On this day, I would like to acknowledge and remember those ancestors
who served in WWI.
Thomas Albert Briggs (my great-grandfather): L/Col; 239th Railway, 5th Battalion; Served August 30, 1916 – February 4, 1919:
Errol Chandler Briggs: Pvt; 93rd Aero Sqn, US or 374th Aero (Service) Squadron ASSC (Aviation Section Signal Corp), Served December 13, 1917 – April 2, 1919:
Stanley Kingston Briggs: Capt, 29th Battalion, 104th Bengal Fusiliers; Served November 7, 1914 – February 17, 1919 (general demobilization):
Dr. John Alfred Briggs: Major, #10 Cdn Field Ambulance, Served March 5/15 – February 7/20 (general demobilization), awarded Military Cross, continued in service at Esquimalt, drowned at sea (details unknown):
William Alexander Irving: Acting Major, 10th Brigade, Cdn Field Artillery, 1st Heavy Battery, Served September 24, 1914 – October 11, 1916; KIA – “While returning from his battery observation point east of Pozieres {France} in company with a battery telephonist, about 10 am on October 11, 1916, he was severely wounded in the back by splinters from an enemy high explosive shell which landed about 100 yards from the battery position. He expired while being conveyed to the dressing station.”:
Frederick William Bond Press: 231st Battalion Overseas, Served April 6, 1916 – February 4, 1919 (no image available).
I know this may not be all our family members that have served; however, these are the ones that I have found so far.
Please remember our family members who have served for us and our country today at 11 am.
Errol, Thomas, Stanley & John Briggs (brothers) – 1918
It’s November! Well, I think it’s a great month, but I may be biased. So, to begin with, “Happy Birthdays” to Dennis and Cole – oh, and to me today!
A special mention to my great-nephews whom we never got a chance to meet. They hold an extra special place in my heart (and many others) as we share birthdays. You will always be remembered, Ezra and Elliot.
Now, let’s find out who shares your birthday – let me introduce you to Capt John Irving. John was born November 24, 1854, to Capt William James Irving and Elizabeth Jane Dixon. He was born at sea on board the ship Robert D. Carter, under charter to his father, shortly before it arrived in Portland, Oregon. He is the only son of William and Elizabeth, and the brother of my 2nd great-grandmother, Mary Irving Briggs.
His father, William, passed away when John was only 17 years of age. A very enterprising young man, John took over the “family business” with the help of his mother, Elizabeth and an uncle (unknown).
1880
I guess having been born on a ship, John really did have the sea in his blood. As noted in Dictionary of Canadian Biography:
He developed a name for being a skilled, aggressive captain and businessman. In competition with other owners, he frequently outmanoeuvred them by expert piloting, shrewd business strategies, or both; on other occasions he purchased their operations, adding to his reputation for boldness. Historians Norman Rupert Hacking and William Kaye Lamb describe him as having a “naturally reckless disposition.” According to Hacking, the captain was also colourful. “Well over 6 feet in height, handsome John Irving was a great social favourite, a mighty drinker, and the soul of generosity.
Later in 1883, with other investors, John formed Canadian Pacific Navigation Company (CPNC). Well, let’s just say, this was just the continuation of his determination with all his shipping and ship building endeavours!
Between 1884 and 1888, John and Jane had three children, daughter Elizabeth (Beth) born December 10, 1884, son William born September 17, 1886, and daughter Genevieve born July 6, 1888, all born in Victoria, BC.
In July 1894, John was elected as a Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of BC, and again in July 1898 for Cassiar, losing to his seat in 1900.
Beginning in 1901, John’s business endeavours began to waver. With the sale of CPNC, his fortune declined despite his investments in mining and other ventures.
Even though John had a passion for shipping, he did tackle the real estate world as an agent. However, he lost or gave away much of his wealth. According to historian, Norman Hacking, who knew John later in life, he remembered him as “poor in everything but friends.”
With the death of his son, William, killed in action during World War I, John was never the same after. John passed away at his home (1047 Eveleigh Street, Vancouver, BC) August 10, 1936.
There is much more that I could share with respect to John’s career but the majority of that can be found in the two links I shared.
I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know another of our ancestors. I look forward to seeing your comments – take care!
It’s that time again for the next video interview of a member of the Briggs family – Stanley “Richard” Briggs. Richard is the youngest child of Stanley and Irene Briggs, and my uncle.
Uncle Rich and I met up the week before the interview to have a chat about the questions. As I had mentioned in my Video Alert post, he had a ton of stories to share! I knew the interview would be longer than the others that I had done but I was able to “rein” him in a couple of times and we kept it to a short 50 minutes. I just wanted to ensure there were more stories to share so we can get together again – I’m very much looking forward to it!
