Dorchester Illustration no. 2371 Walter W. Jollimore
At the Dorchester Historical Society, we are in the process of a year-long project to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of World War I. Using a collection of photographs we have of World War I Dorchester residents, we will be featuring soldiers in a number of short biographies throughout the year. At the culmination of the project, we hope to produce an online exhibit which highlights these men and their service to our country.
Our next biography features: Walter W. Jollimore
Walter Warren Jollimore was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts to parents William Jollimore and Matilda (Kirby). William and Matilda were both born in Canada and immigrated to the United States around 1883. William worked as a butcher. Walter had nine siblings, but only five of them would live past childhood.
By 1900, the Jollimore family had moved to Boston and were living on Welles Avenue in Dorchester. Walter, now age 7, was living with his parents and his older siblings: Edith (22), Greenwood (18), William (16), Howard (12), and Mabel (10). William was now listed as a garden laborer.
Walter registered for the draft on June 4, 1917 at the age of 25. His address was then listed as Washington Street in Dorchester. Interestingly, his occupation is listed as an actor for Mr. C.W. Levering in New York, although the city directories list him as a chauffeur. He is described as a short, slender man with blue eyes and brown hair. He was inducted at Boston on June 24, 1918. According to his service card, he served in the 151st Depot Brigade until he was discharged on December 11, 1918, from Fort Devens in Massachusetts; he never served overseas.
After the war, it appears as though Walter moved back home to Dorchester; his family then lived on Brent Street. He is listed as a private chauffeur in the 1920 United States Census, the same occupation he held before the war. The city directories show that sometime in the 1920’s, Walter married. His wife’s name was Jeannie and they most likely got married in 1923. It’s unclear what the Jollimores were up to in 1930 – possibly living in Springfield, MA, as one city directory suggests, however, we were not able to confirm. By 1940, the Jollimores were living in Stoughton and Walter was working as an auto mechanic. The census shows that his wife, Jeannie, was born in Scotland. She was also working, as a salesgirl.
Walter died on August 18, 1983, and his obituary lists him as a resident of Stoughton; he was 91 years old.
Do you know more about Walter W. Jollimore? We would love to hear from you! All material has been researched by volunteers at the Dorchester Historical Society, so please let us know if we got something wrong or you think a piece of the story is missing!
Sources
Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2012.
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts Birth Records, 1840-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2013.
Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.
Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.