Lydia (Gadd) Green (1875 - 1950)

Born 13 May 1875 in Rowley Regis, Staffordshire, England

Ancestors

Wife of John William Green — married 1896 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England

Descendants

Died 28 Mar 1950 at age 74 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

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Biography

Lydia was born on 13 May 1875 at Rowley Regis, Staffordshire, the daughter of Samuel Gadd and Ann Maria Jones. Her date of birth was recorded on her death certificate.

At the time of the 1881 census Lydia was living with her parents and siblings at 21 McClintock Rd, Barrow In Furness, Lancashire. She was aged 6 years.

The family then moved to Sheffield, Yorkshire.

In 1891 her family was living at 13 New St, Attercliffe in Sheffield. Lydia was aged 15 years.

Lydia Gadd married John William Green in 1896 [Marriage Dec Qtr 1896/Sheffield 9c 1013].

This couple are believed to have had eleven children, born all over the Commonwealth. Known children were Eveline Green born 3 December 1897, George Henry Ebenezer Green born 16 July 1900 and Lilian Green born 1903, all born at Sheffield, Yorkshire; Winifred Green born c 1907, John Arthur Green born c 1908, and Martha Alberta Green born 4 December 1909, all born at Alberta, Canada; Florence Lydia Green born 24 January 1911 at Dronfield Woodhouse, Derbyshire, England; Cyril Green born c 1913 at Fairfield, NSW, Australia and Victor Robert Green born c 1919 in Victoria, Canada.
The 1911 census recorded Lydia had then had 8 children of whom only 6 were still living. It is likely she had another child born in Canada who died in infancy.

In the 1901 census John and Lydia were residing at Bishop Hill in the Village of Woodhouse, Yorkshire. John, aged 32, was a master joiner and employer. Lydia was aged 30 [sic]. Eveline was aged 2 and George was aged 8 months. Also living with them was live in domestic servant Charlotte Stait, aged 15. [RG13/4389 15 Pg 22]
The age shown in this census for John was also incorrect. He was born in 1877 and was only aged 23 at this time.

J W Green, a labourer, aged 26, Lydia, his wife, aged 28, and children Geo aged 3, Eveline aged 6 and Lilian, an infant, sailed from Liverpool on 28 April 1904 aboard the Bavarian to Quebec, Canada.

The ship's records recorded their destination as Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Marine Deaths Indices for 1904 show Lilian Green, aged 1, died aboard the Bavarian.

In the 1906 census of Manitoba, completed on 30 June 1906, the family was living in Jackson Ave, Winnipeg. J W Green was aged 29, Lydia was aged 26 and the children Eveline and George were aged 8 and 5 respectively. It was further recorded the family immigrated from England in 1904.

The family returned to England in 1910, sailing from Montreal and arriving on 25 August 1910 at Avonmouth [Bristol], aboard Royal Edward. John, aged 33, was a carpenter, Lydia was aged 35, Eveline aged 11, George aged 10, Winifred aged 3, John aged 2 and Martha aged 5 months.

On 17 March 1911 John and son George sailed from London on the Osterley bound for Sydney, Australia. John was once again recorded as a labourer.

In the 1911 census Lydia and their other children were residing at Langcliffe Villa, Dronfield Woodhouse, Derbyshire. Lydia was aged 35, Eveline aged 13, Winnifred [sic] aged 3, John aged 2, Martha aged 1 and Florence aged 2 months.

On 17 April 1912 Lydia and children sailed from London to Sydney aboard the Themistocles. Lydia was aged 36, Miss E aged 13, Miss W aged 4, John A aged 2½, Martha aged 1½, and Florence aged ½ . Mr P Gadd, aged 20, a labourer, sailed on the same ship. Percy was the son of Henry Gadd [1852-1934], and Lydia's cousin. The Themistocles arrived in Sydney on 6 June 1912.

In the 1913 electoral roll John and Lydia were residing at Cecil St, Fairfield, New South Wales. John was working as a joiner.

On 23 September 1915 John William Green enlisted for Service Abroad with the Australian Imperial Forces. Personal information from his attestation stated John was then aged 38 years, 2 months and had been born in Sheffield, England. He was employed as a joiner and builder and had apprenticed in his trade for 5 years in England with Malcolms. His next of kin was wife Lydia Green of 126 Cecil St, Fairfield. John was a Methodist. Physically John was described as 5 feet, 7 inches in height, 139 pounds in weight, with a fresh complexion, fair hair and blue eyes.

John was discharged on 10 May 1916 at his own request. His letter written on 8 May 1916 read - To Major Watson. Dear Sir, Seeing that the concert mentioned in my last letter to you is not to be held I feel I am not serving any useful purpose staying in camp any longer & am enclosing a note from my wife asking that I be discharged, I desire to go back to Canada before the hot weather of next summer comes & trust that my discharge papers will be such as will enable me to get my passport there, I spent the seven years previous to coming to this country there & have lived where the thermometer has been at 40 below zero for between three & four months of the year. I think that has had a lot to do with my not being able to stand the great heat of this country. Yours sincerely, Jno Wm Green. PS Enclosed please find doctors certificate.

