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Author Topic: Last heard of in Canada!  (Read 4275 times)

Offline MotoFreako64

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Re: Last heard of in Canada!
« Reply #9 on: Saturday 10 October 15 19:31 BST (UK) »
You're quite correct there.... I have no proof that Elsie and Jack were legally divorced, neither do I have any proof of his death. I do know that they were still married when he went to Canada. I have ordered a copy of Jack's birth certificate and it should be in my possession very soon. I have also discovered that the employment records for Stewarts & Lloyds steel works are in the Dudley Archives, which may also throw some light on his early life.

Offline MotoFreako64

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Re: Last heard of in Canada!
« Reply #10 on: Tuesday 13 October 15 20:13 BST (UK) »
I have a copy of his birth certificate now ... born 28th August 1895 at Bishton's Bridge, Netherton, Dudley, UK. (Bishton's Bridge was a pocket of land off Halesowen Road in Netherton owned by his Grandfather David Willetts where he had a pub, a chain works and a small coal mine).

Offline *Sandra*

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Re: Last heard of in Canada!
« Reply #11 on: Wednesday 14 October 15 10:27 BST (UK) »
Quote from: MotoFreako64 on Thursday 24 September 15 13:40 BST (UK)

I contacted Bonnie Dahl at the Saskatchewan Archive Board who was unable to find any records of Jack at all. She did tell me that James Rock had first applied for a homestead at Kenaston in 1910 and appeared on the Cummins map of 1922 as the landowner. His name does not appear on the 1930 map though.


A little info on James Richard Rock who must have returned to the UK at some stage.
James Richard Rock of Oaklands Back Lane, Romsley, Halesowen, Staffs died 23 March 1959. Probate London to Elizabeth Rock (widow) Mary Jane Willetts, Edith Quest and Irene Elizabeth Dunn (married woman) Effects £3511  8 s 2d

Sandra
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Offline *Sandra*

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Re: Last heard of in Canada!
« Reply #12 on: Wednesday 14 October 15 10:31 BST (UK) »
UK Return Passenger List - Montreal Quebec to Liverpool - arriving 22 June 1924 - Megantic -
James Rock - aged 41 years - going to Old Hill Staff. Also travelling -  Elizabeth aged 38 years, Edith 10 years, Aaron 7 years and Irene 4 years. Country of permanent residence had been Canada. Country if Intended future residence was England.

Sandra
"We search for information, but the burden of proof is always with the thread owner"

Census information is Crown Copyright  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

British Census copyright The National Archives; Canadian Census copyright Library and Archives Canada

Offline MotoFreako64

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Re: Last heard of in Canada!
« Reply #13 on: Wednesday 14 October 15 20:28 BST (UK) »
Thankyou for that Sandra, that really opens up a new avenue of research. Jack, his wife and his daughter also lived in Old Hill before he left for Canada. I wonder if there was another link between Jack and the Rock family. I will do some research into the Rock family and see if there are any other Old Hill connections. They may have originally been from the area which is why Jack headed out to meet them... I know of the house in Romsley too, I used to cycle past it when I lived in the Black Country. This is getting interesting now.

Offline MotoFreako64

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Re: Last heard of in Canada!
« Reply #14 on: Wednesday 14 October 15 20:56 BST (UK) »
wow... Sandra - I have done some more research tonight and discovered that James Rock was originally from Old Hill. The address given on James' arrival papers a few months earlier gives an address next door to Jack and his wife in Old Hill!.. so... It looks like Jack already knew James R Rock and they actually sailed to Canada together in April 1922.  The story gets more interesting.

I also discovered that James' wife was still alive in 1985 living only a few miles away from my own home at the time.... oh how I wish I knew that then!

Offline Jacquie in Canada

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Re: Last heard of in Canada!
« Reply #15 on: Saturday 17 October 15 20:54 BST (UK) »
Jack may have gone to the US and possibly changed his name. The U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index database at Ancestry has an entry for John William Taylor who was born in the UK on 28 Aug 1895. It gives his parents as John W. Taylor and Esther Willets. There is a note that says the following:
"May 1937: Name listed as JOHN WILLIAM TAYLOR; : Name listed as JOHN WILLIAM BROWN"

Jacquie
Canada: Patterson, Brown, Haidenger/Heidinger, Meyer, Johnston(e), Gorsuch, Kitchin/Kitchen
United States: Patterson, Smith, Brown, Vance, Bower(s), Newberry, Best, Love, Gorsuch
England (Northumberland): Brown, Whitfield, Henderson
Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife, East Lothian): Johnston(e), Bell, Galloway, Campbell, Robertson, Williamson, Thomson, Crawford
Germans from Russia: Haidenger/Heidinger, Meyer, Meach, Lorenz

Offline MotoFreako64

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Re: Last heard of in Canada!
« Reply #16 on: Sunday 18 October 15 11:34 BST (UK) »
What a great find Jacquie... That's him... I've just looked up some US records myself and found some military draft documents for him... Same name, same date of birth but gives his birthplace as Birmingham, England. Ooh - this getting good. I definitely know more about him already... Thanks for all the help and feedback everybody.

Offline MotoFreako64

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Re: Last heard of in Canada!
« Reply #17 on: Sunday 18 October 15 19:44 BST (UK) »
Great news... I have his U.S. World War 2 Draft Registration Card from 1942. Living on 46th Street in New York and working as a waiter in Moran & McGuiness on 8th Avenue. The signature on the card is a perfect match for the signature on his marriage certificate and his Canadian form 30A. It looks like my quest for answers is moving onto the USA now. I visited my 87 year old Mum today who is Jack's niece. She was amazed and shocked as nobody in the family new where he was or what he was doing.... thanks for all your help fellow Rootschatters  :o
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