Bateson was spending a few days in Welland.  On 11 August 1910, he was visiting friends in Bronte and Oakville. Reported in Welland Telegraph on 8 July 1910, Bateson is living at Canfield Junction and stationed there are a circuit minister.  He went back to the Niagara region to visit his old college chum Thomas Lyman Nichols in Welland, Ontario.23 

In 1911 Bateson lived with his niece Mary Elizabeth Badgley and her husband Jesse when he lived in Canfield.24  

On 16 Oct 1916 Bateson died in Canfield, his immediate cause of death was exhaustion and direct cause was senility.25 He is buried in St Jude’s Cemetery in present day Oakville, Ontario.26 

1. 1901 Canadian Census. Census Place: Trafalgar, Halton, Ontario; Page: 7; Family No: 66. Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8826/records/11323485) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond.  
2. "England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBDY-NG3 : 5 February 2023), Bateson Glasby, 1830.  Accessed 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
3. Yorkshire, England, Bishops' Transcripts of Church of England Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers, 1558-1912. Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/62231/records/93870573?tid=205766491&pid=312701786963&ssrc=pt) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
4. East Riding Archives; Beverley, East Riding, England; Parish Registers relating to East Riding; Book: South Cave. Marriages and Banns 1783-1812; Reference: PE145/8.  Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/62231/records/93870573?tid=205766491&pid=312701786963&ssrc=pt) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
5. East Riding, Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1925. Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/62140/records/603098?tid=205766491&pid=312789522882&ssrc=pt) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
6. 1841 England Census. Class: HO107; Piece: 1226; Book: 4; Civil Parish: Brantingham; County: Yorkshire; Enumeration District: 8; Page: 1; Line: 3; GSU roll: 464222.  Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8978/records/11673186?tid=205766491&pid=312701786501&ssrc=pt) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
7. 1841 England Census. Class: HO107; Piece: 1216; Book: 15; Civil Parish: Brantingham; County: Yorkshire; Enumeration District: 4; Line: 10; GSU roll: 464218. Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8978/records/14746604) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond.   
8. The Hull Packet and East Riding Times, Friday 24 July 1840, page 6. Accessed on Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/390211229/?article=4d87ff71-c7a3-4079-8e00-4703dd3b4b5b&xid=5907&) 22 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
9. The Hull Packet and East Riding Times 1 Dec 1843, page 3. Accessed on Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/390211229/?article=4d87ff71-c7a3-4079-8e00-4703dd3b4b5b&xid=5907) 22 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
10. The Courier-Mail Monday 4 December 1916, page 11.  Accessed on Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/1014788524/) 22 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
11. 1871 Canadian Census. Census Place: Trafalgar, Halton, Ontario; Roll: C-9955; Page: 7. Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/1578/records/1195030) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
12. 1851 Canadian Census.  Accessed on Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99L5-TPM?view=explore&cc=1325192&lang=en&groupId=TH-1951-46646-662-52) 23 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
13. 1861 Canadian Census. Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Census Returns For 1861; Roll: C-1029-1030. Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/1570/records/784649275) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
14. 1901 Canadian Census. Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2004. http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1901/Pages/about-census.aspxl. Series RG31-C-1. Statistics Canada Fonds. Microfilm reels: T-6428 to T-6556. Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8826/records/13754479) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
15. 1871 Canadian Census. Census Place: Trafalgar, Halton, Ontario; Roll: C-9955; Page: 7. Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/1578/records/1195030) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
16. Welland Telegraph, 8 July 1910, Page 4. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/welland-telegraph-bateson-visits-friend/179288235/). Accessed 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
17. 1881 Canadian Census. Census Place: Trafalgar, Halton, Ontario; Roll: C_13257; Page: 3; Family No: 12. Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/1577/records/3477211) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
18. The Globe and Mail. Friday 7 Jan 1898, page 2 via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/1220866189). Accessed 22 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
19. 1891 Canadian Census. Census Place: Trafalgar, Halton, Ontario, Canada; Roll: T-6341; Family No: 27. Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/1274/records/142985) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
20. 1901 Canadian Census. Census Place: Trafalgar, Halton,Ontario; Page: 7; Family No: 66. Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8826/records/11323485) 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
21. The Hamilton Spectator, September 10, 1901, Page  5. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hamilton-spectator-bateson-living-i/179287816/). Accessed 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
22. Welland Telegraph, July 8, 1910, Page 4. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/welland-telegraph-bateson-visits-friend/179288235/). Accessed 21 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond.  
23. Birth Registration for Gordon Glasby Breckon. Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Series: Registrations of Births and Stillbirths, 1869-1913; Reel: 99; Record Group: RG 80-2.  Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8838/records/1313554) 24 June 2026. 
24. 1911 Canadian census. Census Place: 6 - Cayuga North, Haldimand, Ontario; Page: 5; Family No: 51.  Accessed on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8947/records/4794073) 24 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
25. Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Deaths, 1916; Series: 220 via Ancestry.com ().  Accessed 23 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 
26. Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/240805858/ Accessed 23 June 2026 by Debbie Redmond. 

