Predam
Surname originates in France as Predhom, from the old French preud'homme meaning 'honest, wise, or loyal man'.
Edward Predam
Edward Predam born circa 1842 in Colchester, Essex, England, died of pleuro-pneumonia that caused heart failure on 07-Jan-1906 in Toronto, ON, CA and was buried 09-Jan-1906 in plot W section F lot 14 in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto (plot purchased by the Estate of E. Predam). Edward married Alice Parsons on 21-Oct-1865 at Saint Paul's, Deptford, Kent, England. Alice was born 24-Dec-1842 and christened 16-Apr-1843 at North Cray, Kent, England, died of coronary thrombosis on 14-Jul-1930 in Toronto, ON, CA, and was buried 17-July-1903 in plot W lot 14 in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto. Alice was the daughter of William and Harriett (nee Howard) Parsons. Her mother Harriet, born 11-May-1816 in Westerham, Kent, England also emigrated to Canada.
Edward is mentioned in Robertson's Landmarks of Toronto - A Collection of Historical Sketches of the Old Town of York (1792-1837) and Toronto (1834-1904), published in Toronto by J. Ross Robertson in 1904. Chapter 29 (page 99) reflects on the founding of St. Barnabas Church 'built on the old Givens property' and on 20-Apr-1885 'a committee composed of Messrs. J. A. Donaldson, G. B. Boyle, Edward Predam, H. Brown and the church wardens was appointed to raise funds for the erection of a church.' St. Barnabas was formally opened on June 11, 1887 on the southwest corner of Givens St. and Halton St. in Tornonto but was torn down in 1970 and the parish disassembled in 1971.
Edward and Alice had five children:
Rosa Alice Predam born 10-Jan-1867, christented 14-Apr-1867 in Deptford, Kent, England. Died 15-Jun-1953 in Toronto unmarried.
Bessie Marion Predam born 12-Nov-1868, christented 14-Feb-1869 in Deptford, Kent, England. Died 13-Apr-1960 in Toronto unmarried. Occupation in 1924 listed as lawyer's assistant.
Eleanor 'Nellie' Harriet Predam born circa July 1870 in Chatham, Ontario (Eleanor is referred to as Nellie in the 1881 census) married Harry Maughan. She died 04-Mar-1926 in Toronto, Ontario and is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery (Predam plot), Toronto.
Winifred Howard Predam born 01-Oct-1878 in Chatham, Kent Township, Ontario. Died 13-May-1959 in Toronto unmarried.
Ruby Madeline Predam born 13-Apr-1882 in Stratford, in Perth County, Ontario. Died in 1968 and buried in plot W lot 14 in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.
Alice Parsons
Alice Predam (nee Parsons) and her daughters Rosa and Bessie emigrated to Canada in 1875 from England. Eventually all five sisters lived together at 33 Albany Avenue, Toronto. It was said that Alice at one point worked in service at Quebec House, the home of General Wolfe in Westerham, England. Alice's family line appears to be:
(possible) Richard Hensley married Harriett Stock on 20-Dec-1808 at St. Paul's Church, Lancashire, England. Richard died 04-Dec-1866. Harriett was born 12-Jul-1790.
(possible) Harriett Hensley born 18-Jul-1812, married William Parsons 14-Mar-1840 at Bristol, Somerset, England.
Alice Parsons born 24-Dec-1842, christened 16-Apr-1843 at North Cray, Kent (now in London Borough of Bexley), England, died 14-Jul-1930 in Toronto, married Edward Predam 21-Oct-1865 at Saint Paul's, Deptford, Kent, England.
Additional Information
In the 1871 Census of Canada, Edward and family are ennumerated living in the town of Chatham, Ontario. The census records Edward aged 30 a machinist, Alice aged 28, Rosa aged 4, Bessie aged 2 (all being born in England), and Eleanor aged 9 months and born in Ontario. Also shown is Harried Parsons, Alice's mother, aged 54.
In the 1881 Census of Canada, Edward and family are ennumerated living in the town of Brussels, Ontario. Despite poor spelling, the census records Edward aged 39 a machinist, Alice aged 37, Rosa aged 14, Bessie aged 12 (all being born in England), Nellie (Eleanor) aged 10 and Winnie aged 2 (both born in Ontario).
The 1885 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show Edward renting at 54 Foxley Street (now 56 Foxley) with a listed occupation of Foreman (at grannery?). There 8 people living at the home.
The 1887 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show Edward renting at 115-1/2 Portland Street with a listed occupation of Foreman (at grannery?). There was 1 adult and 5 children living at the home. Note the classifications were 'Number of persons in Family', 'Persons from 21 to 60 years' (generally blank), 'Number of Childrewn between 5 and 21 years', and 'number of childrewn between 7 and 13 years'. I suspect the 7-13 age range was 'school-aged' covered by the property taxes paid. In this record, 7 persons total, 4 aged 5-21, 1 aged 7-13.
