52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #7 Elizabeth Fields Robinson

When my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Fields Robinson exchanged marriage vows on 14 November 1876 with James Love, her marriage registration indicates that she did not know where she was born. According to her daughter, Margaret, she was born in Muddy York. So where is Muddy York? Muddy York is the nick-name for Toronto. They were married by Methodist minister, William Hall. James' brother Thomas and his half-sister Agnes Vincer were their witnesses.

Where they lived from the time of her birth until the family appears in the 1871 census in Collingwood Township, Grey County is not known. It is also known as Collingwood on the Mountain to differentiate between the town of Collingwood in Simcoe County and the Township. Her parents were John Robinson and Jane Fields. Elizabeth had two older brothers, Joseph and William, who were born in England. She had four younger sisters: Sarah Jane, Isabella "Belle" and Eliza Ann and Mary Ann. She had one younger brother, Robert.

Sometime during the 1870s, the family moved to Manitoulin Island and there Elizabeth met James Love.

The couple had, it is believed, ten children but not all children lived to adulthood. One side of the monument in the Mindemoya cemetery lists the children who died young. It is hard to read. My mom thought there might have been errors when the stone was re-carved.

The first child, Jane was born 19 March 1879 and died 28 March 1879. [dates not certain.] Next was Agnes Hamilton Love named for her grandmother. I have found a birth registration for her that was registered 3 March 1880 giving her date of birth as 3 October 1879. There is something wrong with the dates for these two babies. Neither of them appear on the 1881 census. Cora Ida Love was born 30 March 1881. She lived to the age of 91 and outlived two husbands. Norman Luther Love was born 23 June 1883. He also died young. No death registration has been found for him.  John Thomas Love, who was my grandfather, was born 25 August 1884. Four years later, they had Laura Jane on 16 August 1888. Next came Ethel Mae on 30 September 1891. James Lorne Love was born 14 April 1893 and died five years, five months and 23 days later on 7 October 1898 of inflammation. Margaret Isabel Love was born 14 January 1896. The last child was Grace Elizabeth Love born 21 August 1898.

James Love, Elizabeth Love, in front Margaret Love, Laura Love, John Robinson, Jane Robinson,  Cora Love, Ethel Love, John Love with sister Grace in his arms (ca 1902)

 Tragedy struck the family on 21 August 1914 when Elizabeth's husband, James was killed in a farm accident. Now Elizabeth was a widow at the age of 55. Her daughters Margaret and Grace were unmarried. She was fortunate to have her son, John living across the lane who would take over the farm.

I am sure she saw many happy times in her life. She was able to travel to southern Ontario to attend Robinson family reunions in Mitchell.

Margaret Love with her mother. Photo taken in Markdale on their way to Mitchell.

Margaret remained at home until her mother's death to care for her. Elizabeth died 16 May 1932 from pneumonia.

There are several family trees on Ancestry where it would appear that the submitters have intertwined the records of Elizabeth Robinson possibly with an |Eliza Ann Robinson.


© 2014 Janet Iles