Hi, J.J. & Tara:
I meant to write more last night J.J., but was falling asleep at the keyboard. Be aware that your interest is very much appreciated. I was trying to figure out how you knew so much about my family but of course, the Internet is quite revealing. I also have a public tree on Ancestry.ca. I too have been disillusioned by lack of appreciation when assisting posters in genealogical blogs. Even a mere "thank you" makes a search worthwhile.
To address the question I didn't initially answer, Audrey was an elder half-sister of the Power children. After my mother's death, I had opportunity to chat with cousins I'd not communicated with in decades and was stunned to learn that there had also been a youngest half-brother. No one ever mentioned or discussed him at our house, and I only have a vague idea of the reason.
In this vein and in response to Tara, the full names of the children of James Power (and Jane Ethel Walton) were:
Robert James Kitchener Power;
Margaret Mary Victoria Power (the only child for whom a baptismal record hasn't been found);
Gloria Evelyn Rose Power;
Olive June Dorothy Power (my mother).
The names do tend to reflect one Irish RC parent and one British CoE parent, and only Margaret ever used her first name (unless she was actually baptised Mary Margaret). Which parent do you suppose proposed a naming after Lord Kitchener?
To the best of my knowledge, all the children were baptised CoE (Anglican in Canada) although some were baptised at the Montreal City Mission rather than at a parish church. None were baptised RC.
In response to Tara's suggestions of last night, I had spent some time systematically researching the James Powers of the 1911 census and had consulted the 1915 and 1939-40? electoral rolls and also the odd probate. I had to go back to some notes this afternoon and remember where that work stood. The James' of Molesworth St., Mount Temple and Queen Street can be ruled out by continued ownership or known death in Ireland. Some of the others could stand a look.
Tara, you had also mentioned Thomas James of Buckingham Place. I had tried to investigate how he related to the other Power family living there but never got anywhere with that. One would think it would be easy to trace a wife named Phoebe, but I wasn't successful there.
I have a longshot that interests me as well - the James Power who is at Percy Place, Pembroke West in 1911. Although married, he is enumerated alone. He also can read but not write, a trait apparently common to my James Power if the 1921 census is to be trusted. It is perhaps the reason he never signed any of the baptismal records.
In any case, the investigation is ongoing. It remains intriguing despite many frustrations. Of my 4 grandparents, James is my only brick wall so I inevitably return to it when something new occurs to me.
Many thanx to both of you for your continued interest! Hope to hear from you again.
Kind regards,
Mike
