Tom Heap 1896-1980

[Gerry]

Hello

My great  uncle, Tom Heap. was born in Baxenden, Lancashire, England  in 1896.   He emigrated to Canada after WW2 and died there in 1980.   He made periodic visits to his home town and I can recall meeting him in the 1970s.   I don't know where he lived in Canada and I wonder if anyone can give me any information on him?

Gerry

[mpb]

Can you tell me more about Tom Heap in the UK? I have recently started researching a Heap family in Lancashire. I have Harry Heap of Haslingden Lancs. His son was also Tom Heap born 1903 in Rossendale Lancs. Our family remained in England
Margaret
 

[Gerry]

Hi Margaret

Many thanks for contacting me.   Tom Heap (1896-1980) was the son of William Henry Heap and Mary Ellen Heap (nee Slinger) and was born in Baxenden, Nr. Accrington, Lancashire. Both his parents were from  Baxenden and there appears to be  no connection with Haslingden, a town some 4 miles from Baxenden.  By coincidence Tom had a brother called Harry and  my records show he was born in 1891 and died aged 2.    Tom Heap went to live in Canada and only last week I picked up that in the 1970s he was living in Carbonate Street, Nelson, British Columbia.  Apparently he used 'Nelson' to his advantage on one of his last visits  to his roots in Lancashire.   While staying with my aunt he visited  a  dentist and optician, obtaining a set of dentures and new glasses on the National  Health at the taxpayer's expense by using 'Nelson'  (a local town) as his address.   The facts are true but how he explained it away I don't know.   My interest in Tom Heap, my great  uncle,  is family history and what did he do in Canada?   As far as I know he did not marry - that's not to say he lived in batchelor life!    I put the posting on this site just in case it strikes a cord with someone.   Sorry I cannot help with the Haslingden collection but good luck with your research.

Gerry

[mpb]

Gerry,  thanks for your reply
Have you visited the BC Archives at
http://search.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/sn-5E2D2F1/gbsearch/Births,Marriages,Deaths

I found the following when asking for Tom Heap. If you just put in Heap and search each index you will get a number of hits some in Nelson.

Tom Heap    Place   Prince George    Reg. Number:
1982-09-004299 
 
Date: 1982 3 11 (Yr/Mo/Day)    Age:85    Event: Death
Microfilm #: B13618   (GSU # 2051675)

Happy Hunting

[Gerry]

Hi Margaret

I was not aware of the BC website and  thanks for drawing this to my attention.   I believe the Tom Heap shown, aged 85,  is  my great uncle.    On his infrequent visits back home he talked very little about his life in Canada, at the time it was his business and did not matter  but  when researching family history  you want to know what your relations did in the past and now its too late!   What  did he do in  Canada, who did he live with, did he marry, did he have a family?   I don't know and probably never will.   Anyway, many thanks Margaret for finding the record  of his death which has been duly recorded.

Gerry

[Carmela]

Hi Gerry,
Don't give up so easily on finding out more about your uncle.
Nelson has a community website with a bulletin board. Why not try posting there, asking if anyone knew him or if there are any descendants. I was going to suggest the local newspaper, but the website might be a better idea.
        http://www.nelsonpc.com/bb/
 
Good luck

[Gerry]

Hi Carmella

Many thanks for the website address and I will certainly try the bulletin board.


Gerry

[ajjbc]

Gerry,on the BC Archives website where your uncles death is noted,you can order a digital copy of his original death cert.On there it will tell you who gave the info of the person,it could be a clue if he was married and her name.
Well worth the $20.00 Canadian.
I do a lot of research in Nelson BC and will remember to keep my eyes open for his name.
Nelson at the turn of the century was a mining center,my own great grandparents arrived from Scot in 1904 and settled there.
Good luck!

[samthompson]

Hello

the BC Vital Statistics information is available for only the cost of photocopying - the problem is when you can not do it yourself so here are some suggestions

join this mailing list and post a request for someone to look it up for you when they are at the Archives. In your email put any information you have or are looking for - there are many people on this list who are great at digging up information.
http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/CAN/CAN-BRITISH-COLUMBIA.html

try this site and find a volunteer to do a public records look up for your death registeration.
http://raogk.com/bcolumbia.htm
If you do use this site you MUST make sure you make ONLY ONE request every two weeks - the admin monitor the requests to make sure no abuses the volunteers. If you make more than one you will likely receive NO HELP.

you could try to email the Public library in Prince George to see if they could find an obit for you in the newspaper archives
here are some emails for them
For further Local History information please contact Joan Jarman at jjarman@lib.pg.bc.ca or Jeff Kozoris at jkozoris@lib.pg.bc.ca .


I grew up in Southern Alberta and knew an oldtimer named Tommy Heap when I was young - he had come to Canada with T.D. Jenkinson and had been a jockey in England. I have no idea when or where he was born though.
here is a link to a mention of the Tommy Heap I knew - he is mentioned at he bottom of the page
http://www.ourfutureourpast.ca/loc_hist/lh_page.asp?Goto=lhaa0006

Good Luck

Sam