My Genealogy and History Page of
 BIENFAIT
 SASKATCHEWAN
&  AREA
Police History

   
LAW  ENFORCEMENT
(FROM THE 1955 HISTORY OF BIENFAIT BOOK)
(with some personal research added)

The North-West Mounted Police arrived in the year 1902.
Their only means of transportation was on horseback and sleighs.
One of the first "Mounties" was Sergeant Henry "Larry" Lett.
b- June 1875 in Ireland per a couple of sources,
but Liverpool England, per his Boer War enlistment form,
He immigrated in 1895,
(another online record says 1896, from Liverpool to Quebec, b- 1867)
died in Jan, 1934, age 69.
buried Jan 19, 1934, Regina Cemetery, Regina SK.
Lived on 4th st. in Estevan, where the court house is now.
wife Ann (or Annie) (Anna in 1906 Census) Promhouse (or Prourhouse),
b- Apr 1887 in USA, immigrated in 1902 (1903 per 1906 census)
Anna shown age 23 in 1906 census,
Henry, (shown as Harry in 1906 census age 30, born in Ireland, living in Estevan)
I think Larry, should actually be Harry, which is a nickname for Henry.
daughter- Margaret, b. May 1903 in SK. per 1911 census
daughter- Daisy Hariet Lett, b. Feb 25, 1905 in Estevan SK
son- Calisle Henry Lett, b. Mar 27, 1908 in Estevan SK

Living in Estevan 1911 Canada census
1906 census, no kids?, shown living in Estevan

Henry enlisted in the Boer War (1899-1900) in Calgary on Jan 11, 1900
Corp- Canadian Mounted Rifles
He was 32 and a 1/2 years old
5ft 8 in height
medium complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes, stoutly built
scar on left ankle, also right side of head.
Church of England religion
Father- S. Lett, living at 25 Percy St, Princes Park, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
shown as single in 1900.
Member of the NWMP for 3 years, when he enlisted in 1900
Rank- Private, no 187
Discharged Jan 14, 1901
When he enlisted he already had the following medals
Queens Medal with 4 clasps:
Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Cape Colony, Orange Free State

Henry Lett's Signature

I found Henry in the 1881 UK census
still living at 25 Percy St,
only no father shown, but mother Sarah Lett shown as Married, not widowed.
So father was somewhere else on census day it appears.
I would bet his father was Samuel Lett, b- Sept 10,
at Christchurch-Hunter St, 1837 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.
Samuel's father was Henry Lett, Samuel's mother Elizabeth Lett
Henry is shown as the oldest child born 1865 in Liverpool,
age 16, occupation- apprentice
siblings:
Samuel Lett, b- 1866
Margaret Lett, b- 1868
Sarah Lett, b- 1876
Stephen Lett, b- 1869
Ethel Lett, b- 1872
Mabel Lett, b- 1869
all born in Liverpool (note year born from 1881 census, which is known to have errors)
living with the family a servant, Mary Gilroy born in Ireland
and 2 lodgers
H. J. Jacob, from the Netherlands, Comm Clerk
and then the biggest surprise of all
a A. C. Bienfait, from the Netherlands, Comm Clerk, age 22
Now I believe this very well could be Antoine Charles Bienfait,
The Banker, who Bienfait got it's name from
I show Antoine born in July 1857, this fellow is shown born in 1859.
Now would this not be a big coincidence latter on?
Too bad they list initials only in 1881 census.

A Samuel Lett married Sarah Ann Coulsting Charles
bet July-Sept 1863 in Liverpool
my guess Henry's father and mother.
I found a Henry Charles Lett
 birth registered bet July-Sept 1864 in West Derby Reg Dist. Lancashire
and I think this is him. 
Why was his nickname Larry though?

1894 directory shows a Mrs. Lett at 25 Percy st in Liverpool

He was a member of the Independent order of Oddfellows in Estevan Lodge #4, in 1912

In the 1920's, as a veteran of the force,
 He was demoted from Sergeant,
and 2nd in command at Weyburn, to rank of Corporal,
for running his vehicle without oil.

He took over the detachment at Wood-End in 1904.

He retired in 1918 with the rank of Sergeant-Major.
He was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms in the SK Leg. Assembly in 1927,
where he served until he died in 1934

He chased many horse thieves, and bank robbers in his career.
Even down into the states, returning with his man!

One of the first Provincial Police, was Robert Dunbar.
Some of the duties of the Provincial Police were:
 1) To catch criminals and law-breakers
                           2) To go to the homesteaders during the winter months
                                to see if the families were in need of coal
3) To put out prairie fires.
Incidents which required the aid of the police were:
                     1) The murder of Paul Matoff one night in October of the year 1922
at the height of the border-booze-running period.
2) They were responsible for catching the rum-runners
who stole carloads of whiskey and trucked it out of town.


   
 
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Created Oct 16, 2000
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