The West Family Stories
William Jeen WestA long, long storyWilliam J. West and wife
Margaret Zehren
The story of William Jeen West is a long and interesting one, with lots of twists and turns, surprising revelations and, frustratingly, lots of questions to be answered. After relying on the memories of descendants and investigations done by several family members we have a glimpse into the intriguing life this man led.
Family members knew him as William J. West, William Jeen West, Pop or Grandpop. He said he was born in Butte, Montana. He had a hearty laugh and didn't seem to take life too seriously. He was often found sitting on the porch, drink in hand, chatting or laughing with another relative. In his younger years, West sang and played the piano in vaudeville performances. Exactly where or when he did this is still unknown. He was a World War I veteran, serving as a private in Humphreys, Va. He lived the latter part of his life in Philadelphia and died there in 1951. He and his wife, Margaret Zehren West, are both buried in Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, NJ. But there is much, much more to the story. West kept a lot of secrets about his past - where he was born, who his family was and who he was. Firstly, William Jeen West was not his real name. We believe he was born William Oscar Brooks and he was born in Boston, MA not Butte, Montana. And just how many wives and children did West have? We're not exactly sure, but when he said his marriage to Margaret Zehren in 1917 in Philadelphia was his first marriage, he wasn't telling the truth. But we'll get back to that. Let's start with West's parents. His mother, Catherine (or Kathryn) Lewis was born July 1854 in Lockport, Nova Scotia; her parents were also born in Canada. She married a man with the last name Swansburg and they had a child, William Swansburg. His father, Daniel E. Brooks was born September or October 26, 1845 in Wales or possibly Lancashire, England or maybe even Paris, France. Various records show different birthplaces.. He immigrated to the United States, in 1880, according to the census. If he came over in 1880, he would have been 35 years old; we're not sure if he traveled alone or with other family. Daniel's father appears to have been born in France or Wales while his mother seems to have been born in Scotland. Sometime in the 1880s, possibly 1882, Catherine Lewis Swanburg and her son arrived in Boston, MA. We're not sure when or where she met Daniel E. Brooks but the two were married in Boston in April 7, 1884. It was the second marriage for Daniel, 39, (not sure who Daniel's first wife was)and Catherine, 31. On December 28, 1884 they had their first child together. According to his birth certificate, his name was Walter Oscar Brooks but in the 1900 census his name is shown as William L. Brooks. From April to December is roughly 9 months so either Catherine was already pregnant when she married Daniel, or she got pregnant right after their marriage, or William was a premature baby. The couple had other children together: Albert A. was born May 1886; Ellsworth arrived February 1888, Bessie was born November 1889 and Ernest L. was born September 1892. In 1900, the entire family - the couple's five children and Catherine's son by her first marriage, William Swansburg - were all living at 64 Maverick Street in Chelsea, Suffolk County, MA. Daniel was a machinist. In 1902, the family moved to 56 Suffolk. By 1904, 20-year-old William Brooks, aka William Jeen West, had moved out of his parents' house and was living down the street at 51 Suffolk under the name of Walter Brooks. In 1910, Daniel and Catherine Brooks were living with their other children at 49 Suffolk in Chelsea, MA. Sadly, Catherine Lewis Swansburg Brooks, 58 years old, died in Chelsea on November 15, 1912 of acute bronchitis. It is interesting to note that her husband, Daniel, did not know her parents' names or her exact birth date when he filled out her death certificate. Daniel E. Brooks died at the age of 67 only three months after Catherine. He died on February 4, 1913 after suffering from an enlarged heart for about a month. He was last working as a machinist for Magee Furnace Company. Both Catherine and Daniel Brooks are buried in the Laurel Hill section of Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, MA. |
Accused of murderWilliam Jeen West was born Walter Oscar Brooks (see below on his various name changes) but for a time he went by Walter L. Brooks, including when he was with Marion Galley and Gladys Reardon. Below is one article showing how he was under suspicion for Gladys' murder.
|
William Jeen West's various name changes and children before his marriage to Margaret Zehren
In 1906, still using the name Walter L. Brooks and living in Chelsea, MA, William Jeen West married Marion L. Galley in Revere, MA on April 29, 1906. They divorced later, perhaps because he was having children by another woman?
