1817Info1d: for Martha Crompton |
Introduction
This chapter links very closely with 1817info2a and 1817info2b as both involve the OXLEY family. John LOWTHER married Sarah Elizabeth OXLEY and her maiden name permeated through later generations, particularly Rachel Oxley LOWTHER/STUART. Reference is also made to the OXLEY in James Robert LOWTHER's Attestation papers. There are several spellings of Rachel.
OXLEY of Beverley
17 February 1722 William OXLEY, Cordwainer, apprenticed Rich. Fisher. William Oxley Richard son of Thomas and Ann
| |
c.22may1751 c.06nov1754
d. d.
| |
m.08aug1793 St. Mary and St. Nicholas, m.07sep1802 St Mary and St Nicholas Beverley
| Beverley |
Sarah Mary
Clarkson of Meaux, widow Wise
b.....~1751
d...mar1837
|
| Baptism at St. Mary and St. Nicholas Beverley
|================|================|===============|================||
William Elizabeth Richard Robert
c.29jun1794 c.24jan1797 c.14mar1802 c.12mar1804
d.1stQt1842 d. d. retired d.26may1866 Beverley
| | butcher |
m.15jul1824 m.03dec1849 m.23jun1840
| | |
Elizabeth Maria jane Rachail (sic)
Hobson Stevenson Thompson dau of Mary and John
Youngest daughter of the b.....~1812 b.04jan1812
late L Stevenson Grocer d. c.03feb1812 Bassall (Harton parish)
| d.1stQt1882 Beverley
|
|
|============|============|=============|============|============||
Thomas Sarah Richard Rachel Robert
william elizabeth
b.27jan1841 b.2ndQt1842 b.03may1843 b.2ndQt1845 b.3rdQt1846
d.16mar1926 d.12jan1898 d.08oct1875 d.1stQt1938 d.....+1867
| | | Bridlington Bournemouth
m.30may1864 m.1stQt1875 m.2ndQt1873
| | | Hull
Mary John Annie
Hutty Lowther Abbott
b.10jun1842 c.24oct1841 b.4thQt1843
d...jan1916 d.28may1896 d.20jan1894
|
|============
Rachel
b.....~1874 Beverley
d.20nov1915
|
|
|
|
| Yorkshire Gazette, Saturday 27th February 1836, page 3 |
|---|
|
BRADFORD WOOL MARKET February 25th last by Mr. Richard Oxley of Beverley,
butcher. He discovered that the marks described with those on a lot of 29 sheep purchased
by his brother the week proceeding of a man on the road, near Cherry Burton. Mr. Oxley immediately gave information and on Thursday received from John Elrin of Woodmancy, who had seen his brother barganing for the sheep the name and description of the man, and the place of his abode, He Elrin being acquainted with him to be William Ride. Mr Oxley accompanied by a constable immediately proceeded to Huggate where Ride resided and succeeded in apprehending and bringing him to Beverley, where he was examined and committed to the East Riding House of Correction. |
| Hull Packet, Friday 7th June 1844, page 1 |
|---|
| Richard Oxley and Robert Oxley, Beverley, in the county of York Butchers, under the
firm of Richard and Robert Oxley, was this day dissolved by mutual consent. As Witnessed
our hands this first day of May Rich Oxley, Robert Oxley |
1851 Census Sun/Mon 30/31st March 1851
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref H1O7
Piece: 2359; Folio: 269; Page: 13; Sched: 40
Dwelling: 40 North Bar Within
Place: St Mary's, Beverley, York ER, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Birthplace
Robert Oxley Head M 47 Master Butcher emp. one man Yorks, Beverley
Rachel Oxley Wife M 39 Yorks, Harton
Thomas W Oxley Son S 10 Scholar Yorks, Beverley
Sarah E. Oxley Dau S 9 Scholar Yorks, Beverley
Richard Oxley Son S 7 Scholar Yorks, Beverley
Rachel Oxley Dau S 6 Scholar Yorks, Beverley
Robert Oxley Son S 4 Yorks, Beverley
Mary North Serv S 22 House Servant Yorks, Witherwick
John Bateman Serv S 21 Butchers Journeyman Yorks, Hull
Alice Gillbank Serv S 16 House servant Yorks, Kilnwick
1861 Census Sun/Mon. 7/8th April 1861
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref RG09
Piece: 3568; Folio: 29; Page: 4; Sched: 13
Dwelling: North Bar st, Within
Place: Beverley, York ER, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Birthplace
Robert Oxley Head M 55 Master Butcher emp. one man Yorks, Beverley
Rachel Oxley Wife M 49 Yorks, Harton
Sarah E. Oxley Dau S 19 Spinster Yorks, Beverley
Richard Oxley Son S 18 Butcher's apprentice Yorks, Beverley
Rachel Oxley Dau S 16 Scholar Yorks, Beverley
Robert Oxley Son S 14 Scholar Yorks, Beverley
Ann Porter Serv S 18 House servant Yorks, Riston
Charles Dove Serv S 20 Labourer Yorks, Beverley
Edwd Marshall Serv S 18 Butcher's apprentice Yorks, Beverley
Robert Oxley (Snr.) died aged 62 in the second quarter of 1866 GRO ref: Beverley 9d 79)
| PROBATE, York 1866 |
|---|
| The Will of Robert Oxley late of Beverley in the county of York, Butcher deceased
who died 25th May 1866 at Beverley aforesaid, was Proved at York by the Oath of Thomas
Forge of Beverley aforesaid Gentleman, the surviving Executor. |
Rachel's brother Thomas W was a butcher's apprentice with his uncle, still in Beverley.
