John Killin
1917-1970
John Killin
Son Jean (Dunlop) Killin and Archibald Killin. Biological Son of Archibald’s brother John & Jean Born in Scotland in 1917. Died May 13th, 1970. Age 53 years.
John Jr. was the first of 10 children born to Jean (Dunlop) Killin. John Jr. was the biological son of John Sr. and Jean (Dunlop) Killin but raised by his mother and uncle/father Archie. It is unclear if John Jr. was ever formally adopted by Archie but from all accounts that would have been but a technicality.
Jean & John Killin Sr. John’s biological parents
Jean married John Killin Sr. in 1916 before he was to join his two brothers in the trenches of France. The marriage was in Glasgow, Scotland. Before John Sr. left for the trenches, Jean was to become pregnant with their son John Jr. and it is not clear if Jean’s husband John knew of their child before he was killed in action in 1917.
Jean and son (John Jr.) traveled from Scotland to join John Sr. family in Toronto, presumably after hearing of his death and was to later marry John Sr. brother Archie. The address given for Jean was initially 28 Talbot Street in Toronto and then changed to 225 Wallace Avenue once Jean and Archie were married.
It is presumed that since the three “Killin boys” (William, Archie & John) enlisted and sailed for England at the same time, that John Sr. must have secured a leave from base to travel from England to Glasgow for the marriage. One can only hope that his brothers were also given a leave to join their little brother at the wedding.
Archie Killin & Jean (Dunlop) Killin The parents John knew Archie married Jean in small ceremony in Niagara Falls New York on Feb 5th, 1918. Present as witnesses were Archie’s younger and only surviving brother James (1900-1966) and their older sister Catherin Lillian (Killin) Couper (1892-1947). (Wedding photo attached.)
The reason for this small and quiet marriage, held outside of Canada/Toronto with only two witnesses, was that at this time it was not legal in the British Commonwealth for a man to be married to his brother’s wife.
This information, that Jean was first married to Archie’s brother John shortly before John went off to War and was Killed in Action, was only discovered upon the passing of Jean in 1972. As it turns out, when John went off to war Jean was pregnant with a son (John 1917-1970) who was raised by Archie and Jean as their first child together. Their sons Bill & Don discovered this part of our family history one evening while putting together their Mom’s personal documents/affairs upon her passing. Bill’s son Kenneth (14 years old at the time) was also present during this fascinating moment of discovery.
You can see that even the Ontario Government was under the impression that they were in fact married in 1916 by the 50th Anniversary congratulatory certificate from the then Premier’s office dated 1966.
Like many of his younger brothers, John would serve and survive WW11 and afterwards would marry Leanna and build a life for them and their family in Barrie Ontario. John was a fireman and served as Chief of the Camp Bordon Fire Department.
Son Jean (Dunlop) Killin and Archibald Killin. Biological Son of Archibald’s brother John & Jean Born in Scotland in 1917. Died May 13th, 1970. Age 53 years.
John Jr. was the first of 10 children born to Jean (Dunlop) Killin. John Jr. was the biological son of John Sr. and Jean (Dunlop) Killin but raised by his mother and uncle/father Archie. It is unclear if John Jr. was ever formally adopted by Archie but from all accounts that would have been but a technicality.
Jean & John Killin Sr. John’s biological parents
Jean married John Killin Sr. in 1916 before he was to join his two brothers in the trenches of France. The marriage was in Glasgow, Scotland. Before John Sr. left for the trenches, Jean was to become pregnant with their son John Jr. and it is not clear if Jean’s husband John knew of their child before he was killed in action in 1917.
Jean and son (John Jr.) traveled from Scotland to join John Sr. family in Toronto, presumably after hearing of his death and was to later marry John Sr. brother Archie. The address given for Jean was initially 28 Talbot Street in Toronto and then changed to 225 Wallace Avenue once Jean and Archie were married.
It is presumed that since the three “Killin boys” (William, Archie & John) enlisted and sailed for England at the same time, that John Sr. must have secured a leave from base to travel from England to Glasgow for the marriage. One can only hope that his brothers were also given a leave to join their little brother at the wedding.
Archie Killin & Jean (Dunlop) Killin The parents John knew Archie married Jean in small ceremony in Niagara Falls New York on Feb 5th, 1918. Present as witnesses were Archie’s younger and only surviving brother James (1900-1966) and their older sister Catherin Lillian (Killin) Couper (1892-1947). (Wedding photo attached.)
The reason for this small and quiet marriage, held outside of Canada/Toronto with only two witnesses, was that at this time it was not legal in the British Commonwealth for a man to be married to his brother’s wife.
This information, that Jean was first married to Archie’s brother John shortly before John went off to War and was Killed in Action, was only discovered upon the passing of Jean in 1972. As it turns out, when John went off to war Jean was pregnant with a son (John 1917-1970) who was raised by Archie and Jean as their first child together. Their sons Bill & Don discovered this part of our family history one evening while putting together their Mom’s personal documents/affairs upon her passing. Bill’s son Kenneth (14 years old at the time) was also present during this fascinating moment of discovery.
You can see that even the Ontario Government was under the impression that they were in fact married in 1916 by the 50th Anniversary congratulatory certificate from the then Premier’s office dated 1966.
Like many of his younger brothers, John would serve and survive WW11 and afterwards would marry Leanna and build a life for them and their family in Barrie Ontario. John was a fireman and served as Chief of the Camp Bordon Fire Department.
Photographs
