 1878 - 1918 (40 years)
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| Name |
Alice Bushby |
| Birth |
26 Aug 1878 |
Cumbria, England [2] |
- Death certificate shows date of birth as 14 Aug 1881, born in Australia. Baptism record for Emmanuel/Abbey Road Church, Barrow-in-Furness (dated 20 Oct 1878) shows date of birth as 26 Aug 1878.
|
| Christening |
20 Oct 1878 |
Emmanuel/Abbey Road Congregational Church, Barrow-in-Furness [2] |
| Gender |
Female |
| Land |
01 Nov 1905 |
28 Thornley Street, Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia [3] |
Transferred to "Alice Barrington, wife of Arthur Barrington" by her mother Martha, and mortgaged to George England the same day (not noted on the title until 1933). A 1962 note records the mortgage discharged; the title apparently did not change hands again until 1967, when the Public Trustee became registered proprietor.
DISCREPANCY: in a 1907 statement in her divorce case Alice said she owned no property and earned 20 shillings a week as a nurse. The title shows her as owner from 1905. The researcher suggested she wanted her husband to bear the costs. |
| Death |
03 Nov 1918 |
Tacoma, Washington |
| She is shown as age 37 (born 14 Aug 1881 in Australia), a nurse, and a widow. The informant is Lewis J. Raby -- who we believe is her husband. |
Address: 1551 South 35th Street Tacoma, Washington 98418 United States |
| Death |
03 Nov 1918 |
Tacoma, Washington [4] |
- Washington Death Certificates 1907-1960. Film Number 1992537 Digital GS #4220907 Image #1200 Reference #1264
|
| Burial |
06 Nov 1918 |
Oakwood Cemetery, Tacoma, Washington [5] |
| Notes |
- She died in the 1918 influenza pandemic: her death certificate (as summarised on Find a Grave 35413106) describes her as a 37-year-old nurse, native of Australia, who died of broncho-pneumonia following influenza; the informant was her husband Lewis J. Raby. Find a Grave gives her birth as 14 Aug 1881 in Lancashire; we keep 26 Aug 1878 (INFERENCE: the family emigrated to Sydney about 1880 and her sister Clara was born there in 1881, so an 1881 Lancashire birth does not fit; the certificate probably understated her age).
- MARTHA'S PACIFIC CROSSINGS (research October 2026).
In 1916 her son Wilfred, enlisting in the AIF, gave his next of kin as "Mother, Mrs Martha Jane Bushby, Canada, address unknown". The records now explain why:
- 1911: her daughter Alice married Lewis Johnston Raby, a rancher from Edmonton, Alberta, in Vancouver on 3 Oct 1911 (BC marriage registration names Alice's parents as James Bushby and Martha Aitken).
- 1918: Alice died in Tacoma, Washington, on 3 Nov 1918 in the influenza pandemic; her death certificate names her mother as "Martha Aitken".
- January 1920: the US census at 1651 South 35th Street, Tacoma, lists "Martha Aitken", 80, born in Scotland, as a boarder with Lewis Raby and his second wife Agnes.
- 26 April 1920: "Bushby M." arrived in Sydney on RMS Niagara from Vancouver via Suva and Auckland. INFERENCE (strong): this is Martha coming home, aged 80, three and a half months after the census; no other Bushby, Aitken or Raby arrived from North America in 1919-1922.
- 16 Oct 1922: she died at Bowenfels, Lithgow, aged 83 (Ryerson Index: SMH and Lithgow Mercury death notices).
POSSIBLE EARLIER CROSSINGS (INFERENCE, unproven): a "Mrs Bushby" (2nd saloon) arrived in Sydney from Vancouver on the Makura on 12 Jul 1909, and a "Mrs M. Bushby" (2nd class) on the Makura on 15 May 1911. If both are Martha, she crossed the Pacific several times between about 1909 and 1920; the 1909 passenger could instead be Alice. Wilfred's 1916 "Canada" may point to the Rabys' Alberta home; the 1916 Prairie Provinces census has not yet been searched.
