Name: Bearne P Address: 106 Sparrow Terr. P Patrol: Owl Age: 14
Percy Bearne was born on 19th May 1894 in Shelton to Thomas H and Eliza Bearne. Thomas was born in Bovey Tracey, Devon and Eliza in Wolstanton and they had four children.
In 1901 the family were living at 27 Snow Hill, Hanley and Thomas ran his own business as a ‘licensed victualler’ (pub landlord) and the family had seven staff living with them. This was the Bell and Bear, as confirmed by Percy’s granddaughter, Mona. Read more about the pub here.
Sadly it appears that Thomas died between October and December 1902. When Percy with his brother Harry, joined the Scouts in 1908, the family were living at 106 Sparrow Terrace. Eliza had remarried in 1906 and had a son with her new husband Herbert Shenton in 1906. The 1911 Census has Percy working as a Farmer’s Boy.
By 1916, Percy had emigrated to Canada and was living at 463 William Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba. He enlisted in the Canadian Army on 8th January 1916 and was described as being a farmer and was 5 ft 7 ins tall, with blue eyes and brown hair. Incidentally, his next of kin is listed as his mother who was now living at 25 Snow Hill, Hanley.
After his enlistment we lose him for a while, but he then appears to have moved to the USA as he is living in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan with his Scottish wife Grace and their two children Grace and Thomas Henry. The children were born in Canada and the family moved to the USA in 1925.
From his granddaughter Mona Jehle –
He moved to the United States from the Winnipeg, Canada and resided in Detroit. He was in WW1. He was the 1st International President for the Royal Canadian Legion, Post 85 in the U.S. He was a very good speaker and remained active in the Canadian Legion all of his life. He worked for a decorator in the Detroit Area as a painter. He had 3 children and 8 grandchildren.
His last address was 48178 South Lyon, Oakland, Michigan and he died aged 85 on 20th May 1979.
Percy & Grace Bearne’s grave in the South Lyon Cemetery, Oakland County, Michigan, USA.
Photos from the Find a Grave website, courtesy of K Brownst (left) & Jan Wint DeRosia (right)