Gertrude Thelma Hopewell

[*Sandra*]

A family tree has their marriage 21 Mar 1909 Hamilton Ontario - Annie Olive Reid.

There are no sources given for the marriage. So far not found anything for that date.

Sandra

[RunKitty]

There is a death record for William Hopewell - informant - died St Thomas's Hospital Toronto -  4 july 1941. wife Annie 423 Broadview Avenue Toronto  - father Thomas -  William's death was accidental - was sitting beside a gas stove and was burned to face and neck  cause of death bronchial pneumonia.
William born 25 February 1873 - burial St Johns Cemetery. 7 July 1941.

Certificate Number 005417

Sandra

Short note about this in the Globe and Mail 5 July 1941, page 5. 
Title is "Lay Man's Death To Burns in His Home".
It says he was admitted to St. Michael's Hospital early on May 24th with severe burns to his face, neck and arms.   William Hopewell, 68, of 423 Broadview died last night.  The coroner found that the immediate cause of death was bronchial pneumonia brought on by the burns.  Mr Hopewell was brewing himself a cup of tea on the morning of the 24th, when he was believed to have suffered a spell and fell over the gas stove.  His condition had been improving, until the pneumonia set in.

RK

[theolddear]

Thank you for all the info. on Gertrude and William Hopewell.  One or two things don't quite add up. William was born on 25th Feb 1878 not 1873!  As far as I can ascertain he did not reach Canada until 1903 not 1896 as stated in the census!!  His father was Tom not Thomas but an easy mistake to make. Taking all that into consideration I do think it is the right man.  However, as he was already married and can find no evidence of a divorce he was probably a bigamist!!  A very interesting character tho!

[*Sandra*]

Great finding the obituary RK.  Sorry my mistake putting St Thomas Hospital when it was St Michaels Hospital. Brain storm. 
I believe this is the correct gentleman, albeit the year of birth is wrong. Census information is only as good as the informant information as we know and quite often immigration dates, birth dates etc are incorrect. If Annie Reid did not know or had never met the father Tom - she may have assumed it was Thomas in full.

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

You could contact the cemetery St Johns to see if they might have other details on William.  Or perhaps find out if others were buried with him or beside him ?

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

William should appear on the 1911 census ..........somewhere 

Kenneth Stafford Hopewell was born in York Ontario - 24 February 1906 - parents William J Hopewell and Ethel Lilly Anne Munroe. Sadly this record didn't give an address.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMSK-TY5

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

Jack Fraser Hopewell - 24 October 1908 York Ontario - William James Hopewell
Mother Ethel Lilly Anne Munro. 224 Munro Street York Ontario. Father was a conductor.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV94-T5B5

Sandra

[theolddear]

Thanks Sandra. I actually have the birth certs of the three boys.  I am quite sure he never divorced Ethel. According to the family he was a bit of a rogue!  How true that was I don't know!  I think I will contact the cemetery as you suggested and see if they come up with anything else.

[*Sandra*]

Just trying to trace the last known movements - to see if we can trace him earlier than the 1912 birth of Thelma Gertrude. By posting the details, it lets everyone see what has been found and helps the search without wasting anyones time.

Colin Munro Hopewell born 1903 Leicester England appears Canada Ocean Arrivals 19 August 1923 Halifax Nova Scotia on the Pittsburg. Going to Winnipeg to Harvest. Gave a Nottingham address for his mother.

Says he had lived in Canada previously at Gerrard Street Toronto. Had arrived in Canada at St Johns March 1904 departed March 1908

Sandra