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

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #14 Maiden Aunt

As one who is a maiden aunt and grand aunt, I am writing about my grand aunt Margaret Love. I had other maiden aunts but she is the one that I know the most about. I wrote about her before during a Carnival of Genealogy.

She often stayed with us at Christmas time. I am fortunate to have some of her photographs. She took many photographs so I can see photographs of relatives that I never met. 

When I was teaching in Northern Ontario, I stopped at her place on the Manitoulin Island.

One story that I can share is about a visit I paid to her. I don't recall what year it was and where I was going at the time, perhaps a visit to St. Joe's Island. 

I took one of the ferries to the Manitoulin, possibly the Chi-Cheemaun and Aunt Margaret was living in Little Current in an apartment. It was late when I arrived. I thought she would be expecting me as I was sure I had written a letter to let her know of my arrival. There was no outside light on. I knocked loudly on door. "Aunt Margaret, it's me Janet." She was surprised to see me at the door. She welcomed me and made up a cot for me to sleep on. I wonder did I send the letter? If not, where did it go?

I have many fond memories of my maiden aunt. 


© 2018 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #13 This Old Homestead

"This house was originally owned by Mirchouse Key (Sandfield Con. 6 Lot 13) on what is known as Key's Commons. When the Key family moved to North Dakota in 1889 the house was sold - dismantled by James Love and erected in 1891 on the home farm in Carnarvon." [1]

This photo is one that I have of my great-grandparents' home on the Manitoulin in Carnarvon Township. In later years, my Uncle Ross and his family lived there. It is while they lived there that I visited many times. 

This house was across the lane from the house where my mother lived until she left to come to southern Ontario to finish her education. She spent a lot of time at the above home with her grandmother and great aunt Margaret.

[1] posting in Facebook, January 15, 2017, "Central Manitoulin Historical Society"

© 2018 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #9 Where there's a Will

-- a little late

On this International Women's Day, I am going to share the Last Will and Testament of my 3rd Great-grandmother, Margaret Johnston nee Byres.

I have not seen the original will. I did try to find it at the Archives of Ontario, but I was unsuccessful.  I found a handwritten transcription in the family history of the David Johnston family [1] at the Uxbridge Historical Centre Museum & Archives (aka Uxbridge-Scott Museum & Archives). The author,  Helen Johnston, has small handwriting and some words are hard to read. She spelled the words as written in the original. She didn't provide the citation for where the will can be found. By the time I came aware of Helen Johnston and her work, she had already passed away.

I am copying the will as she did except the long s will be written as ss. I will try to transcribe what she has written correctly.  There are no commas in the listings.

Date this Dec. 11th 1865
This is my last will and testement maid this Twenty first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and sixty five. I Bequeth to my son David Johnston or his family the following aftermentioned goods and chattels which I now posess = to David's oldest son James my round stand wash stand basin & pitcher = to my son David's Daughter Margreat 1 Black silk cape the dark bedstead 2 Bead ticks 1 striped and the other plain all my china dishes 1 fether Bolster 2 Blankets and 1 light Quilt one flowred delaine [2] dress to my son David's son David I Bequeth $8.00. I also Bequeth to my Daughter Margret my yellow Bedsted fether and straw Bed fether Bolster & 2 pillows Beurow 2 blankits and one Quilt night Chair muff & boae my black shall 1 Black flowred satin Bonnet. To my grandaughter Margret Jane Johnson * Bequeth my best drab silk shall 1 fine Linnen sheet 1 home maid sheet 1 Quilt not lined flowred 

To my son John I bequeth my loung 3 kitchen Chairs 1 kitchen Table and the small looking glass and one Cloths Horse.

To my son John's Daughter Catherine my folding leaf Table and Cover one quilt not lined color brown 1 Iron Candel stick 2/1 Doz diner plates & wash board.

To my son John's James my little squair dressing table.

To my son John's Daughter Margret my Comp Bedsed and the Curtains belonging to it one blanket one Quilt lind with flenel and all my  common plates and Blue Edged platter 1 Black winter Cape one Cream Jug & my Black dress.

