Person:Margaret Bilson (1)

Margaret BILSON was part of a large family of tradesmen, her brothers being grocers,butchers,and builders. She herself was a tailoress. Shefirst married Ernst Alfred EITE by whom she had two children, ErnestAlfred and Louise. Her first husband died about 1899 or 1900. Sheapparently had to place the children in an orphanage for about 2 years.She then married John James WILBURN around 1902. QUERY-WAS THIS ALL INNOTTINGHAM WHERE ERNEST WAS BORN AND WENT TO SCHOOL ? MARY MARGARETCLARKE CONROY VISITED THE BILSONS SOME YEARS AGO AND WOULD LIKELY KNOW.WILBURN adopted (?) Ernest and Louise and had four more children withMargaret: John, Ethel, George, and Grace. The couple came out to Torontoabout 1911. (Surmise that their own children born here as John said tohave been stayed in the Indian Army to abt 1910 and used his leavingallowance to bring Margaret, Ernest, and Louise to Toronto abt 1911)John went off to WW I with Ernest 1914 according to mom. John andMargaret had a nice house on Garden Ave. John worked TTC conducter andthen the gutta percha plant prior to having a stroke (Late 1920's ?1930's ?). Thereafter,he kept house, Margaret worked. Margaret said tohave acquired many nice things (China, rosewood piano etc- see Nancy).Garden Ave house sold following WW II, when George returned from thearmy they moved to a bungalow on Sheppard Ave. Margaret lived with themuntil her death 1951. Dad recalls being in the area on business anddropping in to visit and seeing Margaret dead on the floor in thekitchen. George was there that day. She is buried at Park Lawn Adultsingle #5297 with John James. No marker. Of her children, Ernest,Margaret Louise, George, and Grace, would have been the only four living as John and Ethel died young. She was 74 when she died. first marriage age 18 1895 ?

1. ↑ 1881 British Census, Record Type: CD, Film: 1341199.
2. ↑ Age 23, Born in Nottingham, Nottingham, Occ: Tailoress.