Russell Heath Boulton (1884-1918)

  

A tour through the Brandon General Museum and  Archives this summer led to the discovery of a Boulton who had lost his life in WW1.  Although I can't find any connection between his family and ours, it makes a story that I will tell nevertheless.  The online Canadian Virtual War Memorial was the source for the photo above and much of the factual information that follows.  His service file is digitized online at Library and Archives Canada.  The link is here and it is a big file, 53 pages of various papers and pay information in a PDF format. 

Russell Health Boulton was born in Russell, Manitoba on February 24, 1884, one of seven children of Charles Akroll Boulton and Augusta Latter.  Augusta, or Gussie, has a most interesting biography online at the Manitoba Historical Society.  Their original home still stands as Boulton Manor, at one time a Bed & Breakfast in Russell, now a private home.

Charles Akroll Boulton (1841-1899)

Charles was a farmer and is also well known for his rivalry with Louis Riel in the 1880's. He was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel D'Arcy Boulton and Emily Heath. In the spring of 1880 he headed west to Manitoba and took up land along the proposed railway, settling in Section 5, Twp 23, Range 27, in the present day Boulton Municipality. In the fall, Boulton met his family in Winnipeg and travelling by wagon with a yoke of oxen and horses, led his family to their new farm. The following spring, they moved some 15 miles away where Boulton laid the groundwork for the town of Russell.  In 1885 he organized and led a Corps known as "Boulton's Scouts" who fought at Fish Creek and Batoche during the Northwest Rebellion and was eventually appointed as a Senator.  Today a monument stands in the town of Russell dedicated to the men of Boulton's Scouts. Three sons of Charles and Augusta served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in WW1: Major Lawrence Boulton, Major Darcy Boulton along with Lieutenant Russell Heath Boulton.

Russell  became a Barrister and Solicitor, practicing in Brandon, Manitoba. He married Edna Mary Lee in the town of Russell on December 2, 1914.  On January 10, 1916,  he made the decision to join the 200th Canadian Battalion, part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a lieutenant.  

Russell went overseas under Lieut-Col Angus Bonnycastle (the husband of his sister Ellen Mary) and upon arrival in France on September 5, 1917 he was transferred to the 3rd Canadian Engineers. A stay in hospital is reported on October 18,1917 when he contracted German Measles. His record shows from January 26 - February 16, 1918 he was granted 14 days leave to the U.K.  It all came to an end for Russell on August 14, 1918 and to quote his casualty report:

This officer was in charge of his Battalion's Machine Gun Anti-Aircraft  Defenses during the attack near Beaucourt Wood.  He was walking alone between the machine gun positions when an enemy aircraft dropped a large bomb which exploded within fifty feet of him, wounding him in the abdomen, left leg and left hand.  He was immediately attended to and carried to Battalion Headquarters where his wounds were dressed by another officer.  He was fully conscious and suffering very little.  Later he was evacuated to No. 49 Casualty Clearing Station, where he succumbed to his wounds.  

Casualty Report for Russell Heath Boulton 08/14/1918

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Website gives details of the burial Place of Russell Boulton.  He is laid to rest along with 13 other Canadians who died in the same few days. He is buried in Boves West Communal Cemetery in Somme, France. Boves has two communal cemeteries, on either side of the river. The 49th Casualty Clearing Station was at Boves to the end of August 1918. This website also says his stone is inscribed with:

Be Thou Faithful Unto Death and I will Give Thee a Crown of Life

The following clipping announced his death in the Toronto Star in September of 1918.

The seven Books of Remembrance lie in the Memorial Chamber in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. When the Peace Tower was first created, the intention was that all names of Canadians who died during the battles of the First World War would be engraved on the walls of the Memorial Chamber. However, it was soon realized that there would not be enough space on the walls to contain the more than 66,000 names of those who died. Instead, the books were created and they commemorate the lives of more than 118,000 Canadians who, since Confederation, have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country in uniform. Each day, during a ceremony, the page is turned and the one bearing Russell's name is displayed annually on August 13, the day before his death. This page is pictured below.

George Boulton (1740 - 1794)

George Boulton - Third Great Grandfather

George is the shared ancestor of both of Randy's great grandparents, Benajmin and Ann. He is also the reason that my children could apply to have the U.E. designation put after their names as they are descended from United Empire Loyalists. Here is his story, as found in various online sources.

George Boulton was born in the County of Wexford in Ireland in about 1740.  His parents lived in the Ballinvally area of Ireland.  His father was Abraham (1723 - 1753) and his mother was Anne Eyres (1725 - 1772).  I have seen him called George Belton Bolton in some sources too but I am guessing that Belton was likely a spelling variation, not a middle name.

