Joanne Peterson <joannepeterson@shaw.ca>
Subject: Mr. and Mrs. Dan Thomas of Mayne Island

Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:02:24 -0800

This is probably a question not really in your neck of the woods, but just by chance … does anyone know anything about these 2 individuals? There definitely are Saltspring links. My suspicion [and HOPE!] is that I have finally found Elizabeth Cornish who married John Georgeson [1860-1909], the son of old Scotty Georgeson and Sophie.

Those fabulous Imbert Orchard tapes [BCPA 793-1] give an interview with Archive Georgeson who said that Elizabeth and John separated about 1905. He said she did not like the lighthouse (especially the steam foghorns which she hated) and so she didn't go to the lighthouse. Family stories were that she married someone else, [John did die in 1909], but no one seemed to know who or what became of her. I found this death registration last night by chance and have been excited by the possibility it is her. Reviewing the original might help – for instance if one of her children was the informant, that would seem pretty conclusive!

And IF she is Mrs. Dan Thomas, then that sparks the question of who Dan was. The fellow below seems a likely suspect, except for his age. But that could be in error. I’m not sure when I will next get to either Victoria or Nanaimo to review the originals, so just wondered if anyone knew more about this. Joanne

Could this be Elizabeth Cornish? She was born in December and about the right year? Elizabeth’s baptism gives 1864/8/5 as the date of birth; the 1901 census gives 12 Dec 1863.

Death Registration: Mrs. Dan Thomas
Event Date: 1938 5 14 (Yr/Mo/Day)
Age: 72
Gender: female
Event Place: Mayne Island
Reg. Number: 1938-09-543730
B.C. Archives Microfilm Number: B13162
GSU Microfilm Number: 1953195
Death Date: 14 May 1938 Death Place: Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
Name: Thomas Gender: Female
Age: 72y 4m 16d Birth Date: 30 Dec 1865 Birthplace: , British Columbia
Marital Status: Married Spouse: Dan Thomas
Father: Cornish Mother:
Indian Agency: Indian Band/Tribe:
Film Number: 1953195 Digital Folder Number: 4438059
Image Number: 2136 British Columbia Archives Film Number: B13162 Registration Number: 2730

And could this be her husband?
Death Registration: Dan Thomas
Event Date: 1940 10 11 (Yr/Mo/Day)
born abt 1887? A bit young? But living in 1938 when Mrs. Dan Thomas died? Age: 57
Gender:        male
Event Place: Tsaout Indian Reserve
Reg. Number: 1940-09-024518
B.C. Archives Microfilm Number: B13374
GSU Microfilm Number: 1983214
Cannot yet find at the LDS site?