A General Inquiry

Dave Cottrell

 December 4, 2021

Hi, I am researching the medals of John Walford who was discharged in Montreal in 1841.
I have a great deal of info about his life in England and Canada. His story seemed to end in 1866 in St. JOHN'S District of Toronto.
Then bingo! I found the obituary of his daughter Maria Ann Thompson whose obituary appeared in the Bracebridge Gazette in 1920. Lots of missing pieces and news that she was a pioneer in Draper's Town.
Thought she might have descendants in the area who would be interested in her origins.
Dave

2 comments

  • Dave Cottrell

    Hi Diane,
    Great to hear from you.No that’s not her. Maria was born and baptised in Devonport, Devon in 1830. Her obituary says she travelled to Montreal as a baby. John did not go back to England but eventually settled in the St. John’s area of Toronto where I have him on the Census and several tax returns. Looks as if he died there in late 1860s although son Joshua remained there until his death in 1917.Maria however married in Montreal to another British soldier (Thompson) and did return to the U.K. when his regiment returned.They returned on his discharge in 1862 and according to the obituary became one of the earliest settlers in Draper Town.John Walford fought in the Napoleon’s wars but when he claimed his medals he was living at 4,Water Street,Montreal.Dave,

  • Diane Shaw

    Death registration
    Mary Thompson, 78, b 1843 Ireland, housewife, no parents given, informant: Son, Frank Thompson of Bracebridge, died 2 Nov 1920 of senility. Your information says father was discharged in Montreal in 1841. Did he go back to Ireland/England and then back to Canada? Is this the right lady?

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