 Came across this stone in St Mark's Cemetery in Niagara on the Lake 19 October 2024, and found this gentleman's name interesting.

Georgiana Biddulph was born at St George Parish in Hanover Square, Westminster, London England on 18 December 1849 and baptized on 16 June 1865.  Her father's occupation was a carpenter.  Sadly Georgiana's place of abode at the time of the baptism is the workhouse. (1)  Georgiana, her four year old sister Elizabeth, and their 36 year old mother Mary Ann appear in the 1851 census in St Pancras, Regent Park, England. Mary Ann was born in Cheltenham and she is a laundress.(2)

Georgianna and her older sister Elizabeth are admitted to the Fulham Rd workhouse (still within St George Parish) from 30 November 1858 until 6 December 1858(3)  Georgina is admitted again in January 1864(4) and October 1865(5).  

Georgianna arrived in Canada in 1869(6).  1869 was the start of the British Home Children coming to Canada but so far I have not found an immigration record for Georgiana nor any indication that she was considered a home child.(7)   

Leaving Georgiana for a little bit, let's see if we can trace Armgart's history before his marriage to Georgiana in Canada.

Armgart A De Lagran married Georgiana Biddulph 17 December 1873 in Amherstburg, Ontario. Both were 23 years old. It was recorded that Armgart was born in Derbyshire, France to William and Sophia, while Georgiana was born in London England to John and Mary Ann. At the time of their marriage, Armgart was a sailor living in Amherstburg, while Georgiana was living in Hamilton.(8)

In 1878, Albert appears in the Detroit Michigan City Directory on page 283.  He is living at 174 Macomb, and his occupation is a cook.(17)  A quick look at Google Maps, show that this residence no longer exists.

Armgart and Georgiana appear with their family in the 1881 Canadian census in Niagara Town. In this census it states that Armgart was born in Africa and he is a sailor.  Their children are Elizabeth (born 1874), Edward (born 1875), Albert (born 1877), William (born 13 January 1879(9)), and George (born 1880)(10)

The family appears in Niagara again in the 1891 census.  This time Armgart/Albert was born in Franca and at the time of the census he was a steward on a sailing vessel. It is recorded that all children were born in Canada in Ontario, except for Albert who was born in the US.  Georgina's occupation is a charwoman while their daughter Elizabeth is a waitress at a hotel.(11)

In 1892, we find Albert in the Voter's List of Chicago, Illinois where it states his birthplace is Algiers.  He lives at 57 Kinzie St where has lived in the county for 25 years and the Precinct for 1 year. It is stated that he is a native citizen and not naturalized. The date of his papers was 1889 in the Court of Cook County. He is a qualified voter and he did vote(18)  A quick look at Google Maps, show that this residence no longer exists either.

