William Harrison POLLEY^[1]

1880 - 1923  (42 years)

• Name	William Harrison POLLEY  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Alt. Birth	Feb 1880	Rochester, Monroe, New York, USA   [1]
  	The 1880 census which was enumerated on 9 June for this household states his age as 4/12 (4 months old) and also states "Feb" as the month of birth which would be consistent with being 4 months old in June. There is a high likely hood that this was his actual date of birth and that the August date was told to him as part of the cover up surrounding his birth.
  		1880 US Census Mary McGuire & William Jr.jpg
  Residence	9 Jun 1880	Rochester, Monroe, New York, USA   [1]
  	William MARSDEN's Boarding House 50 Allen Street
  	With his mother, under the name of Willie McGuire 4 months old (states Feb as his month of birth) Mother is also using the name McGuire.
  		1880 US Census Mary McGuire & William Jr.jpg
  Birth	6 Aug 1880	Rochester, Monroe, New York, USA   [2, 5, 6, 7, 8]
  	See alternate birth as more likely DOB. The family story goes that he was born in Rochester New York when his parents were on a boat trip from Trenton to Quebec City. Born on the return trip to Trenton. However this seems to be a story created to cover up the fact that he was born before his parents were married. He is in the 1880 US census as "Willie McGuire" with his Mom living in a boarding house in Rochester. It is likely she was sent over there to give birth as it wasn't uncommon for unmarried girls to be sent away to have their children in those days. It is unclear when or where his parents did end up marrying but they are listed as married in the 1891 census.
  Gender	Male
  _UID	89D4B168A6104471A68A89E307F146450066
  Immigration	Between 1881 and 1884  [5, 6, 9]
  	USA to Canada
  	1882 in 1901 census, 1881 in 1911 census, 1884 in 1921 census By the time of the 1881 Rochester City Directory his mother is no longer listed, so they may have come back to Canada by that point. It's unlikely they would stay long after he was born.
  Residence	1891	Trenton, , Ontario, Canada   [4]
  		1891 Census William H POLLEY Mary nee McGUIRE and Family.jpg
  Residence	Abt 1891	Trenton, , Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Murphy Street, Sides On Ford, And Backs Onto Division, Trenton, Ontario, Canada
  		Ottawa-53.jpg
  Occupation	1901	Trenton, , Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Student
  		1901 Census William H POLLEY Mary nee McGUIRE and Family.jpg
  Religion	1901	Trenton, , Ontario, Canada   [5, 6]
  	Church of England / Anglican
  		1901 Census William H POLLEY Mary nee McGUIRE and Family.jpg
  Residence	1901	Trenton, , Ontario, Canada   [5]
  		1901 Census William H POLLEY Mary nee McGUIRE and Family.jpg
  Occupation	Abt 1903	Trenton, , Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Wharf agent in Trenton for the government
  Occupation	Abt 1905	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [10]
  	Clerk at the Union office in the King Edward Hotel
  	Began his career
  Occupation	24 May 1906	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Clerk
  		William Harrison POLLEY and Frances May Gertrude NASH Marriage Certificate.jpg
  Residence	24 May 1906	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [8]
  		William Harrison POLLEY and Frances May Gertrude NASH Marriage Certificate.jpg
  Residence	1909	Trenton, , Ontario, Canada
  	Birth of Son William
  Residence	Jun 1911	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	60 Fermanagh Ave
  		60 Fermanagh Ave Toronto.jpg
  		1911 Census William H POLLEY Frances MG nee NASH and Family.jpg
  Occupation	13 Aug 1911	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [11]
  	Railway Agent
  Residence	13 Aug 1911	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [11]
  	60 Fermanagh Ave
  Occupation	Bef 1913	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada
  	Canadian Pacific Railway at the CPR building at King and Yonge Sts. In Toronto as City Ticket Agent
  	Letter from 1913 shows he was an Agent at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto
  Occupation	May 1913	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [10]
  	Travelling passenger agent for Canadian Pacific Railway
  Occupation	1 May 1913	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Travelling Passenger Agent Canadian Pacific Railway Company
  Occupation	Oct 1913	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [10]
  	Assistant city passenger agent for Canadian Pacific Railway
  Residence	1921	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [9]
  	60 Fermanagh Ave
  		1921 Canadian Census William H Polley Jr and Family.jpg
  Occupation	Dec 1918-Oct 1922	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [10]
  	City ticket agent for Canadian Pacific Railway
  Occupation	Abt 1922	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [2, 3, 6]
  	Train Pass Agent Intercolonial Rail Road in Toronto (Employeed for "Life" according to death certificate), Ticket Agent(1911)
  	Have his ID for 1922 so we know that's what he did then
  Death	1 Jun 1923	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Cause: Lymphosarcoma
  	Family Home 60 Fermanagh Ave, Cause of death was Lymphosarcoma, Informant was his sister in law Nash (First name unreadable) 42 Years old on death certificate
  		William Harrison POLLEY JR Death Certificate.jpg
  Burial	3 Jun 1923	St George's Anglican Church, Trenton, , Ontario, Canada   [2, 3]
  	Undertaker: R.J. Craig The Polley's are buried in Section F-183 2-1 to F-183- 3-4 A total of 8 grave sites.
  		Polley Family Tombstone.jpg
  Person ID	I7583	Ryeland Family Tree
  Last Modified	10 Dec 2021

