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George Nelson Townsley (1845-)

Annie Maria Noble (1856-)

William George Townsley (1881-1959)

 

Family Links Spouses/Children: Charity Maude Meters Wayne William Townsley+ Lloyd Meters Townsley Harold Goldwin Townsley+ Phyllis Glenna Maude Townsley+ William George Townsley 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Born: 23 Mar 1881, Chinguacousy twp, Peel, Ontario 9 10 11 12 13 Marriage: Charity Maude Meters Died: 17 Nov 1959, Edmonton, AB aged 78 7 13 14 Buried: Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Edmonton 7 13    Another name for William was William.   General Notes: The Pioneer Years, 1895-1914, compiled by Barry Broadfoot, Doubleday Canada Ltd., 1976 ISBN 0-385-09983-5, page 336 The Winters Were Ideal For Curling Curling was big in the West in those days. It was a natural, Everybody could play - why, the women could play right up there alongside the men and they did too. We had a lot of enthusiastic curlers and good ones too. We sent two rinks to the Regina Bonspiel in 1903 and the next year too and they went after the Davin Cup, which was the top award in those days. In both years they brought home the mug. In 1903 Horace Pain's rink won it and the next year it was J.J. Griffith who was skip of the winner. The whole town was proud of them and it was quite a feat, you know, having two winners in two years. We also had our town bonspiel, naturally, and a good one. The winters, of course, were ideal for curling because you could have ice in late fall and there was curling right through to April. In fact, in some years it was such a tough winter that there was too much ice, if you know what I mean. I heard that one year they were curling on good ice in Weyburn on May 1. They didnt get the crop in that year until about May 20, as it seems to me. The way we had our curling set up might be unique, but it showed there was plenty of ingenuity among those early pioneers. You had to have a good rink and the set-up was the council gave permission to William Townsley and William Cripps to build and operated the curling rink. On a rental deal. They went to the town's two lumber yards and rented the lumber for the rink at two dollars a 1,000 board feet. The agreement was that in the spring when they tore the rink down they would pay for any damaged lumber at the regular retail rate. This suited the lumber yards okay, for there wasn't all that much business in winter for them and they were picking up a nice bit of change for renting lumber and getting their own lumber back in the spring. Then they'd sell it to the homesteaders and town people who were raring to start building. It was all good wood. The second thing was where to put this building, which was two sheets of ice. Around the outside was an 18-foot rink where everybody could skate. Somebody came up with the bright idea that if it was going to be torn down every spring, why just not put it in the center of town. Fine, said everybody. So the boys built their rink in the middle of Main Street about 250 feet north of the intersection of Prairie Avenue and it worked well. Our streets were wide. There was still room for a team and wagon to pass on either side. For four years this arrangement worked. Everbody had fine curling. The only trouble was that one year we had a terrible six-day blizzard and the weight of the snow caved in the building. Filled it with snow. Mr. Townsley just fixed it up and carried on. (Both William Cripps and William Townsley had Western Land Grants near Milestone, Sask. Jan 5, 2003, phoned a couple of residents of Milestone, Sask and they confirmed that there is a corner of Main Street and Prairie Ave in Milestone.. jca) _____________________________________________________________________ Birth Registration #024693, 1881, Boston Mills, Chinguacosy twp, Ontario., Ontario Vital Records George Nelson Townsley born the 23 March 1881 in Boston Mills, Chinguacousy twp, Peel County, (close to Brampton, Ontario.) Parents: George Nelson Townsley and Annie Maria Noble - - - - - - - - - - - The obvious question is how does a child registered as George Nelson Townsley upon his birth in March of 1881 and showing up one month later on the 1881 census also as George N. Townsley, turn up on the 1891 census and thereafter as William Townsley and William George Townsley