FAULKNER FAMILY - PART 4

George Lewis Faulkner was born in 1845 in Ireland, possibly Dublin.  He was the 2nd son of William Faulkner (1815 - ) and Annie Jane Crosby (1819 - 1876).  He died in Toronto, in the House of Industry in 1907.

As far as I can determine the William Faulkner family came to Canada between 1847 and 1849.  My great grandfather Ford Faulkner was born in Ontario, between the two dates.  The family was certainly living in Simcoe County by 1850 according to a baptism transcription.

George Lewis Faulkner married Mary Combs (1852 - ) in 1872 in Aurora, Ontario.  Mary's parents are listed as George and Phoebe Combs.  On the 1871 census, I found Mary living in Aurora with a Phoebe and  Robert P. Irwin.  I think Mary's father must have died and her mother re-married.  The witnesses to the marriage included an R.P. Irwin, who may have been Mary's step-father.  I haven't found George anywhere on the 1871 census.  He was not listed with his parents and I haven't come across a suitable candidate as yet.  However, there is a George L. Faulkner, Safemaker, listed in the 1871-1872 Toronto Directory, living on Queen Street East.

By the 1881 Census, George and Mary were living in Galt Ontario.  George is listed as a Safemaker and they have 4 children:

• Matilda "Tillie"  born 1873 Toronto
• Henry Lewis born 1875 Aurora
• Robert Crosby born 1877 Toronto
• Henrietta born 1881 Waterloo

By the 1891 Census, I had lost the family completely.  There was no family listed and I couldn't find the individual names either.  I assumed Mary Combs had died before 1896 as George married Jannett (Malcolm) Ling in 1896 in Galt Ontario.  Jannett was a widow, however George is listed as a bachelor.  I'm sure this is the right man he is listed as George L. Faulkner, parents William and Annie Faulkner, born in Ireland.  Well, I wonder what happened?

I dd some more research on Family Search and found that Henrietta and Henry Lewis Faulkner had died in the United States.

Henrietta married Christopher Reed Denham in Colorado in 1900.  Christopher Denham was born in Kentucky.  He lived in Colorado and the family moved to California.  Henrietta died in California in 1948.  According to the 1900 census Henrietta had emigrated  to the US in 1883.  Unfortunately, most of the 1890 US census was destroyed, so I haven't found where the family were located in 1890.

Another researcher on Ancestry has Matilda Faulkner marrying Charles Greely in Wisconsin in 1900.  I've discounted that for now as Matilda's parents are listed as John and Rosa Faulkner.

Henry Lewis Faulkner died in Washington State in 1924.  There was an interesting entry for the 1910 US Census.  I found a Harry L. living with with mother Mary  in Colorado.  I have no idea whether this is the same family, but it is interesting.  The age of Mary Faulkner and Harry L. Faulkner are consistent with the family I'm researching and they are both born in Canada and emigrated to the US in 1886.  I searched the 1900 US Census, but couldn't find Mary or Harry L. Faulkner.   Given that George Lewis Faulkner listed himself as a bachelor in 1896, it makes me wonder.

Further research for the 1901 Canada Census brought me more questions.  I haven't found George but I did find Jannet his second wife.  She is living in Galt with her parents, no George living with her.  She is listed as married.

George Lewis Faulkner died in 1907 in Toronto, in the Houses of Industry.  He is buried in the Necropolis Cemetery and his burial is listed as a Poor Adult Interment.

The questions remain did he take his family to the United States and then come back to Canada?  What happened to Mary Combs?  I haven't found a death certificate for her.  I haven't found any information on Robert Crosby Faulkner or Matilda Faulkner.  Did they go the the United States as well?

LEST WE FORGET - WORLD WAR 11

We happened to be in Amsterdam on May 4th this year, visting friends of my husband.  Our friends took us around Amsterdam and showed us the National Monument at Dam Square.  Later that night
Queen Beatrix would place a wreath to commemorate the war dead.  Our friends had invited their daughters and one of the girl's boyfriends for dinner that evening.  The young man was about 25 years old.  He knew we were from Canada and he told us:  Thank you for saving my Country , during the war.  I felt humbled.  He thinks Canadians are great people and he is thankful for something that happened over 40 years before he was born.  I wonder how many 25-somethings could say the same in Canada.

