A local renovator found a mummified infant wrapped in a flowered comforter and old newspaper dated Sept. 12, 1925, in the wall of a house he was working on in Riverdale, Toronto.
A land title search showed that the Kintyre Ave. home was purchased in 1919 by Wesley Russell. Newspapers report that Mr. Russell died in February, 1939 and his wife Della lived in the house until 1941, when she was admitted as a patient to Toronto Ontario Hospital. It isn't known if the baby belonged to the couple who lived in the home at the time. In fact it isn't known when or how the baby died - while the 1925 newspaper might seem like a clue, that doesn't mean the death happened that year.
Many reports and articles are circulating and some reporters have discovered a few genealogical facts about Wesley and Della - such as their marriage in Belleville Ontario in 1898. I thought it would be interesting to see if I could find more, as some papers are stating that they hope relatives will be found who might see to the burial of the infant.
Wesley Russell & Della Rutter were married 12 Oct 1898 in Belleville Ontario. Ancestry.com records do not show parents' names but the online Bridge St. Wesleyan Methodist (now United Church), Belleville records show Wesley as age 19 son of
Wellington RUSSELL & Fanny BELLKNAP
The 1901 Census finds Wesley F Russel age 21 and Della Russell, age 20, living in Ameliasburg, Prince Edward County
The 1911 Census finds Wesley Russell age 29 and Della age 25 along with Charles Rutter age 23(probably Della's brother) living at 3 Ashby St in Toronto.
Charles Ruter is found in the 1901 census for Prince Edward County with his parents James A Rutter (born ca 1851) and Emmma J. (born ca 1861) along with 2 siblings - James M born ca 1889 and a daughter born ca 1893.
Checking the online Ontario Vital Stats found James Morden Rutter born 3 Oct 1889 to James Albert Rutter and Emma Jane Babcock in Prince Edward County
More checking found other children born to James Albert Rutter and Emma Jane Babcock:
* Alla [Ella?] May Born 20 May 1893 in Prince Edward County
* Herbert or Howard born 14 Jan 1897 in Prince Edward County
Next I found the marriage of James Albert Rutter and Emma Jane Babcock on 13 Aug 1876 in Ameliasburg Township. Unfortunately the parents' names are not given
The last great clue came from the 1881 census -- James Rutter, 28, wife Emma J. 22 and two children - Sarah A age 4 and Ardelia E age 4 months, are found in Ameliasburg, Prince Edward county.
Ardelia of course is our DELLA who married Wesley Russel and who may or may not be the mother of the dead child found in the walls
I haven't found the birth of Della or Charles Rutter but many births were never registered. However I am sure that Della was a child of James Rutter and Emma Babcock.
Hopefully someone recognizes these names as being part of their family tree!
(Sources: Ancestry.com
, FamilySearch.org, Automated Genealogy.com)Read some of the news stories on Google or copy and paste these links into your web browser
http://www.thestar.com/article/239573
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/07/25/mummified-baby.html?ref=rss
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=78783
http://news.scotsman.com/latest_odd.cfm?id=1165462007
No comments:
Post a Comment