On August 23^rd, 1886 in St. John’s, Antigua, British West Indies Mary France, the wife of William Percival gave birth to a son, William France Anthony Percival, my Uncle Bill.

Little is known about his early years in Antigua. At the age of eighteen in 1904 he immigrated to Canada. Records indicate that on the 13^th of June 1909 at the age of 23 he converted to Catholicism and was baptised at the Holy Rosary Parish in Toronto.

Baptismal Record

In 1914 Bill settled in Sudbury, Ontario and began working as a dispatcher and later became the Assistant Chief Clerk for Canadian Pacific Railway. A job he held for 33 years.

Bill began courting Alice Jodouin, the daughter of Louis and Louisa Jodouin.  Before long the customary banns announcing the upcoming marriage of the young couple were published. Banns are a notice read out on three successive Sundays in a parish church, announcing an intended marriage and giving the opportunity for objections.

The banns

Uncle Bill and Aunt Alice were married on the 3^rd of July 1917 in Saint Anne Church, the French Parish in Sudbury.

The church record of the marriage

The officiating Priest

The 1921 Canadian Census shows Uncle, Aunt Alice and their first daughter, Mary.was born in 1919.Later in 1921, Madge was born, followed by Frederica (Freddie)  in 1923, then Natalie in 1925 and Willena (Billye) in 1927.

After raising 5 daughters they were hoping for a son. In 1934 Aunt Alice was expecting another child. Would it be a boy? The family would be complete with the son they had always wanted and a little brother for all the girls

Alas! It was not meant to be. John Allan was stillborn. This tragedy, the loss of a son caused many heartaches for the family.

I never knew Uncle Bill, however, he enjoyed quiet moments sailing on Lake Ramsey, according to my older brother Karl, who had the good fortune of knowing him. At the time I was too young and our family moved from Sudbury to the rolling hills of the Eastern Townships in Quebec. I do not remember Uncle Bill.

Shortly after retiring Uncle Bill passed away on December 8^th, 1948 at the age of 62.

Aunt Alice lived another 25 years after Uncle Bill’s passing and continued as the church organist. She died in 1973  and is resting beside him  in the LaSalle Catholic Cemetery in Sudbury, Ontario

Over the years I  have visited many relatives in Sudbury and have fond memories.

Sources:

Familysearch.org

Personal photo collection of the author