Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

M KING

Mabel Alice Edith King was born on 10 January 1901 in Camberwell, Surrey, England to Charles "Alfred" Dorsett King (1865-1954) and Louisa Bacon (1862-1939). Her siblings were: Annie Louisa (1887-1944), Arthur Alfred (1889-1963), Edward Charles (1892-1954), Walter William (1895-1918) and Percy Leonard (1899-1981). According to his obituary, Alfred came to Saskatoon in 1906.

In 1911, Louisa, Edward, Mabel and Percy were living with Annie and William Young in Sidcup, Kent, England. Of these, only Annie and William Young did not immigrate to Canada. Louisa, Percy and Mabel boarded SS 'Tunisian' in Liverpool, England on about 22 April 1912 and arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 28 April 1912. Their final destination was Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where they were to join Louisa's husband and two sons. In 1916, the King family was living in the Parkview Apartments on 5th Ave in Saskatoon.

In 1918 the Saskatoon Henderson Directory listed Mabel as a stenographer for Eatons living at 422 133 21st St E. Circa 1919, she married William Henry Cook. He had at least one sister, Ethel. His mother's name may possibly have been Isabella, but this information was at first recorded as not known on his death registration, so it seems somewhat doubtful. William and Mabel had at least three children: William (b 1920), Bernice Evelyn (died 1992), and Doris Louisa (1925-1988).

In 1921 the Cook family was living in Sherwood RM which is now part of Regina. At that time they had just one child, 7 month old William. William Sr died on 1 September 1961 and Mabel on 18 November 1968, both in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Perhaps Mabel is the most likely candidate to have signed the quilt. She worked downtown and had three brothers, Alfred, Edward and Walter fighting in the War. Walter died in action. Many downtown business people signed the quilt and she may have been quite motivated to sign because of her family's strong connection to the War.

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

Candidate 1

Hannah "Maude" Wilson was born on 7 September 1873 in St Catharines, Lincoln, Ontario to James Wilson (b 1841) and Elizabeth Mary Norris (1849-1887). Her siblings were: Florence "Blanche" (b 1872), William Alexander (1876-1945), Caroline (b 1883) and Jessie (b 1885). She was raised in St Catharines, Ontario.

Maude married James Augustus King circa 1892. James was born on 23 January 1862 in Ontario to John W King (1830-1893) and Maria Ostrander (b 1831). His siblings were: George Richardson (b 1851), Lucy Jane (b 1852), Teresa (b 1852), John Washington (b 1854), William Francis (b 1856), Charles Harvey (b 1858) and Teresa Victoria (b 1861). He was raised in St Catharines. He had first been married to Lulu R Henry (1868-1890) on 18 December 1889 in Stamford, Welland, Ontario.

James and Maude had two daughters: Vallovalid "Loraine" (1893-1959) and Ethel Maud (1896-1957). The King family was living in St Catharines in 1901. James died on 11 May 1910 in St Catharines. By 1911 Maude and the two girls had moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

From at least 1915 to 1917 Maude and Loraine were living at 317 3rd Ave North, Saskatoon. By 1921 Maude had married Robert James Turner (1860-1941) and they were living at 525 20th St in Saskatoon. Maude died on 11 August 1947 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. Her inscription is on the same stone as that of her daughter, Loraine Hassett and Loraine’s husband William Blenner Hassett (1880-1940).

If the marriage date of Maude to Robert Turner could be found, it might eliminate her as the person who signed the quilt. If the marriage occurred before 1918, she was likely using the surname Turner when the quilt was being made. If you know the date of this marriage, please contact us.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave King 2 Tree.

Three candidates have been identified who may have signed the quilt M King.
The name King is quite common and we may easily have missed other possibilities.

Candidate 3

Mary Helena Jane King was born on 13 March 1901 in Vancouver, British Columbia to Herbert William King (1868-1905) and Frances Elizabeth Abbott (1873-1954). Her siblings were: Herbert George (1891-1973), Frances Louise (1892-1982), Arthur Harold Pannell (1895-1979) and Ernest David Abbott (1899-1967). In 1901 the King family was living in Vancouver and Herbert was working as a compositor/printer. He died on 28 April 1905 in Vancouver.

Another son, Murray Abbott (1906-1970) was born to Frances on 2 October 1906 in Chatham, Ontario. His death record gave his father's name as Frederick William Handley (1871-1954). Frederick W Handley first appeared in Saskatoon Henderson Directories in 1912. He was foreman for Saskatoon Forwarding and Storage Company.

In 1916 Frederick and Frances Handley and the six children who all had the surname King were living at 606 Spadina Crescent East in Saskatoon. 1918 was the last Henderson listing for Frederick. That year he was a wholesale man for Northern Fruit Company and was living at 314 25th St W. It was possible that Frederick, Frances and Murray were living in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, enumerated under the name Hanley, in 1921, but the ages do not match and none of the other children were listed, so it was impossible to be sure they were the same people. The Handley parents eventually returned to British Columbia and both died there, Frederick on 1 June 1954 in Cloverdale and Frances on 31 August in White Rock. Nothing further could be discovered about Mary King.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave King 4 Tree.

Candidate 2