Rorke, Edward D’Alton (1879-1957)

Edward D’Alton Rorke (who sometimes went by the name “D’Alton”) was in the real estate and insurance business. He lived at 2000 Beach Avenue in 1909, and at 2060 Comox Street in 1914.

 

Early Life and Marriage

Edward D’Alton Rorke was born on January 3, 1879, in Collingwood, Ontario. His parents were Edward Rorke and Alice Thompson.

He married Edith Blanche Cross, who was born on February 19, 1879. According to information from the family, Edith was born in England, and she was adopted into the Cross family. (Some other sources had said that she was born in Ontario.). Her adoptive father was Almeron Soper Cross (1855-1920). Her adoptive mother was Elizabeth Tryphena Andrews (1854-1932). More information on the Cross family appears on the page for Almeron Soper Cross.

In December 1912, D’Alton and Edith went to Pasadena, California for the winter months.

It appears that D’Alton did not enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

 

Working Career and Later Life

In 1920, D’Alton was an assistant superintendent for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. He and Edith were living at 719 West Georgia Street.

In 1930, D’Alton was an agent for Monarch LifeAssurance Company. He and Edith were at 5895 Angus Drive.

In 1940, D’Alton was an agent for National Life Assurance Company. He and Edith were at 1855 West 43rd Avenue.

By 1948, D’Alton was retired. He and Edith were on Riverside Drive in North Vancouver.

In 1953, D’Alton and Edith moved to Conn Lodge, a new apartment building at 2010 Barclay Street.

By about 1955, D’Alton and Edith were living in the Willowstan Apartments at 990 Lagoon Drive.

Edith died in Vancouver on March 18, 1956.

D’Alton died in Vancouver on July 20, 1957.

 

D’Alton and Edith had the following children.

 

Clarence Franklin Rorke

Clarence Franklin Rorke was born in Vancouver on March 6, 1903.

He married Gladys Wynne Ross. She was a school a teacher. She retired in 1971.

Clarence died in Sechelt, British Columbia, on November 21, 1988. Clarence and Gladys are buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.

 

Edith Lucile Rorke

Edith Lucile Rorke was born in Atlin, British Columbia on June 9, 1904. She married Alan Dales Thompson, who was a musician and music teacher. He was born on April 7, 1901, in Middlesborough, England.

Edith died in North Vancouver, British Columbia, September 13, 1965.

Alan died in Sechelt, British Columbia, on September 14, 1976.

 

Sources

Edward D’Alton Rorke

“Ontario Births, 1869-1912,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FM8P-MQ8 : accessed 14 July 2015), Edward D’ Alton Rorke, 03 Jan 1879; citing Collingwood Twp., Grey, Ontario, Canada, registration number ; FHL microfilm 1,845,221.

“Canada Births and Baptisms, 1661-1959,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F2J2-6HD : accessed 14 July 2015), Edward D’ Alton Rorke, 03 Jan 1879; citing Collingwood Twp., Grey, Ontario, 03 Jan 1879, reference cn 7879; FHL microfilm 1,845,221.

“Canada Census, 1881,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVFP-6DN : accessed 14 July 2015), Edward D. A. Rorke in household of Edward Rorke, Collingwood, Grey East, Ontario, Canada; citing p. 32; Library and Archives Canada film number C-13261, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 1,375,897.

“Canada Census, 1891,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW2B-NRW : accessed 14 July 2015), Edward Dalton Rorke, Thornbury, Grey East, Ontario, Canada; Public Archives, Ottawa, Ontario; Library and Archives Canada film number 30953_148140.

Society, Vancouver Province, December 27, 1912, page 8: “Mr. and Mrs. E.D. Rourke left a short time ago for California. They have taken a cottage at Pasadena where they will spend the winter.”

“United States Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1895-1956,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPSR-BPY : accessed 14 July 2015), Edith Blanche Rorke, Aug 1915; from “Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1954,” database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2010); citing Ship , arrival port Victoria, British Columbia,, line 28, NARA microfilm publication M1464, roll 288, NARA record group 85, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.

“Washington, Seattle, Passenger Lists, 1890-1957,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KY2S-MNY : accessed 14 July 2015), Edward Dalton Rorke, ; citing Seattle, King, Washington, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1383, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; FHL microfilm 2,266,046.

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLPJ-VC8 : accessed 14 July 2015), Edward D’Alton Rorke, 20 Jul 1957; citing Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Archives film number B13233, Division of Vital Statistics, Victoria; FHL microfilm 2,033,183.

Edward D’Alton Rorke, death notice, Vancouver Sun, July 22, 1957, page 22; Vancouver Province, July 22, 1957, page 26: “Rorke – July 20, 1957, Edward D’Alton Rorke, 990 Lagoon Dr., aged 78 years. Survived by 1 son, Clarence F., Vancouver; 1 daughter, Mrs. A. Thompson, North Vancouver; 3 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren; 1 brother, Ormand W., Ontario. Rev. R.L. Seaborn, D.D., will conduct the funeral service in the Mt. Pleasant Chapel, Kingsway at 11th Ave., on Tuesday, July 23, at 10 a.m. Cremation.”

