GREAT GRANDPARENTS: John Albert Cooper & Annie Kyte

My Grandmother Gertrude Georgina Cooper was the youngest daughter of John Albert Cooper and Annie Kyte.

John Albert Cooper was born April 2, 1855 in Eastham, Worcestershire, England to John Cooper and Mary Ann Rudd.  Annie Kyte was born in April 1856 in Leominster, Herefordshire, England to William J. Kyte and Caroline Evans.

I have not been able to access an actual marriage record of John and Annie, however their marriage was registered in the First Quarter of 1881 in Herefordshire, England.  They appear as a married couple in the 1881 census as visitors in the household of William and Caroline Kyte.  The 1881 census of England was to have been enumerated on April 3, 1881.  John was listed as a gardener, the same occupation as his father-in-law.

The 1891 census shows John and Annie, with 3 children, at 7 Edgar Street in All Saints, Herefordshire, England.  John was still working as a domestic gardener.  By the time of the 1901 census, the family had grown to 6 children and were living at 2 Upper Glantowaen [sp?] Terrace in Blaenavon, Monmouthshire, Wales.  John's occupation was listed as railway drayman.  The household also included John's widowed father, John.

 Their youngest child, Reginald George, died at the age of 13 months and was buried January 25

Tunisian

1902  in Blaenavon, Monmouthshire, Wales.  Just a few months later, on August 2, 1902 the family sailed from Liverpool, Lancashire, England aboard the Tunisian, enroute to Canada.  The ship arrived in Quebec City two weeks later on August 15th.  The ship's manifest indicates that the family was enroute to Toronto, Ontario.  The eldest son, Albert John, was not with the family during that voyage as he had emigrated to the United States in May 1901.  He had sailed from Liverpool on May 1 1901 and arrived at Ellis Island on May 9th aboard the Majestic.

John and Annie settled with 4 children in Mimico, Etobicoke Township, York County, Ontario (just outside of Toronto).  By the 1911 census for Canada, only youngest daughter Gertie was still living at home with her parents.  John's occupation was listed as and angle workman aat club house.  According to family stories, he worked as a green grocer in Mimico at some point as well.

The family will have moved from Mimico at some point after the 1911 census as Annie died of throat cancer on July 30, 1917 at Lot 8, Concession 1 in Sunnidale Township, Simcoe County, Ontario.  She is buried in the Sunnidale Public Union Cemetery in Bethel, Sunnidale Township, Simcoe County, Ontario.    The cemetery is also known as the Bethel Cemetery.  John was buried with her on October 10 1931 after his death.

The 1921 Canadian census shows widowed John living with son Harold and his family in Brentwood,
Sunnidale Township in Simcoe County, Ontario.  Neighbours included daughter Gertie living with her husband Harry and his parents.  Like my great-grandfather William Daisley Allen, John Albert Cooper had the pleasure of spending time with his young grandchildren.

John remarried on April 26 1929 in Orillia, Orillia Township, Simcoe County, Ontario to spinster Elizabeth Hill.  John died October 8, 1931 in Brentwood.  His cause of death is listed as angena pectoris and pericardites after only a 3 day illness.

After John's death, Elizabeth continued living in Brentwood as shown on the Canada Voters' Lists of 1935 and 1945.  To date, I have very little information on my great-graandfather's second wife.  My mother does vaguely remember the woman as not very friendly.  She told me once of a comment made by my grandmother, Gertie in reference to her step-mother.  After the marriage, she asked her new stepmother what she should call her and was informend "Mrs. Allen".

Elizabeth and John may have been well matched.  According to my Aunt Dora, her Grandfather John had a falling out with son Frederick who then went West.  She did not know the cause.  Records show that Frederick William Cooper continued to live in British Columbia where he married a woman with two children.  Aunt Dora also told a story that her Uncle Fred showed up at the Allen farm one day and his sister Gertie did not recognize him.  And one time, my Uncle Ivan was travelling in British Columbia and tracked down his Uncle Fred but did not get a warm greeting.

