Notes:

The following was written by James Henry Moore, elder son of Edith (Fern) Moore.

"My mother, Edith Moore (nee Fern), was the youngest child of Henry Fern, Packing Case Maker, born June 23, 1857, Hulme Charlton, Manchester, England and Ellen Downes, born December 10, 1859, Louth, Lincolnshire, England, with four sisters and three bothers. Henry and Ellen were married March 27, 1880 and their first child, Margaret, was born February 8, 1881.

"My mother was born April 9, 1896 and her mother, Ellen, died March 25, 1902 in Bolton, Lancashire when my mother was five years old. Her father did not remarry and continued to live in Bolton, Lancashire until his death in 1937. In Lancashire it was customary for girls to go into the textile mills to work at an early age (10 - 12) and my mother's sisters were already working when their mother died.

"School started at age three and my mother, who was five, and her brother George, who was eight, were students at the time of their mother's death so that none of the familty were at home on a continuous basis requiring constant supervision. At the time of their mother's death, the two older sisters, Clara at 20 and Margaret at 21 years of age, took over her responsibilities in the home and gave guidance and protection to the younger children. And when they married a few years later, they continued to shoulder the responsibility for their "baby sister" with help from Beatrice and Emma who were then also old enough to provide the necessary assistance and guidance to their "baby sister."

"In Lancashire, in the decade before World War I (which started in 1914), there was a definite trend towards emigration to Canada and this family was no exception. Although Henry, the father, stayed behind in Bolton, by the time war was declared the entire family had relocated to the east end of Hamilton, although brother Jim was soon to move to Arizona and susequently to Los Angeles and, some time later, Beatrice and Emma were to relocate in San Francisco.

"During the war years (1914 - 1918), my mother was at the stage of her life when girls normally had an active social life and she was no exception. She was active in the Y.W.C.A. and excelled in gymnastics. She was active in volunteer work with the Red Cross and, in 1917, at the age of 21, she was made a Life Member of the Canadian Red Cross Society for her efforts in raising money.

"At that time, she was working at the Hamilton Westinghouse plant testing gas meters. When she first arrived from England, she worked in the knitting mills which was the most logical occupation for an immigrant from Lancashire, the centre of the English textile industry.

"She had a boyfriend who went away to the war and did not come back.

"In 1918, she decided to visit her brother Jim who was in Arizona prospecting for gold. While she travelled by train for most of the trip, she finsihed up travelling by stage coach to reach her destination. She spent some time there and then moved with him to Los Angeles before deciding to return to the Hamilton area.

"She met my father in 1919 and they were married May 12, 1920. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1970 with many good wishes including a telegram from Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

"My mother was a very outgoing, social person. During the early days of her marriage, while she lived in Mount Hamilton, she was an active member of the Mount Hamilton United Church and Ladies Auxiliary. She was also a hard worker in the Ladies Institute in that area. After relocating at 40 Stirton Street in Hamilton, she transferred her activities to St. Giles United Church where she was, again, very active in the Ladies Auxiliary.

"In 1979, she was formally recognized for 62 years of volunteer service when she received her second citation from the Red Cross.

"During her lifetime, she enjoyed music and played both violin and piano, although she was more accomplished as a pianist. Even during the closing years of her life, she retained the ability to play for others.

"After my father died in 1972, she remained a widow, living alone in her apartment on Balmoral Avenue at the Delta, except for a few years when she was joined by her sister, Beatrice, who died February 2, 1981. Eventually, it was necessary for her to move into St. Joseph's Villa, Dundas, in June, 1984, where supervisory care was available.

"Edith Moore died October 21, 1990 in her 95th year from congestive heart failure."

Died:
Edith died of congestive heart failure in her 95th year.

Buried:
Edith is buried with Lorne in the Fairmount Block of the cemetery in plot 238.

Edith married James Lorne MOORE on 12 May 1920 in Hamilton, ON. James (son of James Albert MOORE and Luella (Ella) Jane MATTICE) was born on 19 Apr 1894 in Charlotteville, ON; died on 16 Jul 1972 in Hamilton, ON; was buried in White Chapel Cemetery, Hamilton, ON. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. James Henry MOORE, U.E. was born on 14 Aug 1921 in Hamilton, ON; died on 27 Sep 2012 in Burlington, ON.
2. Joseph Lorne MOORE, U.E. was born on 9 Jan 1924 in Hamilton, ON; died on 11 Jul 1996 in Stoney Creek, ON; was buried on 13 Jul 1996 in Stoney Creek, ON.

