Posted by Josiah Tina Wood (70.67.164.6) on November 16, 2008 at 20:41:44:
In Reply to: John David Humphreys posted by Peter Humphreys on December 14, 2002 at 07:50:51:
We live at Grove Hall, formerly named "Thorpe", an estate in Duncan, British Columbia. We Understand this property was purchased by Henry Humpherys in 1917, when he moved here from Hong Kong with his wife Eva. He and Eva lived here from then until 1939, when they sold and moved to Victoria. For at least 2 years they lived in the Empress Hotel. Henry passed away August 17, 1944. Eva followed him in December of that year. The following information is from his obituary: born in Hong Kong in 1867, parents were Mr. & Mrs John David Humphreys. He was educated at St. Helens College, Southsea, England.
He married Eva (his second wife) in Hong Kong April 12, 1900. Her maiden name was also Humphreys. By his first marriage he left 2 daughters; Violet Ployee of Paris France, whose husband was then a prisoner of war, and Mrs Dorothy Clark, "living in England." He also had a son by his first marriage, John David (Dick) Humphreys, who is said to have been well known in "this district" (i.e. North Cowichan) and who died in 1942. He and Eva are reported to have had 1 son, Edmund Cecil Humphreys, living in Bedford England.
The obituary also reports that he retired from active participation in his many business interests in Hong Kong in 1917 prior to which he was a member of the Hong Kong Cricket Club, the Yacht Club and owned several outstanding winning ponies.
We have additional bits and pieces of information, the veracity of which we have not been able to ascertain. A previous owner of thisproperty did have a correspondence with Mrs, Clark in England who sent some photographs which we have.
We would be pleased to share what we have with you. However, it mainly concerns Henry.