I thought it would be appropriate to kick off our BOORMAN section with some stories that are close to home, that being beautiful Victoria BC Canada. Although I was born here in Victoria, I never actually lived here until I attended the University of Victoria. And none of my ancestors lived in Victoria. Terry, on the other hand, has a much longer history in Victoria, as his great-grandfather William Scoons Boorman immigrated to Victoria from Wandsworth (now part of London) England in 1894.
Terry by the BOORMAN grave marker
In fact, there are 7 Boorman relatives buried in the old Ross Bay Cemetery which occupies prime waterfront property between Dallas Road and Fairfield Road in Victoria BC. William Scoons (1842-1909), his wife Francis (nee Robson, 1844-1924) and four of their seven children are buried together in two side-by-side plots, marked by a minimalistic ground plate that simply states: Boorman. The wife of his son Albert Sidney (who was also named Frances but born an OLIVER, 1887-1952) was cremated and buried in another section of the cemetery. As to the other three children of William and Frances Boorman: Henrietta Emma Avery Boorman was buried on Salt Spring Island BC, Harry Eustace was buried elsewhere in Victoria, and so far we have not been able to trace what happened to Katie Elizabeth Boorman after she was living with her brother Walter William in Victoria in 1901, so we don't know when or where she is buried.
I'll leave it to Terry to fill in the stories of these seven Boorman's buried in Ross Bay Cemetery, in order of their birth …
I'll leave it to Terry to fill in the stories of these seven Boorman's buried in Ross Bay Cemetery, in order of their birth …
1. William Scoons BOORMAN
William Scoons BOORMAN was born on August 26 1842 in Wandsworth, a suburb of London England. He was a
coal merchant clerk, and married Francis Jane ROBSON in the Nonconformist Church, Wandsworth on August 31 1865. He was the fifth of 14 children born to Thomas Boorman (1810 - 1894) and Mary Ann Green (1816 - 1862), although 5 died as babies.
William and Frances emigrated to Canada in the 1890’s. The 1901 Canadian census tells us that William immigrated in 1892, with his wife and at least three children coming out in 1894. We have not yet found any immigration records or passenger lists, so we don't know the exact dates. Their daughter Henrietta apparently immigrated in 1893.
William worked as a merchant, mercantile clerk, grocer and clerk at the Driard Hotel in downtown Victoria where today’s Bay Centre is located. The façade of the Driard Hotel is preserved on the View Street side of the new shopping centre. He lived on Michigan Street in James Bay and died at the age of 66 years on February 16, 1909. He was buried in the Boorman family plot in Ross Bay cemetery.
coal merchant clerk, and married Francis Jane ROBSON in the Nonconformist Church, Wandsworth on August 31 1865. He was the fifth of 14 children born to Thomas Boorman (1810 - 1894) and Mary Ann Green (1816 - 1862), although 5 died as babies.
William and Frances emigrated to Canada in the 1890’s. The 1901 Canadian census tells us that William immigrated in 1892, with his wife and at least three children coming out in 1894. We have not yet found any immigration records or passenger lists, so we don't know the exact dates. Their daughter Henrietta apparently immigrated in 1893.
William worked as a merchant, mercantile clerk, grocer and clerk at the Driard Hotel in downtown Victoria where today’s Bay Centre is located. The façade of the Driard Hotel is preserved on the View Street side of the new shopping centre. He lived on Michigan Street in James Bay and died at the age of 66 years on February 16, 1909. He was buried in the Boorman family plot in Ross Bay cemetery.
2. Francis Jane (ROBSON) Boorman
Francis Jane ROBSON, the wife of William Scoons BOORMAN, was born in Chatham, Kent, England on August 4th 1844, one of eight children born to James ROBSON and Eliza STIGANT of Brompton, Medway, Kent, England.
Francis emigrated to Canada in 1894 or 1895 to Victoria BC along with some of her children where she "made home" for her family on Michigan Street in James Bay. At least two of her ROBSON brothers also immigrated to Victoria BC: William Matthew Robson settled on nearby Saltspring Island, as did Frederick James Robson, although he died on Mayne Island BC. (There were other BOORMAN /ROBSON marriages which will be the subject of future posts.)
