Was Your Ancestor in Debtors’ Prison?

This is a database I stumbled on for Yorkshire England. It is the website for York Castle which housed a debtor's prison. There is a brief history of the prison, the environment of the prison, a few prisoner biographies, and a few turnkey (guard) biographies.

By going to York Castle Family History Section you can search for an ancestor who was in the prison, either for debt or for criminal actions. Not all prisoners are listed as the database currently has prisoners from the 18th Century. I'm looking for William Elgie who I know was there in 1818 so am out of luck this time but it's a fascinating database with over 5000 names!

There is a very nice factsheet for tips on how to track down any missing prisoners and I am planning to use it find more on William if possible. I was able to find that York Castle Museum holds miscellaneous records from York Castle prison, including "Notebook with notes on various prisoners in York Castle, extracted from 1803-1868". 

Speaking of prisons, have you checked out my son’s website, Blacksheep Ancestors? He is in Famiky Tree Magazine’s 101 Top Genealogy Websites for 2021

Y is For Yorkshire Ancestors

Olive Tree Genealogy is continuing a new Alphabet Genealogy series of blog posts. I'm not following the usual way of going A-Z surnames. Instead I will create a one word "tag". Then I will share an ancestor (mine, my husband's, an inlaw's or one of my children's) who fits the tag

Today's letter is Y for Yorkshire

My youngest son has Yorkshire ancestors through his father's Schulze lineage. I don't have any that I know of (yet).

Georg Heinrich (Henry) Christian Schulze was born (out of wedlock) in the City of Hannover on 18 December 1840 and baptized at Market Church on 4 April 1841. His mother was listed as Sophie Wilhelmine Reinecke, of Hannover, and as the father of the child the mother indicated Heinrich Christian Schulze, of Goslar, who was a foreman in a cutting-factory at that time. Among the godparents of the child were Georg Christian and Georg Heinrich Reinecke (who were brothers of the child's mother.


Henry Schulze emigrated to Yorkshire England circa 1868. We do not know if he was married when he arrived, or married later in England, but no marriage has been found in England. His wife's name was Marie (Mary) Catharina Friederke Gercken and she had been issued travel documents in 1867 as a single woman. Her immigration record has not been found.

For more details on the Schulze family in England, and the Schulze lineage in Germany, please see my book The Schulze Family of Germany & Yorkshire England


The Schulze Family of Germany & Yorkshire England
 
 Georg Heinrich Christian (Henry) Schulze, a skilled cabinet maker, left Germany for Yorkshire England between 1867 and 1868. He and his wife Marie Catharina Friederke (Mary) Gercken settled in Bradford where their ten children were born.

Reform School Records are Genealogy Gold

John Wormald born 1880 in Yorkshire England, was sent to Calder Farm Reform School in 1892 at the age of 11. He was not discharge until 1897 at the age of 17.

Here are his records

Source: West Yorkshire, England, Reformatory School Records, 1856-1914 on Ancestry.com

Notes in his record state he spent 5 days in the House of Corrections and 5 years in Reform School for stealing a purse from his uncle's house.  His parents, George and Annie Wormald, my son's great-grandparents, had administered several previous punishments for his misbehaviour. The record shows 2 previous thefts and punishments of a birch rod whipping for each:

John was said to not be a vagrant but he was from a large family and had friends who his parents thought led him astray. In some desperation they sent him to live with an uncle but as you see below, that was not helpful.

 

 While I feel sad for John and his family, the wonderful thing about this set of records is not only the photo of John and details but at the very bottom of the record is a list of several relatives - an aunt, three uncles and his grandfather. This is genealogy gold. 

I've tried over the years to find out what happened to little John after he was discharged but with no luck.

Victorian Reform School & Prison Records Online

John Wormald age 11
Reform School 1892

Ancestry.com has recently published some fascinating reformatory school and prison records from West Yorkshire. The West Yorkshire Collection 1779-1914 details the crimes of thousands of boys admitted to Calder Farm Reformatory, East Moor Community Home School and The Shadwell Children’s Centre.
 
