Thomas John (Pop) Hurman 

Success at last. Eleven months of searching the internet, local records offices as far away as Taunton, Cardiff and Bristol, and record offices in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, finally I have located the family of Joseph Cornelius Hurman, my great grandfather This has now revealed that my grandfather had two brothers and one sister. This is the story of Thomas John Hurman. Thomas John Hurman, was known to his immediate family as Pop. During his life he was also known as John Thomas Hurman or Jack. As his story unfolds it will be seen that this was a crucial fact in retracing his steps. This led to a trail through south Wales, Canada and the west country. I will refer to him henceforth as Pop.

Pop was born to Joseph Hurman and Elizabeth Jane Hurman (nee Hussey) on the 15th February 1888 at Channons Hill, Stapleton, Bristol. This was in the area now known as Fishponds and in the Registration District of Barton Regis. He had two elder siblings, Louisa Ann (born c. 1882) and Joseph William ( born c.1886 ). Within two years he was joined by another brother Harry who was born in 1890.

In 1891 the family had moved to Chesterfield Street, Cadoxton, Nr. Barry, South Glamorgan. This move was to prove of great significance to the family, and was to bring tragedy to the Hurman household.

In July 1892, young Harry suffered convulsions and rickets, and tragically died. Within months Joseph contracted Enteric Fever (Typhoid) and suffered the same fate, passing away on the 13th July 1892.

What effect this was to have on Pop is unknown, however I believe that incidents later in life will show for themselves, how this mild mannered man was to be effected.

The period between 1882 and 1910 is still to be revealed, what is known is that about 1910 Pop went to Canada, as many of that time did. His intention was to prospect for gold and make his fortune. He had by this time met his wife to be, Alice Matilda Simpkins. She was in service in South Wales, believed to be Barry. This leads me to believe that Pop was brought up in this area, and had started his working life in South Wales.

In 1911 at the age of 23 yrs. Pop was in Macklin, Saskatchewan when he made an application as John Thomas Hurman to homestead on a piece of land just across the border in Alberta. His application is dated 20th February 1911, 5 says after his 23rd birthday. The land was the South West quarter section of section number 24 in Township 32 range 2 west of the 4th Meridian.

At the same time his brother Joseph William Hurman, made an application for the North West quarter section of section number 24 in Township 32 range 2 west of the 4th Meridian. This was the parcel of land immediately north of Pop's and adjacent to it.

On the 2nd July 1912, Edward Charles Palmer, with his wife and young child, made an application for a homestead at South East quarter section of section number 23 in Township 32 range 2 west of the 4th Meridian. These were near neighbours of Pop and his brother.( by Canadian Standards ) However on September 15th 1916 a patent for South West quarter section of section number 24 in Township 32 range 2 west of the 4th Meridian was granted to Edward Charles Palmer. This was Pop's homestead ?

The reason tallies with the story that Pop himself related to the family, about his homestead. He had stated that he had signed over the land to his brother whom he left in Canada on his return to Britain. Or did he mean his brother in law ?

The rest of the paper work describes the Palmer's as having resided continuously on the land since 30th April 1913. Had they joined Pop to help him work the land and that of Joseph. It would have been natural for the two brothers to have worked their lands as one. In doing so a cooperative with their sister and her husband would have also been mutually beneficial. This land was after all in need of clearing before it could be worked.

The records show for this land that in :
1913 broke 20 acres and cropped 10 acres
1914 broke 10 acres and cropped 20 acres
1915 broke 20 acres and cropped 30 acres
Frame house 16 x 20 value 200
frame barn 16 x 24 value 60

Joseph during the same time had :
1911 broke 10 acres cropped nil
1912 broke 15 acres cropped nil - owned 3 horses
1913 broke 15 acres and cropped 25 acres - owned 4 horses
1914 broke 20 acres and cropped 50 acres - owned 4 horses
the remaining 10 acres were fenced and he owned 3 horses
there was a framed house 10x12 valued 100 and a timber barn 24x24 valued 50.

The above figures seem to support my cooperative theory.

The question raised of course is who was Edward Charles Palmer and his wife. The answer lies in the attestation Paper that Pop completed on 21 September 1914. In it he states that his next of kin was Mrs. C Palmer, PO Saskate, Alberta. She was obviously his sister Louisa Ann. Pop was leaving Canada to return to Britain and his sweetheart Alice via the Canadian Expeditionary force and the Great War of 1914-1918.

As stated on the 21 September 1914 as John Thomas Hurman Pop enlisted into the Canadian Expeditionary Force and was Regimental No. 860 of the 8th Battalion. He gave his trade or calling as Mason, was unmarried and had been born in Bristol, England. He was 26 yrs of age, 5'5'' with blues eyes, a fair complexion and brown hair. His religion was that of Baptist. His chest measured 35''. At Valeatur Camp he took the Kings Shilling and set out to return to Britain.
Following his return to Britain Pop wasted little time in marrying his sweetheart.

On 1st March 1915 Pop married Alice Matilda Simpkins in Dinas Powis, Glamorgan, they soon started a family. Pop went off to soldier in the war, returning safely at it's end. Pop and Gran raised their family moving in the 1920's to Weston Super Mare, Somerset where they raised their family of six boys and one daughter.