  
  

  Father	William Harrison POLLEY,   b. 4 Mar 1844, Paris, Brant County, Ontario, Canada d. 16 Nov 1931, Trenton, , Ontario, Canada (Age 87 years)
  Mother	Mary MCGUIRE,   b. 7 Feb 1859, Murray Township, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada d. 17 Jun 1935, Trenton, , Ontario, Canada (Age 76 years)
  Marriage	5 Jan 1883	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [12]
  	William and Mary do not seem to be married in Ontario, as of April 2008 I can't find any record of that marriage, they may have married in Rochester. The census records from 1880(US) and 1881(CAN) show them as single and show their son William Jr as using the surname McGUIRE in 1880. So if they got married it is more than likely in late 1881 or later, William Jr's immagration to Canada took place at either 1881(1911 census) or 1882(1901 census) so they may have been married before he and Mary came back to Canada.
  		William Harrison Polley and Mary McGuire Marriage Record.jpg
  Family ID	F2444	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Frances May Gertrude NASH,   b. 19 Apr 1876, Dulwich, , Surrey, England d. 3 Oct 1965, Toronto, , Ontario, Canada (Age 89 years)
  Marriage	24 May 1906	Toronto, , Ontario, Canada   [8, 13]
  	Date & location recorded on William Francis Harrison Polley's birth certificate (1907 on this certificate but 1906 on marriage certificate) Recorded at May 24 1907 on Alice's birth certificate as well
  		William Harrison POLLEY and Frances May Gertrude NASH Marriage Certificate.jpg
  Children	1. Frances POLLEY,   b. 23 Jul 1907, Toronto, , Ontario, Canada d. 23 Jul 1907, Toronto, , Ontario, Canada (Age 0 years)   2. William Francis Harrison POLLEY,   b. 10 Jan 1909, Trenton, , Ontario, Canada d. 1990 (Age 80 years)   3. Alice May Polley POLLEY,   b. 13 Aug 1911, Toronto, , Ontario, Canada d. Yes, date unknown   4. Gordon Bradbury POLLEY,   b. 20 Apr 1915, Toronto, , Ontario, Canada d. 6 Jul 2006, Mississauga, Peel Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada (Age 91 years)   5. Robert Knowlton POLLEY,   b. 2 Apr 1918   d. 22 Oct 1988, Oakville, Halton Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada (Age 70 years)
  Family ID	F717	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Nov 2014

  
  

• Event Map

  Alt. Birth - Feb 1880 - Rochester, Monroe, New York, USA Residence - William MARSDEN's Boarding House 50 Allen Street - 9 Jun 1880 - Rochester, Monroe, New York, USA Birth - 6 Aug 1880 - Rochester, Monroe, New York, USA Residence - 1891 - Trenton, , Ontario, Canada Residence - Murphy Street, Sides On Ford, And Backs Onto Division, Trenton, Ontario, Canada - Abt 1891 - Trenton, , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Student - 1901 - Trenton, , Ontario, Canada Religion - Church of England / Anglican - 1901 - Trenton, , Ontario, Canada Residence - 1901 - Trenton, , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Wharf agent in Trenton for the government - Abt 1903 - Trenton, , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Clerk at the Union office in the King Edward Hotel - Abt 1905 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Clerk - 24 May 1906 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Residence - 24 May 1906 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Marriage - 24 May 1906 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Residence - 1909 - Trenton, , Ontario, Canada Residence - 60 Fermanagh Ave - Jun 1911 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Railway Agent - 13 Aug 1911 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Residence - 60 Fermanagh Ave - 13 Aug 1911 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Canadian Pacific Railway at the CPR building at King and Yonge Sts. In Toronto as City Ticket Agent - Bef 1913 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Travelling passenger agent for Canadian Pacific Railway - May 1913 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Travelling Passenger Agent Canadian Pacific Railway Company - 1 May 1913 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Assistant city passenger agent for Canadian Pacific Railway - Oct 1913 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Residence - 60 Fermanagh Ave - 1921 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Occupation - City ticket agent for Canadian Pacific Railway - Dec 1918-Oct 1922 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Train Pass Agent Intercolonial Rail Road in Toronto (Employeed for "Life" according to death certificate), Ticket Agent(1911) - Abt 1922 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Death - Cause: Lymphosarcoma - 1 Jun 1923 - Toronto, , Ontario, Canada Burial - 3 Jun 1923 - St George's Anglican Church, Trenton, , Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos		William Harrison Polley Jr.jpg
  		1921 Canadian Census William H Polley Jr and Family.jpg