In 1761, George married Nancy Bickford in Ireland.  George and Nancy immigrated to the Philadelphia, PA area between 1765 and 1770 with their first son, Abraham.

He joined the Loyalists in 1777.  George Boulton - along with George Belton (Boulton?)- are named on the Old United Empire Loyalist List, which means he probably arrived in Canada after 1776.  After the war, he immigrated to the Niagra region.  It is said that the rattlesnakes on the land were so bad that they left and walked to York (now Toronto) where they were able to take a boat to Elizabethtown Township.

When they arrived there were no European settlements in the area.  The men blazed trails into the wilderness.  Upon their way, passing through the United States, a boy William was born.  A daughter Alice and 6 sons were born in Canada.  It is said that all these children lived to  ripe old ages. An online source said the George and Nancy Boulton family lived at New Dublin, near Brockville at Concession 6/Lot 24 in 1795.

I have read online that the 1776 Leeds Census has the name spelled Boolton, 1802, 1808 spelled Boulton, 1810 Bolton, 1812, 1819 and 1821 Boulton.  From 1839 forward it was spelled Bolton.  Throughout the census records the brothers change and interchange the spelling of their last name.  These older census records are not yet online but would be neat to see someday!

Children of George and Nancy. 

• Abraham (1762 - 1859) married Mary Elliott (1771 - 1866) in 1792; was a part of the Grenville Militia in 1803 and in the War of 1812.  Buried in McTaggart Cemetery, Huron County
• Alice Eleanor (1764 - ?) married Ephrain Curry
• Thomas (1774 - 1855) married Susannah Hoover/Handstock first and then Ann (Nancy) Higginson.  Their daughter is Ann Henrietta Boulton
• William (1776 - 1859) married Martha Elliott (sister to Mary) in 1805.  Their son John is the father of Benjamin Boulton
• Benjamin
• Henry John (1780 - ?)
• Hugh (1789 - ?)
• Samuel (1789 - ?)

George and (presumably) Nancy are buried in Bolton Cemetery near Lyn, Ontario

Thanks to online sources, Carol Lackey, and here also, and the Weekes Family Site. 

Thomas Boulton (1774 - 1855)

Thomas Boulton - Second Great Grandfather

Thomas  was born on April 9, 1774  and died October 23, 1855.  His gravestone, pictured above, is in New Dublin Cemetery #1.  He was the son of Irish immigrants and United Empire Loyalists, George Boulton and Nancy Bickford.  Thomas married Susannah Hoover (aka Handstock) first and had 3 children -  Mary, Thomas and William.  He then married Ann (Nancy) Higginson in 1832 . One of their four offspring is Ann Henrietta Boulton.  The other were Benjamin, Thomas, and Abigail.

I have found online that more on Thomas can be found in a book called U.E. Loyalist Links Vol V - Leeds Grenville Co. by Russ Waller.  I would like to find out what it says someday!

On November 9, 1789 in Quebec, the "Order In Council" was ordered.  Land Boards were to provide 200 acres of land to each child of American Loyalists. To sons, as soon as they reached the age of 21 years, and to daughters at age 21 years or at marriage some times only 100 acres. This was called the "Order In Council", commonly seen as "OC" and "O.I.C."  Thomas Boulton's land was granted by a OC - Order of Council in 1812 as the son of a Loyalist.

In the 1851 Canadian Census, Thomas can be found living in Leeds County near Elizabethtown. This is near Lamb's Pond in Southern Ontario, a place that is on my list of places to visit there someday! On the same page of the census are many other Boultons including his brother William and Martha, their son William and Ann, his nephew John and Alice and their families.  Thomas' daughter Ann Henrietta is 7 years old and her future husband, John and Alice's son Benjamin is 16.  

Thomas died at age 81 in 1855 and is buried in the New Dublin Cemetery #1 in Ontario.  

William Boulton (1776 - 1859)

William Boulton - Third Great Grandfather

William was born in 1776 near Elizabethtown in Leeds County, Ontario. This was during the years of the American Revolution and his father George fought for the British during that time.  George and his wife Nancy Bickford had immigrated from Ireland to Pennsylvania but moved to Canada in support of the British Empire.  William married Martha Elliott in 1805.  Martha was a sister to Mary Elliott who had previously married William's older brother Abraham.  Matrtha and Mary's father was David Elliott who was born in Dutchess, New York and was also a Loyalist.

William and Martha's eldest son John is the father of Benjamin Boulton.  William had another brother named Thomas who was the father of Ann Henrietta Boulton who married that Benjamin. Are you confused yet?  I certainly was when researching this tree and can blame all my errors on the repeating names in every generation!!

