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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Topic started by: heaven on Tuesday 04 August 20 02:44 BST (UK)
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Rica Evelyn Waller born 1925 in West Sussex, she married on 29 July 1944 at the Register Office to Robert Henry Treadwell, his Rank on the certificate is B70281- Craftsman RCOC - Motor Engine Fitter, his usual address is Toronto, Ontario, listed as a Boarder. Does this mean he was in the Army and serving in England?
They had a daughter born 1944 registered in Surrey.
Rica went to Canada - When? maybe a War Bride?
In Canada she had more children, Co Joined Twins Shirley and ? in 1947. They were separated only Shirley lived, but, she was left brain damaged, she lived to the age of 62, Robert 1950 and Delores?
She left her husband Robert and married Garnet Wilfred Prince - when is not known.
She then had nine more children, I have found 3. Gilbert 1953-1973. Gary 1959-1980 and Colleen 1963-1967
Rica died in 1980 and is buried at Severn, Simcoe County, Ontario
I am at a loss as to how and where to find record of Rica's journey to Canada, if she was a war bride and most of all, There must have been some newspaper coverage on the twins and there separation, if anyone can steer me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated.
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Hello,
Here is an obit for Garnet Prince - died at the Orillia Hospital on Sept 17, 2003. All 9 of the children are listed here. The 3 you have located are the only ones who predeceased Garnet.
http://yourlifemoments.ca/sitepages/obituary.asp?oId=70606
RK
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Rica is listed on the Canadian Wife Repatriation form (which is somewhat of a passenger list on the troop ships) with daughter D.E age 1 yr 8 mo.
She is going from 108 Egmont Rd, Eastbourne, Midhurst, Sussex to her mother in law's home at 981 Dufferin St., Toronto.
The strange part is the voyage is indexed as leaving Southampton 23 May 1946 and heading to New York. It was the Queen Mary, and looking at this: http://ww2troopships.com/ships/q/queenmary/cruiserecord1946.htm it makes more sense that she left 24 May headed to Halifax.
Not sure if this is your Robert or not, but just in case: http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a7904a9e-f75f-46a7-a5d2-4e3ebafd9602
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Thank you both for the replies. Great to Have Garnets Obit.
That is just what needed for Rica arriving in Canada, where can I find that info so t hat I can have the record, and do you think she was a war bride,
Re Robert Treadwell - that is not mine, My Robert died in 1992, self inflicted gun shot wound
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Findmypast has the index and image for her trip over.
As to whether she was a war bride, she fits the description of one. Excellent description at the link below, which also states they entered through Halifax, so the part about the "New York destination" on the index at Findmypast appears to be incorrect.
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/canadian-war-brides
I don't know if Sussex has any old directories online, but it might be interesting to see who lived at the address she had been staying at.
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Thank you for the link,I have seen that it is an excellent article. I can now go to Find my past for the record of Rica sailing to Canada.
Very much appreciated
Judy
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I have been looking through the Toronto papers for news about the twins, but I haven't found anything ???
Do you know when they were separated?
The first twin separation surgery in Canada was in 1966 - two boys from Burma.* If the girls were separated earlier than that - I wonder if the surgery might have been done in the United States?
RK
*Added - from the 2005 Globe and Mail article posted by bbart later on in the thread...the 1966 date is correct, but the children were Canadian girls (but not Shirley and her sister). I read another article that had different - apparently incorrect - information. Sorry.
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Just found a notice about the Treadwells in the Globe and Mail newspaper, May 29 1970 - in the section dealing with court proceedings. Substituted Service Order was granted in the matter of Rica E Treadwell and Robert H Treadwell. It doesn't say that this is a divorce proceeding, but I wouldn't be surprised.
There are rules about the service of documents in a legal matter. If for some reason you can't, or it is "impractical" to serve someone in the usual way (often because you can't find them, or if there is any other reason), you ask the court to let you have an order for substituted service...for example, you can serve a relative/someone who you believe knows where the person is and can get the document(s) to him/her.
I wonder what the story is here??
RK
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RK
hank you so much for your reply.
I don't know when the twins were separated, born about 1947, I haven't got the birth record. I did wonder if the separation was done in the USA, also if Rica took them back home to England for the surgery?
I only found out about these twins by chance, I googled Shirley Treadwell and what came up was an amazing story, You can google her.
In regard to the newspaper story about Treadwell in 1970, that is interesting, Rica was already with Garnet Prince and had several children to him at this stage, perhaps they were not yet married! so could be a divorce. I have not found this marriage, the years are in my initial post
Judy
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There is a very long article in the Globe and Mail about conjoined twin surgeries in Toronto, and one quote stood out to me, and that it would probably apply to whatever hospital did their surgery:
Link to article: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/twin-peaks/article24357142/
Meanwhile, all but the first set of Canadian twins have remained anonymous.
"The Canadian ones don't want anyone to know," Dr. Filler says. "They don't want to be thought of as freaks."
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I only found out about these twins by chance, I googled Shirley Treadwell and what came up was an amazing story, You can google her.
I'm glad you posted that. Just prior to you posting it, I had sent a frantic pm to RK asking for an opinion on whether I should mention the tragedy. I wish their had been a followup to the 2013 finding, but I guess the news people would have been on it had there been anything substantial to say.
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I thought it was important to mention the google article.
What an interesting article you liked to me, it looks like I will have to accept that there is no news on the twins separation surgery.
Thanks again
Judy
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Just to reaffirm Rica's status as a "war bride":
From here: http://ww2troopships.com/ships/q/queenmary/default.htm
May 23 - September 18, 1946 Seven war bride voyages transporting European brides and children to Canada. Ten stowaways were discovered on the first crossing.
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Thanks for that confirmation
Judy
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bbart posted earlier about the Queen Mary arriving in Halifax 27 May 1946. The Pier 1 (Halifax) website also has the same date of arrival. This is the entry point of war brides into Canada. The ship likely stopped at Halifax and then continued on to New York. Links below.
You can find the arrival of the ship...
https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-records/ship-arrival-search
And request a search for your rellie here...
https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-records/uk-before-1960-or-war-bride
PB
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Thank you I will do that
Judy