Noel Knevitt - Mystery Relative?

More often than not, one runs across photos of relatives and friends that cannot be identified because the memory of them is lost to time.  Here are three interesting photos that were captioned as photos of "Noel Knevitt".  The photos are interesting and provide some clues to the man, however, I cannot turn up any documentation of a Noel Knevitt in the available record.  Noel may be a nick-name or his middle name. I assume he is a relative of Fanny Maude's family.  Perhaps somebody out there may have some information

 Thomas Knevitt Pinhey and Noel Knevitt, 1909

This photo was captioned and dated. It was obviously taken in Canada due to the date.  Noel appears to be quite tall next to Thomas.

 Noel Knevitt in India

This photo was in a grouping of photos in the 1912-1913 period.  It was captioned as "Noel in India" and it appears that he was in the British Army during this period.  I will need to check the army rosters to see if I can locate a Knevitt serving in India during this time period.

Noel in Canada

This photo was in the same grouping as the India photo.  It appears to be the Canadian frontier, but there is not enough detail to tell precisely where.  I will post any additional photos of Noel to this page if identity more while going through the albums. 

Staying in Canada - Thomas Knevitt Pinhey and Daisy Laura Shellard

Winnipeg 1910

This may be the first photo of Thomas Knevitt Pinhey and Daisy Laura Shellard together.  Thomas is on the lower right, sitting on the step (wearing a fedora hat).  Daisy is on the left side sitting next to the planter (above the woman in black). The photo is labeled 

"Winnipeg, 1910".

William Fox and Fanny Maude's return to England closes the chapter on their lives.  My grandfather, Thomas Knevitt Pinhey stayed on in Canada with his brothers.  Thomas and Daisy had a very interesting life in Canada and Thomas was quite the amateur photographer. Consequently, there are many photos of Thomas and Daisy and their family in Canada, which will help frame the next posts along with my father's writings about his life.  The following narrative about Thomas and Daisy comes from my father's memoirs written around 2006-2007:

"My family background is definitely English. My paternal grandparents were William Fox Pinhey and Fanny Knevitt Pinhey. His occupation was listed as “gentleman” and she was his wife. My great grandfather was William Green Pinhey and I am not aware of my great grandmother’s maiden name. My Mother was born in Bristol. Her maiden name was Daisy Shellard; her mother was Laura Longman. The name McCauley seems prominent in my mother’s family. Knevitt is fairly prominent in English history as Lord and Lady Thomas & Elizabeth Knyvitt: Baron & Baroness of Escrick. The Pinheys may have been Welsh & the Shellards are one of those Flemish families that were brought to England to teach the art of weaving to the wool producing Britons. (note: William Fox Pinhey's family was originally from Brixham, Devon. So it is doubtful that the name is Welsh as Pinhey's can be found in Devon throughout its history. My father did not have access to this information).

I had an Uncle Will Pinhey, Robert Pinhey, Aunt “Faff” Pinhey and Aunt Madge Pinhey, who died young. My father Thomas Knevitt Pinhey was the youngest of the group. I am less well informed as to my maternal branch but will do my best. My grandfather, Arthur Shellard was married to Laura Shellard. Then ensued my mother, Daisy Laura Shellard, Edward McCauley Shellard, John Shellard, Hilda Shellard, Iris Shellard and Tom Shellard, some of whom were born in Bristol, England (my Mother for one) & the younger in Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada.

My paternal grandparents were from monied people, but along with many English people came on hard times as did my maternal grandparents. About 1906-07 they migrated to Canada. My Uncle Bob was sent to an “ag” school for a few months before leaving England. My father and uncle Bob both attended St. Dunstans in Catford. This was an upper class school. I visited it in 1987 and was quite impressed.

Grandfather Pinhey took out a full section (640 acres) homestead at Birch Hills (Waitville), Saskatchewan. This was 160 acres for each son and the father. Grandpa Pinhey had never worked nor had my grandma. Going to the Canadian wilderness, with no servants must have been a real jolt. They built a farmhouse, broke land and planted wheat, raised poultry, beef, hogs etc. Plowing was done by oxen.

My father had enough of this after about one year and he left for Winnepeg where he got a clerical job with the C.P.R. Railway. He lived in a boarding house with several “remittance” men & I gather they were a rough lot. He met Shellard when she attended a Rugby game in which he was playing. She was 17 or 18, he 19 or 20. She was a legal secretary. History does not relate but I don’t think my Grandpa Shellard was overjoyed at the marriage."

 Arthur McCauley Shellard 

An undated portrait of Daisy Laura Pinhey's father

Shellard Family Portrait

Undated photo. Daisy is standing (center) The oldest boy (sitting) is Edward McCauley Shellard (Ted Shellard)

Arthur Shellard and Laura Shellard, 1913

This photo was captioned "Mom and Dad, 1913" by Daisy in her photo album

 Arthur Shellard and Laura Shellard (undated)

 Arthur Shellard 1916

Arthur is the soldier with the "X" pencil mark over his head. This is from a photo postcard.

