Prepared by Wanda Story. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any corrections or comments !!

1791-James Story was born around 1791. He was probably born in Carlisle in the County of Cumberland in England although in the 1851 Census return he does declare to be from Scotland.

1819-At the age of 28 years old, James marries 20 year old Ann Nicholson of Carlisle. They married at Saint Mary's church on December 25th, Christmas Day by order of published banns. Ann signs the church register with an X and James gave his signature.

1822-Their first child, a son George was born in Carlisle. He was baptized in Saint Mary's church on October 13th.

1824-A son Henry was born in Carlisle. He was baptized in Saint Mary's Church on August 1st.

1830-A son Thomas was born in Carlisle. He was baptized in Saint Mary's Church on January 31st.

1833-A son James was born in Carlisle.

1836-A daughter Ann was born in Carlisle.

-A son Robert was also said to have been born. This completed the family with 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl.

1841-James and Ann Story are listed with their family in the 1841 Census Return of Cumberland County. They are shown to be living on Bridge Lane in the Caldewgate district of Carlisle. James is listed as a 50 year old Weaver, and two of his sons, George, and Henry who are both listed as 15 years old are also listed as weavers. Also listed is Thomas at age 10 years, James at age 8 years and Ann who is 5 years. The whole family was born in Cumberland County.

1851-The 1851 Census Return of Cumberland County also shows James and Ann Story as living on Bridge Lane. In this census James declares himself to be born in Scotland. The rest of the family still shows to be born in Carlisle. James is listed as being 60 years old and a Cotton Handloom Weaver. Ann is listed as being 50 years old. His sons Thomas, listed as 21 years old and James, listed as 18 years old are also both Cotton Handloom Weavers. His 15 year old daughter Ann is listed as a Steam Loom Winder. His 27 year old son Henry is listed as being married to Margaret and living with them. They have two children Ann who is 5 years old and attending school and 3 year old Margaret.

1861-The 1861 Census Return for Cumberland County shows the family living on Saddle Lane in the Caldewgate district of Carlisle. James is shown to be 63 years old and Ann is shown as 53 years. Only James aged 24 is listed as living with them. They are all listed as being born in Carlisle and both James' are shown as Cotton Weavers.

1869-James is said to have died about this time in Carlisle. He would have been 78 years old.

1824-Henry Story is born March 14th in Carlisle in Cumberland County, England. He is the second son born to James Story and Ann Nicholson. He has an older brother George who is 2 years old.

1830-A brother Thomas is born in Carlisle and baptized on January 31st in St. Mary's Church.

1833-A brother James is born in Carlisle.

1836-A sister Ann is born in Carlisle.

-A brother Robert is born. The family has 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl.

1841-The Census Returns for Carlisle show the family living on Bridge Lane.

Henry is listed with his parents as 15 years old and a Weaver.

1845-Henry at the age of 20 years, marries Margaret Develin, aged 17 years in Carlisle.

1846-A daughter Ann is born on March 21st in Carlisle.

1848-A daughter Mary is born on September 4th in Carlisle. She is baptized on November 26th in St. Mary's Church.

1851-In the Census is Carlisle, Henry and Margaret are listed as living with Henry's parents at Bridge Lane. Henry is 27 years old and a cotton hand loom weaver, and Margaret is listed as 24 years old and a bobbin winder. Ann is listed as 5 years old and in School, Mary is listed as 3 years.

-A daughter Jane is born on August 30th in Carlisle.

1854-A daughter Isabella is born on April 30th in Carlisle.

1856-A son James is born on August 17th in Carlisle.

1858-A son Henry is born on November 15th in Carlisle.

1860-A daughter Margaret is born on May 16th in Carlisle and must have died in infancy.

1861-In the Census of Carlisle, Henry and Margaret are listed on Wilkins Lane. Henry is listed as 36 years old and a cotton weaver. Margaret is listed as 34 years old and also a cotton weaver. Their children are Ann 15 years old, Mary 13 years old, Jane 9 years old, Isabel 7 years old, James 4 years old, and Henry 2 years old. The whole family is listed as being born in Carlisle.

1863-A son Arthur is born on August 31st.

1865-A daughter Sarah is born on October 15th in Wigton, Cumberland County, England and baptized there on November 26th.

1868-A daughter Betsy was born on March 27th in Wigton and baptized on April 8th. The is the last child born to Henry and Margaret completing their family at 10 children, 7 girls and 3 boys.

1869-Henry's father, James dies at the age of 78 years old. Henry would be about 45 years old now.

