Willis family COMPLETED with thanks

[jamajo]

Hi All,
       Im hoping someone can help me with info on a Edgar J willis.
I know he was b abt 1879 in Manchester father John  mother Agnes. His also had brothers Ernest, Thomas and Ezra b Manchester and was my grandmothers stepbrother. We know at least Edgar moved to Vancouver, his mother remarried and moved to Abingdon Berkshire and maybe some of her sons did to. I dont know when Edgar moved to Canada except we have a photo of a son of his called Ted with the words me and son Ted Vancouver on it. He must have married there we think and had at least the one son maybe other children as well. Can anyone find this family for me please. Sorry i havent got any more on them than this.

                              Sue

[aghadowey]

To start with 1901, 1906, 1911 Canadian census records can be searched for free at www.automatedgenealogy.com (be sure to read scanned page as well as transcribed page as there are more details on the former).
To see when he might have left the U.K. see www.findmypast.com for passenger lists (index is free and can help narrow down the year).
From there you can go to Canadian Archives site to see if he enlisted in Worl War I, etc. (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html)

[jamajo]

Hi  Aghadowey,
                       Thank-you very much for your advice. Im off to check them out now.

                                         Sue

[aghadowey]

If you get stuck or have more questions don't be afraid to ask.

[jamajo]

   Thank-you so much, that is really kind of you.

                               Sue

[jorose]

Also if the family were in Vancouver you might be able to find some of them here:
http://search.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/sn-4C000DB/gbsearch/Births,Marriages,Deaths

Is it possible he wasn't Edgar J but Edgar L - Edgar Lloyd Willis?

[jamajo]

Hi Jorose,
              Lloyd was Edgars mothers maiden name so you are probably right. Thank-you very much for your help.

                      Sue

[LemonMallie]

Hello Sue, I was in the library today doing some lookups so I checked on Edgar Lloyd Willis to see if he is a match.  Here are the details from the death registration:

Edgar Lloyd Willis
Died at Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster.  Cause of death illegible.
Residence - RR1 3rd Ave North, Hammond, BC (now called Maple Ridge)
In Canada since 1899, in Province since 1943, in municipality since 1943
Born - 8 June 1878, Lancashire, England
Occupation - Federal Civil Servant (Retired).  Last worked - 1943.  Yrs in occupation - 20
Wife - Gwendoline Morgan
Father - John Willis, born England
Mother - Agnes Lloyd, born England
Informant - Edgar Willis, son, 12161 3rd Ave North, Hammond, BC
Buried - Forest Lawn Cemetery, Burnaby BC on 18 Jan 1960

It seemed a fair match from the details in your post so I took a chance and looked up his obituary.  I will PM you with the details but it notes he had several brothers, stepbrothers and stepsisters in England.  I also see a death index for Gwendoline Willis in Maple Ridge in 1985.  If you think there is enough here to confirm that this Edgar is yours, I can look up her death registration as well.  It may list her birthplace which would in turn help you find out where Edgar spent the first 44 yrs in Canada.

Lynwen

[jamajo]

Hi Lynwen,
                Got your PM and have sent you a reply.
   That would be really helpful if you could look up the death of Gwendoline for me as i have no idea where he was in the early years when he first moved out there. It is def my Edgar and yes he did have brothers etc here in England, in fact his stepsister was my grandmother. This helps to fill a gap in my research so thanks for your help
                                         
                                                  Sue