I never knew either John Albert Cooper or Annie Kyte, nor do I have as many family stories about them as I do other great-grandparents.  They were the last of my ancestors to arrive in Canada - all other lines had been in Canada before the mid-1800s.  My grandmother Gertie would have only been about 23 years old when her mother died, but did remain close to her siblings, excluding Fred.  Uncle Bert was often visiting from Toronto when we would be in Brentwood.  He suffered from dementia and would often head out of the house to walk back to Toronto.  I can remember sitting in our car on the side of a country road while my father attempted to convince his uncle to get in the car so that he could drive him back to my grandparents.  Uncle Harold died when I was a baby, but his son, Harry Everard, would visit his Aunt Gertie as well as attending some of the Allen family BBQs.  My Aunt Dora was also in frequent communication with him.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 7 (Valentine)

Valentine's Day is this week, so obviously the top for the week is Valentine.

Although my husband, Terry, and I celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th, we celebrate our love every day.  I receive a bouquets of flowers from Terry at various times during the year, "just because", rather than specific days like Valentine's Day, birthday or wedding anniversary.  Those days have become too commercialized.

My parents' relationship is another example of celebrating love everyday, not just one or two days a year.  My father was not a demonstrative man, but his silent actions that seem to come natural to him showed his love for his wife everyday.  I am fortunate to have found a man with similar instincts.

A few years ago, my mother revealed that she had a secret stash of letters from my father.  I believe it was the first wedding anniversary after his death - she spent the day reading them.  She refuses to let anyone else read them and has made me promise to bury them with her when she dies.

She did show me a Valentine card that Dad had given her at one time - probably before they were married.  Money would have been limited in those days and he would have chosen to save money for other "more important things".  Which makes the rare card more precious.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 6 (Favourite Name)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 6 (Favourite Name)

There are many names in my ancestoral tree despite many common Anglo names repeated generation after generation.  But I'm sure many people have a substantial number of Johns, Williams, Roberts, Richards, Marys, Elizabeths, Janes, Margarets, etc in the trees.  I do have a Moses (not the biblical one) as well as a King (not a royal title).

Given my love of family and traditions, I think my favourite names are my parents as they are both named after their respective grandparents. 

William John Allen.  My father's grandfathers were William Daisley Allen and John Albert Cooper.  He had the benefit of knowing both of those men during his young years as they both lived in the same rural community.  That may be why is was always known as Jack.

Pearl Mary Eveleen Schell.  My mother's grandmothers were Mary (nee Deadman) Schell and Elsie Pearl (nee Mumberson) Bates.  Although my Great-grandmother's first name was Elsie, she was known as Pearl.  My mother was born on her Aunt Effie's birthday, so my grandparents added Effie's real name of Eveleen to their daughter's name.  Effie wasn't technically an aunt, but the wife of a first cousin of Pearl.  My mother grew up using the family nickname of Sis, but in her adult life away from the rural community where she grew up, she started to use the name Eveleen.  But at family gatherings she still answers to Sis.

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks - Week 5 (In the Census)

 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks - Week 5  (In the Census)

There are a couple of "special" census that comes to mind.

The 1901 Census for Blaenavon Wales listed the household of my Great Grandparents John Albert Cooper and Annie Kyte. 

As I expected, in the household was my grandmother Gertrude Georgina Cooper who was their youngest daughter.  The surprise was that she was not the youngest in the family!  The census listed a 3 month old Reginald Cooper as a son.

This raised a question in my mind:  was he actually a son whom I had never heard about?  And if so, what happened to him as he was not listed with the family on the ship's manifest when they immigrated to Canada in August 1902.  Or, was Reginald a son of older daughter Florence.  At age 15, it was a possibility and it would not be the first time that an illegitimate grandchild was listed in a census as a child of the head of household.

With further research I was able to determine that the Death Registration in the First Quarter of 1902 for a Reginald George Cooper (birthdate estimated about 1901) would indeed be the Reginald listed as a son of John Albert Cooper.  The Monmouthshire Burials Transcription does list the burial of Reginald George Cooper, age 13 months.  Although the parents' names are not listed, the address is the same (2 Upper Glantoween Terrace).  New records of Vital Records for England and Wales list the mother's maiden name and there is a record for Reginald George Cooper listing his mother's maiden name as Kyte.

