Laurence FORTESCUE CMG [14689]

  General Notes:

Lawrence Knottesford-fortescue
Baptism Date: 1 Sep 1845
Baptism Place: Wilmcote, Warwickshire, England
Father: Edward Booke Knottesford-fortescue
Mother: Frances Ann Knottesford-fortescue
Lawrence joined the Marines, then joined the Canadian Royal Mounted Police.

Laurence Knottesford FORTESCUE
Born August 17, 1845 at Alveston, Warwickshire, England.
1862 -1871 Royal Marines Light Infantry
April 21, 1873 joined North West Mounted Police (NWMP) at Ottawa, Ontario and was in first contingent west to Fort Garry under Insp WALSH. Regimental #.9a
August 1, 1874 in "A" Division March West under Insp JARVIS
September 19, 1874 as Sgt Major was diagnosed with Typhoid and declared unfit for service.
October 10, 1874 transferred to Department of Justice in Ottawa to act for NWMP at that point with financial affairs.
June 1, 1875 promoted to Sub/Inspector in NWMP. Regimental # O.33
February 28, 1879 resigned due to ill health.
March 1, 1879 appointed Senior Second Class Clerk in the NWMP at a salary of $1200.00 per annum.
July 1, 1881 he was promoted to First Class Clerk at a salary of $1350.00 per annum.
July 1, 1888 he was promoted to Chief Clerk at a salary of $1800.00 per annum.
January 1, 1990 appointed Acting Accountant.
January 1, 1913 appointed Comptroller of the NWMP at a salary of $5000.00 per annum and filled that position until August 23, 1916, on which date he was superannuated, on account of age and infirmity, on a Retiring Allowance of $3500.00 per annum.

Death Registration: Fortescue Lawrence K 1924 1st Qtr aged 78 Headington 3a 1477

Lawrence Fortescue died England on January 26, 1924. After his death, his wife, Emily Allison Fortescue (Russell) returned to Ottawa, she died 1927, and is buried in Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (edited).
Ref Stanley Lapidge - 2021

LAURENCE FORTESCUE
From the Report of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, 1916, p. 15:
"I cannot refrain from expressing to you the distinct loss which every member of the Force felt in the retirement of the Comptroller, Laurence Fortescue Esq., C.M.G., I.S.O. He was the last remaining link with that remarkable body of men who joined the Force on its organization in 1873, and whose services to Canada, as time goes on, will be more fully recognized as one of the most potent influences in the peaceful and orderly settlement of Western Canada. Mr Fortescue had the respect and confidence of all ranks. It would be presumptuous of me to refer to his services which are so well known. It was a source of much gratification to learn that he was decorated by His Majesty."
Extracted from the report of the Commissioner, A. Bowen Perry, page 15.

From David Cruise & Alison Griffiths, The Great Adventure: How the Mounties Conquered the West, Penguin, 1996, p. 248, quoting an extract from a letter dated the 4^th August, 1874, of Willie Parker, who had started on the great expedition across Western Canada, but had become ill with typhoid, and had to be sent back:
" . . . one of the two fellows that was sick, named Fortescue, sergt Major of B or A Troops is nephew to the Archbishop of Canterbury¹, so you see we have some gentlemen in the force as well as some cads."
From this it appears that Laurence started out on the "Great Adventure", but didn't get very far.