1861 Census Sun/Mon. 7/8th April 1861
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref RG09
Piece: 3569; Folio: 74; Page: 23; Sched: 134
Dwelling: Butcher Row
Place: St. Martin's, Beverley, York ER, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Birthplace
Richard Oxley Head M 59 Butcher Master emp 2 men Yorks, Beverley
Mary Jane Oxley Wife M 49 Yorks, Beverley
Thomas W. Oxley Neph S 20 Butcher Yorks, Beverley
Ann Bielby Serv S 25 General House Servant Yorks, Beverley
Mary Botterill Serv S 13 General House Servandt Yorks, Burlington(?)
Joseph Dunn Serv S 26 Butchers Servant Yorks, Skipsea
Being a qualified butcher Thomas William and his uncle Richard decided to set up a partnership in a different location in Beverley. North Bar Street Within, (correctly Within the Bar or town gate) a more up market location is half a mile and seven minutes on foot from Butchers Row.
| Beverley and East Riding Recorder, Saturday 12 January 1867, Page 4 |
|---|
| THOMAS WILLIAM OXLEY RICHARD OXLEY, TWO of the Sons of the late Mr. Robert Oxley, of Beverley, BUTCHERS, beg most respectfully to inform their Friends and Customers that they have purchased the old-accustomed premises in North Bar Street; and that from the 1st January next they will give up the Butcher-Row premises, and carry on their Business wholly in North Bar Street, and they .... |
However, the partnership was short lived with the terminal sale of a vast amount of possessions. Was this the reason for his emigration to Canada?
| Beverley and East Riding Recorder, Saturday 10th August 1867, Page 4 |
|---|
| NORTH BAR STREET, BEVERLEY. MR. WM. LANE begs respectfully to announce that he has been instructed by Messrs Thomas William and Richard Oxley, in consequence of their dissolving partnership, to SELL. AUCTION, on Wednesday, August 11th, 1867 upon their premises in North Bar Within, The whole of the TOOLS, IMPLEMENTS OF TRADE, ...CARTS, HORSES, PIGS, &c., &c., viz.—Bay mare, Sportsman, four years old, bay horse, aged, black horse, aged, brown .. pony, seven years old, also ... It strong store pigs, spring carts with covers, 1 strong cart with shelvings, set silver-mounted ...harness, set cart gearing, several saddles and bridles, saddle horse, head collars, halters, rugs, &e., corn bin. carriage ... jack, wheelbarrow, sundry buckets, forks and shovels, sheep bars, grindstone, iron copper, large cinder riddle and ... fiamo, turnip cutter, bushel measure, broad step ladders, 1 round step do., blocks, pulleys and blocks, felling rope, pairs scales, pairs large do., pair steelyards, ...DO-st. iron weights, set brass do., pair steps, several bills, saws, and knives, large tin dripping bowl, a quantity of hooks, various sundry baskets, large sun shade, neat tray and board, deal table, shop desk, and good eight days’ clock. Also, .. Also, a very superior Stack Cover. Sale to commence One o’clock p.ra. Ladygate, Beverley. TO BE SOLD AUCTION Mr. WILLIAM LANE, the King’s Arms Inn, Beverley, ... |
| Beverley and East Riding Recorder, Saturday 29th June 1867, Page 1 |
|---|
| THOMAS WILLIAM OXLEY, BUTCHER Begs respectfully to inform his friends and the public that he has DISSOLVED PARTNERSHIP with his brother, Mr. Robert Oxley, and will in future carry business on his own account on the premises Toll Gavel lately occupied by Mr Wm. Skinn, where be trusts to receive a continuance of their patronage and support. |
| Hull and Eastern Counties Herald, Thursday 28th January 1869, Page 1 |
|---|
| THE BANKRUPTCY ACC 1861. THOMAS WILLIAM OXLEY late of Beverley, in the East-Riding of the County York and now of No. 70, Leonard-street, in the Borough of Kingston upon-Hull, Merchant’s Clerk, having been adjudged Bankrupt under a petition for adjudication . f .^ nkn filed in the County Court of Yorkshire, holden at Kingston-upon-Hull ..... |
1871 Census Sun/Mon. 2/3rd April 1871
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref RG10
Piece: 4812; Folio: 87; Page: 17; Sched: 82
Dwelling: Sewerby Terrace
Place: Sewerby cum Marton, Bridlington,, York ER, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Birthplace
Rachel Oxley Head Wid 59 Furnished Department Yorks, Harton
Sarah Elizabeth Oxley Dau S 29 Domestic Servant Yorks, Beverley
Richard Oxley Son S 28 Butcher unemployed Yorks, Beverley
Rachel Oxley Dau S 26 Domestic Servant Yorks, Beverley
Note: Her son Thomas William OXLEY has emigrated to Canada in 1870.
