Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

ESTEY FAMILY

Sarah “Ann” Key was born on 27 September 1862 in Keswick Ridge, York, New Brunswick to John Key (1826-1893) & Mary Currie (1832-1897). John was a farmer whose parents had come from Ireland. Sarah had three brothers, Albert Z (1861-1887), James F (1864-1887) & Charles Lincoln (1886-1918) and one sister, Annie Estily "Etta" (b 1869). Ann married Byron Leslie Estey (1860-1929) on 13 February 1889 in Keswick Ridge, York County, New Brunswick. Byron was born on 18 December 1860 in Macnaquack, York County to Nehemiah Estey (1831-1905) & Matilda Jane Dykeman (1831-1907). Byron & Ann farmed on land adjacent to her father’s land.

Byron & Ann had two sons, James "Wilfred" (1889-1956) & Zebedee Kee (1890-1954) and two daughters, Jennie May (1892-1986) & Helen Annie (1893-1978). By 1911, the family had moved to Northumberland St, York, York County. Byron was a retail grocer, Wilfred was a secretary, Zebedee was an accountant and Jennie was a teacher.

Wilfred was born on 1 December 1889 in Keswick Douglas, York, New Brunswick.

He obtained his Bachelor of Arts at the University of New Brunswick and went on to Harvard, obtaining a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1915. That same year, he came to Saskatoon.

President of the University, Walter Murray found Wilfred Estey a job with the McCraney, McKenzie and Hutchinson. It was here that he articled as a law student with Mr. P.E. McKenzie who was an agent for the Attorney General for the Judicial District of Saskatoon. In 1917, he was admitted to the Saskatchewan Bar and thereafter remained with the McCraney firm until Mr. McKenzie was appointed a Judge of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal in 1921. At that time Mr. Estey went to the Gilchrist and Hogarth firm located in the Canada Building and shortly thereafter was appointed agent for the Attorney General to fill the vacancy occasioned by Mr. McKenzie’s appointment as a Judge. During the period 1921 to 1929, he acted as the agent for the Attorney General in the Saskatoon judicial district.

THE HONOURABLE JAMES WILFRED ESTEY (1889 – 1956)

Wilfred married Muriel Alice Irving Baldwin in about 1916 in Saskatoon. Muriel was born on 10 March 1888 in Chatham, Northumberland, New Brunswick to William Henry Baldwin (1861-1938) & Helen Elizabeth (Nellie) (Ellen) Irving (1862-1951). Muriel had five brothers, John Maxwell (1885-1971), Andrew Clarence (1890-1967), Willard Travin (1893-1918), Harold Daniel (1894-1983) & George Purdy (1900-1973).

Wilfred & Muriel at 816 14th St, Saskatoon after their marriage whilst Wilfred was a student barrister at McCraney, Mackenzie & Hutchinson. In 1917 & 1918 they lived at 112 Clarence Ave which was when their elder son, Clarence Lesley was born on 29 June 1917. Presumably Muriel had returned to to parents’ home as Clarence was born in New Brunswick. Their second son, Willard Zebedee (Bud) was born in Saskatoon on 10 October 1919. From 1920-1940, Wilfred was a lecturer on Torts, Bills & Notes in the law faculty of the University of Saskatchewan as well as a practising barrister with McCraney, Mackenzie & Hutchison. In 1940, he was appointed Attorney General for the province. In 1945 Wilfred & Muriel moved to Ottawa where he died on 22 January 1956. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon. Muriel returned to Saskatoon after Wilfred died and lived at 925 University Drive for a few years before moving to #4 844 Saskatchewan Crescent E. Muriel died on 24 March 1976 aged 88 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon.

Wilfred & Muriel’s two sons continued in their father’s profession: Clarence became a Queen’s Counsel, a minister in the Ross Thatcher Government between 1967-1971 and subsequently a Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench and Bud taught law at the University of Saskatchewan, was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal, was appointed as Chief Justice of Ontario and served on the Supreme Court for ten years.

Wilfred’s sister Jennie May Estey was born on 10 July 1892 in Keswick Ridge, York, New Brunswick. She began her teaching career in York before moving to British Columbia in 1912. Jennie taught in the one roomed Milton School, Langley, BC. See Retired Teachers Association. In 1917, Jennie moved to Saskatoon where she initially lived with her brother and sister-in-law. She was appointed Principal of Pleasant Hill School in 1917 aged 25 and subsequently taught at Caswell School. Jennie married George Herbert Medd (1888-1980) on 19 January 1920 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

George & Jennie had one daughter who became a nurse. George farmed in the Fraser Valley and Jennie taught in Fort Langley schools for many years. George died aged 91, on 3 October 1980 in Murrayville, British Columbia. Jennie died on 27 March 1986 in Langley, British Columbia aged 93.

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