Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

WILLIAM HENRY (HARRY) PITT and EDWARD HOWARD PITT

William Henry (Harry) Pitt was born on 30 Sep 1887 in Hove, Sussex, England to William Henry Pitt (b 1855) and Caroline Mercy Mason (1856-1919). Some trees have a death date of 1925 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for his father, but the 1916 census listed Caroline as a widow, so that cannot be correct. Information in some trees indicated that he never came to Canada and that he died in England. William's siblings were: Caroline Ann (1877-1974), Rosa Violet (1881-1970), Leonard (1885-1947), Edith Annie (1885-1975), Alfred Fredrick (1889-1973), George Stanley (1889-1977), Frank Ernest (1891-1954) and Edward Harold (1897-1917).

The Pitt family, including father William, was living in Hove until at least 1901. According to census records, William came to Canada in 1906. His mother and three brothers, Leonard, George and Edward boarded the 'SS Oceanic' on 11 Sept 1907 in Southampton, Hampshire, England and arrived in New York, New York, USA on 18 Sept 1907. Leonard and an unnamed brother were listed in the 1911 Saskatoon Henderson City Directory, working for the CPR and living in Sutherland, but they could not be found in the 1911 census.

By 1916 Caroline and her five boys were living on Railway Ave in Sutherland which is now part of Saskatoon. On 25 September 1914, William enlisted for WWI at Valcartier. His mother was listed as next of kin living in Sutherland. Between 1916 and 1921 William married Lily Razey who was born on 6 July 1896 in Woodborough, England to David Razey and Emily Giddings. They had at least one son, Edward H Pitt who was born in 1920. William and family were living on Evans St in Sutherland in 1921. At that time William was working for the CPR. William died in Richmond, British Columbia on 23 April 1971 and Lily died in New Westminster, British Columbia on 6 February 1965.

William's brother, Edward Harold Pitt, was born on 18 September 1897 in Hove. He enlisted for the War on 16 Jan 1916 and died in action on 13 September 1917. He was buried in Aix-Noulette, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

We could find no other good E Pitt candidate for the E Pitt signature on the quilt, although there is some speculation that J Evans Pitt who was also living in Sutherland may have used the name Evans and could also be a candidate. It is speculated that his name may have been put on by another family member in his memory as he had likely already died in action by the time the quilt was being signed. W Pitt's signature was quite close to that of E Pitt so it may have been William who added the other signature.

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

There is an alternative candidate for the E Pitt signature who is described here.