William David Cunneyworth (1865-1942) / Minnie Spencer (1868-1935)

Thomas' birth, death information
Rebecca's birth, death information
Marriage
List of children

This page is currently under construction. Please check back again for future updates.

William's parents: William / Margaret Ralston
Source: Vital Statistics marriage registration record for William and Minnie6

William was born c. Oct. 22, 1865 in Bronte, Ontario.
Source1: Elaine and George Jackson's Cunneyworth family bible
Source2: Vital Statistics marriage registration record for William and Minnie6
Source3: 1871 census8 (William David, 5 years old)
Source4: William David's obituary in an Owen Sound newspaper

Minnie's parents: Stephen Spencer / Sarah Unknown
Source: Vital Statistics marriage registration record for William and Minnie6

According to Elaine and George Jackson, Minnie's father Stephen Spencer had a carriage shop in Owen Sound.

Minnie was born c. July 11, 1868 in Owen Sound.
Source: Elaine and George Jackson's Cunneyworth family bible.

According to Elaine and George Jackson, Minnie's brother Stanley Spencer was the parliamentary librarian. They have a photo of moustached Stanley Spencer (photo by S. J. Jarvis, 117 Sparks St., Elite Studio).

William was christened c. Sept, 1886 in Oakville, at age 21 (St. Jude's church, Book 1 Baptisms 1842 - 1922), sponsor: Mary Cunneyworth.

He was confirmed at St. Matthais' church, Winchester, Ontario, c. Oct 31, 1892. Source: confirmation document in Elaine and George Jackson's Cunneyworth family bible.

The Spencer Sisters L-R: Sarah Buchert (Pennsylvania), Lena Lynaday, Margaret Campbell (Owen Sound), Gertrude Legate (Owen Sound), Minnie Spencer
(photo courtesy of Elaine and George Jackson)

According to Elaine and George Jackson, an "uncle" Will Legate (Gertrude's husband?) ran the Temperance House in Owen Sound. The following reference to the Legate Building at 790 Second Avenue East, Owen Sound, is provided in the web site for the Historic Owen Sound Downtown Walking Tour web site47.

This two-storey building at Second Avenue East and Eighth Street was built for William Legate in 1906, with shops below and apartments above. Legate established the Owen Sound Furniture House in 1914. His son, Walter, joined the business after World War 1. The second floor windows are recessed, with stone sills and linters and stepped brick. Renovated in the 1930s, the building's marble inserts below massive display windows, wooden signage and awning complement the original style.

This is probably the Cunneyworth cousin's furniture store in Owen Sound recalled by Iris Stovell Cunneyworth. (Refer to Section 4.6.2.5.1, Joseph William Robert (1921-1972) / Iris Stovell).

William, age 24, born in Bronte, Episcopalian, and Minnie, age 20, born in Owen Sound, Methodist, were married6 in Owen Sound Jan 14, 1890. William is listed as a railway agent. Witnesses: Walter Spencer and "Maggie" Cunneyworth. Marriage performed by Rev. J. W. Holmes.
Note: Witness "Maggie" Cunneyworth is probably William's sister, Margaret Ann.
Source1: Vital Statistics marriage records6
Source2: LDS marriage records as transcribed by Carolyn Dyk
Source3: a marriage certificate in Elaine and George Jackson's Cunneyworth family bible, dated January 15, 1890 in Owen Sound.
Source4: William David's obituary in an Owen Sound newspaper gives an incorrect marriage date of Jan 15, 1890.

William and Minnie lived on St. Lawrence St., Winchester, Ontario when Harry was born16 in May, 1893.

According to Iris Cunneyworth and Thelma Bydal, William worked building the Great Northern Railway in northern Ontario, and became the first Great Northern stationmaster in Pembroke, Ontario. He had also worked for the Timiskaming Northern Ontario (TNO) railway. Son Harry's VS birth record16 lists William's profession as R.R. (railway) agent.