To my son James I bequeth my Cubbord and my second best table cloth and to his son Ribert my Cooking stove and all belonging to it but the tin Tea kittel and the best spider. [3]

To my son William I bequeth my family Bible my old Cuntry Clock 1/2 Doz. Green Chairs the Big rocking Chair the nursing Chair the Brass kittle and Tin Tea kittle 2 stone Butter Crocks 1 washing tub 1 white ash Butter Tub 3 sap Buckits 5 milk Crocks my spinning wheel and reak  1 large Looking Glass my best Chamber smoothing Irons Tallion Iron & beeters my best spider 1/2 Doz knives & forks best ones 2 of my best Towels and all my preserves dishes allso my fire tongs my willow Basket

To my son William's Daughter Ann I bequeth 1 fine sheet linnen 1 cotton and Linnen Twild sheet my best Quilt not lined Flowred and 2 old Linnen sheets 1 Brass Candel stick 2 pillows and 2 best pillow slips one of my best Blankits 3 soop plates 1 platter 1 silver tablespoon.

To my son William's Daughter Margret I bequeth 1 small fether Bed 1 Linnen Sheet 1 home maid sheet 1 of my best Blankits my best Table Cloth my best Quilt light Lilock my little clock 3 soop plates and 1 platter 1 silver tablespoon 1 Brown pitcher 1 Blue stone pitcher.

As for money and my property I Autherize my son William to collect all my outstanding Notes and Accounts to sell my property which I own in the Village of Uxbridg and I give him full power to make a title for the same after that he has disposed of said property and received the money for it and paid for all my funrel Expenses he shall than put up a respictable head stone = the money he may have left he shall take one third of it for himself and the Ballance he shall Divide Equaly between his 3 brothers and his sister Margret and Margret shall give one half of her share to her Daughter Jane and for the Ballance of y Body Cloths and other articals that is not mentioned in the above I leve my Daughter Margret to divid them as she thinks Just and right among my family 

[signed] Margaret Johnston


[1] Johnston, Helen, Descendants of James Hardy Johnston 1788-1872 and Margaret (Byres) Johnston 1793-1866 of Annan Scotland and Quaker Hill. Queensville, Ont., H Johnston, 1984.

[2] delaine: a lightweight dress fabric of wool or wool and cotton made in prints or solid colors;delaine merino.

[3] spider according the Canadian Encyclopedia is
"Until about 1830 cooking was almost always done in an open fireplace. One of the problems of this was providing stability for the cooking utensils. Pots for stews or tea water had curved handles by which they were suspended from a swinging bar called a crane. A more reliable means of support was the trivet, an iron ring large enough to hold the pot and having 3 vertical legs that could be set in the fire. The trivet could be combined with the frying pan or skillet by attaching legs directly to the pan bottom; this combination was called a spider. Cooking pots were also made with permanently attached legs."

© 2018 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #8 Heirloom

What is an heirloom? Merriam-Webster online dictionary provides three definitions. The one that fits this week topic is "something of special value handed down from one generation to another". Wikipedia states, "In popular usage, an heirloom is something, perhaps an antique or some kind of jewelry, that has been passed down for generations through family members".

So do I have any heirlooms? I can't think of anything that has been passed down for generations in my family. In my kitchen cupboard, I have several plates that may have belonged to my maternal grandmother. I have a necklace that my parents gave to my paternal grandmother as a gift. There are photographs that my great aunt Margaret had. I don't have anything that has been passed down for many generations.

Something that I do have that is special and that I look at most days, is the barometer plus thermometer that my dad brought back with him from the Netherlands at the end of the Second World War. I have it hanging it by the door to the garage. I like to check to see if the barometer needle is moving up or done to indicate what way the weather is going. Is there a storm coming? 

The dial has not only the numbers to indicate the barometric pressure but also the following words: STORM, REGEN, VERANERLIJK, MOOI WEER, and ZEER DROOG. I don't like it when I see the needle indicates "Storm" as I know bad weather is coming or happening. As the needle moves toward "Regen", I know rain is coming. When the needle points to "Veranderlijk", the weather is changing. Is the weather improving or is it going to get worse? If you regularly move the adjustable needle, you can see which way the weather is going. I love to see "Mooi weer" because we are having beautiful/good weather. I don't recall ever seeing the needle move to "Zeer doog" to indicate very dry weather.

When I see the barometer, I don't only get informed about the state of the weather but I am reminded of my dad's service during the war and that the Perth Regiment was part of the liberation of the Northern Holland.

© 2018 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #7 Valentines

My grandfather, William George Iles often sent romantic postcards to my grandmother during the First World War.  Will joined the army on 14 October 1915 in Niagara-on-the-Lake. He left for overseas 23 April 1916 from Halifax. He didn't return to Canada until 24 April 1919 when he was demobilized in Toronto. He was 30 when he joined. My dad wasn't quite two months old when his father left for Europe.

