Arthur Castell (1857 - 1940)

Born 22 Sep 1857 in Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 18 May 1940 at age 82 in Highgate, Kent, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

Arthur was born in 1857. He is the son of William Castell and Charlotte Gurney. ^[1]. He was baptised at the parish church in Yelvertoft on 8th November, 1857 ^[2]

In 1861, In 1861, Arthur, aged 3, and Elizabeth aged 1 together with their parents, William and Charlotte appear on the census. ^[3]

At the age of thirteen, the young Arthur was to be found at a small boarding school in nearby Rugby. ^[4] The school 'Mr Hopewell's Classical and Commercial Commercial Boarding and Day School, proclaimed itself to be an establishment 'Young Gentlemen' could be instructed in the 'principles of Commerce and General Business, sons of agriculturalists were to be instructed in land surveying and measuring timber. The school also said that French, German, Latin and Greek were taught and that the borders were 'provided with Home-made bread and milk, butter , eggs and poultry from the farm' ^[5] In the same year, Arthur's father, William, who had previously worked as a shoemaker, was said to be a bricklayer's labourer ^[6] Perhaps another member of the family paid for young Arthur's education. The school is not advertised as teaching music, a skill that was to become important in Arthur's life. There was a girls school on the same premises run by Mrs Hopewell which advertised music lessons.

In about 1875, Arthur emigrated to Canada ^[7]

On 1 December, 1880, in Kent , Ontario Arthur married Emma Gertude Magee . He was 23 and gave his occupation as that of a farmer. By then he had adopted a middle name calling himself Arthur Burnhill Castell. ^[8]

In 1881, the couple appear on the Census for Howard. Arthur was employed as a labourer. The entry appears directly below that of Emma's family comprising her parents James and Agnes and five children. ^[9]

In 1891, Arthur and Emma were still living in Howard. His age was given as 33 and he is said to have been in Canada for 16 years, born in England, he was working as a farmer. He was a methodist. ^[10]

By 1893, Arthur's life had changed considerably.Tax assessment for the years 1893-1896 state that he was working as a music teacher, in rented premises in Port Stanley. He was living in a rented property in S. Smith Street with one other person( presumably Emma). There was no taxable income listed. His religion was said to be episcoplian. ^{[11] [12] [13][14]}

In 1901 the couple were in Wiarton. Arthur continued to work as a music teacher, working on his own account. He was earning $500 a year. At this census his birthdate was recorded as 22 September 1857 , his religion was recorded as episcopalian. With him were his wife Emma and an adopted daughter Eva May, born 16th April 1887 in Ontario. ^[15]

In 1904 Arthur (AB Castell) made a trip to England. He returned in September on the Lake Manitoba. Acompanying him was a 17 year old Arthur Castell. This was the son of Emily Castell, his younger sister. Both men were said to be musicians. ^[16] By 1921 the couple had settled in Halton. Arthur,(listed on the census as A B Castell was now a Canadian citizen. He still worked as a music teacher. With him was his wife Emma. In the following household lived his nephew Arthur (by then using the surname Herbert; his mother's married name) . ^[17]

Arthur died at the age of 82 on May 18 1940 in HIghgate, Ontario. At his death, his full name was recorded as Arthur Burneau Castell ,his date of birth Sept 22 1867. He had lived in the town for 10 years and in the province for 60. His birthplace was England.He was a retired music teacher who had given up teaching in 1935 after 55 years. Emma his wife was still living and was the informant. His parents were named as William Castell and Charlott Gurney. Hi was to be buried in Gosnells Cemetery. ^[18]

An obituary written in a masonic publication gives some more detail about his life

Very Worshipful Brother Arthur B. Castell V.W. Bro. Arthur B. Castell, Past Grand Organist, passed away at his home in Highgate on May 18th, 1940 after a brief illness. He was in his 83rd year. V.W. Bro. Castell was born in Northamptonshire, Eng- land, in September, 1857, and came to Canada sixty-four years ago. He was initiated in Cedar Lodge, No. 396, Wiarton, on Jan. 1st, 1901, and was a Past Master of Credit Lodge, No. 219, Georgetown. He affiliated with Highgate Lodge, No. 336 on Oct. 31st, 1930, where he introduced the Musical Ritual and served as organist until the time of his death. In 1938 he was appointed Grand Organist. Always an enthusiastic Mason, the principles of which he practiced well in his private life. His place will be hard to fill in his lodge and in the community in which he lived. ^[19]

Research Notes

Where did Arthur gain his musical education? It is possible that this was at school. However, a younger cousin Owen Castell (1868-1964) retired from playing the organ at Yelvertoft church in 1894 ^[20] This is the same parish church that Arthur's grandfather and great grandfather had been parish clerks of for nearly 100 years. Perhaps there was also a tradition of playing the organ.

Where did the middle name come from? At his marriage he used the middle name Burnhill, at his death his middle name was stated to be Burneau. He had no middle name when his birth was registered or at baptism. No Burnhills have been found in the family and the name Burneau sounds more French than English.

