Four Gudgins to the Far Four Corners of the Earth

Harry Oswald Gudgin, his brother Leonard and two of their sisters, found reasons to leave Battersea, England for far flung British Commonwealths - Canada, New Zealand, Austrailia and South Africa. It's a story that must be discovered in more depth. Why do four of six children of a School Master in Battersea, England leave for such far off places. What sead did the parents sow that they just had to save their pence and board ships for weeks to begin new lives?

We may never know, but there is a sad twist to this story - Harry and his younger brother Leonard both turned around and enlisted to serve in France - one for Canada and the other for New Zealand. Leonard died in France in 1917. It would be so interesting to have both their service records and to know more about Leonard - why he chose to be a sheep rancher, etc. the metal shown left is of the New Zealand Expeditionay Force and must have been Leonards.

So, I'm on a quest - a journey via internet...let's see what I can find.

Nancy Ellis Lowe

Nancy Ellis must have married David Lowe in England at a very young age. We assume this because we have a record of their immigration to the U.S. in 1874 aboard "Ontario", departing Liverpool and arriving 6 Sept. Nancy and David are listed as age 25. Along with them are Anna, age 1; Agnes, aged 5; and Charles age 8.

IF Charles is their son (and he may not be) they would have been 17 at the time of his birth. They went on to have at least two more sons: George Edward, born March 15, 1884 in Innisfil (Barrie); and Thomas, born Oct 1, 1890. (Anna would go on to testify as to her brother George's birth).

Nancy died 11 March 1904 at the age of 57, in Thorton (near Barrie). Sadly, her husband David would end up living as a boarder in a rooming house, working at a horse stable (1911 Canadian Census). He dies 28 Sept., 1930, 26 years later.

George Edward Lowe, Birth Record

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George Edward was born in Innisfil, Ontario, March 15, 1884. This record was attested to by his older sister Annie Gartner of Barrie, stating that she was present at the birth. It is dated July 1941.

David Lowe, Death Record

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Dies of heart failure and old age...attested to by son-in-law Mr. Gartner.

David Lowe Immigrates with Family - 1874

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Aboard the ship "Ontario", David brings wife Nancy and three kids...

David Lowe - 1911 Canadian Census

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Listed as boarder in rooming house in Barrie, aged 60, working in the horse stables.

Lowe Grandfathers ...

The first Lowe to step foot on Canadian soil was David Lowe and his wife Nancy, both aged 25. With them were their three children, Charles, age 8, Agnes, age 5 and Anna, age 1. They left England at Liverpool aboard the "Ontario" and entered Canada on September 6, 1874.

David was born May 15, 1848 in England. He died September 28, 1930 in Barrie Ontario. He had lived in Barrie for 30 years (between 1910 and 1930) according to his death certificate. He is listed as a retired Stonemason.

In 1901 the family is listed living in the Barrie area (Simcoe South/Essa). The family had grown to include George Edward, father of Gerald Kenneth Winfried. But by 1901 the family included only three members: David, Nancy and Thomas (a son born in 1890). By 1911, Nancy had died and David took a room in a boarding house and worked in the horse stables.

Also listed on his death certificate is his father and mothers names: William and Ann, both born in England. George Edward is listed on the 1901 Census: age 17, living in Innisfil, working as farm labour in the home of James Hunt (wife Sarah and daughter Maggie).

Of course George Edward goes on to marry Lulu Griffin on June 6, 1906 in Barrie.