The Boardman Family: Life after Edmund!

Edmund Boardman’s death changed everything for the Boardman family. 

Of the four children only Edmund James Boardman, the oldest, remained in Winnipeg.  The other three emigrated to the United States at various times.  Robert (my grandfather) was the first to make the move followed by William (Willie), and then John.  Charlotte Anne (McMurray) Boardman, their mother, followed her children leaving Winnipeg and heading to Vancouver, British Columbia. 

Edmund Boardman died on the 18th of October 1908 and is buried in the family plot in Elmwood Cemetery in Winnipeg. 

Overview of Elmwood Cemetery

His death record  reads as follows obtained from the Manitoba Vital Records office:

Edmund Boardman died Oct. 28, 1908. He lived at 583 Logan Ave. He was 59 years old at death. Occupation was Coppersmith, religion Church of England born at [Lochester/Gochester/Rochester]. Cause of death cerebral hemorrhage. Name of Informant was Black Bros & Hughes, of Winnipeg.  Source:  Vital Statistic Agency, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Reg. No. 1908-06-003669, #652, October 28, 1908.

Edmund’s great grand-daughter, Marjorie wrote in her notes that he was born in Lancashire, England.  The death record of Edmund is almost impossible to interpret:  Does it say Rochester, Gochester, Lochester??? 

Portion of Edmund’s death certificate

If you do a search on the city of Rochester in England you will end up in the county of Kent.  If you go to Lancashire county and search for a city you will find Rochdale but no Rochester at least in today’s time frame.  Yes, more digging is in order. 

Edmund was born 23 May 1848 and according to the 1901 census he immigrated about 1853.  This means he was only 5 years old when he came to Canada.  So trusting his knowledge of the year of immigration may mean that it is best to keep an open mind.  So the origins of Edmund Boardman are still a mystery.  So far the emphasis on research has been the United States and Canada.  My father’s side of the family is very dominating and tends to divert me.  Hopefully that will change in the coming years and my trip to Ontario in 2012 to visit the archives there might open a door.  We will see??

Meanwhile let us focus on the lives of the Boardman family after Edmund’s death.  What became of the Boardman children and Charlotte?

 

As I stated Edmund James Boardman remained in Winnipeg and lived out his life there. 

 

Robert, my grandfather, and Ethel, my grandmother, migrated first to Vancouver, British Columbia and then to Seattle, King County, Washington.    

 

William soon followed and headed for Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California. 

 

John Henry, the youngest brother, came first to California and then made his way up to West Seattle residing there for the remainder of his life.  

 

Charlotte, she moved west with Robert to Vancouver and made the move with them in about 1917 to Seattle.  About 1922 she migrated to Pasadena, California and lived the rest of her life with or near her son Willie and his family.  This is a great story. 

 

How do I know all this? Well it was not an easy challenge, I had very little information about my mother’s side of the family.  I used city directories for Vancouver, B.C., Pasadena, California and the census for both Canada and the U.S. and a series of very interesting family photographs that were among my mother and her sister’s possessions.   

 

First, let me share what I know about Edmund James Boardman or rather Dr. Edmund James Boardman.  When I visited my Aunt Aileen at her beautiful home overlooking Puget Sound in West Seattle back in 1987, she told me in a very proud voice that James was a famous surgeon in Winnipeg.  I was intrigued!

Edmund Boardman Dies at the age of 60!

Edmund Boardman lived to the age of 60 years old.  He passed on the 18th of October 1908 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  He is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery in Winnipeg with other family members.

Edmund Boardman’s Tombstone

I obtained Edmund’s death record from the Manitoba Vital Records Office in Winnipeg.  The handwriting on the death record was very difficult to read.  As you can see I cannot make out the place of birth.  It is either Lochester or maybe Gochester or even Rochester.  I consulted with the Family History Library volunteers and they think it reads Rochester.  Rochester is in Kent.  I have notes from my mother stating he came from Lancashire?  Now he was only about 4-5 years old when he immigrated to Canada so he might not have a clear picture of where he came from??

Edmund Boardman, died Oct. 28, 1908. Resided at 583 Logan Ave. Age 59 years old at death. Occupation was Coppersmith, religion Church of England born at [Lochester/Gochester/Rochester].  Cause of death cerebral hemorrhage. Name of Informant was Black Bros & Hughes, of Winnipeg.  #652, Reg. No. 1908-06-003669.

The Vital Statistics for Manitoba are online http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/Query.php  I have the link under Blogroll at the right side bar of this blog.

Edmund had a will but his estate was simple because he gave everything to Charlotte, his wife.  Sometimes estates are helpful in identifying heirs but in this case the wife is the only one mentioned.

WILL AND ESTATE FILE

 The estate file consisted of the following documents:

1.  Search for Caveat Dec. 2, 1908

2.  Affidavit for Proof of Death – Edmund Boardman, City of Winnipeg, Oct. 28, 1908 in the Eastern Judicial District value of estate $4040.00.  Last Will and testament done on 8 Sep. 1902. Signed by C.A. Boardman.

3.  Affidavit Appointing Charlotte Ann Boardman as the widow and sole executor of the estate.  He died at [560] Logan Ave. in the City of Winnipeg.

4.  Value of the estate – $4040.00 Lot 12 in Block 40, cash is $40.00

5.  Last Will and Testament of Edmund Boardman in writing:

This is the last will and testament of me Edmund Boardman of the City of Winnipeg, Coppersmith. I hereby revoke all wills by me at anytime heretofore made. I hereby give devise and bequeath to my wife Charlotte Ann Boardman all my property real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever it may be. I hereby appoint my said wife Executrix of this my will. Signed published and declared by the said Edmund Boardman as and ____last will and testament at Winnipeg, Manitoba. This eighth day of Sept. A.D. 1902 (___) in the presence of us presented at the same time who have all the ____and in the presence of each of other and in the presence inscribed our names as witnesses. [        ] Signed by Edmund Boardman.

