FORREST, Florence Mary - 1887-1954

(Married to Walter Ralph Sparrow)

Mother of Joseph Ralph Sparrow

Grandmother of William Carlyle Sparrow

Great Grandmother of Holly Jean Sparrow

Great Great Grandmother of Kathryn Alberta Cawfield

Great Great Great Grandmother of Adora Kathryn and Shiloh Holly Boivin

Family Tree

 Early Years

 The children of William Forrest and Hannah Fullard Forrest

Florence Mary Forrest 1887-1954
Hannah Forrest,  born 1886
William J. Forrest, born 1889

1891 England Census
Florence age 4 born in Birmingham, Warwickshire
Father: William Forrest lists occupation as 'butcher'
(click image to enlarge)

1901 Census

(click image to enlarge)

Marriage

Florence Mary Forrest
came to Canada in 1907 at age 20 aboard the ship
'Empress of Ireland'.  She listed her occupation as 'Parlourmaid".
(click image to enlarge)

Empress of Ireland

 She married Walter Ralph Sparrow

in the same year:  October 31, 1907

They were both from Warwickshire, England.
 I was given to understand that Walter R. Sparrow died in 1918 or 1919
and Florence went back to England with the children for a time.
However, I have now found that she sailed to England in 1919
and returned 'to join her husband' in 1922. 
At this writing I do not know the date of Walter Sparrow's death
and have been unable to find any records of it so far.

1919
(click image to enlarge)

1922 - Returning to Canada after almost 3 years
(Click image to enlarge)

1928
Florence indicates on this passenger list that she is now widowed.
(click image to enlarge)

78 Pembrooke St., Toronto appears on the Passenger List above
as Florence's address in 1928

1936
Florence and Flossie travelling to Birmingham.
(click image to enlarge)

Children

Florence and Walter Sparrow had
three children:
To see more about Joe click on his name
Joseph Ralph Sparrow
1908-1954

William Norman Sparrow
born 17 May 1910 at Fort William, Ontario
I spoke with his son, Peter, in 2012 and heard only
glowing things about this man. He owned his own business
in Kirkland Lake and was a busy member of the
community.
1910-1986

William Sparrow and Grace McChesney's marriage

William Sparrow's Obituary as well as a newspaper article about him
in the Kirkland Lake newspaper.
(click image to enlarge)

Florence Mary (Flossie) Sparrow
From anything I've heard about this woman, she was a
genuinely lovely person.  She certainly has a sweet smile.
1912-1988

 Flossie's Birth Registration

SPARROW, Walter Ralph - 1878-

(Married to Florence Mary Forrest)

Father of Joseph Ralph Sparrow

Grandfather of William Carlyle Sparrow

Great Grandfather of Holly Sparrow

Great Great Grandfather of Kathryn Cawfield

Great Great Great Grandfather of Adora and Shiloh Boivin

Early Years

  

1881 Census

Walter Ralph is living on Bull Street in Birmingham, England

Age 2

(click to enlarge)

 

Baptism

Hockley All Saints' Church

Location of Baptism

 1891 Census

Walter Ralph Sparrow Age 12

(click to enlarge)

His Brothers & Sisters

Walter Ralph Sparrow, borm1878

Joseph Raner Sparrow, born  1880

Charles J. Sparrow, born 1882

Albert Sparrow, born  1884

Olivet A. Sparrow, born 1885

May Sparrow  1887

Alice May Sparrow, born 1887

Thomas F. Sparrow, born 1887

Gertrue Sparrow, born  1890

George W. Sparrow, born  1890

Florence G. Sparrow, born 1890

Hawls Sparrow, born 1893

Henry Sparrow, born  1895

Rose Sparrow, born  1896

Edward Percy Sparrow, born  1900

This is as much information as I have at this point regarding births.  I can only 

presume there were several still births or infants who died when they 

were exceedingly young given that multiple names appear in the same 

year according to Census findings.

Immigration To Canada

1904

 Passenger List from The Tunisian
(click to enlarge)

Marriage

Walter Ralph Sparrow married Florence Mary Forrest 

in 1907 in Winnipeg.

 

Children

Joseph Ralph Sparrow  

1908-1955

  

William Norman Sparrow  

1910-1986

  

Florence Mary (Flossie) Sparrow  

1912-1988

  

At the time of the 1911 Canadian census, Walter and his family

were living in Thunder Bay.  According to the census he was a

locomotive engineer.

(click to enlarge) 

302 Heron St.

Thunder Bay, Ontario

  Death

Presently, I only know that Walter Ralph died

during the 1920's.  I've been told he died during the

Spanish influence epidemic of 1918 but on the declaration

made by his wife in 1922 it states that she is

coming to 'join her husband.'  By 1928 she is a widow.

.

SPARROW, Joseph Ralph - 1908-1954

(Married to Dorothy Allen)

Father of William Carlyle Sparrow and Barbara Joan Sparrow

Grandfather of Holly Sparrow and Peter William Sparrow

Great Grandfather of Kathryn Cawfield

Great Great Grandfather of Adora and Shiloh Boivin

In our family we know very little about Joseph.  

He left his wife Dorothy and son Bill in, or about, 1930 and was

never heard from again.  We know he  had another son 

but don't know his name or his family but would 

very much like to.  

I can be contacted here.

Joseph Sparrow 

About 18 Years Old

Birth

Joe's parents were Walter Ralph Sparrow and Florence Mary Forrest

Walter Ralph

Florence Mary

 Birth Registration

Marriage

Marriage To Dorothy Allen

Children

Joe was the father of three children (that we know of)

William (Bill) Sparrow

1926-1981

Barbara Joan Sparrow

1927-1928

She died a horrible death at age 7 months.

More about Baby Barbara here.

Unknown Son

Whoever you are I hope you have

had a good life.  We'd love to know you

and your family

Joe Sparrow and unknown woman.

It's only speculation on my part but in checking through

the voter records of the 1940's I found a Walter Sparrow, motor

mechanic living with a Mrs. Sparrow and only about 3 or 4

miles away from where Dorothy Sparrow and Bill Sparrow

were living.  Given the fact Walter Sparrow died during

the 1920's and that Joe didn't want to be found, it's possible

he was using his father's name and had a new marriage.  If this

is correct he would have been living bigamously.  However,

this is still at the point of being a bit of guesswork.  Joe died

in Toronto and was an auto mechanic at the time of his death.

Perhaps more information will come to light as time passes.

Death

1954