1931 Canadian Census - Sub-districts

The following are some of my research areas.  While waiting for the 1931 census to be indexed by name, here are some of my notes to help when I have time to do some research. Noting the details that I find about a person and their family will help in writing about them.

Owen Sound

Grey North (district 109) is comprised of  12 sub-districts for Owen Sound  (36 to 47). Sub-districts 36 to 38 are the Bay Ward, Sub-districts 39 to 42 are West Ward and Sub-districts 43 to 47 are River Ward. Each sub-district comprises a number of pages. 

Markham Township

York North (district 170) has 11 sub-districts for Markham Township.

For rural areas knowing what communities were nearby will help narrow your search

sub-district 20 - Markham Township, Langstaff, Gormley, Thornhill Village

#21 --Markham Township, Elgin Mills, Headford

#22 -- Markham Township, Buttonville Village

#23 -- Markham Township, Victoria Square, Headford, Gormley

#24 -- Markham Township, Unionville Police Village,

#25 -- Markham Township, Almira, Cashell

#26 -- Markham Township, Box Grove Village, Locust Hill

#27 --  Markham Township

#28 -- Markham Township

#53 -- Markham Village

#54 -- Markham Village

© 2023Janet Iles

1931 Canadian Census -- early research

1931 Canadian Census

On June 1, 2023, the 1931 Census was released with digital images only. Ninety-two years ago, enumerators began to visit their assigned area. They were given a list of instructions on how to interpret the questions that they were to ask each family.

     Not long after the release, Library & Archives Canada ran into difficulties. Needless to say, genealogists were anxious to search for their families. Many, like me, have parents who were recorded during that time. Both of my parents were listed on the 1921 census. In 1931, both were living in the same localities as they had in 1921. My mother’s family had not moved, but my father’s had. I knew where they lived in 1931 from city directories.

    Because the Library & Archives site was giving errors in linking to the images. Genealogist Ken McKinlay discovered a workaround and posted the information on Facebook. I followed his advice and I was able to locate my father with his family.  I went through each sub-district in North Grey, Ontario, and I noted that Owen Sound was divided into three wards – Bay district, which included mainly the east side of town in the valley and up on the east hill, likely north of 10^th Street; the West District and the River District, which included the family and north of 10th Street. I would have to look more closely at a map and the census to accurately to narrow which ward to look at.

By the second day, I found my mother and her family after Ancestry posted the images. It was helpful that I could move page by page within a sub-district.

    They were on a farm and my great-grandmother was enumerated at the next house. They lived across the lane from each other.

     I noticed that the family names near where my father lived were the same as when I was a child.  We lived across the road from my grandparents.

    In addition, I have gone through the Markham area, noting which places were included in each sub-district. My interest there were the surnames of families who came in 1794 with William Berczy/

    In the past, I never sought out the instructions for the commissioners and enumerators, but I did this time.

    Library & Archives Canada has resolved the initial problems.

 

I will continue to share what I learned, in separate postings,  

 

© 2023 Janet Iles

Writing family profiles

While I haven't been writing a lot on this blog, it doesn't mean I haven't been writing family profiles. Using some of the articles that I posted on this blog, I am expanding them. My aim is to create small books. The one about my mother is 22 pages long  and hardcover and it includes photos, charts and small stories about different topics: early years, life on the island, married life, things she taught me, etc. 

Right now, I am working on my father's book. Also in progress are my father's ancestors' book.

I am using Canva and templates purchased through the Family Writing Studio:  https://www.familyhistorywritingstudio.com  and their Heirloom product. I have taken a number of focused writing courses and I belong to the Writing Masterclass. 

© 2023 Janet Iles

Check Documents Carefully for All Details

It is interesting that you can look at a document many times and not realize you missed some information or did not realize some information was missing. 

In the Post  "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Uncertainty," I wrote about the uncertainty of when my great-grandfather George Iles came to Canada from England. Was it 1903 or 1904? He was not on the passenger list with the rest of the family. I have yet to find a list with him on. This past week, I realized that several of my grandfather's siblings were not on the passenger list with him. 

George and Emily (nee Pugh) had eight children: Edith Emily (1883), William George (1885), Alice (1888), Ethel (1890), Albert Valentine (1892), Emmanuel James (1895), Harold Edward (1897), and Lillian Ruth (1900).

There are two passenger lists for the family:

1. the list created for their departure from England

2. the list created for their arrival in Canada

UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960

They departed Liverpool, 27 April 1905 on board SS Ottawa of the Dominion Line. 

