Notes In 1901, Phillip H Tubb, 9, son, with William, 47, General Lab, and Janet Tubb, 41, along with siblings William A, 16, Agnes, 14, Hannah, 13, John J, 7, Samuel, 4, Charles R, 1,
In 1911, Philip/Phlip Tubb. 19, boarder, with Benjamin Mallory in Studholme, Kings and Albert, NB
In August 1914, Phil H Tubb, 22, attempted to enter America via Blaine, Washington, he declared his next of kin in Canada as Brother Samuel, Mit haboon???, New Brunswick, he was heading to a friend A Horton, 7415 Broadway St, Bellingham
On August 1 1916, Philip Henry Tubb born 20 September 1891 Birmingham, enlisted in the Canadian Army, he gave his address as
Spearhill, Manitoba, his next of kin as J F Davidson, 704 Electric Chambers, Winnipeg, Manitoba, he stated he was a farmer
MIDDLEMORE HOME REPORTS
Philip Henry Tubb, was sent to the home of J. Arthur Campbell, Smiths Creek, Kings County, New Brunswick. On December 22, 1905, the first report was done by Mr. W. E. S. Wetmore, in his report he recorded, ?Not a very intelligent boy. He seems content with his home, and is truthful. He had not gone to school yet, but he is going after the holidays. I heard from outside sources that he had plenty of work to do.?
About a year later, on December 15, 1906, Mr. Wetmore again visited the farm of Mr. Campbell to see how Philip was getting along. His reports reads, ?The child is in good health and has sufficient supply of clothing. The home is satisfactory and he attends Church and Sunday School regularly and is attending Day School. There are no complaints from the child or the employer and he is not receiving wages. Mr. Wetmore also included additional notes. ?While the boy will not admit it I believe he is at times roughly handled by Mr. Campbell due partly to the slow turn of the boy, and the quick temper of Mr. Campbell. Mrs. Campbell is all right to him.?
Finally on April 4, 1907, it was decided to remove Philip from the home of Mr. Campbell. Mr. Gerrow?s report reads, ?I received a letter from the boy some time ago complaining about ill treatment he was receiving. As I know the home to be unsatisfactory, I instructed Mr. Wetmore to remove him. Philip was removed from Mr. Campbell?s home and placed with Mr. John McVey, Bloomfield Station, Kings County, New Brunswick.
Mr. Gerrow?s first visit to Mr. McVey?s home was on November 21, 1907 and reads as follows, ?I saw Mr. McVey of Bloomfield Station. He told me that Philip was getting along nicely. Recieves wages.?
On June 4, 1908, Mr. Gerrow visited the farm of Mr. McVey and he recorded the following; ?The child is in good health and has a sufficient supply of clothing. The home is satisfactory and he attends Church and Sunday School regularly, and he did attend Day School in the winter. The employer has no complaints and states that the child is receiving wages of $4.00 per month.? Mr. Gerrow then notes, ?Boy got obstinate and unmanageable last winter, but is doing all right now.?
How long Philip remained at Mr. McVey?s is not known as the next time we have information on him is the 1911 Studholme, Kings County Census. Sometime after this census was taken, Philip goes out west to Manitoba to work on his own.
ARMY INFORMATION
Philip Henry Tubb enlisted with the Army on August 1, 1916 after 9 weeks with the 11th Irish Fusiliers, Vancouver, British Columbia. Philip?s attestation papers states he was a farmer, residing at Spearhill, Manitoba. His date of birth was recorded as September 20, 1891, Birmingham, England and his next-of-kin was J. F. Davidson, a friend residing at 704 Electric Chambers, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Description of Philip on these papers state he was 24 years old, 5 feet 9 inches, chest measurement was 35 inches when girth was fully expanded and the range of expansion was 3 inches. Philip?s complexion was ruddy, eyes brown, auburn hair and there were no distinctive marks.
Philip?s discharge certificate dated may 14, 1919 states he served in Great Britain, France, Belgium and Germany. He was now 28 years old and had a wound scar on his right shoulder. Philip was promoted to Corporal on October 22, 1918. Philip was ?struck off strength? in Saint John, New Brunswick on May 14, NULL, 1919.
A FATHER REMEMBERED
Who is this man in the picture? My mother probably answered that question a million times. Proudly, she would answer, ?That man is my father, your grandfather, Philip Henry Tubb?. How come I never met him? When did he die? What was he like?
These are just a few questions my mother, Irene, would answer at one time or another over the years to her twelve children. Mom, always loved to speak of her father, even though she did not have any memories of him herself, however, she tried to remember all the stories she was told from her mother, so she could pass them down to us, her twelve children.
Mom would continue with her memories; Philip came to Canada with his two younger brothers, Jack and Tom at a young age. I think they said their parents died and so they were sent here to Canada to work on farms. After arriving in Canada, they began to work on farms in the Kings County area; that is where your grandparents met. They say that your grandfather was not treated very well with the families that he worked for, long hours, abuse from the man of the house, not enough food, etc; so he ran away and ended up out west in Manitoba. While in Manitoba, Philip purchased land for the sum of $10.00 and the deed states the land is located in SW quarter of Section 10, township 28, range 7 west of 1st Meridian. What happened to the land, I may never know.
Philip joined the army during WWI, probably so he could go back home to see if he could find any of his family living there. I do not know if he found any, I do know that he sent Inez, your grandmother many pictures of different people. I have the pictures but not the letters that would have said who the people were. I do know that he was reunited with this brothers; Jack and Tom, as they also joined the Army.
While overseas, Tom wrote to the Parlees on a regular basis, this was the family he wasliving with, and obtained your grandmother?s address; so Philip could write to her. You see, your grandmother fell for him, many years before when they were very young. They began to write to each other and send pictures back and forth. Through their writing their relationship turned from friendship into love.
I try to think what it was like to hear that the war was over and that the soldiers were coming home, where they would be safe. Peach had finally returned to the world. I am sure that my mother, Inez had believed all her prayers had been answered and that Philip would soon be coming to Saint John. You see, he wrote and told her that he was going to disembark here and ask her parents for their permission to marry her. I thought I would never know what excitement, joy, happiness, etc she felt; until the day I heard that WW2 was over and that your father, Gerald would be home for good. I hope that none of you will ever have to go through a world war.
Philip arrived back in Saint John on May 14, 1919, he immediately requested permission from Inez?s parents, Hartley and Rachel and they began to plan for their wedding the following month. This would give Philip a chance to find a place to live with his new bride, a chance for him to get reacquainted with Inez? family, a chance for him to obtain employment and finally a chance for them to hold each other and to talk about all their dreams for the future. This month must have been one of the longest and busiest months for both my mother and father.
Finally; on June 4, 1919, a new life begins for your grandparents, as Philip watches his beautiful bride, Inez walk down the aisle toward him and they are joined together in matrimony. They have decided to begin their new life in Saint John, where they will be close to Inez? parents and only a train ride away from Philip?s brothers , Jack and Tom, who have decided to reside in Sussex, Kings County. Life if going to be good, they will have lots of babies and will live happily ever after.
Philip and Inez began their life, in an apartment next door to her parents, Hartley and Rachel. Everyone loved Philip, he was a kind, and gentle man and they all help celebrate the announcement of their first arrival which they were excepting August 1920. Philip and Inez would hop a train on a Friday after work and go to Sussex to visit Jack and Tom and their new families, or they would go to Havelock to visit Inez? relatives. I believe that this first year was one of the happiest for both of them, especially Philip.
On August 20th, 1920, Philip and Inez welcomed Viola may into their lives, believing that this was a good start for their future. Philip was a proud father, and he worshipped Viola. However, this would be short lived, as Viola died just two months after on October 27th, 1920. I do not know who was hurt more, Philip or Inez. They laid Viola to rest in the Wesleyan Burial Grounds, on Thorne Avenue. Philip had a small white stone, with a lamb engraved on it to mark her eternal resting place. Many a night, Inez would wait for Philip to arrive home; he would make a detour to pay his beloved daughter, Viola a visit.
I do not remember what Philip and Inez did for the next few years; I know they decided to stay in Saint John, as Philip did not want to leave Viola.
Finally in the summer of 1923; Inez told Philip that the following March that their prayers had been answered and they would have another child, not to replace Viola, as no child would ever take her place, but it was time for them to move forward with their lives.
On March 4th, 1924, they welcomed into their home, their son, Lawrence Oliver. For the first couple of months, Philip was afraid to bond with him; however, this did not last long as Lawrence appeared to be healthy and happy. They now had a family and Philip was accepting contracts to demolish old buildings and was an assistance fireman for T McAvity & Sons. For the next couple of years, they were one of the happiest families on the block; as Inez informed Philip that in July 1926 they would be having another child.
But; once again tragedy would strike with a vengeance. And 1926 would prove to be a difficult year.
Their beautiful active son, Lawrence Oliver was struck down with Spinal Meningitis and loses his battle; three days later on April 4th, 1926; he had just turned two the previous month. Also, on the 4th of April, Inez? grandmother, Millie Dobson passes away. The families decide that Lawrence will be laid too rest in the same grave with his sister, Viola; and they will bury Inez? grandmother, Millie in the Church of England Burial Grounds, located across the street from the Wesleyan Burial Grounds.