He had two children with Gertrude Gillespie, both appearing to be illegitimate. On October 3, 1910, he and Gertrude had a son in Boston, MA. But he did not use the names Walter or William Brooks. Instead, he said his name was Walter L. Kearns, a painter, and named his son Walter Lawrence Kearns. I believe William took the surname Kearns from Gertrude's first husband (James P Kearns). William/Walter Brooks (aka William West and Walter Kearns) had a second child with Gertrude Gillespie. This child's name was Catherine and she was born on October 18, 1911 in Chelsea, MA. For this child's birth, he went back to the name Walter L. Brooks. Catherine apparently died just a day later on October 19, 1911 according to some but I haven't found her death record. There is no record yet of Gertrude and WJW ever being married, although by 1916 Gertrude was married to John Walker. Remember Walter L. Kearns Jr.? This was the baby born to William/Walter and Gertrude Gillespie. Well paperwork shows that the baby was adopted by William's sister, Bessie, in March 1913. Bessie and her husband, Samuel McKurdy, had no children and raised Walter Kearns Jr. as their own child and re-named him William McKurdy. This child spent his entire life not knowing that his "uncle" was really his father. [note: some of this information was obtained from William McKurdy's wife who had family letters and birth records showing these connections; copies of which I have]. Why didn't the mother, Gertrude, take her son? At first we thought maybe she died, but she lived until 1975 and had two marriages and more children. I have no answer In October 1913, he is Walter L. Brooks and supposedly was married to Gladys Reardon in 1912. Walter/William was wanted under suspicion of her murder. According to one article, Marion Galley had divorced him sometime in 1912, citing "cruel and abusive treatment." In 1913, Marion Galley, had married Leo P. Brennan. William is said to have also fathered a daughter named Daisy by a woman called Sadie, apparently a friend of Bessie's (I believe I have found them both but as I can't full prove the connection I am not publishing their full names here). This would bring the number of children he had presumably out of wedlock to three: Walter Lawrence Kearns (raised by his sister, Bessie, as William McKurdy), Catherine Brooks who died as an infant and Daisy, who appears to have lived to adulthood and married. According to family stories, Daisy apparently met the family on at least one occasion. Daisy grew up believing that Sadie was her sister instead of her mother but she eventually learned the truth. Walter Brooks, William Brooks and Walter Kearns seem to disappear after 1913. We're not sure what he did between 1913 and 1917 - perhaps this was when he was doing vaudeville. We do know he married again on April 28, 1917 in Philadelphia, PA. Now he is William J. West, 33 years old, born in Butte, MT and a ship's purser. And he claimed never to have been married. His bride, Margaret Zehren, age 30, seems to have only known him as William J. West. William J. and Margaret West settled in Philadelphia in 1918 and their first child, William Francis West (he would later go by William Thomas West) was born on February 14, 1918. William didn't have much time with his new family as he enlisted on August 2, 1918 and was stationed in Humphreys, VA, where he served until January 3, 1919. From 1920 to 1930, William and his family lived at 2058 William Street, Philadelphia, PA. In 1920, his occupation was listed as an Iron Worker in the Western States so he might have spent some time away from home. He spent enough time, however, to have three more children: Thelma, born January 29, 1920; Rita, born January 11, 1923, and Gloria, born December 25, 1925. It is unclear whether William kept in touch with his brothers, but he did visit his sister, Bessie, and his son in Massachusetts by himself on a regular basis while Margaret stayed home with their children. More Mysteries to Solve William J. West managed to keep his past and his other families a secret his entire life. Some of the mysteries have been unraveled slowly but many more remain. Below are some of the questions we hope to someday answer: * One of William Brooks' siblings was called "Farmer," likely a nickname, and he supposedly lived alone in Chelsea and was a gate tender at a railroad crossing in the city. "Farmer" was apparently "gassed in the war." The war referred to would have to be World War I. Any of the brothers could have had this nickname. Albert, Ellsworth and Ernest all served in the war. Ellsworth and Ernest definitely were in France for a time. * There was certainly a reason for Walter Brooks to change his name, but why was his name listed as William Brooks in the 1900 census when he was 6 years old? Is it simply a mistake on the census taker's part? Or is there more to this? * There has been a rumor in the past of a Native American ancestor in the West/Brooks line. DNA results of some descendants would refute the story of any Native American ancestry. There also doesn't seem to any evidence that Daniel Brooks or his second wife, Catherine Lewis (Swansburg) had Native American ancestry. Perhaps Daniel's first wife did and that's where the story started? No info on his first wife has yet been found, except that he was married. |
William's "Timeline"To help keep things straight here is a rough timeline of William J. West's (referred to as WJW below) relationships and name changes. There is a "Sadie" who is a suspected relationship that produced a daughter named "Daisy." I believe I know who they are but I don't have as much proof as I'd like so for now I'll use those nicknames.