in Edmonton as an adult ? ...The obit for William George Townsley at age 78 in 1959 matches with a birth date of 1881, so no problem there... note by jca The 1901 census in Regina has him age 20 living with his parents in Regina, Saskatchewan with his birth date shown as 13 March, 1881, (Ontario), exactly 10 days different from the birth record in Chinguacosy twp, Ontario. The other children on the 1901 census show slight differences as well in their birth dates. __________________________________________________ 1881 census, film C-13252, Chinguacousy twp, Peel County, Ontario, Division 5, page 29 Townsley, George, male, age 32, born England, Baptist, English Origin, Townsley, Anna M, female, age 22, born Ontario, Baptist, English Origin Townsley, George N, male, age 1/12, (born March), Ontario _________________________________________________ 1891 Census, National Archives of Canada, Muskoka , Ontario, subdistrict of Parry Sound, McDougal and Parry Island, film C6355, page 13 Townsley, George, age 47, b. England, parents born England, Methodist, general laborer Townsley, Maria, age 36, b. Ontario, parents both born Scotland William, age 10, born Ontario Maria,age 9, b. Ontario Jeannie, age 5, b. Ontario Milla, age 2, b. Ontario (note by editor.. it would appear that the age of 47 given here is likely incorrect as the age given in the 1881 census was only 32 as was his wife Maria, age 22. son George W. was age 1.) __________________________________________________ 1901 census, Regina, Saskatchewan, District of Assiniboia (204), subdistrict C-2, polling division 3, Regina Town Centre, page 12 film T-6553 line 1, family 94, Townsley, Geo. male, white, Head, married, birth date 25 Aug 1845, age 55, born England, immigration date 1878, English origin, Nationality: English, religion: Methodist, occupation: Labourer Townsley, A.M, female, white, Wife, married, birth date 20 July 1856, age 44, born Ontario, Scotch origin, nationality: Canadian, Methodist Townsley, Wm. male, white, son, single, birth date 13 March, 1881, age 20, born Ontario, English origin, Canadian, Methodist, occupation: Farmer Townsley, A.M, female, white, daughter, single, birth date 7 Dec 1882, age 18, born Ontario Townsley, J, female, white, daughter, single, birth date 11 Sept 1885, born Ontario Townsley, M, female, white, daughter, single, birth date 1 Nov 1887, age 13, born Ontario ________________________________________________ According to son Herbert Cripps of Kamloops, William C. Cripps had a homestead in Milestone, Saskatchewan, the same location as William George Townsley. Western Land Grant, William George Townsley NW section 32, township 11, Range 18, Meridian W2, National Archives microfilm C-6109 Western Land Grant, George Townsley SE section 32, township 11, Range 18, Meridian W2, National Archives microfilm C-6109 Herbert Cripps from Kamloops says that the only male child of the family was called William Townsley and lived in Edmonton.... the daughters were Annie Marie, Jennie and Lizzie. Oct 31, 2001 __________________________________________________ I checked The Henderson's Directories for Edmonton and found Wm. G. Townsley living in Edmonton from 1922 - 1959 at different occupations and different addresses as follows: 1) 1922 - Employee of Government - living at 9322 - 105 Ave 2) 1923 - No occupation listed - living at 11255 - 96 St. 3) 1924 - Emp. of Mun.Hail Ins. - same address as 1923 4) 1925-1959 - carpenter - living in same house at 11236 - 96 St. 5) 1955 - retired __________________________________________________   Noted events in his life were: • Residence, 1901, Regina, Sask. 17 • Occupation, 1922, Edmonton, AB. 18 1922 - Employee of Government - living at 9322 - 105 Ave • Residence, 1959, 11236, 96 St. Edmonton, Alta. 13 • Residence, 1923, Edmonton, AB. 19 1923 - No occupation listed - living at 11255 - 96 St. • Occupation, 1925-1959, Edmonton, AB. 19 1925-1959 - carpenter - living in same house at 11236 - 96 St. • Occupation, 1952, Edmonton, AB. 19 Wm.G.( Alice ) - h. 11236 - 96 St. - Auto Body Works • Occupation, 1955, Edmonton, AB. 19 Wm. G. ( Maude ) - . h. 11236 - 96 St. - Auto Body Works and retired William married Charity Maude Meters, daughter of Richard Meters and Ann. (Charity Maude Meters was born on 10 Jun 1882 in Hibbart twp, Perth South, Ontario and died about 1968 in Edmonton, AB 13.)

