Notes A birth registration was found for James William Newcomb: Date: Oct-Nov-Dec 1884; District: Middlesbrough; County: Yorkshire North Riding; Volume: 9d; Page: 555. Parents: William Newcomb and Frances Parkinson Ferguson, married December 18, 1883, All Saints Church, Middlesborough, Yorkshire, England.
James was born in 1884 at Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire, England. His mother died 3 days after his birth. James was looked after by his maternal grandmother until she was placed in the Workhouse in 1901--she died shortly after this. Although his father (William) was still alive, he was listed as being at a home in Commercial Road in London in the 1901 Census.
In 1901, James Newcomb, 16, arrived at Quebec, Canada, in a large party of Dr. Barnardo's children, 239 to Toronto, 68 to Winnipeg, 20 to Russell, Manitoba and 3 to Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. The ships passenger list details several other children who were also in the London home at the same time.
Barnardos Ups & Downs - Feb 1, 1902 Vol. VII No.3, reported:
Page 13: James Newcombe, with farmer Edward Gibson, Glenboro, Manitoba, Canada.
On August 17, 1911, at Whitehead, Manitoba, Canada, a marriage was registered between James William Newcombe and Margaret Helen Campbell.
At least 4 children were born of this marriage: James Roger Newcombe, born September 17, 1915, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, April 1, 1983, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Elizabeth Mary Newcombe, born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, died before 1976 in Canada; Elma C. Newcombe, born about 1912 in Saskatchewan, Canada, died in Ontario, Canada; and Frances Doreen Newcombe, born about 1918 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, died December 12, 1999, St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
James was last heard of by Barnardos in Saskatoon in 1931 when he was married with 3 children.
The Saskatoon Star Phoenix
August 18, 1953, page 15
NEWCOMBE--THE DEATH OF JAMES William Newcombe, age 69 years, of Baldwin Hotel, Saskatoon, occurred in a Saskatoon hospital in August 16. the funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 19 from Prince Albert Funeral Home. Saskatoon Funeral Home will be in charge of local arrangements. Surviving are his widow; three daughters, Mrs. H[erbert] Gottberg [Doreen Newcombe] of Melfort, Mrs. Geo. Battick [Elma C. Newcombe] of Bun-Head, Ont., Mrs. Mike Omelan [Elizabeth Mary Newcombe] of Prince Albert; one son, Roger Newcombe of Prince Albert. Interment will be made in the South Hill Cemetery at Prince Albert.
Margaret Helen Campbell Newcombe died on May 12, 1973, at Grace Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, at the age of 81. Both she and James William are buried in South Hill Cemetery in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada.