William Chester Tomkins (1871 - 1957)

Born 19 May 1871 in Montreal, Canada, New France

Ancestors

Husband of Florence (Deverell) Tomkins — married 7 Sep 1898 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Died 28 May 1957 at age 86 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

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Biography

William was born in 1871 to Joseph Tomkins and Sarah Acton in Montreal.

In 1898, William married Florence Deverell in Montreal. They had at least two children. William was an executive for Grand Trunk Railroad and then Canadian National Railroad.

In August 1917, the family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where William was Treasurer of CNR.

In 1954, Florence passed away in Detroit. In 1956, William passed away in Detroit. They are buried in Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal.

Montreal Gazette, 30 May 1957, Thursday, page 41

TOMKINS. — In Detroit, Mich., on May 28th, 1957, William Chester Tomkins, beloved husband of the late Florence Deverell and brother of Mr. Edith Franckun. Resting at D. A. Collins Funeral Home, 5610 Sherbrooke St. W., on arrival of the train Fri. a.m., May 31st. Funeral from the Chapel at 12 noon interment Mount Royal Cemetery.

1881 Canadian Census of Montreal's Ste. Antoine Ward:

• Joseph Tomkins 38 Sexton born England
• Sarah 36 born England
• Clara 12 born Quebec
• William 10 born Quebec
• Ester 8 born Quebec
• Edith 5 born Quebec
• Bertha 9/12 (born July 1880) born Quebec
• Annie Gurny 18 [niece via Sarah Louisa's sister Jane Acton Gurney]

1891 Canadian Census of Montreal's St. Antoine Ward:

• Joseph Tomkins 47 Church Sexton born England
• wife Louise 45 born England
• daughter Clara 22 Typewriter born Quebec
• son Wm 20 Railway Clerk born Quebec
• daughter Ester 18 born Quebec
• daughter Edith 15 born Quebec
• daughter Bertha 11 born Quebec

1911 Canadian Census of Montreal's St. Laurent Ward at 181 Park Ave:

• Wm C Tomkins 40 Private Secretary G. T. Pr?? Ry born May 1871 Quebec
• wife Florence 35 born Jan 1876 Quebec
• daughter Dorothy L 12 born Jun 1899 Quebec
• son Arthur W 8 born May 1903 Quebec
• mother-in-law Mrs R Deverell 74

1920 Federal Census in Detroit, Michigan:

• William Tomkins 44 Railroad Manager born Canada
• wife Florence 45 born Canada
• daughter Dorothy 19 Railroad Office Stenographer born Canada
• son Arthur 17 born Canada
• grandmother Rebecca Deverell 83 born Canada
• Everyone in the family immigrated in 1916 and is an alien

1930 Federal Census in Detroit, Michigan at 291 Westminster Avenue:

• William C Tomkins 57 Rail Road Treasurer born Canada (immigrated 1917)
• wife Florence 53 born Canada (immigrated 1917)
• son William A 26 born Canada
• daughter Dorothy L 30 School Teacher born Canada
• mother-in-law Rebecca Deverell 93 widow born England
• lodger Edith L Moore 24 companion for private family

Sources

• 1881 Canadian Census [1]
• 1891 Canadian Census [2] [3]
• 1898 Montreal's St. George's Anglican Church marriage records [4]
• 1911 Canadian Census [5]
• 1917 US Border Crossings from Canada to United States [6]
• 1920 Federal Census [7]
• 1930 Federal Census [8]
• 1940 Federal Census [9]
• Montreal Gazette, 30 May 1957, Thursday, page 41
• Findagrave [10]