| Note |
- Marriage: as per family records they were married in 1883 in Liverpool. There is no record of this in England. However, the Moosomin book states that they came to Canada in 1882. If this is true, they couldn't have been married in Liverpool in 1883. Could be the reason the marriage can't be found in England. Homestead records say they obtained entry to their homestead on July 4/9, 1883. Could they have lived elsewhere before?
- As per Michael Ginn, researcher in Essex, England:
No trace of marriage Frances Evelyn Dutton to William John Wood anywhere 1882-4 (that is anywhere in England or Wales). Have sent second request to check 1877-1881.
Baptism: Copy of original parish register of Cotes Heath in Eccleshall in the county of Stafford in the year 1856 and 1857 (Page 27) as copied from the IGI index. (Reel....)
When baptized: 1856, December 21st, No. 215
Child's Christian Name: William John
Parent's Name (Christian & Surname): William Addison & Clara Margaret Wood
Abode: Cotes
Quality, Trade or Profession: Farmer
By whom the ceremony was performed: Edw. T. Codd, Curate
Stories:
1) As per Moosomin Century One Town and Country book:
- Pages 483 and 484.
William John Wood, eldest of fifteen children, was born in 1856 at "Cotes", Staffordshire, England. He and Evelyn Dutton were married in Liverpool and emigrated to Canada in 1882. They claimed a homestead on 24-14-30. William walked to Birtle, Man. to file a claim for his land.
For the first year Mrs. Wood saw no one but her husband. Later a family by the name of Atkin came. They could hear the gunfire from Fort Ellice during the Riel Rebellion. William hauled wood from Fort Ellice to Moosomin for $.50 a load.
Flour and sugar sacks were the "in thing". They were used to make dresses, slips and night wear. When trimmed with a gay piece of print a girl was dressed up.
They raised a family of eight children and were among the first pupils in Little Bluff School. William (Will) and wife Edith lived in Little Bluff. May and Percil Begg resided at Little Bluff. Frank and Barbara (Gibson) took over the homestead. Their children Christina, Mabel and Raymond attended Little Bluff and Moosomin. Due to ill health Frank rented the farm and moved to Moosomin. He is now deceased. Barbara and family now live in Alberta. Grace married Tom Miller and resided in Winnipeg. Mabel married Alfred Wicks. Wilfred (Whit) married Marion Lee of McAuley. Whit was barber for many years in McAuley when hardcuts were $.25 and $.35. Florence married Sid Simpson and is in Winnipeg. Ina is the only remaining member of this family. She married Henry Mallett and they farmed near McAuley. Their family of three are Joyce, John and Ruth. They are all married with families. Ina and Henry now reside in Virden, still enjoying hockey and baseball.
There is a picture of William John Wood, William Henry Wood and great-grandson, Donald Morrison.
- Page 166
There is a picture of the Pioneers' Sixtieth Anniversary, (1883-1943). On June 21st, 1943, those whose names are recorded herein gathered at the Grand Old Pioneer Town of Moosomin, Province of Saskatchewan, (formerly Assiniboia, N.W.T.) and took part in celebration commemorating their arrival there in 1883. Frances Wood (Dutton) and William John Wood are included in this picture. They are shown to be from Moosomin, Sask.
- Page 469
There is a copy of a memo to obtain the services of a teacher (Mr. Oscar W. Roberts) for the Little Bluff School Disctict #387 on April 14, 1908 that is signed by 3 people including W.J. Wood.
[About the Little Bluff School Disctict #387.] This district was formed in 1898 consisted of fifteen sections along the west side of the Manitoba boundary. Mrs. W.J. Wood is credited for naming the school. The first board of trustees were: J.B. Crosson, W.J. Wood and A. Draper. In April, 1899 our school [one room] was build by Mr. J. Rogers for the sum of $385. Classes started in May of the same year with Sadie Cleland as the teacher. Her salary was $30 per month with board costing $6 per month. The school term was from April to October with an enrollment from nine to fourteen. In 1923, an addition was built with a basement and a furnace. Enrollment in the 1920's and 30's was 30 to 45 pupils. [In 1945 the school was closed] and the few pupils were taken by their pupils to Stanley. The school was remodelled in 1954 and classes began with 10 pupils. The larger school unit took over in 1960 so pupils travelled by school bus to Moosomin. Little Bluff School was sold to Mr. Fred Crosson at McAuley, Man. for a home on his farm. The barn was purchased by Norman Flynn.