The 1888 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show Edward renting at 115-1/2 Portland Street with a listed occupation of Foreman. There were 6 adults and 1 child living at the home.
The 1889 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show Edward renting at 115-1/2 Portland Street with a listed occupation of Foreman. There was 1 adult and 6 children living at the home.
The 1890 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show Edward renting at 137 Portland Street with a listed occupation of Foreman. There was 1 adult and 6 children living at the home.
The 1891 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show Edward renting at 137 Portland Street with a listed occupation of Foreman. There was 1 adult and 6 children living at the home.
The 1892 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show Edward renting at 137 Portland Street with a listed occupation of Foreman. There was 1 adult and 6 children living at the home. Interestingly, Euphemia Russell Clara (Stein) Maughan, who would have been the aunt of Edwards's son-in-law Harry, was living at 105 Portland Street during the same assessment, and was the only person in the household, being a spinster.
The 1894 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show Edward renting at 71 Wellington Place with a listed occupation of Foreman. There 2 adults and 5 children living at the home.
The 1895 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show Edward renting at 71 Wellington Place with a listed occupation of Foreman. There were 5 adults and 3 children living at the home.
The 1896 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show Edward renting at 71 Wellington Place with a listed occupation of Foreman. There were 6 adults and 3 children living at the home.
The 1898 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show Edward renting at 71 Wellington Place with a listed occupation of Foreman. There were 5 adults and 2 children living at the home.
The 1899 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show Edward renting at 71 Wellington Place with a listed occupation of Foreman. There were 5 adults and 2 children living at the home.
337 Ossington Avenue
337 Ossington Avenue was owned by (widow) Harriet Parsons in 1898. According to the old street numbering on the 1903-1913 Fire Insurance Maps of Toronto, that address is now the current 615 Ossington Avenue and part of Lot 48 of Plan D198 that covers the lands bounded by Ossington (formerly Denison) - Bloor - Roxton (formerly Givens) - Harbord. The 1898 Toronto Tax Assessment Records show the land being 17ft 6in wide by 125ft deep with a land value of $210 and a dwelling value of $400. There were 2 adults and 2 children living at the home.
33 Albany Avenue
33 Albany Avenue was the home to the Predam women from 1913 until 1958. It sits currently in a neighbourhood known as the Bloor Annex, a posh area adjacent to Yorkville and the University of Toronto. For a number of years after the disappearance of Harry Maughan (my great-grandfather) in 1908, his widow Eleanor and three sons lived next door at 37 Albany Ave. A search of Lot 85 Plan 608 North West Annex in the Toronto Land Registry Office reveals the following details about Predam ownership of 33 Albany Ave.:
Page 82 of Volume 126A - OF80718 registered 13-Oct-1913 as a Grant from James Bishop to Alice Predam; Alice is listed as a widow on the deed where she takes title to the property.
Page 79 of Volume 127A - WA16144 registered 24-Oct-1924 as a Grant from Alice Predam to Rosa A. Predam, Bessie M. Predam, Ruby M. Predam, Winifred H. Predam.
Volume 127B - WA59781 registered 25-Mar-1954 as a Grant from Ruby M. Predam, executrix of the Estate of Rosa A. Predam, to Bessie M. Predam, Ruby M. Predam, Winnifred Predam.
Volume 127B - WA70681 registered 26-Aug-1958 as a Grant from Bessie M. Predam, Ruby M. Predam, Winnifred Predam to Luba Cholkan.
Volume 127B - WA87812 Discharge from the Estate of Bessie Predam, Estate of Winnifred Predam, Ruby M. Predam.
The Albany Avenue property is sold in 1958; we have yet to uncover any evidence of Ruby's death.
Rosa Alice Predam 1867-1953
Rosa Alice Predam born 10-Jan-1867, christented 14-Apr-1867 at St. Paul's in Deptford, Kent, England, died 15-June-1953 an unmarried woman and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto. Her will is registered as GC85455. At the time she purchased the property at 33 Albany Ave. (with her sisters) in 1924 she was an accountant.
Bessie Marion Predam 1868-1960
Bessie's will is registered in Toronto as GC118614. At the time she purchased the property at 33 Albany Ave. (with her sisters) in 1924 she was an accountant. A point of interest in her will is a reference to her half interest in the property known as 598 St. Clair Ave. W. in Toronto. The remainder of the document details cash bequeaths to nephews Alan Edward Lawrence Maughan (my grandfather), John Howard Maughan, and Edward Harry Maughan as well as some un-related parties.