Children of William and Martha

• Nancy
• John (1806 - 1902) married Alice Colbourne January 24, 1837
• Rebecca (1807 - ?)
• Sarah (1807 - ?)
• Thomas (1810 - ?)
• Benjamin (1812 - 1865)
• William (1817 - 1902) married Anoran "Ann Nora" Colborne (sister to Alice)

William died at age 83 on July 13,1859 and his wife Martha Jane died 20 years later at age 100. They certainly must have been doing something right to live such long lives in those days. I have not been able to find their burial spots online so will put that on my "to do list" for a future visit to the area.

John Boulton (1806 - 1902)

John Boulton - Second Great Grandfather

John was born at Elizabethtown, Ontario on September 11, 1806.  He was the oldest son of William Boulton and Martha Elliott and grandson to the Loyalist Irish immigrant, George Boulton.
Online trees say that on January 24, 1837 he married Alice Colborne at Brockville.  This date may be incorrect or John may have had a previous wife as the first two children, Margaret and Benjamin are recorded to have been born before their marriage date.  She was born in Ireland in 1811, daughter of John Colborne.  
The couple and their growing family can be found on Canadian Census documents every ten years from 1851 - 1881  living on their farm with the unmarried children and various other relatives of Alice's.   They had a total of 6 girls and 3 boys from 1835 to 1853.  Some of John and Alice's children were pictured and listed in this blog post. Randy's great grandfather Benjamin was a son as well.  He was the only one I know of that left Ontario as he came to Manitoba in the late 1800's to secure land for his own children.  

 

Alice died in 1886 at the age of 75 but John is listed as a 84 year old farmer on the 1891 census and was enumerated in 1901 before he died January 25, 1902 at the age of 95 as retired, living with his children William and Sarah.  

 

John and Alice are buried in New Dublin Cemetery #2 in plot 325.

Walter Edward Bushby (1882 - 1961)

Walter Edward Bushby

The older brother of Randy's Grandma Elsie was Walter Edward.  He was born in Worthing, Sussex, England on April 5, 1882.  He lived with his family in New Milton, England and would have learned the carpentry trade from his father, James William Bushby.  He can be found in 1904 as a 22 year old immigrant heading for Winnipeg, Manitoba.  He must have returned to England because he can be found crossing the Atlantic again on a passenger list from April of 1905.  This time his destination is Reston, MB and the 1906 Manitoba census lists him in the village of Reston with his brother Arthur Bushby and his wife and their two young children. 

In 1907, there is a marriage registered in Pipestone, Manitoba on June 2 for a Walter Edward Bushby and Ethel Elizabeth May Houre. 

A border crossing to the US was made in May of 1908 for Walter, age 26 and Ethel age 21.  The form states his brother is Arthur from Reston, MB, that he is a carpenter and that he is going to Westfield New Jersey.

The 1910 United States Census has them still living there but for some reason, his immigration year is written in as 1894.  That must be an error as he is on the 1901 English census with his family as an 18 year old boy and all the other forms list his immigration year as 1906.  Living in the household along with Walter and Ethel is her brother, Ernest House, also a carpenter.  His last name was likely mis-written from Houre.  This is where the story of Ethel appears to end.

I have been contacted by Toni from California through Ancestry and thinking it was our Ethel Bushby, she sent me the postcard copied below:

Postcard:  Addressed to Mr. L. Shore, 430 St John's Ave, Winnipeg from Toronto - July 1910

Well Luke, this in one of the many cousins you know but it is a case of position is not everything but it was taken in Hamilton for the 1st.  Got you card send me one of yours.  Ethel

She also emailed me many more photos and postcards referring to Shore relatives in Winnipeg and another addressed to Miss Katie Bushby at the same 430 St John's Ave. The unidentified photo on the left below I think looks so much like Walter's father James, on the right.  The mystery continues....



The next mention of Walter Bushby in the online documents is October 11, 1912 where he married Martha Florence Sparkman who was born in Westfield.

Walter Martha and Dorothy Bushby about 1914

  For the next 30 years, he is found on census and city directory documents with Martha and a family that grows to 4 children, Dorothy, Edna, Walter S. and John William.  The 1920 census shows Walter's 67 year old father James is living with them.  This fits with Uncle Frank's stories about him touring throughout the US in the 20's.  Walter died in 1961 and his wife 10 years later.

A Google search found that Walter and Martha's youngest son, John William,  had recently died and his obituary is linked here.  John was a WWII veteran and was an author of espionage novels and that website is linked here.  Interestingly, he was also a woodworker, as was his father and grandfather before him.

Thanks to Toni for the postcard and the mysteries to solve!

Arthur Henry Bushby (1879 - 1933)

Arthur Henry Bushby

Arthur Henry Bushby was born on May 5, 1879 in Brighton, England right on the southern seacoast.  He was the son of James William Bushby and Patience Emily Wooler and a brother to Randy's Grandmother Elsie.