© 2018 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #6 - Favourite Name

Parents have an important task when they name their children. Will they give the baby a name that honours someone in the family past or present? Do they use a surname as the personal name? Perhaps it is a name they like.

Although the title is My Favourite Name", I will talk about three names.

One name I find interesting is Patience. I have only discovered one in my family and that is my great-great-great grandmother, Patience Blandford. 

Patience is from the derivative "pati" of the Latin word "patientia" meaning "to suffer". The Cambridge on-line dictionary defines patience as "the ability to wait, or to continue doing something despite difficulties, or to suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed".

Before her marriage to Richard Eyles [Iles] and while still single, Patience brought three children to the Brimpsfield Parish Church for baptism. First was Mary Ann Blandford who was baptized 14 April 1818. [1] Three years later Patience brought her twins, Reuben and Harriet, to the church on 4 November 1821. [2]

On 6 June 1822, Patience's son, seven-month-old Reuben Blandford, was buried from the Brimpsfield Parish Church. [3]

The original publishing of the banns in the Parish church happened on 2, 9 and 16 of December 1821. The wedding was delayed. The curate added a note on a piece of paper that stated he, John Davies, read the banns on October 6, 1822. There is no indication that the curate read the banns the customary three times before the wedding.


Finally, on 21 October 1822 in the same parish Church, Richard and Patience exchanged vows. John Davies, the curate, performed the ceremony. Both Richard and Patience made their marks. William Blandford and John Edginton witnessed their marriage. 

For about 23 years, Patience was pregnant or caring for and likely nursing a little one. She gave birth to 17 known children.

Patience would have lived up to her name many times in her life.

My two favourite names in my tree are Hannah and Josiah.  Hannah is based on the Hebrew word meaning "favour or grace". Samuel's mother was Hannah. As an English name it was used more after the Protestant Reformation. Josiah comes also from the Hebrew and means "Yahweh supports".  Josiah was a boy king who "had a spiritual awakening at the age of eight and during his reign, dedicated himself to restoring his people's covenant with God."

 The name Hannah appears a few times in my family.  In my direct line, I have Hannah Hemingway, 1819-1887, (daughter of Josiah Hemingway and Anna Stiver), Hannah Dunn, 1796-1876 and Hannah Cowley, abt. 1826-1903 (daughter of Thomas Cowley).

The name Josiah also appears a few times in my family. In my direct line, I have Josiah Hemingway Johnston, 1845-1919 (son of David Johnston and Hannah Hemingway), Josiah Hemingway, 1771-1851 (son of Samuel Hemingway) and Josiah Dudley, 1847-1901 (son of Ann Dudley). 

[1] Church of England. Parish Church of Brimpsfield (Gloucestershire), Parish Baptismal Register,  entry for Mary Ann Blandford, microfilm 991292, item 1 p. 7, no. 56, Family History Library, Salt Lake City.
 [2] Church of England. Parish Church of Brimpsfield (Gloucestershire), Parish Baptismal Register,  entry for Harriet and Reuben Blandford, microfilm  991292 item 1 p. 10, no. 86, Family History Library, Salt Lake City.
[3] Church of England. Parish Church of Brimpsfield (Gloucestershire). Parish Burial Register, entry for Reuben Blandford, p. 8 no. 64; Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 9 July 2016) citing Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucester, England; Reference Numbers: P58 IN 1/9
[4] Church of England. Parish Church of Brimpsfield (Gloucestershire). Parish Register - banns; entry for Patience Blandford and Richard Eyles, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 9 July 2016) citing Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucester, England; Reference Numbers: P58 IN 1/8.

[5] Church of England. Parish Church of Brimpsfield (Gloucestershire), Parish Marriage Register,  entry for Patience Blandford and Richard Eyles, microfilm 991292 item 1, p. 6, no. 16, Family History Library, Salt Lake City.

© 2018 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #5: In the Census

Census records show where people lived on census day. The records give a snapshot of a community. That does not mean they are always correct. Along with other records, they help you develop a timeline of a person's life. They are the most available record.

I have chosen three examples of census records, two in England and one in Canada.

The first example is my great-grandparents, George Iles and Emily Pugh. Early in my online research, but before I had access to images either on microfilm or online, I did a search for them.  I searched the English Census of 1881 for Emily Pugh in Gloucestershire. Because my grandfather, William Iles, was born there, I used it as my starting point. No luck. I searched for George Iles. Because Iles is often written as Isles, I used the wildcard * to show there might be another letter between the I and the l. I found one that looked like it might be a match. 