1884 – WJW born as Walter Oscar Brooks (according to birth record in Chelsea, MA) 1900 - census says WJW’s name is William L. Brooks (with parents Daniel and Catherine) 1905 – Gertrude Gillespie is married to a man named James P. Kearns (his surname is important later) -- "Sadie" has a child "Daisy"; WJW is believed to be Daisy's father even though Sadie quickly married and named her husband as the father. 1906 -- marriage record shows WJW as Walter L. Brooks is married to Marion L. Galley in Revere, MA; married April 29, 1906 1909 – James P Kearns (husband of Gertrude Gillespie) died, June 24, 1909 1910 - April 1910 – Marion (Galley) Brooks is living with her parents, NOT with WJW, although she is listed as married - WJW is listed on a birth certificate as Walter L. Kearns (full name Walter Lawrence Kearns) and the father of Walter Kearns Jr. (with mother Gertrude Gillespie). Walter Jr. was born Oct 3, 1910. So WJW took the surname of his girlfriend Gertrude’s husband (James P Kearns, who died in 1909) 1911 – WJW is listed as Walter L. Brooks, the father of Catherine Brooks with mother Gertrude Gillespie. Have not been able to find anything else on this child. 1913 - March 28, 1913 - Walter L. Kearns Jr is adopted by his Aunt Bessie Brooks, WJW’s sister, and the boy’s name was changed to William McKurdy (Bessie had married Samuel McKurdy); not sure why his mother Gertrude didn’t take him. - May 1913 – WJW, as Walter L. Brooks and Gladys Reardon are living together as husband and wife (although no marriage record has been found) - October 12-13, 1913 – Gladys Reardon is found dead under mysterious circumstances and WJW is the prime suspect but he disappeared. Perhaps this is when he left town and took the name William J West? - Oct. 12, 1913 – Marion Galley marries Leo P Brennan (record states she had divorced WJW but no date given) 1915/1916 – Gertrude Gillespie has first child with husband John H. Walker (so they were presumably married by then) 1917 – WJW is listed as William J. West on his marriage document to Margaret Zehren 1918 - William J. West or William Jeen West (military records I've found so far say he enlisted Aug. 2, 1918 |
Here is what is known so far about William Brooks/William West's siblings:
William Arnold Swansburg
He was born in Nova Scotia on June 15, 1879 and immigrated with his mother, Catherine, to Massachusetts. In 1900, at age 20 he was living with his mother and her new family in Chelsea and was a day laborer. On October 15, 1902, he was naturalized in the U.S. William did complete a World War I draft card. It is unclear whether William served or was exempted; the bottom of the draft card is stamped by the local exemption board.
In 1920, he was still living with his mother, stepfather and half-siblings and was listed as a "helper" for ice teams (it's hard to read).
Bessie used to call him Blondie and he according to family lore he died in Danvers State Mental Hospital.
Albert A. Brooks
Albert Brooks was born May 1886 in Massachusetts, likely in Chelsea. He hasn't been found yet in records from 1910 until 1940 but he likely served in the military. In 1940, he was listed as a mariner and was living with his brother, Ellsworth, at 59 Auburn in Chelsea. In the World War II Draft Registration in 1942, he was 55 years old and living at 112 Williams Street in Chelsea and listed his occupation as a Merchant Marine.
Ellsworth Brooks
Ellsworth was born February 1888 in Massachusetts, likely Chelsea. He was living with his parents and siblings until 1910 in Chelsea.
In 1920, Ellsworth lived with his sister, Bessie, and her husband, Sam McKurdy and adopted son, William McKurdy (formerly Walter L. Kearns) in Boston and was a laborer in a factory. By 1928, Ellsworth became a painter living at 367 Crescent Ave in Chelsea. In 1932, he moved to 144 Park in Chelsea. In 1940, he was living with his brother, Albert, at 59 Auburn in Chelsea.