STILL TO CHECK: her outward sailings; the 1916 Alberta census; her burial (the tree has Lithgow Cemetery Row 7A Lot 32, not yet verified - Bowenfels also has a cemetery); the NSW death registration for the informant.
|
| Person ID |
I513983999 |
Walsh - Wilson Family Tree |
| Last Modified |
23 Apr 2009 |
| Father |
James Bushby, b. Abt 1832, Sandwith, St. Bees, Cumbria d. 03 Nov 1893, Lochinvar, New South Wales, Australia (Age 61 years) |
| Mother |
Martha Aitken, b. 02 Aug 1839, Killearn, Stirling, Scotland d. 16 Oct 1922, Bowenfels, Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia (Age 83 years) |
| Marriage |
25 Aug 1857 |
Killearn, Stirling, Scotland [6] |
| Photos |
 | The Bushby Brothers Sitting from left to right: Walter Bushby, Robert Bushby (100% right), John Bushby (100% right)
Standing Left to Right: Fred (maybe) or William, Wilfred, George
"We concluded that Wilfred is Wilfred (standing middle) as he does have a noticable scar on his forehead (which is documented on his WW1 record). He also seems to be wearing his "best shirt" again . . same as other photo.)"
Approximate ages of the boys: Robert 47, Walter 45, John 40, Fred 32 or William 36, George 31 and Wilfred 29. |
| Documents |
 | 1871 U.K. Census - James Bushby, Wife Martha, and Family - 7 Harrison Street, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria (LA13) The census report shows James Bushby (age 38, born in St. Bees, Cumbria) living with wife, Martha (age 31, born in Scotland), and children Robert (age 12, born in Scotland), Walter (age 12, born in Scotland), John (age 6, born in Barrow), Martha Jane (age 4, born in Barrow), William James (age 2, born in Barrow), and Harrison (age 3 months, born in Barrow).
Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 4244; Folio: 44; Page: 24; GSU roll: 848079.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1871 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England. |
 | 1861 U.K. Census - James Bushby and wife Martha - Parish of Dalton, District of Barrow St. George The census shows James Bushby (age 32, born in Sandwick [?], Cumbria), a stone mason, living with his wife Martha (age 21, born in Stirling, Scotland), and sons Robert (age 2, born in Stirling, Scotland) and Walter (age 11 months, born in Stirling, Scotland).
Source Citation: Class: RG9; Piece: 3170; Folio: 52; Page: 24; GSU roll: 543090.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1861 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England. |
| Family ID |
F513881750 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family 2 |
Lewis Johnston Raby, b. 17 Mar 1881, Duncan, Grey County, Ontario, Canada d. 26 Feb 1964, Neenah, Wisconsin (Age 82 years) |
| Marriage |
03 Oct 1911 |
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada [10] |
| Family ID |
F513881899 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
25 Mar 2009 |
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| Photos |
 | 1651 South 35th Street - Tacoma, Washington This house, built by Lewis Raby in 1918, is described as a "new maternity home" in Alice [Bushby] Raby's obituary.
These photographs were kindly taken by Sue Kellar. |
| Documents
|
 | Lewis Johnston Raby - Declaration of Intention Number 1158
|
![Lewis Johnson [sp?] Raby - World War 1 Draft Card Lewis Johnson [sp?] Raby - World War 1 Draft Card](documents/thumb_Raby-WW1-Draft.jpg) | Lewis Johnson [sp?] Raby - World War 1 Draft Card Occupation shown as Shipwright at the Seaborn Shipyard Company, Tideflats, Tacoma, Washington. Date of birth shown as 17 Mar 1882, which is a year older than shown on naturalisation papers (in 1916), perhaps to avoid military service.
