William Joseph Shewan was born Nov 26, 1867 in Belhelvie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of Alexander Sangster Shewan (1826? - 1875) and Catherine Mark (1832 - 1903).
The 1881 Scotland Census enumerates William, at age 14, as a servant living in Kinknockie, Foveran, Aberdeenshire on the farm of Adam Moir. William's occupation is listed as being that of a shepherd.
As a young man, William made his way south to London, England and married Elizabeth Collins Dance (1869 - 1952), a young widow. They had four children who survived to adulthood:
* William W. Shewan (1895 - 1973)
* Emily P. Shewan Shepherd (1898 - 1965)
* Walter C. Shewan (1904 - 1987)
* Beatrice A. Shewan Young (1907 - 1976)
William was also stepfather to Frank Dance (1891 - 1980), Elizabeth's son by her previous marriage.
The 1901 England and Wales Census enumerates Willlam as living at 2 Georgette Place in the civil parish of Greenwich, ecclestical parish of St. Alphage, municipal borough of Southwark, London. William is recorded as being 33 years of age, married, a worker by occupation, living with three other people, but not Elizabeth or their children. In the same census, Elizabeth and her three eldest children are enumerated separately at 20 Manor Street in Chelsea, London.
According to the 1911 England census, William and Elizabeth resided at 90 Corrance Road, Acre Lane, Brixton SW (borough of Lambeth), London. According to the same census schedule, they had two additional children who died as infants or in early childhood.
William and his son, William W., emigrated to the United States, departing Liverpool, England on Jun 24, 1911 on board the S.S. Celtic, and arrived at Ellis Island on July 2, 1911 (Facsimiles pages 1 and 2 of the Celtic's manifest is available under the Photos tab - See lines 5 and 6). Father and son settled in Erie, Pennsylvania, eventually residing in a house at 302 Holland Street. Elizabeth and their other children remained in London.
William was probably initially a boarder at this address, but he may well have eventually bought this property. In any case, the Erie City Directory records 302 Holland Street as his home from the mid-1910s to the time of his death in 1947. His son William almost certainly lived with him at this address until his marriage in 1919. (The house no longer stands, as nearby Hamot Hospital bought up land in the neighborhood and razed existing homes to make way for their own buildings.)
William returned to London in 1921 to bring his wife Elizabeth, daughter Emily and son-in-law Arnold Shepherd (1893 - 1977) to the United States and to Erie. Beatrice and Walter also emigrated to the United States, but by an alternate route. It is believed that Elizabeth, Beatrice and Walter joined William at 302 Holland Street when they arrived in Erie in 1921.
William had an elder brother, David M. Shewan (1865 - 1932), who also emigrated from the United Kingdom and settled in Guelph, Ontario. William and David also had seven siblings who remained in Scotland, including Jane Shewan McAra (1853 - 1935).
William and Elizabeth separated in 1926 and divorced in 1938. By 1940 William had married Helen Lagota (1897 - 1976). It is almost certain that William had no children by Helen. The 1940 Erie City Directory lists both William and Helen as living at 302 Holland Street.
William died at Hamot Hospital in Erie on July 15, 1947. His death certificate confirms much information known about him, including his full name (William Joseph Shewan), his date of death, the names of his parents (Alexander Shewan and Catherine Mark), his place of birth (Aberdeen, Scotland), his residence at the time of death (302 Holland Street, Erie, PA), place of burial (Lakeside Cemetery) and that Helen N. Shewan was his wife at the time of his death (Helen was also the informant).
However, there is one significant error on the death certificate: his date of birth and age at death. Research has established that William was born Nov 26, 1867 (not Nov 26, 1877 as stated on the certificate), making him 79, not 69, years old when he died. A facsimile of his birth registration documenting this fact is available in the Photos tab.
William was buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Erie two days after his death, but a stone marker was not placed on his grave until June 2012 by his great-grandson.
The 1881 Scotland Census enumerates William, at age 14, as a servant living in Kinknockie, Foveran, Aberdeenshire on the farm of Adam Moir. William's occupation is listed as being that of a shepherd.
As a young man, William made his way south to London, England and married Elizabeth Collins Dance (1869 - 1952), a young widow. They had four children who survived to adulthood:
* William W. Shewan (1895 - 1973)
* Emily P. Shewan Shepherd (1898 - 1965)
* Walter C. Shewan (1904 - 1987)
* Beatrice A. Shewan Young (1907 - 1976)
William was also stepfather to Frank Dance (1891 - 1980), Elizabeth's son by her previous marriage.
The 1901 England and Wales Census enumerates Willlam as living at 2 Georgette Place in the civil parish of Greenwich, ecclestical parish of St. Alphage, municipal borough of Southwark, London. William is recorded as being 33 years of age, married, a worker by occupation, living with three other people, but not Elizabeth or their children. In the same census, Elizabeth and her three eldest children are enumerated separately at 20 Manor Street in Chelsea, London.
According to the 1911 England census, William and Elizabeth resided at 90 Corrance Road, Acre Lane, Brixton SW (borough of Lambeth), London. According to the same census schedule, they had two additional children who died as infants or in early childhood.