So thanks again to the soldiers in my family who served their Country.  I know it wasn't easy and I know all the scars are not visible.

CANADA

JAMES ARTHUR MEEHAN 1914 – 1969  

 James Meehan was a private in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Service # B98340.  He enlisted on 19 January 1940 and was discharged on 15 February 1945.  He served in the United Kingdom and France as a cook and a driver.  He went to France in July 1944 and was hospitalised in October 1944 and evacuated back to a hospital in England in November 1944 due to "shell shock".  His official discharge was 15 February 1945.  He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, France & Germany Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp (CVSM) 39-45. 
 

 GEORGE FAULKNER MEEHAN 1912 – 1985

 George Meehan was a Pilot Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Special Reserve, Service # J41871.  He enlisted July 9, 1942 and was discharged in September 25, 1945.  He did not serve overseas.  He is listed as Aircrew from 1942 to 1944 and Pilot from 1944 to 1945.  He flew the Moth (Tiger & Menasco), the Harvard and the Yale aircraft.  In 1944 he was a Staff Pilot- Training Officer and from January 1945 to August 1945 he served as Flight Control Officer and Deputy Flight Commander.  He also served with the Royal Canadian Air Force from Oct 3, 1951 to Nov 10, 1952 in the Auxiliary Aircrew List Pilot Branch as a Flying Officer.

He was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) 1939-45 and a Pilot's Flying Badge.
 

JOSEPH HENRY KITCHEN DOWN 1914 – 1977 

Joseph  Down, was a Sergeant in WW 11, Service Number B-114182.  He was attached to The Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps as a Mechanic/Driver.  He saw action in Italy, France and Germany.  He enlisted on 9 June 1942 and was discharged on 4 Oct 1945.  He was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp, 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France & Germany Star.

 
FERGUS PATRICK HOWSON O'LEARY 1910 - 1946

Fergus O'Leary was a Corporal assigned to the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, service # B/119600. He died July 28, 1946 at Chorley Park Military Hospital in Toronto. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery.

 ENGLAND

CHARLES STEPHEN ALBERT KENNARD 1916 – 1989 

 

Charles Kennard was a career soldier with the Buffs, East Kent Regiment.    He joined the army in 1934 and served in Burma in  1936 and India 1936- 1938.   Between  1938 and 1943 he served in both Palestine and Egypt , where he suffered a concussion.  He was attached to the 2nd battalion and served in North Africa 1943- 1944.    He was a Quartermaster Sergeant Major.  While in England he was stationed at the Howe Barracks in Canterbury.    In 1947 he was stationed in French North Africa.  He was awarded the following medals:  General Services Medal, Clasp Palestine; African Star, War Medal 1939 - 1945, Defence Medal, Clasp Malalya and LS & GC Medal (Long Service and Good conduct).  Charles remained in the Army until 1956,  he then re-enlisted under Supplemental Services and remained there until 1961.

 

JOHN KENNARD 1922 – 2007

John Kennard enlisted in the British Army on Nov 21, 1941 where he was attached to the Royal Signals until December 14, 1943.  After that he was assigned to the Army Catering Corps from December 1943 until February 1947.  He received the 1939-1945 War Medal, Defence Medal, the 1939-1945 Star, the 1939-1945 African Star and the General Service Medial, South Arabia. 

 After WW11 he joined the reserves from 1947 to 1948.  On Oct 22, 1948 he enlisted in the regular army with the Army Catering Corps where he was a cook.  During this period he was stationed in the Far East, possibly Singapore and/or Hong Kong (1950-1952), Osnerboook, Germany (1956-1964) Aden, now Yeman (1964-1966) and then based in England, he was sent to Northern Ireland (1966-1967).  His discharge date was December 6, 1967 with the rank of Corporal.

 

 

LEST WE FORGET - WORLD WAR 1

My grandfather Joseph Henry Down died in the Great War in 1915 at Ypres Belgium.  When I started researching my genealogy I didn't realise how many of my family had gone to war.  I felt sad that my grandmother had lost her husband to the war.  I felt even sadder when I realised her in-laws,  my great grandmother and great grandfather had lost 3 of their sons to the war.  Here is my list of my family and my husband's family from England who served in World War 1.  We appreciate your dedication to your country.  We wouldn't be here without you.