Columns: Ticket #, Names of Passengers; Adults; Children; Infants; Profession, Calling or Occupation of Passenger; the next columns are divided under English/Scotch/Irish Foreigners and within each male and female under: Age of each Adult 12 years and upwards Married / Single; Ages of children between 1 and 12; Infants

Ticket # 5178 

Emily Iles, Housewife,  44 [she is the wife of George] 

Lily, Domestic, 21 [she is the wife of William]

William, Laborer, 20

Edith, Domestic, 22 [sister of William]

Albert, child, 11 [brother of William]

Emmanuel, child,  9 [brother of William]

Harold, child, 7 [brother of William]

Lily, child, 4 [sister of William]

Emily, infant [daughter of William and Lily -- should be Edith May]

Missing from the list are Alice and Ethel.

Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935

British Bonus: a commission paid by the Canadian government's Immigration Branch to steamship booking agents in the United Kingdom for each suitable immigrant who purchased a ticket to sail to Canada. The immigrants themselves did not receive a bonus.

The Canadian Passenger List provides different information. 

• No. of Passengers.
• Number of Railway Order.
• Amount of Cash. To be filled in by Immigration Agent at Port of Landing.
• Name of Passenger.
• Age of Adults.
• Children under 14 years of age.
• Able to
• Read
• Write
• Married or Single.
• Profession, Occupation, or Calling of Passengers.
• Nation or Country of Birth.
• Counties in British Isles from which Passenger came.
• Births at Sea.
• Deaths at Sea.
• Place of ultimate destination of Passengers excepting “Tourists and returned Canadians,” who are to be so described.

For the family, ages for children are stamped over with "British Bonus Allowed" All are shown as from Gloucester. All are going to Owen Sound

Emily Isles,  44 Wife [looks like RR written over something] [She is mother of William, Edith, Albert, Emanuel, Harold, and Lily].

Lilly,  21, domestic 

William, 20, labourer [RR added]

Edith, domestic

Albert, son

Emanuel, son

Harold, son

Lily, daughter 

Edith, (written in larger script as if a correction was made) daughter [daughter of Lilly and William not Emily]

 

The missing two girls travelled together on board the Tunisian leaving Liverpool, 6 October 1904. -- Why did Ethel and Alice go before the rest of the family?

On the Outward bound passenger list, they are listed as what looks like child, but are counted in the adult line as both were over 12. Alice is 16 and Ethel 14 Their ticket number is not near the number of the others listed on the page, so it looks like they did not travel with someone else. 

On the Canadian Passenger list, both Alice and Ethel are shown as Domestics from Gloucester and bound for Owen  Sound.

The Iles family had been living in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Not everyone in the family was born in Gloucestershire.

Not all information on forms will be correct. It will be only as good as the person providing the information and the person recording the information.

Next steps: I will need to update the family history story with the information about Ethel and Alice. New questions come to mind. How did the family feel when George left? Was it difficult for them to say goodbye to Alice and Ethel as they left to cross the ocean on their own? What were William's wife Emily Lily's feelings as she had to say good-bye to her mother and sister?

Sources:

UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 [database on-line]. Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Outwards Passenger Lists. BT27. Records of the Commercial, Companies, Labour, Railways and Statistics Departments. Records of the Board of Trade and of successor and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England viewed on Ancestry.ca

Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935 [database on-line].Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Series: RG 76-C; Roll: T-484 viewed on Ancestry.ca

Information from Library and Archives Canada website re Immigration

© 2020 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2020: Uncertain

My great grandfather, George Iles, was not on the ship's passenger list for the Ottawa, when his wife and most of his children came to Canada. William was already married, but he was there with his wife and baby. They left Liverpool, England, on the 27 April 1905, and arrived in Montreal,  Quebec, on the 7 May 1905.

So when did Great grandpa George come to Canada? I am uncertain of the exact date. I never found a passenger list entry for him; neither the one for his departure from England or for his arrival in Canada had his name. I have made several searches of databases using a variety of spellings for Iles. When his family came to Canada, the incoming passenger list showed that they were headed to Owen Sound. From this, it would most likely indicate that George was already in Owen Sound or vicinity.

The 1911 Census for Derby Township, Grey County, Ontario, (part of lot 17, concession 3, Springmount, on the outskirts of Owen Sound) shows 1904 as George's year of immigration and for the rest of the family as 1905.  Ten years later, the family are living in Sydenham Township at the time of the census. This time it gives 1903 as the year of immigration for the whole family.

So, there are two possible years for his arrival in Canada. Therefore, his date of coming to Canada remains uncertain.

Update 29 July 2020: George's daughter's Alice (aged 16) and Ethel (aged 14) arrived in Canada on 15 October 1904 on board the Tunisian. I had looked at the passenger list for the Ottawa many times and I hadn't noticed that the two girls were missing.


