Introduction

Overview

James Tilley

Perth County

Durham County

Bowmanville

UofT Meds School

Family Tragedy

Post Grad

Back in Toronto

The RCAF Toronto

The RCAF Trenton

Section Two

The Tilleys' Origins in England

Available records suggest that the Tilley family's presence in Ontario began towards the end of 1835, with James Tilley's emigration from St. German in Cornwall alongside his wife and a growing family. Facilitated by “The Petworth Emigration Scheme,” James Tilley accepted a land grant near Mitchell in Perth County, Ontario, provided by the Canada Company (Chartered - 1825).

It is noteworthy that this scheme originated in Lurgashall, West Sussex, England, which is also the birthplace of James Tilley’s father, Samuel Tilley (1770–1850). Lurgashall is a tranquil village and civil parish located in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England, approximately 6.5 km (4 miles) northwest of Petworth and within the South Downs National Park. Coincidentally, Dr. Ross Tilley spent much of his wartime service at East Grinstead, West Sussex—close to his family’s ancestral home.

Additionally, it is of interest that Alfred, Lord Tennyson, one of Victorian England’s prominent poets, passed away in Lurgashall, West Sussex on October 6, 1892.

Samuel Tilley and Jane Louise Lee Tilley raised their family of six in Lurgashall, though two sons died in infancy. The fifth child, James Tilley, was born on December 25, 1809, in St. German Parish, Cornwall, United Kingdom. At the time, Samuel Tilley was 39 and Jane Louis Lee was 43. Samuel’s occupation is listed as "Turner," likely indicating his profession as a wood carver. Notably, Tennyson reportedly lost a substantial amount to a failed wood carving venture orchestrated by Dr. Allen, a local physician and friend.

It should be noted that there is some discrepancy in the historical records; baptismal documentation suggests James was born in Lurgashall, West Sussex. Despite this conflict, it is clear that James was raised in Lurgashall and later relocated to the area around Plymouth in Cornwall. He established residency in St. German following his marriage to Maria A. Penney on December 18, 1831. Their first child, Mary Jane Tilley, was born on April 15, 1832. Their second child, John, born in 1834, tragically died in infancy, while their third child, James, was born in Duloe, Cornwall, on April 6, 1835.

Socio-Economic Pressures and the Decision to Emigrate

The local Council’s enactment of a bylaw establishing a Workhouse—commonly referred to as a Poorhouse—in St. German Parish was a clear indication that the region was experiencing significant economic hardship. The introduction of such an institution underscored the challenges faced by many families, signalling that the community was under considerable financial strain. For James and Maria Tilley, this legislative development may have served as the decisive factor compelling them, along with their two surviving children, to seek new opportunities in Canada. It is conceivable that James, anticipating the continued growth of his family, recognized the pressing need for more space and improved prospects, further motivating their emigration.

This initiated the migration of the Tilley family from St. German’s Parish in Cornwall to settle on land acquired from the Crown Clergy Reserve by the Canada Company, an area known as "The Queen's Bush." Their property was located adjacent to what would later become the town of Mitchell, Ontario, incorporated in 1837. They had 16 children and 12 survived their childhood years.

James Tilley and his wife Maria Penney Tilley would live out their days in Mitchell, Ontario. James died on January 1893 and Maria passed on three months later on April 16, 1893. James and Marie are buried in the Methodist Woodland Cemetery in Mitchell, Ontario.

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