Notes:

About 1888, Henry's family moved to Bolton near George Fern and his family. Henry's wife, Ellen (Downes) Fern, died in 1902 and his children had all moved to Canada and the USA by the early 1920s. His nephew, Alfed Fern, looked after his funeral when he died in 1933. He is buried in All Souls churchyard with his wife.

Died:
Alan Eatock's records show his death in 1933.

Buried:
Henry is buried in All Souls churchyard, Bolton, with his wife, Ellen.

Henry married Ellen DOWNES on 7 Mar 1880 in Salford, Lancashire, England. Ellen (daughter of James DOWNES and Sarah Rebecca TAYLOR) was born on 10 Sep 1859 in Louth, Lincolnshire, England; died on 25 Mar 1902 in Bolton, Lancashire, England; was buried in 1902 in Bolton, Lancashire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Ellen Downes birth certificate reads. "10 Sep 1859, Born, Ellen, dau of james Downes, Private in the 4th Regiment of Foot, and Sarah Downes, formerly Taylor, at Healey's Court, Louth, Lincolnshire."

When Ellen Downes father, James Downes, retired from the Army, the family moved to Salford where she married Henry Fern, a packing-case maker. Her first four children were born there. Then she and her family moved to Bolton where the other children were born.

Buried:
Ellen is buried in All Souls churchyard with her husband, Henry, in Bolton.

Notes:

Married:
Henry and Ellen were married at St. Clement's Church, Salford, Lancashire.


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Notes:

Henry's first wife, Margaret, died in 1867 and his infant daughter, Clara, died soon after. In 1876, he married Margaret's young sister, Elizabeth, 20 years his junior. (See notes with Elizabeth Pybus)

Henry married Elizabeth PYBUS on 25 May 1876 in Hulme Charlton, Manchester, England. Elizabeth (daughter of Benjamin PYBUS and Elizabeth TAYLOR) was born in 1830 in Manchester, Lancashire, England; was christened on 30 Mar 1851 in Manchester St. Andrew Ancoats; died about 1880. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Margaret gave birth to Clara in March of 1867 and died in 1867. The infant Clara also died in 1867, "a few months after her mother."

Notes:

Married:
Elizabeth was the younger sister of Margaret, Henry Fern's first wife. They were married in Manchester Holy Trinity Church at Hulme. According to Alan Eatock's account, the 1871 census states that Elizabeth lived with her brother-in-law Henry Fern and his family at 28 Robert St., Ardwick, Manchester. She was about 20 years old at the time and her sister Margaret had died about 4 years earlier. Henry had seven children at the time of the 1871 census, the eldest being 17 or 18. Alan Eatock states, "He was, however, incorrectly listed in the 1871 census as married. (Henry did not marry Elizabeth Pybus until 1876.)" Alan Eatock's account shows two of the three children born to Elizabeth and Henry Fern arrived before the marriage in 1876.

Notes:

Died:
An "In loving memory" card dated February 1893 gives James Downes' age at death as 69 but according to the birthdate given in his military records, he would have been 75.

James married Sarah Rebecca TAYLOR on 28 Sep 1858 in Louth, Lincolnshire, England. Sarah (daughter of Joseph TAYLOR and Susanna BURNETT) was born on 31 Mar 1843 in Tetney, Lincolnshire; died in 1903 in Salford, Lancashire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

When her husband, James Downes, left the army on pension, they moved to Salford, Lancashire, where they later died.

Died:
The account by Alan Eatock reads, "died 1903 3rd quarter."

Notes:

Married:
James met Sarah while he was a member of a recruiting party at Louth, Lincolnshire. They were married at "the Parish Church, Louth , Lincolnshire" and, at the time, she gave her age as "full age" but was really about 15 1/2 years old.

George married Sarah HENSHAW on 27 Feb 1832. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
In Alan Eatock's record published in 1999, he states that Benjamin died in the "2nd quarter of 1873."

Benjamin married Elizabeth TAYLOR on 29 Oct 1825 in Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According to the great-grandchildren of Lawrence Downes, Margaret Emma Fern, Beatrice Fern and Emma Fern, he was opposed to his son James' joining the Army, especially since James was underage. Lawrence "bought him out" several times before giving in and allowing him to remain in the army.

Joseph married Susanna BURNETT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]