| Notes |
- The following sources identify William James as the son of Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear:
1. Emails from December 2001 to May 2002 from William James (k.a. James) King identify Thomas King as the brother of James' father (also named William James, and known as James). In particular, James' December 28 2001 email states "My father's brother was called Tom, and I have the distinct memory of hearing something, very hush-hush, that he had also had a wife in Toronto."
2. The Obituary for Thomas King (Pittsburg Press August 23, 1956) identifies James W. King as Thomas' brother and is the only sibling identified.
3. An August 23, 2002 letter from Irene (King) Vardy, daughter of Ernest King and Bennett Dalton, refers to "Uncle Jim (who lived in Baltimore, U.S.A)".
4. Ancestry's New York, County Marriages, 1847-1849; 1907-1936 records an Affidavit for License to Marry identifying William James King as the husband of Aida Marcella Belmer, and as the son of Arthur (no surname recorded) and Martha (sic) Goodyear.
There are the following sources for William James' date of birth:
1. One of James King's emails (May 20, 2002) states "just finished talking to my sister. My father, according to her, was born December 19, 1889."
2. FamilySearch's U.S. Social Security Death Index for William King SSN 068-16-9525 records his date of birth as December 19, 1889.
3. William James' confirmation in the Catalina Church of England on October 27 1900 records him as age 12. This age implies a year of birth in late 1887 or 1888.
4. Ancestry's Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1956 records James King age 19 arriving November 14 1907 in Buffalo, New York, implying a year of birth in late 1887 or 1888.
5. William James' Affidavit for License to Marry Aida Belmer completed on January 1 1915 records his age as 25, implying a year of birth of 1889.
6. The 1920 Census of Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York records William J. King age 31 and his wife Aida M. The date of the Census is January 1 1920, implying a year of birth of 1888.
7. The 1930 Census of Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York records William J. King age 40 and his wife Aida M. The date of the Census is April 1 1930 implying a year of birth between April 1889 and March 1890.
The Rooms Parish Record Collection (PRC) for Catalina Methodist does not contain the baptism of William James, son of Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear. It does contain a King baptism on March 28 1888 with an abode of Little Catalina, but no parents' forenames are recorded. The child's first name is difficult to read, but appears to be similar to "Jas". No age or gender is recorded. This baptism does not appear in the Rooms Registers of Vital Statistics (RVS) for Catalina Methodist.
James King's May 16, 2002 email states: "That entry of March, 1888 could very well have been my father. He was always vague about his birthday, which he said was Xmas." and "I have wondered how he got to be called by his middle name and not by his first. One time he told me Little Catalina celebrated King William's Day, and he proudly added he was chosen to be King William. I have always wondered whether he just stuck the William on the front of his name. Of course, these wonderings were after his death, when I could no longer ask him." (Note: James King's father was confirmed in the Catalina Church of England as William James, suggesting it was truly his full name. See below.)
Assuming William James King was born around Christmas, the earliest records of his age (i.e. his Catalina Church of England confirmation in 1900 and his U.S. border crossing in 1907) imply a date of birth in December 1887. This date of birth is less than two months after the marriage of Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear, and makes William James King a candidate for the March 28 1888 Little Catalina Methodist baptism of an unknown King.
There is some information that raises doubts about William James King being the biological son of Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear.
1. Frequency of Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear's Oldest 4 Children
The three eldest children of Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear are Frederick George, Cranswick Thomas, and William James (k.a. James). Based on current sources, they were born in February, June, and December 1889 respectively. This is not possible if all three are biological sons of Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear. The fourth eldest child is Lewis born September 28 1891 according to both his Catalina Methodist baptism and Birth Registration.
Is it reasonable to believe Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear had four children in just under four years between their marriage in November 1887 and Lewis' birth in September 1891, with no indication any were twins? This is, at the least, unusually frequent.
2. William James King's Church of England Confirmation
James King's May 14 2002 email states "My father told me that when his mother died, he was sent to live with an ‘aunt’ in a larger town nearby. Irene [(King) Vardy] and I went there the last time I was in Newfoundland, and I found a record of my father's first communion at the church in town. (All my notes on this are in Massachusetts.) He had no sponsors, which seems strange."