CANADA

 As a general note for the Down family 4 brothers served in WW1 and only 1 son survived.

JOSEPH HENRY DOWN 1889 – 1915

Joseph Henry Down was a Sapper in the Army.  He was assigned to the Canadian Engineers, 2nd Field Coy and died on April 24, 1915, killed in action by a bullet to the head.  He is commemorated on the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Belgium.  The following information is from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

 

The Menin Gate Memorial is situated in the Town of Ypres, now Ieper in the Province of West Flanders, on the road to Menin and Courtrai.  It bears the names of 55,000 men who were lost without trace during the defence of the Ypres Salient in the First World War. 

 

Carved in stone above the central arch are the words: 

 

TO THE ARMIES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO STOOD HERE FROM 1914 to 1918 AND TO THOSE OF THEIR DEAD WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE.

 

Over the two staircases leading from the main Hall is the inscription:

 

HERE ARE RECORDED NAMES OF OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FELL IN YPRES SALIENT BUT TO WHOM THE FORTUNE OF WAR DENIED THE KNOWN AND HONOURED BURIAL GIVEN TO THEIR COMRADES IN DEATH.

 

The dead are remembered to this day in a simple ceremony that takes place every evening at 8:00pm.  All traffic through the gateway in either direction is halted and two buglers move to the centre of the Hall and sound the Last Post.  Two silver trumpets for use in the ceremony are a gift to the Ypres Last Post Committee by an officer of the Royal Canadian Artillery, who served with the 10th Battery, of St. Catharines, Ontario in Ypres in  April 1915.

 

CHARLES OTTER DOWN 1886 – 1915 
 

Charles Otter Down was attached to the Quartermaster Service of the 12 Cavalry Field Ambulance during the first World War.  He died the 17th of June 1915 in Toronto.  He was diagnosed with tuberculosis and released from active service.

 

WILLIAM GEORGE DOWN 1888 – 1916 
 

 William George Down was a Private in the Army.  He was assigned to the Canadian Army Service Corps, 4th Ammunition Sub. Park  Division.   He died on October 5, 1916 and is buried in the Puchevillers British Cemetery, Somme, France.  Sadly William was run over by an army vehicle in the lines and died from his injuries.

 

A newspaper article in the Toronto Star, described  him a strapping fellow:

PTE WM DOWN of the Mechanical Transport Division is the third son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Down, 20 Bellefair Avenue to make the supreme sacrifice.  He died of wounds.  Two brothers, one older and one younger than himself, were previously killed in action.  The only remaining  brother, Pte. Richard E. Down, is on service at Moore Barracks, England.  Pte. William Down, a big, strapping fellow, who feared neither man nor devil, left Canada last May.  He was 28 years of age.  Before enlisting he was partner with his father in the cartage business at the corner of Queen east and Munro streets.

Toronto Star October 14, 1916.

 RICHARD EDWARD DOWN 1883 – 1957  

Richard  Edward Down, service # 34554, enlisted on Sept 23, 1914.  He was assigned to the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, 2nd Field Ambulance.  At the time of his brother Wlliam's death, in 1916, he was stationed at Moore Barracks Hospital, Shorncliffe, Kent, England.  He was the only one of the three brothers to return from the war. 

 

 GEORGE EDWARD NEWTON 1897 - 1917

George Edward Newton was a Private in the Canadian Infantry, Manitoba Regiment, 52nd Battalion, service # 234581. He was killed in action October 28, 1917. He is buried at the Menin Gate, Ypres Belgium.
(See the entry for Joseph Henry Down, regarding the monument at Ypres)
 

  

ELMER AUSTIN ROWE 1894 - 1918

Elmer Austin Rowe was a Lance Corporal in The Fort Garry Horse, Manitoba, serial # 117519. He was killed in action on March 23, 1918, in the vicinity of Faillouel France. He is buried in the Chauny Communal British Extension Cemetery, north of Chauny, France

 

 

ENGLAND

ALBERT HAROLD “JACK” LEGG 1894 – 1970
 

Albert  Harold  "Jack" Legg enlisted in the Army on September 19, 1914 and was demobolised in March 1919, with the rank of Sergeant.  He was attached to the 2nd division of the 6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment.  He fought at the Somme, Ypres and St. Quentin.  He was awarded  the  British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914-1915 Star.  His decorations included One Gold Wound Strip and Four Blue Chevrons.  The Chevrons indicates that he was overseas for 4 years.