In the second quarter of 1873, Richard OXLEY married Annie ABBOTT in Hull (GRO ref: Hull 9d
451).
On 01 March 1875, Sarah Elizabeth OXLEY married John LOWTHER (GRO ref: Bridlington 9d 439).
| York Herald, Saturday 8th March 1875, page 5 |
|---|
| MARRIAGES On the 1st inst., at Holy Trinity church, Bridlington Quay, Mr. John Lowther, merchant, son of the late Mr. J. B. Lowther, to Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of the late Mr. R. Oxley, all of Beverley. |
See 1817info 1c for more information on John and Sarah Elizabeth LOWTHER.
1881 Census Sun/Mon 2/3rd April 1881
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref RG11
Piece: 4799; Folio: 15; Page: 26; Sched: 141
Dwelling: 2 Royal Crescent
Place: Bridlington, York ER, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Birthplace
Rachel Oxley Head W 69 Lodging House Keeper Yorks, Harton
Rachel Oxley Dau S 36 Yorks, Beverley
There was no one else recorded in the house. Rachel OXLEY had no recorded occupation. Rachel OXLEY (Snr.) died in the first quarter of 1882 (GRO ref: Beverley 9d 82) aged 70.
| Beverley and East Riding Recorder, Saturday 11th March 1882, page 5 |
|---|
| DEATHS March 5th, at Beverley, aged 70 years, at the residence of her son-in-law John Lowther, merchant, Crane Hill, Rachel, widow of the Late Robert Oxley, of Beverley. Friends kindly accept this invitation. |
1891 Census Sun/Mon 5/6th April 1891
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref RG12
Piece: 3960; Folio: 23; Page: 35; Sched: 236
Dwelling: 2 Royal Crescent
Place: Bridlington Quays, Yorks ER, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Status Birthplace
Rachel Oxley Head S 46 Lodging House Keeper Yorks, Beverley
Rachel Oxley* Niece S 14 Scholar Yorks, Beverley
plus 12 lodgers
1901 Census Sun/Mon 31st March/1st April 1901
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref RG13
Piece: 4525; Folio: 22; Page: 36; Sched: 243
Dwelling: South View
Place: Bridlington, Yorks ER, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Status Birthplace
Rachel Oxley Head S 56 Loging House Keeper Yorks, Beverley
Maria Oxley* Niece S 25 Yorks, Beverley
plus 6 boarders
* Rachel OXLEY should be Rachel Oxley LOWTHER.
To complicate matters a third generations of Rachel OXLEY is listed in the 1911 census: This Rachel Oxley STUART née LOWTHER, allegedly married for ten years to Archibald R STUART. This relationship is discussed more in 1817info 2a.
1911 Census: Sun/Mon 2nd April/3rd April 1911
Source: TNA Ref: RG14 PN
Reg. Gen. Ref: RG78 PN ; En.Dist: 526; Piece: 28894 Sched:
RegDist: SubDist: Bridlington
Dwelling: South View, Vernon Road
Place: Bridlington, Yorkshire East Riding
Rooms in dwelling, other than scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom: 10
Years married: 10
Children: Alive one, dead none
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Status Birthplace
Rachel Oxley Head S 66 Lodging house keeper Own account Yorks, Beverley
Rachel Oxley Stuart Niece M 34 Housekeeper Worker Yorks, Beverley
Bertha Evelyn Manly Serv 19 Domestic servant Worker Yorks, Nafferton
Charity Pierey Board W 74 Cheshire, Highfield
Maud Mary Pierey Board S 30 Yorks, Lowthorpe
Thomas William OXLEY, 1840-1926, emigrates to Canada
In the second quarter of 1864, Thomas William OXLEY had married Mary HUTLEY (GRO ref: Glandford Brigg 7a 1344).
| 1864 Marriage at Barton on Humber, Lincolnshire |
|---|
| MARRIAGES Thomas William Oxley, age over 21, son of Robert married On 30th May 1864 to Mary Hutty, age over 21 daughter of Peter Hutty. |
 |
 |
| Above: Mary Oxley née Hutty | Above: Thomas Oxley |
There were four children born in Beverley:
|
Thomas emigrated to Canada with his wife Mary and their four children amongst 491
passengers on the SS Prussian of the Allan Line from Liverpool to Quebec,
arriving on 22 April 1870 as a 'farmer'. Emily is declared an infant under 1
year old but the text of this and her 'occupation' is indistinct.