In 1897, it appears that Elizabeth was living in Buffalo and returned home for a bit in April 1897, while her brother was ill.(12)

By 1901, Albert and Georgiana are almost empty nesters, still residing in Niagara but only with William.  Albert's occupation is a sailor and his date of birth is 18 February 1848.  Georgiana's birth day and month matches her baptism record but the year is 1848.  It's recorded that Albert makes $100 year as a sailor and Georgiana makes $71 as a launderess.(13) 

On 9 May 1902, Albert became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America.  In this record, it states that Albert emigrated to the USA in 1868 and was born in Algeria.  His residence at the time was 11E 7th St, Erie [Pennsylvania] and he was honorably discharged from the Company K 10th Ohio Infantry Volunteers on 23 March 1899.(14)   The 10th Ohio were mustered into service for the Spanish American war in Columbus, Ohio in July 1898.  Fortunately, the war ended in August of the same year and the group did not participate in any fighting.  They were stationed at  Camp Meade, Middletown, Pennsylvania and later in November to Camp Mackenzie near Augusta, Georgia.  The company were all discharged the same day as Albert.(15)

Albert Sr unfortunately died 1 January 1905, in Cook County, Illinois. His occupation is a cook and sadly he died from shock and hemmorage of the brain from a fall down a set of stairs.  His birthplace is again Africa. His parents were both born in France. It states that he was buried in Elmhurst (but crossed out and changed to Elmwood).(16)

(1) City of Westminster Archives Centre; London, England; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers; Reference: STG/PR/2/9.  https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/61866/records/804714 Accessed 18 March 2025.

(2) 1851 England Census. Class: HO107; Piece: 1493; Folio: 722; Page: 25; GSU roll: 87822-87823. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8860/records/2418730.  Accessed 20 March 2025

(3)City of Westminste3 Archives Centre; London, England; Westminster Poor Law Records; Reference: STG/C/2/23/1136. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/61886/records/44689. Accessed 20 March 2025.

(4) City of Westminster Archives Centre; London, England; Westminster Poor Law Records; Reference: STG/C/2/23/1137. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/61886/records/38886.  Accessed 21 March 2025.

(5)City of Westminster Archives Centre; London, England; Westminster Poor Law Records; Reference: STG/C/2/23/1137. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/61886/records/41277. Accessed 22 March 2025

(6)Census of Canada. Year: 1901; Census Place: Ontario; Page: 7; Family No: 81. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8826/records/1398415.  Accessed 18 March 2025

(7)Search the Library Archives Canada database using B* for surname and Georgi* for the firstname.  https://www.bac-

lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/immigration-records/home-children-1869-1930/immigration-records/Pages/list.aspx?

Surname=B*&GivenName=georgi*&   Searched 20 March 2025

(8)Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Reel: 9. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/7921/records/1695797. Accessed 18 March 2025

(9)Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Series: Registrations of Births and Stillbirths, 1869-1913; Reel: 39; Record Group: Rg 80-2. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8838/records/16463342 Accessed 22 March 2025.

(10)1881 Census of Canada. Census Place: Niagara, Niagara, Ontario; Roll: C_13254; Page: 11; Family No: 53. https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1577/images/31229_C_13254-00048?pId=3345743 Accessed 22 March 2025.

(11)1891 Census of Canada; Census Place: Niagara, Lincoln and Niagara, Ontario, Canada; Roll: T-6351; Family No: 93. https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1274/images/30953_148153-00141?pId=2341712 Accessed 22 March 2025.

(12)The Times, Niagara-on-the-Lake , 15 April 1897. Page 1.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/782262145/?match=1&terms=delagran Accessed 22 March 2025.

(13)1901 Census of Canada. Census Place: Ontario; Page: 7; Family No: 81

https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8826/records/13984152. Accessed 22 March 2025.  

(14)Erie County, Pennsylvania naturalizations, 1825-1906.  https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/701315/?offset=39752#page=38&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q= Accessed 24 March 2025

(15) A Brief History of the 10th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  Patrick McSherry. https://www.spanamwar.com/10thohio.htm  Accessed 24 March 2025

(16) Member shared photo (theresaghowell).  www.ancestry.ca. Accessed 22 March 2025

(17) U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/2469/records/448784185  Accessed 10 October 2025

(18) Chicago, Illinois, U.S., Voter Registration, 1892. https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/6001/records/52481 Accessed 10 October 2025

Not lost to memory, not lost to love

 John and I went to Doors Open in Queenston Heights and Niagara on the Lake.  During a stroll through the local NOTL cemetery, I came across this stone.  