© 2020 Janet Iles

International Museum Day 2020

As I was waking up this morning, I thought this is International Museum Day what could I post about a museum that I had visited in another country. I thought of several that I had visited years ago now, but when I went to find photographs I couldn't find them. The ones that I know I like the best are those that focus on local history and have exhibits that portray a room or a scene related to their theme whether in miniature or full scale with artifacts. To me they tell better the story. 

I did find some from a trip in 2001. In September 2001, I took a trip with the Markham Berczy Settlers Association. On our first day in Germany, we had lunch at the Freilichtmuseum Mühlenhof in Münster (an open air museum). On the menu was Kartoffelsuppe (potato soup). Once our tummies were full, we had a chance to see a bit of this museum before continuing on our way. There are 30 buildings.

The boot sign on the building tells that it was a shoemaker's shop. At one time even in my home town had signs like that to indicate what type of shop it was.

This building must have been a chapel.

Bockwindmuhle Muhlenhof Freilichtmuseum

The sign with announcements.

A windmill

© 2020 Janet Iles

Liberation of the Netherlands 75 years ago

Seventy-five years ago during World War II, Canadian soldiers were among those who helped with the liberation of the Netherlands from the hands of the Nazis. My father was one of those soldiers. He was part of the Perth Regiment based out of Stratford, Ontario.

The Perth Regiment arrived at Nijmegen, Holland, on the 28 March 1945 having been in Italy from November 1943 until February 1945. They sailed from Leghorn, [Livorno] Italy, on 22 February 1945, heading to Marseilles, France. From there they travelled through France and Belgium before arriving in Nijmegen.

The Battle of the Neder Rijn was the Perths' first engagement on the western Front and they successfully captured the positions on its south bank including the village of Driehl. After holding these positions on the Neder Rijn for a few days, the Perth Perths moved to the area of Wehl and Doesburg and the line northward. The next task, set the 5th Canadian Armoured Division, was the cutting in two of the German forces in Holland the obliteration of the enemy in the northern part of the country. 

On the 15th of April, 1945, the Perths were on the move through the famous city of Arnhem, heading north-west. Their rapid advance brought them to the relief of one of the armoured units on the heights near Ede, and on the night of their arrival, they occupied Lunteren.

The 5th Canadian Armoured Division was now on the roll in earnest. The Perths dashed across and occupied Harderwijk on the Zuider Zee. A few days' rest and then they moved across North Holland to relieve a unit of the 3rd Division in the area of Loppersum and occupied Spijk, Bierum and Godlinzse. The Perths were then given the task of clearing the outer defences of Deifzijl, a tremendous undertaking against strongly fortified positions, manned by some 2,700 enemy troops and strongly supported by naval guns set up in concrete positions. 

 With little artillery support available, the Perths attacked and captured the towns of Holwierde and Nansum, taking in their stride the fort on the dyke above the latter town. Upwards of 800 prisoners were captured and the outer defences broken, allowing another unit to complete the capture of the port of Delfzijl. [1]

 My father was in the Delfzijl Pocket when the war ended. The Regiment went on to Sneek where they stayed six months. They were billeted with families.

Our father mostly talked about the people they met and about fellow soldiers. In May 1985, the Perth Regiment returned to Sneek for a reunion "Sentimental Journey" to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the war. During the trip, they had parades, the laying of wreaths, a Liberation Days Service on the 4th and a Memorial Day service on the 5th. My dad recalled, "It's a strange feeling to see someone you haven't seen in 40 years. She had sent a picture." He was hugged by a woman in whose home he had stayed as a solider. My dad learned that a man with whom he had lived had been buried just two days before. He had hoped to live for their reunion. A local newspaper had carried two photos of soldiers who had been in Sneek at the end of the war. In the one, the caption reads as translated into English, "A day sailing on the Sneekermeer with from the left Hansford, Carter, Woodward, the owner of the boat whose name couldn't be remembered by Woodward, and Bobby? Woodward's last name has also escaped." Who was Bobby? That was my dad.