The records are available using these links:  

• West Yorkshire England Reformatory School Records 1856-1914
• West Yorkshire, England, Prison Records, 1801-1914
• West Yorkshire, England, Police Records, 1833-1914
• West Yorkshire, England, Militia, 1779-1826

I spent a very enjoyable afternoon searching these records for my son's Yorkshire ancestors on his father's side.  They are full of details! For example I found the Reform School Record for the 11 year brother of his great-grandmother Kate Wormald. Little John Wormald was sent to Calder Farm Reform School in 1892 after a series of thefts. His records included his photo and details of his misdeeds and the punishment meted out by his parents (6 lashes of a birch rod each time he stole something). Young John was noted as having red hair, blue eyes and freckles.

The records indicate that John was hanging with a bad crowd and so in desperation his parents sent him to live with an uncle. John then stole a substantial sum of money from his uncle's coat pocket and ran off with one of his friends. It was then he was arrested and sent to Reform School for 5 years.

What I also found fascinating was that the Reform School records also had followups of the children after they were discharged. I noted that several of the boys went into the Army after discharge and appeared to have changed their lives. Young John Wormald went into the Army and there are notes for several years about his life after discharge. It seems that England was at that time trending towards actual reform and not punishment of young offenders.

Was Your Ancestor in Debtor's Prison?

Here is another database I stumbled on for Yorkshire England. It is the website for York Castle which housed a debtor's prison. There is a brief history of the prison, the environment of the prison, a few prisoner biographies, and a few turnkey (guard) biographies.

By going to York Castle Family History Section you can search for an ancestor who was in the prison, either for debt or for criminal actions. Not all prisoners are listed as the database currently has prisoners from the 18th Century. I'm looking for William Elgie who I know was there in 1818 so am out of luck this time but it's a fascinating database with over 5000 names!

There is a very nice factsheet for tips on how to track down any missing prisoners and I am planning to use it find more on William if possible. I was able to find that York Castle Museum holds miscellaneous records from York Castle prison, including "Notebook with notes on various prisoners in York Castle, extracted from 1803-1868".  Next step is to write to them and ask how/if I can access these records.

Finding a Yorkshire England Ancestor

Recently I discovered a goldmine of information my husband's Yorkshire Elgie ancestors. His Elgie ancestors lived in North Yorkshire, and while researching that area I discovered the North Yorkshire archives website.

A search of the North Yorkshire County Record Office online catalogue using their "Quick Catalogue Search" box resulted in 32 "hits" for the surname Elgie.

Clicking on each one in turn brings up more details, including reference numbers which are needed to order copies of the full document.

Not being able to find an online form or method of ordering documents online I wrote to the
the North Yorkshire Archives (Archives@northyorks.gov.uk) with this email:

Hello

I have found several records for my ELGIE family that I would like to order from your online index of your catalogue.

I was not able to find how to submit my request for copies. I am happy to have digital copies sent by email but I can accept them in any format you use.

There are 5 items - here is one example:

1818 papers for the opinion of the Justices relating to the petitions of John White and William Elgie insolvent debtors [2 items] [North Riding of Yorkshire Quarter Sessions. Easter Quarter Sessions. Document QSB 1818 2/14]

Can I send you a list of document numbers by email to order copies?

Thank you for any help you can offer me.

It didn't take long before I received an email from the North Yorkshire County Record Office with the following information:

If you would like to order copies, payment can be made by cheque payable to North Yorkshire County Council and sent to us at The County Record Office, Malpas Road, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL7 8TB. We can also accept payment by credit or debit card (except American Express), but we advise that you let us know card details by post or telephone, as we cannot guarantee the security of information sent electronically.  Our telephone number is 01609 777585.

Next I mailed (old school postal) my request along with my credit card information and within a few weeks I had copies of five documents ranging from 1797 to 1822 for the Elgie ancestor of interest. The cost for those five documents was $20.00 Canadian. How amazing is that! And from the documents I learned, among other things, that my husband's 5th great-grandfather William Elgie was in debtor's prison in York when he requested a pardon so he could leave prison and repay his debts.

If you have North Yorkshire ancestors you should give this site a good look.

George Wormald, Miner in the Aldwarke Main Colliery in Yorkshire

Sheffield Independent - Wednesday 12 June 1895

George Wormald had no idea when he went to work on June 10, 1895 that would be his last day on earth. George was 38 years old, a miner in the Aldwarke Main Colliery in Yorkshire, and the father of eight children ages 2 to 15.

Early that morning, George kissed his wife and children goodbye and headed off for what he thought would be just another day working with coal.

Having worked in the mines for 19 years, George was well aware of the dangers and knew how to keep himself safe. Early that morning George placed his lunch and his extra clothing in his usual spot, then realized he needed a piece of chalk to mark his tubs. It was 9 a.m. when George approached a workmate, William Banks to ask if he had any extra. 