Ellsworth served as a Private during WWI in the 302nd Machine Gun Battalion 76th Div Company "C." Another record says he served in Company A 165th Infantry, 42nd Division. He died Jan. 14, 1956 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Ernest L. Brooks
Ernest L. Brooks was born September 1892 in Massachusetts, likely in Chelsea. He enlisted on 27 Apr 1918 and was discharged 28 Jun 1919. According to his military records, he served in Ambulance Company No 159, 2nd Army Provisional Sanitary Train. On June 7, 1919, he left Marseilles, France for Newport News, VA.
He married a woman named Jennie/Jane McInrtyre (her passport application says Jane but other records say Jennie or Jean) sometime in 1920 and they had their first child, Beatrice (noted as Beatrix in one of the censuses), in 1922. They had two more children: Ernest Jr. born about 1924 and Helen in 1926.
In 1928, their fourth child, Jeannette, was born and the family was living at 73 Pearl Street in Chelsea. The family was still at the same address in 1930 and they had another son, William, born about November 1929. They also had William Swansburg, Ernest's half-brother, living with them although he was listed as a lodger in the 1930 census. Ernest was a longshoreman at the steamship docks in 1930.
By 1940, husband and wife appear to be separated. In the 1940 census, Ernest and his 18-year-old daughter, Beatrice, appear as "lodgers" with Ernest's sister, Bessie, as the head of household. In 1942 (WWII Draft and Young Men's Draft), Ernest is shown to be living at 54 Village St. in Boston with his daughter, Beatrice (now Beatrice Baker). At about the same time, Jean is living at 10 Chester Ave. in Chelsea with son, Ernest Jr. Ernest Jr.'s 1956 marriage record to Mary Ethel George shows his mother living in Sunnyvale, CA.
Ernest Jr. died on Nov. 24, 1945 and is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Boston.
Bessie Brooks McKurdy Savannah
Bessie was born November 1889 in Massachusetts, most likely in Chelsea.
The 1930 census says she was married to Samuel McKurdy when she was 18, which would mean they were married in 1907 if you believe she was born in 1889. However, the 1930 census says she was 39 years old, making her birth year 1891 and her marriage year 1909. But both seem wrong because she was still living with her parents and siblings in Chelsea in 1910.
She married him at some point and on March 28, 1913 she legally adopted her nephew, Walter Lawrence Kearns (by her brother William Brooks and Gertrude Gillespie). His name became William McKurdy.
In 1920, the McKurdy family was still living in Chelsea at 108 Zeigler Street with William was represented as their biological son in the census.
In 1928, they moved to 33 Shurtleff in Chelsea and in 1930 they lived at 9 Park, still in Chelsea
The only one who shared his secret, to our knowledge, was his sister, Bessie. She kept the secret until after her brother died in 1951. Bessie, who had "flaming red hair and a mouth to match," later lived in a bungalow in North Weymouth, MA with her second husband, Bob Savannah.
Rita West Ropars, William Brook's/William West's daughter, would visit Bessie with her own children every summer and Bessie would save paper dolls from the Boston Sunday paper for when the kids visited. And every spring on their way to Florida, Bessie and Bob would stop to see Rita and her family in Hightstown, NJ.
He was born in Nova Scotia on June 15, 1879 and immigrated with his mother, Catherine, to Massachusetts. In 1900, at age 20 he was living with his mother and her new family in Chelsea and was a day laborer. On October 15, 1902, he was naturalized in the U.S. William did complete a World War I draft card. It is unclear whether William served or was exempted; the bottom of the draft card is stamped by the local exemption board.
In 1920, he was still living with his mother, stepfather and half-siblings and was listed as a "helper" for ice teams (it's hard to read).
Bessie used to call him Blondie and he according to family lore he died in Danvers State Mental Hospital.
Albert A. Brooks
Albert Brooks was born May 1886 in Massachusetts, likely in Chelsea. He hasn't been found yet in records from 1910 until 1940 but he likely served in the military. In 1940, he was listed as a mariner and was living with his brother, Ellsworth, at 59 Auburn in Chelsea. In the World War II Draft Registration in 1942, he was 55 years old and living at 112 Williams Street in Chelsea and listed his occupation as a Merchant Marine.
Ellsworth Brooks
Ellsworth was born February 1888 in Massachusetts, likely Chelsea. He was living with his parents and siblings until 1910 in Chelsea.