I found George Illes, age 21 and born in Condicote listed as a visitor in the household of Wm. Clifford, age 56 and Hannah Clifford, his wife, age 54 in the census for Broadwell. Emily Rew, age 20, and born in Stow on the Wold is identified as the grand-daughter of the head of household. 

When I viewed the microfilm of this 1881 census, I could see why the indexer transcribed her surname as Rew. It looked like Pew not Pugh. The enumerator wrote her surname like he heard it. Until I did further research, the fact she was listed as "grand-daughter" led me astray. [1]

The second example is James Iles, father of George Iles, an agricultural labourer in the 1851 census. Later census records list him as a shepherd.

James married Louisa Belcher 10 July 1845. In the 1851 census, James is not enumerated with Louisa and the children. She is shown as the head of the household. On the night before census day, James was in the household of John Lees. He worked on the 560 Acre Soundborough Farm. John Lees employed 15 labourers. The enumerator for this area gave more details than is usually found in census records. This household started on page 17 but James is listed on page 18. [2] Where are Louisa and the children listed? They are on page 17 living at White Hill. [3]

The final example is the households of my grand-father William George Iles and the household of his parents and siblings in the 1911 census of Canada. Peter Garvie enumerated both families. He did his rounds on the 8 and 9th of June 1911. 

The household of William George Iles comprises William, his wife Emily and their children: Edith May, Ivy Ella and Daisy Alice. William worked as a polisher in a foundry. What is interesting is they are listed as born in Ontario. William, Emily and Edith May were born in England. Who provided the information? They lived at part lot 17, concession 4, Derby Township. Also living on the same lot are Robert and Leslie Penner households. [4]


The household of William's parents and siblings comprises George and Emily Iles and their children: Edith, Manuel, Harold and Lillian. They are all identified as being born in England. George came to Canada in 1904 according to the 1911 census and the rest of the family in 1905.  George's occupation is listed as gardener. [5]

[1] 1881 census of England, Gloucestershire, Broadwell, RG 11/2563, ED 5, folio 84, p. 18; William Clifford household; digital image, citing microfilm 1341618, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

[2] 1851 Census of England, Gloucestershire, Broadwell, Class: HO107; Piece: 1969; Folio: 333; p. 18, John Lees household, entry for James Iles; digital image, Ancestry.ca citing microfilm 87369, Family History Library, Salt Lake City Utah. John Lees household begins on page 17.

[3] 1851 Census of England, Gloucestershire, Broadwell, Class: HO107; Piece: 1969; Folio: 333; p. 17, Patience Iles household; digital image, Ancestry.ca citing microfilm 87369, Family History Library, Salt Lake City Utah. 

For more information about Sevenhampton and the Soundborough property, check 
http://www.sevenhampton.org/parish-council/sevenhampton-parish-council-minutes/home/listed-buildings/

https://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101089368-barn-and-open-fronted-store-soundborough-sevenhampton#.WnUtaainHIU

[4] 1911 Census of Canada, Ontario, Grey North (district 73) Derby (sub-district 1), p. 8, household 79, William George Iles household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (Ancestry.ca : accessed 4 February 2018), citing microfilm T-20373, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa. 


[5] 1911 Census of Canada, Ontario, Grey North (district 73) Derby (sub-district 1), p. 9, household 87, George Iles household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (Ancestry.ca : accessed 4 February 2018), citing microfilm T-20373, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa. 
© 2018 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #4 Invite to Dinner

Which ancestor should I invite for dinner? There are so many I would love to have the opportunity to talk to if it were possible. This includes some that I knew but didn't know that years later that I would want to ask them questions. This would include my parents and grand-parents. In 2008 for a Carnival of Genealogy, I wrote "Guess Who's Coming for Dinner?" On that occasion I invited these ancestors:

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.

This time, I am going to invite Hannah Hemingway, my great-great grandmother. I hope she can fill in some of the gaps in information about the family. 

What I have discovered about her follows but I would want to know if I had got the information correct. Hannah was born to Josiah Hemingway and Anna Stiver 4 March 1819 in Markham Township, Ontario. Hannah married David Johnston. Rev. James George (Presbyterian minister) of Scarborough, Ontario performed the service. Gilbert Barker and James Lawrie acted as their witnesses.

Hannah and David were parents to seven children. The oldest was James who was born in 1843. Two years later, Josiah Hemingway arrived. Margaret was likely  born next in 1851 followed by Salome the following year. David Byers was born in 1857. Caroline came next in 1858. She only lived to the age of 20. Dr. Eckhardt didn't provide a cause of death on Caroline's death registration. The youngest, Hannah Maria, was born in 1862.

