His step-siblings (father was Amos Lelliott, 1845–1881) were Emily Elizabeth Lelliott (b. 1873), Jane or Jennie Leliott (b. around 1877), Fanny Isobell Lelliott (1877–1879), and Jemima Elizabeth Sarah Lelliott (b. 1879). It is rumoured that the third oldest sister (name unknown, could be Jemima?) was an actress and when the theatre closed down she hung herself.
His parents (Mary and John) were married on January 7, 1883 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.
Tunbridge Wells is a town in western Kent, England, 30 miles (48 km) south-east of central London, close to the border with East Sussex upon the northern edge of the High Weald.
1902 saw the opening of an Opera House, and in 1909 the town received its "Royal" prefix. Due to its position in South East England, during the First World War Tunbridge Wells was made a headquarters for the army, and its hospitals were used to treat soldiers who had been sent home with a "blighty wound"; the town also received 150 Belgian refugees. [1]
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| Albert & Mary with daughter Mary |
John Percy (1881–1945) was born on May 13, 1881, in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. He was given the last name Napper but I don't know if John William Napper was his biological father. The dates don't make sense for that as Amos passed away in June 1881 and Mary married John William Napper on January 7, 1883
Gordon's siblings were William Napper (b. 1883), Robert Napper (b. 1887?), Albert Edward Victor Napper (1887–1955), Arthur Napper (b. 1889), James Napper, and Alfred Napper.
Name change?
According to family stories, Gordon's brother Albert Edward decided to change the spelling of his last name from Napper to Knapper. This photo shows Mary Albina Knapper (Albert's daughter, my 1st cousin 2x removed) outside her father's taxidermist shop with the name spelled that way.[8]
The 1891 Census shows the family living in Quebec, Canada. According to his daughter, Gordon was hired out by his father as a farmhand. [2]
At age 21, Gordon Thomas Napper and Winnifred Glaydis Wade married at Livingstone Presbyterian Church on De L'Epee Street in Montreal, Quebec on October 28, 1916. Livingstone Presbyterian Church (later United Church) has been serving the community of Park Extension, in the City of Montreal for over 100 years.[7]
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| Wedding of Gordon Napper & Winnifred Wade, 1916 |
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| Young Winnifred & Gordon |
Winnifred Glaydis Wade (my paternal great-grandmother) was born on July 21, 1895, in Kent, England, to Harriet Jane Swaffield, age 36, and Joseph Wade, age 42.
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south west. In the early 19th century, smugglers were very active on the Kent coastline. Gangs such as The Aldington Gang brought spirits, tobacco and salt to the county, and transported goods such as wool across the sea to France.[3]
Winnifred was said to have had blue eyes and brown hair. Her father Joseph passed away in June 1899 in London, England, when Winnifred was only 4. Her mother remarried the next year.
The 1900 Survey of homes in Essex county shows big brother Joseph working as a bricklayer labourer; brother Sydney working for the railway; and brother William working "firing on stationary engine." [4] Ruby E., May V., Henry G., Winifred G., Edith P., Charley S., Alice L. Swaffield (niece) are also living in the home.
Winnifred's family immigrated to Canada between 1905 (when her youngest brother George was born in England) and 1912, which is when the family is first found in Park Ex.[5] Park Extension is a unique neighbourhood in Montreal whose name derives from the fact that it is situated at the north end of Park Avenue and is literally an "extension" of that artery. Being at the head of Park Avenue, Park Extension formed the northern end of Montreal's immigrant corridor and is considered one of Canada's most ethnically diverse neighbourhoods. Park Extension was annexed by the city in 1910.[6]
Gordon and Winnifred had four children during their marriage.
Their son Harold was born on July 9, 1917, in Quebec, Canada. He was a soldier in the active service of the Canadian Force in 1940. (# D91233, 2nd Divl. Petrol Co).
He married Lorna Nightingale and they had one child. He immigrated to England on July 30, 1956 on the Empress of Britain ship.
He died in England of a heart attack on October 7, 1977.
He married Lorna Nightingale and they had one child. He immigrated to England on July 30, 1956 on the Empress of Britain ship.
He died in England of a heart attack on October 7, 1977.
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| Harold and Lorna |
Their son Ronald James was born on February 7, 1920, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He died from pneumonia in 1923 at the age of 3.
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| Ronald Napper |
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| Harold, Winnifred, Ronald |
Their son Gordon Thomas was born on May 9, 1923. He married Anna Mary Bouvier and they had six children.
He died from a heart attack on October 17, 2007 in North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
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| Gordon and Harold |
My paternal grandmother
Gordon and Winnifred's daughter Ruby Elizabeth (my paternal grandmother) was born on January 3, 1927, in Montréal, Quebec. She married Marlen Sidney M. (my paternal grandfather) on February 6, 1948 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They resided on Jean Talon and later on Querbes Avenue and had six children, one of which is my father.
Gordon Thomas Napper served in the military during both WWI and WWII.
In WWI he served with the 4th field ambulance, and in WWII he served with 15 Company V.G.C. (Veterans Guard of Canada).
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| Gordon & Winnifred with their children |
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| Gordon & Winnifred later in life |
Gordon passed away on March 25, 1949, in Montreal, Quebec, at the age of 54. He and Winnifred had been married 32 years.
Winnifred Napper (nee Wade) with my mom, who is pregnant with me.
Winnifred died on September 30, 1975, in Montréal, Quebec, from congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease. She was 80 years old.
My grandmother Ruby Napper died on July 2, 1995 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. My family, living in another province, had been in Quebec to visit her. I remember having a great conversation with her which included questions related to the family history. She spent the day with her family, the evening with friends, and died that night.
Her daughter and a great-granddaughter carry her name Ruby, and my own daughter carries her middle name Elizabeth as her middle name.
Sources:
1. Wikipedia: Royal Tunbridge Wells, accessed February 10, 2019
2. Ruby Elizabeth Napper (1927 - 1995)
3. Wikipedia: Kent, accessed February 10, 2019
4. Wikipedia: Hit-and-miss engine, accessed February 4, 2019
5. From Country to City in 3 Steps, accessed February 10, 2019
6. Wikipedia: Park Extension, accessed February 10, 2019
7. Livingstone Presbyterian Church, accessed February 10, 2019
8. B. F. Napper: my 1st cousin 1x removed, granddaughter of Gordon Thomas Napper (1895 - 1949), daughter of Gordon Thomas Napper (1923 - 2007)
Hi there. I stumbled upon your fascinating article; fascinating because I am part of this family as well. John and Mary Napper had 7 children, and they included Gordon and Albert, whom you mention. Albert was my great grandfather and I grew up in the house he built (approx 1915) in Moncton, NB. It was the same house that he lived in for some time and that my grandmother grew up in. Even though I never knew my great grandfather since he died before I was born, his taxidermy book, workbench and such were in that house even during my youth. And, he indeed did add the K in the name Napper. At least that's what we were always told as well.
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