Crawford, James Embree Davis (1847-1920)

James Embree Davis Crawford was an electrician and an advertising agent. He lived at 1883 Beach Avenue from 1903 to 1920.

 

Early Life

James was born on March 14, 1847. His parents were George Edward Stephen Crawford (1821-1905) and Deborah Eleanor Davis (1825-1898). The family lived for many years in Ingersoll, Oxford County, Ontario.

On November 17, 1877, in London, Ontario, James married Rozella Huffman. She was born about 1850 in the United States; her parents were David and Eliza Huffman.

 

To Vancouver

By 1895, James and Rozella were living in Vancouver. James was an advertising agent and an electrician. (According to some reports, James had installed the first telephone in London, Ontario.)

By 1895, James was still an advertising agent, although he had apparently stopped being an electrician. About 1903, the family moved into the house at 1883 Beach Avenue.

 

Divorce

In 1909, Rozella sued James for divorce.

The Seattle Republican, May 21, 1909, page 2, column 2.

 

Later Life

James continued to live  at 1883 Beach Avenue.

In 1913, he received $100 from the federal government for his service during the Fenian raid.

Vancouver Sun, September 17, 1913, page 7, column 3.

 

Marriage to Violet Tomkins

In 1919, James was involved in a sensational legal case. He had had a relationship with Violet Maude Margaret Tomkins, who was about 19 years old.

Violet was born about 1900 in Brisbane, Australia. Her parents were Augustus Tomkins and Violet Elbra. Augustus Tomkins ran a detective agency.

On February 12, 1918, Violet gave birth to a daughter. James provided two Victory bonds to care for the little girl. He later charged Violet with stealing the bonds. In turn, Violet charged James with assault.

The local newspapers carried short accounts of the matter.

Vancouver Province, August 25, 1919, page 14, column 7.

 

Vancouver Daily World, August 26, 1919, page 3, column 3.

The court dismissed the charges against Violet.

Vancouver Province, August 28, 1919, page 22.

 

Vancouver Daily World, August 27, 1919, page 9, column 3.

On October 23, 1919, in Vancouver, James married Violet. (The marriage certificate described James as a widower.)

 

James’s Death

James died in Vancouver on June 10, 1920.

Vancouver Daily World, June 10, 1920, page 19, column 4.

 

Vancouver Daily World, June 12, 1920, page 15, column 4.

His estate was worth almost $16,000, which was fairly substantial for the time. About two-thirds of the estate was personal property; the rest was real estate.

James’s will provided for the maintenance of his infant children; he made no bequest to Violet, on the ground that she would squander the money.

In 1921, Violet had continued to live in the house at 1883 Beach Avenue for a year or so. By January 27, 1921, the trustee of the estate had to go to court; the judge ordered that the whole estate should be invested not only for the children, but also to allow for weekly payments to Violet.

 

Violet’s Marriage to Edward Joseph Hillman

In 1925, Violet married Edward Joseph Hillman in Tacoma, Washington.

Vancouver Province, October 10, 1925, page 8, column 6.

Violet and Edward lived at 1883 Beach Avenue until about 1930.

In 1935, they were at 3392 West Eighth Avenue in Vancouver.

In 1940 and 1941, they were living at 3410 Point Grey Road in Vancouver. Edward was an electrician.

No further information is available for Edward.

 

Violet’s Marriage to Clenis Joslin

On April 27, 1951, Violet married Clenis Joseph Joslin in Seattle, Washington. He was born on August 17, 1907, in South Greenfield, Missouri.

The marriage ended in divorce. On August 25, 1956, in Whatcom County, Washington, Clenis married Victoria Larson. Clenis died on November 20, 1989. He had been living in Arizona.

No further information is available for Violet.

 

James and Violet had a daughter.

 

Rozella Crawford

Rozella Crawford was born in Vancouver on February 12, 1918. (According to an affidavit that Violet filed for the probate of James’s estate, Violet registered Rozella’s birth name as “Rozella Tomkins.” James and Violet were not married until October 23, 1919.)

On September 7, 1940, in Vancouver, she married Edward Joseph Lay.

Vancouver Province, September 21, 1940, page 25, column 1. [Note: Edward’s surname was normally spelled “Lay” without an “e”.]

Rozella died in Vancouver on July 10, 1994.

Vancouver Sun, July 14, 1994, page 24, column 4.

 

Violet had a son, who was born after James died.

 

Thomas Crawford

Thomas was living with Violet and Rozella at the time of the 1921 Canada census, which was on June 1, 1921. He was five months old, so it appears that he was born around the beginning of 1921.

He was still living when Rozella died in 1994.

No further information is available for him.

 

Sources

George Edward Stephen Crawford (father of James Embree Davis Crawford)

George E.S. Crawford, http://www.sprague-database.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I150326&tree=SpragueProject

“Canada Census, 1881,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MVDF-QTM : accessed 20 Sep 2013), G. E. S. Crawford, Ingersoll, Oxford South, Ontario, Canada.

“Canada Census, 1891,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MWL1-MNH : accessed 20 Sep 2013), G E S Crawford, Ingersoll, Oxford South, Ontario, Canada.

“Ontario Deaths,1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JX2W-7WP : accessed 20 Sep 2013), George E.S. Crawford, 1905.

“Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FMFT-PTH : accessed 20 Sep 2013), George E S Crawford in entry for William Washington Griffey and Lydia Jane Crawford, 1872.

“Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8TY-3WR : accessed 20 Sep 2013), Lydia Jane Griffey, 1930.

 

Deborah Crawford (née Davis) (mother of James Embree Davis Crawford)

Deborah Eleanor Davis, http://www.sprague-database.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I150325&tree=SpragueProject

“Ontario Deaths,1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JD5G-C38 : accessed 20 Sep 2013), Deborah Crawford, 1898.

 

James Embree Davis Crawford

John Crawford & Jane Henderson, http://www.k8vfv.com/john%20crawford6.pdf

“Ontario Census, 1861,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MQWZ-HQ4 : accessed 20 Sep 2013), James E D Crawford, 1861.

“Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FMNK-L22 : accessed 20 Sep 2013), George Crawford in entry for James Crawford and Razella Huffman, 1877.

“Canada Census, 1881,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MVD2-QGD : accessed 20 Sep 2013), E.D. Crawford in household of Ella Crawford, Ward 4, London (City), Ontario, Canada.

“Canada Census, 1891,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MWLN-MTW : accessed 20 Sep 2013), Jas E D Crawford, Ward 3, London City, Ontario, Canada.

“Canada Census, 1901,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KHVN-RBS : accessed 20 Sep 2013), James E D Crawford, 1901.

Canada Census, 1901, http://automatedgenealogy.com/census/View.jsp?id=59868&highlight=45&desc=1901+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+James+E.D.+Crawford

Canada Census, 1911, http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/View.jsp?id=63744&highlight=48; http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/View.jsp?id=63744&highlight=48&desc=1911+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+T+E+P+Crawford

“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDZP-NMQ : accessed 20 Sep 2013), James Crawford and Violet Maude Margaret Tomkins, 1919.

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FLKF-5YT : accessed 20 Sep 2013), James Embree Davis Crawford, 1920.

British Columbia Death Registrations, Registration Number: 1920-09-261542, James Embree Davis Crawford.

“James Crawford Dies in St. Paul,” Vancouver Sun, June 12, 1920, page 3; http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ryRlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eogNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6312%2C4902789

James E.D. Crawford, death notice, Vancouver Province, June 11, 1920, page 17; Vancouver Sun, June 12, 1920, page 12, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ryRlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eogNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2785%2C4946855: “Crawford – Passed away at St. Paul’s Hospital June 10, 1920, James E.D. Crawford of 1883 Beach avenue. Funeral service today at 11 o’clock from Messrs. Nunn & Thompson, 531 Homer street, Rev. Dr. J.S. Henderson officiating. Cremation.”

