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Note: Soldier, 97th Battalion C. E. F., Exhibition Park, Toronto. Why he was a soldier in in the Canadian Army and his military history there is not currently known. He abandoned his family in 1928 when Tommy was an infant. It is reported that he liked to hop trains. Like his father and brother, Lester was also a barrel maker, a trade he is believed to have plied throughout the country, ultimately, perhaps, landing him in Florida. Though he was suspected of still being alive after WWII, he was declared dead in 1979 after his son, Eddie's, death.
According to Kate Spies (May 4, 2002), Lester traveled to Gasport, NY (near Buffalo) in 1916 with his new wife, Elizabeth, to follow the fruit belt making barrels. It was there their first son, Edward, was born. This shed new light on the presumption that his barrel-making was predominantly linked to the Syracuse area salt industry. He was reputed to be one of the best barrel makers in New York State. He was also reputed to be a drunk, but one who never struck his wife. According to Kate, Lester's abandonment of his family broke his mother's heart.
Excerpt from:
Surrogate's Court, Onondaga County, State of New York, in The Matter of Proving the Last Will and Testament of MARY CAPELS, Deceased.
"EDWARD H. CAPELS, being duly sworn deposes and says: that he resides at 1010 Avery Avenue, in the City of Syracuse, New York; that he is a son of the above named MARY CAPELS, deceased, and executor of her Estate, and that LESTER H. CAPELS, mentioned in the petition for the probate of the said Last Will and Testament, is deponents brother, and a son of the said MARY CAPELS, deceased.
Deponent further says that the said LESTER H. CAPELS, left the City of Syracuse, about five years ago and has since been unheard of, and that he does not know the present address of said LESTER H. CAPELS.
Deponent further says that he has made inquiries of his brothers, sisters, wife and persons who would most likely know of the whereabouts of the said LESTER H. CAPELS, but none of them know his present address or have heard from or of him since he departed from this City about five years ago.
ss// Edward H. Capels Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 6th day of February, 1935.
Myron J. Parkinson
Notary Public"
According to documents pertaining to the Matter of Proving the Last Will and Testament of MARY CAPELS, Deceased, the following notice was published in The Catholic Sun for four successive weeks on the following dates: February 28, March 7, 14, and 21, 1935, as certified by Mary M. Pitoniak, Principal Clerk in the office of The Catholic Sun:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, by the Grace of God, Free and Independent.
TO LESTER H. CAPELS, if he be living, whose place of residence is unknown and cannot be, after due diligence, ascertained or if he be dead, the wife, heirs at law, next of kin, and personal representatives of the said Lester H. Capels, whose place of residence is 1319 Carbon street, Syracuse, New York; to all the heirs at law and next of kin of Mary Capels, late of the City of Syracuse, in the County of Onondaga, New York, deceased, send greeting:
Whereas, Edward H. Chapels [sic], who resides at 1010 Avery Avenue, of the City of Syracuse, New York, has [lately?] applied to the Surrogate's Court of our County of Onondaga to have a certain instrument in writing, relating to both and personal property, duly proved as the last will and testament of said deceased.
Therefore, you and each of your are hereby cited to show cause before the Surrogate's Court of our County of Onondaga, at the County Court House in the City of Syracuse, in said County of Onondaga, New York, on the first day of April, 1935, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon of that day, why the said instrument should not be admitted to probate as the last will and testament of said Mary Capels, deceased, valid to pass both real and personal property.
In Testimony Whereof, we have caused the seal of the Surrogate's Court of said County of Onondaga to be hereunto affixed.
Witness, Hon. John W. Sadler, Surrogate of said County, at the City of Syracuse, New York the 25th day of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-five.
(L.S.) NICHOLAS RANSLER.,
Deputy Clerk of the Surrogate Court
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