Without warning a roof above them collapsed and almost 5 tons of coal fell on the men. George was able to crawl out far enough to get his head out from under the rocks and the other workers were able to dig both men out within a few minutes.

William suffered a broken leg but George died a few minutes after being rushed to the local doctor, crushed by the weight of the coal.

 George was my son's 2nd great-grandfather.

 

Kate Wormald, daughter of George and my son's great-grandmother. She was 11 years old when her father was killed. 

Jacob Dewhirst, Weaver of Heptonstall Yorkshire

Jacob Dewhirst (ca 1790-1881) was my son's 4th great-grandfather.

Jacob lived in Heptonstall Yorkshire and in 1816 he married Sally Sutcliffe. Both were of the parish of Wadsworth and Jacob was recorded as being a weaver. Neither could read or write.

 Not much is known of Jacob but he is listed as a weaver living at Smallshaw, Wadsworth at the 1818 baptism of his son William, a weaver living in Ebenezer, Wadsworth in 1821 at baptism of his daughter MaryAnn, a weaver at the 1840 marriage of his daughter MaryAnn and a woolworker at the 1844 marriage of his daughter Sarah

Family legend has it that the family is related to the Dewhurst Cotton family. Prior to joining The English Sewing Cotton Co., Ltd, in 1897 Dewhurst Cotton was known as Messers John Dewhurst & Sons, Limited.

I found it interesting that his son Jacob Jr. (my son's 3rd great-grandfather) started life as a wool-comber but ended up as a "beer seller". His death notice in a Halifax Yorkshire newspaper dated December 27, 1877 calls him a beer house keeper at Hope Inn.

The Dewhurst/Dewhirst family fascinates me and I'm hoping to learn more about them and about Yorkshire weavers in particular. And now I want to know more about Hope Inn!

Bert's WW1 Letter to Ada, January 1, 1915

Please see yesterday's blog post and photo from Ada Harland's Diary . Ada's daily entries are repetitious and brief and difficult to follow as she uses abbreviations and letters (almost like a code) probably due to space limitations. Included with the diary and photo was this letter from the man who eventually became Ada's husband.

F. Coy
1st B.C. Regiment
York Hill
Salisbury Plain
Jan. 1, 1915

Another day has passed into the limbo of forgotten things, likewise the record of an eventful year is closed. Today your letter arrived, a letter which means so much and yet is all to [sic] brief. Would you think me rude if I condense this letter somewhat.

Last night was New Year's Eve, and the boys celebrated by getting uproariously drunk, and made it an all night session. Only Rowe and myself refrained from participating in the festivities, and consequently were dubbed "Sissies".

Billie Brierton [see FN 1] early succumbed to the potent libations and by 10:30 I had him into bed where he remained entirely oblivious to the racket until this morning. To sleep was out of the question, so Rowe who is laid up with a poisoned knee, and myself had a long talk, and with the exception of a trifling disturbance the night passed uneventfully.

This morning the effects of the night's debauch were all to [sic] plain to see. E. Coy. [Company] cook staggered into the Cook House and asked me to get breakfast ready for his men as well as my own. All day I have done double duty cooking for 250 men practically without assistance, and to tell the truth I am just about ready for a good night's rest.

Your letter makes me realize what a selfish brute I really am, here I have been writing page after page about my own disappointment at leaving you, yet never have intimated in any way, or even allowed for the possibility that you thought so well of me.

What I have done to deserve such a love as yours I do not know, nor cannot conceive, to know that you love me is enough, and I will do everything I can and so conduct my life as to make myself worthy of this great love of yours.
There is no danger whatever of my assaulting your friend the Orderly Corporal although my fingers itch to get a hold on him. You see it is a serious offence to strike an N.C.O. [Non Commissioned Officer] and means a long term of detention.

Yes, the handkerchief bears your initial and I shall carry it with me through the days to come, as Knights of old carried the gage of their lady love.
Now dear heart I must write, goodnight and take you in my arms for that long lingering breathless kiss you wish and hold you close to my heart for the rest of time.

With all my love, from
Your own
Bert xxxxx

PS The Princess Pats have been in action and lost heavily. We expect to go within the next two weeks, and go to the firing line direct

LAK Bert x

FN1:

Sadly Billie Brierton (whose name was William) did not survive the war. His death is found in the CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Forces) War Graves. He was killed in action in France on 24 Apr 1915 and his body never recovered.

