Fourth Generation

75. Jonah Rufus "John" BLABER^{4,235,265,456,466,467} was born on 26 February 1879 in Camberwell, Surrey, England.^{466,468,469,470,471,472,473,474,475} On his draft papers when joining the Canadian Army, he gave his date of birth as 26th February 1884. On a voyage in 1940 he stated his age as 53 (1887), when in fact he would have been about 61. At the 1939 Register, he gave his date of birth as 6th March 1883. He seemed very unsure of his date of birth.
On his application for life insurance, he gave his date of birth as 26th February 1883. Yet another birthdate! On his gravestone his date of birth is given as 26th February 1887. It is important to note that in the 1881 Census he (Jonah) was 2 years old and 12 years old in the 1891 Census! We will take his year of birth, therefore, as 1879.
He lived at 228 Sumner Road in Marylebone, London, England in 1881.⁴⁶⁸ He lived at 264 Sumner Road in Camberwell, Surrey, England in 1891.^433,476 John lived at 2a Fendick Road in Camberwell, Surrey, England in 1901.⁴⁵⁶ In 1901 he was a Boot Salesman.⁴⁵⁶ He lived at 218 George Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1908.⁴⁷⁵ In 1908 John was a Shipper.⁴⁷⁵ He joined Social Lodge 333 of Odd Fellows' on 29 January 1908 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.⁴⁷⁵ He applied for Life Insurance on 30 January 1908 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.⁴⁷⁵ The insurance was for $500, and was dated 10th February 1908. The beneficiary was names as his sister, Mrs Alice STONE. John was described as 5'-5.1/2" high, 34" chest, ruddy complexion, brown eyes and dark hair in 1917 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.^466,477 He lived at 99 Riverdale Avenue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1917.^478,479 Before October 1917 he was a Clerk.^466,477 From 16 October 1917 to 5 May 1919 John was a soldier in the Canadian Army.^466,479,480 His medical examination under military service took place on 16th October 1918 in Toronto, when he was passed category A2. He was stated as aged 34 years 8 months of age (he was actually aged 39). He gave his sister, Mrs Alice Louisa Stone, as his next of kin. He signed himself as 'John Rufus BLABER' on his Military Service Papers. His Regimental Number was 3032098. He was unmarried. He served in France.
In 1935–1936 he was a Newspaperman.^481,482 He lived at Apartment 304, 64 Wellesly Street in St Paul, Ontario, Canada in 1935.⁴⁸² From 1936 to 1940 John was a Newspaper Circulation Manager.^483,484 He lived at 28 Bush Hill at Winchmore Hill in London, England between July 1936 and September 1939.^484,485,486 This address was stated on the Passenger Lists in 1936 and 1938 as the 'Proposed Address in the United Kingdom' for John Rufus BLABER.
He arrived on the 'Queen Mary' (Tourist Class) from New York on 13 July 1936 in Southampton, Hampshire, England.⁴⁸⁵ On this trip he registered his age as 49, whereas he would have been 57. John sailed from Southampton to New York on the 'Queen Mary' on 19 August 1936.^487,488 He arrived in New York on 24 August 1936. Again he stated his age to be 49 whereas it would have been 57. He arrived on the 'Alaunia' from New York on 11 December 1938 in London, England.⁴⁸⁹ Now two years later he is still aged 49, but was in fact by then aged 59! He sailed from Liverpool to Montreal on the 'Antonia' on 17 April 1940.⁴⁹⁰ He gave his address as: c/o Canada House, London. He also gave his age as 53 whereas he would have been 61! John died on 20 August 1951 at the age of 72 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.⁴⁹¹ He had his estate probated on 29 August 1952 in London, England.⁴⁹¹ Administration (with Will) (limited) was granted to Sydney John POTHECARY - solicitor attorney of Leta Birkmire BLABER - widow. Total effects: £509 14s. 7d. He was Church of England.^466,477 John was also known as John Rufus Blaber.^466,477 His name is given as Jonah Rufus in the GRO Index, Jonah in the 1881 Census, and Jonas (or possibly Jona) R in the 1901 census originals. In the 1891 census originals he appears as John. His age is incorrect (10 instead of 12) in this census.

Jonah Rufus "John" BLABER and Letitia "Leta" BIRKMYRE were married. We've not yet been able to find a marriage certificate.
Letitia "Leta" BIRKMYRE, daughter of Abraham Legate BIRKMYRE and Margaret MCKEOWN, was born on 13 February 1894 in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.^492,493,494 She lived at in Glengormley, County Antrim, Northern Ireland between 1901 and 1911.^495,496 She lived at 29 Rosemary Street in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland in 1926.^497,498 She was entered as aged 30 on the Embarkation Passenger List. Leta emigrated on 13 November 1926 to Quebec, Canada.^492,497,498 Letitia travelled onboard the "Regina" from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and arrived in Quebec on 21 November 1926. Leta stated she was going to see her brother-in-law, Mr Jack Houston, 394 Avenue K South, Saskatoon, Sask. The part in italics is difficult to read from the manifest as it is a copy of a copy etc. She lived at Apartment 404, 64 Wellesley Street in St Paul, Ontario, Canada in 1935.⁴⁸² She lived at 202A St Clair Avenue West in St Paul, Ontario, Canada between 1962 and 1965.^499,500 Leta died on 22 September 1971 at the age of 77 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.⁵⁰¹ She was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.⁵⁰¹ She was also known as Letitia Birkmire.⁵⁰¹