Notes:

George Fern was a gymnast when young. During World War 1 he served in the British Army in the Medical Corps. After the war he married Doris Schofiled and emigrated to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada where many of his family had settled. He found work at the Canadian Westinghouse Company as a stockkeeper until his death. He was noted for his photographic memory of numbers which was invaluable in keeping track of the model and part numbers of the many thousands of parts in his charge. He was the subject of a feature article on his unusual ability in the Hamilton Spectator.

He ventured to California and other places prospecting for gold.

Buried:
George is buried in Block A - 77 space 3 at White Chapel Cemetery.

George married Doris Elizabeth (Barnes) SCHOFIELD on 14 Apr 1923 in Bolton, Lancashire, England. Doris was born on 15 May 1898 in Bolton, Lancashire, England; died on 20 May 1951 in Hamilton, ON. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living

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]