Worsley

Annie was the youngest of the three children who came across the Atlantic on the fateful voyage that saw the death of their mother. They were all taken in by the mother's elder sister. The two older children stayed in England, marrying and bringing up their families. Annie returned across the Atlantic, on the 7th September 1911 on the Allan Line Corsican, twin screw, which carried 1225 passengers - see the image of the passenger lists (ilucma188705 and 06). The following tale describes her life in Canada.

Margaret Ann (Annie) Lucas had an aunt Elinore (her mother's sister) who married a soldier Fred Owen. He had a sister Francis Madeleine St Clair Humphries who was immigrating to Canada in 1911 and Annie came with her to help with the children on the voyage (this information from a letter from aunt Lizzie [Annie's eldest sister] and a conversation with Bea Branton Mrs. Humphries daughter). Mrs. Humphries introduced Annie to a "nice young man Sam Wotton".

Annie got a job as cook at the Oshawa General Hospital (now Lakeridge Health Oshawa). The building of that time is still a part of the present hospital and was the main entrance for years. Sam proposed to Annie on the back porch of the hospital and of course she said yes.

They were married on June 26 1912. Sam's occupation listed as carpenter age 22, Annie age 24, witnessed by Samuel Wotton Sr. and George Parfitt. The license says that they were in St. Georges Church (this would be the old church on the corner of John and Centre Street). However as there was not enough money to buy enough hats for all the girls to attend (women were not allowed in the church unless they were wearing a hat - this was the rule until 1960's - up to that time women in the choir had to wear mortar-boards). The plans for the wedding had to be changed. They had a home wedding at 190 Celina St Oshawa the Wottons' home at the time. The wedding was delayed as nobody told Canon De Pence the change. He finally arrived with his prayer book in a strap over his shoulder singing "There was I, waiting at the church".

The newly weds went to their home at 115 Nassau St. Oshawa. They lived there until 1937. The depression was on at the time and Sam got a job in Uxbridge in the woolen mills. The family moved there into a house on the Main street. As of this time it is still there. Just over the railway tracks there is a restaurant now between the house and the tracks. They stayed for a year then moved into 316 Nassau St Oshawa (a house Sam built in the '20's). In 1943/44 they moved to 317 Burk St. (another house that Sam built).