THE CANADIAN BRANCH
Further to our discovery of the South African branch of the A’Bear family, we were also excited to discover relatives living in Canada. Again this was thanks to Geoff A’Bear’s searches on the internet, which prompted me to write making enquiries. With only days to go before the 2002 Family Gathering, I received an e-mail from Jim and Shirley A’Bear. Not only were they delighted to learn about their connections with us, but at such very short notice flew to England to join the convention, meet their distant cousins and visit their ancestral homes.
The Canadian branch began with the emigration of Edmund Whitfield A’Bear, one of a succession of children born to Edmund Whitfield A’Bear and Mary Ann A’Bear (nee Willis), and believed to be their only son The family lived at Rocky Lane Farm, Bix. (Photo 1) (Photos 2 & 3)
Edmund Whitfield A’Bear (Junior) was born in 1869. He was the third generation to continue this name, Whitfield being the family who changed the fortunes of the A’Bears by marriage two generations prior to this. Edmund grew up at Rocky Lane Farm, doubtless aware of the demise of farming, and the only son who might continue the tradition. Around the turn of the century, he emigrated to Canada, and in 1907 married Daisy Emily “Florence” Cambensy at StoneWall, Manitoba. Edmund and Florence had three children, Edna (c1907), Jack (c1908) and Edmund Whitfield (1910). It is believed he received an inheritance from England, but Edmund apparently spoke very little about his family back home. He was a carpenter by trade, and loved the outdoor life, enjoying fishing and hunting as a younger man, and in later years picnicking. He also liked to play cards. In later years he and Florence would go on trips all over Canada, and also the States where they would visit Florence’s family in Chicago. (Photo 4) Edmund died in 1968, and Florence then moved to British Columbia to live with her daughter Edna.
Of the three children, Edna Frances A’Bear married John Harvey Taylor, and they had a son also named John Harvey Taylor, known as “Jack”.
Jack Lesley A’Bear (c1908) lived only until about 1955. He remained single, and was a sailor until he suffered an accident on ship.
Edmund Whitfield grew up enjoying hunting and fishing. To his parents he was known as “Sonny” or “Whitfield”, and his friends knew him as “Bruin”. He was a practical person, always being good at fixing things, and worked in various jobs as a young man in Stonewall. He married Ethel Dale in the 1930s, from which time he was known as “Eddy”, and they moved to Winnipeg, where he was then occupied as a garage service man. Eddy liked to work on their house, the house Ethel still lives in to this day. He also enjoyed supporting the Salvation Army Veterans Club, and helped out a lot at the Army & Navy Club bingo hall, a pastime Ethel has always enjoyed together with playing cards. Eddy and Ethel had two sons, Edmund (1938) and James (1947). As a family they enjoyed going for drives and picnics in the country, and enjoyed having parties. (Photo 5) Eddy died in 1987.
Present generations
Edmund Whitfield A’Bear married Jacqueline MacDonald in 1962, and had three children, Gerald (1964), Carla (1965) and Katheryne (1970). Edmund worked as an engineer for the Manitoba Telephone Company. He lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba until 1968, when he purchased a farm with 480 acres near Inwood, Manitoba, (about two hours drive from Winnipeg). This was a hobby farm, as he was still working in the city as an engineer at the time. He too has practical skills, having turned his hand to house building. Now having retired, he has more time to enjoy outdoor pastimes including golf and fishing; he also likes crib, curling and cooking. The farm pasture is now rented for cattle and hay.
Gerald is a carpenter and factory worker living in Quebec. He married Henrietta Quolette and they have two children Matthew (1989) and Rachel (1991). Gerald also enjoys hunting and playing cards. Matthew’s forenames include “Whitfield”, and he is the seventh successive generation to continue this tradition.
Carla is a computer web designer and programmer, living in Winnipeg. When she was eighteen she hitch-hiked around England and Europe with her best friend. She married Ernest Rodenbour who is a computer technologist, and together they enjoy fishing, often going on long trips to the Northern Lakes. Carla also enjoys reading, doing craftwork and working in her garden on her Dad’s farm.
Katheryne, who also lives in Winnipeg, is a part-time nurse’s aid and homemaker, and her partner Brian works for a company that makes kitchen cabinets. She has a son Nathan A’Bear (1994) who enjoys school and playing with his friends.
James A’Bear “Jim” married Ruth White and had a son Christopher (1974) who lives in Winnipeg. Jim later married Shirley Krocker. Both worked for an airline company, but have since retired and live in Calgary. Whilst Jim admits he has no desire to continue working, Shirley has a part time job three days a week that she greatly enjoys. They both like travelling, and much enjoy staying at their condo in Phoenix Arizona every autumn for two months. They also regularly visit Jim’s mother Ethel and their son Chris, both living in Winnipeg. (Photo 6)
My grateful thanks to Carla and Jim for supplying much of the above information.