Arthur married Eliza Louisa "Lou" Wardell in London at St Peter 's Church, Vauxhall on October 27, 1901.  They had 2 children, Ted and Norah, and then decided to immigrate to Canada.  In the 1906 Canadian census, they are living in the Village of Reston, Manitoba with Arthur's brother Walter.  Their growing family is in the same area on the 1911 and 1916 census.  The latter shows 6 children along with Arthur's 19 year old sister, Gertude in the household. 

The 1921 census shows them living on 4th street in Reston with 7 children.  Arthur is a carpenter and built many homes and buildings in the area including the RM of Pipestone Municipal Office, the first high school and the James Fotheringham farm home at SW 32-6-27.  Bill Mutter helped him with these buidlings as well as the Archer home, later that of Dave and Irma Braddell.   Living next door to the Bushby's on the 1921 census was Arthur's sister Elsie's sister and brother in law, Hazen and Susan Bigney and their daughter Ida.  Hazen helped Arthur in the carpentry business. 

Trails Along the Pipestone History book, available online at Manitobia, says Arthur has a carpentry shop on Main Street and later at the south end of Third Street.   

Uncle Frank says the family moved to Dollarton, BC where Arthur was killed at the age of 54 in an accident while working on log rolling in 1933. 

Family of Arthur and Lou:

• Edward Arthur Marrington "Ted" 1902 - 1985
• Norah Louise 1905 - 1985
• Ivy Patience 1907 - 1985
• Violet Helena 1910 -
• Richard James 1910 - 1987
• Mona St Celia 1916 - 2009
• John Jack 1918 - 1989

William Benjamin Boulton Jr ( 1877- 1916)

Death by Beefsteak

 

 

William Benjamin Boulton Jr., born June 9, 1877,  was the son of Ben Boulton and Maggie Chapman.  Ben was the sister of Randy's great grandmother, Ann Henrietta.  William is listed in the 1881 and 1891 Canadian Census living on a farm near Elizabethtown, Ontario.  He was referred to as "Willie" in 1891.  His parents and remaining siblings 2 sister and 3 brothers were farming near Reston, Manitoba on the 1901 census but he wasn't present.  By the 1906 census, they had moved to 545 Furby Street in Winnipeg.

 

On December 17, 1906, William married Bessie Irene Nixon of Wapella, SK.  Sadly she died in 1909 as did their infant daughter Margaret a year earlier.  Both are buried in the Wapella Cemetery.

 

The next record for William is when he signs Attestation Papers in 1915 to join the fighting in WW1.  He lists Reston as his residence as he is a widower, his next of kin is his mother, Margaret whose residence is also Reston.  

 

As I hoped would be the case with this blog, I received "the rest of the story" by email from by fellow Boulton genealogist, Keith Sly. He was in touch with Susan Bracken who shared this story about the unfortunate death of William in January of 1916. 

 

From the Manitoba Free Press, January 10, 1916:

  W. Boulton, a soldier whose regimental number was 718126, went into the Boston Beanery, Albert street in company with a lady friend at 8 o’clock last night. He ordered meals for himself and friend, and about 15 minutes later, when he had just commenced to eat a juicy beefsteak and chip potatoes which he had ordered for himself, he was taken suddenly ill. Annie, the waitress, and several customers went to his assistance the impression being that he had only fainted. The police ambulance was summoned, and Constable Burnett and Dixon rendered first aid. Boulton was taken to the General hospital, never having regained consciousness, and on being examined by a doctor at that institution was pronounced dead. Boulton’s antecedents could not be traced by the authorities last night. Prior to enlisting he had been in the real estate business and is believed to be the owner of one or two houses in the city and some vacant lots in a western town. He was about 40 years of age, height 5 ft 11 in. weighing about 200 pounds, hair brown, tinged with grey and slightly bald, full face clean shaven. Saturday night he occupied a room at the Congress hotel. Coroner McConnell is investigating the case and a post mortem examination will probably be held today.

From the same day in the Winnipeg Tribune:

William Boulton Expires at Table in Boston Beanery - Accompanied by Woman
     William Boulton, a private in a battalion stationed in Winnipeg, died suddenly when partaking of a meal in Boston Beanery, Albert street, Sunday night. He was in the company of a woman whose name is not known.
     Boulton ordered meals for two, and when his portion was brought he started eating, showing no signs of weakness. Suddenly his head dropped on his chest and his features became drawn and white. City police constables who were patrolling that beat were called and hurried the soldier to the General hospital where a doctor pronounced him dead.
     The man’s antecedents cannot at present be traced. The only clues the police have to his identity are his regimental number and his name. Coroner BJ McConnell will hold a post mordem today.

