Kenyon, Thomas (1880-1969)

Thomas Kenyon operated a grocery store at 1875 Beach Avenue in 1920 and 1921. He lived at 1875 Beach Avenue in 1920 and at 1881 Morton Avenue in 1921.

 

Henderson’s Vancouver Directory, 1920, page 691 [Edited image.]
Henderson’s Vancouver Directory, 1920, page 691 [Edited image.]
Henderson’s Vancouver Directory, 1921, page 763 [Edited image.]
Henderson’s Vancouver Directory, 1921, page 763 [Edited image.]

Early Life

Thomas Kenyon was born on February 14, 1880, in Accrington, Lancashire, England. His parents were William Kenyon and Sarah Ann Taylor.

 

To Canada

By about 1907, Thomas had arrived in Canada.

“Naramata—Smile of Manitou,” by Mrs. W. Nuttall, Twenty-second report of the Okanagan Historical Society 1958, page 54, https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/collections/ohs/items/1.0132200#p57z-3r0f.
“Naramata—Smile of Manitou,” by Mrs. W. Nuttall, Twenty-second report of the Okanagan Historical Society 1958, page 54, https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/collections/ohs/items/1.0132200#p57z-3r0f.

 

In the 1911 Canada census, Thomas was living in Naramata, British Columbia. He was working as an orchardist.

 

Marriage to Helen Crabtree

On June 30, 1915, in Naramata, Thomas married Helen Mabel Crabtree. She was born on April 19, 1881, in Stoke Newington, London, England. Her parenets were James Crabtree and Ellen Bernice Rust.

 

First World War

Thomas enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

 

To Vancouver

By 1920, Thomas was operating a grocery store at 1875 Beach Avenue in Vancouver. He was living at the same address.

In 1921, he lived at 1881 Morton Avenue, which appears to be an alternative address for 1881 Beach Avenue.

 

Return to Naramata

Thomas and Helen appeared in the 1921 Canada census, living in on Fourth Street in Naramata. Thomas was a fruit farmer.

Thomas continued to work as an orchardist or fruit rancher. He stayed in Naramata through most of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

 

Return to Vancouver

Thomas and Helen later moved to Vancouver.

Thomas died in Vancouver on May 9, 1969.

Helen died in Vancouver on May 20, 1972.

It appears that Thomas and Helen did not have any children.

 

Sources

Thomas Kenyon

“England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XNK-Z1Q : accessed 28 November 2015), Thomas Kenyon, 1880; from “England & Wales Births, 1837-2006,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Haslingden, Lancashire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.

“Recensement du Canada de 1911,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV95-74RH : accessed 28 November 2015), Thomas Kenyon, 1911; citing Census, Yale and Cariboo Sub-Districts 1-54, British Columbia, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,417,664; http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/View.jsp?id=48404&highlight=11&desc=1911+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+Thomas+Kenyon; http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/1911/pdf/e001944329.pdf [Indexed as Thomas Kingson.]

“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932; 1937,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JD8V-1YW : accessed 28 November 2015), Thomas Kenyon and Helen Mabel Crabtree, 30 Jun 1915; citing Naramata, British Columbia, Canada, British Columbia Archives film number B11384, Vital Statistics Agency, Victoria; FHL microfilm 1,983,977.

Canadian Expeditionary Force; Name: Kenyon, Thomas; Rank: LCP; Regimental Number: 443554; Date of Birth: 01 [sic]/02/1880; Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 5107 – 21; Item Number: 492324; http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=492324 [Note: birthdate on attestation form says 14 February 1880.]

1921 Canada Census, Thomas Kenyon; Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 21; Census Place: South Okanagan, Yale, 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:FLBM-FZ1 : accessed 28 November 2015), Thomas Kenyon, 1969.

Thomas Kenyon, death notice, Vancouver Province, May 12, 1969, page 32; Vancouver Sun, May 12, 1969, page 35: “Kenyon—Passed away May 9, 1969, Thomas Kenyon, 4876 Walden St., Vancouver, in his 90th year. Survived by his loving wife, Helen’ 1 brother, John Kenyon, Accrington, England; 1 nephew, Mr. Arnold Smith, Accrington, England. Deceased serve with the 54th Battalion, Kootenay Regiment, 1914-1918. Funeral service Tuesday, May 13, at 11 a.m. in the Little Chapel of the Flowers, at Forest Lawn, Royal Oak Ave. at Canada Way, Rev. F.H. Willey officiating. Cremation, Garden Chapel, Ocean View. Forest Lawn Mortuary, funeral directors in charge. Flowers gratefully declined.”

 

Helen Mabel Crabtree (wife of Thomas Kenyon)

“England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XVX-3TT : accessed 28 November 2015), Helen Mabel Crabtree, 1881; from “England & Wales Births, 1837-2006,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Hackney, London, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.

“Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HGS-SVW : accessed 28 November 2015), Helen Mabel Crabtree, Jun 1913; citing Immigration, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, T-4798, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLTC-S57 : accessed 27 November 2015), Helen Mabel Kenyon, 1972.