1881-Henry and Margaret are listed in the census as living at 114 Brookside in the Wigton District of Carlisle. Henry is now 57 years old and a working in Linen and Woollens. Margaret is listed as 42 years old. They have four children living with them, Margaret who is 20 and a woollen weaver, Arthur who is 17 and a millwright, Sarah who is 15 and a woollen weaver and Betsy who is 13 and attending school.

1883-Margaret died on October 18th in Carlisle at the age of 56 years.

1901-In the Carlisle Directory Henry is listed as a grocer living on #1 Church Road.

1910-Henry is still listed as a grocer living on #1 Church Road. Later in the same directory an Isabella Story is listed as a grocer on #1 Church Street. This could possibly be a second wife to Henry or his daughter Isabella who would now be 54 years old or perhaps an daughter-in-law.

1911-Henry died at the age of 87 years in Carlisle and was buried on September 15th in Carlisle.

1914-There are no Story's listed at #1 Church Road.

1830-Thomas Story is born in Carlisle in the County of Cumberland in England to James Story and Ann Nicholson. He has two older brothers, George who is 8 years old and Henry who is 6 years old. Thomas is baptized in the Saint Mary's church in Carlisle on January 31. His father James is listed as a Weaver.

1833-A brother James is born in Carlisle.

1836-A sister Ann is born in Carlisle.

-A brother Robert is born. The family has 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl.

1841-The Census Returns for Carlisle show the family living on Bridge Lane. Thomas is listed as 10 years old.

1851-In the Census Returns for Carlisle, Thomas is shown as living at home with his father and mother on Bridge Lane. Thomas is listed as 21 years old and of occupation Cotton Handloom Weaver.

1852-At the age of 22 years Thomas marries Sarah Wilson, 20 years of age.

1854-Their first child, a son George is born in Carlisle.

1858-A son Robert is born in Carlisle.

1860-A son James is born on February 8th in Carlisle. Thomas is listed as a cotton weaver living on John's Lane in Caldewgate. Sarah registered her son's birth on March 3rd and signed the register with an X.

1861 -The Census Returns for Carlisle show Thomas Story, 28 years old and his wife Sarah, 26 years old and their three children, George, 7 years, Robert, 3 years and James, 1 year as living on Saddle Lane in the Caldewgate district. Thomas list himself as a Cotton Weavers, and young George is going to school. The young family is shown as living next door to their parents James and Ann Story.

1864 -A son Thomas is born. This completes the family at four children, all boys.

1865 -Thomas' wife Sarah dies on February 17th, at the age of 32 years. The cause of death is listed as consumption, (the lung disease tuberculosis). Sarah leaves a 35 year old Thomas with four young boys 11 years old and younger. The family address is Burns Street in Carlisle. It appears that the family was split after her death for they do not appear as a family unit in later census'.

1880 -Thomas is listed in Arthur's Directory of Carlisle as living on Rigg Street and being a weaver.

1881 -In the Cumberland Census Returns for Carlisle, Thomas Story, now 50 years old is listed as a Widower and Cotton Weaver living at #45 Rigg Street in the Caldewgate District. He is living with his 16 year old son Thomas who is a general labourer.

1884 -Thomas is listed again in the Directory of Carlisle as living on Rigg Street and being a twister.

1895 -Thomas died on November 17th, at the age of 64 years. He is listed as being a general labourer. His son Thomas registered the death as occurring at #17 Rigg Street.

Neither Thomas nor Sarah Story could write, both signed with an X.

1860- James Story was born on February 8th to Thomas Story and Sarah Wilson in St. Mary district of Carlisle in Cumberland County England. He had two older brothers, George who was 6 years old and Robert who was 2 years.

1861 -James is listed in the census as 1 year old and living with his parents and two brothers, George, 7 years, and Robert, 3. They are living at Saddle Lane in the Caldewgate district. James lives next door to his grandparents James and Ann Story.

- Another brother Thomas would be born in Carlisle.

1879-On August 29th James, claiming he is already 20 years old, enlists for the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Border Regiment of the Infantry.

1886-On July 3rd, at the age of 26, James marries 27 year old Sarah Neil, the daughter of Joseph Neil and Mary McMullin of Carlisle. James is listed as a General labourer and Sarah is listed as a Power Loom Weaver. Their residence is listed as John Street in Carlisle.

1887-On December 6th their first child, a daughter Sarah was born in Carlisle.

1889-A son Thomas was born on February 22nd in Carlisle. The family is listed as living on Cumberland Street.

