Hello John,
Yes, I am almost back to full functioning again. Delighted to see that you have found a Canadian connexion.
Is that Dorothy, born 1865 Sunderland, Durham, married 1891, and Lewis John born 1859 in Thetford, Norfolk? They are on 1911 Census in Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, but no sign of Ronald - at school abroad? Ronald, aged 4, is on the 1901 census in Guiltcross, Norfolk.
Have you any idea whether the "Uncle" who met Ronald's boat was paternal or maternal, blood uncle or uncle by marriage?
I think Lewis John Jillings had siblings:
- William Gayford Jillings, born 1853, Thetford
- Catherine A. or Catherine Ellen Jillings, born 1854, Thetford
- Ellinor M Jillings, born 1856, Thetford
- Lawrence H Jillings, born 1857, Thetford
- Charles Edward Jillings, born 1860 Thetford
Their baptisms are here:
http://www.doun.org/transcriptions/surnames.php?doc_type=150&surname=JILLINGSCatherine Ellen Jillings married in Thetford Q3, 1874, to Kitton Gayford at Thetford St. Mary's.
http://www.doun.org/transcriptions/documents.php?document_id=9412William Gayford Jillings married in Marylebone, Q4, 1875, to Amelia Blanche Pegg who was buried Thetford St. Mary's 1877
http://www.doun.org/transcriptions/surnames.php?doc_type=300&surname=JILLINGSand again in Guiltcross, Q1, 1880, to Emily Constance Creasy.
http://www.doun.org/transcriptions/documents.php?document_id=18930In 1883 Kelly's Directory, he appears as a farmer in Bridgham, Norfolk so .... unlikely I think to be the uncle.
Eleanor Mary Jillings married in Thetford St. Mary's , Q1, 1880, to Richard Charles Harvey.
http://www.doun.org/transcriptions/documents.php?document_id=9418[Aside: I got the full names of this pair from Free BMD.]
I'm sure that you already know that Lewis John Jillings married in Sunderland, Q2, 1890 to Dorothy Turnbull. (Reference Number - Sunderland, Volume 10a, Page 917)
I haven't found a marriage for Lawrence/Laurence, and neither for any Charles E Jillings. There are possible marriages for plain Charles Jillings Q2, 1872 in Norwich and Q1, 1890 in Plomesgate, but as he was buried 1900 Thetford St. Mary's, he can't have been the uncle who met Ronald's boat in 1913.
[It's on same link as I gave above for burial of Amelia Blanche.]
Haven't been all that helpful yet, have I? (Grin, grin).
Wait for it - the good part is coming.
On 27 November, 1914, that address of 33 Gloucester Street, Toronto was occupied by Mrs. Edith Gayford, next of kin to Lt. Gordon Thomas Gayford, born 11 November 1892 and a commercial traveller in civilian life. Only five years older than Ronald and more likely a cousin than an uncle, so the uncle must have been Lt. GTG's father.
http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/searches/soldierDetail.asp?Id=140055Ronald had that same address when he enlisted and there is a page for him too.
http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/searches/soldierDetail.asp?Id=30468I think Ancestry has images of Canadian Attestation Papers, but I don't have any subscriptions at the moment. If your Public Library hasn't got Ancestry, I'll try to get it for you from mine, but no promises 'when' (they're not open evenings and daylight hours are pretty full).
Yes!, they do.
http://www.ancestry.ca/genealogy/ww1-canadian-soldiers/ronald-jillings.htmlHere's a link to a photo of his name on the Loddon War Memorial and the text says that he is also named on the grave surround of his parents' grave outside of Chedgrave Church.
http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Loddon.htmlThis page specifies the location of that grave.
http://www.loddonhistory.org.uk/chedgrave.phpSee a cigarette card showing uniform of the Governor-General's Body Guard here:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Governor-Generals-Body-Guards-Toronto-Vintage-Cigarette-Silk-Number-26/321472809541?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140620075055%26meid%3D8601376625734495879%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D20140620075055%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D321438155773and a postcard on parade in Toronto c. 1912 here:
http://www.cardcow.com/161456/governor-generals-bodyguards-toronto-canada-ontario/Cheers,
Westoe