Herbert Lawrence Walsh (52 Ancestors #9)

21 July 2015, Chriss Coleman

Herbert spent his childhood growing up in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, however then it was known simply as Niagara town. He was the eldest son of Arthur Herbert Walsh and Nina Alberta Bishop, born on October 28th, 1895.1 Although his mother was Anglican,2 Herbert was raised in the Catholic faith. During his childhood he attended St Vincent de Paul Church3 – the same church his family attended since the church’s founding in 1826.

Herbert Walsh as a young child
Herbert Lawrence Walsh as a young child, sawing wood.4

Herbert studied to be an electrician5, and after returning from service in World War I he took advantage of a government vocational course to further his education in this pursuit.6

Herbert Lawrence Walsh
Herbert Walsh, a young adult.7

Soon after, Herbert began working at Ontario Hydro,8 and continued working for Hydro at Niagara for the remainder of his career. It was at Niagara Falls where he met Rosemary Cecelia Chappell, to whom he later married on September 21st, 1921.9

Herbert had many interests, and he enjoyed camping, boating, and fishing with his family. The family frequently took summer trips to northern Ontario, especially to Blind River where they held a cottage for many years.10 They also took frequent trips to Florida where they started to winter after Herbert’s retirement.11

Herbert Walsh on the Missisauga River
Herbert Lawrence Walsh holiding the prize catch after a fishing trip near Blind River, July 1940.12

Beyond the outdoors, Herbert dedicated time to other pursuits which included being a chairman for the Niagara Falls branch of the National Institute for the Blind, participating in the Canadian Boy Scouts, as well being an active member of his local church. After retirement, Herbert and his wife Rosemary settled in Orillia, Ontario, where he a member of the Royal Canadian Legion #34. Herbert passed away only 5 years into retirement.13

Herbert Lawrence Walsh is my husband’s great-grandfather. Our ancestral line:

  • 4. Herbert Lawrence Walsh (1895-1969)
  • 3. James Francis Walsh (1931-2001)
  • 2. My husband’s mother (living)
  • 1. My husband (living)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a blogging prompt started by Amy Johnson Crow at No Story Too Small. My stories will include both sides of our family, including collateral lines.

  1. Canada, “Ontario, Canada, Births, 1869-1913”, digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 Mar 2014), entry for Herbert Lawrence Walsh, 28 Oct 1895, Lincoln, Niagara, registration 017981; citing Ontario Registrations of Births and Stillbirths - 1869-; microfilm MS929, reel 127, Archives of Ontario, Toronto. ↩

  2. “1911 Census of Canada”, index and digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 Oct 2014), entry for household of Arthur Herbert Walsh, Niagara, Lincoln; citing RG31-C-1, Ontario, district 93 Lincoln, subdistrict 49 Niagara, page 4, dwelling 36, family 36. ↩

  3. “Ontario, Roman Catholic Church Records, 1760-1923”, unindexed images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 2015), Lincoln > Niagara > St Vincent de Paul > Baptism 1858-1910, image 37, entry for Herbert Lawrence Walsh, 24 Nov 1895; Catholic Church parishes, Ontario. ↩

  4. Herbert Lawrence Walsh photograph, ca. early 1900s; digital image September 2014, privately held by Chriss Coleman [address for private use], York, Ontario. The original was held by Herbert Lawrence Walsh, and passed on to his son Jim Walsh. Original is currently held by Joan [Surname withheld for privacy], [Address for private use], Simcoe county, Ontario, and is inscribed with “Herbert Lawrence Walsh” ↩

  5. “Canada, Soldiers of the First World War, 1914-1918”, digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 Mar 2014), entry for Herbert Lawrence Walsh, number 341962; citing “Soldiers of the First World War (1914-1918)”, RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa. ↩

  6. Catherine Creed, “Whose Debtors We Are”, Niagara Historical Society 34, 1923; online archives, Niagara Historical Museum (http://www.niagarahistorical.museum/media/NHS34-WhoseDebtorsWeAre_000.pdf : accessed 11 Mar 2014). page 70. ↩

  7. Herbert Lawrence Walsh photograph, c. 1920, digital image 6 Sep 2014, privately held by Chriss Coleman [address for private use], York, Ontario, Canada. Original photo is a postcard photographed by Simons Photographic Co, Niagara Falls, NY, USA. The reverse is inscribed “Herbert L Walsh”. The writing is that of Rosemary Cecelia (Chappell) Walsh, his wife. Original privately held by Joan, [address for private use], Simcoe county, Ontario, 2014. ↩

  8. “1921 Census of Canada”, database and digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 Mar 2014), entry for household of Arthur H Walsh, Niagara, Lincoln; citing RG31, folder 70, Ontario, district 100-Lincoln, subdistrict 57-Niagara page 12, dwelling 161, family 164. ↩

  9. Canada, “Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928”, index and digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 Mar 2014), entry for Herbert Lawrence Walsh and Rosemary Cecelia Chappell, 7 Sep 1921, Niagara Falls, Welland, registration 023606;  citing Ontario Registration of Marriage, 1869-; microfilm MS 932, reel 592, Archives of Ontario, Toronto. ↩

  10. Elizabeth Chappell and Rosemary Walsh, “Chappell and Walsh Family Log”, unpublished journal, 1923-1943 [vol.1]. Diary held by Deb [name withheld for privacy; address for private use], Muskoka, Ontario, digital copy transmitted to Chriss Coleman, 11 Mar 2014. ↩

  11. C. Coleman, Simcoe county, Ontario, Canada [E-Address for private use], to Chriss Coleman, email, 21 Feb 2014, “Quick Query (Rosemary Chappell Walsh)”; privately held by Coleman [(E-Address), & Address for private use], York, Ontario, Canada, 2015. ↩

  12. Herbert Lawrence Walsh photograph, 1940, in Rosemary (Chappell) Walsh Scrapbook, 1940-1946; digital image 9 Sep 2014, privately held by Chriss Coleman [address for private use], York, Ontario, Canada. Scrapbook privately held by Joan, [address for private use], Simcoe county, Ontario, 2014. ↩

  13. Herbert Lawrence Walsh obituary, undated clipping from unidentified newspaper; digital scan created and emailed to Chriss Coleman, 31 May 2014; original privately by Mary Lalonde, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, 2014. ↩

Copyright ©2015, Chriss Coleman

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