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Selina Ann Vanstone  (1849 ~ 1938)

 

4.5.4. Fourth child of Elizabeth Elford and Samuel Vanstone, Selina Ann Vanstone, was born June 26, 1849, in Tyrone, Darlington Twp., Durham Co., Ontario.

  She married William Edward Tilley, son of James Tilley and Maria Penney, March 28, 1865, in Tyrone, Ontario and had five children: 

 

 

  Selina A. Vanstone Tilley died October 10, 1938, aged 59 years, and Dr. William E. Tilley died December 10, 1921, aged 78 years in Toronto, York Co., Ontario and are interred at Bowmanville Cemetery.

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----- MARRIAGE -----

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Vanstone—Tilley

At the residence of the bride’s father, March 28, 1865, by Mr. Clarke, B.C.M., Mr. W. E. Tilley, of Darlington, and Selina A., daughter of Mr. Samuel Vanstone, of Tyrone. Oshawa Vindicator, Apr. 19, 1865.

 

----- OBITUARIES -----

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Selina A. Vanstone Tilley

June 26, 1849 ~ October 10, 1938

A long life, devoted to the interests of her home, her family and her church, came peacefully to an end on Saturday, September 10, 1938, when Selina Ann Vanstone, widow of the late Dr. W. E. Tilley, Inspector of Public Schools for Durham County, died at her home, Beech Avenue, Bowmanville, in her 90th year.

  Mrs. Tilley was born in Tyrone, on June 26, 1849, and was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Vanstone, whose family for three quarters of a century have been actively identified with the milling business in Durham County. Mrs. Tilley was educated at Tyrone. She was married 73 years ago to Dr. Tilley who had a distinguished career as a school teacher and principal before becoming school inspector. Dr. Tilley died on December 10, 1921.

  Mrs. Tilley was a member of Trinity United Church and until advanced age prevented, was very active in church organizations, and a regular and faithful attendant at the services. For her advanced years she showed a remarkable interest in present day happenings and possessed a most youthful spirit and always saw the humorous side of things. She loved her home and her children and the manner in which they responded to that love is shown by the frequency with which they visited her in the evening of her long life. Her son, W. N. Tilley, K.C., was almost a regular weekend visitor when he was not away from the city on business, as was also her devoted and only daughter, Mrs. A. N. Mitchell (Florence).

  Surviving Mrs. Tilley are one son, W. N. Tilley, K.C., head of the legal firm of Tilley, Thompson and Parmenter, Toronto, one of Canada’s foremost corporation lawyers, and a director of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Bank of Montreal, and the Royal Trust Company; and one daughter, Mrs. A. N. Mitchell, wife of the President of the Canada Life Assurance Company; one brother, Lucius N. Vanstone, of Toronto, also survives. Two sons predeceased her, Dr. A. S. Tilley and Mr. H. R. Tilley, Manager for the West Indies and Central America for the Confederation Life Assurance Co.

  The funeral service on Monday September 12, at her late residence was largely attended, and was conducted by her pastor, Rev. Sidney Davison, of Trinity United Church, who in a comforting message to the bereaved relatives spoke of the beauty of Mrs. Tilley’s last years, and of her devotion to home and church, which in a real sense was her spiritual home.

  Pallbearers were Mr. Philp Tilley and Dr. Ross Tilley, Toronto, grandsons: Dr. M. A. Cox and Mr. Stephen Greey and Mr. Alex Adamson, Toronto; and Mr. F. C. Vanstone, a nephew, Bowmanville. 

  Among those attending the funeral from out-of-town, besides the pallbearers, were, Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Tilley, Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Mitchell, Mrs. Herbert Tilley, Mrs. M. A. Cox, Mrs. Stephen Greey, Mrs. Alex Adamson, Miss Mary Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. L. N. Vanstone, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Vanstone, Mr. and Mrs. Byron Vanstone, Miss May Vanstone, Mrs. Fred Haddy, Miss Lena Haddy, Mr. H. R. Parmenter, K.C., Mr. S. C. McEvenue, Mr. W. J. Beattie, Mr. Athur Thomson, K.C., Dr. Mary Sanderson, Mrs. Gordon Knowles, all of Toronto; Mr. Russell Vanstone, Mrs. Fissette, Brantford; Mr. R. S. McLaughlin, President of General Motors, Ltd. and Mrs. McLaughlin, and Mrs. Hartley Lewis, Oshawa.