In 1920, Ellsworth lived with his sister, Bessie, and her husband, Sam McKurdy and adopted son, William McKurdy (formerly Walter L. Kearns) in Boston and was a laborer in a factory. By 1928, Ellsworth became a painter living at 367 Crescent Ave in Chelsea. In 1932, he moved to 144 Park in Chelsea. In 1940, he was living with his brother, Albert, at 59 Auburn in Chelsea.
Ellsworth served as a Private during WWI in the 302nd Machine Gun Battalion 76th Div Company "C." Another record says he served in Company A 165th Infantry, 42nd Division. He died Jan. 14, 1956 and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Ernest L. Brooks
Ernest L. Brooks was born September 1892 in Massachusetts, likely in Chelsea. He enlisted on 27 Apr 1918 and was discharged 28 Jun 1919. According to his military records, he served in Ambulance Company No 159, 2nd Army Provisional Sanitary Train. On June 7, 1919, he left Marseilles, France for Newport News, VA.
He married a woman named Jennie/Jane McInrtyre (her passport application says Jane but other records say Jennie or Jean) sometime in 1920 and they had their first child, Beatrice (noted as Beatrix in one of the censuses), in 1922. They had two more children: Ernest Jr. born about 1924 and Helen in 1926.
In 1928, their fourth child, Jeannette, was born and the family was living at 73 Pearl Street in Chelsea. The family was still at the same address in 1930 and they had another son, William, born about November 1929. They also had William Swansburg, Ernest's half-brother, living with them although he was listed as a lodger in the 1930 census. Ernest was a longshoreman at the steamship docks in 1930.
By 1940, husband and wife appear to be separated. In the 1940 census, Ernest and his 18-year-old daughter, Beatrice, appear as "lodgers" with Ernest's sister, Bessie, as the head of household. In 1942 (WWII Draft and Young Men's Draft), Ernest is shown to be living at 54 Village St. in Boston with his daughter, Beatrice (now Beatrice Baker). At about the same time, Jean is living at 10 Chester Ave. in Chelsea with son, Ernest Jr. Ernest Jr.'s 1956 marriage record to Mary Ethel George shows his mother living in Sunnyvale, CA.
Ernest Jr. died on Nov. 24, 1945 and is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Boston.
Bessie Brooks McKurdy Savannah
Bessie was born November 1889 in Massachusetts, most likely in Chelsea.
The 1930 census says she was married to Samuel McKurdy when she was 18, which would mean they were married in 1907 if you believe she was born in 1889. However, the 1930 census says she was 39 years old, making her birth year 1891 and her marriage year 1909. But both seem wrong because she was still living with her parents and siblings in Chelsea in 1910.
She married him at some point and on March 28, 1913 she legally adopted her nephew, Walter Lawrence Kearns (by her brother William Brooks and Gertrude Gillespie). His name became William McKurdy.
In 1920, the McKurdy family was still living in Chelsea at 108 Zeigler Street with William was represented as their biological son in the census.
In 1928, they moved to 33 Shurtleff in Chelsea and in 1930 they lived at 9 Park, still in Chelsea
The only one who shared his secret, to our knowledge, was his sister, Bessie. She kept the secret until after her brother died in 1951. Bessie, who had "flaming red hair and a mouth to match," later lived in a bungalow in North Weymouth, MA with her second husband, Bob Savannah.
Rita West Ropars, William Brook's/William West's daughter, would visit Bessie with her own children every summer and Bessie would save paper dolls from the Boston Sunday paper for when the kids visited. And every spring on their way to Florida, Bessie and Bob would stop to see Rita and her family in Hightstown, NJ.
Catherine "Kitty" West's Stories
Wedding Candles
In our parish my 3-year-old niece (not sure who) attended a wedding ceremony. Since it was her first trip to the church she was fascinated and, as the candles were lit and the organ began to play, she sang out happily, "Happy Birthday to you!" (In a letter from Kitty West to an editor at The Catholic Digest, Feb. 11 1966)
In our parish my 3-year-old niece (not sure who) attended a wedding ceremony. Since it was her first trip to the church she was fascinated and, as the candles were lit and the organ began to play, she sang out happily, "Happy Birthday to you!" (In a letter from Kitty West to an editor at The Catholic Digest, Feb. 11 1966)
© 2009 BigFamilyTree.weebly.com. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use.