Helping To Picture the Bushbys

Just over 2 years ago, thanks to cousins Ann and Wendy, a wonderful package of Elsie Boulton's letters written from 1913 to 1957 arrived in my lap. They helped me get to know some of the Bushby family so I wrote several blog posts about them in the fall of 2017. Another cousin Linda has recently gone to a huge amount of work to scan  pictures that likely accompanied these letters so many years ago. I imagine that Elsie would have been treasured these pictures as family she would never have the opportunity to see in person. I've linked back to the original blog post and hope others enjoy seeing the faces behind the names as much as I have.  

Reading Frances "Lena" Carpenter's letters to her sister Elsie becomes so much more personal when you see the above picture of Lena and Jim and their daughters Barbara and Kitty. I wonder if it is their wedding picture from 1906 and the girls were born in 1908 and 1910 to help date these moments in time. 

The above group is second youngest sister Dorothy, known as Dorrie and her husband Ewart Pickett. He was a church organist at one time and looks the part in this portrait.  They did not have children but Dorrie looked after their father James William Bushby when he returned to England. Cousin Sharon has this picture of the two of them out in the garden on a sunny day in England.  

 

These nieces of Elsie's are the daughters of her brother Walter and his wife Martha. Dorothy Francis (top two) was born in 1913 in New Jersey and her younger sister Edna Martha (below) in 1915.  Elsie had named her own daughter Edna and ironically, the letters announcing the birth and naming of the cousins crossed in the mail! What are the odds??  

Youngest sister Gertie came to Canada with Elsie in 1913 and I'm sure held a special place in her heart.  She sadly died right after the birth of her daughter June in 1929, who bears a striking resemblance to her in the side by side pictures. 

 

These five photos of June above show that Gertie's widower husband Charlie made sure Elsie saw her niece June in pictures.  

The distinguished portrait of Elsie's father James William above helps me think of him of the talented artist and carpenter he was. His letters to his daughter are full of affection and love. 

Many thanks to Randy's cousins who make this blog possible.  So many stories to tell and I'm glad that retirement gives more time to tell them!  

Sandbox Kids

It was a cool day in 1962 and these 5 Boulton cousins were playing happily in the sandbox at Reston Memorial Park.  Someone’s mother or father said "Hey, look here for a picture!" and that moment in time has lived on for almost 60 years since.

Robbie Milliken, Ann Milliken, Randy Boulton, Lyle Forsyth, Glenn Elliott

Twelve years later in 1974, someone wanted the group to pose together again. 

Robbie, Glenn, Ann, Lyle, Randy

1994 was the Year of the Family and the Boulton reunion that summer saw the Five Musketeers together again.
  

Randy, Lyle, Ann, Robbie, Glenn

The call was made at the  2019 Boulton reunion  for the group to say cheese again. 

Robbie, Ann, Randy, Glenn, Lyle

Whether it’s been a week, a month or a year, these cousins can see each other with a sense of history and connection. Their Boulton genes show in the ready smiles and easy going attitudes to pose for a picture together when someone calls for the Sandbox Kids.  Changing hairstyles and fashions are captured in these moments of time.  Parents, siblings, cousins and now spouses are pleased when the gang is together again. 

Boulton Reunion 2019

 

Just over 105 years after Thomas Boulton and Elsie Bushby were married, their family gathered to reminisce and welcome the newest members. Saturday July 20, 2019 was the day chosen to meet in Pipestone Hall, 25 years since their last gathering during the Year of the Family in 1994. Fifty-three members of three generations gathered to view family pictures and memorabilia and share a potluck meal and visiting. The eldest of the group is closing in on 80 years and the youngest was born a month ago.

Thomas Edwin Boulton was born in 1876 in Leeds, Ontario near Brockville. In 1892, he came west with his parents Benjamin and Ann along with his older brother Herb and his younger brother Anthony as well as 2 sisters, Louisa and Susie. Keen to get set up prairie farming, the family took out homestead on NE 24-6-28 in the Kinloss District, south of Reston.
Elsie Norah Bushby was born in 1884 in Eastbourne, Sussex, England. She followed her brothers to Canada and Reston in 1913 on the ship Ausonia along with her father and sister Gertie.
Elsie and Thomas were married on Monday May 4, 1914 at the home of his sister Susan and Hazen Bigney in Reston and went on to have 8 children.