1 1881 census, George Nelson Townsley, Chinguacousy twp, Peel, ON, National Archives of Canada, 1881, film C-13252, Chinguacousy twp, Peel County, Division 5, page 29. :
Townsley, George, male, age 32, born England, Baptist, English Origin,
Townsley, Anna M, female, age 22, born Ontario, Baptist, English Origin

Townsley, George N, male, age 1/12, (born March), Ontario

2 email from Doug Chartrand, Waterloo, ON., Oct, 18, 2001, Douglas Chartrand, Waterloo, ON, Townsley family. :
October 18, 2001

Hi James:
I spent four hours this morning looking for that marriage of yours with no
luck. After I looked for the marriage under the name of Townsley and I could not find them, here is what did find though.

I found a George Nelson Townsley born the 23 March 1881 in Boston Mills, Chinguacousy which is close to Brampton, Ontario. #024693 in Ontario Vital Records.

Parents: George Nelson Townsley and Annie Maria Nobles or Nobbs. The father was farm labourer.

I made a copy of it but it is not very clear, that page was too dark. So I
tried to their marriage by looking for Noble From 1878 to 1882 but no luck.
Either we have to look again under the name of Townsley and or Nobbs.

Thanks, Doug

3 1891 census, Muskoka, subdistrict Parry Sound, Parry Island, Ontario, National Archives of Canada, 1891 census, Muskoka, subdistrict Parry Sound, Parry Island, Ontario. :
1891 Census record, National Archives of Canada , Muskoka, subdistrict of Parry Sound, McDougall, Parry Island, film #C6355, page 22.

CRIPPS, JOHN, age 35, b. Ontario, parents born Ontario, Presbyterian, occupation: teamster

Cripps, Jeannie, age 6, b. Ontario, parents both born Ontario
Cripps, Maggie, age 5, b. Ontario
Cripps, Jamie, age 12, b. Ontario
Cripps, Willie, age 10, b. Ontario.
_____________________________________________________

1891 Census, National Archives of Canada, Muskoka , Ontario, subdistrict of Parry Sound, McDougal and Parry Island, film C6355, page 13

Townsley, George, age 47, b. England, parents born England, Methodist, general laborer
Townsley, Maria, age 36, b. Ontario, parents both born Scotland

William, age 10, born Ontario
Maria,age 9, b. Ontario
Jeannie, age 5, b. Ontario
Milla, age 2, b. Ontario

(note by editor.. it would appear that the age of 47 given here is likely incorrect as the age given in the 1881 census was only 32 as was his wife Maria, age 22. son George (now thought to be actually William was age 1. jca)

4 Hutton, Helen, interview, Nov 2&7, 2001, Mrs. Helen Townsley, Edmonton, AB. Helen Hutton. born, 1914.

She was the wife of Harold Townsley (deceased) , who died Feb 15, about 1994. Harold was the son of William Townsley who was born in Ontario.
She was sure that her husband's father's name was William George Townsley. She thinks that William is buried in the main cemetery in Edmonton. but doesnt know any details of his parentage. She thinks that William Townsley's wife's maiden name was "Meters".
Helen confirmed that her husband Harold had brothers Lloyd and Wayne.
She said that husband Harold was born 21 Nov, 1917 and doesnt know if he had any aunts or uncles.

5 Townsley, George Nelson, birth registration, 1881, Ontario Vital Records, Ontario registration 024693, Chinguacousy Twp, Peel County, Ontario. Date of birth: March 23, 1881
Name: George Nelson
Sex: Male
Name of Father: George Nelson Townsley
Maiden Name of Mother: Annie Maria Noble
rank or profession of father: Farm Labourer
informant: George Nelson Townsley, Father of the Child
residence of informant: Boston Mills
Registration Date: Mar 31, 1881
Name of Accoucheur: Dr. Robertson

6 Townsley, Lloyd Meters, obituary, 1938. Lloyd Meters TOWNSLEY died at the age of 22 years on 28 October, 1938 in Edmonton. At the time he was living at home with his parents and was an apprentice at a firm named Drew Machine Co. He was survived by his parents Wm.G. and his mom Alice Maud, one sister, Phyllis and two brothers, Wayne W. and Harold G. all of Edmonton and living at the same address - 11236 - 96 St.

7 Edwards, Glenn, email, November 24, 2001.

8 Townsley, William George, obituary, 1959, Edmonton Journal, Wednesday, November 18, 1959, page 64. :
TOWNSLEY -- On Tuesday, November 17, 1959. Mr. William George Townsley beloved husband of Mrs. Maude Townsley, of 11236 96th Steet, passed away age 78 years. Besides his loving wife; he is survived by two sons, Wayne and Harold , both of Edmonton, one daughter, Mrs Gordon Carnegie (Phyllis), Entwistle; one sister, Mrs W. Cripps, Clive, Alta; and nine grandchildren. Mr Townsley was predeceased by a son Lloyd in 1939.

