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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Canada Lookup Request => Topic started by: davierj on Monday 05 October 15 14:03 BST (UK)
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I'm looking for further information on Joseph Thomas Renfrey and family. Joseph was born in 1858 in Berriew, Montgomeryshire and came to Canada between 1871 and 1882. On 10 May 1882 he married Mary Jane Kennedy in Barrie, Ontario. She died 3 Oct 1898 age 39. According to the local paper, they had a son Andrew M. Renfrey, born 22 Feb 1885 and died 16 Apr 1885. They had at least 2 further children, a daughter born 6 Aug 1883 and a son born 1 Apr 1892.
An obituary was posted for George Renfrey, died 2 Feb 1940 and it mentions a sister. He was buried in Stayner Cemetery. Were these chidren of Joseph (Thomas) and Mary?
Any further information on this family greatly appreciated including names of children and death of Joseph.
Dave
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Is this Thomas and Mary Barrie Ontario 1891
Joseph Renfrey 30
Mary J Renfrey 31
Edmund Renfrey 7 Born about 1884. Marked as D on the image - presume that should be daughter and not son as transcribed.
Kennedey Renfrey 2 Born 1889.
Fred Arnsby 22
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1891/Pages/1891.aspx
Sandra
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This looks like Kennedy - John Kennedy Renfrey married Kathleen Ayerst - York Ontario - 25 January 1910 - the parents of Thomas Renfrey and Mother Minnie Kennedy.
Marriage certificate - names father Thomas Renfrey - Painter but does not say he is deceased
Sandra
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There is an Ontario marriage for - Elizabeth Edna Renfrey - born 1884 - Allandale, Ontario - 10 April 1907 - Parents - Thomas Renfrey - Mother Mary Jane Kennedy Renfrey. Spouse - John Herbert Johnson
Looking at the headstone for George T Renfrey - it shows an inscription of Johnson - Renfrey
Perhaps the link is through sister Elizabeth Edna who married John Herbert Johnson in 1907 -
http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/504646
Sandra
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Hi Sandra,
Thank you very much, that looks like them. In the 1891 Census 'Edmund' is probably Edna Renfrey. Mary Jane Renfrey's obituary in 1898 lists 3 children Edna, Kennedy and George. I could not find further reference to Goerge apart from school reports, obituary and a traffic accident in the 1930s. Do you have a link for Ontario Censuses in the 20th century?
Dave
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Elizabeth Renfrey - Born 16 Aug 1883 - Birth Place Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Father's name Joseph Renfrey Mother's name Mary Jane Kennett
Barrie Ontario 1911 census
John H Johnson 27
Elizabeth E Johnson 24
Detroit Border Crossing - Canada to the USA - Elizabeth E Johnson - 16 August 1883 - Barrie Ontario - accompanied by husband John H Johnson - 36 Channing Street Delaware Ohio. Port of Arrival - Niagara Falls, New York - 21 December 1946 - departure contact was Foster Sister Richard Irwin (not sure where foster sister comes from - I cant see that written on the card ??? - it looks like FR - which usually means friend )
Last permanent address - 59 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto Ontario.
Alien was admitted to US 5/4/42 for permanent residence - however due to health Elizabeth had returned to Canada to be near her relatives and does not intend to renew residence in the USA - Her husband owns a rubber plant in Canada and one in Ohio.
There is another Detroit Border Crossing - 18 April 1951 for Elizabeth Johnson - arrival contact - Husband Verne H Johnson - Channing Street, Delaware, Ohio. The nearest relative at home was Frank Renfrey - Nephew of 390 A Huron Street Toronto.
John Herbert Johnson crossed from Canada to the USA 16 November 1936 - gave departure contact as wife Edna living at 134 Marion Street, Toronto.
Sandra
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Try these links for free census in Canada 1901 and 1911
http://www.automatedgenealogy.com/
Sandra
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Thank you Sandra, most interesting. Is there a means by which I can discover Joseph Thomas Renfrey's death similar to freeBMD in Uk?
Dave
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Canada does not have a BMD index as does the UK - not finding a death for Joseph Thomas Renfrey so far.
This looks like George Renfrey in Stayner Town Simcoe Ontario 1921
Gerge Wilcox 29 Jane Wilcox 68
George Renfrey 25 Born 1896. Father Wales Mother Ontario. Clerk.
Eliza Morley 38
Charles Mc Gee 54
Sandra
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This could be Thomas and Mary listed on OCFA
Mary J. Renfrey - Barrie Union - Block D Simcoe Vespra SM-V-3651
Thomas Renfrey Barrie Union - Block D Simcoe Vespra SM-V-3651
http://ocfa.islandnet.com/ocfa-search.php
You could contact the cemetery and see what info they have on Thomas.