1891-On August 26th James is discharged from the army as Private #2Bde/1942 of the Border Regiment of Infantry. His record shows 12 years of service, 6 years and 108 days in the Army, 5 years and 25 days in the reserve. It shows James to have served 5 years and 64 days abroad. His description at the time of discharge was that he was 34 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, and having brown eyes and brown hair. His intended place of residence is #16 Trinity Buildings in Caldewgate, Carlisle. James and Sarah Story are listed in the Census of Carlisle on #16 Trinity Buildings, in the Holy Trinity district of Caldewgate in Carlisle. James is 31 years old and a labourer. Sarah is 32 years old and they have two children, Sarah who is 5 years and Thomas who is 2 years old. All the family is listed as born in Carlisle.

1892- A daughter Mary is born.

1894- A son Robert is born.

1896- A daughter Ethel is born on April 12th in Carlisle. This completes the family at 5 children, 3 girls and 2 boys.

1900- Around this time James is said to have owned a neighbourhood pub called "Malsters Arms" in Carlisle. It is believed that James inherited the pub. There is a James Story who died and was buried on March 3rd in Carlisle, aged 64 years old living at John Street. James had lived on John Street in 1886 just after he married Sarah. This deceased James could possibly have been Thomas' Uncle, a younger brother to his dad.

1901- In the Carlisle Directory for 1901 a James Story is listed as vict. (Publican), of Malster's Arms on #15 John Street in Carlisle.

1902- Malsters Arms Inn was taken over by R. C. Pattinson.

1921- James' son Thomas, with his wife Ada and their three children leave England and immigrate to Canada.

1936- James dies at the age of 76 years old at #13 Margery Street in Carlisle. This is the residence of his son-in-law, James Jardine, married to his oldest daughter Sarah. James is the witness to register the death. James is listed as a retired Municipal Labourer.

1942- Around this time James' wife Sarah dies at the age of 83 years in Carlisle.

1889-Thomas Story was born on February 22nd in the St. Mary district of Carlisle in Cumberland County in England. He was born to James Story, a municipal labourer and Sarah Neil living on Cumberland Street. He had an older sister Sarah who had just turned one year old.

1891-Thomas is listed in the census as 2 years old and living with his parents and older sister Sarah. They are listed as living at #16 Trinity Buildings, in the Holy Trinity district of Caldewgate in Carlisle

-Another sister, Mary and a brother Robert would be born in Carlisle.

1896-A Sister Ethel was born on April 12th in Carlisle. This completes the family at five children, three girls and two boys.

-Thomas worked on a farm in Scotland for a time. Thomas later told his children how he was given porridge 3 times a day while he worked there.

-It is said that Thomas worked in a biscuit factory while he studied and around the time of his marriage.

-It is also said that Thomas studied for the ministry in the Wesleyan-Methodist Church in Carlisle as a young man. He would have studied part-time or in evenings for there is no Thomas Story listed at the Carlisle Methodist College in Carlisle. There is a class picture showing Thomas as a student with his theology professor, Seth Swithenbank. Rev. Swithenbank held posts in Carlisle in 1903 and 1907-1911.

1910-On April 11^th Thomas married Ada May Vinell, the daughter of Harry Taylor Vinell and Susan Alice Angold. They both would have been 20 years old, and married in Carlisle by Rev. Seth Swithenbank. There is a poem surviving written by Thomas to Ada dated September 18th, 1910 in which he writes of the time "as upon thy finger I'll place the theme of love." Thomas' address on the letter is listed as 26 Morton Street, Carlisle.

1911-A son James Angold was born on August 29^th in Carlisle. Thomas is listed as a Corporation Labourer. He was employed by the Department of Health in Carlisle at this time. The address listed is #5 Back Morton Street. His mother is later reported to be living at #4 Morton Street.  He was baptized on October 22^nd at the Wesleyan-Methodist Church in Caldewgate by Thomas Dargue. The family is then listed as living at #5 Hawick Street in Carlisle.

1913-A son Henry Vinell is born in Carlisle on May 4th. Henry is baptized at the Wesleyan-Methodist Church in Caldewgate on August 10^th by Thomas Dargue. The family is listed as living at #9 Hope's Court in Carlisle.

1914-A son Thomas Leslie is born on December 5th in Carlisle. He is baptized at the Wesleyan-Methodist Church in Caldewgate on January 17^th. The family is listed as living at #9 Hope's Court Port Road in Carlisle. The minister was T. Clegg

1915-On January 18th, Thomas enlisted to serve with the Territorial Force of the County of Argyll in Scotland. He is 25 years old and lists himself as being a barter. This is about six months into World War I.

