NameMatilda Hester “Tilly” BROWN 275
Birth4 Apr 1865, Nottawasaga, Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada
Death7 May 1941, Los Angeles Co., California5
FatherWilliam BROWN (~1838-)
MotherBridget (-<1881)
Spouses
Birth24 Mar 1855, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada275
Death23 Jun 1934, Merced, Merced Co., California
Burial25 Jun 1934, Evergreen Mausoleum, Merced, Merced Co., California
FatherAaron FITCHETT (1819-1900)
MotherMatilda Lavantia FOX (1826-1920)
Marriage20 Mar 1896, Cheboygan Co., Michigan332
Separation
ChildrenRoy William (1895-1918)
 Adelyn Lavancia (1897-1983)
 Albert Leslie (1898-1982)
 Myrtle Elva (1900-1994)
 Lynn (1903-1910)
Notes for Matilda Hester “Tilly” BROWN
1881 Canadian Census
Matilda BROWN Female
Birth Year <1865>
Birthplace Ontario
Age 16
Ethnic Origin Irish
Head of Household William BROWN
Religion Presbyterian
Source Information:
Census Place Nottawasaga, Simcoe North, Ontario
Family History Library Film 1375886
NA Film Number C-13250
District 139, Sub-district A, Division 1, Page Number 87
Household Number 364

The 1900 Census shows Matilda born in April 1865. She immigrated from Canada in 1889. Shows she's the mother of four children all who are living. According to Matilda's death certificate her birth date was 4-4-1865. Matilda and William were separated (no date) and came to live with Elva and her husband Hap Early and their two sons, Raymond and "Tod". "Tilly" as everyone called her, was instrumental in raising the two boys and cared for them at her cabin/home in Mammoth, CA each summer. Tod remember's his grandmother being their main caregiver during their youth, and loved her dearly. She remained with Elva until her death in 1941.275

1920 US Census
1920 > California > PLUMAS > INDIAN Series: T625 Roll: 124 Page: 226
Surname Given Name age Sex Race B-place State County Location
FITCHETT TILLIE (head) 54 F W CANADA CA PLUMAS INDIAN
EARLY, Charles(son-in-law) 27 M W KS CA Plumas Indian
EARLY, Elva (dau) 20 F W MI CA Plumas Indian
BROWN, Vance (son) 33 M W Canada CA Plumas Indian
Notes for Charles: POB Father, Kansas; POB Mother, Kansas; occu, mill mechanic
Notes for Elva: POB father: Canada; POB Mother: Canada
Notes for Vance BROWN: POB Father: Canada; POB Mother: Canada
(Comment: Tillie may have had a previous marriage; Vance is son from that marriage?)

Photo provided by Linda Early Mesinar, granddaughter of Elva Fitchett, [email protected]
Notes for William Albert (Spouse 1)
The 1900 census shows that William was born in Canada and immigrated to US in 1888 and was naturalized (no date); that he was a farmer who owned his farm w/a mortgage; shows his mo. & yr of birth as March 1860. When William immigrated from Canada he settled in Aloha Michigan where he was a farmer until 1908 when he moved his family to Goldfield, NV. His brother Stephen also moved to Goldfield. This was right in the midst of the great mining boom and Goldfield was a thriving little town. Stephen opened a paper goods store with a confectionery section. After the boom in Goldfield, William moved the family to Bishop, CA and they lived in the Owens Valley in Inyo County for many years. William and Tilly were divorced (no date) and William spent the rest of his life in Merced, CA until his death in 1934.275

1910 census
GOLDFIELD 7-PCT, Esmeralda, Nevada
Series:T624 Roll:858 Part:2 Pg:128B (pg9)
Fitchett, William A. Head 52 M2:16yrs b:Can f:PA m:PA >US:Unk NA Laborer, Odd Jobs Out of work on 4/15/1910? Yes #wks out of work in 1909? 10
Fitchett, Tillie Wife 45 M1:16yrs ch:6/4 b:Can f:Can m:Can >US:1889
Fitchett, Roy W. Son 14 S b:Mich
Fitchett, Adaline L. Dau 12 S b:Mich
Fitchett, Leslie A. Son 11 S b:Mich
Fitchett, Elva M. Dau 10 S b:Mich

CADI: William Fitchett, Age 79, wife TH, died 23 Jun 1934, Merced Co., State File 34-32966

>From the Death Certificate, Merced County, Book 10, page 111 State File 34-32966
William Fitchett
dod: June 23, 1934, 2:15 p.m.
age: 79 yrs, 2 mths, 29 days.
male
white
married
dob: March 24, 1855
bp: Canada
occupation: Farmer x 50 yrs, last worked 1927.
name and birthplace of mother: Lavina Fox, Canada
name and birthplace of father: Aaron Fitchett, Canada
spouse: Mrs. T.H. Fitchett
length of stay in town of death: 1 mth 29 days, in CA 70 yrs.
place of death: Merced Co Hospital, Merced
residence: Merced
burial date: June 25, 1934
place of burial: Evergreen Mausoleum, Merced
funeral director: Welch and Griffin, Merced
informant: Hospital records
cause of death: Chronic myocarditis, other: Arterio - Sclerosis.
Edward A. Jackson M.D., Merced, Ca

OBITUARY - Merced Sun Star June 23, 1934
W.A. Fitchett, 75, Merced rancher died this morning at the county hospital following a two-month illness. The funeral will be held at 2 Monday afternoon at the Welch and Griffin chapel with the Rev. R. B. Sherwood officiating. The body will be entombed in Evergreen mausoleum. A native of Ontario, Canada, Fitchett had been in the United States 70 years and in California 22 years. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Tillie Fitchett of Pasadena, and two daughters and a son. The daughters are Mrs. C.A. Early of Pasadena and Mrs. John Gorman of Independence. The son is Leslie Fitchett of Merced.

Photo provided by Linda Early Mesinar, granddaughter of Elva Fitchett, [email protected]
Last Modified 5 Jun 2009Created 17 Jan 2012 using Reunion for Macintosh