 

 

From Tuesday, Janaury 11, 1916 Winnipeg Tribune:

 

     Pte. William Boulton, who died suddenly while eating in the Boston Beanery, Albert street, Sunday evening, was choked to death through the lodging of a piece of beefsteak in his windpipe, according to Dr. Capt. Turner and Dr. Gordon Bell, who conducted the post mortem examination Monday afternoon. The relatives of the soldier have not yet been found, but it is believed his mother resides somewhere in Western Canada.

 

The style of writing of the day is really something. There is not the concern like today for privacy, political correctness, or graphic descriptions. William Benjamin Boulton Junior is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery in Winnipeg.

 

Thanks to Keith Sly and Susan Bracken for their help with this biography.



Unprecedented Flooding?

The Flood of '35 

Uncle Frank told me a story about when he was nine years old that helps put the Manitoba Flood of 2014 in a new light for me.

He remembers that the 1930's had been dry, dry, dry.  Area farmers would have enough soil moisture right after the snow melted in the spring to plant their crops and watch them emerge but lack of rain for week after week saw the crops' growth stunted.  Hoards of grasshoppers would then move in and strip any bit of green that may have been left on the plants.  The insects would even chew and destroy the clothes hanging on the line, just to get the moisture.  The Boulton family had sent their livestock on the train to pasture elsewhere but finally things began to improve in the spring of 1935 and the pastures were coming back.  Just like it was yesterday, Uncle Frank told me the story of the day when they went to get the livestock from the train at Broomhill, 6 miles south of the farm.

It began raining on the way there but by the time they arrived at Broomhill, you couldn't see any distance ahead for pouring rain.  It was a sheet of white in all directions and must have been hard to know where you were, much like in a zero visibility snowstorm. They took shelter upstairs at Kilkenny's store and the intense rain continued all day and night until finally early the next morning it seemed to be letting up.  They no sooner got to the stable to get the horses than down it came again and they were forced to wait with the animals in the stable for a long while again until there was a break. 

They then set out to drive the animals home and he remembers seeing his older brother Edwin, Randy's dad, who would have been 15 at the time.  The horse that he was riding had to swim to cross the Stoney Creek, normally dry as a bone by that time of year.  That moment in time is as clear to him 79 years later as it ever was. 

Looking at the RM of Albert history book called Reflections of Time that was written in 1984, it confirms this incredible rain happened.  It says that there had been some good rains in 1935 and the pastures came back but then in July 1935, over thirteen (13) inches of rain ruined a great deal of crop, and relief for the people and livestock of Albert was again required.

Each generation of prairie farmers has their own trials and tribulations and the memory of those days will stay with the people who lived through them. I hope they they will share their stories with the next generation to give hope that - "This too shall pass".  

Elsie's Home in England

When Elsie Norah Bushby left her home in New Milton on the south coast of England in 1913, I wonder if she thought she would ever see it again.  I can't imagine her feelings leaving everything she knew to come to the Canadian prairies where her brothers had moved to 5 years earlier.  Maybe she was just planning a visit but as fate would have it, she met Thomas Boulton and the two were married the next year.  She didn't return for a visit but letters and postcards went back and forth to stay in touch with the two sisters and the other family that remained in England.

Randy's Aunt Mary, Elsie's daughter, made a trip to England to see for herself some of the places her Mother had talked about.  Aunt Mary's family has shared some of her mementos with me and I've included them in this blog post.  The first is at Mary Magdalene Churchyard Cemetery in New Milton.

Written on the back of the above picture -

No need to tell you what this is.  The heather you planted at the foot of Mother's tombstone had grown into a huge bush.  I cut a lot of it away and did the grave up.     Dorrie

On the back of this one, Aunt Mary wrote -

Original church (south side) but walls had been reconstructed with bricks.  Same picture our Mother had from Aunt Dorothy showing their Mother's grave

  This is what is written on the back of the photo above.  Google Streetview shows this location today here.  Wikipedia defines a priory as " a monastery of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress."  I wonder if that is the history of this buildng?

 

 

Caption on the back - Original stone entrance of St. Mary Magdalan Church in New Milton

 

Thanks to Aunt Mary's family for sharing these pictures with me. 

Boultons and the Model T Ford

This is a wonderful picture of Thomas and Elsie Boulton posing with their family and the Model T Ford in front of their home in about 1924.  Edwin, Randy's dad is the little boy of about 4 years old on his dad's knee.  Edna is sitting in front of them and Annie is sitting to the right.  Violet is standing beside Elsie.

The lack of trees in the background reminds me that when the Boultons first came to Manitoba, there were no trees anywhere around the area.  This was due to prairie fires that would sweep through the dead grass in the spring and burn for miles. In the twenties, small areas of trees were beginning to grow but in the coming decade, they would need to survive the drought years, the Dirty Thirties.