 Daisy Laura Pinhey 1912

This photo was dated and captioned "DLP" in Daisy's album. 

Iris Shellard 1912

 I just had to add this photo - all the photos of Iris in Daisy's album show Iris having a good time and this one is particularly captures Iris' fun side. Note the step and skirt guard on the rear wheel and fender, this set-up allows a woman to ride "side-saddle" and not get her skirts caught in the wheel spokes.  The motorcycle is a neat little v-twin with an early girder front fork and carbide headlight.  I like the rustic bridge!

Return to England

My father remembered visiting William Fox Pinhey and Fanny Maude's farm as a child.  He told me that life on the farm was much more difficult than William and Fanny had anticipated when they decided to homestead.  First there were problems clearing and preparing the land for farming - I remember stories about cutting trees, stump pulling and dynamiting rocks to clear the land.  Then there was the distance to town and civilization.  This was not quite the life William and Fanny were accustomed to in England.

According to my father, William Fox Pinhey and Fanny Maude returned to England sometime around the 1919-1920 time-frame.  Subsequent information (ships passenger manifest provided) shows that they actually returned to England in January 1917 on board the Southland).  Sons William Knevitt Pinhey, Robert Knevitt Pinhey and Thomas Knevitt Pinhey remained in Canada (though Robert traveled with William Fox and Fanny Maude on the 1917 trip back to England). William Knevitt Pinhey married and settled in Peterborough, and, according to my father, Robert  returned and stayed on the farm for awhile and married later in life.Thomas Knevitt Pinhey eventually met and married Daisy Laura Shellard and their story will be detailed in later posts.

I will continue my research into family records and documents to pinpoint the dates and details for William Fox Pinhey and Fanny Maude's return to England and also for Roberts life.  Thus far, I have determined where William and Fanny lived when they returned to England.

The family photo album contains the following photographs of WIlliam Fox Pinhey and Fanny Maude in England during the late 1920's. One can't help noticing that the Pinhey's appear happy to be back home.

                        William Fox Pinhey, Fanny Maude and the Stillwell Family

         Left to right: Eric William Stillwell ("Bill"), Clarence Stillwell, Fanny Sarah (Faff)                                        Stillwell, Fanny Maude Pinhey and William Fox Pinhey

Vacationing in Cornwall

Una Knevitt, William Fox Pinhey and Fanny Maude Pinhey

Vacationing in Cornwall

Back Home in England

 Fanny Maude Pinhey back Home in England

Fanny and William in Front of Their Home

William Fox Pinhey - Born September 2nd 1856. Died January 31st 1929.  Fanny Maude Pinhey - Born August 18 1860. Died August 5th 1936.

These are the last photographs of William Fox Pinhey and Fanny Maude Pinhey that I can find in the albums. If I find more, I will post them.

William Fox Pinhey in England, 1920's

This photo and the one below where in a 1920's photo grouping and added to this post on August 24, 2015.  The photo appears to have been taken the same day as the photo of William and Fanny with the Stillwell family. William is holding a pipe and wearing a pocket watch chain and fob that were common for the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. 

Fanny Maude Pinhey in England, 1920's

William Knevitt Pinhey

William Knevitt Pinhey and Fanny Maude Pinhey

William Knevitt Pinhey enlisted in the Canadian Army on December 22, 1915 (Canadian Engineers, 1st Pioneer Battalion).  This photo appears to have been taken shortly after his enlistment.

William Knevitt Pinhey's Dogtag and Collar Insignia

Note: this dogtag and insignia are not currently in the possession of the Pinhey family.

(image from Ancestry.com)

I do not have any records of William's service in WWI, other than that he enlisted in Grenfell  Saskatchewan and is shown as being stationed in Grenfell in 1917.  

Uncle Will married  Anna Margaret Johnston on August 11, 1920 and settled down in Peterborough, Ontario, where he and Anna spent the rest of their lives.  

William and Anna's Marriage Certificate

Anna Pinhey and William Knevitt Pinhey (undated) 

This photo is from the Pinhey family photo album and was most likely taken in the 1940's.

Wedding Portrait 

This photo is posted on Ancestry.com and is identified as a portrait of William Knevitt Pinhey and Anna Margaret Johnston at the time of their marriage.  However, this photo is not in the Pinhey family photo albums and has not been authenticated. 

Homesteading in Canada

The Dominion Lands Act (short title for An Act Respecting the Public Lands of the Dominion) was an 1872 Canadian law that aimed to encourage the settlement of the Canadian Prairies, and to help prevent the area being claimed by the United States.  The act gave a claimant 160 acres (65 ha) for free, the only cost to the farmer being a $10 administration fee. Any male farmer who was at least 21 years of age and agreed to cultivate at least 40 acres (16 ha) of the land and build a permanent dwelling on it (within three years) qualified. This condition of "proving up the homestead" was instituted to prevent speculators from gaining control of the land.  Homesteading farmers could buy a neighboring lot for an additional $10 registration fee, once they had made certain improvements to their original quarter-section. This allowed most farmsteads to quickly double in size.