• Edna Kathleen (later Pearn) 1915-2006
• Emily Patience 1916-1918
• Ann Henrietta 1916-1942
• Violet Lillian (later Sowtis) 1918-2009
• Edwin Benjamin 1920-1988
• John Franklin 1925-2014
• Mary Lorraine (later Milliken) 1928 -2013
• Jean Mabel (later Elliott) 1930-2010

Thomas passed away in 1961 and Elsie in 1968. Fourteen of their  grandchildren gathered for the photo below. 

Back - Ken Milliken, Rick, Russ & Randy Boulton, Robbie Milliken
Middle - Wendy (Milliken) Bulloch, Ann (Milliken) Patmore, Ron, Glenn and Sharon Elliott
Front - Linda Pearn, Carole (Pearn) Sangster, Sharon (Sowtis) Farquharson , Faye (Boulton) Forsyth

As of today, I count 16 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, 30 great great grandchildren and 7 great great great grandchildren. We celebrate our proud heritage and being taught the values of hard work and staying connected to roots. The Boultons are proud to represent Elsie and Thomas in our communities from as far away as Salt Spring Island, BC, to Winnipeg, Brandon, Pipestone, Reston and beyond. 

Bushby History - with Photos!

Last week I opened my email to a wonderful collections of Bushby family pictures.  Drusilla took photos of old cabinet cards her Uncle Jimmy has in Sweden and generously shared them with me.  Thanks heavens to the person who wrote the names on the back and even a few details that a genealogist loves to see! I wonder if that person was “Lena” Eleanor Frances Bushby Carpenter, sister of Randy’s Grandmother Elsie Boulton. Lena was Jimmy’s grandmother  and great grandmother to Drusilla.

Having birth, death, marriage and census records already, the photos have really bought these ancestors alive for me.  It makes me so curious about their everyday lives.  Thanks so much for Drusilla and Jimmy for sharing this family history and hopefully this blog post helps share it even farther.

Henry Bushby is Randy’s 2nd great grandfather. He was born in 1819 in Sussex, West Ferring, England to Francis Bushby and Frances Arlett and christened at Sompting.  He was employed as a consulting engineer for the Midland Railway Company, the back of his portrait says.  

 

On March 27, 1842 Henry married Eleanor Moore at old church St Pancras Parish Chapel. Eleanor was born 1819 in Ferring, Sussex, England and she died in January of 1903 at 84 years old in Camberwell.

The photo below seems to be labeled Aunt Moore, who could be Eleanor’s sister born 1825 or perhaps her other sister Harriet born 1823.

Henry Bushby and Eleanor Moore had 3 sons including J. W., Arthur Frank, 1856-1919 and Henry 1844- along with three daughters Elizabeth 1843-1918, Frances Ann Buckman 1847-1906 and Harriet Ellen “Nell” Willoughby 1850- whose husband George is in this dashing photo.

The mother of Lena Carpenter was Patience Emily Wooler and her mother was unwed Ann Wooler.  I believe that Ann’s parents Edward 1805-1887 and Sarah 1814-1888 raised Patience as she can be found in their household on the census of 1860 and 1870. The photo to the left is identified as them.  Edward lived at Plackett Cottage in 1881 in Hailsham,  Arlington listed as a 76 year old labourer and his wife Sarah as a launderess.

Louie Wooler is the name on the back of this one and the photographer is G. Glanville at Tunbridge Wells. I am guessing this is a sister to Ann and an aunt of Patience.  The mother of Sarah was Lucy Vine so she was likely named for her grandmother.  Continued research will need to be done for her.    

Mother and Dorothy must refer to Patience and her daughter who was called Dorrie and was born in 1892. 

This photo was not labelled but it looks like another I have seen of James William Bushby and his calling card would likely be from around 1880.

Finally this unique portrait taken at Worthington.  What do you think it says - Aunt Monk Petersfield Hants...

What wonderful moments in history were captured and my thanks again for sharing them with me.