Right: SS Prussian |
 |
 |
| Above: A composite image of Thomas Oxley's immigration
in April 1870 Click on the image to open a scalable pdf image in a new window 2 |
Margaret died in October 1870 at Seneca, Haldimand, Ontario, aged 3. 3
For a short time they settled in Hagersville, Haldimand County, Ontario and then moved some 10 miles east to just north of Cayuga, in Seneca Township. Mary's parents with eight other children settled in Oneida some 10 miles north and across the Grand River.
1871 Census of Canada, township of Seneca, Haldimand, Ontario Page 13, line 12-16 Names Sex Age Country of birth Religion Occupation Married Oxley Tomas W M 30 England CofE Labour M Oxley Mary F 28 England CofE M Oxley Rachel F 6 England CofE Oxley Robert M 4 England CofE Oxley Emily F 2 England CofE
| The Thompsons’ Town: Family, Industry, and Material Culture in Indiana, Ontario, 1830–1900 4 |
|---|
| Thomas William Oxley first showed up in Indiana** in 1870 as a clerk for
Thompson II. Oxley worked as a clerk for Thompson between 1870 and 1871 for $20 per month:
[a clerk respected by many in the town]. Part of his duties as clerk involved continuing a
correspondence with Thompson whenever he was away from Indiana. Beginning in October 1873
there were numerous items of correspondence between both Thompson and Oxley. In addition
Oxley executed a variety of business documents for Thompson including witnessing
signatures on indentures In 1874 Oxley worked for Thompson issuing receipts for grains
sold to Ruthven Mill. In a letter from 1875 he wrote, amongst other things, that the
plaster mill was using too much water and Oxley encouraged Thompson to shut them down.
In the 1871 census Oxley was listed as 30 years old with 5 dependents. He was listed as a clerk for Thompson. He was said to have been born in England and was a Church of England member. According to the Census his wife was named Mary and they had 3 children: Rachel (b.1865), Robert (b.1867) and Emily (b.1869). Apart from working for Thompson, from 1874 to 1877 Oxley worked as a postmaster in Indiana. Apparently he was not averse to doing labour for Thompson because in 1875 Oxley performed statute labour in Deans on Thompson's behalf. He also worked at other jobs for Thompson. In August 1876, October 1876 and in the early months of 1877 Oxley worked for Thompson as a teamster on Dam #1. The references to him as a postmaster and labourer are the last references to him in the Thompson business journals. **Indiana is a ghost town in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada. It was located on the north-east bank of the Grand River, north of Cayuga. The town flourished in the mid to late 19th century as a mill town and base for the river transport trade. Until the 1860s it was the largest industrial town in Haldimand County, but by 1905 it was largely abandoned. Part of the 1,200-acre (490-hectare) town site is now included in the Ruthven Park National Historic Site of Canada. |
Haldiman County is due south of Hamilton, Ontario on the shore of Lake Erie. Seneca, Ontario appears to be an administrative district with York and Caledonia its settlements.
 |
| Above: A 1852 map of Hamilton area of Ontario locating Seneca, Haldimand, the Barton area by Hamilton and Oneida, where the Hutty's lived 5 |
By 1881, Thomas' family had grown and they had changed location to Barton, a suburb of Hamilton, Ontario on the shore of Lake Ontario.
1881 Census of Canada, Township of Barton, District 647 Wentworth South, Ontario Page 3, line 12-22 Names Sex Age Origin Religion Occupation Married School Oxley Tho. William M 40 England CofE Butcher M Oxley Mary F 38 England CofE M Oxley Rachel F 16 England CofE Oxley Robert M 14 England CofE Y Oxley Emily F 12 England CofE Y Oxley Fanny F 9 Ontario CofE Y Oxley Anny F 7 Ontario CofE Y Oxley William M 6 Ontario CofE Oxley Walter M 4 Ontario CofE Oxley Allace F 2 Ontario CofE Green George M 25 A.S. CofE Butcher
In 1891 Thomas has moved to Brenda, Selkirk, Manitoba (MB), moving some after the birth of Ada in 1882, and is now a farmer aged 50 with two farming sons. Thomas' settlement location is Part NW1/4, Section 20, Township 4, Range 26, Meridian 1 west of the principle meridian 1 near Winnipeg in the Province of Manitoba. Brenda, MB very close to the US/North Dakota border near the village Waskada MB and very close to Melita, MB (q.v.) some 360km west-south-west of Winnipeg. I suspect that the municipality of Brenda was incorporated in 2015 with Waskada because of rural depopulation.