William Fox Pinhey and family left England from Liverpool in December 1907 to homestead in Canada. From what I can determine William Fox, Fanny Maude, Robert, William,Fanny Sarah Pinhey and Thomas were the family members on the voyage to Canada.  Fanny Sarah Pinhey returned to England and married Clarence Digby Stillwell in 1910 and had two sons, John and Eric.  Both sons were killed during World War II.  The photo below shows Fanny Sarah and Clarence with their grandson Richard.

Back to homesteading - the 1911 Canadian records show William Fox Pinhey, Robert Knevitt Pinhey and William Knevitt Pinhey homesteading in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (see below):

Based on the captions on the photographs of the William Fox Pinhey farm, it was located in Waitville Saskatchewan, which places the farm approximately 35 miles south of Prince Albert and about 91 miles northeast of Saskatoon.  It must of been quite a journey in to get to Waitville in early 1900's.

The photo below was captioned "On the road to Waitville - 12 miles".  It shows Daisy Laura Pinhey apparently taking a rest break while on the road with her husband Thomas Knevitt Pinhey and their son Thomas Shellard Pinhey while traveling to visit William Fox Pinhey and Fanny Maude at the Waitville farm. The photos are from 1912-13

Daisy on the Road to Waitville


Thomas and Iris Shellard at T.K. Pinhey and Daisy's House in Prince Albert


Thomas Shellard Pinhey ("Tommy") and William Fox Pinhey on the W.F. Pinhey Farm

The following group of photos were titled "Helping Grandpa". Tommy's mother, Daisy Laura Pinhey (nee Shellard) is in the background of the first photo.  

Helping Grandpa on the Farm

Helping Grandpa

Tommy Helping Grandpa (Waitville Farm)

 Daisy and Tommy on the Farm 

 Wearing Daddy's Hat and Gloves 

 Daisy and her sister Iris Shellard with Tommy 

 Tommy and  Grandma (Fanny Maude)
.  

Fanny holding Tommy at T.K. Pinhey and Daisy's house in Prince Albert


Fanny and Tommy

Daisy, Tommy and Iris Shellard (Daisy's sister)

Thomas Knevitt Pinhey, Tommy and Iris Shellard

Northwest Mounted Police 

This photo is captioned "Captain French" and was in the farm photo grouping.  I assume this was the local law enforcement for the region in 1913-14

Money Matters

According to family oral history, William Fox Pinhey was a "gentleman" who lived off of the income from his properties.  Interestingly, it seems that he tried his hand at business, at least up to September 1886 as noted in the London Gazette (below):

Per the electoral records, it appears that he did own some income properties (if I am reading the records correctly).  The records show up to seven freehold houses in William's name during the 1890's and early 1900's (see below)

As the story goes, William Fox Pinhey encountered some financial difficulties around 1906-1907 and  he eventually left England with his family to homestead in Canada (Saskatchewan).   The following photos were taken at the Pinhey home in Edenbridge during 1907 (prior to the family leaving for Canada)

Note: we are now entering the era of the "snap shot" and home photography.  The number of photos, especially photos showing the family  in Canada, increase dramatically after 1907. 

 Pinhey Family, Edenbridge 1907

I can't remember the exact relationship of the first person in the photo (on the left).  I do remember he is of Japanese descent (I hope to obtain more information on his history).  Next in line: William Fox Pinhey, Fanny Maude Pinhey, "Faff" Pinhey, Robert Knevitt Pinhey and Thomas Knevitt Pinhey.  The gentleman sitting in front is Clarence Digby Stillwell, Faff's beau.  Faff and Clarence married in 1910.

Pinhey Family, Edenbridge (around 1902)

Front row: Unidentified Knevitt sister (could be Florence), unidentified Knevitt sister (could be Alice), unidentified (could be Dora), unidentified (another sister, possibly Edith) and Fanny Maude Pinhey.

Back Row: Thomas Knevitt Pinhey, Gentleman of Japanese Descent (could be a son of one of Fanny's sisters?), William Fox Pinhey and Fanny Sarah"Faff" Pinhey

Clarence Stillwell and Thomas Knevitt Pinhey in robes after a swim, Edenbridge 1907

Clarence Stillwell and Fanny Sarah Pinhey, Edenbridge 1907

Postcard of W.F. Pinhey Home, Shernden Grange, Edenbridge Kent
The address on the postcard is difficult to read, it looks like "Shernden Grange", and the electoral rolls record it as such.  The home would have been located on what is known today as Shernden Lane.