Billie's Attestation papers are online. He was 25 years old when he enlisted in 1914 and was sent to the same regiment as Bert. 

Ada Harland's WW1 Diary from Yorkshire England to Canada



Dec. 21, 1904
Ada as Helena
in
"A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Several years ago I purchased a tiny diary kept throughout 1914 during WW1 by Ada Harland. Ada lived in Falsgrave, Scarborough, Yorkshire England and wrote in her little book almost daily. The 3x2 inch book is difficult to read as Ada was a prolific writer and crammed as much as she could on to each page.

Along with the diary was a photo of Ada and a letter dated Dec. 31, 1914 from "Bertie" in Salisbury Plain England. Bertie was with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). Ada and Bertie eventually married.

I did some genealogy sleuthing and found that Bertie was born Herbert Ashby in Scarborough Yorkshire England to parents John & Elizabeth. At some point Bert left England for Canada because in September 1914 he enlisted in the Canadian Army to fight in WW1.

Bertie and Ada were married in Yorkshire England in the first quarter of 1919 and in the fall of that same year Ada sailed to Canada on the ship Scandanavian to join her husband in Vancouver B.C.



One son Henry was born to the couple around 1920. In 1935 Henry and Ada can be found on Ships Passenger lists sailing to England in June and returning to Canada in August. Ada noted that she was going to Falsgrave Road in Scarborough so presumably they were visiting family and friends.

Bert died in British Columbia in 1960 at age 70 and Ada died in 1977 at age 87.

Here is Ada's first entry in her diary (Jan. 1, 1914)  Much of the writing is very difficult to read.

Jan. 1, 1914. Thursday.
At Ms. Vollums to supper. Walk with J.T. to Scarboro. Good---- [bye?] at 4.30 a.m. Bed. Up at mid-day

Jan. 2, 1914. Friday
Business writing. Writing all day until 8:30. To [crossed out] Dance. Had everyone. Supper with Ms. Foster. The 'stave' Last Waltz

No. 10 of My Top 10 Genealogy Mysteries: Georg Heinrich (Henry) Christian Schulze

A Facebook friend recently posted her top 10 Genealogy Mysteries.  They aren't brick walls because there is probably an answer somewhere, just waiting to be found. I thought this was a great idea and I am following suit with my Top 10 Genealogy Mysteries. 

Of course any help or suggestions for further research are welcome. You can read my other Genealogy Mysteries at Top 10 Genealogy Mysteries 

Here is my Number 10 of 10 Genealogy Mysteries: Georg Heinrich (Henry) Christian Schulze and his wife Marie (Mary) Catharina Friederke Gercken. 

THE KNOWN FACTS 

18 Dec. 1840 Henry Schulze  was born.(Source Church record) He was christened  04 Apr 1841 in Hannover, Hannover, Preußen, Germany
Birth Date:     18 Dec 1840   
Father's Name:     Heinrich Christian Schulze
Mother's Name:     Sophie Wilhelmine Reinecke  

20 Dec 1846: Marie (Mary) Catharina Friederke Gercken was born in Kiel Germany (Source Family Bible)  

15 March 1867: Maria Gercken was issued a travel pass good for one year to sail to England from Hamburg Germany (Source: Travel Pass in family documents)
 
24 Feb 1869 he and his wife were in Myton, Hull, Yorkshire, England baptising their first child Mary Minnie Schulze. (Source Birth record and family bible)

THE MYSTERY

*** When did Maria leave Germany for England? Where is she on a passenger list? When did Henry leave for England? Where is he on a passenger list? Was she married when she left or did she  and Henry Schulze marry in England? ***

The pass was only good for one year so Maria must have left Germany between 15 March 1867 and 15 March 1868 UNLESS she married and then applied for a new pass. However, since she kept this pass in her possession, it seems she would have thrown it out and kept any updated pass in her important papers.

No marriage record has been found in England for the couple. We know they married between March 15, 1867 when Maria was a single woman applying for her pass, and 1868 or 1869 when their daughter Minnie was born.  

Their death records provide no useful information as to their immigration from Germany to England.The family bible, owned by a descendant, holds no useful information. 

I welcome any help or suggestions for finding anything about this family before their time in England. 