[1] Perth Regiment Veterans' Association, 10th Anniversary Re-union at Stratford, Ontario, September 15th and 16th Nineteen Hundred and fifty-six: Souvenir Programme, p. 14 & 16

© 2020 Janet Iles

Tips and tools for researching websites

Websites mentioned in the talk for the Meaford Public Library on October 23, 2019

Family Search Wiki  https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Main_Page

Archives of Ontario http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/index.aspx

Bruce Grey Branch Ontario Genealogical Society https://brucegrey.ogs.on.ca/

Letters that get confused

http://www.theancestorhunt.com/blog/the-one-absolute-best-way-to-find-more-ancestor-articles-in-historic-newspapers-online#.Vx9lCPkrLIU

Kenneth Marks  -- Check his website for other useful resources

Cyndislist (World-wide) http://cyndislist.com

Linkpendium (primarily USA) http://www.linkpendium.com/

CanGenealogy (Canada) https://www.cangenealogy.com/

Genweb (World-wide) https://www.worldgenweb.org/

Genuki (United Kingdom) – links + information https://www.genuki.org.uk/

Olive Tree Genealogy http://olivetreegenealogy.com

Bill Martin’s website  http://my.tbaytel.net/bmartin/

Grey Roots https://greyroots.com/collections-and-research/archives-and-research

Meaford Museum https://www.meaford.ca/en/explore-play/meaford-museum.aspx#

Grey Highlands Library Newspaper database http://news.ourontario.ca/ghpl/search

Hanover Public Library https://hanoverlibrary.ca/

Owen Sound Public Library https://olco.ent.sirsidynix.net/client/en_US/owensound

Craigleith Heritage Depot https://www.thebluemountainslibrary.ca/museum.cfm

Library and Archives Canada collection databases https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/Pages/collection-databases.aspx

Ontario Land Records https://www.onland.ca/ui/

50 Years Ago today - the moon landing

Moon landing and walk - Remembering 50 years ago today - July 20 / July 21, 1969. It is interesting to see and read the remembrances that are appearing on television and on social media. It is hard to believe that happened 50 years ago. My parents watched on television, but I wasn't home. I wasn't even in the same province. 

I wrote this 10 years ago.

The moon landing was at 0256 GMT July 21 -4 = making it 10:56 July 20 in Ontario and Quebec.

I was in Trois-Pistoles Quebec, a small community on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River attending French Summer School of the University of Western Ontario. I was living with the Côté family for six weeks during that summer (July 3 - August 13, 1969). It was my second summer to attend the summer school. 

I was attending classes studying third year university French 381 - Grammar, composition, oral practice (although I had only finished grade thirteen in June). Now that it is another story in itself.

So back to the moon landing. (Retournons à l'alunissage)

I didn't watch the historic event chez la famille Côté. I spent the night at the apartment of one of my fellow school mates who was staying with either her aunt or grandmother. I wonder if I have any notes on the subject or old letters, as sadly I do not have many photos and none of them are labelled and there are no annotations in the photo album.

Although, there was school the next day, we stayed up late to watch it. It was exciting to watch and I am sure we held our breath until they were safely landed. How thrilling to watch as Buzz Aldrian and Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. We would hear the words of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

What I don't remember was it translated? What station did we watch? It was most likely a French language station of Radio-Canada. After being there for over two weeks, I wouldn't think anything of watching this special moment in French, as all we spoke for the summer was French unless we were translating into English as part of our courses or once in while an English song sung for practice of the French Canadians learning English.

I wonder now what the older generations thought at the time about the moon walk? Had they ever imagined that during their lifetime that someone would travel to the moon and walk on its surface? I wasn't home to see my parents' reaction. They did take photos of the television set. My grandparents were gone by then.

Where were you when this historic moment happened? Perhaps you will blog about it or leave a comment here.

© 2019 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2019 -- Week #28: Reunions

Back in 2009, I wrote about the Iles family reunions. Check the link for some photos. We had our last one 24 years ago, in 1995 in Kolapore, Town of the Blue Mountains, Grey County, Ontario, Canada. My mother passed away the following January. The ones we had in the past were for the descendants of my great-grandfather George Iles.

Well it is about time we had another one. This time it is planned for the descendants of my grandparents, William George Iles and Lily Dudley. Except for an aunt by marriage, all the children and their spouses are deceased. I am now part of the senior generation (although certainly not the oldest). One of my cousins is turning 80 in August and his family decided why not have a reunion and extend it beyond his siblings and their descendants. When I was contacted, I said, let's do it.

We have had one planning meeting. My sister and I are helping them to get the word out. Thanks to Facebook and email, I am making connections with the descendants of a couple lines. Since the last reunion, some who attended as young children have children of their own.

In preparation, I as a genealogist want to include some family history. I have prepared a four generations couples hourglass chart. I based it on the 5 generation couples hourglass chart using Excel found in the Facebook Group "Genedocs Templates" files.  The chart shows my grandparents in the centre with their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. I added my grandparents photo. It would be from around the time they married. I also put at the bottom of the chart the name of each of their children who lived to adulthood and their spouses names.

Here is a screenshot of a portion of it.

I am having the chart enlarged and I will have it on display at the reunion in August. I will likely post photos of past reunions.

