red deer alberta births 1914

[misty13]

i am researching the thirza england family who lived in red deer in 1911 and 1916.  children of thirza were born in australia.  in particular, i am looking for any info on frank herbert england, son of thirza, who died in 1916 in WW1.  frank herbert fathered a son, born 24 may, 1914, in either red deer or calgary.  the son's name was alexander percival (last name unknown as we do not know the birth mother's name.  alexander was adopted by the arthur cook family in red deer and show up on the 1916 census as alexander p cook.  how would i go about finding the name of the birth mother?  would alberta vital stats be able to find the birth based on the date?  alexander passed away in 1979 in victoria and his children would love to find his biological family.  any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks in advance.

gwen 

[cosmac]

http://www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/vitalstatistics.cfm
Link to Alberta Vital Statistics which explains who is entitled to records

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abwcobit/index.htm
This links you to papers of the area.  There is an entry in the Red Deer paper for the reported disappearance of Frank in 1916.

If Alexander was born out of wedlock I doubt you would find any birth announcement in newspapers.  There is an online family tree for this family - have you any information/stories from the siblings of Frank about the mother of Alexander.

I looked at Arthur Allan Cook and his wife Elizabeth Pearl (nee Robbins) thinking that they might have adopted Alexander if their daughter had been the mother.  This couple married at Hillier, Prince Edward County, Ontario Dec 31, 1890 and are resident in Hillier in 1891 and on the 1901 census with no children.  In 1911 they are in Brandon, Manitoba with numerous lodgers and Arthur's father (Ira) living with them.  It appears they had no children and on the 1916 census they are in Red Deer and it shows that Arthur is a member of the 89th Battalion. 

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=379662
Do you have Frank's military record?  I don't know if there would be any mention of his child in them - beneficiary??  Not sure what is actually in one of these records.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/passenger/001045-100.01-e.php
If you don't have their arrival in Canada you can search here.  The family, minus father Arthur Joseph, sailed from Liverpool to Quebec arriving July 20, 1906 on the Canada.  They were going to husband/father in Saskatoon.

Debbie

[cosmac]

There is a record of Alexander P. Cook b. May 24, 1914, Calgary Alberta, normally resident at 836 Butte St. Vancouver, father Arthur A. Cook, Victoria crossing into the US at Laurier, Washington on April 14, 1943.  He is accompanied by Bernice Lenman and his destination is Dodsland, Saskatchewan

Debbie

[KarenM]

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=379662
Do you have Frank's military record?  I don't know if there would be any mention of his child in them - beneficiary??  Not sure what is actually in one of these records.

These files can have a goldmine of information in them.  Since Frank died in the War his Will should/would be in the file as well.  In the back of the soldiers pay book, they had to write out a Last Will and Testament in the event of death.

Karen

[cosmac]

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=113701
Arthur Cook's attestation papers

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=379642
Arthur England's attestation papers.  According to the Red Deer paper he opened up a painting and paper hanging business with Harold Haster after he returned from WWI.  Daughter born in Parkvale, Red Deer in 1921.


http://www.rootschat.com/links/06v1/
An interesting article from the Red Deer paper.  Is it possible that Frank was not Alexander's father but his sister May's child?

Debbie

[cosmac]

http://www.rdgensoc.ab.ca/queries.htm
Perhaps the Red Deer chapter of the Alberta Genealogical Society could help.

Debbie

[misty13]

thank you, debbie, for all that info.  i agree with you that the daughter, may england, could possibly be the biological birth mom for alexander percival in may, 1914.  that sure fits the time frame for may's "abduction" and subsequent birth.  is there any further info available on this ross piper?  i think we are on the right track.  thanks so much for your help.  hope to hear back

gwen

[cosmac]

http://www.rootschat.com/links/06v0/
Red Deer newspaper reference to Ross Piper or Lynn Ross Piper - it shows the start of his trial but nothing further.  You would probably have to flip through the years rather than use the search feature to try and find the end to the story.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/index-e.html
Follow this link and type in Lynn Ross Piper to get to his Attestation papers for WWI

In 1916 the census for his family on Victoria Avenue in Red Deer showed
Lynn Ross Piper(24) 12th CMR France. 
Harriet Lydia Piper(20) and Elvin(3), Verna(6 mos).  All born Alberta except Lynn Ross (born Ont) and all Salvation Army religion.

Date of death for Lynn Ross Piper @ 76 Jan 21, 1968 Prince George, BC and death for a Lydia Piper @ 72 May 13, 1975 at Sechelt, BC

Online family tree shows Lynn Ross Piper marrying Harriet Lydia Hill and dying in Prince George in 1968.  Children are Alvin Edward (Slim) Piper - no details and Verna Irene Piper b. Dec 12, 1915 Red Deer died Jan 21, 1998 Tacoma, Washington and married Raymond Allen Moe (1913-1978) at Lethbridge Sept 12, 1936.

Debbie

[cosmac]

http://www.rootschat.com/links/06v2/
Death of Lynn Ross Piper's adopted father.  I have not found the final result of the Piper trial only the beginning on March 4, 1914 with his version of events. 

Thanks Jacquie for the advice on shrinking links - they were abnormally large and I wasn't aware that anything could be done.

Debbie