During the interview with my Aunt Evelyn, we had issues with the recording so this time we decided (as in my son, Jeremy and I) to use my cell phone hoping the visual would be better. I do have a new laptop but according to Jeremy, the video would look way better coming from the phone. Well, the visual was immensely better but unfortunately the sound was not (something he happened to mention just before the interview started). I sincerely apologize for the fact that it is very hard to hear – I found if I used my headphones at full level, it was easier. We are in the process of trying to get better equipment in the very near future to do this better for everyone to enjoy.
The video will have a blip in the middle as it stopped recording and started again about half way through. I learned something new putting two videos together to make one!
During my visit to Uncle Rich’s home, he shared with me a couple of treasures he had in the spare bedroom – needless to say, I was in awe! Hoping one day to share pics in future posts.
Any questions or comments for myself or my Uncle Rich, please post them, I would love to hear from you!
It’s Halloween and you know what that means – spooky ghosts! Some believe and some don’t. Regardless of what you believe, there are ghost stories out there and I have found some.
Irving House was built in 1865 by Captain William James Irving, and possibly the oldest home in the Lower Mainland. William and his wife, Elizabeth lived in the home with their young family. He died in 1872. The house stayed in the family, housing two generations. Thomas Lasher Briggs and Mary Irving (William and Elizabeth’s daughter) raised their family in the home calling it Hollymount. Later, Naomi and Manuella Briggs, daughters of Thomas and Mary, stayed in the family home until 1950. At that time, they sold the home to the City of New Westminster. I have shared this picture before but will do so again so you can get a “picture” in your mind.
Here’s where the stories begin. I found a book, “At Home with History, The Untold Secrets of Greater Vancouver’s Heritage Homes” by Eve Lazarus. Interesting read – if anyone would like to read it, you’re more than welcome to borrow for a small fee of a visit and a cup of tea!
One particular story caught my eye, and I would love to share it with you. In 1980, Jim Wolf started researching the history of Irving House and spent a lot of time in the home. An excerpt from the book tells the story:
‘Wolf says that another time when he was in the house, a patient came over from nearby St. Mary’s hospital and asked him if children lived there. “I asked her why, and she said she was looking out of her window at the hospital the night before, and there were three little girls dancing on the lawn in their white nightgowns.”’
Well, I’d like to think those three little girls were Naomi, Manuella and Beryl Briggs, the only daughters of Thomas and Mary. They were the last females that lived in the home as little girls. Beryl was the first to pass in 1917, while Naomi and Manuella lived the longest of all the children of Thomas and Mary.
Naomi, Manuella & Beryl Briggs:
There are more stories like this in the book. It would be great if I can find Jim Wolf and have a chat with him about his experiences.
So – ghosts or spirits/souls? Whatever you believe in, you can’t ignore the feelings some people have in certain places and times.
I would do anything to be able to stay overnight in Irving House just to see and feel what I can see and feel……
We’re on a roll with the interviews! A lot of planning and scheduling goes into setting up and completing the interview but once done, it’s a wonderful feeling of accomplishment for all parties involved.
The next interview will be with my Uncle Rich, also known as Stanley Richard Briggs. He is the youngest child of Stanley and Irene Briggs, and father of three great kids, Michael, Shannon and Dennis.
I was very excited to do this interview because honestly, I really don’t know my Uncle Rich that well. Yep, I know, hard to believe! Being the youngest, I have to say his memory is phenomenal – I’m amazed at some of his stories and the clarity with which he relates those memories. When he starts to answer a question, another story pops into his head – it’s wonderful! I will definitely have to do another video or two so get ready, Uncle Rich – we’re going to get to know each other very well!
One question Uncle Rich had for my dad’s (Grant Briggs) video interview was, “When do I get the $50 you got for selling my car?” My dad’s answer was, “Is he that hard up he needs the money now?” Well, let’s see if we have a response from Uncle Rich – I love sibling rivalry!
In the meantime, to get prepared for Uncle Rich’s interview, I did a short interview with my dad, talking about his brother, Richard.
Enjoy this short interview with my dad, Grant – and get ready for Richard’s interview next weekend.
Before starting this blog, I have been doing a lot of research on the family ancestry. During my research, I have found and purchased some books to add to the “family ancestry library”.
A new page has been created on the blog – it’s located under Resources: We Are Family Briggs Library!
I’m hoping to build up the library so if anyone knows of any other books we can add to the library, please let me know. On the other hand, if you have any books that we can add to the library, please share.
They are available to family members who wish to read them at any time for a small fee – a visit and a cup of tea maybe with a hint of lavender! You’ll know what I mean when you read one of the books in the library……
Today is an extra special day for me and I’m sure for others in my family as well. It’s October 8th, which marks my cousin Donna’s birthday. Donna and I shared our birthdays every year for as long as I can remember. Our birthdays are exactly one month apart. I always thought of her as the sister I never had not knowing many years later that I did indeed have a sister – but that’s another story!