 

CHARLES HENRY KENNARD 1889 – 1967 
 

According to the WW1 Attestation form Charles Henry Kennard enlisted in The Buffs East Kent Regiment on 28 Oct 1915 and was discharged on 09 Oct 1916 due to health: "Irregular astigmatism and deafness not aggravated by service".  His regimental number was 8437.  He did not go overseas.
 

 GEORGE ARTHUR KENNARD 1885 - ???? 

At the time of his marriage, in 1911 George Arthur Kennard was stationed in Simonstown South Africa.  He is listed as a Gunner in Company 17 and served with the Royal Garrison Artillery, Service No. 25551.  The marriage was recorded at Alderney, Channel Islands, while the marriage took place in Capetown, South Africa.

 

NEWTON FAMILY - PART 6 - FIRE, WHAT FIRE?

If you have been following my blog, I've been tracing the Robert Newton family recently.  I believe that Robert Newton (1821-1899) was the brother of  William, Henry, Maria and possibly George Newton.  I know from documentation that William, Henry and Maria are siblings, and their parents are Henry Newton and Mary Bryan(t).  Robert Newton was a witness to the marriage of George Newton in Simcoe County.  George may be a brother or a near relative.

My last post discussed Ester Ann Newton the oldest daughter of Robert Newton and Margaret Fallis (1827-1855).  Ester Ann (1849-1933) married Thomas Campbell and she died in Manitoba  in 1933.

My internet buddy, Heather is descended from Ester Ann and Thomas Campbell's family.  She was also researching the Newtons.  She had a scrapbook with newspaper articles that someone in her family had collected.  Unfortunately there were no dates or names of the publications attached to the articles.  Nevertheless, her family still lived in Huron County in Ontario so that is probably where the newspapers were published.  That was where Robert Newton and his family had lived before they went to Manitoba.

Heather had an article that recounted Ester Ann Campbell's death.  The article from a paper in Huron County was entitled:  Mrs. Thos. Campbell Passes - Mother of Mrs. J. Patterson, Fordwich was Last Survivor of Fire Tragedy in Fordwich in 1864.   The article seemed to be a reprint of the article in the The Recorder, Bossevain Manitoba (see this blog Newton Family - Part 5) with an added paragraph:

"The death  of Mrs. Campbell will recall to the minds of pioneer settlers in this district a tragic fire which occurred in Fordwich on January 12, 1864.  Mrs. Campbell was the last survivor of three persons rescued when a store, located just north of where Wm. Wade's stable now stands, was burned to the ground and in which five lives were lost.  The victims were William McAuly, 60 years of age; John Miller, 35 years; Michael Bloomly (sic), 18 years; Susan Newton, 11 years, all burned to death, while Lydia Newton died a few days later from effects of burns sustained.   The latter two were sisters of Mrs. Campbell who as at that time in her 16th year."

Michael Bloomily, Susan Newton, Lydia Newton were all names I had researched.  Susan Newton, age 11 was the missing Susan Newton (1853-1864) from the 1871 census.  She was a daughter of Robert Newton and Margaret Fallis.  There was another Susan listed on the 1871 born in 1864 to Robert and his second wife Isabella McKnight.

Michael Bloomily (abt 1843-1864) was the son of Lydia Hill (abt 1806-1864) and Michael Bloomily (1803-bef Mar 1862).  When  Michael Bloomily senior died, Lydia married Henry Newton.

I believe that last part of the article is incorrect. "The latter two were sisters of Mrs. Campbell..."  I think, Susan was the sister and Lydia was an aunt.