Lydia’s accompanying letter read – “Winitoba”, Cecil St, Fairfield. To Major Watson, Dear Sir, Owing to the fact that my husband is not a fit person to go to the front, not being able to stand the heat, I desire that he be discharged. Signed (Mrs) Lydia Green.

On 23 September 1915 son George Henry Ebenezer Green also enlisted for Service Abroad with the Australian Imperial Forces. George stated he was aged 18 years, 2 months and had been born in Sheffield, England. He was a carpenter. His next of kin was named as his mother Lydia Green of 126 Cecil St, Fairfield. George was also a Methodist. He had previously been a trainee with 20th Battalion. Physically George was described as 5 feet, 9 inches in height, 126 pounds in weight, with a fresh complexion and fair hair and blue eyes.

George was discharged on 27 May 1916, after 226 days in camp, at his parent's request as he had lied about his age. He was only 15 years, 9 months at that time.

It is likely, based on John's letter and a later newspaper article regarding George, that they were both bandsmen in the Army.

In 1916 the family left Sydney for Vancouver, Canada aboard the Niagara, arriving on 25 August 1916. John, a joiner, was aged 39, Lydia aged 41, Evelyn [sic] aged 18, George aged 16, Winifred aged 9, John aged 8, Martha aged 6, Florence aged 5 and Cyril aged 3.

In the 1921 Canadian census the family was living at Tolcross Ave, Saanich, Victoria Island, British Columbia. John was aged 44, Lydia aged 46, George aged 20, John aged 12, Cyril aged 8, Victor aged 2, Winifred aged 13, Martha aged 10 and Florence aged 9.

Over the next few years the family moved between Victoria and California, United States.

US Immigration records state Lydia, aged 48, Winnifred [sic] aged 16, Martha aged 14, Florence aged 13, Cyril aged 11 and Victor aged 4 were admitted to the US in March 1924 from the Port of Victoria. Their destination was Oakland, California where they would be living with John. When asked for the name of her nearest relative or friend from Victoria Lydia named Mrs Celia Maxstead of Victoria as her sister. Celia was probably her sister in law. Physically Lydia was described as 5 feet, 3 inches in height with a fresh complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. Winifred was 5 feet, 7 inches in height with a medium complexion, brown hair and blue eyes and Florence was 5 feet, 5 inches in height with a medium complexion, brown hair and blue eyes.

Then in 1928 Canadian Immigration records state John William aged 50, a carpenter, Lydia aged 52, Florence Lydia aged 17 and Cyril aged 15 arrived at Sidney, [Victoria Island]. They intended to stay with their son and brother George E Green of 1923 Belmont Ave, Victoria. They had been living in the State of California but advised they had previously lived in Canada from Aug 1916 to Sep 1922 at Tolcross Ave, Victoria.

Lydia, aged 54, travelled alone to England in 1929. She returned to Canada aboard the Laurentic, sailing from Liverpool on 11 October 1929. Canadian Immigration recorded Lydia was joining her husband at 761 Tolcross Ave, Victoria. She had been staying with her brother Mr Gadd at 59 Clipstone Rd, Attercliffe, Sheffield while in England.

In the 1930 US census John was residing at 507 19th St, Pacific Grove, California. Aged 52, he was Superintendent of Buildings at Savings & Loan Co. Son John, aged 21, was living with him. Aged 21, he was a carpenter in the building trade. Two young men were boarding with them.

In 1932 Canadian Immigration again recorded John William aged 55, a carpenter and music teacher and Lydia aged 57 arriving in Victoria, returning to their own home at 761 Tolcross Ave. They were travelling from California.

Later that year Cyril, aged 19, was rejected by Canadian Immigration in Seattle. He appealed the decision and landed on appeal in Victoria. He, too was coming from California where he had been working as a gas attendant. He was planning on staying with his parents in Tolcross Ave.

Lydia Green died on 28 March 1950 at her home at 239 Tolcross Rd, Victoria aged 74 years of myocarditis and hypothyroidism. Her death certificate further recorded Lydia was born on 13 May 1875 at Staffordshire, England. Her father was named as Samuel Gadd. Mother unknown. She was married to John W Green. The informant was son George H E Green of 3050 Westdowne St, Victoria. Lydia was cremated on 30 March 1950 at Royal Oak Crematorium, Saanich.

John William Green died on 17 August 1958 at St. Joseph's Hospital, Victoria aged 81 years of acute congestive cardiac failure, generalized arteriosclerosis and anemia. His death certificate further stated John's usual address was 2439 Heron St, Victoria and he was a retired building contractor. He had been born on 26 July 1877 at Sheffield, Yorkshire, parents names unknown. John was then married to Gertrude Diamond. The informant was E G Green, also of 2439 Heron St. John was cremated on 20 August 1958 at Royal Oak Crematorium.