 |
| Above: Thomas Oxley's section marked red in township 4, range 20, west of the meridian |
 |
| Above: Thomas Oxley's land grant 6 |
1891 Census of Canada, Township of Brenda, District 647 Selkirk, Manitoba Page 22, line 15-23 Date: 7 May 1891 Names Sex Age Married Origin Religion Occupation Read Write Oxley Thomas M 50 M England CofE Farmer Y Y Oxley Mary F 46 M England CofE Y Y Oxley Rachel F 26 England CofE Y Y Oxley Emily F 22 England CofE Y Y Oxley Fanny F 19 Ontario CofE Y Y Oxley William M 16 Ontario CofE Farmer Y Y Oxley Walter M 14 Ontario CofE Farmer Y Y Oxley Alice F 11 Ontario CofE Y Y Oxley Ada F 9 Ontario CofE Y Y
1901 Census of Canada, Township of Brandon, District 12 Arthur, Manitoba Page 12, line 45-50 Date: 12 April 1901 Names Sex Age Colour Rel Status D of B Origin Immigration Religion Occupa Read Write Lang Oxley Thomas W M 60 White Head M 27jan1841 England 1870 CofE Farmer Y Y E Oxley Mary F 58 White Wife M 10jun1842 England 1870 CofE Y Y E Oxley William M 26 White Son S 11feb1875 Ontario Meth Farmer Y Y E Oxley Walter M 24 White Son S 18nov1876 Ontario Meth Farmer Y Y E Oxley Ada F 19 White Dau S 11sep1881 Ontario Meth Y Y E Oxley Rachel F 36 White Dau S 21mar1865 England 1870 CofE Y Y E
On 31 December 1902, Ada OXLEY married Wilbur A PAUL in Arthur. She died on 23 June 1903 in Melita.
1906 Prairie Census of Canada, Township of Brandon, District Souris, Manitoba Page 4, line 24-30 Date: 24 June 1906 PO Address: Melita MB; Location: Section: 20; Township: 4; Range: 26; Meridian: W1 Names Rel Sex Status Age Origin Immigration Horses Milk cows Meat cows Sheep Pigs Oxley TW Head M M 65 England 1872 16 8 20 - 2 Oxley Mary Wife F M 60 England 1872 Oxley Will Son M S 31 Ontario Oxley Walter Son M S 29 Ontario Oxley Rachel Dau F S 41 England Smith Stanley Serv M S 19 England 1905
Melita is 326km west-south-west of Winnipeg, 30km north of the US/North Dakota border and 28km east of the Saskatchewan provincial border.
 |
| Above: 1903 map of Manitoba locating the township of Melita, the larger district of Brenda and the even larger area of Brandon, mentioned in the various census 7 |
1911 Census of Canada Date: 1 June 1911 Page: 2; Line: 42-43;
Address: District: 23 Souris[ford]; Sub district: 8 Melita, Manitoba
Location: Melita; Dwelling: 22
Name Rel Sex Status Birth date Age Place of Year of Nationality Racial Religion Occupation Employee Education Lang
birth immigration origin Read Write
Oxley Thomas William Head M M January 1841 70 England 1870 Canadian English Anglican City ch clerk Y Y Y E
Oxley Mary Wife F M February 1842 68 England 1871 Canadian English Anglican None Y Y E
It appears that Thomas had moved into the town of Melita, perhaps leaving the dram to his sons William and Walter, who would be listed separately. Thomas had been employed as a clerk, of some indistinct description, for 52 weeks in the year averaging 33 hours a week earning $700 in 1910. Thomas had C$2000 life insurance and Mary C$1000.
1921 Census of Canada Date: 1 June 1921 Page: 1; Line: 14-17;
Address: District: 36 Souris; Sub district: 16 Arthur Manitoba
Type: Single house; Build type: Wood; Number of rooms: 9
Tenure: Owned
Name Rel Sex Status Age Place of Year of Nationality Racial Speak Religion Education Occupation
birth immigration origin En Fr Read Write Status Earning
Oxley William Head M S 44 Ontario Canadian English Y N Meth Y Y Mixed farm Own a/c
Oxley Walter Brother M S 42 Ontario Canadian English Y N Meth Y Y Mixed farm Own a/c
Oxley Thomas Head M W 80 England 1870 Canadian English Y N CofE Y Y Nursery Own a/c
Oxley Rachel Dau F S 54 England 1871 Canadian English Y N CofE Y Y Housekeeper On farm
By Mary died between the 1911 and 1916 censuses. All the children except Rachel, who was looking after her 80 year old father, had moved away. I suspect that William and Walter had moved into a property on the family section as they were adjacent on the census return.
