John Gundry Gidley, boat builder of Ontario, Canada, written by his great great grandson, Bryan Gidley

John Gundry Gidley 1829 – 1893

John Gundry Gidley was born in Camborne, Cornwall, England, 27 Dec 1829, to John b: in Breage, Corwall, England and Jane (Kempthorne) b: in Sithney, Cornwall, England. He was christened in Sithney, 16 Jan 1831.

In the 1851 Census of Sithney, he is listed as a copper miner.

John and Mary Ann’s Marriage certificate 15 Sep 1854

Married Mary Ann Warren in Copper Harbour, Ontonogan Michigan, a place on the northern tip of the state as it juts into Lake Superior. Mary Ann was the adopted daughter of James Gilmour Warren who was apparently of native descent and it was likely an elopement. She was supposedly betrothed to an English lieutenant back in her home town of Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada. A distance of some 650+ miles by land or water. Witness Charles Parker was born in Ontonogan, he was a prospector, mineral land broker and a mine promoter.

John’s business took him away from Ontonogan at times and the family lived at Fairbault, Minnesota, USA for a brief spell.

John and Mary stayed in Ontonagon until after April 1861 when Agnes was born and before Henry was born in April 1864. In all there were 10 children, in order, John Gundry, James Warren, William Kempthorne, Agnes Christina, Henry Edward, Edith Jane, Clara, Mary Elizabeth, Alfred Howard and Earnest Gilmour. William's obituary stated that William was born aboard "his father's passenger vessel at Kewenawa sic (Keweenaw) Point Michigan.

John was a fisherman in 1871, mariner in 1881 and boat manufacturer with rank of Sea Captain in 1891.

William - owned the Midland Boat Works

Henry - owned the Gidley Boat Works Of Penetang

James - moved to Vancouver and 'made a fortune'

John’s six sons, Henry is in light suit)

Alfred Gidley Picnic Island, Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada

Owned by John.

Vessel Name SAUCY JIM

Build Year 1887

Official Number C92305

Original Owner John & James Gridley (sic)

Type at loss : propeller steam tug, wood

Build info : 1887, A. Morill, Meaford, Ontario, Canada

Specs : 84x17x8, 93gc 63nc

Date of loss : Nov 18 1910

Place of loss : Christian Island., NW of Midland, Ont.

Lake : Huron

Registered out of Collingwood. 1891 Owned John Gridley (sic), Collingwood.

1897 Owned Frank Scott, Collingwood; harbor tug.

1905 Pushed the still burning CITY OF COLLINGWOOD to her final resting place at Collingwood.

1910, 26 Nov Burned at wharf.

Lease portion Midlands Government to J. G. Gidley and Son etc. of other portions of the same wharf to the Georgian Bay Shipbuilding and Wrecking Company - Actg. Min. M. and F. [Acting Minister of Marine and Fisheries] 1919/10/08

Order-in-Council Number: 1919-2143

Date Introduced: 1919-10-15

Considered Date: 1919-10-16

Approved Date: 1919-10-18

Reference: RG2, Privy Council Office, Series A-1-a, For Order in Council see volume -1-, Access Code 90

Register Number: Series A-1-d, Volume 2815

Captain John Gundry Gidley’s son Henry, was the owner/operator of the Gidley Boat Company up until the year 1915 at which time he sold it to Art Grew. The boat company has an illustrious career with some interesting history. At one time all six sons were involved in the boating business.

John Gundry Gidley died on 2 May 1893 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. His granddaughter Violet (Gidley) Jeffreys replaced the original marker with the one shown about 1989.

Intimation for John Gundry Gidley

Copelands Hill Cemetery Penetanguishene, Ontario