Stewart Oldford (1893 - 1973)

Born 11 Jul 1893 in Musgravetown, Newfoundland

Ancestors

Husband of Hildred May (Wambolt) Oldford — married 28 Apr 1917 in Cambridge, MA

Descendants

Died 18 Mar 1973 at age 79 in Waltham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ted Whitten [send private message]

Biography

Stewart Oldford was born in Musgravetown, Newfoundland, and grew up there. There are apparently still some Oldfords in Musgravetown.

His birthday is July 11, but it is sometimes given as August 12, 1893.^[1] His birth record shows him baptized on Christmas day, December 25, 1893, by Rev. W.H. Dorchon (sp?)^[2]

He had a full high school education, according to Elsie (Oldford) Howes.

He came to the US from Newfoundland before he was even 18. Barbara, who has documentation, says he entered the US in Vanceboro, Maine on May 8, 1911.^[3]

He settled in Cambridge and plied his trade as a carpenter. He would hoist a heavy toolbox onto his shoulder and walk into Boston to work. Several years later, probably at an Orangemen's picnic, he met Hilda, who had come to Cambridge from Nova Scotia with her parents.

He married Hilda on April 28, 1917. Four of their six children were born before they left the metropolitan area. The family moved into the humble summer camp of a Dr. Heaton, with one room and a kitchen, on Church Lane in Burlington, Massachusetts. This house was continually improved upon.

They lived in Burlington for most of their lives together. He was very active in the town. He designed and built the Honor Roll for WWII servicemen and women for the Town Hall lawn.

During World War II he was a warden that helped enforce blackout regulations. The war brought the family tragedy: Wally went missing over the Pacific.

Stewart was an active member of the Loyal Order of Orangemen, which had its origins as a secret society of loyalists in Northern Ireland. He rose in the organization to become a "Black Knight." The family attended the annual picnic every July 12. He also belonged to the Grange and Civic Clubs.

After a long bout of arthritis, which incapacitated him many times in his life, he was forced to depend on a wheelchair. He died in 1973.

According to Peg, he told Oldford family stories about Lord Nelson and the battle of Trafalgar.

According to Jack Howes, he designed the Tewksbury house Jim & Elsie raised their family in, and David Howes still has those plans.

Sources

1. ↑ July 11 is on his World War I draft card but August 12 is on his birth record. According to Barbara on 25 Oct 2016: "I think I know where that August date comes from. I think I remember when Grampa applied for Social Security he said something about a wrong date but that he was pretty sure it was because it took them a month to register his birth. I have his 'Declaration of Intention' and both of their Naturalize papers. His birth date is listed as July 11 1893."
2. ↑ Newfoundland, Vital Records, 1840-1949, Births 1892-1895, Certificate Number 62001-634463, page 262, line 12, via FamilySearch.org
3. ↑ At one point we had that he entered the US in Vassalboro, Maine, on September 11, 1915 and listed his age as 22. Perhaps this was his naturalization.

• Much of the information above comes from a very good obituary entitled "A man of integrity" written for a Burlington newspaper by John 'Ed' Fogelberg. A copy of this is held by Chris Whitten.

• Basic data and stories come from Peg Nelson.

• 1930 Census for Burlington, Middlesex, Massachusetts:
  • Stewart Oldford, age 36, married at age 23, b. Canada, Parents b. Canada, Came to the US in 1912, Occupation: Carpenter/Houses
  • Hilda M. Oldford, wife, age 36, married at age 23, b. Canada, Parents b. Canada, Came to the US in 1907
  • James S. Oldford, son, age 11, b. MA
  • Elsie M. Oldford, daughter, age 10, b. MA
  • Wallace L. Oldford, son, age 9, b. MA
  • Kenneth W. Oldford, son, age 7, b. MA
  • Margaret A. Oldford, daughter, age 5, b. MA

• 1920 Census for Somerville Ward 6, Middlesex, Massachusetts:
  • Steward Oldford, age 26, b. NL, Parents b. NL, Came to the US in 1911, Occupation: Carpenter
  • Hilda Oldford, wife, age 26, b. NL, Parents b. NL, Came to the US in 1905
  • James Oldford, son, age 1 and 7 months, b. MA
  • Elsie Oldford, daughter, age 7 months, b. MA

• World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
  • Name: Stewart Oldford
  • City: Cambridge
  • County: Middlesex
  • State: Massachusetts
  • Birthplace: Newfoundland;Great Britain
  • Birth Date: 11 Jul 1893
  • Race: Caucasian (White)
  • He is med Height and slender, Black hair, Blue eyes.
  • Occupation: Carpenter
  • He was born in Musgrove, NL
  • He supports a wife
  • He lives at 18 Inman St., Cambridge, Mass.
  • June 5, 1917

• Death certificate. Image attached.