Francis was widowed in 1909 and died while living at 2640 Cook Street, Victoria in 1924. She is buried in Ross Bay Cemetery in the Boorman family plot.
Francis emigrated to Canada in 1894 or 1895 to Victoria BC along with some of her children where she "made home" for her family on Michigan Street in James Bay. At least two of her ROBSON brothers also immigrated to Victoria BC: William Matthew Robson settled on nearby Saltspring Island, as did Frederick James Robson, although he died on Mayne Island BC. (There were other BOORMAN /ROBSON marriages which will be the subject of future posts.)
Francis was widowed in 1909 and died while living at 2640 Cook Street, Victoria in 1924. She is buried in Ross Bay Cemetery in the Boorman family plot.
3. Frances Eliza "Lillie" BOORMAN
Francis Eliza “Lillie” Boorman was born in Wandsworth, a suburb of London in the year 1867. She never married, and died in Victoria in 1957 at the age of 91 years. She also is buried in the family plot in Ross Bay Cemetery.
4. Amelia Alice BOORMAN
Alice Amelia Boorman was born in Kensington, a suburb of London on July 12th 1869. She went by the name of Alice, and also emigrated to Canada before the turn of the century in the 1890’s (in 1895 according to the 1911 Canadian census). The whole family came to Victoria BC (but not all at the same time) and lived in James Bay, on Michigan Street. Alice never married, although she was a witness (and likely the Maid of Honour) at her sister Henrietta's wedding in 1897.
Alice Amelia lived with her widowed mother Frances Jane Boorman (Robson) at 1324 Balmoral Street
(previously 1324 Fisgard Street). In 1911 she was living with her widowed mother next door to her brother Albert and his family. Alice was a needlework specialist and taught sewing at public schools
until her sudden and untimely death from a ruptured ulcer at the age of 47. She is buried in the Boorman
family plot in Ross Bay Cemetery.
Alice Amelia lived with her widowed mother Frances Jane Boorman (Robson) at 1324 Balmoral Street
(previously 1324 Fisgard Street). In 1911 she was living with her widowed mother next door to her brother Albert and his family. Alice was a needlework specialist and taught sewing at public schools
until her sudden and untimely death from a ruptured ulcer at the age of 47. She is buried in the Boorman
family plot in Ross Bay Cemetery.
5. Walter William BOORMAN
Walter Wm Boorman, Marion E Guthro 1898
Walter William Boorman was born on June 4th 1871 in Kensington, a suburb of London England. He may have been one of the first of this Boorman family to emigrate to Canada, perhaps as early as 1889 (according to the 1901 Canadian Census), although we haven't yet found any passenger lists or immigration records for this. He probably had dreams of making a fortune as the lucky ones did in the gold rush of 1858, but it was too late to cash in on that event. Canada was growing and there was free land on offer to those who had the skills and experience to make their own way in this “new land”. But when he got to Victoria he found out that since he came from the city of London, and was not experienced in farming or logging, he was ineligible for the free land grant. However, there were plenty on jobs available and he went to work as a clerk.
Walter William also joined the auxiliary Royal 5th Regiment stationed at Fort Rodd Hill, and we have been told they sometimes had encampments at Beacon Hill Park and at Macaulay Point. Fort Rodd Hill was built in the late 1890s, and we have a photo of the regiment believed to be take about 1897, so Walter William may even have been involved at the outset.
In 1898 he married Marion Emelda GUTHRO, and they had one daughter: Katie Evelyn Boorman, born in 1899, who married a Llewlyn GOSSE in 1924. Walter William unfortunately died too young during the typhoid epidemic that struck Victoria in 1907, when he was just 36 years old.
Walter William also joined the auxiliary Royal 5th Regiment stationed at Fort Rodd Hill, and we have been told they sometimes had encampments at Beacon Hill Park and at Macaulay Point. Fort Rodd Hill was built in the late 1890s, and we have a photo of the regiment believed to be take about 1897, so Walter William may even have been involved at the outset.