- Page 470
[About 1882 settlers.] Many settlers came around 1882 from Ontario and England to homestead. Names from a ledger book include Wood, Atkin, Crosson, Begg, Draper, Hislop, Plewes, Morton, Fyke, Smith, Demmick, Whyte, Anderson, Kennyon, Baskerville, Snyder, Cordle, and Santer. Farms remaining in the family are Wood, Crosson and Purdey while Flynn's land is rented. Telephones were installed in 1912 saving many a walk. Cars were taking over and horse and buggy were fewer. Roads were built, homes added to and landscaping done. In the 1920's rural mail service was welcomed. The "dirty thirties" slowed down progress but people gathered for picnics, for berry picking, dances and socials. The year 1958 brought the Trans Canada Pipeline Station to our district; NW 23-14-30. Church services in earlier years were held at the Demmick home and later at Bethel in Stanley. During the summer Sunday School was taught in the Little Bluff School. Neighbours enjoyed visiting, house partied with cards and games, dancing to their own music and skating on ponds. Many were keen hocky, baseball and football players. The ladies of the district worked on knitting and sewing for the Red Cross and kept parcels of goodies going to their boys in service.
There are two school pictures of Little Bluff classes. First is class of 1930-1931 (including Norman Flynn, Dorothy Wood, Edith Wood, Muriel Flynn, George Flynn, Welford Flynn, Russell Begg, Harry Wood, Cathie Flynn, Frank Begg and others). The second is the class of 1954 (including Christena Wood, Mabel Wood, Russell Flynn, and others).
- Page 471
There is a map of the Little Bluff School District (not sure what year). There is much land owned by Wood's, Begg's, Flynn's, Cowan's, Joll's.
- As per a letter received from Joyce (Mallett) Poole, Dec 2, 1991. This is not written exactly as Joyce wrote it.
William and Frances Wood's house was built in the side of a hill - the kitchen window was level with the ground. Frances had a binder wheel planted with pansies that bloomed gloriously every summer. [Maybe that's where Ina
(Wood) Mallett's love for pansies came from]. There were some trees on the farm that Ina and her sisters planted. There was many a card game played by the men into the wee hours around the kitchen table. They had a gramaphone with the old tubular records. Joyce used to love playing them. Joyce stayed with these grandparents when her brother John was born.
- Joyce's notes on William John Wood - he was tall and lean. Smoked a pipe that always seemed to be in his mouth.
- Virden Story (page 79)
Town Councillor 1891 - W. Wood
As per Ruth Dunning (Jan/92): Grandpa & Grandma Woods lived about 3-1/2 miles from our farm. I loved going there because they both spoiled us kids rotten. We used to sit in their garden and eat peas and carrots all afternoon. Grandma also had a big crock in her pantry that was always full of raisins. Mom would say, get out of the pantry, and Grandma would say, leave her alone, raisins are better for her than candy. A great place to go.
|
- Residence: Sec 24, Tp 14, Rge 30, W-1, N.W.T. (Saskatchewan now). This is Little Bluff Disctict. Found in Cummin's Eastern Saskatchewan Rural Directory 1922 - by Fleming.
- As per homestead records from the Sask Archives Board:
William and Frances obtained entry to their homestead July 4, 1883. They built their house on this land in October 1883 and began living there November 12th, 1883. They started out with two horses. In 1885 they got 1 pig and in 1886 they had 9 pigs. There house was a frame house 16x18 worth about $200.00. They also had a sod stable 14x20 and a pig pen (combined worth $50.00). They claimed patent for this homestead under the provisions of the Dominion Lands Act of 1883. This was not applied for until Dec 23, 1886.
In a sworn statement by James Begg of Sec 30, Tsp 14, Rge 29 of 1st meridian Mr. Begg states that the Wood's made his homestead his permanent residence "from date of entry". Does that mean entry into Canada? Sworn statement of Alexander Begg of Sec 24, Tsp 14, Rge 30 of 1st Meridian says the same thing.
Later records say he obtained entry to homestead on July 9, 1883.
|
- Winnipeg Free Press, Monday, December 1, 1947, page 10, under Deaths and Funerals.
"WILLIAM HENRY WOOD - MCAULEY MAN. - A resident here since 1883, William Henry Wood, 91, died early Monday. Born in England, Mr. Wood came to Canada in 1883. His wife died in 1946. Surviving are five daughters Mrs. M. Begg in British Columbia, Mrs. Grace Miller of Winnipeg, Mrs. Mabel Page of Chicago, Mrs. Florence Simpsom of Transcona and Mrs. Ina Mallett of McAuley; three sons William, Frank and Whit all of McAuley, 26 grandchildren and 23 great - grandchildren."
- Above posted on Ancestry.com by RP 12 Oct 2001
For information only. The poster is not related to the above nor is researching any of them.
- I believe this obituary to be in error. The name should read William *John* Wood (not William Henry Wood).
|
1856 - 1947 (91 years)
[2] 