So far 1926, has not been good. However, they are expecting their third child.
On July 9th, 1926; Philip and Inez welcome home their daughter, Irene Phyllis. Maybe things will begin to improve for them. Philip has obtained the contract to demolish the N S Springer Building in October, things appear to be getting better, Irene is now three months old and she is healthy and happy. They have had their share of tragedy.
But sadly, tragedy is again just around the corner for them.
On Monday, October 18, 1926, the Telegraph Journal?s front page reads as follows:
PHILIP TUBB IS FOUND DEAD IN BUILDING RUIN.
Life Crushed Out as Springer Structure, Mill Street, Collapses
Crushed to death, Philip Tubb, aged 35, whose home was at 325 Prince Edward Street, was killed on Saturday afternoon, when the second floor of an old building on Mill Street, which he was razing, collapsed. He was buried under tons of debris, and his fate was not known until nearly midnight. Sergeant Dective Power, with Detectives Kilpatrick and Saunders also assisted in the search.
When the body was discovered, Coroner H A Porter was summoned, and after viewing the body, gave permission for its removal to Chamberlain?s undertaking parlors on Mill Street. After making a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the unfortunate man, the coroner decided that an inquest was not necessary. Deceased leaves beside his wife, one small child. Two other children died only a short time ago.
THE PREMISES
The premises, for many years leased to N S Springer, and used by him as a warehouse for storing oats, feed and flour, were situated at 114-116 Mill Street, north of the Mill Street railway crossing. A few years ago this property, along with others, were purchased by the government for the purpose of enlarging the terminus of the CNR. The tenants of the buildings were, however, allowed to occupy the buildings until the time came for demolishing them. The building in question was some few months ago visited by W S Vaughan, chief of the fire department because of a chimney fire. At that time the chief reported that it was not fit for occupancy. Later Building Inspector Carleton declared it unsafe. Mr. Springer was ordered to vacate the premises which he did and Philip Tubb obtained the contract to tear it down. Mr. Tubb with other workmen, had been engaged in the demolishing of the building for several days.
FLOOR COLLAPSES
On Saturday afternoon about three o?clock, A E McInerney, of 75 St Patrick Street, was engaged in removing a heavy safe from the ground floor. Mr McInerney escaped to the street, but his young son, Clement, who was working with him, was caught under the debris. An alarm was sent in from box 152 and the fire department quickly responded. After about five minutes digging and cutting, young McInerney was removed from between two beams under the debris and then taken home, suffering from an injury to one of his legs and his side, but his injuries were not serious, although he had a narrow escape from death. On leaving the building, according to a police report, Clement McInerney asked where the other man was (meaning Mr. Tubb) and received a reply from a man on the sidewalk that Mr. Tubb had gone home, while another man stated that he had seen Mr. Tubb walking along the street, after the second floor collapsed. Nothing more was thought of the matter as it was thought Mr. Tubb had escaped.
NOTIFIES POLICE
About 11:45 o?clock Saturday night, Mrs. Tubb notified Detective Patrick Biddiscombe at police headquarters, that her husband had not returned to his home that evening. Detective Biddiscombe notified Sergeant Detective Pawer as well as Detectives Saunders and Kilpatrick. W S Vaughan, chief of the fire department, was notified also, and he with several firemen quickly responded to the call. Detective Biddiscombe also got in communications with A E McInerney, who was present when the floor collapsed, and Mr McInerney stated that he did not see Mr. Tubb after the accident. On arrival at the building Chief Vaughan, some firemen and others started to work clearing the debris and finally discovered the crushed body of Mr. Tubb. The unfortunate man?s head was caught between two large beams, many tons of debris was piled on top of him. It took firemen over half an hour to chop and saw the heavy beams clear before the body could be removed. The late Mr. Tubb was a popular man, beloved by many friends, and for some years was an assistant fireman with T McAvity & Sons.
Philip is also laid to rest in the Wesleyan Burial Grounds, with his two small children. Life has been hard for Philip; first he lost his parents and siblings and then sent to a new world; then WWI begins and Philip serves from 1916-1919 for his adopted country; his two beautiful babies were taken from him and finally his life was also taken away at too early an age, he was only 35.
Philip would never know his beautiful daughter, Irene; nor see her grow up, see her marry, or see any of his twelve grandchildren. His grand-children would never hear about his early life in England, hear him tell or read stories, play games with or any other things grandfathers do.
The curtains have closed on Philip?s life.