In 1898 he married Marion Emelda GUTHRO, and they had one daughter: Katie Evelyn Boorman, born in 1899, who married a Llewlyn GOSSE in 1924. Walter William unfortunately died too young during the typhoid epidemic that struck Victoria in 1907, when he was just 36 years old.
Walter William BOORMAN (standing 4th from the left) was a member of the Royal 5th Regiment stationed at Fort Rodd Hill, Victoria BC
6. Albert Sidney BOORMAN
Albert S and Frances Boorman, married 1910
Albert Sidney Boorman was a son of Willian Scoons Boorman. He was born in 1876 on 427 Fulham Road in Chelsea, a suburb of London, England and moved out to Canada as a young man with his mother in 1894, following his brother Walter William Boorman.
Albert Sidney married Frances (Fanny) Oliver in Victoria in 1910 and had two daughters Mollie and Winifred. He worked at the Canadian Puget Sound Lumber Company’s large sawmill that was located in Victoria’s inner harbour where the large parking lot now exists below Wharf Street. The Puget Sound Lumber Company was a division of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company that was a very large landowner in today’s Esquimalt. It was also a branch company of the Hudson’s Bay Company. He worked his way up to the position of foreman in the cabinet making division of the company.
At one period of his life he lived in the part of Victoria’s western community that became known as Metchosin. A house fire (date unknown) claimed his entire home and all their possessions and he was forced to move in with his widowed mother Francis Jane (Robson) Boorman. At the time of his death, Albert and Fanny were living at 3238 Wetherby Street in Saanich in Greater Victoria.
Albert Sidney Boorman died in Victoria on October 10, 1947 at the age of 71 years due to heart problems, and was buried in Ross Bay Cemetery in the family plot. His funeral was administered by McCalls Funeral Directors and attended by the Loyal Order of Foresters, an organization of which he was a member.
Albert Sidney married Frances (Fanny) Oliver in Victoria in 1910 and had two daughters Mollie and Winifred. He worked at the Canadian Puget Sound Lumber Company’s large sawmill that was located in Victoria’s inner harbour where the large parking lot now exists below Wharf Street. The Puget Sound Lumber Company was a division of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company that was a very large landowner in today’s Esquimalt. It was also a branch company of the Hudson’s Bay Company. He worked his way up to the position of foreman in the cabinet making division of the company.
At one period of his life he lived in the part of Victoria’s western community that became known as Metchosin. A house fire (date unknown) claimed his entire home and all their possessions and he was forced to move in with his widowed mother Francis Jane (Robson) Boorman. At the time of his death, Albert and Fanny were living at 3238 Wetherby Street in Saanich in Greater Victoria.
Albert Sidney Boorman died in Victoria on October 10, 1947 at the age of 71 years due to heart problems, and was buried in Ross Bay Cemetery in the family plot. His funeral was administered by McCalls Funeral Directors and attended by the Loyal Order of Foresters, an organization of which he was a member.
Albert Sidney and Frances (Oliver) Boorman with daughter Katie, at Blackberry Lane, Shawnigan BC on Aug 1, 1904
7. Frances "Fanny" (OLIVER) Boorman
Francis (Oliver) Boorman was the widow of Albert Sidney Boorman. She was born in England in 1887, the daughter of Richard Oliver and Mary Davis, but she was already in Victoria BC in 1910 when she married Albert there at the First Congregational Church. Together they had two daughters, Mollie and Winifred, and six grandchildren.
In 1952, almost five years after Albert's death and while still living at 3238 Wetherby Street in Victoria, she died in the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria at the age of 64 due to head injuries suffered in a car accident. An inquest was held and her death ruled accidental. She was cremated and her ashes buried in another section in Ross Bay Cemetery with her parents (according to the burial records if not the tombstone).
In 1952, almost five years after Albert's death and while still living at 3238 Wetherby Street in Victoria, she died in the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria at the age of 64 due to head injuries suffered in a car accident. An inquest was held and her death ruled accidental. She was cremated and her ashes buried in another section in Ross Bay Cemetery with her parents (according to the burial records if not the tombstone).
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