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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  3 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
12645 SMEES, Elizabeth May1890ENG, HAM, Portsea Oct 1903 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
12644 SMEES, Lily Louisa1889ENG, HAM, Alverstoke, Gosport Jul 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
12646 SMEES, William Robert1893ENG, HAM, Portsea Mar 1903 : Canada CAN Barnardos