“Crawford Estate to Be Invested for Benefit of Widow and Children,” Vancouver Province, January 27, 1921, page 22.

Crawford, James Embree Davis, probate file; File GR-1415.5459; British Columbia. Supreme Court (Vancouver); Microfilm reel; B08438. Probate P06838; https://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/crawford-james-embree-davis. First page of probate file: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G97Z-F99P-V?i=553&wc=M69J-D68%3A332530701%2C332530502%2C333323201&cc=2014768; last page of probate file: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997Z-F992-K?i=740&wc=M69J-D68%3A332530701%2C332530502%2C333323201&cc=2014768.

 

Rozella Huffman (wife of James Embree Davis Crawford)

“Canada Census, 1891,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MWLN-MT4 : accessed 20 Sep 2013), Rozella Crawford, Ward 3, London City, Ontario, Canada.

 

Violet Tomkins (wife of James Embree Davis Crawford)

“Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKNB-9LV7 : 4 November 2017), E Hillman and Violet Crawford, 24 Sep 1925, Pierce, Washington, United States, Washington State Archives, Olympia; FamilySearch digital folder 004220101.

Ancestry.com. Washington, Marriage Records, 1854-2013 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Reference Number: kingcoarchmc173423. Name: Violet Hillman; Marriage Date: 27 Apr 1951; Marriage Place: Seattle, King, Washington, USA; Spouse: Clenis J Joslin.

 

Clenis Joseph Joslin

“United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2TS-8HG : accessed 3 April 2019), Clenis Or Lenis Joslin in household of Louis C Joslin, Golden City Ward 3, Barton, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 22, sheet 10A, family 243, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 767; FHL microfilm 1,374,780.

“United States Census, 1920,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8WL-DZF : accessed 3 April 2019), Clenise J Joslin in household of Louis C Joslin, Newport, Barton, Missouri, United States; citing  ED 33, sheet 6B, line 90, family 145, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 902; FHL microfilm 1,820,902.

“Nebraska Marriages, 1855-1995,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q298-DHJV : 16 March 2018), Clenis J. Joslin and Cora L. Hoggatt, 16 Sep 1928; citing Fairbury, Jefferson, Nebraska, United States, various county courthouses, Idaho; FHL microfilm.

“United States Census, 1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQK5-Z5N : accessed 3 April 2019), Clenis Joslin, Fairbury, Jefferson, Nebraska, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 12, sheet 12A, line 17, family 335, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1283; FHL microfilm 2,341,018.

“United States Census, 1940,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRTW-S5S : 14 March 2018), Clevis Joslin, Ward 2, Salem, Salem Election Precinct 23, Marion, Oregon, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 24-59, sheet 3A, line 37, family 101, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627.  Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 – 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3374.

“Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPMR-9STP : 28 November 2018), Clenis J Joslin and Victoria Larson, , Whatcom, Washington, United States, Washington State Archives, Olympia; FamilySearch digital folder 007241289.

“United States Social Security Death Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J155-DY8 : 20 May 2014), Clenis J Joslin, 20 Nov 1989; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

“United States Public Records, 1970-2009,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KRHL-7F5 : 23 May 2014), Clenis J Joslin, Residence, San Jose, California, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.

 

Rozella Crawford (daughter of James Embree Davis Crawford)

British Columbia Marriage Registrations; Registration Number: 1940-09-497541; Edward Joseph Lay and Rozella Tomkins Crawford; date of marriage: September 7, 1940-09-07; place of marriage: Vancouver; http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/c9a291ee-3eab-4fb8-b0f2-dea03a5d503d.

British Columbia Death Registrations; Registration Number: 1994-09-013576; Rozella Tomkins Lay; date of death: July 10, 1994; place of death: Vancouver; age at death: 76; http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/030a0269-d777-4157-ac72-9673db008009; medical certificate of death: http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/cd5df315-4cf6-4eda-a19d-85cd77ce834c.