Sources

1. ↑ General Register Office index of Births CASTELL, ARTHUR mother's maiden surname GURNEY GRO Reference: 1857 S Quarter in RUGBY Volume 06D Page 396
2. ↑ Northamptonshire Record Office, Yelvertoft Baptism Register

   1857, Nov'r 8th Arthur son of William [and] Charlotte Castell, Yelvertoft, shoemaker

3. ↑ 1861 Census, England and Wales, General Register Office RG 9, Northamptonshire,Yelvertoft, enumeration district piece 92213 (William Castell 1816 head)

   William Castell Head 44 shoemaker Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire

   Charlotte Castell Wife 32 Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire

   Arthur Castell Son 3 Yelvertoft , Northamptonshire

   Elizabeth Castell Dau 1 Yelvertoft,Northamptonshire

4. ↑ 1871 Census, England and Wales, GRO RG10 Northamptonshire, Rugby , enumeration district 22, piece 3185, 3185; Folio: 90; Pages 33-4

   10 Albert St, Head James Hopewell, School master[...]

   Arthur Castell pupil, 13, scholar, Northampton, Yelvertoft

5. ↑ British Newspaper Archive, advertisements, Rugby Advertiser, Saturday 22 January 1859 , Saturday 22 April 1876 ( school renamed as Ilchester House School by 1876)
6. ↑ 1871 Census, England and Wales, GRO RG10 Northamptonshire, Yelvertoft, enumeration district, 14, piece 3186, Folio: 85; Page: 6

   Main Road

   William Castell, head, mar, 54, Bricklayers lab, Northampton, Yelverftoft

7. ↑ 1821 Census Canada, RG 31; Folder Number: 62; Census Place: 62, Halton, Ontario; Page Number: 3

   A B Castell

8. ↑ Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Reel: 3

   004922

   Arthur Burnhill Cartell [sic], 23, Howard , birthplace; England, B[achelor], Farmer, Parents Wm & Charlotte Cartell,

   Emma Gertude Magee, 20, Howard, birthplace; Wellington, S[pinster], parents Jas & Agnes Magee

   Witnesses Charles Bell, Lizzie Magee of Howard

9. ↑ "Canada Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVDL-2DJ : 2 March 2021), Arthur Cassell, Howard, Kent, Ontario, Canada; from "1881 Canadian Census." Database with images. Ancestry. (www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing Arthur Cassell, citing Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

   Arthur Cassell[sic] Head of Household

   Age 23

   Event Place (Original) Howard, Bothwell, Ontario, Canada

   Sub-District Howard.Sub-District Number A, District Number 178

   Birth Date 1858

   Birthplace England

   Marital Status Married

   Occupation Laborer

   Race English,Nationality English

   Family Number 258, Page 46, Volume 15

   Emma Cassell, F, 20, Ontario

10. ↑ 1891 Census, Canada. Government of Canada, Library and Archives item number 1398053

    Castel Arthur

    Age 33

    Ontario, Elgin West, Howard LAC. image available

11. ↑ "Canada, Ontario Tax Assessment Rolls, 1834-1899", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XSN-8RZK : 23 June 2022), Arthur Castell, 1893
12. ↑ "Canada, Ontario Tax Assessment Rolls, 1834-1899", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XSN-7GN2 : 23 June 2022), Arthur B Castell, 1894.
13. ↑ "Canada, Ontario Tax Assessment Rolls, 1834-1899", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XSN-Q8JW : 23 June 2022), Arthur B Castell, 1895.
14. ↑ "Canada, Ontario Tax Assessment Rolls, 1834-1899", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XSN-G9GZ : 23 June 2022), Arthur B Castell, 1896.
15. ↑ 1901 Census, Canada. Government of Canada, Library and Archives

    item number 18311551

    Castelle Arthur B

    Age 43

    Ontario, Bruce North, Howard, Wiarton(Town) LAC image available

16. ↑ "Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2Q3W-DDL : 23 February 2021), Arthur Castell, Sep 1904; citing Immigration, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, T-483, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
17. ↑ 1921 Census of Canada Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 62; Census Place: 62, Halton, Ontario; Page Number: 3 viewed on Ancestry UK.

    Name A B Castell

    Racial or Tribal Origin English

    Nationality Canada

    Marital Status Married

    Age 61

    Birth Year 1860

    Birth Place England

    Year of Immigration 1875

    Residence Date 1 Jun 1921

    House Number 36

    Residence Street or Township Main St, Georgetown

    Residence District Halton

    Residence Province or Territory Ontario

    Spouse's Name Emma Castell

    Father Birth Place England :Mother Birth Place England

    Can Speak English? Yes Can Speak French? No

    Religion Church Of England

    Can Read? Yes :Can Write? Yes

    Months at School B151

    Occupation Music Teacher Employment Type 3 Own Account

    Municipality Ward 1 Enumeration District 86

    Sub-District Georgetown (Village) :Sub-District Number 31

    Home Owned or Rented Owned

    Class of House Single House Materials of Construction Wood

    Number of Rooms 6

18. ↑ Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collection: MS 935; Series: M047739; Reel: 645 Ontario, Canada, Deaths and Deaths Overseas, 1869-1948 viewd on ancestry. uk
19. ↑ Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Canada, 1940 p 196 [https://archive.org/details/grandlodge1940onta/page/196/mode/2up archive books online
20. ↑ British Newspaper Archives, Rugby Advertiser 1894