Thomas Edwin Boulton (1875 - 1961)

Thomas Edwin Boulton

Thomas Edwin Boulton was born at New Dublin, Ontario on January 26, 1876.  On the 1891 Canadian census he was living near Elizabethtown in the Brockville district of Ontario.  Thomas was 15 years old and living with his parents Benjamin (age 55), Ann (45), two brothers James (16) and Anthony (10) and two sisters Abigail (13) and Susan (9).  Also in the household is 81 year old widow Ann Boulton, Thomas' maternal grandmother.  Their surname is spelled "Bolton" on this document and throughout the years it switches with and without the "u".

In  March of 1892, when Thomas was 16 years old, the family left Ontario and moved west to a wooden building on SE 10-7-27 W1.  In the summer of 1892, they took up hometead five miles southeast of Reston, Manitoba on SE 24-6-28. 

On the Municipal Assessment Roll for 1893, Benjamin was assessed at $450 for the NE quarter and his son James H. for the NW quarter at the same assessed value.  There is also a column on the form called Statute Labor where the number "2" is filled in along with a $1.00 amount for each quarter. This would likely refer to 2 days of labor on roads or other public areas that was a requirement for the land owners in those days.

Once Thomas was old enough to have his own quarter, more land was aquired and they would have worked together to farm it.    

Thomas Boulton bought the land directly east of them in 1901, the SW quarter of 19-6-27 and in 1906 the NW quarter of the same section.  In 1913, Thomas aquired the SE and SW quarters of the home section 24-6-28. 

On May 4, 1914, Thomas married Elsie Norah Bushby who had immigrated from Sussex, England the year before.    

Local history books say that Thomas served on the Kinloss School Board for several years and that he was a member of the Reston Pool elevators.  Both Thomas and Elsie were members of the St. John's Anglican Church in Reston. The picture above is from the late forties or early fifites with their grandson, Richard Edwin, between them.

 

Thomas and Elsie - this photo was perhaps taken while celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in 1954.

Thomas and Elsie's gravestone in the Reston Cemetery is pictured above.  Notice that Thomas' year of birth is 1875, as it is in some family records. 

His birth record, found online and pictured above, indicates he was born on January 26, 1876 and the birth was registered on February 1, 1876.  He was delivered by a Dr. Moore and the name at the bottom is who filled in the registration.   

Obituary notice from the Reston Recorder

 

James William and Patience Emily Bushby

James William Bushby and Patience Emily Wooler 

Randy's great grandparents on his maternal grandmother's side were the Bushby's from Sussex, England.  This area is on the south sea coast of England on the English Channel.

James William Bushby was born in Goring, Sussex, England on the 15th of June in 1852. In the 1861 English census, he was 8 years old and lived with his father Henry (1819 - 1877) and mother Eleanor nee Moore (1819 - 1903) and 5 siblings.  Henry's occupation is a Railway Inspector. 

On October 12, 1878 at age 26, he married 18 year old Patience Emily Wooler at Hove Church in West Brighton, Sussex.

The census documents of 1881, 1891 and 1901 show the growing family living in the area with James listed as a carpenter.  Their address in 1901 was Priory Cottage on Christchurch Road, Barton on Sea, New Milton, Hampshire.  

On the 29th of December in 1908, 49 year old Patience died and was buried on the St. Mary Magdalene Church grounds in New Milton.

Three years later when the English Census is taken, James is noted to work at being a carpenter and undertaker. Two of his daughters live with hims, 26 year old Elsie as the housekeeper and 14 year old Gertrude as an apprentice dressmaker. It states that they lived in a 4 room house with 2 bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room.

James and these two daughter left Southampton on September 11, 1913. Two sons, Walter and Arthur had previously made the overseas journey and no doubt encouraged their family to join them.  They arrived at Port of Quebec aboard the ship S/S Ausonia on September 21, 1913.

James had daughters remaining in England and his son Walter lived in Westfield, New Jersey where he spent several years in the teens.  He was with Walter and his wife and three young children in Westfield according to the 1920 US Census.  He returned to England in June of 1920. 

After his return, he lived on his own until eyesight trouble forced him to live with his daughter Dorothy.  He died there on August 8, 1931 in the County of Leicester.

My best guesses at the family of James and Patience Bushby:

• Arthur Henry (1879 - 1933) - married Eliza Louisa Wardell - Reston, MB and Dollarton, BC
• Eleanor Frances "Lena" (1881 - 1950) - married Jim Carpenter - Middlesex, England
• Walter Edward (1882 - 1961) - married Ethel Elizabeth May Houre in Pipestone and later Martha Florence Sparkman - Reston and Westfield, New Jersey
• Elsie Norah (1884 - 1968) married Thomas Boulton - Reston
• Myra Elfrida "Queenie" (1887 - 1968) - never married - had a clothing business in Seattle, Washington
• George John (1889 - 1890)
• Dorothy "Dorrie" (1892 - 1967) - married Ewart Pickett - Leicester, England
• Gertrude Mary (1896 - 1929) married Charles McIntyre - Vancouver, La Jolle, California
• Lucilla Maude (1898 - 1898)

Thanks to Aunt Mary's family for sharing some of this family history from her notes.