Thomas William OXLEY died in Melita, Manitoba on 16 March 1926. 8
Thomas' sister Rachel visits Melita, Manitoba
On 01 December 1915, a James Robert LOWTHER born in York, England and a rancher by trade, enlisted into the 1st Canadian Pioneers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, aged 35 years and 3 months in Victoria BC as number 48755. He quotes his aunt, Miss R OXLEY of General Delivery, Melita, Manitoba, Thomas OXLEY's sister as his next of kin. In his will of February 1918 and on his US Border Crossing card of 12 December 1927, he quotes his sister Mrs Rachel Oxley STEWART of 'The Pines' Tadworth, Surrey as the beneficiary. Whilst the OXLEY is his mother's maiden name, his given date of birth is 10 August 1880.
In the 1916 Canadian census Rachel is recorded as living with her nephew Robert who appears to live some eighteen enumerator houses from his father, in Melita, a few doors away from her brother.
1916 Census of Canada Date: 1 June 1916 Page: 10; Line: 4-5;
Address: District: 11 Souris; Sub district: Melita Manitoba
Name Rel Sex Status Age Place of Religion Year of Nationality Racial Speak Education Occupation
birth immigration origin En Fr Read Write
Oxley Ths, Wm Head M W 75 England Anglican 1870 Canadian English Y N Y Y Agent
Oxley Rachel Dau F S 51 England Anglican 1870 Canadian English Y N Y Y None
1916 Census of Canada Date: 1 June 1916 Page: 8; Line: 32-37;
Address: District: 11 Souris; Sub district: Melita Manitoba
Name Rel Sex Status Age Place of Religion Year of Nationality Racial Speak Education Occupation
birth immigration origin En Fr Read Write
Oxley Robt Head M M 49 England Methodist 1870 Canadian English Y N Y Y Cook
Oxley Sophia R Wife F M 47 Ontario Methodist Canadian German Y N Y Y None
Oxley Ernest W Son M S 13 Manitoba Methodist Canadian English Y N Y Y Student
Oberlin Sarah M M-i-L F W 77 Ontario Methodist Canadian Scotch Y N Y Y None
Oxley Rachel Aunt F S 71 England Anglican 1915 Canadian English Y N Y Y None
Sinclair Sadie A Lodger F S 11 Manitoba Methodist Canadian Irish Y N Y Y Student
This accounts for quoting her name on James Robert LOWTHER's army papers.
| In the census, Rachel is recorded as immigrating in 1915. Her arrival in in Melita
is recorded in the local Melita news, after an adventurous journey. However, the paper
records her returning home [Melita] having 'visit[ed] the old country',
presumably the UK. However, Ancestry Canada has no record of a Rachel OXLEY arriving
in Montreal prior to 03 October 1915. Similarly, there does not appear to be a record
of Rachel OXLEY entering the UK at Liverpool before 17 November 1916. 9
This Rachel OXLEY was the sister of Thomas William OXLEY who had sold her bed and breakfast in Bridlington - see 1911 census and was moving to Canada. If the Melita New Era account is correct, it took Rachel four days to travel from Montreal to Melita. Her original crossing was an eventful journey, recorded by eyewitness account of the voyage in The Times of 06 September 1915 - see below. Right: An extract from the Melita New Era of 16 October 1915 |
 |
 |
| The
Allan liner
Hesperian 2 was torpedoed at 8.20 on Saturday night off
the coast of Ireland, 130 miles west of Queenstown. DUBLIN 05 September The Allan liner Hesperian, under the command of Captain WS Main was torpedoed off Fastnet at 8.20 on Saturday night. She was bound from Liverpool to Montreal, and carried 314 passengers and a crew of about 250. The torpedo hit the forepart of the vessel. The liner did not sink, and immediate assistance was sent. The news that all passengers had been saved was circulated with the announcements that the ship had been attacked […] ATTACKED IN THE DARKNESS Major H Barree, a passenger, reported:- In company with brother officers was sitting on one of the upper decks after dinner about 8.20pm […] when suddenly I heard a loud detonation, the liner as the same time trembling terribly. All at once an enormous column of water about 50ft in height, was shot up into the air, and before we could realise what had occurred it came down on the deck with a terrible thud, flooding the deck and drenching myself. […] we ascertained from one of the officers that she had been torpedoed by a German |
submarine. It was at this
time almost dark and of course, we could neither have seen a submarine nor a torpedo.
