Dickie, Robert Donald (1866-1957)

Robert Donald Dickie was a real estate broker. He lived at 1101 Gilford Street in 1910.

Robert Donald Dickie’s background is unclear. The 1911 Canada census stated that he was born in Ontario in August 1888. When he signed his attestation papers to become a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1915, he said that he was born in Calcutta, India, on November 5, 1875. The 1921 Canada census said that he was born in Scotland about 1867, and that he came to Canada in 1909, along with his wife, Lillian, and his son, Albert. Finally, Robert’s death certificate said that he was born in Scotland on November 5, 1865.

There was a person named Robert Donald Dickie who was born in Logie-Pert, Angus, Scotland, on November 4, 1866. He may have been baptized on November 16, 1867. His father was John Dickie, and his mother was Mary Tocher.

Robert was married to Lillian Orford. She was born in England on July 9, 1865. Her parents were John and Lillian Orford.

Robert Donald Dickie appears to be one of the developers of the Dufferin Hotel, which went up at the southeast corner of Smithe Street and Seymour Street about 1911. (More information appears at Changing Vancouver: Dufferin Hotel – Smithe and Seymour Streets; https://changingvancouver.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/dufferin-hotel-smithe-and-seymour-streets/.)

District:	Vancouver
Permit:
Owner:	Dickie & Dogmore [or Dugmore]
Architect:	Parr & Fee
Builder:	Ryan, E. J.
Legal Address:	DL: 541 Block: 74 Sub: Resub: Lot: 1 to 4
Date (Y-M-D):	1910-10-05
Street Number:	536-540
Street Name:	Smithe Street [and Seymour]
Value:	$126,000.00
Remarks:	6-storey brick bldg (also 900-910-912-916-918 Seymour)
Reference ID:	VN-3100-3101-2021

Heritage Vancouver, Vancouver Building Permits, http://permits.heritagevancouver.org/index.php?cID=1. Searched May 25, 2016.

Robert became a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. He appeared in the list of officers, non-commissioned officers and men in the Railway Construction Corps -1st Reinforcing Draft, Nominal Roll.

Railway Construction Corps -1st Reinforcing Draft, Nominal Roll of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men; http://data2.archives.ca/e/e444/e011087798.pdf [edited image]

Robert became a lieutenant in the Canadian military forces.

In 1921, Robert and Lillian were living at 1460 Barclay Street. Robert was a salesman for the real estate firm of Richards, Akroyd and Gall. Their 22-year-old son, Albert, was living with them.

It appears that Robert and Lillian were divorced in the mid-1920s. By 1926, Lillian was living by herself at 1460 Barclay Street. (Robert D.H. Dickie, a realtor, was living at 837 West Hastings Street in 1926.)

Lillian died in Vancouver on October 24, 1935. She was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.

Robert died in Vancouver on January 16, 1957. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Robert and Lillian had a son, Albert Dickie. He was born in England about 1899. In 1921 he was working as a government clerk. No further information is available for Albert.

 

Sources

 

John Dickie (possible father of Robert Donald Dickie )

“Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTJS-M3V : accessed 25 May 2016), John Dickie and Mary Tacher, 02 Nov 1865; citing Old Machar,Aberdeen,Scotland, reference ; FHL microfilm 6,035,516.

“Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYBD-2LX : accessed 25 May 2016), John Dickie in entry for Robert Donald Dickie, 04 Nov 1866; citing LOGIE-PERT,ANGUS,SCOTLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 6,035,516.

“Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYBD-K8G : accessed 25 May 2016), John Dickie in entry for John Dickie, 16 Nov 1867; citing LOGIE-PERT,ANGUS,SCOTLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 6,035,516.

 

Mary Tocher (possible mother of Robert Donald Dickie)

“Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTJS-M3J : accessed 25 May 2016), John Dickie and Mary Tacher, 02 Nov 1865; citing Old Machar,Aberdeen,Scotland, reference ; FHL microfilm 6,035,516.

“Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYBD-2LF : accessed 25 May 2016), Mary Tocher in entry for Robert Donald Dickie, 04 Nov 1866; citing LOGIE-PERT,ANGUS,SCOTLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 6,035,516.

“Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYBD-K8P : accessed 25 May 2016), Mary Tocher in entry for John Dickie, 16 Nov 1867; citing LOGIE-PERT,ANGUS,SCOTLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 6,035,516.

 

Robert Donald Dickie

Changing Vancouver: Dufferin Hotel – Smithe and Seymour Streets; https://changingvancouver.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/dufferin-hotel-smithe-and-seymour-streets/: “The hotel developer was almost certainly Robert Donald Dickie. He was a real estate broker, who was also associated with the Canadian Securities Co and lived at 1460 Barclay Street. . . . Robert Donald Dickie enlisted in the army in 1915 and survived the war, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. He had a wife called Lillian, and military records say he was born in Calcutta. His expertise was in railway construction – he started out as a sapper in the army’s Canadian Overseas Railway Construction Company. In 1911 both Robert and Lillian were identified in the census, living at 1460 Barclay (with Mary Bevan, their English-born servant), and here both are listed as being born in Ontario.”

“Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYBD-2L6 : accessed 25 May 2016), Robert Donald Dickie, 04 Nov 1866; citing LOGIE-PERT,ANGUS,SCOTLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 6,035,516. (possible connection)

“Scotland Census, 1871,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBR9-K32 : accessed 25 May 2016), Robert D Dickie, Logie Pert, Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland; from “1871 England, Scotland & Wales census,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing p. 12, PRO T 1, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 103,948. (possible connection)

“Recensement du Canada de 1911,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV95-M1JD : accessed 25 May 2016), Robt Dickie, 1911; citing Census, Vancouver Sub-Districts 1-18, British Columbia, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,417,661.

Lieutenant Robert Donald Dickie; http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/searches/soldierDetail.asp?ID=85935.

1921 Canada Census, Robert Dickie, Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 18; Census Place: Ward 1, Vancouver Centre, British Columbia; Page Number: 1; Ancestry.com. 1921 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2013.

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL5Q-2LS : accessed 25 May 2016), Robert Donald Dickie, 1957.

Robert Donald Dickie, death notice, Vancouver Sun, January 19, 1957, page 30: “Dickie—Passed away in hospital on January 16, 1957, Lieut. Robert Donald Dickie, of 1306 Bidwell St., in his 92nd year. Service in World War I. Funeral service Monday, January 21, at 11 a.m., from Grandview Funeral Chapel, Commercial Drive and Kitchener St., Major George Turpin, D.D., officiating. Interment Field of Honor Forest Lawn.”

 

Lillian Orford (wife of Robert Donald Dickie)

“Recensement du Canada de 1911,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV95-M1J6 : accessed 25 May 2016), Lillian Dickie in entry for Robt Dickie, 1911; citing Census, Vancouver Sub-Districts 1-18, British Columbia, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,417,661.

1921 Canada Census, Lillian Dickie in household of Robert Dickie, Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 18; Census Place: Ward 1, Vancouver Centre, British Columbia; Page Number: 1; Ancestry.com. 1921 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2013.

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL2N-3MK : accessed 25 May 2016), Lillian Dickie, 1935.

Lillian Dickie, death notice, Vancouver Province, October 25, 1935, page 21; Vancouver Sun, October 25, 1935, page 15; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S_VlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CokNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2037%2C6092496; [link leads to top of column 1; death notice is about halfway down column 1]: “Dickie—Oct. 24, 1935, Passed peacefully away at 1460 Barclay St., Mrs. Lillian Dickie. Funeral service from residence, Saturday afternoon, Oct. 26, at 2 o’clock, Rev. Canon Harold G King officiating. Committal Mountain View Cemetery. Center & Hanna, directors.”

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV5-3MC2 : accessed 25 May 2016), Lillian Dickie, 1935; Burial, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, Mountain View Cemetery; citing record ID 26328121, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26328121.

 

Albert Dickie (son of Robert Donald Dickie)

1921 Canada Census, Albert Dickie in household of Robert Dickie, Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 18; Census Place: Ward 1, Vancouver Centre, British Columbia; Page Number: 1; Ancestry.com. 1921 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2013.