Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

BERTHA ADELIA, VIOLET MAY and LILLIE IDA WILLOUGHBY

Bertha Adelia Willoughby was born on 15 June 1875 in Spencerville, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario to Abraham Willoughby (1842-1916) and Mary Newman (1841-1913). Her siblings were, Elizabeth Jane (1867-1908), Annie Maria (1869-1938), Charles Henry (1872-1967), Hester Maude (1876-1955), John Wesley (1878-1952), Violet “May” (1881-1948) and Lillie Ida (1884-1970).

In 1891, the Willoughby family was living in Wolford and in 1901, Merrickville - both in Leeds and Grenville Co, Ontario. Bertha’s name appeared on the Roll of Third Ave Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1903. The 1906 census found her boarding with Frank and Minnie Oliver and family in Saskatoon. In 1908, Bertha, May and Lillie were all teaching in Saskatoon and living on corner of 1st Ave and 19th St.

By 1911, Bertha was boarding in the home of Alexander Stephen Wright at 223 4th Ave S with her two sisters, May and Lillie. All three were teachers and identified themselves as Methodist. Bertha remained at this address until at least the time of the 1921 census.

On 14 August 1923, Bertha married George Henry Harris in St Boniface, Manitoba. She died on 4 May 1947 and was likely buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Winnipeg, Manitoba as there was a Bertha Harris buried there in May 1947 and it was the final resting place of at least one of her sisters.

Violet “May” Willoughby was born on 1 May 1881 in Jasper Smiths Falls, Grenville, Ontario.

In 1907, her name appeared on the Roll of Third Ave Methodist Church in Saskatoon. She was listed as single and still had the name Willoughby in the 1911 Saskatoon census. Sometime between 1911 and 1916 she married Gilbert Charles “Gordon” Dodds who was born on 9 August 1889 in Springfield, Manitoba to Francis Thomas Dodds (1851-1926) and Alice Elizabeth Barron (1855-1936).

Several trees on Ancestry estimated the year of this marriage to have been 1909, but it can’t be correct. Efforts to find her in the 1916 and 1921 census records failed, but she was listed as the next of kin for her husband, Gilbert Charles “Gordon” Dodds on 2 March 1916 when he enlisted for WWI in Winnipeg, Manitoba. At that time and in the 1920 Winnipeg Henderson’s Directory their address was 769 Fleet Ave, Winnipeg.

In 1916, a Bidwell family was living at that address, so it seems likely that May stayed somewhere else while Gordon was overseas and they rented out their Winnipeg house. The Saskatoon Henderson Directory had her listed from 1917 to 1919 as a school teacher living at 223 4th Ave S – the same address where her sister, Bertha, was living. In 1919 she was teaching at King Edward School. Gordon and May had at least one son, Ronald Barron (1922-2015).

A 1945 voter’s list for Winnipeg, had Gordon, Mrs Gordon and Ronald B Dodds, living at 586 St Mary’s Road. Both Gordon and May were druggists and Ronald was with the RCAF. Gordon died on 2 August 1946 and May died on 20 April 1948. Both were buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Winnipeg.

Lillie Ida Willoughby was born on 7 February 1884 in Wolford Township, Grenville Co, Ontario.

She appeared on the roll of Third Ave Methodist Church in Saskatoon in 1908. In 1916 she was still living with her sister Bertha at 223 4th Ave S in Saskatoon. On 28 June 1920 she married Peter Webster in Wentworth, Ontario. He was born on 1 November 1881 in Hindley, Lancashire, England to Joseph Webster (b 1863) and Elizabeth Fairhurst (b 1856).

At the time of the 1921 census, they were living in Elmira, Waterloo, Ontario. Peter died on 21 November 1946 and Lillie died on 31 October 1970, both in Sarnia, Ontario.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Dodds/Willoughby Tree.