William's profession is listed as Station Master in son Harry's death registration38 record, c. Dec 1894. Harry died in Hagarty Township.

The web site for the Historic Owen Sound Downtown Walking Tour web site47 has this to say about the CNR Station at 1155 - 1165 First Avenue West:

The former Canadian National Railway Station was built in 1932, replacing the Grand Trunk Station of 1894. Passenger service ended in 1970, freight service in 1986. The tracks were removed in 1995. The station now houses the Marine & Rail Heritage Museum, operated by the Owen Sound Historical Society, and the City's Visitor Information Centre.

Son Harry's death registration38 record, c. Dec 1894 indicates they were still living in or near Hagarty Township, Renfrew County, so William was presumably still station master in Pembroke at the time. Note that the Grand Trunk Station opened in Owen Sound that same year.

They were still in Pembroke, Ontario33,34 when son Bob was born, October, 1900.

They lived at 17 Rupert St., Ottawa when son William Ernest joined the army in May, 1917.
Source: William's Attestation Paper, Canadian Expeditionary Force of WWI

A Jan 1926 obituary for William's mother lists him among the surviving children as "W. D. of Ottawa".
Source: Mother Margaret's obituary clipped from an unidentified Owen Sound newspaper, provided by Mary Cunneyworth Nopper.

A Jan 1926 obituary for William's mother lists him among the surviving children as "W. D. of Ottawa".
Source: Mother Margaret's obituary clipped from an unidentified Owen Sound newspaper, provided by Mary Cunneyworth Nopper.

Minnie died c. April 23, 1935.
Source1: Elaine and George Jackson's Cunneyworth family bible.
Source2: William David's obituary in an Owen Sound newspaper implies a death year of 1935.

William died c. Aug. 10, 1942 in Englehart, Ontario.
Source1: Elaine and George Jackson's Cunneyworth family bible (for death date)
Source2: William David's obituary in an Owen Sound newspaper (for other circumstances at death)

William David's obituary in an Owen Sound newspaper, courtesy of Mary Cunneyworth Nopper, states:

FORMER CITIZEN DIES SUDDENLY
William David Cunneyworth
Mourned by Three Sisters Here Many friends in this city will learn with deep regret of the sudden death of William David Cunneyworth, a former well known resident of this city. Mr. Cunneyworth passed away on Monday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles Jones of Englehart, with whom he was visiting. The late Mr. Cunneyworth was born on Aug. 22, 1865 at Bronte, and came to this city as a boy. He left Owen Sound to learn the telegraphy business at Markdale and later returned to this city and held a position in connection with the C.P.R. lake fleet. He later joined the staff of the T.&N.O. Railway and, as district passenger and traffic agent, had much to do with the work of opening up the Northland. In 1900 he went to Ottawa and obtained a position in the civil service, continuing to be so employed until his retirement ten years ago. On Jan 15, 1890, the late Mr. Cunneyworth was united in marriage to Minnie Spencer, who pre-deceased him seven years ago. Surviving to mourn his loss are three sons, Ernest of Montreal and Rolston and Scott of Ottawa, and two daughters, Lottie, Mrs. Joseph Smith of Ottawa, with whom he had made his home in recent years, and Irene, Mrs. Charles Jones of Englehart, whom he was visiting at the time of his death. He is also mourned by four sisters, Misses Maude and Belle Cunneyworth and Lottie, Mrs. Percy R. Browne, all of Owen Sound, and Bertha, Mrs. Walter Wharton of Detroit.

William and Minnie are buried in Pinecrest cemetery, Ottawa25, section F, grave #262. (This is the same grave as Isaac T. Smith, late husband of Charlotte Mildred Cunneyworth).

Children:

For comments, questions or corrections, please email me.
Top of page
Home

Clues to the Canadian Cunneyworth Family Tree
Last modified: 2014-12-13       © Portions of this web site are Copyright 2000-2014 Wayne Edgar Cunneyworth