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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Topic started by: Cazza47 on Thursday 19 September 13 10:39 BST (UK)
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Further to my search for info on Thomas Douglas born 1884 in Aspatria, Cumberland, England who came over to Canada in 1910, he was a coal miner but apparently bought hotel(s) in Nanaimo with another man. He returned to England in 1952, the story being his partner died and Thomas just walked away from the hotels and returned penniless, any chance of finding anything about this or names of hotels.
Any help appreciated.
Carol
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Vancouver Island Regional Library
http://virl.bc.ca
has an "Ask a Librarian" section.
This may be a good source for looking for information. Many libraries have genealogy sections and may be able to give you advice on where to search.
www.automatedgenealogy.com
1911 Census/British Columbia/Nanaimo City
has a Thomas Douglas, age 27 that fits the description of your Thomas. He immigrated in 1910, is a miner and is in the Dobie household. The Dobie family also immigrated in 1910 and occupation is miner.
There was another Thomas Douglas in Victoria on the census with wife Minnie. He is not your Thomas.
I looked to see if Thomas served in WW1 and didn't find him. I did find another Thomas Douglas, occupation bridge carpenter with wife Ethel living in Nanimo is 1915 so will be important not to get information on the three different people mixed up. All three of the above Thomas Douglas were born between 1883 and 1885.
Val
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Thank you.
My Thomas I believe was living on Wallace Street in the 1911 census with a family which has been transcribed as Delue who also came over to canada in 1910.
I will check out your suggestions.
Thank you.
Carol
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Automated genealogy is a free site and you can view the original documents as well as the transcripts. Just use the split view/screen option. This may be the same family as at ancestry only with different transcribed names. The family that I found is on Wallace St, Nanaimo.
The Thomas Douglas with wife Ethel who enlisted in 1915 was also living at Wallace St. but this is not your Thomas. That is why I mentioned that there are 3 Thomas Douglas living on the island in 1911 and one on the mainland in New Westminster. The Thomas Douglas in New Westminster also immigrated in 1910 so that gives you 4 possibles. Keep in mind that the Thomas Douglas with wife Ethel and the Thomas Douglas with wife Minnie are not yours but have some similarities. The Thomas Douglas with wife Ethel has similar birthdate and was living in Nanimo on Wallace St in 1915 but this is not your Thomas. His marriage to Ethel is available at the Royal BC Museum Archives and that proves he is not your Thomas Douglas. Just pointing out the difference in case you decide to contact the library in Nanaimo.
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1911 Census/British Columbia/Nanaimo City
has a Thomas Douglas, age 27 that fits the description of your Thomas. He immigrated in 1910, is a miner and is in the Dobie household. The Dobie family also immigrated in 1910 and occupation is miner.
I've been looking through some of the online Nanaimo Directories available through the Vancouver Public Library. The information is inconsistent for both the Douglas and Dobie surnames but there appears to be only one Dobie family.
Just in case the Dobie/Douglas 1911 census entry is your Thomas Douglas, it is interesting to note that beginning in 1937 through 1946, Mrs Eleanor Dobie (wife of Jas Dobie) is listed as the proprietor of the Lotus Hotel in Nanaimo. The Thomas Douglas listed through that time period is shown as a lab (labourer)
sami
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I went to the Royal BC Museum archives to look for the deaths of Eleanor and James Dobie.
James Dobie
d. 10 Feb 1960
Valleyview Hospital, Coquitlam, BC
his permanent address is 440 Robson St., Nanaimo
b. May 13, 1883 Aspatria, Cumb. England
occupation is coal miner
wife - Eleanor Darwood
father - Tom Dobie
mother - Elizabeth Reid
This would look like the connection between your Thomas Douglas and James Dobie on the 1911 census.
Eleanor Dobie
d. 23 April 1970, age 89
b. Jarrow, Cumberland, England
address 340 Robson St. Nanaimo
widowed - James Dobie
no occupation listed
daughter is listed as informant and gives address in Vancouver, if you want to pursue this farther through the Dobie family.
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Thank you both very much, it gives me more to think about and follow.
Carol
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Hello Carol
Here are my thoughts on James Dobie after looking at his death registration I see he was born Aspatria,Cumberland same as Thomas so I'm thinking that they knew each other before coming to Canada. I also noticed that James's wife Eleanor was born Jarrow,Cumberland. Is this close to. Aspatria?
I have found James and Eleanor Dobie on 1921 census British Columbia Nanaimo Sub District 32 New Castle page 24.No sign of Thomas in Nanaimo perhaps he was missed, moved or took a return trip to England
I spoke to the folks at the Nanaimo Archives and they indicated Thomas did not own land but he
could have been a partner.The Lotus Hotel was owned by James and Thomas Dobie .
James had lost a leg though accident or sickness. Thomas most likely worked at #1 Mine according to the Archives. :) :) :)
Lilybell
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Thanks for all help, will continue searching with all my new info.
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Cazza47
Here is a site you might find interesting http://www.vpl.ca/bccd/index.php. B.C. City Directories 1860-1955. You select a year, then search Wrigley's or Henderson's directories for B.C. or Vancouver Island towns. Business and residents are listed alphabetically, showing occupation and address. Think an h after name means homeowner and r means renter. Also some old adds.
Frank on Thetis
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Thank you Frank