Hello, I need to fill in some gaps about another one of my ancestors (previously I'd written about his cousin Marmaduke Bevans who also emigrated to Canada).
William Mason Mallinson b. 4 May 1886 Camberwell, London, England is a bit of a mystery.
He emigrated to Canada in 1894 according to the 1916 Canada (Medicine Hat) Census. He worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway as a Brakeman.
Interestingly, I found a 1940 Border Crossing doc. (mis-transcribed on the website as William 'Beson' Mallinson) from residence Lethbridge, Alberta into Sweetgrass, Montana, which indicates he landed on the continent at Portland, Maine on the SS Dominion 1898 (which differs from the census emigration date of 1894). I checked the passenger lists for this ship in 1898, but could find no one that fits.
The trouble is, he would have been only about 8 when he emigrated in 1894, yet his parents William Mason Mallinson (Sr.) and Alice Louisa Vickery) remained in England. (His parents evidently split up).
On 21 October 1914, WMM Jr. married May Johnson in Fernie, British Columbia and their marriage doc. indicates that he was a widower. However, I am unable to determine who his first marriage was to. I did find a 1913 border crossing into Buffalo, U.S. for a William Mallinson whose age matches, and occupation a brakeman for the railroad whose wife is noted as being a Jean Mallinson and their residence was Toronto. I'd found a death for a Jean Mallinson, but this York, Ontario death is in 1929,
but her husband is noted as being a William Mallinson. However, WMM Jr. had married May Johnson by 1914, so the info clashes.
In 1920, WMM Jr.'s mother, Alice Louisa (nee Vickery) Mallinson emigrated to Canada to join WMM Jr. in Medicine Hat and she intended to be with her son there. (I haven't been able to find her death.)
WMM Jr. died in Kelowna 26 December 1970, yet I can't find his second wife May's death.
I'd love to be able to fill in the details of his earlier life in Canada. I'm not sure if he was a 'home child', though his family in England weren't exactly pennyless, but without a passenger list, I can't determine if he came to Canada solo or with some organization.
If anyone can help fill in any of these gaps with fresh eyes
, it would be really helpful!
Thanks!
Jilly