Friday 25 July 2014

Catherine Elizabeth Blakely

Catherine Elizabeth "Cassie" Blakely was born on July 23,1874 in Flesherton Ontario to Thomas Blakely and Margaret Isabella Orr

In 1899 She married William Currie and moved to Ohio.  
The couple had four children; 
Ella Currie, 
Walter Blakely Currie, 
Samuel Robert Currie,
 William Carl Currie.



Daughter Ella Currie Hancox
son Sam Currie


Thursday 24 July 2014

Margaret Isabella Orr


Margaret Isabella Orr was born in 1837 in Streetsville,Ontario. She was the daughter of Joseph Orr and Margaret Donaughue.
Joseph Orr and Margaret Donaughue.
In the fall of 1854 at the age of 17, she married Thomas Blakely. The marriage entry gives Trafalgar, Ontario as the marriage place but the archives has it filed under York.

By 1955, the couple had moved to Grey county, Ontario and settled in the Artemesia area.

Thomas and Margaret had eleven children.

Joseph Alexander born 1855
George born 1857
Mary-Jane b 1858
William Guy b 1861
Thomas b 1863
John b 1865
Margaret b 1870
 Ephriam b 1867
Catherine (Cassie) b 1874
Andrew b 1872
Walter b 1876

Thomas died in 1877 leaving Margaret a widow at a young age. In 1892 she married George Best of Flesherton.



Margaret died Feb 23,1913 in Toldeo Ohio.

Tuesday 15 July 2014

William John Blakely


William John Blakely was born January 16, 1922 and was the only child of Aleath Leone Blakely.
 The identity of his father has not been confirmed but some of his war records list him as William Welsh.



In 1941 at the age of 19 he enlisted with The Royal Canadian Air Force ,405 Sqdn. His regiment # was R/165968
Bill was killed January 3, 1944 in Germany.According to records from the 405 Squadron, he was part of a crew in a Lancaster that was shot down by a night-fighter and crashed into Schoonebeek  He is buried in Hanover War Cemetery in Germany. Coll. grave 6. G. 2-7. 


William had no spouse, siblings or children. He is the family member that I pay tribute to each Remembrance and D-Day so that he will not be forgotten.





Books of remembrance page from Veterans Affairs Canada 
Sites that mention Bill Blakely
Lostaircraft.com - This page has more details of his lost flight

Sunday 13 July 2014

Aleath Leone Blakely

Aleath and her son William Blakely

Aleath Leone Blakely was born Sunday May 24,1896. She was one of two daughters born that day to Thomas Alberton Blakely and Hannah M Lever. Her twin sister Leeta May died during the birth.

Birth Record of Aleath and Leeta Blakely - Flesherton Ontario


Aleath had one child whom she raised on her own. Sgt.William John Blakely 1922-1944. Bill was killed overseas in WWII while serving in the airforce.

Aleath and son Bill


Aleath on far right

Aleath died on September 7,1962 in Dunville,Ontario. She is buried in Flesherton Cemetery.


Hannah Margaret Lever


Hannah Margaret "Maggie" Lever was born on November 3,1861 in Artemesia Township, Grey County,Ontario.She is the daughter of Roger Lever and Rebecca Holley.

Maggie's mother Rebecca Holley
Father Roger Lever

Maggie ran a local dress-making shop and many girls came to her home to apprentice as dressmakers.


March 27,1884  Flesherton Advance


1885 Flesherton Advance
March 24, 1887 Flesherton Advance
April 21, 1887 Flesherton Advance


Thursday 10 July 2014

Monday 7 July 2014

Thomas Clifford Blakely

Thomas Clifford Blakely was born on June 16, 1892 in Dundalk, Ontario, Canada. He is the son of Thomas Blakely and Hanna Lever.



When he was a young man he studied to be a tailor under his mother's teaching.

1911 

Cliff Blakely on right

At the age of 23 he enlisted in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force and served with the 147th Battalion . He went to France with the 38th Battalion as Tailor Sergeant. 

Cliff Blakely - World War One

Clifford Blakely WW1 enlistment record. 






Photo taken 1919 in Flesherton. I wonder if it was taken the day the newspaper article "Returned Soldiers" is referring to. L-R  (not sure who the woman is white is, Clifford ( in uniform) Hanna Lever Blakely, Gord Blakely, Pearl Blakely Stafford and I believe the girl in front is Luella Blakely.


Cliff Blakely WWI
On May 18,1920 he married Mary James Cummings, daughter of James and Margaret McMahon. The couple were married at High Park Presb. Church in Toronto.

Clifford and Mary's marriage record.


He and Mary had three children. Kenneth Clifford, Margaret Mary and Marion Frances.

1922



1923




Cliff and his sister Pearl


Cliff and Mary

Clifford passed away on Feb 7 ,1970. His wife Mary died in 1974. They are buried in Elmdale Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Thomas,Ontario.



Thursday 26 June 2014

Lillian Pearl Blakely

Lillian PEARL Blakely was born on Feb 6 1898 in Flesherton,Ontario. She was the daughter of Thomas Alberton Blakely and Hannah Margaret Lever.





Pearl,Gordie and Luella Blakely - Flesherton c 1910





She married Harry Stafford in Toronto on November 5,1918. 


The couple raised six children at their house at 92 Garnet ave in Toronto. 
  • William
  • Walter
  • George
  • Jack
  • Douglas
  • Dorothy




Pearl Blakely and Harry Stafford. Baby William Stafford C 1922



Pearl Stafford with children William, Walter "Bud" and baby George.
L-R George,Bill,Bud and baby Jack Stafford 1927

Lillian Pearl Blakely








Pearl and brother Gord Blakely
Jack Stafford and mother Pearl Blakely. Sarnia Ontario