John Thomson Winchester, 1887-1917

[TL]

Hello,

I'm looking for information on my great grandfather John Thomson Winchester.

-born June 1, 1887 in Moreyshire, Scotland 
-father name was also John Thomson Winchester
-immigrated to Canada with 2 brothers, wife and son John around 1911
-engineer on the Grand Trunk Railroad
-joined Canadian military 1915
-died Aug 15, 1917 (listed on Vimy Memorial)
-brother George died in train collision

Thanks
Teri

[trish1120]

Hi Teri,
Welcome to Rootschat
I dont often come on the Scotland Board so am wondering what sort of info you require as others may be able to help.

Are you sure he was born c 1887?
I will post this 1901 census although his age is older as there is a Thomson/Thompson connection on it + a Brother George;

1901 Scotland Census
Rothes, Morayshire, Scotland
Rothes/1/6/14
John WINCHESTER, 48, Head, Mar, Wife Janet, Farmer, born Rothes, Morayshire
Janet, 45, Wife, Mar, born Wick, Leithness
JOHN, 17, Son, born Rothes, Morayshire
George, 14, Son, born Edinurgh, Midlothian
Janet, 11, Daug, born Edinburgh
Mary Ann, 7, Daug, born Rothes
Janet THOMPSON, 77, Mother, born Rothes

Scottish Widows were often indexed and known under their Maiden names so I would presume Janet could be John Snrs Mother.

Trish

[trish1120]

John WINCHESTER, Christened 24 April 1853, Elgin, Moray, Scotland
Birth 20 March 1853
Parents;
John WINCHESTER
Jesse THOMSON
(Source IGI Extracted Record)

A Family Tree has this as the correct Family that I have posted in 1901 Census.
Janet Hunter Groat Thomas WINCHESTER born 1890 Edinburgh ended up in Canada also and was married to John Thomas BROOKES.

[trish1120]

1891 Census
Rothes, Moray, Scotland
Janet THOMSON, 66, Head, Crofter, born Rothes
James WINCHESTER, 9, Grandson, born Edinburgh
JOHN, 7, Grandson, born Rothes
George, 5, Grandson, born Edinburgh

[TL]

Hi Trish,

Thanks you for the info.  I found John's 1887 birthdate from his Attestation papers; the date may very well have been changed to be eligible to enlist.

Cheers
Teri

[MonicaL]

Hi Teri

There is a likely shipping entry for a John Thomson Winchester, aged 26 and a farm labourer, travelling from Glasgow and arriving in Quebec on the 'Cassandra' on 12 Jun 1910.

This date fits well with a possible 1911 Canadian census entry in Lindsay, Victoria, Ontario, for a John Winchester, 25, lodging with a George Winchester, 23, and wife Mary, 22. Both George and John show as foremen on the railways.

George and wife Mary show as having arrived in Canada in 1905. Can't easily see their crossing unfortunately.

Monica

[sancti]

Marriage certificate available to view on SP

1910 WINCHESTER JOHN THOMSON and CHAPMAN MARGARET ANN at SPEYMOUTH /MORAY

[MonicaL]

From Sancti's info, looks like wife Margaret travelled out to Canada the following year. A Margaret Winchester, 29, arrived in Quebec on the 'Lake Champlain' on 5 Jul 1911 having departed from Liverpool. She shows as joining husband John, a foreman on the Grand xxxx Railways in Lindsay, Ontario.

Travelling with her are an Emily Winchester, 10, and John Winchester, 11 months.

Monica

[chriswi2003]

John Winchester and Isabella Thomson were my great great uncle and aunt, and I can trace their ancestry back to Alexander Winchester and Jean Sutor of Forres, who would have married c 1800.

I recall my grandfather telling me about two of his cousins who were killed in the First World War and commemorated on a memorial on Vimy Ridge.