Former Niagara woman on a quadruple triplet search
Born in 1956, Sandi, David and Ken King were the first surviving triplets born in Niagara Falls
A faded black and white photograph and newspaper clipping yellowed with age has sparked a journey of sorts for Sandi King.
Born in 1956, she and her two brothers, David and Ken, were the first surviving triplets born in Niagara Falls.
Over the years, several childhood milestones, including their first day at John Marshall Public School, appeared in the Niagara Falls Review, then known as the Evening Review.
“Triplets were a big deal back then,” Sandi said.
“Mum was 42 when she had us, she already had five kids, and she had us all natural.”
They were one of the last sets of triplets to receive a “Queen’s Bounty” from Queen Elizabeth II.
The British custom of a royal donation to mothers who gave birth to three or more babies at one time began in 1849 as a way to “enable the parents to meet sudden expenses thrown on them.” The bounty was discontinued in 1957.
A photograph of the trio and the copy of the monarch’s cheque can be found in the 1967 Kiwanis book “Niagara Falls, Canada, A History.”
Growing up as triplets, their birthdays were always a public affair. For their fifth birthday in 1961, their mother Dorothy sent out invitations to other Niagara families with triplets.
Four sets of triplets attended the party at Queenston Heights.
None of the triplets had met each other before. Sandi’s parents gave them each a scrapbook so they could collect signatures.
Decades later, Sandi came across a photo and Review article of their birthday celebration.
“I don’t remember anything from the party, I was only five,” she said with a laugh.
The photo featured the King triplets as well as Mary, Margaret and Maureen Dwyer, then four, and Vera, Lola and Gloria Garus, then five, all from St. Catharines.
Also included were Elaine, Earl and Edith Everett, then 18, from Ridgeway, and Billy, Archie and Sandy Macdonald, 16, from Fort Erie.
“I would love to be able to connect with them and find out how life was for them growing up as triplets,” said Sandi, who now lives in Oshawa.
Through internet searches, Sandi has found some information on the triplets who attended her birthday party so many years ago.
She has come across a few names, and was sad to learn at least one individual has since died. She’s also received help with her search from the Niagara Falls Public Library, but is still trying to find all the pieces of her puzzle to “organize our triplet legacy.”