William and his son, William W., emigrated to the United States, departing Liverpool, England on Jun 24, 1911 on board the S.S. Celtic, and arrived at Ellis Island on July 2, 1911 (Facsimiles pages 1 and 2 of the Celtic's manifest is available under the Photos tab - See lines 5 and 6). Father and son settled in Erie, Pennsylvania, eventually residing in a house at 302 Holland Street. Elizabeth and their other children remained in London.
William was probably initially a boarder at this address, but he may well have eventually bought this property. In any case, the Erie City Directory records 302 Holland Street as his home from the mid-1910s to the time of his death in 1947. His son William almost certainly lived with him at this address until his marriage in 1919. (The house no longer stands, as nearby Hamot Hospital bought up land in the neighborhood and razed existing homes to make way for their own buildings.)
William returned to London in 1921 to bring his wife Elizabeth, daughter Emily and son-in-law Arnold Shepherd (1893 - 1977) to the United States and to Erie. Beatrice and Walter also emigrated to the United States, but by an alternate route. It is believed that Elizabeth, Beatrice and Walter joined William at 302 Holland Street when they arrived in Erie in 1921.
William had an elder brother, David M. Shewan (1865 - 1932), who also emigrated from the United Kingdom and settled in Guelph, Ontario. William and David also had seven siblings who remained in Scotland, including Jane Shewan McAra (1853 - 1935).
William and Elizabeth separated in 1926 and divorced in 1938. By 1940 William had married Helen Lagota (1897 - 1976). It is almost certain that William had no children by Helen. The 1940 Erie City Directory lists both William and Helen as living at 302 Holland Street.
William died at Hamot Hospital in Erie on July 15, 1947. His death certificate confirms much information known about him, including his full name (William Joseph Shewan), his date of death, the names of his parents (Alexander Shewan and Catherine Mark), his place of birth (Aberdeen, Scotland), his residence at the time of death (302 Holland Street, Erie, PA), place of burial (Lakeside Cemetery) and that Helen N. Shewan was his wife at the time of his death (Helen was also the informant).
However, there is one significant error on the death certificate: his date of birth and age at death. Research has established that William was born Nov 26, 1867 (not Nov 26, 1877 as stated on the certificate), making him 79, not 69, years old when he died. A facsimile of his birth registration documenting this fact is available in the Photos tab.
William was buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Erie two days after his death, but a stone marker was not placed on his grave until June 2012 by his great-grandson.
William Joseph Shewan was born Nov 26, 1867 in Belhelvie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of Alexander Sangster Shewan (1826? - 1875) and Catherine Mark (1832 - 1903).
The 1881 Scotland Census enumerates William, at age 14, as a servant living in Kinknockie, Foveran, Aberdeenshire on the farm of Adam Moir. William's occupation is listed as being that of a shepherd.
As a young man, William made his way south to London, England and married Elizabeth Collins Dance (1869 - 1952), a young widow. They had four children who survived to adulthood:
* William W. Shewan (1895 - 1973)
* Emily P. Shewan Shepherd (1898 - 1965)
* Walter C. Shewan (1904 - 1987)
* Beatrice A. Shewan Young (1907 - 1976)
William was also stepfather to Frank Dance (1891 - 1980), Elizabeth's son by her previous marriage.
The 1901 England and Wales Census enumerates Willlam as living at 2 Georgette Place in the civil parish of Greenwich, ecclestical parish of St. Alphage, municipal borough of Southwark, London. William is recorded as being 33 years of age, married, a worker by occupation, living with three other people, but not Elizabeth or their children. In the same census, Elizabeth and her three eldest children are enumerated separately at 20 Manor Street in Chelsea, London.
According to the 1911 England census, William and Elizabeth resided at 90 Corrance Road, Acre Lane, Brixton SW (borough of Lambeth), London. According to the same census schedule, they had two additional children who died as infants or in early childhood.
William and his son, William W., emigrated to the United States, departing Liverpool, England on Jun 24, 1911 on board the S.S. Celtic, and arrived at Ellis Island on July 2, 1911 (Facsimiles pages 1 and 2 of the Celtic's manifest is available under the Photos tab - See lines 5 and 6). Father and son settled in Erie, Pennsylvania, eventually residing in a house at 302 Holland Street. Elizabeth and their other children remained in London.
William was probably initially a boarder at this address, but he may well have eventually bought this property. In any case, the Erie City Directory records 302 Holland Street as his home from the mid-1910s to the time of his death in 1947. His son William almost certainly lived with him at this address until his marriage in 1919. (The house no longer stands, as nearby Hamot Hospital bought up land in the neighborhood and razed existing homes to make way for their own buildings.)
William returned to London in 1921 to bring his wife Elizabeth, daughter Emily and son-in-law Arnold Shepherd (1893 - 1977) to the United States and to Erie. Beatrice and Walter also emigrated to the United States, but by an alternate route. It is believed that Elizabeth, Beatrice and Walter joined William at 302 Holland Street when they arrived in Erie in 1921.