6.  Proof that this is the will of Edmund Boardman by C.A. Boardman.

7.  Horace Victor Hudson Affidavit of Proof of Will

8.  Proof of Will by C.A. Boardman – Charlotte Ann Boardman

9.  Notice of Application in the estate of Edmund Boardman, the granting of probate.

Source:  Edmund Boardman Estate File #5283, Surrogate Court, Eastern Judicial District, Manitoba, Canada, Index Vol. 2 FHL#1381814 (1884-1930); Estate File #5283, FHL#1411690 (Estate Files 5114-5284, 1908).

I do not have many photographs of my great grandfather Edmund Boardman.  Here is one with him enjoying a happy time at home with his family.  Unfortunately I do not know where it was taken and which of the children it is he is sitting with.  Edmund James (1878) and my grandfather Robert (1881) were born in New Brunswick.  They would put dresses on baby boys for that was the custom at the time.  William (1885) and John (1886) were born in Winnipeg.   It is difficult to pin down the time frame.

Edmund and baby on stairs

Edmund and Charlotte Boardman in 1906!

It is time now to return to the Boardman side of the family.  When I get the chance I will dig further into the Brown side but that might be awhile. I am trying to catch up.  There is a lot to do regarding Emma (Ward) Brown my great-grandmother.  I do not know much about her.

Edmund and Charlotte Boardman/Bordman are still living in Winnipeg in the 1906 Canadian Census their name is spelled “Bordman.”  I have seen this spelling before.

Source:  Edmund Bordman Family, 1906 Canadian Census, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Sub-District Ward Five, 5D

Line 4, 152, Edmond Bordman, Male, Married, birthplace England, age 57, Immigrated 1855, logan 563, Charlott Bordman, wife, female, married, age 47 born NB, Edmond J. Bordman, son, male, single,  age 27 Born NB, Robert Bordman, son, male, single, age 24 born NB, [Vellon] H. Bordman, son, male, single, age 20 born Manitoba.  

1906 Edmond Bordman Family

It is interesting that Robert is listed here.  He is also listed living with the Richard Brown family in Winnipeg with his wife Ethel in 1906.  I described this in the post dated August 5, 2011 “Richard Brown After Emma!” These two individuals are my grandparents.  Here he is “single?”  William the younger brother is missing.  He would be about 21 years old.

I do not know who Vellon H. Bordman is?  This is on the summary sheet that Ancestry has created and they interpret the name in this manner.  I believe it should be “John H.” the younger brother.  The age of 20 would match.  The first letter looks like a “J.”

Richard Brown After Emma!

Richard Brown continued to live and work in Winnipeg after the death of his wife Emma in 1905.  He resided at the 175 Magnus address and engaged in the occupation of carpentry.

The city directories list him from 1911 to 1919 as a carpenter for the Canadian Pacific Railway and specifically from 1917 to 1918 he worked as a laborer.   He is in his 70’s at that time!!

In 1906 according to the Canadian Census Richard is living with Arthur, Ethel and his son-in-law Robert Boardman. I was very happy to find this census for it gives information about my grandparents Ethel and Robert.  They had married in 1905 and tracking them has been fun. 

Richard Brown Family, 1906 Canadian Census, North Winnipeg, Manitoba, Page 28, SubDistrict 6a, June 28, 1906, enumerated by W. A. Rough.#28, 197 Brown Richard, Head, Male, widow, 59, 175 Magnus, Brown Arthur, son, male, single, 22, Boardman, Ethel, daughter, female, married, 25, Boardman, Robert, son male, married, 25 born NB. Morton, Rebecca age 26, born Ireland came in 1902

In 1911 he is sharing the house with his youngest son Arthur.  Ethel and Robert Boardman are no longer living Richard. By this time my parents have migrated to Vancouver, British Columbia. 

Richard Brown Family, 1911 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada pg. 35, ED 73, J.E. Baine line 37 [    ] Brown Arthur W. 175 Magnus male, son Single born Nov. 1875 age 36, born Man, Canadian, Presby, Traveller, yes, clerk [   ] yes yes English. Brown, Richard, 175 Magnus, male, Head, Wd, born March 1846 age 65, born Ontario, Canadian, religion [   ], carpenter, yes, yes English.

by 1916 things get a little confused:

Richard Brown Family, 1916 Canadian Census, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada pg. 5, District #14N, City of Winnipeg. line 24, 48, 52, Brown Richard, 175 Magnus, Head, M, Married, age 31, Canadian, Anglican, yes, yes, Proprietor, wholesale paper. Brown Terese, wife, female, married age 31, Holland, Methodist, 1908, nat., father Canadian, mother Dutch, yes, no. English, yes, yes. Brown Richard Anthony, son, m, singled 15 mos. Canadian, Manitoba, Methodist, Canadian, English yes, no, English, Brown Richard, Boarder, male, widowed, age 68 born Canada Ont., Anglican, Canadian, English, yes, no, English, Carpenter, CPR, Goodman, Sarah, female, single, age 16, born Iceland, Lutheran, 1912 al., Canadian, English, yes, no. English, servant.

Somehow the census enumerator mixed things up Arthur ends up with the name Richard? One thing is for certain Arthur has married.