Vancouver / Names / S / Samson

A family name in Vancouver's city directories

The Samsons

In the city directories 1940 · ten people at eight addresses

The directories print ten people named Samson at eight addresses in 1940 in five of the city's neighbourhoods. No first name or initials tie one address to another: we can't tell if they're one family. The most under one roof: three Samsons at 1335 Laburnum in 1940.

Reserve this family's book, freeThe name in every directory we hold from 1901 to 1945, at every address, each line with its page, to read here or save as a PDF. About $29 when orders open.

Where the Samsons lived

Each pin is on its own block, numbered as the households below. One address isn't on today's map, so it has no pin. Today's land, parks, main roads and local areas: City of Vancouver Open Data (Open Government Licence – Vancouver).
  1. 1

    7283 Angus Drive

    Kerrisdale, 1940

    • R C Samson, an engineer salesman at the Progressive Engineering Works 1940

    Next door in 1940: H W Mathews at 7215 and J A Barker at 7295. The block, door by door

  2. 2

    6052 Elliott Street

    Victoria-Fraserview, 1940

    • J Samson, a compressor at Canadian Fishing 1940
  3. 3

    1060 Granville Street

    Downtown, 1940

    • Charles Samson, a janitor at the Canadian Government 1940

    Next door in 1940: Balderston Motors (used cars) at 1056 and Dom Furn Chain Stores at 1062. The block, door by door

  4. 4

    1335 Laburnum Street

    Kitsilano, 1940

    • Mrs J Samson, widow of R 1940
    • John J Samson, a salesman 1940
    • Robert Samson, a receiver at the Begg Parts Depot 1940

    Next door in 1940: Mrs S Brydon-Jack at 1327 and G C Bonner at 1345. The block, door by door

  5. 5

    1236 Nelson Street

    West End, 1940

    • John Samson 1940

    Next door in 1940: A C Goodrich at 1230 and F M Mills at 1242. The block, door by door

  6. 6

    2020 Vine Street

    Kitsilano, 1940

    • D W Samson, a postman 1940

    Next door in 1940: vine lodge at 2030. The block, door by door

  7. 7

    2915 West 12th Avenue

    Kitsilano, 1940

    • Mrs Agnes Samson, a secretary to police magistrate at the City of Vancouver 1940

    Next door in 1940: A Turner at 2905 and C A French at 2925. The block, door by door

  8. 8

    219 West Georgia Street

    Downtown, 1940

    • E Samson, a logger 1940

    Next door in 1940: H P McCabe at 217 and N Pappas at 221. The block, door by door

What they did

The name section prints a trade for eight of the ten: a compressor, an engineer salesman, a janitor, a logger, a postman and a receiver, among others. One is a widow, listed under her own name.

Their neighbourhoods

The addresses are in Kitsilano (3), Downtown (2), Kerrisdale, Victoria-Fraserview and West End. Each neighbourhood's page shows its trades, its people and every street in it, the way the directory printed them.

The story, address by address

In 1940 the directory lists R C Samson at 7283 Angus Drive; the 1940 line is marked *: some member of the family owns the property, to the best of our knowledge (the directory's own mark). The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists Robert C Samson there as the householder, an engineer salesman at the Progressive Engineering Works. In 1940 the directory lists J Samson at 6052 Elliott Street; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists James Samson there as the householder, a compressor at Canadian Fishing.

The 1940 name section lists Charles Samson at 1060 Granville Street, a janitor at the Canadian Government. Mrs J Samson is listed at 1335 Laburnum Street in 1940; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Janet Samson there as the householder, widow of R, with John J Samson, a salesman, and Robert Samson, a receiver at the Begg Parts Depot. The 1940 name section lists John Samson at 1236 Nelson Street.

In 1940 the directory lists D W Samson at 2020 Vine Street. The 1940 name section lists David W Samson there as the householder, a postman. The 1940 name section lists Mrs Agnes Samson at 2915 West 12th Avenue, a secretary to police magistrate at the City of Vancouver.

E Samson is listed at 219 West Georgia Street in 1940. The 1940 name section lists Eric Samson there as the householder, a logger.

Today

1060 Granville, 1335 Laburnum, 2020 Vine and 2915 West 12th still have their buildings from before 1946, 1060 Granville on the Vancouver Heritage Register; 7283 Angus Drive (1987) has a newer building, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 6052 Elliott, 1236 Nelson and 219 West Georgia, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).

Every line as printed

All 15 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
1940

British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section

The book of the Samsons

Every directory, as one book

The family book reads the Samson name in each Vancouver directory we hold from 1901 to 1945: everyone printed under it at every address, their work from the name sections, who lived next door, and the page behind every line, to read here or save as a PDF to print or give.

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Another name, or a house

Sources

Henderson's and successor city directories for Vancouver, read by us line by line: the street sections for 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935, 1940 and 1945, and the name section for 1930 and 1940 where we've read it (Vancouver Public Library, BC City Directories). Names are shown through 1945, as printed. Close spellings are grouped, as on the house pages, since a family's name was often spelled differently from one year to the next; one name can still be several families, and we join lines only where the first names or initials agree. Many Chinese, Japanese and other residents weren't named by the canvassers, so they can't be listed by name: their houses' pages say where. More family names under S. Want a name removed? Tell us.