Reginald Vann in Saskatchewan and Manitoba?

[warbler]

I would very much like to fill in the gaps on what happened to Reg Vann (or Herbert Reginald sometimes). He was born in Rushden, Northamptonshire, England in 1886, and went Canada initially in 1907. He came and went from UK a couple of times over the next few years, including to get married to Elsie Lack in 1915 in England. He returned to Canada in 1919, to Alameda, Sask., and died in Winnipeg around 1967.
But where was he between 1919 and 1967? He worked in farming, and may have later become a salesman (for seed or agricultural machinery?)
Can anyone help me with any more information - I would much appreciate it!

Colin

[*Sandra*]

Nothing to definitely say this is your Reg but there is a listing - Canada Voters List 1962 - Reg Vann (pensioner)  listed 484 Flora Avenue Winnipeg - there are other people listed at that address.

An earlier Canada Voters List entry - 1949 - Winnipeg North - R Vann - Salesman - 235 Harrison Ave, Winnipeg North.

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

FIND A GRAVE

Reginald Vann - Burial: Saint Vital Cemetery  Winnipeg Greater Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0y0a/ 


Sandra

[LindaGW]

The St. Vital Cemetery gives his date of death as 14 Oct 1967 and his burial date as 18 Oct 1967.
http://www.winnipeg.ca/ppd/cemeteries/StVital/StVitalT_V.html

[lilybell]

Hello Colin

I found Reginald Vann on the 1921 Canadian census but Elsie is not with him.

Lilybell

[Jacquie in Canada]

I've looked through the Winnipeg Free Press for an obituary and couldn't find one. There are two other Canadian Voters Lists entry for a Reginald Vann in Kenora, Ontario (1935) and Keewatin, Ontario (1945). Kenora and Keewatin are about 200 km/130 miles east of Winnipeg. The 1935 entry indicates he was with the YMCA and he is listed as a salesman in 1945. I doubt Reginald was involved with farming while in Kenora and Keewatin as it is very rocky (Canadian Shield).

Here is a link to the 1921 Canada census entry referred to by lilybell:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0y0h/

Did Reginald and Elsie split up? I see from the marriage index that she was listed as Elsie E. Lack and there is an Elsie E Vann/Elsie Edith Vann listed on passenger lists for voyages between England and Kenya in 1948 and 1953. There's also a death in 1958 for Elsie E Vann in the Free BMD as well as an entry in the National Probate Calendar for England and Wales for Elsie Edith Vann with probate granted to Hilda Margaret Lack.

Jacquie

[warbler]

Thanks, everybody, for all your help. It looks as though he stayed around the Winnipeg area most of his life. Is it possible that the Burial Order would confirm any more, and is it possible to get copies of these?
Jacquie, you are absolutely spot on. Elsie Edith came back to UK with Reg in 1916, but didn't go back with him in 1919 - whether it was a formal splitting-up or whether she was due to follow when he had set up a home for them I don't know. Elsie did come out to Kenya a couple of times to visit our family when we were living there, from 1947 to 1963, and died in Somerset in 1958.
Reg's brothers have been much easier to track, particularly Bernard Vann, who won a VC in the First World War.
Is there likely to be any way of discovering Reg's employment history?
Thanks again for all your help.
Best wishes
Colin

[jorose]

The directories at http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/henderson.html may be of use.

e.g. here in 1950
http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/bibliography/921.4.31/1433.html
under Vann
"Regd, emp Watkins, r 235 Harbison" - employer and residence.

still working for Watkins in 1954:
http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/bibliography/921.4.35/1616.html

by 1961, retired:
http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/bibliography/921.6.1/1360.html

Watkins is probably "J R Watkins Company": http://www.mnopedia.org/group/jr-watkins-medical-company.

When he went back in 1919, is there any indication of occupation? Just wondering if he intended to homestead in Saskatchewan or elsewhere, but perhaps failed to make a go of it (the failure rate of "proving out" a homestead - staying on it long enough and building/growing sufficient things to qualify to keep the land - was quite high)

[warbler]

That's a great lead, and thanks. The 1950 entry at 235 Harbison ties in with the voters' list entry for 1949, although that's listed as 235 Harrison Ave (which I couldn't find on a map, so maybe a transcription error for Harbison). Peel library looks like a great resource, and I'll follow up on J R Watkins just in case they still have employee records that far back. I can see they set up a branch office in Winnipeg in 1913.
When he sailed back in 1919 from Liverpool to St John NB (on the Minnedosa) his occupation on the passenger list is shown as Farmer, and his destination as Alameda - but whether he had his own land I don't know. Family legend seemed to suggest he hadn't made a success of it!
I really do appreciate all this help.
Best wishes,
Colin