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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Canada Lookup Request => Topic started by: Clio on Saturday 20 June 09 22:46 BST (UK)
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Hi
I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction please. I'm looking for Mary Alice Williams and her husband Thomas Edward Williams. Mary Alice was born in Wales in 1887. She married in Wales in February 1910 and arrived in Quebec in May 1910.
I believe they settled in Nanaimo. I think I have found Mary Alice on the Nanaimo FHS passenger list - she arrived at Quebec on 7th May 1910 on Virginian. I couldn't find Thomas but maybe he left earlier?
I have a photograph of Mary Alice who was known as Polly with 3 daughters but there are no names or dates. I do know that her brother Gershom Matthias went out to visit Mary Alice in Canada and as I can't find him in the UK 1911 census I wondered if he was included in the Canadian census?
Thanks
Clio
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Mary Alice, Thomas and their 6 month old son are listed in Comox-Atlin District in British Columbia on the 1911 census. Gershom is with them. Here's a link to the census image at Library and Archives Canada (starting on line 17):
http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/1911/pdf/e001935836.pdf
Gershom Mathias departed from Liverpool on the Victorian and arrived in Halifax on 1 Dec 1910. Here's a link to the passenger list at LAC (line 19):
http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e148/e003685543.jpg
If you haven't viewed Mary Alice's passenger list, here's a link to it at LAC (about line 19):
http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e143/e003561077.jpg
I found Thomas' original 1906 arrival on the Virginian which departed Liverpool and arrived in Montreal on 1 Jun 1906. Here's a link to the passenger list:
http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e147/e003660401.jpg
Jacquie
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There is a death for Mary Alice March 10, 1958 Cumberland at 70
Death for Thomas Edward Williams Feb 8, 1923 @ 36 also Cumberland
Death for Thomas Edward Williams Sep 25, 1932 @ 20 in Cumberland
Debbie
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I looked at UK incoming passenger lists - unfortunately I don't have access to the images - but there is a reference to a G Matthias arriving Southampton.
I then looked at marriages on FreeBMD and there is a marriage for Frances Jones and Gershom Matthias Dec 1916 Wrexham 11b 411.
There are a number of births in that area after 1916 for Matthias with Jones as the maiden name of the mother.
Debbie
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Thank you so much Jacqui and Debbie.
This time yesterday I didn't know where to start looking and now I have so much information to go on. From what I've seen so far you have both found the family I'm looking for. I had no idea Mary Alice had a son and Cumberland never came up in the conversations I've had with the family.
Thanks again
Clio
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Just to make sure we're on the same page, Debbie meant Cumberland, British Columbia. Cumberland is about an hour from Nanaimo. I think the registration area of Cumberland covers the area where they were living on the 1911 census.
Jacquie
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Jacquie - apologies for misspelling your name! I was just replying to you. I spotted Cumberland on the passenger lists so presumed it was in Canada - just about to look it up. Research in Canada is very new to me as you've probably guessed so I don't know yet just what resources are available.
Debbie - where did you find the death records for Cumberland? I'm thinking that the births will be registered there too? I'd love to find out the names of the other children if possible.
Many thanks both for your support.
Best wishes
Clio
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Here is a link to the BMD database at the British Columbia Archives:
http://search.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/sn-1F8676D/gbsearch/Births,Marriages,Deaths
It has births from 1872-1903, marriages from 1872-1933 and deaths from 1872-1988. Any BMD events after these years are covered by privacy laws. It will be a while before more births are accessible as I believe they changed the cut off date from births less than 100 years to less than 120 or 125 years ago.
If you want to get a copy of the death registrations there are volunteers at the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness website - http://www.raogk.org/ - and here who do or have done look-ups.
Jacquie
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Did you obtain the three death records mentioned by Debbie in reply #2? I picked them up today and will send them if you send me a P.M. with your email address.
Cumberland was a coal mining town. The father, Thomas Edward Williams died in a coal mine explosion. Although son, Thomas Edward Williams was also a coal miner he died from other causes.
