Gibbons, William James (1878-1920)

Henderson’s City of Vancouver and North Vancouver Directory Part 1, 1910, page 748.

William James Gibbons was a chauffeur. He lived at 1850 Alberni Street in 1910 and 1911. (The Vancouver directory also listed him at the rear of 1878 Alberni Street in 1910.)

 

Family Background

William James Gibbons was born in Sutton, Surrey, England on May 10, 1878.

 

Ancestry.com. Sutton, Surrey, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. London Borough of Sutton; Sutton, London, England; Reference Number: P42/1/21. Name: William James Gibbons; Baptism Date: 7 Jul 1878; Baptism Place: Sutton, St Nicholas, Surrey, England; Parish as it Appears: Sutton; Father: William Joseph Gibbons; Mother: Mary Gibbons.

William’s parents were William Joseph Gibbons (1852-1891) and Mary Smith (1855-1937). William Joseph Gibbons was an innkeeper who operated the California Arms (sometimes called “The Belmont”) in Sutton.

 

“The California”; 267 Brighton Road, Sutton SM2 5SU, England; Google Streets; searched June 29, 2019; image dated April 2018. [See also: “Historic Pub Name returns to Belmont”; The California, 267 Brighton Road, Sutton SM2 5SU, England; https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g504182-d7792281-r273353212-The_California-Sutton_Greater_London_England.html.%5D

 

William Joseph Gibbons died in Sutton on March 18, 1891. He was buried in Banstead, about four kilometres south of Sutton.

 

Ancestry.com. Surrey, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1987 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Name: William Joseph Gibbons; Age: 38; Birth Year: abt 1853; Burial Date: 24 Mar 1891; Burial Place: Banstead, All Saints, Surrey, England; Parish as it Appears: Banstead; Reference Number: 2375/1/21.

 

Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: William Joseph Gibbons; Death Date: 18 Mar 1891; Death Place: Surrey, England; Probate Date: 21 Apr 1891; Probate Registry: Principal Registry.

Mary Gibbons died in Vancouver on February 9, 1937. She was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.

 

Early Life

In 1891 and 1901, William was living with his mother in Sutton. In 1891, he was probably a student. In 1901, he was a mechanical engineer.

On December 27, 1901, in Sutton, Surrey, William married Ellen Agnes Wells.

 

Ancestry.com. Sutton, Surrey, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Name: William James Gibbons; Gender: Male; Age: 23; Birth Year: abt 1878; Marriage Date: 27 Dec 1901; Marriage Place: Sutton, St Barnabas, Surrey, England; Parish as it Appears: St Barnabas Sutton; Father: William Joseph Gibbons; Spouse: Ellen Agnes Wells; London Borough of Sutton; Sutton, London, England; Reference Number: 2322/1/8.

Ellen was born on June 18, 1880, in St. Pancras, London, England.

 

Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1917 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: STPBG/268. Name: Ellen Agnes Wells; Gender: Female; Record Type: Birth; Birth Date: 18 Jun 1880; Birth Poor Law Union: St Pancras; Birth Place: St Pancras, Camden, England; Father: Richard Henry Wells; Register Type: Parish Registers.

Ellen’s parents were Richard Henry Wells and Mary Moore (née Rigby).

 

Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: p85/mry1/461. Name: Richard Henry Wells; Gender: Male; Marriage Age: 33; Record Type: Marriage; Birth Date: abt 1842; Marriage Date: 11 Nov 1875; Marriage Place: St Mary, Lambeth, Lambeth, England; Father: James Wells; Spouse: Mary Moore [Rigby]; Register Type: Parish Register.

 

To Vancouver

William and Ellen arrived in Vancouver about 1906.

By 1908, William was working as a chauffeur.

William and Ellen lived at the following addresses in Vancouver.

 

1908	314 West Cordova Street [Simcoe Rooming House] (Mrs. Mary Greer)
1910 and 1911	1850 Alberni Street
1913	2428 Ash Street
1914	2135 West Seventh Avenue
1920	5518 Churchill Street

 

In 1913, William, along with Victor Henry Huston, operated the Fairview Garage and Auto Repair Company at 2428 Ash Street.

 

Henderson’s Greater Vancouver City Directory, 1913, Part 1, page 806 [edited image].

In September 1913, William and Victor made an assignment of their property for the benefit of their creditors.

 

Vancouver Sun, September 26, 1913, page 13, column 4; similar notice in British Columbia Gazette, October 9, 1913, page 7859, column 2; https://archive.org/details/governmentgazett53nogove_d8g0/page/7859.

 

(Victor Huston later became a flying ace during the First World War. He became a civilian and he was killed during an enemy air raid on Coventry, England on April 10, 1941.)

In 1914, William was working as a chauffeur for “W.F. Hunting” [sic]. William Foster Huntting (1879-1930), the president of Huntting-Merritt Lumber Company, lived in a large house at 3689 Angus Drive.

By 1918, William was the manager of the Franklin Service Station at 777 Pender Street.