The fire started in a store owned by Henry Newton.  Further investigation revealed another article in the Huron and Bruce Advertiser - Semi-weekly Signal newspaper that it was a two-storey house and store owned by Henry Newton.  This article indicates that indeed Susan Newton is a niece of Henry and Lydia Newton and Ester Ann Newton is described as a "relative".  Apparently Ester Ann Newton escaped by leaping through a window while the others perished in the house.   How sad.  It was thought the fire had been set deliberately.

And there was my link.  Susan Newton, age 11 is the daughter of  Robert Newton and Margaret Fallis.  She is listed as the niece of Henry and Lydia Newton.  That makes Henry Newton her paternal uncle which makes Robert and Henry et al siblings.

I now feel confident adding Robert's parents as Henry Newton (senior) and Mary Bryan(t).

NEWTON FAMILY - PART 5

There was quite a lot of genealogy information on Robert Newton (1821 - 1895) and his first wife Margaret Fallis  (1827- 1855).  They had at least 5 children:  Ester Ann, Mary, William Henry, Susan and Margaret.  When I started my research I didn't follow up with the first marriage as I didn't think of them as direct descendants.  Then I thought of my mother's sister Aunt Marjory.  She was from my grandmother's first marriage; after her husband died my grandmother married my grandfather.  My mother never referred to Aunt Marjory as her half sister and she took umbrage with anyone who did.

As I thought of that I decided to follow the Robert and Margaret Newton line just as vigorously as my Robert and Isabella Mcknight Newton line.  I'm glad I made that decision because it gave me what I think is the link to Robert, Henry, Williiam and Maria Newton.

Ester Ann Newton (1849 - 1933) married Thomas Campbell (1841 - 1927).  Ester was the first child born to Robert and Margaret Newton and was born in Ontario, probably Peel County.  Thomas Campbell was born in Ireland.  They married in 1865 in Peel and lived in Huron County for some time.  Robert Newton had moved to Manitoba by 1881 per the Census and Ester Ann  and Thomas Campbell stayed in Howick until at least 1891.  By the 1901 Census they had moved to Brandon Manitoba where Thomas Campbell was a farmer.

The Manitoba Legislative Library will copy obituaries from the Manitoba newspapers for a small fee for around $5.00 to $10.00.  The last time I used the service 2 years ago the  e-mail address was:
Legislative_Library@gov.mb.ca  .

Unfortunately they didn't find any obits for Robert and Isabella Newton, but they did find obits for Ester Ann Newton and Thomas Campbell.

Thomas Campbell died 16 December 1927.  According to an obituary in the Winnipeg Free Press, he was born in the county of Tyrone Ireland and came to Canada in 1857.  He lived in Tottenham and then Fordwich in Ontario.  He married Ester Newton, in 1865 and  his parents were listed as Edward and Mary Ann Campbell.  The family moved to  the Minto area of Manitoba in 1888.

Ester Ann Newton Campbell died 15 November 1933.  Her obituary appeared in The Recorder, Boissevain, Manitoba.  The article states that Ester Ann Campbell was living with her daughter Mrs. Rice in Brandon, Manitoba at the time of her death.  The article also lists her children and where they are living:

• Mrs. J. Patterson, Fordwich Ontario
• Liskum Campbell, Minto
• Mrs. C. D. Sparrow, Russell
• Mrs. R. E. Rice, Brandon
• Mrs. L. Sparrow, Silverton
• John Campbell, Froud, Saskatchewan
• Edward Campbell, Vancouver
• Mrs. Mackie, Minto
• Russell Campbell, deceased
• Mrs. E. Cunningham, deceased

There is also a sister mentioned a Mrs. R. Armstrong of Harriston, Ontario.  The burial services was from the First Presbyterian Church and Ester Ann Campbell was buried at the Brandon Cemetery.

There was certainly a lot of information in the obituary and lots of names for me to check out.  It's often hard to find the married names of daughters in families, but this article listed not only the names but also their residence towns as of 1933.

About this time a lady named Heather contacted me about Ester Ann Newton and Thomas Campbell.  She was a descendant of this family.  We were sharing information that we had found from our research.  Someone in her family had started a scrapbook and had pasted various articles about the family in the book.  Unfortunately, Heather didn't know where the articles came from or when they had been published.  As I had just received the 2 obituaries around this time I asked Heather if she needed a copy.  She didn't have a copy of Thomas Campbell's obituary and she wasn't sure about Ester Ann Newton's obituary.

