The Tom DAWES Line

This is my direct line and Tom DAWES (1880-1933) was my grandfather. Unfortunately, I never met him because he died before I was born.

Christened as Tom and not Thomas he was born in Brighton on 16 Dec. 1880 and became a cabinet maker. Family lore says that he didn't want to go into the family business but wanted to be a teacher. He left for Canada in 1906 and was followed a year later by his Brighton sweetheart, Caroline Wakeford GARDNER (1880-1966). His tool chest is stenciled with the address "Empress of Britain - Winnipeg via Quebec". That's the puzzle, why was he going to Winnipeg because he spent the rest of his life working as a carpenter in Montreal. He and Carrie were married on 14 Oct. 1907 which was the day after she arrived in Montreal. Neither of them ever went home and none of their relations ever came over to visit them.

Tom and Carrie had three children of which only my father went on to have a family.

The photo above is the only one that exists with Tom Dawes in it along with Caroline Gardner and one of their children.

The chart has been edited to protect living individuals.