Sandra
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Barrie Simcoe 1901 - Thomas with the McAvoy family
Pat Mcavoy 50 Catherine Mcavoy 35
John E Mcavoy 17 Thos Mcavoy 14
William Mcavoy 13 Margurette Mcavoy 12
Ambrose Mcavoy 9 Cathrine Mcavoy 7
Silver Crepps 15 Ema Crepps 14
Wm Mcbride 25 Herb Peacock 21
Thos Renfry 41 Born 21 July 1859. Widowed. Painter.
James Wilson 25
Sandra
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Headstone for Mary J Kennedy - Renfrey wife of Thomas but it doesn't mention Thomas ::)
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cangmg/ontario/centont/simcoe/barrie/union/blockd/renfrey1.jpg
Sandra
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I could not find further reference to Goerge apart from school reports, obituary and a traffic accident in the 1930s. Do you have a link for Ontario Censuses in the 20th century?
Dave
Hi,
I found a newspaper report in the Globe and Mail, 7 Nov 1930. George Renfrey was the proprietor of the Wilcox Inn in Stayner. The article is about a bank robbery. During a snowstorm, the robbers got lost and stopped at the Inn for something to eat. They dropped a large roll of bills by accident. This raised suspicions. The robbers left, but were later caught.
RK
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So William Kennedy on the headstone inscription born 1854 died 1911 may have been the brother of Mary J Kennedy/Renfrey. William Kennedy may have been the Hotel Keeper there in 1901 -
1921 we had George Renfrey living with a Wilcox family ???
Wm Kennedy 47 Hotel Keeper
Catherine Kennedy 47
W. J. H. Kennedy 19 A. M. Kennedy 17
Thomas Law 75 Wm Atkinson 40
John Reid 48 John Sibbald 26
Isabella Wickham 19 Minnie Mckowen 26
Mary Read 24 John Steel 31
Sandra
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You said you have George's obituary. It is in the Toronto Star Feb 24, 1940, page 8. Says he was George T Renfrey, former proprietor of the Wilcox Inn. He was born in Allandale and was in his 46th year. No other family members mentioned.
RK
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Thanks both. It looks like George had a colourful life, but managed to stay unmarried. I agree that William Kennedy is most likely Mary Jane's brother. I think their parents were John and Elizabeth Kennedy, born about 1835. If I remember correctly the traffic accident was reported in a local Barrie paper.
Dave
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Elizabeth Renfrey - Born 16 Aug 1883 - Birth Place Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Detroit Border Crossing - Canada to the USA - Elizabeth E Johnson - 16 August 1883 - Barrie Ontario - accompanied by husband John H Johnson - 36 Channing Street Delaware Ohio. Port of Arrival - Niagara Falls, New York - 21 December 1946 - departure contact was Foster Sister Richard Irwin (not sure where foster sister comes from - I cant see that written on the card ??? - it looks like FR - which usually means friend )
Last permanent address - 59 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto Ontario.
Alien was admitted to US 5/4/42 for permanent residence - however due to health Elizabeth had returned to Canada to be near her relatives and does not intend to renew residence in the USA - Her husband owns a rubber plant in Canada and one in Ohio.
Sandra
Hi,
I found an article about a fire at the rubber plant in Ontario. The name of the company was JEM Rubber Company, 3723 Dundas St. West, Lambton Mills (in the western part of Toronto now) - at the time of the fire, the article says it was 2 blocks west of the city limits. The Toronto City fire department was called, but wouldn't take care of the fire, so there was a delay getting the local fire department to look after the blaze. The loss was 5,000 dollars. The Proprietor and General Manager of the company was John H Johnson. Toronto Star, Aug 15, 1928 page 20.
How about this.... that company invented the Whoopie Cushion!! ;D ;D
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whoopee_cushion
http://www.thestar.com/life/2008/03/31/whoopee_cushion_got_first_airing_here.html
http://torontoist.com/2013/04/toronto-invents-the-whoopee-cushion/
RK
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WW2 Draft - USA - John Herbert Johnson born 15 November 1881 Barrie Simcoe Ontario. Resides 5 E. William Street, Delaware, Ohio. C/O K & W Rubber Corp, Delaware. Ohio. Person that would always know his address was Miss Ethel Worline C/O K & W Rubber Co.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5CV-ZWT
http://www.forgottenbooks.com/readbook_text/India_Rubber_World_1000607304/535
Sandra
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Here he is... patent for a process for making striped rubber. John H Johnson of Toronto is inventor and K & W Rubber Corp is Original Assignee
http://www.google.ca/patents/US2191829
RK
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Seems he held a number of patents in the USA. Thanks again.
Dave