Theme: Close to home
Bill Boorman as a young man in Victoria BC Canada As the theme this week suggests that I stick "close to home", I've decided to venture over to my husband Terry's tree and talk about his father Bill BOORMAN, who I never had the good fortune to meet. Not only did Bill live most of his adult life "close to home", but his life's work was finding and selling homes to people.
Why Terry's tree? Both Terry and I were born in Victoria BC Canada and have lived all our married lives here, but none of my direct ancestors have lived in Victoria. On the other hand, Terry's family was sighted here as early as 1894, and they still have a strong presence here in Victoria several generations later. Considering these facts, I was surprised to realize that Terry is actually the first generation of his direct Boorman line to be born here. How could that be?
If events had progressed as expected, Terry's father Bill could also have been born in Victoria, or at the very least in Vancouver Canada. Terry's great-grandfather William Scoons BOORMAN came from Wandsworth London England and emigrated with some of his family to Victoria sometime between 1891 and 1894. His youngest son Harry Eustace (Terry's grandfather) also made the long journey from England (but perhaps in 1895?), and by 1900 he was living at the family home at 129 Michigan Street in the James Bay area of Victoria and working for the Board of Trade. But sometime before his father's death in 1909, Harry moved to the bigger city of Vancouver on the BC mainland. There he met and married Daisy Louise JOHNSTON (called Louise) on 30 May 1910.
Why Terry's tree? Both Terry and I were born in Victoria BC Canada and have lived all our married lives here, but none of my direct ancestors have lived in Victoria. On the other hand, Terry's family was sighted here as early as 1894, and they still have a strong presence here in Victoria several generations later. Considering these facts, I was surprised to realize that Terry is actually the first generation of his direct Boorman line to be born here. How could that be?
If events had progressed as expected, Terry's father Bill could also have been born in Victoria, or at the very least in Vancouver Canada. Terry's great-grandfather William Scoons BOORMAN came from Wandsworth London England and emigrated with some of his family to Victoria sometime between 1891 and 1894. His youngest son Harry Eustace (Terry's grandfather) also made the long journey from England (but perhaps in 1895?), and by 1900 he was living at the family home at 129 Michigan Street in the James Bay area of Victoria and working for the Board of Trade. But sometime before his father's death in 1909, Harry moved to the bigger city of Vancouver on the BC mainland. There he met and married Daisy Louise JOHNSTON (called Louise) on 30 May 1910.
4 generations: Deborah, baby Bill, Daisy & Eliza, 1911 Bill was their first born child, and although all four of his younger brothers and sisters were born in Vancouver, Bill was born in Los Angeles, California, across the border in the USA. This was totally unexpected. The family story goes that Harry and Daisy Louise were there on holiday when Bill was born on 16 Jan 1911. I suppose it is possible that he was premature, but family has speculated that the newlyweds decided to go elsewhere for the birth to camouflage the early arrival away from censorious eyes. We don't know why they picked California. But the young family was back in Vancouver with their new baby in time for the 1911 census.
We have 3 lovely pictures taken when Bill was a young baby in his baptismal gown, showing 4 generations of Louise's JOHNSTON family. I particularly love this photo of baby Bill in the arms of his maternal grandmother Deborah Sophronia (KERFOOT) JOHNSTON, with his mother Louise sitting close by and his great-grandmother Eliza Jane (NEELAND) KERFOOT sitting on the right holding a white-covered book titled "Evening Thoughts". It looks well thumbed!
The family certainly moved around a lot. By 1912 they were living at 1419 Harwood Street in Vancouver, and in 1914 they had moved to 1040 Denman. It was war time and in 1915 they were back on Harwood. According to his father Harry's WWI Officer Declaration Papers (dated 1916) they were then living at 6787 Davie Street in Vancouver. In the 1921 census, Bill's family was living in Victoria on Vancouver Island, renting a house at 1318 Beach Drive in Oak Bay. Harry was still working in finance and bonds.