Obituary
The Coventry Herald 8^th - 9^th Feb, 1924, page 8.
LAURENCE FORTESCUE
The death has occurred at Oxford of Mr Laurence Knottesford Fortescue, C.M.G.; I.S.O., who was the third son of the Very Rev. E.B. Knottesford Fortescue², of Alveston Manor, Warwickshire, brother of Canon Fortescue³, Vicar of Corley and nephew⁴ of the Rev. J.N. Knottesford-Fortescue, Vicar of Wilmcote, near Stratford-on-Avon. Mr Laurence Knottesford Fortescue was born in 1845, and was educated at Trinity College, Glenalmond. In 1862 he joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry, and retired on half-pay in 1871. Two years later he entered the Royal North-West Mounted Police Force of Canada on its organisation and eventually rose to be Assistant Comptroller in 1908, and Comptroller from 1913 to 1916, when he retired, receiving the C.M.G. In 1877 he married Emily Alison, daughter of Mr A.J. Russell, of Ottawa. The interment took place at Wilmcote, the Vicar (the Rev. J.N. Knottesford Fortescue) and the Vicar of Aston Cantlow (the Rev. M.P. Hellier) officiating⁵.
Footnotes
1. Laurence's mother was Frances Anne Spooner. Frances's youngest sister, Catharine Spooner, was married to Archibald Campbell Tait (1811 - 1882), who became Headmaster of Rugby School in 1842, Dean of Carlisle Cathedral in 1849, Bishop of London in 1856, and then Archbishop of Canterbury in 1868. Laurence Fortescue and his brothers were always very close to Tait, and to his wife. It should be noted that Barbara Spooner, the aunt of Frances and Catherine, was the wife of William Wilberforce, who campaigned so hard for the abolition of the slave trade.
2. Fortescue (1816 - 1877) was Dean, and later Provost, of the newly-founded St Ninian's Cathedral, in Perth, Scotland, from 1851 until 1871, when he converted to Roman Catholicism.
3. Vincent Knottesford Fortescue (1849 - 1932) was Vicar of Corley, in the Diocese of Coventry, from 1906 until his death.
4. This is incorrect: Laurence was actually the uncle of John Nicholas Knottesford-Fortescue, who was the eldest son of Laurence's oldest brother, Major Edward Francis Knottesford Fortescue (1840 - 1886).
5. Presumably Laurence was buried in Wilmcote Churchyard because his father had founded the church, his nephew was the Vicar there, and his eldest brother Edward Francis was buried there as well.
Ref Stanley Lapidge - 2021

Fortescue Laurence of 33 Beaumont Street Oxford died 26 January 1924 at the Acland Nursing Home Bunbury Road Oxford Probate 3 March 1924 to Emily Alison Fortescue widow. Effects hundred and £122 19s 11d
National Probate Calendar.

  Research Notes:

Lawrence Fortescue
Gender: Male
Marital status: Married
Race or Tribe: English
Nationality: Canadian
Age: 65
Birth Date: Aug 1845
Birth Place: England
Census Year: 1911

1911 Census of Canada
Relation to Head of House: Head
Province: Ontario
District: Ottawa City
District Number: 105
Sub-District: 16 - Central Ward
Sub-District Number: 16
Place of Habitation: Roxburough
Religion: Anglican
Occupation: Civil Servant
Employer: No
Employee: No
Works at: R. N M P. Dept
Weeks Employed: 52
Hours/Week: 90
Earnings: 3000 pa
Can Read: yes
Can Write: yes
Language: E
Family Number: 31
Household Members:
Name Age
Lawrence Fortescue 65
Emily A Fortescue 61
Frederick W Hall 31 Lodger
Catherina Foevors 30 Lodger

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, Eaglesfield Abbey Cumberland. Laurence is recorded as a visitor at the house of Archibald Tail aged 5 a scholar at home born Alveston WAR

2. Census: England, 2 Apr 1871, Royal Marine Barracks Gillingham KEN. Laurence is recorded as unmarried aged 25 a Lieut Royal Marines Retired List born Stratford WAR

Laurence married Emily Allison RUSSELL [34436] [MRIN: 12390], daughter of Alexander Jamieson RUSSELL [34437] and Isabella [34438], on 23 Aug 1877 in Christs Church Ottawa CAN. (Emily Allison RUSSELL [34436] was born on 13 Sep 1845 in Percy CAN, died on 11 May 1827 in Ottawa Ontario CAN and was buried in Beechwood Cemetery Ottawa CAN.)