Horseman D Whitton died 20-10-1916 aged 29 on SS Cabotia

[Currie]

Thanks Sarah,

Oh well, there goes Plan A.

(unless he was a Travelling Scotch Salesman)

Now what was Plan B?

Alan

[crwhitton]

Many thanks for your responses and additional information. In my researches I have found that a number of people called "Whitton" from Scotland (and of course many other families) emigrated to Canada around 1900-1914 and they joined the Canadian Forces in WW1 on checking their enlistment records some give their next of kin as living still in Scotland although some had families in Canada. Some had clearly only been in Canada a short time and had travelled to work on the farms in Canada and would have been prime candidates for enlistment.
I should have checked to see how many Horsemen were on board as that makes sense with the numbers of horses to be looked at. I undertand the ship was also carrying a cargo of wood pulp. I will now look again at Canadian records to see who I can find!

The David S born in 1884 was David Sutherland Whitton born 26-7-1884 at Fingal, Elgin,Ontario, Canada. He survived the war and married May Catherine McEachern at Simcoe on 23rd June 1920.
Many thanks to you all in particular SarahND whose research turned up the military record of another Military "Whitton" who was distantly related to me.

[crwhitton]

Its nearly 10 years ince my last posting. Extensive investigations have not identified Horseman Whitton's parents.

[SarahND]

Hello 10 years later

I'm sure you are now the world's expert on all D Whittons born in Dundee! Maybe someone with further knowledge will see this post, now that it is "bumped" up on the forum.

Best wishes,
Sarah

[Muriel]

A David Whitton, aged 29, is shown on the Marine Returns on Scotlands People. Looking at births in Angus 1886-1888 there are only 2 David Whittons, one born St Clements, which is one of the Dundee registration districts, and one born in Arbroath.

I took a punt and looked at the Dundee birth. David Whitton was born on 15 May 1887 to David Whitton, lorry driver, and Christina Whitton ms Stewart. Looking at the 1891 census on A***y, David & Christina Whitton have a wheen o' kids. Young David is the second youngest so there may still be living relatives who could corroborate the evidence.

Happy hunting!

Mluriel

[Currie]

Here's a disappointment Muriel. It looks like that David Whitton died 1942. http://robertwhitton.eu/person.php?id=2 ... at=Whitton

I couldn't find anything useful in the UK newspapers. They all refer to them all as Canadian Horsemen, even the Dundee papers. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A ... %2C2513677

According to the list Hugh MacLean provided earlier there were 6 born Canada, 4 born Scotland, 2 born England, and one each born Wales, Ireland, and USA.

There are many places called Dundee, especially in the USA.

GROS would have received advice of the deaths at sea from the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen but there would have been very little detail.

You would think the Canadian papers would be more helpful. Unfortunately their newspaper archives are all over the place.

I couldn't find anything in the Montreal Daily Mail https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=aDl3D7KC1E4C

All the best,
Alan

[Muriel]

Hi Alan
Grrr!! Should have known it wouldn't be that easy. I'd assumed the Scottish Dundee because the Marine Returns give place of birth as well as last residence. The page on which D. Whitton is listed shows a number of people who were not born in Britain and they are all merely listed by country of birth (including one born in Canada). Whitton is shown as born in Dundee and his last residence is given as 147 Richmond, Toronto. These days Richmond Street is divided into East & West. 147 West Richmond Street is now the Hilton Hotel!!

Muriel

[Currie]

The Toronto World - October 28, 1916
“Fourteen Canadians are among missing”
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J ... %2C3545452

I guess in those days all it took to officially be a Canadian was to be a British Subject and live there.

There are some great front-page photographs in this newspaper. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J ... %2C3696602

Great articles too. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I ... %2C3011233

Happy reading,
Alan