We have 3 lovely pictures taken when Bill was a young baby in his baptismal gown, showing 4 generations of Louise's JOHNSTON family. I particularly love this photo of baby Bill in the arms of his maternal grandmother Deborah Sophronia (KERFOOT) JOHNSTON, with his mother Louise sitting close by and his great-grandmother Eliza Jane (NEELAND) KERFOOT sitting on the right holding a white-covered book titled "Evening Thoughts". It looks well thumbed!
The family certainly moved around a lot. By 1912 they were living at 1419 Harwood Street in Vancouver, and in 1914 they had moved to 1040 Denman. It was war time and in 1915 they were back on Harwood. According to his father Harry's WWI Officer Declaration Papers (dated 1916) they were then living at 6787 Davie Street in Vancouver. In the 1921 census, Bill's family was living in Victoria on Vancouver Island, renting a house at 1318 Beach Drive in Oak Bay. Harry was still working in finance and bonds.
By 1930 Bill was old enough to be listed for the first time in the Victoria city directory, living at 2021 Runnymede in his father's home, a student at Victoria College. For the next 2 years he was paying rent to his father and working as a "board marker" for Logan & Bryan, stock brokers.
In 1933 his father Harry founded and became president of their family business "Boorman Investment Company Ltd.". In 1934 their offices were located at 215-620 View Street in downtown Victoria. By 1936, both Bill (salesman) and his brother Jack (broker) were working for their father at 1124 Government Street; all lived at 430 St Patrick. The business had moved to 614 View Street by 1940. Bill's brother Ken also became involved in the family firm, and at some point all 3 brothers became partners. For the rest of his life Bill continued to work as salesman or realtor for Boorman Investments which had just moved to 1111 Government when he died.
In 1933 his father Harry founded and became president of their family business "Boorman Investment Company Ltd.". In 1934 their offices were located at 215-620 View Street in downtown Victoria. By 1936, both Bill (salesman) and his brother Jack (broker) were working for their father at 1124 Government Street; all lived at 430 St Patrick. The business had moved to 614 View Street by 1940. Bill's brother Ken also became involved in the family firm, and at some point all 3 brothers became partners. For the rest of his life Bill continued to work as salesman or realtor for Boorman Investments which had just moved to 1111 Government when he died.
Sandowne house under construction ca 1951, Victoria BC In 1939, just after the start of WW II, Bill married Joyce THOMAS. He enlisted in the Navy and at the end of 1940 attended their officer training program at the newly created Royal Roads Military College. Bill was in their 2nd graduating class of 1941, and then served in the Navy on the Pacific coast and in the Mediterranean, engaged in mine sweeping and convoy escort, perhaps between Gibraltar and Malta. To his horror he witnessed ships being destroyed from mines or torpedoes, burned bodies being fished out of the water, and men dying from fire and shock waves caused by sinking ships. This was all too traumatic and he succumbed to a nervous breakdown. He also lost his teeth due to illness and poor nutrition during the war. Bill rarely talked about these awful wartime experiences. In the later part of WWII he was assigned to selling war bond on the home front, and he was good at it.
During the war and beyond, Bill's growing family continued to live in Victoria. They continued to move fairly frequently within the greater Victoria area - this might have been a consequence of the war, if not an occupational hazard! Here is a list of many of their addresses:
During the war and beyond, Bill's growing family continued to live in Victoria. They continued to move fairly frequently within the greater Victoria area - this might have been a consequence of the war, if not an occupational hazard! Here is a list of many of their addresses:
- 1940: 2451 Bersford
- 1941: 2310 Lee Street
- 1945: 749 Island
- 1947: 2258 West Thompson, and then
- 1949: 907 Oliver
- 1952: 2135 Sandowne
- c1964: 3484 Cardiff Place
Bill Boorman home at 2135 Sandowne, Victoria BC, c 1952. When a new subdivision was being developed on the Lansdowne slopes on lands previously used by Chinese for their market gardens, they decided to build a new house. By 1952 they were living on the new Sandowne Road. They stayed there until both children had finished high school, and then moved to Cardiff Place on the other side of Lansdowne and close to where the new Gordon Head campus of the University of Victoria was being built.
