Arthur Pattern (1891-1968)

Research Notes

Attended Cowley’s Boys’ School and received an award for not missing a single day’s attendance in four years.

Served in the “Chums’ Battery, Grimsby” during the First World War (an Arthur Pattern is listed on the Cowley’s Boys’ School Roll of Honour).

Articles

EMIGRANT’S INTERESTING LETTER.

“DRY” CANADIAN VILLAGES.

AN EXCELENT EXAMPLE FROM THE DOMINION.

The following letter is from Mr. Arthur Pattern, son of Mr. R. W. Pattern, of Donington, who left England for Canada some six months ago. The letter was read at the Wesley Guild meeting at Donington on Tuesday evening, when Mr. R. W. Pattern, who is well-known in Pinchbeck West, gave an address on Temperance.

Bosworth, P.O.,
Ontario,
Canada,
February, 12th, 1911.

Dear Father,

By the Wesley Guild Syllabus Card or season 1910-11, I see your name is down for an address on Temperance on March 28th. I am glad to hear of you getting at it, and I am very glad to hear the Guild is going ahead well this winter. I will just let you know a little about Temperance in Canada.

The first part of the time I was here, the farmers in the district were busy getting their threshing done and as you perhaps know, that as labour is scarce, each farmer sends a man to a neighbour’s threshing, and consequently I was at about a dozen threshings. Before I left England, I was told that if I went to Canada to work on a farm, I should have to drink beer, but I did not at all agree with that assertion. You cannot imagine my surprise, for I have never seen a drop of beer used at one of the threshings. Mr. Green (referring to his employer), says ale is not used on farms anywhere in this district, and not on any farm he knows even out west.

Canada is a regular go-ahead country for temperance, in the whole province of Newfoundland, there is not even one public house or hotel where liquors are sold, and Newfoundland is larger than Ireland, and there are over 208,000 inhabitants.

In this district, measuring fifty miles by thirty, there are about twenty small towns and villages. Of these, eighteen are what Canadians term “dry”; all beer and liquors are sent in to the remaining two towns, in which there are only three hotels in each, by turn, because the brewers cannot afford to send it in on drays, and I might mention that there is no liquor store or saloon.

Each town or village have votes by ballot every three years, as to whether they will be “wet” or “dry” and all religious denominations work together each time, and put every possible effort forward, that they can for Temperance. Villages and towns are springing up out West very fast, and make their own bye-laws and always make one which prohibits the building of any house for the sale of intoxicating drinks.

So you see that Canada is making greater progress for Temperance than England, but reports show that the United States are even making greater progress than Canada. So just take my tip, if you don’t want “poor old England” to be left in the lag in the temperance movement, some of you had better hurry up. Well, in closing, I may say that teetotalism certainly agrees with me, as I have gained 16lbs. in weight in five months, and only have three meals a day. Your loving son,

ARTHUR.

Spalding Guardian (1 April 1911)

HANDS ACROSS THE SEA.

The following extracts from a letter received from Mr. Arthur Pattern, Goldstone, Ontario, Canada, will prove interesting to intending emigrants. Mr. Pattern was a pupil at Cowley’s Elementary Boys’ School: “This winter in Canada is a very sharp one; it is good keeping weather, being 28 degrees below zero. The birds, except ‘The Old Country Sparrows,’ as the Canadians term them, all take a trip to the Southern States for the winter, and do not come back until the end of April or beginning of May. The sparrows, and also a few wild pigeons, infest the barns. We find these birds, and also hens, sometimes frozen to death. Beef is fetching from 5½ cents to 7½ cents per lb., pork 6 dollars 15 cents per 100 lbs. (live weight), eggs 1s. 3d. to 1s. 5½d. per doz., butter is 1s. 2d. per lb., potatoes about 58. for 95 lbs., barley 7s. per bushel, oats 3s. 6d. per bushel, and hay £3 to £5 per ton. This last summer was very hot, and did not suit the crops in this district. We have only tall wheat sown, also some fields seeded down for pasture in the summer. We drill the grass, clover, and grain all mixed together. A grass field in England is a grass field, but here it is only so for three to five years, and then it is ploughed up. When the spring comes it is a case of rushing things, I can tell you. The Londoners on farms out here remark when the rush comes, ‘We mike er gow,’ to the delight of their Canadian bosses. Canada is certainly a good place to make money if you have capital, and to make anything much you must have it. We do not use oil cake or artificial manure.”

Boston Guardian (2 March 1912)

ACROSS THE SEA.