Every year on our birthdays, we would call each other. Donna would brag that she was the oldest and I should respect my elders; I reminded her that I was younger and always would be, and she should pave the way for me! It was always a wonderful chat as we may not talk throughout the rest of the year, and I looked forward to it because within one month we would get to catch up twice. I did miss making a call one year, and trust me, she never let me forget it!
Donna passed away three years’ ago from a long, fought battle with cancer on October 26th. I was able to call on her birthday before her passing. The call was short and sweet, and it was treasured as I knew it would probably be our last birthday chat for a long time.
Donna was always a very giving person during her lifetime, keeping everyone in her thoughts. Whether it be a good or hard time in my life, she always had a thoughtful way of reaching out to let me know she was always there.
Now, even three years after her passing, she is still reaching out and giving. I have been very blessed by being able to do this blog and video interviews with family members. It gives me the chance to get to know everyone a little bit more than I already did, and I look forward to doing many more interviews in the future.
I want to thank Donna for her thoughtful contribution and donation to the We Are Family Briggs blog, encouraging me to keep it going. I hope to do this for a long time, and I hope that it will be in the family records for even longer.
Happy birthday, Donna! I miss our chats. You will always be in my thoughts and prayers especially on this day as I said happy birthday to you the past two years. You will always hold a special place in my heart. Now I can say I didn’t miss a year wishing you a happy birthday thanks to this blog!
It’s October! I thought September was a busy month for birthdays in the Briggs family, but I was wrong!
So, to begin with, Happy Birthdays to Amanda, Jeremy, Lauren, Shia and Elodie! A special happy birthday to my dearly departed cousin, Donna, who passed on October 26, 2018 – you are deeply missed.
I also wanted to add an extra special happy birthday to my mom, Jeannette – love ya!
Now, let’s find out who shares your birthday – let me introduce you to Thomas Albert Briggs. Thomas is my paternal great-grandfather. I have found a lot of information on Thomas up to approximately 1919. After that, I’m still trying to put together some information.
Thomas was born October 21, 1883, in New Westminster, BC, to Thomas Lasher Briggs and Mary Irving. He is the middle of nine children. At the time of his birth, the young Briggs family was living at Mary Irving’s family home, the Irving House located at 302 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC.
Irving House ca 1880
Not much is known about Thomas’ childhood. Although with three older brothers and one older sister at the time of his birth, I’m sure it was a busy household! After his birth, there were two more brothers and sisters born. Military documents show a notation of childhood medical illnesses of diphtheria and scarlet fever when young, and rheumatic fever (bedridden for over two months) at the age of 14.
1891 – Thomas sitting on floor
1911 Census records show Thomas’ occupation for the previous 10 months was a fireman with the New Westminster Fire Department (NWFD), specifically Firehall #1, earning $960 per year! He was 26 years of age. At this time, I have not found records noting any other occupation before this time. The previous census records of 1901 show him as a student in the household.
At the age of 30, Thomas married Effie Press on September 5, 1914, at First Presbyterian Church in Vancouver, BC. Minister H.W. Fraser. The church was located at the corner of Gore & Hastings, and now is the home of the First United Church.
I have not been able to locate a picture of Thomas and Effie together. Interestingly enough, on the marriage certificate, it notes Effie’s occupation as a stenographer, and we have a picture of her at her job in 1913. I have not been able to confirm where she was working, however, rumours are, she was working at a company owned by the Briggs family.
The young couple made their home at 1316 – 10th Avenue, New Westminster, BC. Their son, Stanley Leonard, was born September 24, 1915. He was the only child of Thomas and Effie. At that time, Thomas was still working as a fireman at Firehall #1 as a “hose man”. Below is a picture obtained from the New Westminster Archives with that notation, however, it does not let us know which one he is in the picture. I’ve tried figuring it out with a magnifying glass but maybe my eyes are too old!!
1915
In August 1916, Thomas enlisted in WWI and returned home November 1918. I have lots of records for his time in the military so much so that it will take up another large post for the blog. I would like to do it justice, so look for it soon. During that time, there were two different addresses noted for the beneficiary, Effie. Started with 1316 – 10th Avenue and finished with 1414 – 10th Avenue. Not sure why that is but interesting to note.
Thomas, Stanley Leonard, Elizabeth Irving & Mary Briggs (standing)
When Thomas came home, he returned to his former occupation as a fireman with NWFD. Again, I have been unable to find records of his time with the NWFD and it is on my list of items to research further. I have been able to obtain two photographs from the New Westminster Archives (one already posted above). The second one, shows the firemen standing in front of Fire Hall #1 located at Carnarvon and McNeeley Streets, and notes Capt. Thomas A. Briggs as second from left.