John
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http://www.cvfamilyhistory.org/bmd/1895-1932.pdf
A link to notices that were in the local papers. The marriage of Mary Ann Williams to George Raga
is noted and there is no father - just the daughter of M. Williams. Perhaps the newspaper or library could check the details for you. Sisters might be mentioned.
http://search.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/sn-275EA3C/query/Marriages/find-adv%2B%20givennames%3D(george)%20AND%20place%3D(cumberland)%20AND%20surname%3D(raga)%20%2B%2B%2B%2B
is the link to the marriage at BC Vital Index. There are other potential marriages that can be found for Williams girls if you put in Cumberland as a qualifying location. Perhaps someone could check out these possibilities for you as well.
Debbie
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Thanks to all concerned for the amazing help I've received with this family. I now know that Mary Alice's husband Thomas and 2 or possibly 3 of his brothers went to Canada - I've found them all in the Cumberland cemetery however I can't find 1 of them on the passenger lists and wondered if anyone has any ideas where I can look next.
Thomas Edward Williams and wife Mary Alice - all OK - Jacqui posted links to original passenger list pages
John Samuel Williams 31 May 1907 Virginian 005-004 T-490 - how do I get to original page?
Cadwaladr Williams 14 August 1925 Montcalm RG76 1925 volume 10 T -14718 - I'm hoping the original page will show his wife Lily May and any children and maybe another brother who I can't trace
Herbert Pryce Williams born 1895 Wrexham, Wales - found him in 1911 Wales census
Also where do I find the UK incoming passenger lists as I believe at least 2 of them went home to visit - I'd like to know when. I've tried Google but just go around in circles!
Any guidance will be much appreciated
Thanks
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http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/passenger/001045-130-e.html
Click on search and then input your ship information into the appropriate boxes and once the next screen shows up click on . and then you can flip through the pages of the ships passenger list by using the upper right buttons.
Debbie
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On the 1925 return on the Montcalm Cadwadadr is alone returning with Lily (29). He had been in Canada between 1920-1923 on Vancouver Island.
Is Ernest the brother you are looking for?
On the Melita which arrived Feb 16, 1930 Liverpool to St. Johns New Brunswick is
Ernest Williams (29), single, miner, brother to Cadwaladr who he is travelling with. Ernest gives his father as his next of kin in the UK and Cadwaladr gives his wife
Lilian Williams (33) of Summerhill. Beside this is noted "left Canada not widower(?)"
Cadwaladr also seems to have travelled back to England and returned on the Viginian Liverpool to Quebec July 27, 1912.
If no one on this board has access to worldwide ancestry for records of Incoming Passenger Lists to UK you could always post on the main Rooschat site under Immigration and Emigration - Research in Other Countries for help in looking up their return passages. Did Lily return to Canada or was their a separation?
Debbie
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I will email the three images Debbie found.
John
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http://www.military-genealogy.com/nameShow?war=1&sid=198194
Is this your Herbert Pryce?
Modify the entry to add:
There is a record of death for Herbert Pryce Williams 1981 at Comox age 59. Since this would be a birth year of 1922 - would this be a son to one of the Williams you are tracing?
Debbie
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Also a 1957 death for Cadwalader Williams at Cumberland, B.C. Will pick them up from the library.
John
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Thank you very much everyone - you've given me a lot to work on. :)
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Hi, you may have made great progress since this was posted. Thomas Edward Williams was the brother of my grandfather. This thread certainly gives me a lot to go on! I may be able to help, Herbert Pryce Williams died in action in WW1, as far as I have found he didn't go to Canada. The other brothers were Thomas Edward, John Samuel, Joseph William, James Albert, Cadwaladr and Ernest. The three brothers who stayed in Canada were Thomas, John and Cadwaladr. Joseph and Ernest both went but came back. I'm not sure about James. There were also two sisters Annie and Hannah. If you are still looking and would like the records I can link to them for you.