The funeral service will be held in the Roy and Owen Chapel of Chimes , corner 108 Steet and 102 Avenue, on Thursday, November 19, at 2:00 pm. Rev J.E. McNeil will officiate, and the interment will take place in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

9 1881 census, George Nelson Townsley, Chinguacousy twp, Peel, ON, National Archives of Canada, 1881, film C-13252, Chinguacousy twp, Peel County, Division 5, page 29.

10 email from Doug Chartrand, Waterloo, ON., Oct, 18, 2001, Douglas Chartrand, Waterloo, ON, Townsley family.

11 1891 census, Muskoka, subdistrict Parry Sound, Parry Island, Ontario, National Archives of Canada, 1891 census, Muskoka, subdistrict Parry Sound, Parry Island, Ontario.

12 Townsley, George Nelson, birth registration, 1881, Ontario Vital Records, Ontario registration 024693, Chinguacousy Twp, Peel County, Ontario.

13 Townsley, William George, obituary, 1959, Edmonton Journal, Wednesday, November 18, 1959, page 64.

14 Cripps, William Gregory, interview, Nov 2, 2001, Greg Cripps, Alberta.. He is sure that William Townsley died in Edmonton, Alberta perhaps 1965-1975. He confirmed that William Townsley's wife was named Maude.

15 Hutton, Helen, interview, Nov 2&7, 2001, Mrs. Helen Townsley, Edmonton, AB.

16 Townsley, Lloyd Meters, obituary, 1938.

17 1901 census, Regina, Saskatchewan, District of Assiniboia (204), subdistrict C-2, polling division 3, Regina Town Centre, page 12, National Archives of Canada, 1901 census, Regina, Saskatchewan, District of Assiniboia (204), subdistrict C-2, polling division 3, Regina Town Centre, page 12, line 1, film T-6553. :
1901 census, Regina, Saskatchewan, District of Assiniboia (204), subdistrict C-2, polling division 3, Regina Town Centre, page 12

line 1, family 94,
Townsley, Geo. male, white, Head, married, birth date 25 Aug 1845, age 55, born England, immigration date 1878, English origin, Nationality: English, religion: Methodist, occupation: Labourer Townsley, A.M, female, white, Wife, married, birth date 20 July 1856, age 44, born Ontario, Scotch origin, nationality: Canadian, Methodist
Townsley, Wm. male, white, son, single, birth date 13 March, 1881, age 20, born Ontario, English origin, Canadian, Methodist, occupation: Farmer
Townsley, A.M, female, white, daughter, single, birth date 7 Dec 1882, age 18, born Ontario
Townsley, J, female, white, daughter, single, birth date 11 Sept 1885, born Ontario
Townsley, M, female, white, daughter, single, birth date 1 Nov 1887, age 13, born Ontario

18 Henderson's directories , Edmonton, AB, Henderson's directories. The Henderson's Directories for Edmonton. Found Wm.G. Townsley living in Edmonton from 1922 - 1959 at different occupations and different addresses as follows:
1) 1922 - Employee of Government - living at 9322 - 105 Ave
2) 1923 - No occupation listed - living at 11255 - 96 St.
3) 1924 - Emp. of Mun.Hail Ins. - same address as 1923
4) 1925-1959 - carpenter - living in same house at 11236 - 96 St.
5) 1955 - retired

The only listing for Lloyd was 1936 where he was listed as an apprentice. At the same time his brother, Wayne was employed at Kenn's Garage ( Service Station ) and Harold as a laborer at Garvie Bolton.

6) 1952 - Harold G. ( Helen ) - h. 8503 - 88 St - one of the owners of Whyte Avenue Body Repairs & Painting
- Wayne W.( Eileen ) - h. 11339 - 110A Ave - proprietor of Townsley's Auto Body
- Wm.G.( Alice ) - h. 11236 - 96 St. - Auto Body Works

7) 1955 - Harold G. ( Helen ) - h. same - work at South Side Auto Repairs
- Wayne W.( Eileen ) - h. same and still proprietor of Townsley's Auto Body & Fender
- Wm. G. ( Maude ) - h. same and retired

19 Henderson's directories , Edmonton, AB, Henderson's directories.

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