I am looking forward to seeing cousins who I haven't seen in years and to meet new ones for the first time. It will be potluck for the first course and of course birthday cake.

© 2019 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 21 Military

What did I learn from my grandfather's, William George Iles, military personnel record?

For many years, we in Canada have had only access to the Attestation papers for World War I soldiers. Last year, Library & Archives Canada completed the digitization of the personnel files and had posted to its website, links to the files as a grouping was completed.

My grandfather's military record confirmed for me that he left for overseas when my father was very young. Two months after my dad's birth, he arrived in Liverpool, England.

His record showed me what I expected to find in his record: when he was taken on strength; any transfers, when he had leave, etc.

What surprised me, is that the records included where his family lived. I was also surprised to find out the family moved more than once. The military needed this information to send any money to my grandmother or grandfather.

1916

1066 3rd Avenue East, Owen Sound

Attestation papers

10 August 1918	721 10th Street East, Owen Sound	Military record
1919	721, 10th Street East, Owen Sound	Demobilization
1919	1255 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound	Last military pay? 1919?

16 January 1928

295, 7th Avenue East, Owen Sound

Active militia

This has led me to add to this inventory of addresses. I checked information census records, city directories, and the birth registrations of the children that are now public. I can also check any old city telephone directories that are available at the local public library.

Now this is also has me thinking, should I not also check the military records for his siblings to find out where they lived? -- Harold Edward was killed in action on 8 August 1918 and his brother, Emmanuel who also served. Harold was still single and his address was the same as his father, George Iles when he signed up. Emmanuel was not married when he signed up, but he was not living at home. He was living in Berlin, Ontario (renamed Kitchener) but gave his father's address as his next of kin at 1529 9th Avenue East.

Clearly, you can learn more about the family through these personnel records.
2019 Janet Iles

Links from Talk at Grey Roots

During my talk at Grey Roots Museum and Archives near Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, on March 26,  2019, the following are some urls to websites shared during the talk on Internet Genealogy Research: Tools and Tips -- not all in the order presented

Thomas MacEntee's        http://hackgenealogy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HANDOUT-Using-and-Managing-a-Genealogy-Research-Log.pdf 

Bruce Grey Branch Ontario Ancestors (Ontario Genealogical Society) https://brucegrey.ogs.on.ca/

Kenneth Marks's article on Letters that Get Confused       http://www.theancestorhunt.com/blog/the-one-absolute-best-way-to-find-more-ancestor-articles-in-historic-newspapers-online#.Vx9lCPkrLIU 
Check other resources on his site. 

Family Search Wiki       https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Main_Page

Family Search Catalog      https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/search/

Automated Genealogy Some Canadian census record indexes http://automatedgenealogy.com

Cyndislist  https://cyndislist.com/  -- since 1996 she has provided this service
Linkpendium http://www.linkpendium.com/
Genweb https://www.worldgenweb.org/
Genuki https://www.genuki.org.uk/
CanGenealogy http://www.cangenealogy.com/

Ontario Archives http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/index.aspx•

Library & Archives Canada http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/Pages/collection-databases.aspx

Bruce Grey Branch Ontario Ancestors (Ontario Genealogical Society) https://brucegrey.ogs.on.ca

Grey Roots  https://greyroots.com/
https://greyroots.com/collections-and-research/archives-research/external-resources
West Grey Library http://www.westgreylibrary.com/
Hanover Public Library https://hanoverlibrary.ca/
South Grey Museum  http://www.southgreymuseum.ca/
Markdale and Flesherton newspapers on ourontario.ca  http://news.ourontario.ca/ghpl/search
Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library http://owensound.library.on.ca
Grey Highlands Public Library https://www.greyhighlands.ca/en/visit-and-explore/libraries.aspx -- links to branches

Different search engines       https://www.lifewire.com/best-search-engines-2483352 

Extras
Scotland's People  https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ -- purchase credits for records
Irish Toolkit https://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/
Canadiana  http://canadiana.ca -- free
Map Explorer https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/maps requires a subscription but shows what is happening with history/genealogical websites.

        

•

 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2019: #4 I'd Like to Meet

In the past, I have written about some of my ancestors whom I would like to meet. In Guess Who is Coming to Dinner, I wrote about

1. My 4th great grandfather -- John Nicholas Stiver (born Johan Niclaus Stőber [Stoeber]) in what is now Germany around 1745. He came to Canada in 1794.
2. My great-great grandfather Thomas Love. Thomas came to Canada with his wife in the 1840s.
3. My great grandmother - Emily Iles nee Pugh. She came to Canada with her family in 1905.
4. My great grandfather - Josiah Dudley. Josiah lived all his life in England.

