Thanks J.J. How about this to get the ball rolling:
MORE QUESTIONS ON DOWN, CHRISTINA AND FRANCES
In CEF sign up Norman Richard Down was born July 17 1891 but this is likely in error because he died in Vancouver, 7 Jan 1958, age 65 according to registration # 1958-09-001261, which cites him as born July 17 1892.
Norman Richard Down arrives in Montreal in 1913, age 20/21 depending on month of arrival
In his CEF sign up of October 25, 1917 he gives his mother as next of kin, and he would be age 25
In a manifest of the “Port of Winnipeg” he is age 29, a grocer, living at 610 Simcoe St Winnipeg and married to Bertha Down and destined for Los Angeles. The date of the manifest is in question. If it is earlier than 1922 then Bertha is either not Elizabeth (i.e. is his first wife) or is Elizabeth to whom he is engaged even though the manifest says married
On February 24 1922, age 30, he married Elizabeth Sinclair Hodge in Winnipeg
Christina Hodge on a “Port Huron Michigan” manifest is age 37 single, a dressmaker, a Scotch Canadian, from Toronto, “sister” Jane Campbell 2423 Dundas St West, destined for Los Angeles California. The date of the manifest is in question. The description fits our Christina Hodge except for age depending on the date of the manifest. And mistakes can be made with age if there is a Scottish brogue. If Jane Campbell is her sister why is her name Campbell and not Hodge, unless she is married or is Campbell the name of Christina’s adoptive family? I could find only one other Christina Hodge in Ontario at this time and she is an unlikely match
So why were both Norman and Christina going to Los Angeles on either the same or different dates?
RM told me that Elizabeth and Frances were very close (they were born just one year apart) and Elizabeth talked of him often
I SPECULATE that Elizabeth and/ or Frances were in Los Angeles. Christina visited and emigrated. Norman went perhaps to bring his future bride back to Winnipeg; whether she is Bertha or not needs to be established. Or perhaps he went to Christina’s wedding, or that of Frances.
Lines of evidence which may clear this up include:
• Finding the Campbell’s in Toronto
• The Hodge/Down marriage certificate….who were the witnesses?
• Records for Christina and Frances in the US….KarenM already hot on the trail has been combing through California!
• Another marriage record for Bertha and Down
• A death or divorce record for Bertha
• Any other border crossing papers e.g. for Elizabeth, Frances
I hope I have not muddied the waters and I do not wish to overly impose on anyone, but as J.J. said we are slowly winning this one.
Best wishes, Lumber-Jack
