History Index

The Gillians of Roestock
A genealogical search by Richard Gillians now living in Canada

Leaving England for Canada

68 Roestock Lane

Between 1900 and 1914 many people left England for Canada under a scheme heavily subsidised by the Canadian Government and Canadian Pacific Railway. The idea was to populate the vast areas of Western Canada in order to provide more revenue for CPR.

My grandfather, Jim Gillians, took advantage of the offer and left for Montreal in 1907 to work as a labourer. Like most immigrants they lived in the poor section of Montreal. He died of cancer in 1913 and my grandmother died during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1919.

My Dad's two older brothers, Tom and Albert, went overseas with the Victoria Rifles, fought at the Somme and Vimy Ridge. Dad was invalided out of the army in Canada and spent a great deal of his time in hospital in Montreal. After WW1, Dad married and I was one of three sons.

Clues from the Census

Looking at the 1841 census I have my Gr.Gr. Grandfather living at Roestock Lane (no numbers) with his son John age 15, daughter Mary age 12, Thomas (Gr. Grandfather) and his twin sister Sarah, ages 8 and Samuel age 5.

The 1851 census shows my Gr Grandfather Thomas and his twin sister now living with John and Ann Hutchins, their aunt and uncle at Roestock (Again no number).

70-76 Roestock Lane - roestock9s.jpg (5992 bytes)

76-70 Roestock Lane

The 1861 census show the Aunt and Uncle living at 65 Roestock Lane, William Gillians age 60, my Gr. Gr. Grandfather and my Gr Grandfather Thomas and his twin sister Sarah living at 66 Roestockl Lane. Across the road another son of William's , name of John Gillions, his wife Hannah and 5 kids living at 73 Roestock Lane.

The 1871 census shows my Gr.Gr. Grandfather William age 80, living with his sister-in-law Ann Hutchings at 64 Roestock Lane, shown as a widow and living on parish allowance, also midwife. Also my Gr Aunt Sarah, her daughter Hannah age 9 and a grandson James, age 16. Across the road living at 70 Roestock is Williams's son John and family.

Roestock Cottage

My Gr Grandfather Thomas, now married , shown living at 64 Deep Bottom, North Mymms. His wife and my Great Grandmother Jane Elizabeth Gillians, sons Albert and James lived at the same address.

My Great Grandfather died in 1877 and my Gr.Grandmother Jane remarried to a William Hipgrave in 1879, who was a night watchman at the Union Workhouse. My Grandfather James left home shortly after and I lost him in London until I found his marriage to Edith Rainer in Woolwich in 1888. They came to Canada in 1907.

My Great Grandmother Jane (Gillians) Hipgrave died July 22, 1920 at Bullens Green, Roestock, North Mymms. I gather when she married Hipgrave, my grandfather James had a difficult time and he was estranged from the family until he died in 1913 in Montreal.

Written and submitted by Richard Gillians, June 2001 richgill@sympatico.ca


Cottage in Roestock Lane	70-76 Roestock Lane	Roestock Cottage Gate


Lane leading to Roestock	The Chalk Drawers Arms Roestock Lane	Lane in Roestock

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