I still have questions that I have yet been able to answer and probably never will.  My aunts were never aware of this younger sibling of their mother.  She would have been about 6 years old when Reginald was born, so I would think she would have had memories of the birth.

Reginald died just a few months before the family moved to Canada.  Had his death had any bearing on the family's decision to relocate?  I doubt I will ever be able to find the answer to that question.

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A census I found meaningful was the 1871 Canadian Census for District 4 South Simcoe in Ontario.

 

 The household of my 3xGreat Grandfather, Benjamin Schell, included his married son John Alexander and family which included my Great Grandfather John Schell.

Three generations in one household!

If there had ever been a doubt as to whether I was descended from the Schells of Mohawk Valley, that census confirms.  There is many documents listing that Benjamin Schell as a descendant of John Christian Schell.  And with the census showing the extended family, combined with birth and marriage records, I am able to document my connection.

GREAT-GRANDPARENTS: William Daisley ALLEN and Mary Jane WOODLAND

GREAT-GRANDPARENTS: William Daisley ALLEN and Mary Jane WOODLAND

My Grandfather Harry was the youngest child of William Daisley Allen and Mary Jane Woodland.

William Daisley was born 17 Jul 1849 at Lundy's Corners, Peel County, Canada West - the eldest child of Robert Allen and Mary Ann Widdis.

Family lore claims that 'Daisley' was a family name but in my 20+ years of genealogy research, I have yet to discover any ancestors with that name.  However, a brother of my father was also given the middle name of 'Daisley' - much to his embarrassment.

Mary Jane was born 20 December 1849 in Mono Township, Simcoe County, Canada West - the eldest daughter of Joshua Woodland and Catherine Craig.

William and Mary Jane grew up on neighbouring farms in Mono Township which at that point in time was part of Simcoe County.

They married in August 1872 at St. Mark's Anglican Church in Orangeville, Mono Township, Wellington County, Ontario.

In celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary, the Allen and Woodland families held a reunion at a local park.  As mentioned in earlier posts, the 'Just Married 60 Years' sign was altered to '50' and used for multiple family anniversary celebrations over the years and generations.

In addition to raising their 12 children (6 sons and 6 daughters), they also raised one of their granddaughters: Mary Ann "Minnie" McKenzie.  Minnie's mother (also named Mary Ann and known as Minnie) died a few weeks after giving birth.  A couple of years later, the widower, Archibald McKenzie, married another Allen daughter, Sarah Louise, and she died a few years later, leaving two young daughters as well. Granddaughter Minnie was only a couple of years younger than William and Mary Jane's youngest son Harry.  Harry's children grew up referring to Minnie as an Aunt even though she was actually a first cousin.

Census reports indicate that the couple moved around to various farms in Simcoe County while they raised their family of 12 children - all of whom lived to adulthood.  During the First World War, they were forced to vacate their farm in Tosorontio Township when it was taken over by the Canadian Government to develop Camp Borden.  Base Borden is still an active base for the Canadian military.  At that time, William Daisley and Mary Jane purchased the farm in Brentwood, Sunnidale Township, Simcoe County, Ontario which I knew from my childhood.
 
Both William and Mary Jane died at the Allen farm in Brentwood: William on April 6, 1935 and Mary Jane on May 17, 1938.  They are buried together in the Angus Union Cemetery in Angus, Essa Township, Simcoe County, Ontario.   Sharing their headstone are the two daughters who had married Archie McKenzie.

Having moved out of the farm house to a smaller house on the farm, they were on hand to see the birth of most of the children of their son Harry who had taken over the operation of the family farm.

Both William and Mary Jane died long before I was born, but I've always felt that they had a strong influence in my life.  It was their farm that I knew as the Allen family farm, although it was their grandson Joseph that was operating it during my childhood and my grandparents, Harry & Gertie, living in a bungalow built on the property when my Grandfather retired from farming.