 

Vancouver Sun, August 18, 1918, page 24, columns 6-7.

 

1918 Franklin Roadster; https://i.pinimg.com/originals/09/99/c6/0999c6eb1b735231c91e81936c25b926.jpg.

 

William J Gibbons – Franklin Service Station – Henderson’s Greater Vancouver City Directory – 1919 – page 533 [edited image].

By 1919, William was the local distributor of Bethlehem Motor Trucks.

 

Vancouver Sun, November 30, 1919, page 23, columns 3-4.

 

Bethlehem Motor Truck advertisement; Saturday Evening Post, September 20, 1919, page 126; https://picclick.com/1919-Bethlehem-coal-motor-truck-Sheridan-color-art-312189448367.html#&gid=1&pid=1.

 

William died in Vancouver on March 7, 1920.

 

Vancouver Daily World, March 8, 1920, page 14, column 1.

 

 

Ellen’s Marriage to Henry Cusick

On September 28, 1921, in Vancouver, Ellen married Henry Winford Cusick, who was an engineer. He was born in Moffatt, Ontario on January 3, 1883. His parents were William Cusick and Amelia Carton.

Henry died in Vancouver on June 14, 1950. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby, British Columbia.

 

Vancouver Sun, June 15, 1950, page 27, column 4.

 

Ellen died on May 30, 1960 in New Westminster, British Columbia. She was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby.

 

Vancouver Sun, June 1, 1960, page 36, column 3.

 

 

Sources

William Joseph Gibbons (father of William James Gibbons)

“England Marriages, 1538–1973 ,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NV3F-9DG : 10 February 2018), William Joseph Gibbons and Mary Smith, 29 Dec 1875; citing Sutton By Croydon,Surrey,England, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,042,345.

“England and Wales Census, 1881,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q277-F1H8 : 10 December 2017), William J Gibbons, Sutton, Surrey, England; from “1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 36, Piece/Folio 758/21, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,393.

 

Mary Smith (mother of William James Gibbons)

“England and Wales Census, 1881,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q277-F1CM : 10 December 2017), Mary Gibbons in household of William J Gibbons, Sutton, Surrey, England; from “1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 36, Piece/Folio 758/21, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,393.

“England and Wales Census, 1891,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QXND-CN2 : 2 May 2019), Mary Gibbons, Sutton, Surrey, England, United Kingdom; from “1891 England, Scotland and Wales census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Surrey county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL2V-2L3 : 8 November 2017), Mary Gibbons, 1937.

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV5-38RK : 13 December 2015), Mary Gibbons, 1937; Burial, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, Mountain View Cemetery; citing record ID 26258644, Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26258644: “Mary Smith Gibbons; Birth: 3 Jun 1851, England; Death: 9 Feb 1937 (aged 85), Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada; Burial: Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada; Plot: JONES/*/31/029/0009A; Memorial ID: 26258644.”

 

William James Gibbons

“England and Wales Census, 1881,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q277-F1C2 : 10 December 2017), William J Gibbons in household of William J Gibbons, Sutton, Surrey, England; from “1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 36, Piece/Folio 758/21, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,393.

“England and Wales Census, 1891,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QXND-D2M : 2 May 2019), William J Gibbons in household of Mary Gibbons, Sutton, Surrey, England, United Kingdom; from “1891 England, Scotland and Wales census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Surrey county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

“England, Surrey Parish Registers, 1536-1992”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGZY-6RY1 : 19 April 2018), William James Gibbons and Ellen Agnes Wells, 1901.

“England and Wales Census, 1901,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9X5-H2Q : 20 May 2019), William Gibbons in household of Mary Gibbons, Sutton, Surrey, England, United Kingdom; from “1901 England, Scotland and Wales census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Carshalton subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLKF-1HK : accessed 16 July 2015), William James Gibbons, 07 Mar 1920; citing Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Archives film number B13117, Division of Vital Statistics, Victoria; FHL microfilm 1,927,294.

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV5-38TS : accessed 16 July 2015), William James Gibbons, 1920; Burial, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, Mountain View Cemetery; citing record ID 26295663, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26295663

 

Richard Henry Wells (father of Ellen Agnes Wells)

“England and Wales Census, 1881,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q273-5R1M : 10 December 2017), Richard Wells, St Pancras, London,Middlesex, England; from “1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 3, Piece/Folio 194/5, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,356.

“England and Wales Census, 1901,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9X5-6GF : 20 May 2019), Richard Henry Wells, Sutton, Surrey, England, United Kingdom; from “1901 England, Scotland and Wales census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Carshalton subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

 

Mary Rigby (mother of Ellen Agnes Wells)

“England and Wales Census, 1881,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q273-5R1K : 10 December 2017), Mary Wells in household of Richard Wells, St Pancras, London,Middlesex, England; from “1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 3, Piece/Folio 194/5, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,356.