Name: Lewis Johnson Raby
City: Tacoma
County: Pierce
State: Washington
Birth Date: 17 Mar 1882
Race: White
Roll: 1992175
DraftBoard: 4
Source Citation: Registration Location: Pierce County, Washington; Roll: 1992175; Draft Board: 4.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. |
 | Alien Passengers Applying for Admission to the United States - Vancouver, B.C. - 24 Jun 1916 The manifest shows the Raby family arriving on the Princess Victoria on 24 Jun 1916:
Lewis Johnston Raby, age 33, broker, resident at 1120 Howe Street, Vancouver, B.C., $75 on hand, born in Duncan, Canada, first visit to United States, 5 feet 9.5 inches, black hair, hazel eyes.
Alice Raby, age 36, no occupation, $250 on hand, born Sydney, Australia, last visited United States "summer of 1908," 5 feet 7.5 inches, brown hair, brown eyes.
Martha Bushby, age 77, no occupation, no cash on hand, born Killearn, Scotland, 5 foot 6 inches, grey hair, blue eyes.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2008. |
 | Alice Bushby - Passenger Manifest - 28 Jul 1909 The manifest for the S.S. Marama sailing from Sydney to Vancouver shows passenger Alice Bushby, age 26, born in Lancashire, England and a resident of Sydney, Australia. She is an operatic artist, and has been to the United States previously: 1906 in San Francisco.
Her brother is W. Bushby, address shown as Stoneleigh Cottage [illegible]. Her final destination is New York. Height 5 foot 7.25 inches, dark hair, brown eyes.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2008 |
![Death Certificate - Alice [Bushby] Raby - Washington State Board of Health Death Certificate - Alice [Bushby] Raby - Washington State Board of Health](documents/thumb_Alice-Raby-DC.jpg) | Death Certificate - Alice [Bushby] Raby - Washington State Board of Health This death certificate shows that Alice Raby died on 3 Nov 1918 of broncho pneumonia following Spanish influenza. She was attended by E. L. Carlsen, M.D. from 28 Oct 1918 to the time of her death, at 10:15 PM.
She is shown as born on 14 Aug 1881 in Australia, and employed as a nurse. Her father is shown as James Bushly [Bushby], and her mother as Martha Aitken. she is a 37 year old widow, yet the informant is Lewis J. Raby, 1651 South 35th Street, believed to be her husband. She was buried in Oakwood Cemetery on 6 Nov 1918. |
![Alice [Bushby] Raby Obituary - <i>Tacoma News Tribune</i> - 5 Nov 1918 Alice [Bushby] Raby Obituary - <i>Tacoma News Tribune</i> - 5 Nov 1918](documents/thumb_Alice-Raby-Obit.jpg) | Alice [Bushby] Raby Obituary - Tacoma News Tribune - 5 Nov 1918 "Mrs. Lewis Raby - Mrs. Alice Raby, 37 years old, wife of Lewis Raby, 1651 South 35th Street, died Sunday night of pneumonia. She was a private nurse and with her husband had only a few days ago completed and taken possession of a new maternity home. The body was removed to George W. Piper's."
Thanks to Sue Kellar for obtaining this copy for us. |
 | "Day Develops No New Cases" - The Daily Ledger, Tacoma, Washington, 4 Nov 1918 Health Officers Cheered at the Letup of Influenza
With not one new case of influenza reported to the health department Monday morning, the city officials are cheerful in the hope that the epidemic is about over.
Although this condition of optimism prevails here, Dr. T D Tuttle, state health officer at Seattle, in telephone conversation with Miss Edith I. Moody Monday morning, insisted on everybody in the state wearing a mask. No formal order, however has been issued by the state health board to this effect and Dr R D Wilson, Tacoma health officer, is not making any new rules in face of the favorable outlook.
At the health office conditions are assuming the normal. CW O'Flyne, quarantine officer, after a week's tussle with influenza is back on the job. Miss Edith I Moody, statistician of the health department had nearly two weeks of flu experience, but is back. All others in the department are now free from the disease and eager to a fight against the spread of the epidemic.
Hospital Still Short
The emergency hospital is still a busy place. Three new cases were taken in Sunday, but four were released. There is still a serious shortage of help at the hospital, although several public spirited person have been volunteering their services. Mrs. Hiram Argue, wife of Dr. Argue has been a faithful assistant to Miss Rose Peterson the city nurse. Harry Pelletier has been volunteering in the evenings for services as intern and has put in several mights until midnight.
