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Record #12646

Name :: : William Robert SMEES (1893 - 1965)
Father: :
Mother: :

BMD and other details

Date of Birth: : 28 Apr 1893
Marriage (1): :
Marriage (2): :
Date of Death: : 19 Feb 1965

Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Hampshire, Portsea

4 Clock Street

Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialCanada, Hamilton

Sailing Information

Date of Arrival: : 28 Mar 1903
Country: : Canada
Ship: : Canada
Placement Family: :

Homes / Agencys

Institution (GB): :
Agency: : Barnardos

NotesWilliam Robert Smees was the youngest of the Smees British Home Children to be emigrated & arrived in Halifax, Canada, on the 28th March 1903.

He disembarked from the SS Canada & was sent to 214 Farley Avenue, Torronto, waiting placement. So far we haven?t found William in the Canadian 1911 census.

He married Margaret Teresa O'Keefe on 08 Jun 1915 at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, Dunnville, Ontario, Canada. Margaret was the daughter of James O'Keefe and Ellen Barry. She was born on 29 May 1887 in Dunnville, Ontario, Canada

Below is a photograph of Margaret (left hand side), along with her sister Mary Ellen O?Keefe. Mary lived Margaret & William all her life.
Margaret was known to her family as Aunt Tess. Her niece, Betty Hicks remembers visiting with them many times whilst she was growing up. ?I can always remember Aunt Tess was the best cook ever...Dad always said it was because she served it in the kitchen to your plate and you would never dare ask for seconds....their home was beautiful and I remember they had French doors leading from the dining room into a small den. Their daughter Anna was older than me but I have pictures of her growing up (Mom & Dad never threw a picture away ever and I have them all)?

Margaret Teresa & Mary Ellen O?Keefe

From the 18th June 1915 edition of a local Dunnville newspaper

To the Altar

Smees - O'Keefe

On Tuesday morning June 8; at ten o'clock at St. Michael's R.C. Church, a fashionable wedding took place, when Miss Margaret Teresa O'Keefe, daughter of the late Jas.and Mrs. Ellen O'Keefe became the bride of Mr. William R. Smees; Manager of the City Hall Shoe Store, Hamilton, Ontario. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Donovan, pastor of the church: The altar was beautifully banked with white flowers by friends of the bride. Mrs. George Rochefort played the wedding march. The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr. John G. O'Keefe, was beautifully gowned in ivory duchess satin entrain, hemmed with pearls; and real lace draped on corsage. A long filmy veil of Tulle was caught up with lily of the valley. She was attended by Miss Margaret McNally of Hamilton, who wore grey silk trimmed with pink crepe meteor; and carried pink carnations. Little Miss Rhea O'Keefe, niece of the bride, dressed in a white embroidery gown, and carrying a basket of sweet peas and maiden fern, made a charming flower girl. The groomsman was Mr. Francis O'Keefe, brother of the bride, and the ushers were Mr. Gerald Barry of Buffalo. A reception was held after the ceremony at the home of the bride's mother. Mrs. O'Keefe received her guests, wearing a gown of mauve satin. The bridegroom's gift to the bride was a piano, to the bridesmaid a cameo ring, to the flower girl a gold chain and rhinestone cross, and to the best man a gold signet ring.
The bride, who is very popular, received, may beautiful gifts, including a handsome check from her mother and brothers John and Francis O'Keefe and Miss Mary O'Keefe.
Mr. and Mrs. Smees left on the evening train amid showers of rice, confetti and torpedos, on their wedding trip, the bride traveling in a suit of grey gabardine. On their return they will make their home at 42 Cumberland Avenue, Hamilton. The out-of -town guests were Mr. And Mrs. Frank Morris, St. Marys, Mr. Thomas O'Keefe and Miss Anna Armstrong of Stratford; Miss Margaret McNally and Miss Regina O'Keefe of Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. George Mahaney and sons, Pierce and George and Mr. Daniel Barry and son, Reginald and Mr. Gerald Barry, all of Buffalo, and Mrs. Margaret Dumas of Niagara Falls.