One Genealogist-Historian Making a Difference

Sara Lauzon started researching inmates at the Cornwall House of Refuge when she was 16 years old. She discovered many were buried in unmarked graves and became determined to rectify that. 

At present she has researched 220 of the 906 inmates to try to find out where they are buried. She hopes to raise enough money to have a memorial erected with the names of those inmates whose burial locations she discovers.

At the same time she lobbied to have a photograph and plaque placed in the Cornwall Courthouse in honour of Judge O’Reilly, who died on the job in the courthouse in 1929  after serving for 29 years. When Sara started her lobby there was nothing to indicate he had ever worked there. It took 5 years but when she was 21 people started taking her more seriously and her voice was finally heard. There is now a photo of the judge on the Courthouse walls.

Read more and listen to Sara's podcast at Canada's History

If you think your ancestor may have been in a Poorhouse (House of Refuge, Almshouse, Workhouse) you can consult the following databases on Olive Tree Genealogy

* Almshouse children (orphans) sent to New Netherland (New York) from Amsterdam Holland on the ship De Waegh (The Weigh-House), August 1655

* New York Almshouse Records 1782-1813. Records contain name of ancestor, date admitted, age, where from or born, complaint [illness], discharged, died, remarks.

* New York Almshouse Records  1819-1840

* New York City Almshouse Records  1855-1858

* Society for Relief of Half-Orphans & Destitute Children 1900, Manhattan New York

* Milwaukee County Almshouse & Poor Farm Cemeteries Wisconsin List of Burials 1872-1892; 1914-1974

* Leeds Moral & Industrial Training School, Yorkshire, England 1881

* Child Apprentices (Orphans & Impoverished Children) in America from Christ's Hospital, London 1617-1778

* Register of patients transported to the State Insane Asylum, 1882-1917 Orleans Parish (Louisiana) Civil Sheriff

* Almshouse Cemetery Plot, Potter's Field in Yaphank, Suffolk County, New York 1871-1876

* Cemetery Records of the Suffolk County Almshouse, Yaphank, New York, 1871-1953

Ada Harland's Diary: Death of Ada and husband Bert Ashby

In 2011 Olive Tree Genealogy began transcribing a diary kept  in 1914 by English woman Ada Harland. It is a small diary with a photo of Ada that I purchased years ago. The first post was called Ada Harland's Diary 1914 England 

Recently Ada's death certificate, and the death certificate of her husband Herbert (Bert) Ashby (who she talks about in the diary) became available online. I have added them here to complete the story of Ada and Bert.

Bertie was with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI)and during WW1 was stationed in England.

Bertie and Ada were married in Yorkshire England in the first quarter of 1919 and in the fall of that same year Ada sailed to Canada on the ship Scandanavian to join her husband in Vancouver B.C.

Bertie died in Vancouver in November 1960 and his widow Ada died in Vancouver March 1977.

Bert's WW1 Letter to Ada, Jan. 1, 1915

 Please see the first entry and photo from Ada Harland's Diary which I began transcribing a year ago. Ada's daily entries are repetitious and brief and difficult to follow as she uses abbreviations and letters (almost like a code) probably due to space limitations. Included with the diary and photo was this letter from the man who eventually became Ada's husband.

F. Coy
1st B.C. Regiment
York Hill
Salisbury Plain


Jan. 1, 1915


Another day has passed into the limbo of forgotten things, likewise the record of an eventful year is closed. Today your letter arrived, a letter which means so much and yet is all to [sic] brief. Would you think me rude if I condense this letter somewhat.


Last night was New Year's Eve, and the boys celebrated by getting uproariously drunk, and made it an all night session. Only Rowe and myself refrained from participating in the festivities, and consequently were dubbed "Sissies".


Billie Brierton [see FN 1] early succumbed to the potent libations and by 10:30 I had him into bed where he remained entirely oblivious to the racket until this morning. To sleep was out of the question, so Rowe who is laid up with a poisoned knee, and myself had a long talk, and with the exception of a trifling disturbance the night passed uneventfully.


This morning the effects of the night's debauch were all to [sic] plain to see. E. Coy. [Company] cook staggered into the Cook House and asked me to get breakfast ready for his men as well as my own. All day I have done double duty cooking for 250 men practically without assistance, and to tell the truth I am just about ready for a good night's rest.


Your letter makes me realize what a selfish brute I really am, here I have been writing page after page about my own disappointment at leaving you, yet never have intimated in any way, or even allowed for the possibility that you thought so well of me.