“England and Wales Census, 1901,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9X5-6GN : 20 May 2019), Mary Wells in household of Richard Henry Wells, Sutton, Surrey, England, United Kingdom; from “1901 England, Scotland and Wales census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Carshalton subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

 

Ellen Agnes Wells (wife of William James Gibbons)

“England and Wales Census, 1881,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q273-5TMD : 10 December 2017), Ellen Wells in household of Richard Wells, St Pancras, London,Middlesex, England; from “1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 3, Piece/Folio 194/5, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,356.

“England and Wales Census, 1901,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9X5-6GJ : 20 May 2019), Ellen Agnes Wells in household of Richard Henry Wells, Sutton, Surrey, England, United Kingdom; from “1901 England, Scotland and Wales census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Carshalton subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

“England, Surrey Parish Registers, 1536-1992”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGZY-6RB8 : 19 April 2018), William James Gibbons and Ellen Agnes Wells, 1901.

“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932; 1937-1938,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JD8K-GBY : 11 March 2018), Henry Winford Cusick and Ellen Agnes Gibbons, 28 Sep 1921; citing South Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, British Columbia Archives film number B12907, Vital Statistics Agency, Victoria; FHL microfilm 2,032,870.

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLR1-34F : 8 November 2017), Ellen Cusick, 1960; http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/8a4c3897-88b2-42df-9816-6637f820ca1c

 

Henry Winford Cusick (husband of Ellen Agnes Wells)

“Ontario Births, 1869-1912,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FM74-LM4 : 16 July 2017), Henry Winford Cusick, 03 Jan 1883; citing Birth, Nassagaweya Twp., Halton, Ontario, Canada, citing Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,845,585.

“Canada Census, 1891,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWL9-62J : 3 August 2016), Henry Cusick, Nassagaweya, Halton, Ontario, Canada; Public Archives, Ottawa, Ontario; Library and Archives Canada film number 30953_148142.

“Canada Census, 1901,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KH21-G4K : 18 March 2018), Henry W Cusick in household of Amelia Cusick, Halton, Ontario, Canada; citing p. 3, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa.

“Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H2G-G5Z : 27 August 2018), Henry Winford Cusick, May 1919; citing Immigration, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, T-14795, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932; 1937-1938,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JD8K-G1M : 11 March 2018), Henry Winford Cusick and Ellen Agnes Gibbons, 28 Sep 1921; citing South Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, British Columbia Archives film number B12907, Vital Statistics Agency, Victoria; FHL microfilm 2,032,870.

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLP9-D38 : 8 November 2017), Henry Winford Cusick, 1950; http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/f9709f5c-d9ec-475c-b51b-fc6af7675f03.

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK1J-P45R : 15 December 2015), Henry Winford Cusick, 1950; Burial, Burnaby, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, Forest Lawn Memorial Park; citing record ID 148828234, Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148828234: “Henry Winford Cusick; Birth: 3 Jan 1883, Moffat, Halton Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada; Death: 14 Jun 1950 (aged 67), Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada; Burial: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada; Memorial ID: 148828234.”

 

Victor Henry Huston (automobile repair business)

Victor Huston, Wikipedia article; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Huston: “Major Victor Henry Huston MC (13 October 1890 – 10 April 1941) was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He was the only ace in his squadron.” “Post war life: Huston returned to England and lived in London, but was killed during the Second World War in an air raid on Coventry on 10 April 1941.”

Victor Henry Huston; http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/ireland/huston.php: “Living in Canada when he enlisted in the army, Victor Henry Huston served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in France in 1915. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and was posted to 18 Squadron. An F.E.2b pilot and the highest scoring ace in his squadron, Huston and his observers scored six victories during 1917. CEF number 36122.”

Victor Henry Huston (1889–1941); Birth: 1889, Belfast, Ireland; Death: 10 APR 1941, Coventry, Warwickshire, England (ancestry.ca).

“Ireland Census, 1901,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPBL-S9VH : 29 January 2019), William Wentworth Huston in household of Stella Huston, Belfast, Ireland; citing Census, Belfast, Ireland, 0000037472, Public Record Office of Ireland, Belfast. [father of Victor Henry Huston].

“Ireland Census, 1901,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPBP-3854 : 29 January 2019), Victor H Huston in household of Stella Huston, Belfast, Ireland; citing Census, Belfast, Ireland, 0000037472, Public Record Office of Ireland, Belfast.

“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932; 1937-1938,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JD8Z-B7H : 11 March 2018), Victor Henry Huston and Sarah Baillie, 11 Nov 1912; citing Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, British Columbia Archives film number B11376, Vital Statistics Agency, Victoria; FHL microfilm 1,983,704.

“New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JJZK-S3L : 30 January 2018), Victor Henry Huston, 1918.

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKR-8N7J : 13 December 2015), Victor Henry Huston, 1941; Burial, , , ,, Civilian War Dead; citing record ID 58021505, Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58021505: “Victor Henry Huston; Birth: unknown Death: 10 Apr 1941; Burial: Unknown; Memorial ID: 58021505; Civilian War Dead.

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLP8-NYM : 8 November 2017), Sarah Florence Huston, 1948.