Florence’s time in Canada from February to October will likely remain a mystery but on October 23, 1920, she attempted to cross the American border to Buffalo, NY. I say “attempted” because there are TWO border crossing forms. The first one on October 23, 1920 is stamped REJECTED, but is then marked “passed NF 10/25/20” with her passport number. The second one is dated the day she actually crossed the border. I am assuming that the normal procedure to cross the border for non-Americans included a 2-day waiting period. The information on these cards are repeated on the large list below.
PAGE 1 – LINE 2: Peters, Florence (BSI=Board of Special Inquiry**), 22, … Last permanent address: Toronto; Mother: Hannah Peters, London, England; Final Destination: Buffalo.
**means that the passenger was held for a Board of Special Inquiry hearing. I note that everyone on the page has B.S.I. above their names.
PAGE 2 – LINE 2: Whether boarding a ? to reach final destination: Yes; Paid for passage: Self; Cash: $60; Whether ever before in the US: No; … (sum)Where are you going: Lester F. Gilbert, 115 Lexington Ave., Buffalo, NY; (health questions**)…; 5′ 1″ tall; Fair; Hair-brown; eyes-brown; no identifying marks; Birth: London, England
**(felon, polygamist, anarchist, overthrow government, under contract, deported, health, cripple)
And now I know why I’m 5′ 1″!! YAHOO!
(Sidenote: I found out from Shelley Canning that Aunt Edie was 4′ 11″)
PAGE 3 – LINE 2 – Ship landing: St. John; 2/20; Metagama; Date of Examination: October 25, 1920
Next question: Who is Lester F. Gilbert??
Lester F. Gilbert was a 34-year old lawyer, in private practice, with a wife, 3 children, 2 maids and 1 nurse, in the 1920 Census.
Here is the house at 115 Lexington Ave. today (March 2022) on Google street-view map. I would imagine that other than being very well taken care of and redone inside and out, the house looks like it been kept much like it was in 1920.So from Oct 25, 1920 to Oct 24, 1921, Florence went from Mr. Gilbert’s house in Buffalo to the Hotel Biltmore in New York City and then back to border on her way by train to Mrs. Draper, 88 Scollard St., Toronto. She is getting a little richer, as she now has $100. Its my guess that Florence was working for the hotel as a maid and also lived there.
Below is a picture of the Hotel Biltmore, NYC, in 1913.
Then less than 5 months later, Florence list’s her address as Hotel Lorraine, New York City, as she marries John Gallson in Manhattan. Again, guessing she’s working and living at the hotel.
Question: How did Florence & John meet?
We’ve speculated that they may have met in England when Grampa was wounded and recovering there, but the Shorncliffe Military hospital was in Kent – not close to London – about 1 1/2 hour drive. Although he did visit London in early 1918 according to Grampa’s army records where he contracted a “disease”.
We’ve speculated that they may have met on the S. S. Metagama, but his name is not on the ship’s manifest and evidence shows Grampa sailed back to Canada on the S. S. Olympia in 1918. (Note: Grampa was on the Metagama in 1916 when he sailed from Halifax to war.)
We’ve also speculated that they met in Toronto, but Grampa was already in the U.S. in June 1919 and was applying for his Naturalization from Wheeling, WV by December 1920.
Grampa reports his address on the marriage registration as Paterson, NJ and Gramma’s address is 5th & 55th, NYC. From downtown Paterson to 5th & 55th is a 37 min drive in 2022 terms. (See map above).
However, it is more likely they met while Grampa’s address was 165 East 128th St., NYC in November 1921, and while Gramma’s address was the Hotel Lorraine, 5th Ave/55th Street, NYC, a mere 30-minute street car ride. (Or horse and buggy through Central Park)
Whether they first met or re-met in New York City will never be answered. They would have had plenty to talk about and find in common: the war, England, sailing, Toronto, being foreign in a foreign land AND their common pauper “gypsy” lifestyles.
Another interesting fact is that Gramma’s nickname “Flora”is never mentioned until she marries Grampa. She always refers to herself as Florence in all documentation. But once she married, she became Flora even in her hospital records and her death, she is Flora. My Mom only knew her mother as Flora and didn’t know her true name was Florence, and named her first born Donna Flora Lee.
In summary, here was Gramma Gallson’s life from ship to marriage to hospital:
| 1920 – February 11 | Liverpool to St. John, NB – Metagama |
| – 8 months | Montreal?Toronto? |
| 1920 – October 23 | Buffalo, NY to Gilbert’s home |
| – 12 months | Gilbert’s home/Hotel Biltmore, NYC |
| 1921 – October 24 | Toronto going to Mrs. Draper’s |
| 1921 – After November 15 | Hotel Lorraine, NYC |
| – 5 months | Hotel Lorraine, NYC |
| 1922 – March 7 | Hotel Lorraine, NYC/marriage to John Gallson |
| 1923 – January 10 | Birth of Jean Ellen, Waterville, Maine |
| 1925 – January 4 | Birth of Joan Vera, Wauchula, Florida |
| 1926 – March 18 | Birth of Phillip John, Zolfo Springs, Florida |
| 1928/1929 | Endicott, NY |
| 1929 – July 6 | Widdifield, North Bay, ON |
| 1929 – December 21 | New Toronto Hospital, Toronto. |
Looking at this list, especially February 1920 to March 7, 1922, it would seem that Gramma’s life was frantic and unstable, filled with many rash decisions.