The extended Allen family was large: Harry and Gertie had 10 of their 11 children reach childhood, marry and had children or stepchildren.  Harry was the youngest of William and Mary Jane's 12 children.  Like Harry, many of his siblings had large families - quite common for farming families.  Although 3 of the children migrated to the Canadian west, the others stayed in, or close to, Simcoe County.  I do remember that my father's Aunt Ida made frequent visits back to the family farm.  During my childhood, she usually stayed with her niece Minnie who by that time was living in the small house William and Mary Jane had moved into when they turned the farmhouse over to Harry.

Harry and his siblings held family reunions for the descendants of William and Mary Jane.  The reunions may have started with the extended family get together for the 60th Wedding anniversary of William and Mary Jane.

During my childhood the reunions were held on the last Saturday in August at a nearby Provincial Park.  I often encountered members of the extended family when visiting my grandparents, as well as family funerals.

Even though I never met either William Daisley Allen or Mary Jane Woodland, due to the strong family ties they instilled in their children and grandchildren, I have always felt a connection to them.

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks - Week 4 (Invite to Dinner)

Who would I want to invite to dinner?

By the time I actively got interested in my family history, all of my grandparents were deceased as well as my father.  My mother has been, and continues to be, a good source for family stories.  However, for a dinner date, I think I would select my father's mother: Gertrude Georgina (nee Cooper) Allen.  Or as I knew her Grammie or Gramma.  Why?  I feel that her life changed the most and maybe would answer some of the mysteries I have not been unable to resolve in my research.

Gertie may not be able to provide all of the answer I have as she must not have had much recollection of her early life.  To apply to the Canadian government for her Old Age Pension, she had to obtain her birth certificate from the government in Wales.  When she received the document, she discovered she was three years older than she had always believed.  According to the ship manifest from when the family sailed to Canada in August 1902, aboard the Tunisian, Gertie was 7 years old - which coincides with her documented birth year of 1894.  I have memories of when I was 7, and earlier, so I'm not sure why she lived her younger life based on a 1897 birth.

She was born in Wales, emigrated to Canada as a child and lived through the Great Depression and two World Wars.  She grew up in an urban area (now part of the Greater Toronto area) but married a farmer and raised their family in rural Ontario.  In her urban life, she was an accomplished pianist, but there was no evidence of a piano in the home when I was a child.  However, she apparently was the organist at the Brentwood United Church at one point.

Gertie with oldest sons (toddler Albert and infant Jack) c1923

Over a period of 17 years, she gave birth to eleven children, but Edward Lorne died within hours of birth in June 1931.  I've been told that Edward was born with the same deformed ear as the oldest son, Albert (aka Ab).  When Ab was born, the doctor did not think that he would survive and told Gertie to continue whatever it was she was doing.  I do not know if the sickliness and ear deformity were connected or not.  I have to assume that as Ab was the oldest, the young mother was able to devote her time to doing whatever possible for her sickly child.  How did she feel as a mother caring for a sick newborn and ten years later experincing the death of a newborn?

She raised ten children through the Great Depression and the food rationings for the Second World War.  Living on a farm would provide most food, but the Allens were known for their love of black pepper on food and drinking tea, so ration coupons were needed.  How did she manage to feed that many mouths? 


Another question I would have for my grandmother would be if she knew what had motived her parents to relocate their family from Herefordshire, England to Blaeavon, Wales in the early 1890s.  According to census records, John Albert Cooper was a domestic gardener in Herefordshire in April 1891.  However, the census in March 1901 lists him as a railway drayman in Blaenavon, Wales.  A drayman is reportedly someone who drives a long strong cart with heavy loads.  John Albert's father, John, was also listed in the 1901 household and working as a railway drayman as well.  His occupations in earlier census (also in Herefordshire, England) were agricultural labourer or groom.  Why the relocation?  Why the change in occupation?  The elder John Cooper did not emigrate to Canada with his son and family.  The younger John Cooper was a green grocer once he relocated to Mimico, Ontario - so obviously agriculture was still in his blood.  So why the change in occupation?  Or was that the only employment available after moving?