What I have done to deserve such a love as yours I do not know, nor cannot conceive, to know that you love me is enough, and I will do everything I can and so conduct my life as to make myself worthy of this great love of yours.


There is no danger whatever of my assaulting your friend the Orderly Corporal although my fingers itch to get a hold on him. You see it is a serious offence to strike an N.C.O. [Non Commissioned Officer] and means a long term of detention.


Yes, the handkerchief bears your initial and I sahll carry it with me through the days to come, as Knights of old carried the gage of their lady love.


Now dear heart I must write, goodnight and take you in my arms for that long lingering breathless kiss you wish and hold you colse to my heart for the rest of time.


With all my love, from
Your own
Bert xxxxx


PS The Princess Pats have been in action and lost heavily. We expect to go within the next two weeks, and go to the firing line direct


LAK Bert x

FN1:

Sadly Billie Brierton (whose name was William) did not survive the war. His death is found in the CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Forces) War Graves. He was killed in action in France on 24 Apr 1915 and his body never recovered.

Billie's Attestation papers are online. He was 25 years old when he enlisted in 1914 and was sent to the same regiment as Bert. 

Ada Harland's Diary England: Feb 3, 1914

Feb. 3, 1914. Tuesday

Evening. Club. (Dance after school) Club slow. Very. Letter from B [could this be the first mention of Bertie in Ada's Diary?] Harder luck

Ada Harland's Diary England 1914: Bert's Obituary

This obituary for Ada's Bertie was published in Driftwood on Nov. 17, 1960.

Ada Harland's Diary England 1914: Jan. 3

Jan. 3, 1914. Saturday

In bed until 1 o'clock. Wrote in aft. Evening party. V.C. drove us. Had M. R., S.U and Miss R. to supper

Note: I must correct my earlier post where I said that Ada's husband-to-be Bertie was in the PPCLI. I misread his letter to Ada. He was actually a cook in F. Company of the 1st B.C. Regiment. In his letter to Ada he talks about the Princess Patricia's Regiment suffering heavy losses.

I thought readers might be interested in this notice I found which Ada placed in a newsletter called Driftwood on Nov. 24, 1960.

Driftwood was published on Salt Spring Island, B.C. The postal address for the editor was Ganges.

Ada Harland's Diary 1914 England



Dec. 21, 1904
Ada as Helena
in
"A Midsummer Night's Dream"

 Several years ago I purchased a tiny diary kept throughout 1914 during WW1 by Ada Harland. Ada lived in Falsgrave, Scarborough, Yorkshire England and wrote in her little book almost daily. The 3x2 inch book is difficult to read as Ada was a prolific writer and crammed as much as she could on to each page.

Along with the diary was a photo of Ada and a letter dated Dec. 31, 1914 from "Bertie" in Salisbury Plain England. Bertie was with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) which co-incidentally was the same unit my youngest son was with as an infantry soldier for several years. Ada and Bertie eventually married and I thought it would be interesting to post her diary, and Bertie's letter here on my blog.

I did some genealogy sleuthing and found that Bertie was born Herbert Ashby in Scarborough Yorkshire England to parents John & Elizabeth. At some point Bert left England for Canada because in September 1914 he enlisted in the Canadian Army to fight in WW1.

Bertie and Ada were married in Yorkshire England in the first quarter of 1919 and in the fall of that same year Ada sailed to Canada on the ship Scandanavian to join her husband in Vancouver B.C.

One son Henry was born to the couple around 1920. In 1935 Henry and Ada can be found on Ships Passenger lists sailing to England in June and returning to Canada in August. Ada noted that she was going to Falsgrave Road in Scarborough so presumably they were visiting family and friends.

Bert died in British Columbia in 1960 at age 70 and Ada died in 1977 at age 87. At least we know the diary has a happy ending but I hope you read along as I go through it to see what happened to Ada in 1914 when WW1 had just begun.

I'm going to start with Ada's first entry in her diary (Jan. 1, 1914) and continue as best I can each day. Much of the writing is very difficult to read.

Jan. 1, 1914. Thursday.

At Ms. Vollums to supper. Walk with J.T. to Scarboro. Good---- [bye?] at 4.30 a.m. Bed. Up at mid-day

Jan. 2, 1914. Friday

Business writing. Writing all day until 8:30. To [crossed out] Dance. Had everyone. Supper with Ms. Foster. The 'stave' Last Waltz