The focus of this story has been homes - where Bill lived and where he worked selling homes to others. Having only outlined other facets of Bill's life, I hope to expand on these in future stories. But what was Bill like? That surely can't wait until next time.
One of the first stories I heard about Bill was that he wasn't particularly fond of his middle name: Irvine. This family name most likely came from his mother's side: Daisy Louise's father was named James Irvine JOHNSTON (I don't yet know the originating source of Irvine, which was likely a maternal surname further back in their tree). His mother obviously thought the name was worth perpetuating. But Bill insisted on using just the initial "I", claiming it was his "private I". He obviously had a sense of humour about it, at least! And it was a measure of his personality that he could gain rapport with others by including them in the joke while retaining a tantalizing bit of mystery about himself.
The focus of this story has been homes - where Bill lived and where he worked selling homes to others. Having only outlined other facets of Bill's life, I hope to expand on these in future stories. But what was Bill like? That surely can't wait until next time.
One of the first stories I heard about Bill was that he wasn't particularly fond of his middle name: Irvine. This family name most likely came from his mother's side: Daisy Louise's father was named James Irvine JOHNSTON (I don't yet know the originating source of Irvine, which was likely a maternal surname further back in their tree). His mother obviously thought the name was worth perpetuating. But Bill insisted on using just the initial "I", claiming it was his "private I". He obviously had a sense of humour about it, at least! And it was a measure of his personality that he could gain rapport with others by including them in the joke while retaining a tantalizing bit of mystery about himself.
Bill Boorman & his convention poster, May 1964, Victoria BC Canada By all accounts Bill was very personable, cared for others and was well liked. He went out of his way to help people and some became lifetime friends. Of particular note was Miss Frances Harper, a home economics teacher with no family of her own. Bill made her a nice profit when he oversaw the subdivision of her property in Gordon Head, and subsequently included her in his family's activities and celebrations and made sure she was properly cared for. Bill's people skills were also put to good use during his tenure as president of the Victoria Real Estate Board. He enjoyed organizing their conferences and campaigns, thriving in the realm of public relations. Terry says this was his true calling.
And of course, Bill was a family man, often taking his extended family on Sunday drives around the southern Island; Metchosin seemed to be a favorite destination. Summer holidays often involved renting a rustic cabin at Deep Cove (near Sidney) or Saltair (near Chemainus). Swimming, water skiing, picnics on the beach and fishing were always enjoyed.
Bill was also dedicated to his work, and his hours were never restricted to 9 to 5 on weekdays. He was known to commute to town as needed during family holidays. On one particular Sunday morning in September 1966, as he was rushing to the phone to answer a real estate call, Bill collapsed on the kitchen floor with his third heart attack, dying suddenly at the age of 55.
And of course, Bill was a family man, often taking his extended family on Sunday drives around the southern Island; Metchosin seemed to be a favorite destination. Summer holidays often involved renting a rustic cabin at Deep Cove (near Sidney) or Saltair (near Chemainus). Swimming, water skiing, picnics on the beach and fishing were always enjoyed.
Bill was also dedicated to his work, and his hours were never restricted to 9 to 5 on weekdays. He was known to commute to town as needed during family holidays. On one particular Sunday morning in September 1966, as he was rushing to the phone to answer a real estate call, Bill collapsed on the kitchen floor with his third heart attack, dying suddenly at the age of 55.
REFERENCES
See my BOORMAN Genealogy page for more family photos and an overview of this BOORMAN line.
Our BOORMAN Family Tree has even more details.
Our BOORMAN Family Tree has even more details.
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