The 1901 census also raises another mystery I would love to be able to discuss with my grandmother in the hopes that she could provide me with more information.  Gertie had been the youngest child of John Albert & Annie (nee Kyte) Cooper immigrating to Canada.  However, the 1901 census lists a 3 month old son, Reginald, in the household.  Was Reginald really a son of John & Annie or could he have been an illegimate son of their 15 year old daughter Florence? I did ask my Aunt Dora (the oldest daughter of Gertie) if she was ever aware of her mother having a younger brother.  She was unaware of this uncle.  Subsequent research did locate a birth registration for Reginald George Cooper who's mother's maiden name was Kyte.  He died in January 1902 at the age of 13 months and was buried January 25 1902 in Blaeavon, Wales.  Did his death have any bearing on the family's decision to move to Canada a few months later?  What, if anything, did Gertie remember of her younger brother?

I grew up visiting my grandparents every holiday weekend, but as one of over thirty grandchildren, there was rarely opportunities to have deep discussions.  In reflecting back over the years of what I remember of comments, or stories from others, I feel that my outlook on life came from her.

Over the years, my mother has made comments that her mother-in-law's philosphy on cooking was to substitute ingredients with what was on hand rather than abandoning a recipe if missing an ingredient.  In other words, make use of what you have.  Another comment my mother has made was that Gertie was accepting of the spouses of her sons and daughters.  Her philosophy was if her son or daughter chose to live with the individual, she could sit at the same dinner table with the person.


Although she was apparently a very adapting and forgiving individual, Gramma did have some negative views.  The only time I can remember her saying anything negative was a reference to having worked as a waitress at Camp Borden for formal dinners of high ranking officials and encountering attitudes of superior hierarchies.  I guess I get my socialist views from my grandmother.

I do not know if a conversation over dinner with my Gramma Allen would answer the questions I have or not.  But it would be interesting to hear about her life: a young child at the turn of the century in Wales, a 2 week sailing across the Atlantic Ocean with her parents and siblings and then adapting to life in her new country.  And then as an adult, moving from the city to the country and enduring the hardships of raising a large family during the Great Depression and war time.

GRANDPARENTS: George Schell & Martha Jane Irene BATES

GRANDPARENTS: George Schell & Martha Jane Irene BATES

My mother, Pearl Mary Eveleen "Sis" Schell, was the middle child of George Schell and Martha Jane Irene Bates of Brentwood, Simcoe Co., Ontario.

George was the oldest child of John Schell and Mary Deadman.  He was born May 4 1895 in New Lowell, Sunnidale Township, Simcoe Co., Ontario.

George died in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Simcoe Co., Ontario on October 7, 1974.  He was buried on October 10, 1974 in the Angus Union Cemetery, Angus, Simcoe Co., Ontario.

In 1916, George's father, John, died at a young age, shortly after having purchased the Brentwood farm - leaving a widow with 10 children, some still relatively young.  George, as the oldest son, took over the responsiblity of running the farm and providing for his widowed mother and younger siblings.  The previous owner of the property was George's future father-in-law: Thomas Bates.

According to my mother, the farm house that I know (seen mid-construction in the photo), was not the original house on the property.  The house in the photo was built by George and is still standing today.

In later years, most of the farm land was sold, keeping only a parcel of land around the house.  The property is still in the family with my cousin Mary Lou (nee Schell) Bowyer and husband Chris Bowyer living in the house, having raised their three daughters and operating their business, Bowyer Taxidermy, from that location. Which means that the land has been in the Schell family for over 100 years!  And if you factor in that the land had been owned by Great-Grandfather Bates prior to that, it has been in the Bates/Schell family for even longer.  As Chris and Mary Lou are frequently visited by their grandchildren, another generation of the family are enjoying the land.

George Schell (1928)

George (aka Granddad) was a quiet, gentle man, well liked in the community, with a great sense of
humour.  During a visit one summer, my mother helped her parents clear out the attic (I now shudder at the thought of the antiques that were disposed of during that visit.)  Granddad was tending the bonfire in the yard disposing of the items being tossed out - walking around wearing a pair of old shoes that was being thrown out.