Captain Main was on the bridge when the torpedo struck the ship, and his first order was to lower the away the lifeboats and see that the women and children on board were safely placed in them. […] He also gave instructions to have an SOS wireless message appealing for assistance, and had rockets fired to attract attention of any vessel in the vicinity. The Morse signal was also used. […] I learned from the captain himself, was 130 miles west of Queenstown. […] In lowering away of the lifeboat one of them got capsized, but this was the result of an accident as I understand the “falls” got jambed and someone cut the ropes to accelerate the lowering of the boat into the water [killing 32 people.] The torpedo hit the liner’s starboard side near the second bulkhead. I [Barree] went below to assist closing the bulkheads. […] When we returned on deck many of the boats were in the water full of men, women and children, and we helped lower the remaining boats and saw them safely laden with people [Captain Main and about 20 of his crew |
intended to stay on board.] Later on, when one of his Majesty’s ships came upon the scene and sent boats to the disabled and sinking liner.[…] The liner was down by the bow to about 35ft, but the water was more or less confined to the forward part of the steamer, Captain Main was in great hope of being able to bring her into port. […] The first Government ship to come to out assistance arrived at 9.30pm and she at once proceeded to get the survivors out of the lifeboats. The second vessel arrived about 10.30pm and did likewise, everything being carried out in a most credible manner. Soon after a third vessel, also one of HM ships, came to the scene to render help. LONDON PASSENGERS’ EXPERIENCE […] I put a lifebelt round my wife and also one on myself, and was commanded by one of the officers to get into a boat. In out boat there were in all 45 persons including several Canadian military officers and men, other passengers, several stewards, and a few firemen. When we were lowered into the water the lifeboat was rowed away a safe distance from the liner. […] After two hours in the boat a vessel came up and took us out of the boat. |
On 08 September 1915, The Times Dublin Correspondent telegraphed that HESPERIAN SURVIVORS - Survivors from the Hesperian, to the number of 539, arrived in Dublin from Cork yesterday morning, and afterwards travelled by special steamer to Holyhead. The Times continued to follow the diplomatic arguments for attributing blame for the sinking of the Hesperian. ADMIRALTY PROOF OF ENEMY ATTACK […] the explosion was of such a kind that it must be inferred that it had been caused by a mine rather than a torpedo. […] The explosion was of the type caused by a torpedo, and this is conclusively proved by a fair-sized fragment of the torpedo (now in the possession of the Admiralty) which was picked up on board the ship before she sank. On 25 September 1915 The Times printed a German rebuttal: THE TORPEDOING OF THE HESPERIAN A GERMAN DENIAL BERLIN SEPT. 24 The German Admiralty contracts the statement of the English Admiralty, circulated through Reuters, regarding the Hesperian case, by announcing that it has now been definitely established the Hesperian was not sunk by a German submarine. […] The New York Times reports from Newport News that Captain Smellie, of the steamer Crossby, says he saw the Hesperian being torpedoed.
| The ship never made it. On 6 September 1915, Hesperian succumbed to the
waves, sinking some 37 miles from land and not far from the Lusitania wreck.
Right: SS Hesperian |
 |
Shortly after, Rachel made a second journey.
| Rachel OXLEY, aged 69, was a passenger number 7 on the Canadian Pacific's
SS Missanabie which departed Liverpool on 24 September 1915 bound for Quebec,
arriving 03 October 1915. She is registered as visiting her brother [Thomas W
England. The passenger manifest declares she carried C$75 equivalent to about £1,700
today. 10
Right: Canadian Pacific Missanabie |
 |
Finally, on 17 November 1916, Rachel, aged 76, return to Liverpool aboard the Canadian Pacific's SS Missanable from Montreal for an onward journey to Tadworth, Surrey.
Richard OXLEY 1843-1900
1881 Census Sun/Mon 2/3rd April 1881
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref RG11
Piece: 4750; Folio: 62; Page: 19; Sched: 48
Dwelling: Hen Gate
Place: St Marys, Beverley, York ER, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Birthplace
Richard Oxley Head M 38 Butcher Yorks, Beverley d.1900
Annie Oxley Wife M 36 Yorks, Beverley d.1894
Rachel Oxley Dau S 6 Scholar Yorks, Beverley d.1915
Maria Oxley Dau S 5 Scholar Yorks, Beverley
1891 Census Sun/Mon 5/6th April 1891
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref RG12
Piece: 3907; Folio: 63; Page: 2; Sched: 11
Dwelling: Walker Gate
Place: St Marys, Beverley, Yorks ER, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Status Birthplace
Richard Oxley Head M 48 Butcher Yorks, Beverley
Annie Oxley Wife M 46 Yorks, Beverley
Rachel Oxley Dau S 16 Yorks, Beverley
Maria Oxley Dau S 15 Yorks, Beverley
Their deaths
| Beverley and East Riding Recorder, 27 January 1894, Page 5 |
|---|
| DEATHS January 20th, at Beverly, aged 50 years, Annie wife of Richard Oxley, Butcher. |
| Beverley Independent, 15 December 1900, Page 4 |
|---|
| DEATHS Oxley; - 8th December at the residence of his sister, South View, Bridlington, aged 57 years, Richard son of the late Robert Oxley, of Beverley, Interred at Beverley on Monday, December 10th |
|
In Affectionate Remembrance of ANNIE The Beloved Wife of RICHARD OXLEY (Butcher) of Beverley who died January 20th 1894 Aged 50 Years. ----+---- The Lord gave, and the Lord Hath taken away, Blessed be the name of the Lord. ----+---- Also of RICHARD OXLEY. Husband of the above who died at Bridlington Decr 8th 1900 Aged 57 Years. ----+---- Also RACHEL OXLEY the beloved Daughter of the above who died Nov. 20th 1915. Aged 41 Years. |
 |
| Above: New Walk Cemetery, Beverley (north of St. Mary's Church) |
End notes
With thanks to Chris Glass for his research.
