Frank Benoist
– Born Dec 31-1884 in Nelson BC and died on May 16, 1965, in Montreal QC
Nella Anne Bowen
– Born Nov 16, 1915, in China and died on June 14, 1984, in Toronto ON
Frank was a Government Official working in China, and met Nella Bowen in Hong Kong who was at that time working as a Travel Guide. They got married in Hong Kong around 1935 they had 3 Sons.
- Charles born on Jan 31, 1936, in Shanghai, China
- Franklin born on May 19, 1940, in Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Victor born on Sept 12, 1944, in Montreal QC Ontario
During the war Japan invaded China there were many deaths and it was very hard to get food or supplies due to the fact that Frank was a Canadian Offical the Red Cross helped them return to Canada with Frank’s older Daughter Louise Born Feb 02 1922 from a previous marriage and their 2 sons young Charles and Franklin they arrived in Montreal around 1943.
Nella and Frank bought an income property in Montreal and lived upstairs and rented the first floor out to help them live. Victor was born there.
Hi, I found your website during my research for a domain name for my family. So beautiful website and hello from a Benoist’s family in France.
Hello Leo… nice to meet you… 🙂 I hope you found one. Please visit again so that I can check out your new site.
Cheers.. Rachel Benoist!
Hi,
My name is Glynis Durrant and I live in Salamander Bay NSW Australia. My mother Francoise Paulin and my grandmother Marie Louise Paulin lived with Frank Benoist and his family in Hong Kong from about 1931. Grandma died in about 1938 in Hong Kong and Mum evacuated to Australia in 1940.
I believe that Frank and my Grandma were cousins.
I am seeking any information about my mother and grandmother and their time in Hong Kong with Frank and his family.
Regards Glynis
wagd@bigpond.com
Perhaps my previous email confused you there are some things I should point out starting with the fact we are aware that our mother was adopted by Frank Benoist in Hong Kong I have the papers which state Frank was her uncle. I have some shipping records stating that Frank wrote on an re entry into Canada from Hong Hong that he will staying with Marie-Louise Paulin My grandmother stating the relationship as being cousin.
Our only concern is trying to pursuit my family tree and have come to a grinding halt and hope the relationship to Frank may be steer us in a direction where we can pick up the trail.
We want nothing other than information as mum died some years ago after a stroke and was not able to communicate for the best part of 10 years prior to her death. We have some sketchy info from conversations earlier which proved inaccurate in respect of names and places.
Any help would be great.