The August 23, 2002 letter from Irene (King) Vardy, daughter of Ernest King and Bennett Dalton, states "Uncle Jim (who lived in Baltimore, U.S.A.) was confirmed in the Anglican Church in Catalina, so he must have been living with an Anglican family there after his mother died. I guess they got separated after their mother died and each went their own way looking for work."
The date of William James' confirmation is October 27 1900, and his age is given as 12. It's possible that, without his parents being present, William James' age was given incorrectly.
William James' confirmation occurred almost a year and a half prior to, not after, the death of Henrietta Goodyear, wife of Arthur William King, on March 31 1902 of Tuberculosis. She may have been incapacitated well before her death, perhaps leading to the older children leaving home prior to her death.
It is curious William James was confirmed in the Church of England. Both Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear were Methodist; they were baptized, married, and buried as Methodists. What was William James' connection to the Church of England? Why were there no sponsors for his confirmation?
If William James resided in Catalina before Henrietta (Goodyear) King's death, then being "sent to live with an ‘aunt’ in a larger town nearby" "when his mother died" may not refer to Henrietta (Goodyear) King. Perhaps, it refers instead to his biological mother, and the ‘aunt’ was Henrietta (Goodyear) King.
3. Birthplaces of William James King's parents recorded as Unknown in 1930 Census
Ancestry's New York, County Marriages, 1847-1849; 1907-1936 records an Affidavit for License to Marry identifying William James King as the husband of Aida Marcella Belmer, and as the son of Arthur (no surname recorded) and Martha Goodyear. Both parents of William James King are recorded as born in Canada. Newfoundland was not part of Canada in 1930; Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949.
The 1930 Census of Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York records William J King age 40 Married at age 25 Born Canada-English Immigration Year 1910 Naturalization First Papers Assembler Elec. Equipment Factory, wife Aida B age 39 Married at age 24 Born New York, and 4 children (William J Jr age 14, Albert M age 11, Marie B age 9, and K Grant age 7); residing at 109 W Brighton Ave. The birthplaces of William James King's parents are recorded as Unknown. Aida's father is recorded born in Canada-French and her mother in New York.
Wife Aida may have provided this information to the enumerator, and did not know (or remember) where William James King's parents were born. But perhaps William James King is not the biological son of Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear, and did not know where his biological parents were born.
The 1930 Census of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania records both parents of Cranswick Thomas King as born in Canada-English (with Cranswick Thomas King recorded as born in Ohio).
4. William James King's Mother Identified as Martha
In William James' Affidavit for License to Marry, he identifies his parents as Arthur (no surname recorded) and Martha Goodyear, both born in Canada. He also identifies his Place of Birth as Nova Scotia, Canada. Why is his mother recorded as Martha? William James was about 14 when Henrietta Goodyear died, and he should remember his mother's first name.
If William James was adopted, it is reasonable to believe his adoptive parents would retain his forenames. If William James King is not the biological son of Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear and assuming he retained his forenames, there are at least 3 candidates:
1. William James, son of Johnson Whelan and Kezia Handcock
FamilySearch's Newfoundland Vital Statistics, 1753-1893 records William James born April 19 1887 in Little Catalina, and baptized August 14 1887 in Catalina Methodist. William James Whelan would be age 12 at the time of William James King's confirmation on October 27 1900. Johnson Whelan is the son of Thomas Whelan of Bradley's Cove and Julia King of Bradley's Cove who married December 26 1839 in Bradley's Cove (Blackhead Methodist).
Julia King is likely the daughter of either William King or John King of Bradley's Cove. If Julia King is the daughter of John King, then Julia King is Arthur William King's aunt. If Julia King is the daughter of William King, then Julia King is Arthur William King's first cousin once removed.
Newfoundland and Labrador GenWeb records the burial of an unknown Whelan age 9 months on February 1 1888 at Catalina Methodist. William James, son of Johnson Whelan and Kezia Handcock, was born April 19 1887, and was 9 months old on February 1 1888. FamilySearch's Newfoundland Vital Statistics, 1753-1893 records only one baptism of a Whelan between January 1 1887 and February 28 1888 at Catalina Methodist; namely William James, son of Johnson Whelan and Kezia Handcock. It is reasonable to conclude William James, son of Johnson Whelan and Kezia Handcock, died on or before February 1 1888.
