Mary (Travis) Thornton (1909 - 1984)

Born 23 Aug 1909 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

Ancestors

Wife of Walter Ransome Leeds Jr. — married 19 Apr 1929 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Wife of John William Thornton — married 9 May 1939 in California, United States

Died 29 Dec 1984 at age 75 in Los Angeles, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Pat Miller [send private message]

Biography

Mary was born in 1909 in Saint John, New Brunswick. She was the daughter of Bertram Travis and Theresa Wakeling. Her father, Bertram Cecil Travis, was a Mechanical Engineer and was seeking employment opportunities. The family first moved west to Vancouver, Canada, then emigrated to the United States. Mary grew up in Los Angeles, California. In 1929 she became engaged to marry. According to a newspaper account, which includes a photo; "....Miss Mary Travis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Travis whose engagement to Walter Ransome Leeds Jr. was formally announced....wedding to take place in latter part of April." Sadly this was not a successful marriage. It is clear the couple divorced as Mary married John W. Thornton, as Mary T. Leeds, in 1939. John Thornton was a Los Angeles real estate broker who was also divorced. In the 1940 Census Mary was living with John Thornton in Los Angeles and her daughter Ann Leeds was living with them. Ann Leeds was listed as John Thornton's stepdaughter. In the 1940 Census Mary T. Thornton was working in a department store as a "selector". In 1948 the couple was living on Sweetzer Avenue in Los Angeles. Mary's husband died in 1975 and Mary died in 1984 in Los Angeles.

Sources

• 1920 United States Federal Census, Los Angeles, California, Cecil B Travis 43, Theresa Travis 43, wife, Lawrence Travis 20, son, Mary Travis 10, daughter
• Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage & Death Announcements, 1851-2003
• California, County Birth, Marriage And Death Records, 1849-1980 , Walter R. Leeds Jr., 1929 (Note Walter R. Leeds Jr. was born 5 October 1904 and died 24 May 1946. It is unknown the exact date the couple divorced.)
• California, County Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1849-1980, John W. Thornton, 1939
• 1930 United States Federal Census, Los Angeles, California, N. Orange Drive, Walter R Leeds 25, insurance agent, Mary T. Leeds 20, wife, Nannie Crider 58, mother, widowed, house value $10,000, Leota Lakenan 33, daughter (of Nannie) divorced, Nancy Lakenan 7, granddaughter (of Nannie), Bess Jacobia 30, daughter, (of Nannie), divorced, works beauty shop, Gloria Jacobia 7, granddaughter (of Nannie)
• 1940 United States Federal Census, Los Angeles, California, John W Thornton 39, broker, Mary T Thornton 30, selector, Ann Leeds 8, step daughter, Mary Bell Walker 56, servant
• California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968, Los Angeles, Mrs. Mary T Thornton, 1960, Republican
• U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 (includes birth date)
• California, Death Index, 1940-1997, Mary Travis Thornton, birth 23 Aug 1909, Canada, death 29 Dec 1984 Los Angeles

RESEARCH NOTES: Walter Ransome Leeds Jr. was born 5 October 1904 in California the son of Los Angeles attorney (1910 Census) Walter Ransome Leeds and his wife Fay. After Walter Jr. married Mary Travis they had a daughter Ann Leeds born around 1932 (1940 Census). The couple divorced between 1932 and May 1939 when Mary married her second husband John William Thornton. The 1940 Census showed Walter R. Leeds, divorced, living alone and working as a Vacuum Cleaner Salesman. He died 24 March 1946 in Los Angeles. If anyone has the divorce record for Mary Travis and Walter R Leeds Jr. please add it to this profile.