On April 11, 1930 George Paris Carter turned 70.
Colonist April 11, 1930, page 23: The article included the picture of George and reads:
“When Mr. George Paris Carter woke up this morning at his house at 149 St. Lawrence Street, his first thought on gazing out at his sunlit garden is that he is now 70 years old and Victoria’s oldest colored pioneer.
Born in 1860 on Fort Street, opposite the site of the old Hall Saloon in a house still standing. Mr. Carter has had a varied career in this city and has seen it grow from a small port to the second largest city in British Columbia.
Since 1902 Mr. Carter has been the watchman for the Blue Funnel Line and the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line; is well known and esteemed along the waterfront.”
George married Rebecca Amelia Sharp, Spinster, on April 11, 1881, his 21st birthday. His profession was listed as a plasterer. Rebecca’s parents were Charles and Martha Sharp. The marriage was witnessed by his brother Anthony and friend Emma Francis. Sadly, Rebecca died within 2 years on January 18, 1883.
George then married Georgetta Montera, spinster, aged 37 , on September 25, 1884. She is from Boston, Massachusetts. George’s occupation is now listed as a Drayman.
George’s three children were Mabel Amelia, born circa 1882; George Everand born October 25, 1885 and Roy Sylvester born November 23, 1890. The only marriage that has been found was Mabel, at age 24, who married Theodore Lincoln Spotts, age 43 of Vancouver on December 9, 1906. Theodore’s parents are listed as Fielding and Julia Spotts.
George died less than 3 years after this article appeared. His obituary in the Time Colonist on February 6, 1934 reads:
“On February 2, 1934, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, George Paris Carter, aged seventy-three and born in Victoria, B.C. The deceased is survived by two sons and one daughter; George E.A. Carter of Victoria, R.S. Carter of Seattle, and Mrs. M.A. Spotts, Victoria.
The remains are reposing at Hayward’s BC Funeral Chapel, from where the funeral will take place on Wednesday, February 7 at 2 o’clock. Internment at Royal Oak Burial Park.”
George was the son of Paris Carter, who arrived in British Columbia in 1858, Paris Carter was a member of the Victoria Pioneer Rifles. He died on November 4, 1890 at the age of 70; he is buried in the Ross Bay Cemetery. On Wednesday, November 11, 2020 a new grave marker for George’s father Captain Paris Carter [1820-1890], and his wife Mary was unveiled at the Ross Bay Cemetery.