She asked me this simple question: " Is it the obituary that mentions the fire, because I have that one?"

Fire, what fire?


 

NEWTON FAMILY - PART 4

As I started my research into Robert Newton (1821 - 1895) and Isabella McKnight's (1839 - 1913) children,  I sent out various e-mails and added my information to genealogy message boards.

One of my contacts Carol, lived in the USA and was following the family history of Edward  George Newton (1858 - 1939) and his wife  Mary Harriett Everett (1872 - 1947) .  Edward was the 2nd son of Robert and Isabella Newton.   Carol's ancestors were on the Everett  side of the family.   We shared information back and forth and commiserated on our lack of progress.  We first "met" on the ontariogenealogy@yahoo.com  forum.  There are lots of people on this site that share their ideas and some who go the extra mile and dig into the research. 

One of the posters came up with this gem from the Our Roots website:   Edward Newton family
The book is called the Furrow to the Future and it was published by the Oxbow-Glen Ewen History Book Committee in Saskatchewan.    Edward had moved from Huron County in Ontario to Saskatchewan or the Assiniboia Territories as it was known then.  He moved between the 1881 and 1891 Census.  According to  Furrow to the Future, he worked for the CPR railway as a brakeman and was in Portage La Prairie, Winnipeg Manitoba and latterly in British Columbia before settling in Saskatchewan in 1887.  There are some nice photos on this site of the Edward Newton family.

Robert and Isabella Newton had moved to Manitoba by the 1881 Census and were living Lisgar Manitoba at the time with most of his children.  Their son Stewart (1863 -)   had also moved to the Assiniboia Territories by 1891.  He married Victoria Adelaide Everett (1877 - ).  Victoria was the sister of Mary Harriett Everett.

This was a nice side diversion, but I still needed to get back to the research on Robert Newton.  Was he related to the other Newtons:  Henry, William, Maria and possibly George?

FAULKNER FAMILY - WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

I have several pictures of the Faulkner family.  The picture below was in my grandmother's possession and we know it is a picture of  at least some Faulkners.  The question is who?   Here's my working theory, still to be proven.




Theory:
Top row:  Sarah Ann Newton, mother,  ?Ford  Faulkner, father
Middle row:  Baby Faulkner
Bottom row: Mary Smith great grandmother, Isabella Mcknight Newton, grandmother

It looks like it is 5 pictures that have been placed in one frame.   I've been working on assumption that the man and women in the top row are the parents of the baby.  Of course, the question remains, who is the baby.  It could be my grandmother Isabel May Faulkner Meehan (1885-1959).  And does that make the other two ladies the grandmothers?

I believe the lady on the top left is Sarah Ann Newton (1860-1933). I've based that assumption on this picture:

This is a picture of my grandmother's family. In the front from left to right: Isabel Faulkner, her parents Ford Faulkner, Sarah Ann Newton Faulkner.  The back row from left to right: her brothers  William Robert* Faulkner, Stewart Faulkner, Ford Crosby* Faulkner and Clifford Faulkner. (* I'm not sure if I have these 2 brothers in the right order).

Comparing the two photos I think I see a resemblance in Sarah Newton.  I'm not so sure about Ford Faulkner, the nose and cheeks look different.

Then I found this picture on the Internet.  It is a picture of George Mcknight (1807-1884) and  Mary Smith (1821-1909).  They are the grandparents of Sarah Ann Newton

As you can see its not very clear.  Its a copy of a copy.  I've been told it is a daguerreotype and it is printed backwards.  It looks to me that Mary Smith is the lady wearing the hat in the first picture.  Maybe its just the hat, but I think I see a resemblance.

If it is Mary Smith in the picture, could that mean that the lady on the bottom left of the picture is Isabella Mcknight Newton (1839-1913), the grandmother of the baby?

So the question remains:  who are these Faulkners?  My cousin who shared these pictures with me isn't sure.  We've come up with our assumptions but no definitive proof.  We know they belong in the family, but it's just another piece of the puzzle for now.