The following extracts from a letter received by Mr. Marsh from Mr. Arthur Pattern, an old pupil of Cowley’s School, may prove interesting reading to many:–

“Goldstone, Ontario, May, 1912. We landed at Quebec the Saturday after sailing, and left there by train for Toronto by way of Montreal. The scenery along the St. Lawrence is grand, and the high rocks at Quebec make a very imposing picture. It was a rough journey by train, which rocked nearly as much as the ship. At Montreal I had the pleasure of an interview with Mr. D. A. Sutherland. M.P., who was most cordial and polite, and from him I received the address of Mr. G. Green, who was my first employer in Canada. We do not get the extremes of climate in Ontario that are experienced in the west and north-west, but still, we have it cool enough in winter, the thermometer having registered 31 degrees below Zero this last winter. Last summer we had it pretty warm, the thermometer registering as high as 104 degrees. This part of the country is rather hilly and pretty. Three miles away is the village of Drayton, population 900 inhabitants, quite up-to-date. having a public library, and several large stores, flax mills, and grinding mills. The town is lighted by the electric light, and all tradesmen have the phone. It also possesses a skating rink which is a piece of low ground flooded by means of pipes leading from the river, and provides accommodation for 200 skaters. There are also different branches of friendly societies. The farmers are quite as well, if not a little better educated than the English farmer. About 70 per cent. of the farmers’ children in this vicinity spend at least two or three years at high school, and a good many pass examinations for teachers. The farmers are very hospitable and sociable, and we have quite a few parties in winter. A good many farmers have the ‘phone in use, and this proves very convenient in many ways, and saves many journeys. Good men are wanted out here very much, men who have some ambition, and who are honest and industrious: this type could. with perseverance, become their own masters even in Ontario. I cannot see why some fellows I know around Donington do not get a move on, and come and try their luck in a new country, for what chance is there in England? There are many opportunities for skilled labour too, towns are springing up fast in the west. I wish few good fellows would come around here, and help to enhance the reputation of Englishmen. The farmers’ houses are getting to be quite up-to-date, and a person travelling through the country cannot help noticing how many new houses there are. thought when I first came that they were certainly a sign of prosperity. There are several Germans, Dutch, Scotch, and Irish in this locality: all get to work, and are fast becoming Canadianised. In the west there are dozens of nationalities, and it is quite a problem for the Government to deal with them.”

Boston Guardian (25 May 1912)

A SOLDIER’S OPERATION.

Having left Canada a year ago to join the Army, Pte. Arthur Pattern has undergone a severe operation. He joined the Lines. Chums Battalion, and when home some thirteen weeks ago on short leave, he was taken ill. After a time he was sent to Lincoln Hospital, and has suffered a good deal. Last week he underwent a serious but successful operation, and is making slow progress.

Lincolnshire Standard & Boston Guardian (4 September 1915)

BOSTON.

LOCAL WEDDINGS.

Two marriages were solemnised at Boston parish church on Thursday. In the morning Mr. Harry Appleby, of Trinity Street, was married to Mrs. Florence Gertrude Pelly, the Vicar (Rev. R. O. Hutchinson, MΜ.Α.), officiating. Mr. F. W. Smith acted as best man, and the bride was given away by her mother, Mrs. R. Maidens.

The Rev. J. Beanland officiated at the marriage ceremony of Mr. Arthur Pattern, of Argyle Street, Boston, and Mrs. Ida Gagg, of Lincoln. The best man was Mr. W. Boyce, and the bride, who was given away by Mr. F. H. Preston, was accompanied as bridesmaid by Mrs. Preston.

Stamford Mercury (5 August 1921)

Woman aged 96 died after fall

Mrs. Lizzie Pattern, aged 96, of 7, Church Street, Donington, had a fall on Whit-Monday in her house, and she died last week.

At Boston, on Wednesday, Mr. H. G. Frost, the Boston and District Coroner, held an inquest concerning her death.

Mrs. Pattern, who would have been 97 on August 31, was the widow of Mr. Robert Walter Pattern, who was a baker and confectioner in Donington for many years.

Failing health

Mr. Arthur Pattern, of 7 Church Street, Donington, a retired petrol pump attendant, said he had lived with his mother since 1942. His mother had been in failing health for some years and went to the hospital four years ago. The doctor had been visiting her regularly.

On May 18 he was in bed and heard his mother’s bedroom door open. He heard her moan. She said she had fallen on the hearth and had hurt her leg. She was in agonising pain, but he managed to get her back to bed and fetched her a cup of tea.

In the morning he informed the doctor.

Fractured leg

Dr. Hormitz Fathy, the Senior House Officer at London Road Hospital, told the Coroner that Mrs. Pattern was admitted to the hospital on May 19, after a fall. She had a fractured left leg. The cause of death was heart failure owing to chronic cardiac disease.

The Coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.

Lincolnshire Free Press (14 July 1964)