In last year's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, I wrote in Invite to Dinner about Hannah Johnston nee Hemingway.

I'd like to meet my paternal great grandfather, George Iles. He died when my dad was 20 years old. I don't ever recall asking my dad about his grandfather. My dad would have known him as they both lived in Owen Sound, Ontario. While I have written about Emily Pugh, his first wife, there is still so much more I want to know about his life especially before and after his marriage to her. 

George was the seventh known child of James Iles and Louisa Belcher. He was born 7 December 1858, in West Field, Guiting Power, Gloucestershire. He was baptized 2 January 1859 in the Parish church. 

His father was a shepherd and the family moved to where James could find work. George married Emily Pugh 15 October 1881 in Stow-on-the Wold. George worked as a bone and rag man, hawker and and later a grocery carter, so his family also moved many times. 

Throughout George's married life, he held different jobs. This resulted in the family moving for him to get work. The children's birth registrations in England and English census records lead me to that conclusion. George worked as a bone and rag man, hawker and and later a grocery carter.

Questions about his life in England 
What were your parents like? Tell me about your siblings? What was it like to move often both as a child and as an adult? Tell me about your time as a bone and rag man and a hawker. Did you work for someone else?

Why did you move to Birmingham?

The Decision to Emigrate
What made you decide to leave England and go to Canada? When did you leave? What ship did you sail on? Did you have help with your passage? 

Arrival in Canada
Where did you arrive? Did you go directly to Grey County? Why did you go there? Did you travel with anyone else? 

Time in Grey County and Owen Sound
According to the records I have found, you moved regularly. In 1913 you were living in Owen Sound when your wife Emily died but in 1921 you were out in Sydenham Township. Were you living at Starvation Corners? When did you move back to Owen Sound?

 Tell me about your children. Where did you meet Mary, your second wife?

So many questions that I would ask him. So many questions, I wish I had asked my dad and his older siblings. 
© 2019 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2019: Week 3 - Unusual Names

At different times in history and in different cultures, some first names are more popular. What we may today feel are unusual names weren't consider so when a child was given the name. What will people think of the names children are given today in the future?

Two names that I have chosen to look at are from my Hemingway family line.

The first is Zillah Baker. She was the daughter of Seneca Baker and Esther Ann Milliken. Zillah was born in Whitchurch Township, York County, Ontario, 11 July 1888. Zillah married Harry Gilbert 11 June 1924. Her name was spelled Zella in the marriage registration. 

Zillah was the name of the wife of Lamach (Genesis 4:19).

The second one is Zeluka Barnes. She was the daughter of Jacob Barnes and Anna Holder. Her birth registration appears to be spelled Zoluka. In the 1891 census, her name is spelled Zeluka. She was born 29 September 1879 in Victoria County, Ontario.



© 2019 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2019: Week 1 - Firsts

Until I started researching my family history, I had no idea that any of my ancestors came to Canada before 1900. My grandparents, William Iles and Emily Lillian "Lil" Iles, nee Dudley, came to Canada in 1905. I didn't even know the year when I first started but I did know that they were both born in England, as was their first child, my aunt May. I knew my great-grandparents, George Iles and wife Emily Iles, nee Pugh, also came to Canada. It turns out that they didn't come together. The children came with their mother also in 1905. The passenger record shows that they knew that they were coming to Owen Sound. George came earlier but I have yet to find a passenger record for him.

Further research led to discovering when others came from England or Scotland. But who were the first of my ancestors to come to Canada? 

In 1993, I learned that my Stöber [Stoeber], later going by Stiver, arrived as part of a group in 1794 under the leadership of William Berczy. They settled in Markham Township, York County, Ontario. It was because of what I learned in the book, Markham, 1794-1900, I was able to make the connection.  The discovery of the group, the Markham Berczy Settlers Association, allowed me to learn more about their story. These ancestors had not come from either England or Scotland. They had left in 1792 what would become Germany.

Until you start to study your family history, you may not know who were your first ancestors to arrive in the country where you reside. 

© 2019 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #37 Closest to your birthday

When I first saw this theme, I thought my parents might have had the birthdays closest to mine. Because our birth dates were close, when I was an adult we would celebrate with family members on one date. We still recognized our individual dates as well. Further research showed there were others who had close dates. Mom -- 6 days, Dad -- 6 days.

I checked my family history program. I discovered that where I knew the actual date of the person's birth, I have 17 cousins who were born on the 27th of February. 

The next check was to find out which one of my ancestor's date was closest to mine. The first is John Robinson, my great-great grandfather, who was born according to the 1901 census, 3 March 1828, in Sowerby, Yorkshire, England. John died 5 June 1905, in Carnarvon Township, Manitoulin Island, Ontario. John -- 4 days.