Hannah died 13 October 1877 from the sudden bursting of a blood vessel. She is buried in Hagerman East Cemetery, Unionville, Ontario.

I would ask Hannah many questions during the visit.  How did you meet your husband? What was life like in Unionville? 

What were your mom and dad like? Did either of them talk about their life? How did they meet? How was it for your mother when both her husband and son Benjamin died so close together?

What did your mother share about her siblings and parents? Did you know your mother's maiden name? 

Who were your dad's parents? Did your dad come to Canada West with other members of the family? 

What was the best part of your life? What was the most difficult part of your life?

I would try to space out the questions but I would be so eager to learn more about her, her family and ancestors. 
 © 2018 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #3 Longevity

Sometimes  you wonder who in your family tree lived to 100 years or more. Did many live beyond 90? Did many die as children? 

Using Brother's Keeper, I did the Lifespan report. I did not include spouses of my relations in the tally.

This one shows the Females in the database that fit the criteria. 

This one shows the Males in the database that fit the criteria. 

The woman in my database that lived the longest was my Aunt Ivy Iles.   She was my dad's older sister died at almost 102 years. Ivy Ella (1906-2008) had a grand celebration for her 100th birthday  in 2006. My sister and I attended. She didn't recognize many of us who were there but she knew it was her special day. 

She married Frank Banks in 1928. She raised a large family. Her husband died in 1990 after having been married 60 years. Ivy was 10 years older than my father and outlived him by 18 years. She and my dad were the short ones in the family.

 She had eight children and was grandma to 21 and great-grandma to 24. They lived in Hanover for many years before moving to Lindsay, Ontario. 

Ivy always had a twinkle in her eye. I always enjoyed seeing her at family reunions.

The oldest male was James Edward Johnston. 

Local News, Manitoulin Expositor, November 19, 1986

 Mindemoya Highlights

Word was received of the death of Ed Johnston in Alberta. He had celebrated his one hundred and second birthday and was an uncle of Willis and Elwood Sloss and Harvey and Frank Haner. 

[found on Manitoulin Roots on Rootsweb - currently not available] 

He was born on Manitoulin Island but moved west. He lived in Turrin, Alberta. According to my mother's sister, he had six children but I know nothing about them or his wife. 



© 2018 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2018 #2 Favourite Photo

It is a challenge to pick a favourite photograph. You don't want to favour one ancestor over another. You don't want to favour one side of the family, but by choosing only one, I did. 

I decided to show the photograph of my great-grandmother Emily Iles nee Pugh. I have told her story and used documentation about her when I talk about the research process or perhaps it can be described as a hunt. It has not always been very systematic. I have written about her on this blog. They have been tagged Pugh family.

I am not sure when or where this photo was taken and by whom. A couple of  years ago, a cousin brought me this photograph. Up until then, I had never seen a photo of her. I couldn't imagine what she looked like. She is all dressed up with her fancy bonnet on her head. It is interesting that this photo has been posted on Ancestry by others researching families that connect with my line.

 She was born in July 1860 in the Maugersbury Workhouse, near Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire.  Her mother, Hannah Pugh,  nee Cowley and her 11 year old sister, Mary Ann, were living in the Workhouse. Hannah saw to it that her daughter was baptized but no birth registration has been found. No father is mentioned on the baptismal record. When Emily married George Iles, she gave her father's name as Charles Pugh. Her mother had been married to Charles Pugh. 

© 2018 Janet Iles

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, 2018: #1 Start

Amy Johnson Crow is once again challenging people to share their family history. In the 2018 version, she is providing themes to write about, or share photos, etc. I took part in her first challenge in 2014. I wrote 54 related posts that year. I focused on my direct lines. For some ancestors, I knew very little. It had me looking for information. In 2015, I wrote only once for that challenge. I certainly hope that I do better this time.

Week 1 -- The Word is "Start"

When I talk to groups about their genealogical research, I tell them to start with yourself. You are the "home person". As you continue your research, there is a new "home person". You work from the known to the unknown.

I often ask people when they are sharing interesting stories about their life, "Have you told your family that story? Have you written it down?"

At one time, I had a software program where you could create a timeline of your life from your answers to prompts, such as education. I don't recall its name.

I have my baptismal certificate and I looked up my birth announcement in the newspaper. Throughout this blog you will find stories about different aspects of my life but I have not tagged them with my name.


© 2018 Janet Iles