William had an elder brother, David M. Shewan (1865 - 1932), who also emigrated from the United Kingdom and settled in Guelph, Ontario. William and David also had seven siblings who remained in Scotland, including Jane Shewan McAra (1853 - 1935).
William and Elizabeth separated in 1926 and divorced in 1938. By 1940 William had married Helen Lagota (1897 - 1976). It is almost certain that William had no children by Helen. The 1940 Erie City Directory lists both William and Helen as living at 302 Holland Street.
William died at Hamot Hospital in Erie on July 15, 1947. His death certificate confirms much information known about him, including his full name (William Joseph Shewan), his date of death, the names of his parents (Alexander Shewan and Catherine Mark), his place of birth (Aberdeen, Scotland), his residence at the time of death (302 Holland Street, Erie, PA), place of burial (Lakeside Cemetery) and that Helen N. Shewan was his wife at the time of his death (Helen was also the informant).
However, there is one significant error on the death certificate: his date of birth and age at death. Research has established that William was born Nov 26, 1867 (not Nov 26, 1877 as stated on the certificate), making him 79, not 69, years old when he died. A facsimile of his birth registration documenting this fact is available in the Photos tab.
William was buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Erie two days after his death, but a stone marker was not placed on his grave until June 2012 by his great-grandson.
The 1881 Scotland Census enumerates William, at age 14, as a servant living in Kinknockie, Foveran, Aberdeenshire on the farm of Adam Moir. William's occupation is listed as being that of a shepherd.
As a young man, William made his way south to London, England and married Elizabeth Collins Dance (1869 - 1952), a young widow. They had four children who survived to adulthood:
* William W. Shewan (1895 - 1973)
* Emily P. Shewan Shepherd (1898 - 1965)
* Walter C. Shewan (1904 - 1987)
* Beatrice A. Shewan Young (1907 - 1976)
William was also stepfather to Frank Dance (1891 - 1980), Elizabeth's son by her previous marriage.
The 1901 England and Wales Census enumerates Willlam as living at 2 Georgette Place in the civil parish of Greenwich, ecclestical parish of St. Alphage, municipal borough of Southwark, London. William is recorded as being 33 years of age, married, a worker by occupation, living with three other people, but not Elizabeth or their children. In the same census, Elizabeth and her three eldest children are enumerated separately at 20 Manor Street in Chelsea, London.
According to the 1911 England census, William and Elizabeth resided at 90 Corrance Road, Acre Lane, Brixton SW (borough of Lambeth), London. According to the same census schedule, they had two additional children who died as infants or in early childhood.
William and his son, William W., emigrated to the United States, departing Liverpool, England on Jun 24, 1911 on board the S.S. Celtic, and arrived at Ellis Island on July 2, 1911 (Facsimiles pages 1 and 2 of the Celtic's manifest is available under the Photos tab - See lines 5 and 6). Father and son settled in Erie, Pennsylvania, eventually residing in a house at 302 Holland Street. Elizabeth and their other children remained in London.
William was probably initially a boarder at this address, but he may well have eventually bought this property. In any case, the Erie City Directory records 302 Holland Street as his home from the mid-1910s to the time of his death in 1947. His son William almost certainly lived with him at this address until his marriage in 1919. (The house no longer stands, as nearby Hamot Hospital bought up land in the neighborhood and razed existing homes to make way for their own buildings.)
William returned to London in 1921 to bring his wife Elizabeth, daughter Emily and son-in-law Arnold Shepherd (1893 - 1977) to the United States and to Erie. Beatrice and Walter also emigrated to the United States, but by an alternate route. It is believed that Elizabeth, Beatrice and Walter joined William at 302 Holland Street when they arrived in Erie in 1921.
William had an elder brother, David M. Shewan (1865 - 1932), who also emigrated from the United Kingdom and settled in Guelph, Ontario. William and David also had seven siblings who remained in Scotland, including Jane Shewan McAra (1853 - 1935).
William and Elizabeth separated in 1926 and divorced in 1938. By 1940 William had married Helen Lagota (1897 - 1976). It is almost certain that William had no children by Helen. The 1940 Erie City Directory lists both William and Helen as living at 302 Holland Street.
William died at Hamot Hospital in Erie on July 15, 1947. His death certificate confirms much information known about him, including his full name (William Joseph Shewan), his date of death, the names of his parents (Alexander Shewan and Catherine Mark), his place of birth (Aberdeen, Scotland), his residence at the time of death (302 Holland Street, Erie, PA), place of burial (Lakeside Cemetery) and that Helen N. Shewan was his wife at the time of his death (Helen was also the informant).
However, there is one significant error on the death certificate: his date of birth and age at death. Research has established that William was born Nov 26, 1867 (not Nov 26, 1877 as stated on the certificate), making him 79, not 69, years old when he died. A facsimile of his birth registration documenting this fact is available in the Photos tab.
William was buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Erie two days after his death, but a stone marker was not placed on his grave until June 2012 by his great-grandson.
Inscription
WILLIAM J. SHEWAN
26 NOV 1867 15 JUL 1947