Bugler Gordon Blake Ryan of the 92nd Highlanders.

Gordon was born on 2 July 1893 in York, Ontario Canada to William Ryan, a grocer and Jane Norrie.  William was the informant and he resided at 164 Major Street (now downtown Toronto).1  

In 1901 Gordon along with his parents and older sister Marian lived in the Town of Niagara (now Niagara on the Lake), where his dad worked as a clerk and made $360 per year.2    The family still lives in Niagara in 1911, on Queen Street and William works on his own account as a grocer.  He does not have life insurance.  William is recorded as immigrating into Canada in 1855, and Jane was born in Ontario.3

Gordon attested in Niagara on 20 September 1915 and named his mom as next of kin. He was 5' 7.75" tall with a girth of 37".  He had a reddish complexion, blue eyes and red hair. 4   His stint with the army was sadly short.  He died  of of Bronchial Pneumonia in York, the city in which he was born on 31 January 1916 at 8 Strachan Avenue, likely the Fort York Military Hospital.5   Prior to pneumonia, Gordon contracted the measles and his death was sudden.6

1. Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Series: Registrations of Births and Stillbirths, 1869-1913; Reel: 119; Record Group: Rg 80-2

2. Census of Canada, 1901. Census Place: Ontario; Page: 6; Family No: 72.  https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8826/records/13983319. Accessed 15 February 2025.

3.Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2007. http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1911/Pages/about-census.aspx. Series RG31-C-1. Statistics Canada Fonds. Microfilm reels T-20326 to T-20460. Accessed at https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8947/records/517279.  Accessed on 15 February 2025

4. Canada. "Soldiers of the First World War (1914-1918)." Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 4930 - 35. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa. Accessed on 15 February 2025 at https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/1086/records/494512.  Accessed on 15 February 2025.

5. Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Deaths, 1916; Series: 217 Accessed at https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/8946/records/2598292. Accessed on 15 February 2025.

6. Historical Niagara Digital Collection. Ryan, Blake Gordon. https://nfpl.historicniagara.ca/s/all/item/411732.  Accessed 14 March 2025

Who was George Zimmerman?

 In one of my previous posts, I wrote about Samuel Zimmerman, considered the founder of Niagara Falls, Ontario and a victim of the Desjardins Canal Disaster.  While researching Samuel, I discovered that his son Richard married a woman who was almost 15 years younger than him, less than a year before he died.  While Richard's wife Emma Rogers appears in the 1891 census on her own as a lodger in the 1891 census(1), it seems that Richard and Emma may have conceived a son before Richard passed away in 1888, or at least Emma's son said they did.  The first record that I discovered for George was his 1929 marriage to 18 year old Dorsia Lefretta Schriver, in Toronto.  George, a bachelor states he was born in Ohio and gives his parent's names to be Richard Zimmerman and Emma Rogers. He then goes on to state that his age is 24, which of course is quite impossible if Richard is in fact his father.(2)  

George of Illinois

Curious, I decided to take a step back and dig a little deeper into George.  I found some very interesting and confusing records...  for awhile I was suspected that George was a polygamist with another wife Clara in Illinois... but it seems that another George Frank Zimmerman was born around 1886,  who had a career in the railroad industry, and lived most of his life in Illinois AND stated that he was born in Toronto in at least one record.  

