edward porter of strongfield, saskatchewan

[queencorgi1]

Edward Porter and his wife emigrated to Strongfield from the UK in 1905. He was a Boer War veteran. I have seen the online history of Strongfield which mentions him. I should be particularly interested to know where he came from in the UK and anything about any family links there before his emigration. He emigrated to Strongfield with a fellow war veteran, Henry Bermingham or Birmingham, if that helps at all! All suggestions as always very welcome. Happy New Year to all participants in RootsChat and may you all find what you are looking for in 2015!

[aghadowey]

More details will help. When was he born? 1911 Canadian Census should give month and year of birth for him & wife (what was her name?). Passenger manifest should list a U.K. contact as well as Canadian one. I took a quick look and can't see 1911 census or passenger list that fits the details you've posted.

[queencorgi1]

More details would indeed help, but those are what I am missing! I can't identify him in the 1901 UK Census (or anywhere else on Ancestry) so don't know date of birth, nor do I know his wife's name. I realise this is a long shot, really it will only hit a target if a relative happens to pick up my enquiry. Thank you for your interest, though!

[aghadowey]

Is this the book? http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=527756

If so, you haven't read it all or interpretted the details correctly. In any case, I've found the family.

Page 41: "two English gentlemen who had fought in the Boer war took up homesteads on adjoining quarters in 1905. Henry Birmingham and Edmund Porter... The Porters had a family of four. They continued to farm until the late 'twenties when they moved to the coast. Mrs. Porter died in the 'thirties and Mr. Porter in 1970 at the age of 93."
Page 206: Porter, Philip E.- lists 4 children & their details.
It does not say that Edmund (not Edward) Porter came to Canada in 1905 merely that he settled in Strongfield then. It also doesn't say his wife came from England with him but it does say they moved to British Columbia and died there.

continued ...

[aghadowey]

Death of Edmund Philip Porter (age 92) in 1972 B.C.- born 1 Nov.1879 London, England, wife- Julia Marion Elizabeth Williams (informant), parents Edmund Porter & Kate Sharp:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLY5-MHX

Headstone lists 1st wife, 2nd wife Julia died 1994: "PORTER, EDMUND PHILIP, 1879 - 1972, , [Born 1 Nov. 1879, London, England, son of Edmund Porter & Kate Sharp, died 11 Aug. 1972, Victoria. 1st wife: Mildred Alice Michell, b. 1887, India. 2nd wife: Julia, her stone is adjacent]"
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ8D-K8MR
http://canadianheadstones.com/bc/view.php?id=25201
http://canadianheadstones.com/bc/view.php?id=25202

Mildred Alice Porter (1st wife) died 1937: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLL5-KSN

Edmund P. Porter, single, in 1906: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHVS-M8H
Porter family in 1916: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMPX-K74

Daughter Patricia:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/one-warrior-who-wont-be-forgotten/article4346703/

[queencorgi1]

What a star you are! and able to read names correctly. I have just rechecked my notes on the book and for some reason copied it down as EdWARD. Mea absolutely culpa. Many, many thanks for your help.

My reason for following up Mr Porter is that for a short time he had a young man called Tom Wilmot working for him before Tom returned to England to enlist in October 1914. Tom is one of ten young men who attended Sandhurst in 1915 and who appear in the attached photograph. I am researching the lives of all ten -- five lived and five died so I am exploring their lives before and after the war as well as during it. I was wondering if Tom came to Mr Porter's homestead because of some family link or friendship -- with the information you've given me I can now follow that up.

[*Sandra*]

Revisited thread - Mildred Alice Porter.
Times Colonist
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
19 Feb 1937, Fri  •  Page 15

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121686299/times-colonist/

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

Obit Evelyn Ella Patricia Porter/Hedley (with photograph)

Times Colonist
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
7 May 2011, Sat  •  Page 34

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121686769/times-colonist/

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

Obit John Baldwin Hedley - husband of Evelyn Porter/Hedley
The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
26 Apr 1999, Mon  •  Page 20

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121686935/the-vancouver-sun/

Sandra