The information contained on this page is a chronicle of our family history. This is an on-going project, as most genealogical studies tend to be. Most of the information posted here comes from the family bible of my great-grandparents, immigrants to Canada from Poland / Czechoslovakia at the turn of the century (1904), and supplemented with data from other family documents.

View the ship's manifest & related information.

Some of the information below may be misspelled (none of us are fluent in Polish) or incorrect. It will be updated as we become aware of errors. Translations in English are placed below Polish, in smaller type.

If you can fill in any of the blanks, clarify missing pieces, add information we do not have, it would be appreciated. Please return the information you have (noting reference papers, documents, etc.) to:

Mark Rushton, P.O. Box 431, Oxford, N.S. B0M 1P0
Telephone: 902-447-2143

Introductory notes (Revised July 22nd, 2001)

Vencel Sumara emigrated to Canada sometime between 1901-1903. His wife Anna (Pastor) came to Canada in 1904, landing Christmas eve at the city of Halifax, N.S., with four children. From there the family settled in Sydney, Cape Breton. In 1907 the Sumaras moved to Hansford, Cumberland County, with six children (Frank, Mary, Albin, Anna, Vencel Jr. & Helena). Vencel Jr. & Helena were born in Canada.

[from Amherst Daily News, April 30, 1912]

From family bible (in Polish)

Vencel Sumara - Ura Grozywroft 1863

• Died: 20 September 1949 (buried in Springhill, unmarked grave)

  Nazwisko, Urodziny i ojczyzna Zony.
  [Name, Birthdate & Birthplace of the Husband]

• Died: 17 January 1931 (buried in Thompson)

Zaslubieni [Marriage]

w roku 1890 dnia 8 go erevwca przez..............Gruga zana
in year 1890 on the 8th of June by "Gruga Zana" (the minister?)

1899 Rom. Canada (we're not sure what these dates or words mean. The "Rom" may not be spelled correctly)

(children of Vencel Sumara & Anna Pastor)

Francisek Sumara Na 1891 Cervna 4 (Born June 4th, 1891. Died Feb. 22nd, 1971)

• married: Tillie W. Lazurs, 8 November 1913
  • Children:
    • Albert David, born 15 July 1915. (deceased)
    • Charlie Vencel, 9 April 1917 (Living)
    • Albin Frank, 4 May 1918 (died 1 Nov.1944: Killed in Action)
    • John Julian, 3 April 1920 (Living)
    • Roland (Ronnie), 9 Oct. 1933 (Living)

Mary Sumara Na 1895 listopad 23

• married Oliver King, 8 June 1914
  • Children:
    • Blanche Marie King, 19 March, 1915 (Living)
    • Lawrence Oliver King, 6 June, 1916 (deceased)
    • Fredrick Albin, 4 May 1921 (deceased)

Albin Joseph Sumara   Na 1897 listopad 23

• Private Albin Sumara, killed in action, 28 August 1918 in France
• Enlisted 28 June 1915, age 18.
  • Children: (none known)

Anna Sumara   Na 1902 prosonic 5   (Paul's mother)

• married Douglas Rushton, 16 June 1920 [Douglas died 23 October 1950 - lengthy heart illness]
• died 25 May 1981 (Age 79) - cancer
  • Children:
    • Helen Geneve Rushton, 20 January 1921 (Living)
    • Georgina Maxine Rushton, 27 February 1925, [died August 19, 1929 - influenza?]
    • Ralston Douglas Rushton, 10 September 1927 [died November 24, 1996]
    • Betty Pauline Rushton, 12 November 1932 (Living)
    • Paul Delano Rushton, 14 April 1945 (Living)

Vencel Sumara (Jr.)   Na 1907 Syrpin 29

• injured Oct. 6, 1923 (Thrashing machine accident) [died Oct. 9, 1923 (Age 16)]

Helena Mildred Sumara   Na 1910 poriecze 24 Letaria

• drowned in the Pugwash River, Cumb. Co., 27 July 1927 (Age 17)