  
  

• Notes

  Year of naturalization 1900 MANY TRIBUTES TO LATE W.H. POLLEY Obsequies Largely Attended Service at St. George's Church on Sunday The remains of the late William Polley, Jr., reached Trenton on Saturday and were removed to the family residence on Murphy Street, from whence the cortege moved on Sunday afternoon to St. George's Church for service. The church where the deceased attended as a boy and young man was filled with his many friends, who gathered to pay the last tribute to his memory. Many friends, fellow workers of the C.P.R., and brother Masons of both Toronto and Montreal joined with his numerous Trenton friends in attending the obsequies. The Church of England service was conducted by the Vicar, Rev. A. L. McTear. Rev. Canon Armstrong, Rector of St. George's Church for so many years and an intimate friend of the deceased and family, read the lesson. The choir rendered appropriate music and Mr. G. H. Cobley sang "One Sweetly Solemn Thought." The pall-bearers were his intimate friends of Toronto. The honorary W. A. Bleecker, R. G. Weddell, W. H. Ireland, H. F. Whittier and W. House. The floral tributes were numerous and beautiful and covered his grave in St. George's cemetery. W. H. Polley, aged 43, former city ticket agent of the Canadian Pacific Railway, died early yesterday after a serious illness extending over a period of eight months, at his home at 60 Fermanagh Avenue. The funeral will be held from the home of his parents in Trenton, on Sunday. St. Alban's Lodge, 514, A. F. and A. M., of which he was a member, will have charge of the service. The body will be shipped to Trenton to-day. A Masonic service will be held in his home in Toronto at noon to-day. Mr. Polley began his railroad career as a clerk at the Union office in the Kind Edward Hotel, succeeding Christopher Bunting later as agent. In May 1913, he was appointed traveling passenger agent for the Canadian Pacific and in October, 1913, assistant city passenger agent. In December, 1918 he was appointed city ticket agent but was forced to leave his position in October on account of an illness which became aggravated, later causing his death. He is survived by his widow and four children, William, Alice, Gordon and Robert; a sister, Mrs. A. Maguire, and his parents in Trenton, where his father is employed in the customs office. Mr. Polley was a member of the Western Golf Club and was deservedly popular among a very wide circle of acquaintances. Witness at wedding: 007383-99 Harry Niles JARMAN, 24, L'Amable, Trenton, Mail Clerk, s/o John C. JARMAN & Elvira NILES married Sarah Elizabeth SPURR, 23, L'Amable, same, d/o Benj SPURR & Mary HILL. Wtn: W.H. POLLEY Jr. of Trenton and Hessie JARMAN of Bancroft on February 8, 1899 at Bancroft Had spent 5 months in school at the time of the 1901 census Death certificate incorrectly states place of birth as Canada. Worked 52 weeks of 1910 at 50 or 60 hours per week earning $1100 that year In 1911 he had $2000 worth of life insurance which cost him $65 that year [6] (Medical):Lymphosarcoma for 4 years before death.

  
  

• Sources

  [S783] 1880 United States Federal Census. [S657] Gordon Bradbury Polley. [S931] William Harrison Polley Jr Death Certificate, (Location: LDS Family History Center Kitchener, Ontario). [S246] 1891 Canadian Census. [S422] 1901 Canadian Census, (Location: http://automatedgenealogy.com/census/NationalSummary.jsp). [S561] 1911 Canadian Census, (Location: http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/1911/index-e.html). [S932] Polley Family Tombstone, Trenton, Ontario, Canada. [S23] Ancestry.ca Ontario Marriage Records. [S652] 1921 Canadian Census. [S933] William Harrison Polley Jr Obit. [S598] Ontario Birth Registrations, (URL: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~births/index.htm). [S1227] William Harrison Polley and Mary McGuire Marriage Record. [S106] Ancestry.ca Ontario Birth Records.