The St. Clair Avenue property consists of Lots 109 and 110 Plan 1322 Wychwood, Brakendale and Dovercourt. The property was owned by Bessie and Rosa together. After their deaths, the property is sold to their nephew (my grandfather's brother) Edward (Ted) Harry Maughan. Edward then sells the property in 1974 and takes back a mortgage which eventually goes into default after Edward's death in 1979. The property is then sold under power of sale in 1980.
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Eleanor 'Nellie' Harriet (Predam) Maughan 1870-1926
Winifred Howard Predam 1878-1959
Winifred Howard Predam was born 01-Oct-1878 in Chatham, Kent Township, Ontario and died 13-May-1959 in Toronto unmarried. She is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto in the Predam plot W, Lot 14. her will is registered as GC115564. At the time she purchased the property at 33 Albany Ave. (with her sisters) in 1924 she was a secretary.
Ruby Madeline Predam 1882-1968
Ruby's obituary in The Globe and Mail on April 16, 1968 (page 41):
PREDAM, Ruby Madeline
At her home, 598 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, on Sunday April 14, 1968, Ruby Madeline Predam, youngest daughter of the late Edward and Alice (Parsons) Predam; predeceased by her four sisters; Eleanor (Mrs. Harry Maughan), Rosa, Bessie, and Winifred. A private funeral was held (at Miss Predam's request) on Monday, April 15, 1968. Internment Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
At the time she purchased the property at 33 Albany Ave. (with her sisters) in 1924 her occupation was listed as a secretary.
In 1909 she was listed as a stenographer in the Ontario Government's public accounts for the Provincial Secretary's Department and for seven months had earned $321.30 ($0.26 per hour) in salary and had provided 'services' at $10 per week totaling $70 in the contingencies section.
In 1910 she was listed as a stenographer in the same department and for seven months had earned $321.30 in salary and had provided 'services' at $10 per week totaling $70 in the contingencies section.
In 1912 she was listed as a stenographer in the same department and earned an annual salary of $700 ($0.33 per hour).
In 1913 she was listed as a stenographer in the same department and earned an annual salary of $700 ($0.33 per hour).
In 1914 she was listed as a stenographer in the same department and earned an annual salary of $700 ($0.33 per hour).
In 1915 she was listed as a Clerk in the same department and earned an annual salary of $750 ($0.36 per hour).
In 1916 she was listed as a Clerk in the same department and earned an annual salary of $750 ($0.36 per hour).
In 1917 she was listed as a clerk in the same department and earned an annual salary of $825 ($0.40 per hour).
In 1918 she was listed as a clerk in the same department and earned an annual salary of $925 ($0.44 per hour).
In 1920 she was listed as a clerk in the same department and earned an annual salary of $1,200 ($0.58 per hour).
Based on a review of the City of Toronto Directories from 1900 to 1969 (the years Ruby would have been 18+) we find following addresses and occupational information:
1900 through 1903 - not listed.
1901 - not listed.
1902 - not listed.
1904 - 71 Wellington Place with parents Edward and Alice and sisters Rosa and Bessie; music teacher.
1905 - at both 71 Wellington Place and 4 Wellington Place with parents Edward and Alice and sisters Rosa and Bessie; music teacher.
1906 - 4 Wellington Place with parents Edward and Alice and sisters Rosa and Bessie; music teacher.
1907 - with mother Alice at 4 Wellington Place (now renumbered on Wellington St. W. west of Spadina); music teacher.
1908 through - 376 Wellington St. W. with with widowed mother Alice and sisters Rosa and Bessie; music teacher.
1924 through 1927 - no listing.
1928 through 1929 - 33 Albany Ave. with widowed mother Alice and sisters Rosa and Bessie; clerk to the Assistant Provincial Secretary.
1930 - no listing.
1931 - 33 Albany Ave. with sisters Rosa and Bessie; clerk at the Provincial Parliament Buildings. The 1931 census indicates that her sister Winnifred and nephew Edward Maughan also residing at 33 Albany Ave. The census also indicates Ruby is a man and the brother of her sisters...
1932 - no listing.
1933 through 1936 - 33 Albany Ave. with sisters Rosa and Bessie; clerk in the Department of the Provincial Secretary.
1937 through 1945 - 33 Albany Ave. with sisters Rosa, Bessie and Winifred; clerk in the Department of the Provincial Secretary.
1958 - 33 Albany Ave. with sisters Bessie and Winifred; no occupation listed.
1959 - 380 Lawrence Ave. W. with sisters Bessie and Winifred; no occupation listed.
1960 - 380 Lawrence Ave. W. with sister Bessie; no occupation listed.
1961 through 1968 - Suite 2, 598 St. Clair Ave W (nephew Edward lives in Suite 1); no occupation listed.
1969 - no listing.
