A Weekend of Conversation with James & Ethel Tattersall...
It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of Ethel Florence (nee Trimmer) Tattersall on April 3, 2006. Her continuing contributions to the research into the Horner Family through bright, cheery emails will be sadly missed! "Dear Mother
Earth to her loving breast gathers Florence Horner Sherk, 1919 Ethel
Florence Tattersall |
On May 1, 2004, while doing further research into the Horner Family, I came across a message on a forum dedicated to ancestry research from Ethel Tattersall wherein she outlined in great detail the family of Samuel Horner's sister, Hester Ann Ball. I immediately emailed Ethel, letting her know of the upcoming rededication of the grave site and sharing with her some information about the Ball family that I had come across in my researches. I received an immediate response from Ethel, in which she said, in part:
"We were really interested to get your message. Samuel H. Horner is my husband's gg uncle and I've done a lot of research into his history. My husband is a retired RCMP member and so Sam has been of particular interest to us. They are the only two family members serving with the NWMP (Samuel H.) and RCMP Ex. Sgt. James Kennedy Tattersall (my husband) who had 31 years service. We have Sam's photo, taken in uniform and with his horse, and his pocket watch."
She went on to say that it was really too bad that we had just met, as had they known earlier, they would have attended the event! May 1 was a Saturday. Late that night, James & Ethel decided to try to get to Stratford in time and telephoned, leaving a message, saying that they would be leaving Sunday!
I contacted Cst. John Mitchell & he forwarded the information to Asst. Comm. Bradley Holman, who adjusted his address to include a welcome to the Tattersall's.
When the day of the rededication arrived, May 6, I had not heard anything further from James & Ethel and was beginning to worry about their safety. Since no-one knew what they looked like, Asst. Comm. Holman decided to leave his welcome to them in the address and hopefully they would make themselves known.
They did not. As can be seen by the pictures, the Rededication was a huge success, but I remember, when I was interviewed afterward by the reporter from the Stratford Beacon Herald, I expressed disappointment that they had not been able to attend and concern for their safety...
Friday morning, May 7th. I happened to be looking out a window -- about as far from my usual position at my computer as I could get -- and I saw a motorhome going around the corner towards the Perth County Archives. I fleetingly wondered: "Could that be the Tattersall's?" I immediately dismissed the thought and went back to work. Five minutes later, I received a call from Kate Jacobs at the Archives: "THEY'RE HERE!" Imagine my relief! Needless to say, I raced over to meet them!
We exchanged research on the Horner Family over the next couple of days. Cst. Mitchell was able to meet with the Tattersall's Friday evening and, during our conversations, John asked about Sam Horner's Sword. Jim remembered that, as a child in Welland, he & his brother used to play sword fighting with a pair of old swords. Al still has one sword & it has been identified by Cst. Mitchell as a pattern 1822 sword that was issued to NWMP Sergeants. However, the sword that Sgt. Horner is wearing below (provided by Ethel & Jim) is of the 1853 pattern and was the type first used by Sergeants in the NWMP.
My heartfelt thanks go out to Jim & Ethel Tattersall for sharing their time and research with me and for their continuing assistance with this research.
All text, pictures
and html used on this website and its links are
© 2004 - 2013 Stephen A. Budge
and may not be used without permission