Four of the regular staff of assistants at the church hospital are now ill, including J D Montgomery, the male nurse who at the end of his first week in the place refused to take any pay for his services.
The following deaths from pneumonia were reported from Saturday to Monday:"
16 names, including Mrs. Alice Raby, 37, 1651 So 35th."
Article and transcription courtesy of Sue Kellar. |
 | Passenger Manifest - S.S. Sierra - Arrival in San Francisco 15 Jan 1906 The manifest of the S.S. Sierra shows Alice Barrington, age 25, a nurse born in England, arriving in San Francisco on 15 Jan 1906 with Ada Tozer, age 24 [born c.1884], a nurse born in Sydney. Both were second class salon passengers from Sydney, Australia.
Information about the vessel:
SIERRA / GDANSK 1900
5,989 gross tons, length 400.0ft x beam 50.2ft, two funnels, two masts, twin screw, speed 17 knots. Built 1900 by W. Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia for Oceanic SS Co, San Francisco (Spreckels Line), she made her maiden voyage in Sep 1900 between San Francisco, Honolulu, Auckland and Sydney. 1907 laid up. 1910 transferred to San Francisco - Honolulu service. 1915 San Francisco - Sydney service.
Jul 1918 - Sep 1919 became US Navy troopship and then returned to lay up.
1920 sold to Green Star SS Co, New York. 1921 sold to Polish American Navigation Corp, New York, one funnel removed, speed now 14 knots, renamed GDANSK. Used on the NY - Danzig service until 1922 when she reverted to the name SIERRA, owned by Walter A. Rush, NY.
1923 repurchased by Oceanic SS Co, refitted and 1924 resumed service San Francisco - Honolulu - Sydney. In 1934 control of the Oceanic SS Co passed to the Matson Line and the SIERRA sailed for Japan under the name SIERRA MARU and was scrapped. [North Star to Southern Cross by J. Maber] [Register of Merchant Ships Completed 1900 by
Starke / Schell]
Ancestry.com. California Passenger and Crew Lists, 1893-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2008. |
![In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 1 In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 1](documents/thumb_Alice-Raby-Probate-6.jpg) | In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 1 To the Tax Commissioners, Olympia, Washington:
Date of Death: 3 Nov 1918
Residence of Decedent: 1651 South 35th Street, Tacoma, Washington
Petitioner: Lewis J. Raby (husband)
Estimated Value of Separate Property: None
Estimated Value of Community Property: $2,500.00
Nature and Location of Estate: Lots 18 to 24 in Block 13, Chandler's Addition to Tacoma, Washington; one Ford automobile located in Tacoma |
![In The Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 2 In The Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 2](documents/thumb_Alice-Raby-Probate-7.jpg) | In The Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 2 Petition for Letters of Administration - Case 12781 |
![In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 3 In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 3](documents/thumb_Alice-Raby-Probate-8.jpg) | In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 3 Order Appointing Administrator - Lewis J. Raby appointed Administrator upon posting a $400 bond |
![In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 4 In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 4](documents/thumb_Alice-Raby-Probate-10.jpg) | In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 4 Petition to Have Property Set Over to Surviving Spouse - dated 24 Feb 1920. The only property belonging to the estate of Alice Raby are Lots 18 to 24, inclusive, in Block 13, Chandler's Addition to Tacoma, Washington. The property is worth $2,600 less a mortgage of $1,200; one Ford automobile in the value of $200. Property appraised on 25 April 1919. The only heir of the estate is Lewis J. Raby, surviving spouse of the deceased. |