George of Illinois appears in the 1910 Census of the United States of America in Chicago, Illinois.  He had his wife Clara have two children, Violet (born 1909) and Lillian (born 1910). George and Clara have been married for 2 years and  George is a carpenter in the railway industry. His birthplace is Illinois and the family is renting a house at 5327 Shields Avenue.  The parents of both Clara and George were recorded as being born in Germany.  It's recorded that Clara and George were both born in Illinois(3) 

  I uncovered not one but two items related to George of Illinois with regards to WWI.  His US WWI draft card, dated 5 June 1917, where he has requested an exemption due to his 3 dependents (wife and 2 children). In this record it states that George is a natural born American, born in Chicago.  He was a car builder for Lakeshore & M.S and lived at 5438 Shields Ave.  His race is Can(adian).(4)  The second record I find, under a year later for George, a steamfitter served in WWI with the Railway Construction Depot M.D #2.  He attested in Toronto on 17 April 1918 and he stated that was born in Toronto on 19 July 1886.  At the time of his attestation, he lived with his wife Clara at 5438 Shields Ave, Chicago Illinois.  He was 5 ft 7.75" with brown hair, blue eyes and tattoos on his left and right arms. (5)  

I was able to find George of Illinois' obituary which reveals the name of this parents, and they are not Richard and Emma.  

George son of Emma

Still perplexed about George of Illinois, I turned back to George son of Emma.  Emma and George appear in the 1910 census living in Newark City, Ohio.  He is 6 years old, his birthplace is Ohio and his mom's birthplace is Iowa(6)  Emma's birthplace of Iowa contradicts her marriage record, which states she was born in Guelph Ontario.  Thus begins a new sideways search.  Is it possible that this is a third George who coincidentally has a mom named Emma and a dad named Richard?  After building her tree a bit, the earliest records that I can find for Emma is the 1880 census, where her family is living in Iowa, and her birthplace appears as Ontario.(7)  Phew, I think I am going to assume there isn't a third George!  Emma and presumably George continue to reside in Newark City in 1911(8) but my next encounter with George and Emma is the 1931 census of Canada where he is living with his mom at 1915 Manning Avenue in Toronto (same address that appears on his marriage record).  Emma is a 62 year old widow, and George is a 26 year old single man employed as a city dairy driver.  Dorsia is nowhere to be seen....(9)

I don't see Dorsia again until 1949, the same year that Emma passes away.  Doris Zimmerman, a forelady is living at 129 Westmoreland Ave, Davenport (Toronto) with a 26 year old printer named John Zimmerman, a labourer named Richard Fitzsimmons, Edna Horton an operator, and Vernon Horton, an upholsterer .(10)   It's quite a discrepancy in age for John, who would presumably have been born after his parents marry.  Turning my search to John in the hopes of finding George, or at least confirming that George is John's father,  I discovered that John Albert Zimmerman moved to California around 1963, at which time he was issues a social security number.  He states that he was born in Toronto, Ontario on 3 April 1927 to Doris Scriver and George Zimmerman. A little closer to the date of his parent's marriage but still 2 years a bit to early(11) John passed away 12 Mar 1994 and was living in Long Beach, California at the time.(12)

(1)Year: 1891; Census Place: St James Ward, Toronto City, Ontario, Canada; Roll: T-6371; Family No: 103

(2)Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Series: MS 932; Reel: 908

(3)1910 United States Federal Census Year: 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 30, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_276; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 1319; FHL microfilm: 1374289

(4)

(5)Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; CEF Personnel Files; Reference: RG 150; Volume: Box 10680 - 30

(6)1910 United States Federal Census Year: 1910; Census Place: Newark Ward 4, Licking, Ohio; Roll: T624_1204; Page: 14b; Enumeration District: 0090; FHL microfilm: 1375217

(7)1880 United States Federal Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Iowa, Jackson, Iowa; Roll: 346; Page: 480A; Enumeration District: 318

(8)U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995

(9)1931 Census of Canada Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Seventh Census of Canada, 1931; Folder Number: T-27302; Census

 Place: Toronto Northwest, Ontario, Canada; Page Number: w

(10)Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980. Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935-1980

(11)U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

(12)U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1936-2007

Buried 68 years apart

 John and I made a trip to Quebec in the spring and stopped off in Prescott along the way.  We visited an amazing little pioneer museum before walking across the street to the Kenyon Cemetery.  This stone caught my eye because it was for two people who may have been married and died decades apart. I decided to focus on Edward first.