Elsie Norah Bushby Boulton (1884 - 1968)

Elsie Norah Bushby Boulton

What follows is my version of the biography of Randy's Paternal Grandmother.  I hope that those readers who knew her will fill in with any of the details or stories they remember about her in the Comments below. 

Elsie was born at Eastborne, Sussex, on the south coast of England on August 13, 1884.  She lived with her family in Milton where her father was a carpenter.  Two events that probably helped shape her future happened within two years.  Her two brothers Walter and Arthur along with Arthur's wife Lou and 2 small children made the journey across the Atlantic to Canada in 1906.  Then, Elsie's mother, Patience Emily died in 1908 at the age of 49.

The England 1911 census finds 58 year old James listed as a carpenter and undertaker, 26 year old Elsie as the housekeeper and 14 year old sister Gertrude as an apprentice dressmaker. They lived in a 4 room house with 2 bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room.

Elsie left Southampton on September 11, 1913 with her father James and sister Gertrude. They arrived at Port of Quebec aboard the ship S/S Ausonia on September 21, 1913. From there they made the long trip to Reston, Manitoba- likely by train, where her brother Arthur and his family lived.  Walter had married and left Canada for Westfield, New Jersey a few years before. 





 On May 4, 1914 she married Thomas Edwin Boulton at Reston, Manitoba.  Thomas was a prairie farmer and I can only imagine what a change this must have been for Elsie from her life in seaside England!

Edna Kathleen was their first child, born in 1915.  The twins pictured above, Annie Henrietta and Emily Patience came next.  Violet Lillian was born in 1918 and two years later, Randy's dad Edwin Thomas was born.  John Franklin (Uncle Frank) was next in 1925 and then Mary Lorraine in 1928 and Jean Mabel in 1930.  Thomas and Elsie also raised an adpoted daughter, Faye Darlene. 

This photo of Randy on his Grandma's knee was taken in late 1959.



On the back of the photo above indicates it was taken in 1963 of Elsie and her grandchildren.  It says she is holding Lorie and the back row is Linda, Rickey, Russell, Kenny, Wendy, Carole.  Second row - Ann, Randy, Lyle.  Third row - Bob and Glenn.

In the RM of Albert History book written in 1984, it says that Elsie would can several hundred quarts of fruit each year, mostly saskatoons and rhubarb but also wild strawberries, citron and raisins.  She baked bread three times a week, besides the many pies, cakes and biscuits she made.  Besides the large family, she was also charged with feeding the hired help, up to 12 extra people during harvest.  There was also butter to make, clothes to wash and iron and coal oil lamps to clean and fill.

Elsie and Thomas - August 1958

Elsie spent her later years with her daughter Edna and her family near Virden, MB.  She died in 1968 and is buried in Reston Cemetery.

John and Alice Boulton family 1890

John and Alice Boulton Family

The photo below is the siblings of Randy's Great Grandfather, Benjamin Boulton.  It was found online at a Family Tree Genealogy Website belonging to a great grandson of Susan Henrietta Healey, Harold Johnson of Tennesee.  Harold spells the surname without the "u" so I will do the same since I am using his photo.  The website was created online in 2003 and I was so pleased to find it!

John and Alice Bolton Family about 1890

Front row left to right Jane Bolton (later Rowsome), Caroline Bolton (later Bradley), William John Bolton 
Back row Susan Henrietta Bolton (later Healey), Henry Bolton, Sarah Bolton

These are the six youngest siblings of Benjamin.  He had two other older sisters Margaret and Martha .  Martha died young in 1873 and since Benjamin had gone to Manitoba in 1892 and he wasn't in the photo this helps date the picture.  Their mother Alice died in 1886 but their father John lived to the age of 95, dying in 1902. They are buried in the New Dublin Cemetery in Leeds County, Ontario. 

The same website has the above picture of Susan Bolton Healey's family with this caption:  My Great Grandparents James (b.1843, Westmeath, Ireland) & Susan (b. 1846, Ont., Canada) in the center surrounded by their children, CW, starting in upper left corner; Carrie Ellen (my Grandmother), Martha Effie, Henry Alexander,Alice Jane, Thomas Edward, Francis Benjamin, Susan Henrietta, Frederick Eugene, Ethel Maude,William John, & Margaret Edith

Twelve children - wow!  I can only imagine how many extended members of this family there must be now!