![In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 5 In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 5](documents/thumb_Alice-Raby-Probate-11.jpg) | In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 5 Notice to the State Board of Tax Commissioners of Appraisement of Said Estate: Notification that property will be appraised on 25 Apr 1919 |
![In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 6 In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 6](documents/thumb_Alice-Raby-Probate-12a.jpg) | In the Matter of the Estate of Alice [Bushby] Raby - Page 6 United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company bond, issued for $400.00 on 23 Mar 1919. Inventory and Appointment of Appraisers |
| Headstones |
![Alice [Bushby] Raby Grave at Oakwood Hill Cemetery, Tacoma, Washington Alice [Bushby] Raby Grave at Oakwood Hill Cemetery, Tacoma, Washington](headstones/thumb_Alice-Bushby-Raby-Grave.jpg) | Alice [Bushby] Raby Grave at Oakwood Hill Cemetery, Tacoma, Washington Plot: Block 9 - 5 - 8 |
![Location of Alice [Bushby] Raby's Grave Location of Alice [Bushby] Raby's Grave](headstones/thumb_Alice-Raby-Grave.jpg) | Location of Alice [Bushby] Raby's Grave Sue Keller kindly took this photograph at Oakwood Hill Cemetery in April 2009. She e-mailed, "I located 75% of the graves listed on the spreadsheet for Block 9 at Oakwood. There is a marker for J.A. Walter, but only empty grass on both sides of him. Alice has no marker. There was one old marker that was impossible to read. It appeared to say "Baby" across the top, but it was worn and could possibly be Raby. I cannot read the lettering by sight. I could do a rubbing on a dry day and see if there is a chance that it is her's. Typically the surname is the large word across the top of a stone, so it left me wondering. Most of the graves in that area are 1918 flu epidemic graves and so most are from 1918-1919." Plot: Block 9-5-8 |
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| Sources |
- [S5033] Vicki Eldridge, Twigs & Branches, (vicki@twigsandbranches.com.au), 7 Sep 2009, Report No. 2, ref 2009/145 (State Records NSW divorce file) (Reliability: 3).
Alice Barrington (nee Bushby), 1907 statement in her divorce: a nurse earning 20/- a week.
- [S5019] Baptisms - Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria, 20 Aug 1878 (Reliability: 3).
- [S5033] Vicki Eldridge, Twigs & Branches, (vicki@twigsandbranches.com.au), 7 Sep 2009, Report No. 2, ref 2009/145; Torrens Title Vol 1034 Fol 107, Lands Department NSW (Reliability: 3).
Title deeds searched at the NSW Land Titles Office by Twigs & Branches; copy of title purchased.
- [S5208] Washington Digital Archives - Deaths, (Washington State Archives), 3 Nov 1918, https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/EC89F5466EAE55A8E2BDD28552953865 (image 1200, document 166) (Reliability: 3), https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov.
Alice Raby, died 3 Nov 1918, Tacoma, Pierce Co., age 37. Father "James Bushly" [sic], mother "Martha Aitken".
- [S4945] Find A Grave Website, (www.findagrave.com), Memorial 35413106.
Oakwood Hill Cemetery, Tacoma, Block 9-5-8. From the death certificate: '37 year old nurse, native of Australia', broncho-pneumonia following influenza; informant Lewis J. Raby.
- [S4952] Scottish Statutory Records, (www.scotslandspeople.gov.uk) (Reliability: 3).
- [S4900] New South Wales Registry of BDM, 1898, Registration 3785/1898 (Reliability: 3).
- [S5002] New South Wales Dept. of Commerce, 1907, Divorce 6160 - Divorce Index (Reliability: 3).
- [S5033] Vicki Eldridge, Twigs & Branches, (vicki@twigsandbranches.com.au), 7 Sep 2009, Report No. 2, ref 2009/145 (Reliability: 3).
Divorce file of Alice Barrington, 1907/8, examined at State Records NSW; copies taken of the family pages, including a photograph of her husband. In a 1907 statement of her finances Alice said she owned no property and earned 20/- a week as a nurse.
- [S5003] British Columbia Archives - Canada, (www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca), 03 Oct 1911, Reg Number 1911-09-066265; BC Archives Microfilm B11376; GSU Microfilm 1983704 (Reliability: 3).
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