2. William James, son of Stephen John Quinlan and Dorah Susannah King
William James was born December 3 1889 in Catalina, and baptized December 8 1889 in Catalina Methodist. William James Quinlan was age 10 years and just under 11 months at the time of William James King's confirmation on October 27 1900.
William James Quinlan's two sisters Charlotte Susanna (older) and Susanna (younger) were both baptized at Catalina Church of England. But the Newfoundland and Labrador Genweb records the burial of Susannah Quinton (sic) age 2 mo[nths] on March 11 1892 in Catalina at Catalina Methodist. Also, the Death Registration for Susanna Quinlan age 2 mos died March 11 1892 born, died, and buried Catalina records her religion as Methodist. Why did Susanna Quinlan's religion change? Had she gone to live with a Methodist family after her mother died?
I currently believe Susannah, wife of Stephen John Quinlan, is Dorah Susannah King, daughter of Thomas Pike King and Emily Julia Pike, and so is the first cousin of Arthur William King. If Susannah, wife of Stephen John Quinlan, was instead the daughter of James King and Elizabeth Russell, then Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear would be the uncle and aunt of William James Quinlan. See Notes for Dorah Susannah King, wife of James Ford and Stephen John Quinlan, for further information.
Unfortunately, there seems to be no record of Stephen John and Susannah Quinlan after the baptism of their daughter Susanna in December 1891. FamilySearch's Newfoundland, Vital Records, 1840-1919 does not record a marriage or a death for a Susanna Quinlan who could be the wife of Stephen John Quinlan.
3. Unknown King baptized March 28 1888 at Catalina Methodist
The Rooms Parish Record Collection (PRC) for Catalina Methodist records a King baptism on March 28 1888 with a residence of Little Catalina. The first name is difficult to read, but appears to be similar to "Jas". No parents or age are recorded. This baptism does not appear in the Rooms Registers of Vital Statistics (RVS).
This may be an illegitimate birth, with the child eventually becoming William James, son of Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear. This child would likely be age 12 at the time of William James King's confirmation on October 27 1900.
Ancestry's Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1956 records James King arriving November 14 1907 in Buffalo, New York. James King is age 19 and his birthplace is Catelina (sic), Newfoundland. His father is recorded as Arthur, residing in Catelina (sic), Newfoundland. James last permanent residence is Toronto and his occupation is Carpenter. This is his first entry into the U.S. It is difficult to believe this is not William James King (who normally used the name James), son of Arthur William King and Henrietta Goodyear. James' destination, and "name and address of relative or friend to join there" are recorded as Rochester, New York and A. Allen at 133 Chestnut St. It appears that "friend" is crossed off perhaps indicating A. Allen is a relative.
In his emails in 2001 and 2002, James King provided the following additional information:
1. May 14 2002: "... my father said that one year when they got the first big catch, he took the money and went to Toronto, where he got work in a shop of some kind where he got a job blowing glass. My father was also in some kind of military unit with a name like the Grenadier Guards." James may be referring to the Toronto based Royal Grenadiers who served in Word War I as the 123rd Battalion, Royal Grenadiers.
2. May 16 2002: "As to the possibility that Uncle Tom and my father were twins, I am inclined to doubt it. My father never mentioned it. As to appearances, they were very similar in appearance."
In his email on May 14 2002, James King states "Uncle Tom died in the 50's, in Pittsburgh, of course. Uncle Tom was crazy about baseball and I recall that I was told by my father's (second) wife that the pall-bearers were from the Pittsburg Pirates baseball team."
Ancestry's New York State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967 records the marriage of Willia J King and France Demmel in Syracus on July 27 1965 with Certificate No. 39271. First names are limited to 6 letters and Places to 7 letters in this Index.
Ancestry's Post Standard (Syracuse, New York) has an image of the July 30 1965 edition with the following in Marriage Licenses (Page 7): William J. King of Baltimore, Md. and Frances Demmel of Baltimore, Md.
So, father William James King re-married at about age 75, a month and a half after his first wife's death.
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1889 - 1971 (81 years)
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