1934
1921 Census records places the Briggs family at 1123 – 8th Avenue. Thomas retired as a Captain with the NWFD after 25 years, in 1938.
Again, no records to indicate what Thomas did between the time he retired and the time of his death in 1949 at the age of 65 on February 13, 1949. Cause of death was Angina Pectoris with the contributing factor of high blood pressure both of which he had been suffering from for over 12 years. All of this is noted in his Registration of Death Certificate.
As I said earlier, there are many more opportunities for research with Thomas’ life including his time in the military (I have lots of interesting research for this) and his career with the NWFD (still working on it!). These will be future stories for the blog and much more fun for me getting all the information together from researching.
In the meantime, here’s one more picture of Thomas for you to enjoy!
Date Unknown
Look for a special post on the We Are Family Briggs blog by the end of next week.
Well, it’s finally here! The next video interview of a member of the Briggs family – Evelyn Layton (nee Briggs, formerly Murray). Evelyn is the middle child and only daughter of Stanley and Irene Briggs, and my aunt.
Richard, Evelyn & Grant Briggs (c 1946)
Aunt Ev was very nervous about doing the interview by video and at first had said she wanted to do just an audio recording. I get it, I’m not a person who likes to be out front with a “camera” in my face. However, she did not want to be left out and not wanting my dad, Grant, to have his interview done by video, she had to make sure he wasn’t going to outdo her! Grant and Ev have always had that type of relationship – trying to outdo the other. Especially so when it comes to birthdays – Aunt Ev will always let Dad and everyone know, he will always be the oldest, and she will always be younger. Trust me, you’ll see that during my chat with her.
I wanted to help my Aunt Ev to feel a bit more comfortable during the interview, so I decided to sit beside her and have us both in front of the camera. I wanted to do a “fireside” chat, but with my laptop being a little old, and as my son Jeremy let me know, the camera really “sucked”, and it wasn’t going to work. Note, to self, listen to my son and start looking for a better way to record these interviews! We’re working on it! A huge thanks to Jeremy for coming out with me to help set up.
At the beginning of the video, I had explained to Aunt Ev that I was going to start recording so we had a little extra time to edit the front end, and we continued to chat. I did say that I would edit so that part didn’t show but after reviewing the video and showing Jeremy, we decided that her reaction was truly who she was, so I left it in – sorry, Aunt Ev! It’s priceless and shows her personality to a tee! Aunt Ev did a wonderful job so much so that Jeremy (being in the background and trying to be very quiet) was stifling his laughter at some points during the interview.
One other thing I wanted to mention. Near the end, I had asked Ev a question that my Uncle Rich (her youngest brother) had given me to ask her. As we were discussing that question, Jeremy was googling how to make Angel Food cake (he has a huge interest in cooking). I kindly reminded him that someone’s birthday was coming up and it would be wonderful (hint, hint!) if my son would, for the first time, make a cake. Needless to say, he’s been doing a lot of research – I can’t wait!
I hope you enjoy this little window into getting to know my Aunt Ev – she truly is a strong woman and has many insights into her life and how she has learned from them, passing those onto the next generation and future generations to come. Any questions or comments for myself or Aunt Ev, please post them, I would love to hear from you!
Yes – it’s time for another video interview! I’m sooooo excited!! The interview with my dad, Grant, was the first one I’ve ever done and now I have another one done. A lot of planning and scheduling goes into setting up and completing the interview but once done, it’s a wonderful feeling of accomplishment for all parties involved.
The next interview will be with my Aunt Ev, also known as Irene “Evelyn” Layton (nee Briggs & previously Murray). She is the middle child and only daughter of Stanley and Irene Briggs.
I’m hoping everyone will get to know and love Ev as much as I do – I mean, she is one of my favourite aunts (along with my Aunt Bea)! She is an amazing lady and a wonderful mother, and raised three loving and caring daughters, my cousins Sandy, Lynda and Donna.
In the meantime, to get prepared for Ev’s interview, I did a short interview with my dad, talking about his sister Evelyn. If anyone knows either of these two, you will know that they have a teasing, fun relationship that occurs a couple of times a year around each of their birthdays!
As I mentioned in earlier blog posts, I’m hoping to travel to the United Kingdom in about two to three years with the hopes of trying to verify more information that I have found.
Again, if anyone is interested in going through the Briggs ancestry research with me, I would be ecstatic to have someone beside me discovering more about our family! So please send me a message if you are interested and we’ll get together for a chat. Maybe we can travel together as well!
Enjoy this short interview with my dad, Grant. I can’t wait to post Evelyn’s interview – look for it next week!
We Are Family Briggs 