A family tradition for Easter Sunday was a breakfast of soft boiled eggs.  Granddad would try to have a contest as to who could eat the most.  In an attempt to win, he would turn an empty shell upside down as if it was a new one.

When the attic had been cleared out, some of the items retained were family wedding dresses.  A number of years later, we did a "dress-up" day:  I wore my mother's wedding dress and my cousin Mary Lou wore the maid of honour dress our Aunt Lena wore for my parents' wedding.  Granddad was delighted to pose for pictures with his only granddaughters.

George had many expressions.  To explain his tendancy to cry, he would tell people "his bladder was too close to his eyes".

George was a very superstitious man.  His father had died at the age of 49 and George was convinced that he would die at that age as well.  Family members were relieved when George was still alive for his 50th birthday.  Another superstition was that something bad would happen if there were 13 people seated at the dinner table.  The birth of my younger brother, Roger, made for the 13th person in the family.  While Roger was in a high chair, he was not technically seating at the table.   Christmas dinner in 1962, Roger was out of the high chair and Mom had him sit at the family table.  Two months later, Uncle Stan (George's youngest brother), died in a house fire.  Future family dinners had adults at the table in the dining room and the grandchilden at the kitchen table.

Stan's death was very difficult for George.  Back in the 1940's Stan had been injured in a car accident and required a cane to walk.  He lived with either my grandparents or with another brother, Will, who also lived in Brentwood.  Stan will living with Will and his wife and it was their home that had the fire.  When the fire start, Stan was in the house alone, and with his limited mobility, was unable to evacuate the house in time.  The house was within sight of my grandparents' house and they saw the fire.  George was unable to get down the road in time to save his brother.

George Schell & Irene Bates (wedding)

Martha Jane Irene Bates was the eldest child of Thomas Edward Bates & Elsie Pearl Mumberson.  She was born June 5, 1905 in Brentwood, Sunnidale Township, Simcoe County, Ontario.  She was always known as Irene.  I knew her as Nanny.

George and Irene were married in Toronto, York County, Ontario on March 10, 1927.  They lived on the Schell farm in Brentwood, along with George's mother and siblings who were still living at home.  They raised their three children: Lena Viola, Pearl Mary Eveleen (aka Sis) and Harold Geroge (aka Bud) on the farm as well.  For a number of years, they also boarded one of the two teachers who taught at the school house within sight of the farm house.

Irene was a born gossip and enjoyed the party line telephone as well as serving as a go-between, passing along messages to others avoiding long distance charges.  She also served as the Brentwood correspondant, providing community 'news' to newspapers in Barrie and Stayner.

George and Irene only had five grandchildren.  The oldest, my brother Garry, was the apple of Nanny's eye.  When she sent birthday cards to us, Garry's card always had more money than the rest of us.

George and Irene celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary with a dance at the community hall in nearby New Lowell.  I can remember attending the party as a child.  George died before the couple could celebrate their Golden Anniversary.

Irene died February 6, 1990 in the General & Marine Hospital in Collingwood, Nottawasaga
Township, Simcoe County, Ontario.  She was buried beside George in the Angus Union Cemetery in Angus, Essa Township, Simcoe County, Ontario.

 By the time I was born, my parents were living in Kingston, Ontario but my childhood was spent travelling to Brentwood every holiday weekend to visit both sets of grandparents.  We stayed at the Schells and would spend the evenings at the Allens.  I often spent a week during the summer with my grandparents - sometimes with my mother and brothers, but sometimes alone.  

Although I often resented having to go to Brentwood on the long weekends rather than staying at home to play with friends, in hindsight I now appreciate the time with extended family.  As both my parents were born and raised in Brentwood, there were many extended family members still living in the area, or visiting ones that were.  I grew up knowing not just my aunts, uncles and first cousins, but also the aunts, uncles and first cousins of both of my parents.  As I work on my genealogy, I am able to put faces to the names I enter into my database.