Edward Duncan MacGillivray was born to parents Murdoch and Kate Mc Rae on 18 November 1896 in Prescott, Ontario, and named after his paternal grandfather.(1)(2)

He appears in the 1901 census with his parents and younger sister Mary.  Murdoch is 50 and Kate is 34.(3)

In 1911, Edward is still with his parents, along with Mary and younger siblings Rory, Nora, Flora Ann (born June 1896), Hector M. D., and Christy Ann.(4)

On 11 June 1918 he has his medical exam in Ottawa and is approve for military service.  His birthplace is recorded as McCrimmon, Ontario and he's a single farmer and living in Dunvegan, presumably with his parents.  He was 5' 7.5" with a dark complexion, dark brown hair, and blue eyes.  He had a brand on his left breast.  His unit was the 2nd Depot Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment.(5)

Edward returns home and is back with his parents and all of his siblings with the exception of Mary in the 1921 census.(6)  Little seems to  have changed by 1931, Edward, Rory, Floraann, Hector and Christina are all still living with their parents.  Seems kinda odd that no one is really leaving.  Edward can speak Gaelic in addition to English.(7)  

Sadly Edward died after 14 days of influenza and 10 days of meningitis.  His brother Roderick (Rory) reported his death.(8)

Influenza strikes again and Murdoch died a few years later on 26 December 1936 of influenza with myocarditis as a contributing factor.  Murdoch was born in Ontario as were his parents Edward (born in McCrimmon,County Lochiel) and Mary MacIntosh (born in Dalkieth, County Lochiel)(9) 

I wasn't able to find an obituary for Edward or Murdoch.  

I was able to undercover several obituaries for his siblings and his mom, starting with sister Flora Ann, who shares his grave.  Flora Ann's obituary appeared in the Ottawa Citizen on 31 March 2006 (page 51).  She passed away at Maxville Manor and there was no reference to a spouse or children.  The obit does reveal  some details about her siblings, which helped me uncover more obituaries. She seems to have outlived them all and was predeceased by brothers Edward, Rory and Hector and sisters Mary Sheldrick, Christina Hewston, and Nora Irwin (Irvine). 

Katie died 27 July 1959 at Cornwall General Hospital.  Her obituary names her parents, Roderick F MacRae and Nora Bethune and explains that she married Murdoch on 19 September 1895.   She was well known for her charity and was a charter member of the Women's Institute and a life member of Skye W.M.S.(10)

Rory died suddenly on 6 May 1967, leaving behind his wife Penelope (nee MacLeod), and children Dr Royce MacGillivray of London England and  Wilma Hayes of Ottawa, and grandson Steven Hayes.  Hector was living in Brockville, Christina in Dunvegan, Mary in Vars, and Nora in Charlottetown PEI. (11)

Hector Donald Murdock MacGillivray died on 8  December 1972 in the Kingston General Hospital, following a few weeks of illness. Hector was an engineer, a member of Brockville Legion and Bayview Hunt Club.  He had recently remarried to a woman named Edna Bland, his first wife Victoria MacMillan died in 1969. In his obituary we come to learn that Mary died about 5 weeks before him on Nov 1.(12) 

Mary passed away in 1972. Sadly, her only son Keith passed away in an accident while fishing with a friend in 1954.(15)

Christina died 29 January 1985 at the age of 74.  She was married to Clifford Hewston, lived in Avonmore. and had one surviving child, Garry.  Her daughter Mrs Daryl Lang and son Orvil predeceased her.  She had 4 grandchildren  at the time of her death.  Flora Ann was living in Alexandria and Nora was in Kingston. (13)

Nora passed away 29 June 1999 in the Ajax-Pickering Hospital and was buried in Kingston.  There was no mention of siblings.(14)   

(1)Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Series: Registrations of Births and Stillbirths, 1869-1913; Reel: 134; Record Group: Rg 80-2

(2)

(3)Year: 1901; Census Place: Caledonia, Prescott, Ontario; Page: 8; Family No: 57

