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Please link him from

1901 Census of Canada Page Information
District: ON MIDDLESEX (South/Sud) (#89)
Subdistrict: Westminster D-13 Page 5 / line 3

1911 Census of Canada
Home / 1911 / Ontario / London / 7 London / page 21 / line 48
*please note that a son, Davis, Oren appears in 1911 / Ontario / London / 7 London / page 22 / line 1

Thanks

Hi Jeff -

I assume you have some personal knowledge of this family and are confident that this is the same person, despite the 1888 birth year in 1901 and 1884 in 1911. Based upon your recommendation, I have made the link.

With respect to the son on the next page in 1911, famillies run onto the next page relatively frequently. His entry does have the same household number as the rest of the family, helping researchers find him.

Thanks for your input. Mark

Hi Mark,

I do have personal knowledge. It's a very puzzling situation with many unanswered questions. Bertha Mae, the woman who was the wife of William Arthur Davis was born Alberta Mae Cass in 1883 12 18 in Crumlin, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada. She had married a Samuel G Root, (born 1878 in Lobo, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada) 1900-10-27. (I have a copy of the License.) There were 3 children of that marriage, Melvina born 1901, Irene (unknown) and Oren born 1903. I have been unable to find out what happened to Samuel G Root. I have contacted the Middlesex genealogical society and the Middlesex archives but there was no further information.

In any case, Bertha Mae married William Arthur Davis 1909 10 25, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada. Bertha Mae listed her status as Spinster. The children took the name Davis. I don't know if they were formally adopted. William Arthur Davis served in WW 1, Service Number 53103. He was, according to stories passed down, "gassed" and spent his remaining years in hospital never recovering sufficiently to resume his normal life. I have photographs of the five of them before he left for overseas. William Arthur Davis passed away in London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada 1929 06 19 and is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, London in an unmarked grave.

Before William Arthur Davis had passed away, Bertha Mae became involved with a Percival Bishop, Birth Sep 1904 in Glencoe, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada, Death 08 Jul 1976 in Brantford, Brant County, Ontario, Canada. They were married 1930 03 29 in Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada. (This situation appears to have been the reason she became alienated from her children particularly Melvina. Melvina ceased all contact with her mother. Bertha Mae even went so far as to hire private investigators to find her. I can find no records on either Melvina or Irene except those from the early days. Oren ended up living and died in Michigan.)

Percival Bishop and Bertha Mae adopted my mother who was born 1929 06 20 in Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada. They ceased cohabiting sometime in the 1930's. Several records of Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935-1980 report Bertha Mae living in Windsor as a widow. I didn't know of or meet Percival Bishop until 1962. I am as yet, unable to find Bertha Mae in the 1921 Census. I do know they lived on Tecumseh Street in London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada.

Bertha Mae died 1963 02 12 Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada and is buried in Windsor Grove Cemetery, Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada.

Hope this helps. And although we are not related by blood I'd still like to have the information about all the unanswered questions

It would seem that she did not have a good healthy respect for honesty.

Regards,

Jeff

Hi Jeff -

That's quite the story.

With your additional information I have linked Bertha and Melvina between 1901 and 1911 and William A. to his WWI attestation paper.

Thanks. Mark

Thanks Mark

The entire situation is a puzzle. I like puzzles.

Jeff