Lenora Victoria Bonnycastle1

#2503, (1903 - 1931)
FatherJohn Bonnycastle1 (1874 - 1955)
MotherGrace Lillian Hubbs1 (1881 - 1904)
Relationship3rd great-granddaughter of John Bonnycastle
Pedigree
Charts5 Generations of Descendants of Sir Richard Henry Bonnycastle (1791-1847)

Life Events

CalledLenora Victoria Bonnycastle went by the name of Nora.2 
BirthShe was born on 19 Dec 1903 in Indian Head, Saskatchewan.1 
(Mother died) DeathMuriel, Douglas and Lenora was less than a year old when her mother died.3 
(with Father) 1911 CensusLenora Bonnycastle appeared on the 1911 Census of Calgary, Alberta with her father and stepmother. She was 8 years old, born in September 1902 in Ontario [sic], and attended school 10 months that year.4 
(with Parents) 1916 CensusLenora appeared on the 1916 Census of Calgary, Alberta as a daughter to John and Hatty. She was 12, born in Saskatchewan, Anglican, and attended school.5 
(with Parents) 1921 CensusLenora appeared on the 1921 Census of Vancouver, British Columbia with her parents. She was 16 years old, born in Saskatchewan, and was a saleswoman in a confectionery store.6 
MarriageShe married James George Durkin circa 1925.7,8
 
Research Note James George Durkin was a bit of a challenge to research as he changed his name.
He was born Felix Nowacki in Washington state c1891 to Felix & Marya Nowacki who were Polish immigrants. He was with them and 3 siblings on the 1900 census in Seattle. The father, an iron machinist, was also enumerated as a boarder in Spokane.
In the 1910 census, Felix & Marie were in Spokane with children Zofia (21), Witold (16), and Wanda (18).
Their eldest son Felix was found as a roomer in Seattle with the name James G Durkin. He reported that he was English and an electrician.
James George moved to Vancouver about 1918 and was a horserace bookmaker, reporting his origins as Irish.
He died in San Francisco 1 July 1947. His death record stated his father's name as Nowacki and his mother's as Markiewicz. His sister Mrs Zoe Waldmann arranged for the funeral. Notices were to be placed in the Examiner, Chronicle, Call, and News. 
Residence-Moved In 1928, Lenora Victoria moved to Chicago.9 
1930 CensusJames G and Nora V Durkin appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, at 1023 Argyle. James was 39, first married at 35, born in Washington, parents born in California, and was a tobacco salesman. Nora was 26, first married at 22, same birthplace and parents' birthplace as James [enumerator error], and no occupation. They rented their abode but the amount of the rent was not recorded. With them were 2 roomers and 4 lodgers.8 
DeathLenora died on 2 Nov 1931 in Illinois Masonic Hopsital, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
Details from the certificate: Mrs Nora Durkin, lived in Chicago & the United States for 3 years 6 months, residence 444 St James Place, married to James George, born Dec 19 1903 in Indian Head Saskatchewan Canada, age 27 years 10 months 14 days, housewife for one year and last worked October 19, father John Bonnycastle birthplace unknown, mother Grace Hibbs birthplace unknown. The information was taken from hospital records. Nora was buried 3 Nov 1931 [sic] in Chiliwack, British Columbia. Cause of death was cerebral abscess, onset October 26. She had mastoid surgery November 1st and there was an autopsy.9 
Passenger ListJames George Durkin was listed on a Fort Frances Ontario border crossing report of admissions and rejections dated 12 Nov 1931 in Fort Frances, Ontario. Beside his name was the notation: Copy on Fyle No. 512810. He was 40 years old, widowed, born in Seattle, resident of Chicago, Irish, was in Vancouver BC between 190- and July 1928, Roman Catholic, occupation Broker, under police escort to appear in court in Vancouver BC, nearest relative in the US was sister [name unreadable] in Anchorage Alaska, arrived via Duluth Winnipeg & Pacific Railway, and he was rejected with no appeal.10 
BurialShe was buried in Chilliwack, British Columbia.9 
Research Note There are several stories about Lenora - she was called Nora. One said she married an american gangster, went to New York and died quite young after dental surgery. Another has her dying in the early thirties at a young age of a brain tumour after her husband had brought her back to B.C. from the USA.
As with most stories, these have a grain of truth ... she died of a brain abscess and her husband for some reason was under police escort after her death (perhaps while accompanying her remains back to Canada). As well, on a border crossing card in 1922 before he married Nora, his occupation was Race Track Book Maker! 
Last Edited23 Apr 2014

Citations

  1. Saskatchewan Vital Statistics Indexes to Births more than 100 years ago, viewed online at eHealth Saskatchewan. Reg No 431 (Lenora Victoria, 1903/12/9, Indian Head, d/o Grace Hubbe & John Bonnycastle).
  2. Letters from Jean Himmelman (California) to J Kolthammer, early 1990s;.
  3. Saskatchewan Vital Statistics Indexes to Deaths, more than 70 years ago (online, vsgs.health.gov.sk.ca), Grace Lillian Bonnycastle.
  4. 1911 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Alberta, Calgary (1), Calgary City (subdist 26), page 12.
  5. 1916 Census for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Alberta, District Calgary East, Subdistrict 34, ED 8 in City of Calgary, Page 12.
  6. 1921 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. British Columbia, Vancouver, Sub-District 50, Ward 7, Page 22.
  7. FamilySearch Historical Records Indexes to Illinois Deaths, 1916-1947, database compiled from Illinois Department of Health certificates of death. Viewed online at familysearch.org, Nora Durkin, 1931, #rn 30518.
  8. 1930 Federal Census for United States, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Roll 491, ED 1788, Page 2A. Image viewed at Ancestry.com.
  9. Death certificate of Mrs Nora Durkin, died 2 November 1931, registered 3 November 1931 in the State of Illinois, file # 3104.
  10. Border Crossings: from U.S. to Canada, 1908-1935. Images viewed at Ancestry.com. Original data from Library and Archives Canada. James George Durkin, Fort Frances, Ontario, 1931.