(4)Year: 1911; Census Place: 9 - Caledonia, Prescott, Ontario; Page: 1; Family No: 8

(5)Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Canada; Soldiers of the First World War (1914-1918)

(6)Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 83; Census Place: 83, Prescott, Ontario; Page Number: 2

(7)Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Seventh Census of Canada, 1931; Folder Number: T-27290; Census Place: Prescott, Ontario, Canada; Page Number: w

(8)Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collection: MS935; Reel: 449

(8)Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collection: MS935; Reel: 564

(9)The Ottawa Citizen, 31 Jan 1985, page 8

(10)https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/181537994/catherine-mcgillivray

(11)The Ottawa Citizen 8 May 1967, page 30

(12)https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182826559/hector-donald_murdock-macgillivray

(13)The Ottawa Journal 02 November 1972, page 54

(14)The Kingston Whig 30 June 1999 page 38

(15)The Ottawa Citizen 23 June 1954 page 1

Family Plot at Blue Church Cemetery - but only one stone

 John and I enjoyed a trip along the St Lawrence in the Spring and spent the night in Prescott.  We came across an interesting cemetery at the Blue Church.

We were lucky enough to chat with a man who spends countless hours there curating and researching the people.  I took pics of quite a few stones including those of Queen Camilla's ancestors.

  There was one stone that was all on it's own surrounded by a large stone-walled cemetery plot. It's a bit hard to see but the stone is resting on the wall in the upper right hand corner of the picture.

 According to Find My Grave, the plot is large enough for 9 people, but only George is believed to be buried there. (1) Sounds like there's a story behind this.

George Walsh was born in 1800 in Ireland.  In the 1851 census he was living with his Eliza and children William (aged 14), Jonathan (12), Eliza (10), Matilda (8), George (3), and Sarah (1).  He was a hotel keeper. (2)  The 1861 census gives us a little bit more information. In this census we discover that his wife Eliza Francis and daughter Matilda were born in Lower Canada, and that they are still in Prescott living in a 2 1/2 storey frame house.  They own 1 cow and their livestock is worth $29.  William, Jonathan, Matilda and George Alfred Jr are living with them but Sarah is not.   William appears with his wife and 2 children in the 1871 census, where he is a railway clerk.  A few families down, Elizabeth appears in the same household as George, neither have an occupation.  The hotelkeeper, is a Walsh but not one of George's children.  J Morrow Walsh appears in the 1871 census as a hotel keeper.  James Morrow fought in the Fenian Raids, was a member of the North West Mounted Police, ran a mining company in the North West Territories and served as the first commissioner of the Yukon territory.(4) James' father Louis was born in Ireland and I wonder if he and George were brothers.(5)

Elizabeth never remarried, in 1881, she is living with her widowed daughter Matilda (Blakey) and 11 year old grand daughter Gertrude.(6)  Sadly, Matilda died in 1883,  and Gertrude also lived a shorter than hoped for life and died in Perth, Ontario of Phthisis(7).  She is buried beside her mom in Blue Church Cemetery.(8)

Elizabeth died June 12, 1887 and her death was reported by William, who stated she was born in Montreal. (9)  I haven't been able to find where she was buried.  

(1)https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72047478/george-walsh

(2)Year: 1851; Census Place: Grenville, Canada West (Ontario); Schedule: A; Roll: C-11724; Page: 1; Line: 27

(3)Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Census Returns For 1861; Roll: C-1026

(4)https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Walsh-7055

(5)https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Walsh-7055

(6)"Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada records, Aug 4, 2018," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSM8-

Q9GY-G?view=explore : Aug 19, 2023), image 541 of 740; Public Archives of Canada.

(7)Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collection: MS935; Reel: 9

(8)https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72194047/mathilda-blakey#view-photo=53010095

(9)"Canada, Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q93-C9YJ-79TF-5?cc=1307826&wc=3LKH-VZ9%3A1584243504%2C1584250302%2C1584279901 : 27 April 2019), Deaths > 1887 > no 8629-14996 > image 143 of 1612; citing Registrar General. Archives of Ontario, Toronto.