Event Date : Thursday, March 06, 1952
Event Type : Death

Description : A lifelong resident of West Gwillimbury and Bradford, with the exception of the past several months which were spent in a Toronto nursing home, Mrs. Richard Thorpe passed away last Thursday, March 6. A fall at her home in Bradford about seventeen months ago, when she broke her leg, left her an invalid and recently she had suffered several slight strokes. Born on
Concession 11, West Gwillimbury, in March 1865, Annie Kellaway Kneeshaw resided in the township until moving to Bradford over twenty years ago. In 1886, she married Richard Mark Thorpe, also of West Gwillimbury. During her earlier life she attended Ebenezer church, but later, when Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe moved to Concession 9, to the now Sawdon farm, they attended the Mount Pleasant church until it closed, and then they came to Bradford Methodist, later United. Over twenty years ago Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe retired from farming and took up residence in Bradford, where they endeared themselves to neighbours and townspeople by their kindly friendliness. They loved flowers and gardening and their lawn and flower beds were always beautifully tended.Mr. Thorpe died in August 1948, and while Mrs. Thorpe kept her home her following his death, she spent the first winter in Toronto, then returned to reside for over a year before her accident. A devout churchwoman, Mrs. Thorpe was active in her church until failing health prevented. In the W.M.S. she was a life member, an honour conferred upon her by the Society. Surviving are two sons, Emerson of Woodville, and Roy of Toronto; two sisters, Miss Elizabeth Kneeshaw of Toronto and Mrs. Robt. Sawyer (Rhoda) of Carnduff, Sask.; five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. The funeral was held from the United Church on Saturday afternoon, with services conducted by her minister, Rev. F.G. MacTavish. Interment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The pallbearers were three grandsons, Elmer Thorpe and Kenneth Thorpe of Toronto, and Orin Thorpe of Woodville; two grandsons-in-law, Robert Riddell of King and Lorne Clement of Toronto; and a grand-nephew and neighbour, Gordon Bateman of Bradford.

Event Date : Tuesday, August 31, 1948
Event Type : Death

Description : Husband of Annie Kneeshaw and father of Roy and Emerson died in Newmarket Hospital in his 84th year. He was born in his family home on concession 12 in West Gwillimbury moving to Bradford in 1926. Interment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Event Date : Friday, October 17, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Vic Turner, veteran councillor and past reeve of West Gwillimbury, died at his home in Bradford on Friday, October 17, at age 85. Mr. Turner, whose son Art is now Reeve of Bradford, came to Canada in 1907 at the age of 16. He came alone, leaving behind his family in South Chinford, just outside London. Mr. Turner first came to Toronto, then moved up to Bradford where he worked on the Pulford family farm on the 12th Line of West Gwillimbury. Bobby Pulford, a son of the family, is now coach of the Los Angeles Rams. After taking jobs in Toronto and in the west of Canada, Mr. Turner moved back to West Gwillimbury and farmed there for many years. He married three times, his first wife being Esther Brown; his second marriage to Elizabeth Riley was in August 1921. During their long marriage, the Turners farmed locally, then moved to Bradford in 1949. The second Mrs. Turner died in 1962. In 1963, Mr. Turner married for a third time, to Irene Brown of West Gwillimbury. Mr. Turner is survived by five children: Mrs. Margaret Summerville of Guelph, Bruce Turner of Kemptville near Ottawa, Art Turner of Bradford, Doug Turner of Timmins and Mrs. Dorothy Hodgson of Thunder Bay; and by 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Mr. Turner first became involved in local politics when he became a councillor in West Gwillimbury around 1937. He stayed on council becoming reeve in 1946 and holding this position in 1947 and '48.Mr. Turner left active politics and worked for Holland River Gardens (now Hardee Farms) following this. He retired from work seven years ago. While working at Hardee, Mr. Turner was appointed to the Bradford Public Utilities Commission in 1951. Appointment to the commission was then a council decision and not an elected post. Mr. Turner's proudest achievement was opening up Simcoe Road to the marsh and pushing for a bridge to be built linking the marsh to the main Bradford area, thus making it possible for the marsh to be developed for commercial farming. While serving on the Public Utilities Commission, Mr. Turner was instrumental in the decision to buy the present PUC building on Barrie Street. Mr. Turner was also involved in the Bradford Masonic Lodge, but his main interest all his life was in the marsh and the people living and farming it. The funeral service was held at the chapel of the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, Simcoe St., Bradford, followed by burial at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Monday, October 20.

Event Date : Friday, June 22, 1900
Event Type : Death

Description : Lieut.-Col. Richard Tyrwhitt. Born in Simcoe County, on November 29, 1844. Represented South Simcoe in the Commons in the Conservative interest since February 16, 1882. Appointed Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 36th Peel Battalion in February 1886. Married Emma, daughter of the late Ven. Archdeacon Whitaker, in April 1870. Interred at St. John's cemetery, Tecumseth.

Event Date : Sunday, January 19, 1992
Event Type : Death

Description : "At York County Hospital, Newmarket. Wife of the late Jack. Mother of Vennetta (Mrs. Ted Bulpit) and Leona (Mrs. Don Watson) and Josephine (Mrs. Howard Buscombe). Grandmother of Pat, Tim, Janice and Holly. Great-grandmother of Andrew, Michelle, Heather, Lisa and Leslie, and lifelong friend of Edith Morris. Visitation at the Thompson Funeral Home, Aurora. Funeral service at Trinity Anglican Church. Interment in Aurora Cemetery.*Original stored in Joe Saint Collection."

Event Date : Monday, August 05, 1963
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Jackson's Point, Ont.

Description : Susan Van Rooyen, 15, of Bradford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Van Rooyen, Frederick Street, was drowned early Monday morning in Lake Simcoe, near the Black River, while in for a swim before breakfast with her brother, John, and a friend, Beverley Williamson, also of Bradford and about the same age. According to report, the young people were not in deep water but Susan was swept off her feet by a wave. Coroner Dr. C. S. Noble of Sutton, who has seen the same area claim three lives in as many years, said the beach area at the mouth of the Black River in Mossington's Park should be posted as dangerous. John Van Rooyen said his sister, wading in shoulder-deep water, suddenly started slipping into deeper water, screaming that something was dragging her. When he went to help her she grabbed him by the throat, and he barely managed to avoid being pulled under with her. Police believe Susan, a fair swimmer, may have been pulled off her feet by the river's undertow. Her body was found about an hour later.