Unsigned

Marriage Notes for WILLIAM SMEES and MARGARET O'KEEFE:
5652-15 William R. SMEES, 22, clerk, of Hamilton, s/o Alfred SMEES & Louise ANDERSON, married Margaret Teresa O'KEEFE, 24, of Canboro twp., d/o James O'KEEFE & Ellen BARRY, witn: Francis O'KEEFE of Canboro twp & Margaret McNALLY of Hamilton, 8 June 1915 at Dunville

1915 was a year that was bitter sweet for Margaret. It was a happy year because of her marriage to William, but was also tragic because on Christmas day, just as the family was sitting down to dinner, her mother Ellen died of a stroke.

William R. Smees was a shoe salesman, worked at Levinson's Shoes for 25 years. His obituary shows that he was born in England and lived in Canada for 51 years. This contradicts the information given at the time of his marriage at St. Michael's in Dunnville. His listed birth place as Humbristone which Is probably Humberstone, Ontario. At the time of his death, he resided at 127 Holton Ave South, Hamilton and was a member of St. Patrick's Church, & also the Holy Name Society.
His niece, Betty Hicks remembers him as? Uncle Bill? but never knew the history behind him. She recalls that he managed a shoe store in Hamilton for many years and always dressed the best. She never saw him in anything other than a 3 piece suit. He always conducted himself properly & always had the best of manners and humour.

Hamilton City Directory shows 1915 resided at 12 Wellington Ave S, Hamilton; 1916 at 42 Cumberland Ave; 1918 at Tisdale Apts #1; 1919 at 210 Cumberland Ave; 1935 at 127 Holton Ave S.
Same source shows employment:
1915- Leslie's Shoe Store
1916- Slater's Shoe Store
1917- Slater's Boot Shop
1918- Wm. A. Smith
1925- Corona Shoe Store, Proprietor - This enterprise went bankrupt and Bill worked at Levinson's.

William & Margaret had a daughter Anna Marie Smees who was born 03 Jun 1925 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and died 11 Apr 1997 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She married Richard Jack Farr 15 Jun 1946 in St Patrick, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, son of Richard Farr and MILDRED Bradley. He was born 05 Oct 1920 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and died 09 Oct 1982 in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

William & Margaret?s first home was 42 Cumberland Ave

Their second dwelling was 127 Holton Ave South

Finally they lived at

William died on the 19th February 1965 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Margaret died 31 March 1987 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are buried together at the Holy Sepulchre Roman Catholic Cemetery, Wentworth, Flambourough East, Ontario, Canada, Ref HM-546-2

Margaret Smees lived at 35 Isaac Brock Dr., Stoney Creek, Ontario at the time of her death. This was the Hertiage Green Nursing Home.

William was buried 23 Feb 1965
Margaret was buried 02 Apr 1987

Both Anna Marie & Jack Farr are buried at Holy Sepulchre Roman Catholic Cemetery, Wentworth, Flambourough East, Ontario, Canada, Ref HM-555

Anna Marie was buried 13 Oct 1982

Jack was buried 13 Oct 1982

ContributorsCreated : 2010-08-09 05:14:32 / From original database

Last Updated :

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Surnames starting with: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 30 Entries

Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 187 Entries

ID	Name	DOB	Place of birth	Arrivals & Ships	Dest.	Agency	Family links
3055	ABBOTT, Douglas Groves	1910	ENG, HAM, Hartley Wintney	Apr 1924 : Montclare	CAN	Barnardos
3150	ACRES, Ada	1864	ENG, HAM, Winchester	Jun 1874 : Sarmatian	CAN	Maria Rye
7448	ADAMS, Ernest Alfred	1889	ENG, HAM, Southampton	Jul 1901 : Numidian	CAN	Barnardos
9986	ADDERLEY, Edward George	1890	ENG, HAM, Southampton	Jul 1902 : New England	CAN	Barnardos
17765	ADLAM, Edwin Walter	1899	ENG, HAM, Fareham	Mar 1909 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
17766	ADLAM, Thomas Albert	1901	ENG, HAM, Fareham	Mar 1909 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
6798	AINSLIE, Daisy Ann	1890	ENG, HAM, Portsmouth	Oct 1905 : Canada	CAN	Barnardos
5146	ALDWORTH, Cecil John	1915	ENG, HAM, Christchurch	Oct 1928 : Montcalm	CAN	Catholic Emigration Association
5145	ALDWORTH, Sidney Francis	1912	ENG, HAM, Christchurch	Oct 1928 : Montcalm	CAN	Catholic Emigration Association
9776	ALLEN, Bertha Ethel	1886	ENG, HAM, Winchester	Sep 1899 : Arawa	CAN	Barnardos
15306	ALLEN, Bessie May	1888	ENG, HAM, Winchester	Sep 1899 : Arawa	CAN	Barnardos
4093	AMES, Mildred Doris	1903	ENG, HAM, Alverstoke	Jun 1912 : Tunisian	CAN	Barnardos
10896	ANNALL, Frederick William	1901	ENG, HAM, Portsmouth	Mar 1915 : Scandinavian	CAN	Barnardos
25954	ARMSTRONG, Benjamin John Emmerson	1918	ENG, HAM, Hartley Wintney	Nov 1929 : Ballarat	AUS	Fairbridge Homes	splmum , Pinjarra1929
27393	ASHWORTH, Gordon Herbert Charles	1943	ENG, HAM, Alton	Jan 1949 : Ormonde	AUS	Fairbridge Homes
27392	ASHWORTH, Maurice Benedict	1941	ENG, HAM, Aldershot	Jan 1949 : Ormonde	AUS	Fairbridge Homes
17310	AYLWIN, Arthur Edmund	1893	ENG, HAM, Portsea	Aug 1905 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
17059	AYLWIN, Bertie	1898	ENG, HAM, Portsea	Aug 1905 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
17311	AYLWIN, Ernest Edward	1896	ENG, HAM, Portsea	Aug 1905 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
10932	BAKER, George Edward Windsor	1937	ENG, HAM, Southampton	May 1948 : Empire Brent (formerly Letitia II)	AUS	Fairbridge Homes
17978	BANKS, Edmund Charles	1895	ENG, HAM, Portsmouth	Jul 1907 : Kensington	CAN	Barnardos
17323	BANKS, Harry Albert	1893	ENG, HAM, Portsea	Mar 1903 : Canada	CAN	Barnardos
17980	BANKS, Mabel	1890	ENG, HAM, Alverstoke	Oct 1903 : Dominion		Barnardos
3442	BASHFORD, Albert Edward	1886	ENG, HAM, Isle of Wight	Jun 1891 : Vancouver	CAN	Bristol Emigration Society
3441	BASHFORD, Charlotte	1881	ENG, HAM, Isle of Wight	Jun 1891 : Vancouver	CAN	Bristol Emigration Society
8855	BIDDLECOMBE, Annie	1886	ENG, HAM, Dibden	Jul 1903 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
10070	BLACKMAN, Phillip	1882	ENG, HAM, Gosport	Apr 1892 : Sarnia	CAN	Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)
7165	BLANDFORD, Elizabeth	1856	ENG, HAM, Southampton	Aug 1871 : Prussian	CAN	MacPherson Homes
7042	BLANDFORD, Frances Amelia	1859	ENG, HAM, Southampton	Aug 1871 : Prussian	CAN	MacPherson Homes
16647	BLANDFORD, Kate Jane	1861	ENG, HAM, Southampton	Aug 1872 : Sarmatian	CAN	MacPherson Homes
ID	Name	DOB	Place of birth	Arrivals & Ships	Dest.	Agency	Family links

Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 187 Entries

Surnames starting with: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 30 Entries

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