Ann Higginson Boulton (1812 - ?)

'Ann (Nancy?) Higginson Boulton

Ann was the daughter of Anthony Higginson III (1781 - 1873) and Abigail Coutney(1781 - 1871) of Ballinderry, County Antrim, Ireland.  It has been said that her grandfather, Anthony II had purchased a large country estate called Saguanay Bog, where his family lived in grand style.  His wife was Jane Higginson, his second cousin.

Ann's father Anthony III served as a lieutenant in the Royal Dragoons and fought in engagements at Sanfield Bell and Antrim.  After the battle, Anthony III retired to Saguanay Bog but his family income could not maintain the grand lifestyle and the property was lost. 

Anthony III and most of his family emigrated to Canada where he died at the age of 92 years in 1873.  He and his wife Abigail are buried in St. Peter's Anglican Cemetery near South Mountain, Dundas, Ontario.  Their children are listed below:

• Thomas (1801 - 1885)
• William (1815-1892) married Dianna Hoover
• Anthony VI - died at age 23
• Elizabeth (1805 - 1848) married George McKinley
• Ann/Nancy married Thomas Boulton
• Maria (1815 - ?)  married Walter Graham (lived in Belfast, Ireland)
• Jane married William Powell
• Henrietta (1817 - 1905) married John Baldwin - lived in South Mountain, Ont
• Abigail (1826 - 1905) married James Morrison - lived in Matilda, Ontario

Thanks to Keith Sly of Seeleys Bay, Ontario for the above information for this blog post.

Ann was baptised on July 5, 1812 in Aghalee, Antrim, Ireland according to a record on Ancestry.  She married Thomas Boulton in Ontario on March 2, 1832 so the family must have emigrated in the years between.  The couple had 4 children before the 1851 census in Elizabethtown in Leeds County.  In 1861, she is a widow living with her children and her mother Abigail in the same place.  By 1871, her mother has died and her daughter Abigail has moved out but she remains with sons Thomas and Benjamin and daughter Ann Henrietta.  In the 1891 census she is with her daughter Ann and her husband Benjamin and their 5 children.  It is unknown when she died but Ann, Benjamin and their children moved to Manitoba in 1892.   

William Benjamin Boulton (1847 - 1910)

William Benjamin "Ben" Boulton (1847 - 1910)

William Benjamin "Ben" Boulton was the younger brother of Randy's Great Grandmother Ann Henrietta Boulton.  He was born in 1847 when his father Thomas was 73 and his mother, Ann Higginson Boulton, was 36.  The Boulton family lived on the west side of Lamb's Pond near New Dublin in Elizabethtown Township, Leeds County, Ontario. 
On February 9, 1875 Ben Boulton married Margaret "Maggie" Polly Chapman (1853 - 1934) at the home of the bride's stepfather, George Berry.  Ben and Maggie lived on a farm near his family in Elizabethtown.  In about 1896, they followed other family members to Manitoba where  he homesteaded SE 30-5-27 W1, 2 miles straight North of Broomhill.  He also aquired many other quarters in the area and also later farmed 21-6-27 W1 near Reston, Manitoba.  
The backs of the following pictures all say "Boultons" and we presume they are children and spouses of Ben and Maggie.  The black mountings say they were taken at Martel and Sons Studios in Brandon (1900-1904) and the white one is from Steele & Co Winnipeg and Calgary (1902-1908).

Six Children of Maggie and Ben Boulton

• Elizabeth Jane (1875 - 1951) married B.J.Smith and later William Archibald
• William Benjamin (1877 - 1916) married Bessie Nixon
• Thomas Nelson (1880 - 1957) married Annie Archibald
• Edythe May (1883- 1989)
• George Cleveland (1887 - 1977) married Nellie Archibald
• Travers Macdonald (1891 - 1971) married Lauree Allen

On the back of the original photo is written "To Leita, Aunt Maggie Boulton's house in Winnipeg.  Maggie Boulton is Grandma Sly's sister".  The house is at  575 Furby Street.

The information and four last photos in this biography came from Keith Sly from Seeleys Bay, Ontario.

Found on Newspapers.com
Ben's obituary in the Winnipeg Tribune says he came to Manitoba in 1900.  He aquired 1600 acres of land in the Reston area but moved to Winnipeg in 1906 due to poor health.  He had a business there called the Boulton Smith Land Company, presumedly with his son in law, BJ Smith.  The address given in ads for their office is 255 1/2 Portage Avenue as well as 11 Alberta Block.  At the time of his death in 1910, sons Thomas Nelson and Travers Macdonald lived in Tyvan, SK, son George Cleveland was in Reston, daughter Mrs. BJ Smith, son William and daughter Edith Boulton in Winnipeg.