| More information 1 |
 |
Canadian land allocation system
The land system in western Canada was based on a unique checkerboard survey developed for the Prairies by the Canadian government. This system covered 200 million acres and is the world's largest survey grid laid down in a single integrated system. It led to the creation of more than 1.25 million homesteads.
The federal surveyors established seven meridians, which acted as baselines for surveying and numbering the townships. The first (or principal or prime) meridian was established on the international border, near Emerson, Manitoba, at longitude 97° 27' 28'' W (of Greenwich). The second meridian falls on the 102° longitude, near the present-day Manitoba-Saskatchewan border. The third meridian falls on the 106° longitude (Saskatchewan). The fourth meridian falls on the 110°, which is the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. The fifth meridian falls on 114° (Alberta). The sixth on 118° (Alberta). Townships are described according to the last meridian that lies to the east of the township. Therefore, a homestead in southern Alberta is described as "W4M" or "W4" or west of the fourth meridian. Melita: Part NW 1/4, Section 20, Township 4, Range 20 Meridian 1W. Source: Land Grants of Western Canada, 1870-1930 (Accessed: 13 February 2022) |
| More information 2 |
|
The sinking of the Hesperian
Hesperian, of the Allan Line, was a cargo and passenger steamship built by the Scottish shipyard Alexander Stephen and Sons, Ltd., of Linthouse, Glasgow, Scotland. She was launched on 20 December 1907 and embarked on her maiden voyage on 25 April 1908 on the Liverpool – Québec – Montréal route. The ship was named after the Garden of the Hesperides of Greek Mythology, a mythical land to the west, near the Atlas Mountains […] Hesperian was a single-funnel, double screw ship 485.5 feet (147.8 meters) in length and 60.3 feet (18.3 meters) wide. Her size was 10,920 gross registered tons. She could accommodate 210 passengers in first class, 250 in second class, and 1,000 in third class. Starting in January 1910, Hesperian was contracted out to the Canadian Pacific Line. The Allan Line was founded in 1854 as the 'Montreal Ocean Steamship Company ' The company was later known as the Allan Line after one of its founders, Hugh Allan. The line was then under contract with the Canadian Government for conveyance of Assisted Passengers. The German submarine SM U-20 of the Imperial German Navy under the command of the 30-year- old Kapitanleutnant Walther Schwieger was about 85 miles off of Fastnet Rock, Ireland, on the evening of 4 September 1915. Schwieger sighted Hesperian steaming at full speed just hours after the ocean liner had left Liverpool. Through his periscope, he saw Hesperian zigzagging towards him. Even though he did not know the identity or the purpose of the ship, he made the decision to attack. As he did with Lusitania, Schwieger fired a single torpedo at his target. The week prior to the sinking, Count Bernstorff, the Imperial German Ambassador to the United States, had assured Washington that "passenger liners will not be sunk without warning" following the Lusitania sinking. When word reached Germany of Walther Schwieger’s actions, Schwieger was ordered to Berlin in order to justify his actions and apologize officially. He was accused of having sunk another unarmed passenger liner without warning, despite the explicit directions given to submarine commanders not to do so. Kaiser Wilhelm did not want to risk further provocation of the United States. Schwieger complained about his unfair treatment, but in 1917, Schwieger would be forgiven by Berlin. He received Germany’s highest decoration, Pour le Mérite, also known informally as the 'Blue Max.' Schwieger would be killed in action in World War I when his command, the SM U-88, was lost with all hands, presumed to have struck a mine north of Terschelling while outbound from Germany for the French coast. Source: RMS Hesperian (Accessed: 10 February 2022) |
|
 |
|||||||
| This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass |
 |
Version A4 Updated 14 February 2022 |
||||||
