McDowell family, New London, Quebec, Canada

[cerchier]

I am looking for information on a George McDowell who was born, according to the 1910 British census, in New London, Canada.  It would be greatly appreciated if anyone has knowledge of McDowell's in that area.  Sometime between his birth 1851 and 1881 he ,and possibly his family moved to Woolwich, England.  His son John Benjamin McDowell went on to be a pioneer in the film industry and was one of the cameramen in the film Battle of The Somme.  His other son George Alexander McDowell moved back to Canada, Montreal, in the early 1900's.
Any information would be appreciated.

[RunKitty]

Hi,

Still looking for George Sr. 

Looks like George Jr married Alice Frances McAteer in Woolwich in 1901. 

1921 census, they are in Toronto.  Says George immigrated in 1906.  Alice and daughter Alice 19 came in 1907.  Other children were born in Quebec... George 11, Margaret 9 and John 8.  George is a machinist. 

In 1926, they are still in Toronto ... see their daughter Alice Susan's marriage to Harold Thomas Shilson.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G94V-S3J8?mode=g&i=716&wc=3NWD-92Q%3A1584308903%2C1584375301%2C1584378201%3Fcc%3D1784216&cc=1784216

RK

[RunKitty]

Again, you may already know this, but....

George and Alice are buried in Prospect Cemetery in Toronto.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McDowell&GSiman=1&GScid=639390&GRid=152785959&

George's obituary doesn't say much.  Just mentions wife Alice and children Alice, George Margaret and Charles .  I wonder if John is John Charles??   Will have a look at Alice's obit ... it says the children are Alice (Mrs H Shilson) of Caledon East, George of California, Margaret (Mrs E Crawford) and Charles both of Toronto. 

RK

Still trying to locate George b 1851 in Canada.  Are you sure it was Quebec?

[cerchier]

Hi,
  Thank you for the reply.  The location of George Snr.'s birth is a guess on my part.  He stated in the census he was born in New London, London, Canada in 1851.  There is a New London in Prince Edward Island, but it was not part of Canada at the time of his birth.  At that time Quebec was referred to as Canada East.  New London in Quebec is not on too many maps, but is on the Ste. Francois River, in the Eastern Townships near Sherbrooke.
   I could not find any info on George Alexander and Alice Francis' death, so thank you.  Micheal John, died in snow storm in 1935 and is buried with his Grandmother at Oaklawn in Toronto.  I don't know who Charles is, but can only guess.  They also had two young children who died in Hamilton in 1918.  A George James emigrated to Buffalo prior to WW2 and had 4 children.
   Thank you again for your help and I'm still looking for George Snr.  It's interesting that he went to England.  I don't know why or when.  Again thank you and I'll take as much help as I can get.

Chip

[RunKitty]

Hi again,

I found a short article about John's death in the Toronto Star... Jan 21 1935, page 17.  He had been up in the area of the Bala Highway, staying with Wallace Thompson.  He was setting a minnow trap and they think he got lost when he went to check on it in a snowstorm.  He left Thompson's home on Thursday.  A search party of 8 went out to find him on Saturday.  He was found near the head of Deer Lake.  His parents lived a 178 Rosethorn Ave, York Township.

I don't have a subscription to Ancestry, but perhaps someone can have a look in the Drouin collection to see if there is a mention of George Sr 1851 in the baptism records??  Perhaps your local library subscribes to the free Ancestry Library Edition?

Still might be worth checking PEI, because PEI entered Confederation in 1873.  On UK censuses 1881 and later, if he says "Canada", that should include PEI.  If he was meaning the Province of Canada prior to 1867 (at the time he was born) ... too bad he didn't say "Canada East" (New London Quebec would be the clear choice) or even "Canada West" (then we could think about London, Ontario??).  If only our ancestors could have anticipated the interest we would have in them in the present day.  Perhaps they would have been more precise .  Still, it is great that he said "New London", not just "Canada". 

Quebec is probably the best bet though.   George Jr went there when he came back to Canada.  Perhaps there were still relatives living there?  Hopefully a search of the Drouin collection can turn up something for you.

RK

[RunKitty]

  ... Micheal John, died in snow storm in 1935 and is buried with his Grandmother at Oaklawn in Toronto....

Hi again,

According to Michael John's death certificate, and burial records, he is buried in Prospect Cemetery, Toronto.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JKFZ-ZVG

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2764-677

RK

[cerchier]

Hi RK,
    I don't know why I wrote Oaklawn?  I have it written down Prospect in Toronto from my searches, infact last year my wife and I found the burial site.  That's how I know that  his Grandmother McAteer is buried with him.
    I don't think it is London Ontario, just have a feeling about it.  We have been to both New Londons and couldn't find anything on him.  There are a few McDowells in both but nothing to lead you to believe it is him or his family.  We believe they first settled in the Montreal area because that is where we think George Snr came from.
    Thank you for the article on Micheal, very interesting.  It would be an awful way to die.

    Again thank you so much I certainly appreciate this.

Chip

[Radcliff]

Marriage
St Philip Lambeth
19TH September 1901
George McDowell, widower, aged 50,foreman
69 Maxey Road Plumstead
father John McDowell, deceased soldier
Mary Ann Chatsworthy aged 43 years widow,
5 Hurley Road,
father William Curtis labourer deceased
witnesses Elizabeth Fur ?and Anne McDowell

[Radcliff]

Probate
McDowell George
of 69  Maxey Road Plumstead
died 1st Jan 1913
probate 4th Feb 1913 to
Benjamin John McDowell Kinematographer