A close second is Hannah Hemingway, my great-great grandmother, who was born, according to the inscription on her tombstone, 4 March 1819, in Markham Township. Her parents were Josiah Hemingway and Anna Stiver. Hannah died 13 October 1877.  Hannah -- 5 days.

It is interesting both of these ancestors are on my maternal side of the family.

© 2019 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #33 Family Legend

Two of my family legends revolve around one family.

It is not unusual to have family lore that you are not able to prove. You wonder is there an element of truth in the story. Why would the story be passed down?

Early in my family research, I was told by my cousin Norman in England that Josiah Dudley, my great-grandfather, had been born in Spain, ca 1842, with the surname Zuniga. My dad's mother also said that her brown eyes were from her Spanish roots. The story is that when the family came to England when Josiah was a toddler, the family changed their name by deed poll taking the name of Dudley for Dudley, Warwickshire where they were living. I was intrigued by this story. So I was on the hunt to see what I could find. Well, I have never found anything to support this. 

All the census records that I have found for Josiah and his family have given his place of birth as Alcester, Warwickshire except the 1871 census when it is listed as Arrow. Arrow is a parish within the Alcester District. 

Sarah Mucklow married Josiah Dudley 28 July 1867 in Haselor, Warwickshire. The family story that I have been told about her is that she had 22 children: three sets of twins, two sets of triplets, but only four survived to adulthood. 

I have found only 5 children.
Bertha Ann, baptized 10 March, 1869 -- she appears on the 1871 census but not in the 1881 census where you would expect to still find her living with her parents. The following death is likely for her.

death March 1875 quarter  

DUDLEY

Bertha Ann

6

Derby

7b

391

 Next I have Joseph or Josiah Gilbert. 
These could be his birth registration.  

birth March 1875 quarter  Dudley

Josiah Gilbert

Derby

7b

479

Births Mar 1876
DUDLEY	Joseph		Chesterfield	7b	689

 Chesterfield district is in Derbyshire.

Births Dec 1874
DUDLEY	Joseph		Belper	7b	508

In his petition for naturalization in Rhode Island, he gave his date of birth as 21 November 1875 in Derby, England. On his draft card for World War 1, his date of birth is given as 21 November 1874. 

Next I have Charles Henry born about 1877
Could this be his birth registration
birth June quarter 1877

Dudley

Charles Henry

Bakewell

7b

753

Both his draft registration card and declaration of his intention to be naturalized give his date of birth as 21 February 1877. 

Both Joseph and Charles moved to the United States to live.

My grandmother, Emily Lily was born 31 January 1884 in Birmingham. 
Her registration March quarter 1884

Dudley

Emily Lily

Birmingham

6d

74

 I have her birth registration. 
  
The last known child was Rose who was born 8 May 1889. 
This is likely her registration - June quarter 1889.

Dudley

Rose May

Aston

6d

289

There are gaps between births so it is possible Sarah had other pregnancies, but whether she gave birth to other children will likely remain unknown.

The family legends always give rise to challenges to family history researchers.

(c) 2018 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #25 The Name is the Same

In my family tree, I have three men named Emmanuel Iles. All three men were my uncles but from different generations. One I knew well. One, I am not sure if I ever met. One, I could not have met as he lived in England and lived long before I was born. 

The one I knew well was my uncle, Emmanuel Kenneth Iles (1923-1983). I always knew him as my Uncle Manny. In the business world, he was known as E.K., Kenneth or Ken Iles. Work took Manny to western Canada but he returned to this area for the latter years of his work in the banking industry. He died at the age of 60.

My great uncle Emmanuel James Iles (1895-1960) came to Canada from England with his mother and siblings in 1905. His father, George, had already emigrated. The family lived in the Owen Sound area. In 1913, he moved to Chesley, Ontario in the county to the west.  In World War I, he was in England with 118th Battalion of London. He was a gas victim in war and suffered with chronic asthma the rest of his life. Manny was a trombone soloist in the Chesley Citizen's Band. He was choirmaster at the Geneva Presbyterian Church for 20 years and was also on the board of management of the church. His trade was wood working. 

Some of my recent research has focused on Emmanuel Iles, (1864 - 1928) my 2nd great grand-uncle. I have not located a baptismal or birth registration for Emmanuel. Although the early census records indicate that his place of birth was Guiting, Gloucestershire, later census records and his pension record indicate he was born at West Field or Westfield, Gloucestershire. This gives a more precise location. Emmanuel was the tenth known child of James Iles and Louisa Belcher. James worked as a agricultural labourer with some of his records showing him as a shepherd.