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV5-7NXB : accessed 14 July 2015), Edward Dalton Rorke, 1957; Burial, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, Mountain View Cemetery; citing record ID 26302693, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26302693.

 

Edith Blanche Cross (daughter of Almeron Soper Cross and wife of Edward D’Alton Rorke)

“Vermont, St. Albans Canadian Border Crossings, 1895-1924,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKQ9-3P21 : accessed 14 July 2015), Edith Blanche Rorke, 1895-1924; citing M1461, Soundex Index to Canadian Border Entries through the St. Albans, Vermont, District, 1895-1924, 330, NARA microfilm publications M1461, M1463, M1464, and M1465 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, publication year); FHL microfilm 1,473,130.

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLR6-2PY : accessed 14 July 2015), Edith Blanche Rorke, 18 Mar 1956; citing Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Archives film number B13227, Division of Vital Statistics, Victoria; FHL microfilm 2,033,103.

Edith Blanche Rorke, death notice, Vancouver Sun, March 20, 1956, page 30; Vancouver Province, March 20, 1956, page 28: “Rorke – March 18, 1956, Edith Blanche Rorke, of 990 Lagoon Dr., aged 77 years. Survived by her loving husband, Edward D’Alton; 1 son, Clarence, Vancouver; 1 daughter, Mrs. Alan Thompson, North Vancouver; 3 grandchildren. Rev. Dudley F. Kemp will conduct the funeral service in the Mount Pleasant Chapel, Kingsway and 11th Ave., Wednesday, March 21, at 3:15 p.m., followed by cremation.”

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV5-7NXY : accessed 14 July 2015), Edith Blanch Rorke, 1956; Burial, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, Mountain View Cemetery; citing record ID 26302692, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26302692.

 

Edith Lucile Rorke (daughter of Edward D’Alton Rorke)

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLT5-2JJ : accessed 14 July 2015), Edith Lucile Thompson, 13 Sep 1965; citing North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Archives film number B13273, Division of Vital Statistics, Victoria; FHL microfilm 2,033,797.

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV5-WMNY : accessed 14 July 2015), Edith L. Thompson, ; Burial, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, Mountain View Cemetery; citing record ID 26368907, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26368907.

 

Alan Dales Thompson (husband of Edith Lucile Rorke)

“England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2FZF-V7D : accessed 14 July 2015), Alan Dales Thompson, 1901; from “England & Wales Births, 1837-2006,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.

“England and Wales Census, 1911,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWH6-8X7 : accessed 14 July 2015), Alan Dales Thompson, Egglescliffe, Rose Bank Eaglescliffe, Durham, England; from “1911 England and Wales census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, county, registration district, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

“Michigan, Detroit Manifests of Arrivals at the Port of Detroit, 1906-1954,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8M6-DCM : accessed 14 July 2015), Alan Dales Thompson, 16 Apr 1951; citing NARA microfilm publication M1478 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,490,553.

“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL13-1YV : accessed 14 July 2015), Alan Dales Thompson, 14 Sep 1976; citing Sachelt, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Archives film number B13355, Division of Vital Statistics, Victoria; FHL microfilm 2,050,568.

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV5-WMXT : accessed 14 July 2015), Alan Dales Thompson, ; Burial, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, Mountain View Cemetery; citing record ID 26368906, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26368906.

 

Clarence Franklin Rorke (son of Edward D’Alton Rorke)

British Columbia Birth Registrations, Registration Number: 1903-09-123430; Clarence Franklin Rorke; date of birth: April 6, 1903; place of birth: Vancouver.

“Washington, Seattle, Passenger Lists, 1890-1957,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KY2S-MN1 : accessed 14 July 2015), Clarence Franklin Rorke, ; citing Seattle, King, Washington, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1383, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; FHL microfilm 2,266,046.

The B.C. Teacher, volume 51, number 2, November 1971, page 76, http://history.bctf.ca/teacher/1971-72/v51n2Nov1971.pdf: “These teachers have retired: . . . Mrs. Gladys Wynne Rorke, Vancouver.”

British Columbia Death Registrations, Registration Number: 1988-09-020630, Clarence Franklin Rorke; date of death: November 21, 1988; place of death: Sechelt; age: 85; http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/DisplayGenealogyImage?k=096f57a4-bcbb-4d39-bccc-e5b83f3bb13b; medical certificate of death: http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/DisplayGenealogyImage?k=631f6554-b1d5-4c8b-ad34-656b3671e802

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV5-7NXT : accessed 14 July 2015), Clarence Franklin Rorke, ; Burial, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, Mountain View Cemetery; citing record ID 26368908, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26368908.

“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV5-7NFM : accessed 14 July 2015), Gladys Wynne Rorke, ; Burial, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, Mountain View Cemetery; citing record ID 26368909, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26368909.