James Matthew Gwinn (1898 - 1918)

Born 9 Nov 1898 in Lewisburg, Wayne, Iowa, United States

Ancestors

Died 23 Oct 1918 at age 19 in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France

Biography

James Matthew Gwinn was born on November 9, 1898, in Lewisburg, Wayne, Iowa, United States. He was the son of Lewis James Gwinn and Cora Etta Caldwell. ^[1]

In 1900, according to the United States census, James was 2 years old and living with his parents and five siblings in Clay Townships, Wayne, Iowa. ^[2]

His parents immigrated to Canada in 1906 where they farmed in northern Alberta. ^[3] In 1911 he was 12 years old and living with his parents in the Red Deer district of Alberta. ^[4] And in 1916 he was 17 years old and living with his family in Bow River, Alberta. ^[5]

When James was 17 years old he enlisted in the Canadian military. Because he was underage and born in the United States he made a few adjustments to his application form, including a different birth location and date. He served in the 2nd Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade. ^[6]

• James Matthew Gwinn
• Born in Olds, Alberta, Canada on November 9, 1897
• Occupation: Laborer
• Next of Kin: Lewis James Gwinn (father), Three Hills, Alberta, Canada
• Married: No

When James was living at the Witting Camp in Surrey, England he married Ivy Dorcas Street at the Established Church in Godalming, Surrey. James declared he was 20 years old, a bachelor and a soldier. His father was listed as Lewis James Gwinn, a farmer. Ivy was a 22-year-old spinster living at 23 Pound Lane, Godalming. Her father was James Street, a decorator. They were married by license by Vicar Stanshauer (sp?) on January 14, 1918. Witnesses were James Street and Dorothy Darke. ^[7]

James Matthew Gwinn died from gunshot wounds while in action on the battlefield in France on October 23, 1918, two weeks before his 20th birthday. He was laid to rest at Raismes Communal Cemetery in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ "Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XV8H-7R8 : 31 March 2020), James Guinn, 9 Nov 1898; citing Iowa, United States; county district courts, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,009,082.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9LT-FZ9 : accessed 4 September 2021), James M Gwinn in household of Lewis J Gwinn, Benton & Clay Townships, Wayne, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 145, sheet 5B, family 113, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,464.
3. ↑ "Canada, Northwest Provinces Census, 1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHV8-X8S : 1 April 2016), James Gwinn in household of Lewis J Gwinn, 22, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Public Archives, Ottawa, Ontario.
4. ↑ "Recensement du Canada de 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9P-LB2T : 16 March 2018), James W Gavins in entry for Lewis F Gavins, 1911; citing Census, Red Deer Sub-Districts 80-128, Alberta, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,417,656.
5. ↑ "Canada, Prairie Provinces Census, 1916," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KM5C-H5C : 23 February 2021), James Gwinn in household of Louis J Gwinn, Alberta, Canada; citing p. 15, line 18; Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,434,962.
6. ↑ "Personnel Records of the First World War," database with images, Entry for GWINN, JAMES MATTHEW; Regimental Number: 183415, Date of Birth:1897-11-09, Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3901 - 15, Item Number: 432091, Record Group: Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). Library and Archives Canada, Military Heritage, First World War (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=432091 : accessed 04 Sep 2021).
7. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26JK-992 : 13 December 2014), Ivy D Street and null, 1918; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1918, quarter 1, vol. 2A, p. 177, Guildford, Surrey, England, General Register Office, Southport, England., also available at Image on ancestry.com, (requires subscription)
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #39116979, accessed 04 Sep 2021), memorial page for Private James Matthew Gwinn (9 Nov 1897–23 Oct 1918), Find a Grave Memorial ID 39116979, citing Raismes Communal Cemetery, Raismes, Departement du Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France; Maintained by IWPP Custodial Account (contributor 48586138).

See Also:

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 04 Sep 2021, 4:43), entry for James Matthew Gwinn (PID https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/MD2X-9LT); contributed by various users, including L.Hutton