According to his pension record, Emmanuel was born 17th February 1864, in West Field, Gloucestershire.[1]. By the time of the 1871 census, Emmanuel had already begun school and the family was enumerated in Guiting Power. [2] 

When the family was enumerated in 1881 at Ford, Temple Guiting, only two children remained at home-- Emmanuel and Timothy -- but a grandchild aged six and named William Hitchman was there. Emmanuel was working as an agricultural labourer. It is interesting that the place of birth for each member of the family is listed as unknown. The question is who gave the information to the enumerator. [3]

Emmanuel left Gloucestershire and went to London. On 6th August 1883, he joined the police force at Gipsy Hill, an area in south London.[4] Emmanuel met Elizabeth Child, daughter of James Child, from Upper Norwood, Surrey. He was living in Camberwell. They exchanged their marriage vows on 18 June 1887 at the Emmanuel Church in the Parish of Camberwell, Surrey after their intention to marry had been announced from the pulpit three times. [5] This beautiful church operated from 1843 to 1963, but unfortunately, it was demolished in 1968. [6] 

By the 1891 census, Emmanuel and Elizabeth had two children: Ethel (1 year) and Ernest (2 weeks). [7] The family continued to grow with the addition of Frederick, Alice and Sidney as shown in the 1901 census. [8] 

Before Emmanuel's retirement in 1908, his weekly remuneration included pay of 1 pound 13 shillings 6 pence; 4 pence for coal, aid for rent of 1 shilling 6 pence and reserve pay of 1 shilling 6 pence. When Emmanuel retired, he was entitled to a pension of 54 pounds, 3 shillings and 10 pence per annum after serving 25 years and 4 days with the O Division of the Metropolitan London Police. [9]

His pension record also gives a picture of Emmanuel's physical features. He stood 5 foot 9 1/4 inches. He had dark hair but was slightly bald on top. His eyes were hazel and his complexion dark.

The last publicly available census in England is the 1911 census. [at the time of writing] Each household has its own page. By this time, Emmanuel had retired from the police force and was receiving a pension. He was only 46 years old. Five children were still living at home. This included May E and Maude who were born since the last census.

 Also enumerated with the family in 1911 were Emily Child, sister-in-law to the head (Emmanuel) aged 34. Two of her children were also there: Sidney, 12, and Cyril, 8. All three are shown as having been born in South Africa. The children are shown as British Subjects by Parentage. [10]

Three men with the same name but of different times. 



[1] London, England, Metropolitan Police Pension Registers, 1852-1932 [database on-line], entry for Emmanuel Iles; digital image,  Ancestry (Ancestry.ca : accessed 10 July 2018),  citing Metropolitan Police Pension Registers MEPO 21.,The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, England. 
[2] 1871 Census of England, Gloucestershire, Guiting Power,  RG10, Piece: 2656; Folio: 70; Page: 12, James Iles household; digital image, Ancestry (Ancestry.ca : accessed 10 June 2015), citing microfilm 835337, Family History Library, Salt Lake City.
[3] 1881 Census of England, Gloucestershire, Temple Guiting, RG11; Piece: 2564; Folio: 44; Page: 6, James Iles household; digital image, Ancestry (Ancestry.ca : accessed 10 June 2015), citing microfilm 1341618, Family History Library, Salt Lake City.
[4] London, England, Metropolitan Police Pension Registers, 1852-1932 [database on-line], entry for Emmanuel Iles.
[5] London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932, entry for Emmanuel Iles and Elizabeth Child, 18 June 1887 [database on-line]; digital image, Ancestry (Ancestry.ca : accessed 8 July 2018), citing  London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: p73/emm/020
[6] Camberwell Churches, Emmanuel Parish Church, Camberwell, London, England (http://www.famloc.co.uk/towns-and-locations/camberwell-churches/ : accessed 8 July 2018).
[7] 1891 Census of England, London, Camberwell, RG12; Piece: 467; Folio: 11; Page: 16, Emmanuel Iles household; digital image, Ancestry (Ancestry.ca : accessed 8 July 2018), citing National Archives of the UK.
[8] 1901 Census of England, London, Camberwell, RG13; Piece: 496; Folio: 140; Page: 30, Emmanuel Iles household; digital image, Ancestry (Ancestry.ca : accessed 8 July 2018), citing National Archives of the UK 
[9] London, England, Metropolitan Police Pension Registers, 1852-1932 [database on-line], entry for Emmanuel Iles
[10] 1911 Census of England, London, Camberwell (district 27) Camberwell North (sub-district 26), RG14; Piece: 2510;, Emmanuel Iles household  digital image, Ancestry (Ancestry.ca : accessed 8 July 2018), citing Niational Archives of the UK