 Numerous expressions of sympathy and condolence were forthcoming in the unusually large number of beautiful floral tributes received by the bereaved family. Interment was made in the family plot in Bowmanville Cemetery. Bowmanville Statesman, Sept. 22, 1938.

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William E. Tilley

September 20, 1840 ~ December 10, 1921

The news of the sudden passing to rest of Dr. W. E. Tilley, M.A., at the residence of his son, Mr. W. N. Tilley, K.C., 488 Avenue Road, Toronto, on Saturday last, came as a great shock to our citizens on Sunday morning when the news became known of the sudden call that had come to one who only ten days previous had been calling on his numerous friends here before leaving with Mrs. Tilley to spend the winter in Toronto. He had been in his usual health, but he had a weak spell on Saturday evening and passed away without regaining consciousness. The body was brought home, the funeral service taking place from the Methodist Church on Monday afternoon.  

  Dr. William Edward Tilley, M.A., was born in Bowmanville on September 20, 1840, being a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Tilley of Mitchell and was one of a family of nine children—five boys and four girls. He was educated in the Public Schools of Darlington, in Bowmanville High School and Toronto Normal School and Victoria University, then in Cobourg. His doctor’s degree he obtained from the Wesleyan University in Bloomington, U.S.A. He was a public school teacher for eight years and sixteen years as High School teacher and for thirty-five was Inspector of public schools in Durham, resigning about two years ago, when he was succeeded by Major E. E. Snider, Port Hope. His long term as Inspector was suitably acknowledged at a public gathering in November 1919 when he was presented with an address and purse of money at the close of the Teachers’ Convention. His long connection with the Methodist Church as Sunday School Superintendent and as Recording Steward of the Official Board is well-known as well as his interest at all times in work of the church, his last act being to leave a donation to be placed on the plate at the Thank-offering services on December 4th.

The funeral service was in charge of his pastor, Rev. S. C. Moore who was assisted by Revs. W. H. Spargo, W. C. Washington and E. A. Tonkin.  Mrs. H. M. Foster sang very impressively Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar”, and the choir and Mr. T. W. Stanley, organist, led in singing hymns, Nearer My God to Thee and Asleep in Jesus. Two former pastors , Rev. H. B. Kenny, Campbellford, and Rev. Wilmot G. Clarke, B.A., Trenton, with the pastor paid very fine tributes to his work in the church and Dr. James L. Hughes of Toronto, to his work as a teacher and Inspector in the County of Durham where he spent most of his life.  The pulpit and his chair were suitably draped and beautiful floral offerings expressed the sympathy of kind friends.

  The pall-bearers were six intimate friends and fellow-workers: Messrs. C. M. Cawker, M. A. James, W. B. Couch, Dr. J. C. Devitt and Mayor H. L. Quinn. The flower bearers were: Messrs. W. J. Morrison, Principal, and A. R. Scott of the High School, Mr. Arthur Trusler, Prinipal of the Public School and Mr. N. S. B. James.

  The High School pupils attended in a body, the public school teaching staff, the ministers and doctors of the town besides many business men and friends of the church filling the auditorium to the doors.

  He leaves to mourn his passing away a window to whom he was married 56 years ago, three sons—Mr. H. R. Tilley, Manager of the West Indies Branch, Confederation Life Association, Dr. Albert S. Tilley of this town, Mr. W. N. Tilley, K.C., now in England on business and one daughter Mrs. A. N. Mitchell, Toronto; also two sisters and two brothers—Mrs. M. A. Elliott, Winnipeg, and Mrs. John Williams and Messrs. Edward and John Tilley of Mitchell, Ontario.

  Among those who attended the funeral from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Mitchell, Mrs. H. R. Tilley, Miss Marion Tilley, Mr. L. N. Vanstone, Mr. Byron S. Vanstone and Mr. Charles Blackwell, Tornto, and Major E. E. Snider, Port Hope. Bowmanville Statesman, Dec. 15, 1921.

  

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