1916-Ada May receives a letter from the Territorial Force stating that Private T. Story of the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was admitted to the General Hospital Dannes Camiers on November 15th with a gunshot wound to the right leg. The injury is listed as severe.

1917-On October 1st Thomas is discharged from the army as a Private #300931 of the 8th Battalion of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He is listed as no longer physically fit for war service. His record shows that he served 2 years and 258 days in the army and that 1 year and 219 days was service abroad. Thomas was known to have fought in France. No medals or decorations are listed. He is described as being of fresh complexion with grey eyes and dark hair. His character is listed as sober, reliable and hard working.

1918-A daughter Ada is born on March 8th in Carlisle. She is baptized at the Wesleyan-Methodist Church in Caldewgate on April 28^th. The family is listed as living at #9 Hope's Court, Port Road in Carlisle.

- It is believed that around this time the Story family had decided to go to the Pacific, either to Australia or New Zealand. Because Ada was now pregnant, it was decided it was better to wait until after the baby was born before they made the journey.

1919-A son Harold is born on November 22nd in Carlisle. Thomas is listed as a Railway Oil Storesman living at #9 Hopes Court, Port Road in Carlisle. Harold only lives a few months.

1921-Thomas has a letter of recommendation written by the Public Health Department of Carlisle on February 2nd. It states that Thomas is a sober, honest and reliable workman who had worked for the department for the past six years as a Stableman and Carter, and that he was employed by them before his service in the army.

- It appears the opportunity to go to the Pacific was missed. This time even though Ada was again pregnant they did take the opportunity to go to Canada. Thomas and Ada Story and their 4 children, James who is 9 years, Henry who is 7, Thomas who is 6 and Ada who is 3 years leave from Liverpool, England on April 8th on the S. S. Empress of France. They arrive in Canada at St. John in New Brunswick on April 15th. Their destination is Calgary, Alberta to contact Mr. Greenwood. Thomas is listed as 32 years old and Ada as 31 years old. Ada is also 8 months pregnant with twins at her arrival. The family lists two persons as their next of kin, Thomas' mother, Mrs. J Story living at #4 Morton Street in Carlisle and Ada's mother, Mrs. S. Newitt living at Milbourne Street in Carlisle.

-On April 27th twin boys are born in Calgary, Alberta, Robert and Frederick Albert. Robert only lives a few days.

- Thomas first found work as a porter at a local hospital in Calgary.

-Thomas was employed by the Imperial Oil Company while living in Calgary and also worked with the War Vets.

-Thomas and Ada were members of the Orange Benevolent Association.

1922-A daughter Sarah Alice is born on December 14th in Calgary.

1924-A son Arthur Wesley was born on December 13th in Calgary.

1928-A daughter Mary Ethel was born on May 13th in Conrich, Alberta.

1930-A son Seth Switherenbank was born on February 15th in Shephard, Alberta. He was named after the Reverend Seth Swithenbank of the Wesleyan-Methodist Church in Carlisle, England who Thomas studied with in the early 1900's. This will complete the family at 11 children, 8 boys and 3 girls, with two of the boys dying as infants.

-Ada was a member of the Ladies Orange Benevolent Association in Calgary.

1937-Thomas' son Thomas Leslie, known as Les, played a season of football for the Toronto Argonauts Team. He was working in Toronto in aircraft maintenance. Les later became a crew chief for Air Canada.

1943-Thomas' son Henry Vinell was killed overseas March 11th. Henry Vinell, known as Harry, was an acting Regimental Sergeant Major in England. He was riding in the sidecar of a motorcycle when it drove over a tank trap and he was killed in the explosion.

1950-Thomas and Ada went back to England to visit family. After their return to Canada, Thomas and Ada moved to the Wellington district of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island in British Columbia after spending nearly 30 years in the Calgary area.

1956-Ada May died on November 2nd at the age of 66 years old in the Nanaimo Hospital. Church services were held at the Wellington United Church where she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary. Ada was buried in the Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens near Nanaimo on November 6th.

-Thomas was a member of the Branch 257, Royal Canadian Legion, in Lantzville, B.C.

1969-Thomas died on January 14th at the age of 79 years in Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. He was living at Wills Road in Wellington. Funeral services were held in the Wellington United Church and Thomas was buried beside his wife in the Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens on January 17th.

Neither Thomas nor Ada ever took out their Canadian Citizenship. Thomas is said to have been a light sleeper. Thomas had a moustache the majority of his life.

These biographies were prepared by Wanda Story. If you have any comments or corrections please don't hesitate to write !!  

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