Carnival of Canadian Genealogy - Fashion

Whether Canadian fashion differs from American fashion or that of other areas I do not know. I am sure before the days of television and popular fashion magazines, Canadian fashion likely lagged behind some other countries.  I suspect that those living in rural communities didn't keep up with the current fashions as they needed more practical clothing, but I have no evidence to support this.

In most of Canada, we have four distinct seasons where the changes in weather gives rise to at least warm and cold weather appropriate clothing.

I have never been one to have any of the extremes in clothing. I wore short skirts but never the extreme mini skirts. When I look at photographs of my early days working in the children's section of the library, I was of course, much younger; my skirts were short. This made it challenging to retrieve books off the top or bottom shelves. I was happy when the hemlines went below the knees.

When I was little my mother made many of my dresses.  My mother did smocking. Did your mother?  My sister and I had some very pretty dresses. I once tried a modified form of smocking.

 My mom (Marion), me (Janet) and my sister (Nancy) in 1951.

I am fortunate to have photos of my mother as a young woman. She was a smart dresser. Her are some examples.

Photos were taken between 1941 and 1945. Note the contrast in shoes -- granny shoes and spectator pumps. I am not sure the name of the boat she is travelling on. Is she headed to Manitoulin or returning to Tobermory? The second photo was taken in front of Artistic Ladies Wear in Owen Sound.


© 2010 Janet Iles

Canadian Carnival of Genealogy - Sadly, William Boyd made the news

 This Canadian Carnival of Genealogy is "a carousel" meaning we can talk about anything in Canadian genealogy that we want. Now that is more challenging than I would have originally thought. Sometimes, it is easier to come up with something to say when you get a word prompt.  When looking for ideas, I go to my photographs that are in my scanned files. Yeah, I found something.

William Boyd  - Now William Boyd is not a relative but he was the husband of my first cousin thrice removed, Maria Taylor.William was the son of James Boyd and Catherine Hartrick. William was born in Markham Township. The connection goes like this: William Boyd married Maria Taylor who was the daughter of James Taylor and Caroline Hemingway and the grand-daughter of Josiah Hemingway and Anna Stiver.

William Boyd about 1885

What is interesting about William Boyd is how he died. His death registration says that he was a constable and he was killed by a prisoner.

William Boyd was raised in Markham Township near Belford and he became a merchant.  During the mid-eighties he became a County Constable. He and Maria had four children: Mary, William B., Robert and Blanche. In 1891, they were living in Toronto

On the fateful day, June 4, 1901, William and three others were escorting three prisoners to jail  William was unarmed. The prisoners were part of the "Chicago Bank Robbers" aka "The Rutledge Gang" and they had been brought from Chicago and tried for robbing the Ross Bank at Aurora. An accomplice "tossed a hat containing three revolvers into the carriage and Rice and Rutledge had gained possession of two of them and turned them on Constables Boyd and Stewart, who were riding backward in the carriage, facing the prisoners."

Boyd was shot, the bullet had entered his skull above his right ear and entered his brain. He died about an hour after arriving at the hospital.

For more details on the day read details on the York Regional Police Association website.William Boyd is also remembered on the Toronto Police services web site. If you have any relatives/ancestors that died in the line of duty as police officers, you may be able to find information about them on the Internet, newspapers and in books.

Although, the family had only wanted a small family funeral service, representatives of the police service were there. The public lined the streets as the cortege passed.

What happened to the prisoners? They were all caught.
Thomas Jones died from not his bullet wounds but from the rough treatment from his fellows partners in crime.
Frank Rutledge, after being found guilty of robbery, jumped to his death knowing that he would be tried for murder.
Fred Lee Rice was tried and convicted of murder and was hung on July 18, 1902 at the Don Jail.
More on these individuals can be found in this appeal

More information can be found about the three men on a site that gives information about those who received the  death penalty in Canada. 

I don't expect that you will find any relative on this site but it is interesting to read some of the entries in this database. If you discover you have some black sheep in your family history, do a search, you may be surprised on what you might find. The Desperate Ones: Forgotten Canadian Outlaws by Edward Butts is another source of information on Canadian outlaws. It gives a detailed account of the Rutledge gang and the death of William Boyd. (an excerpt can  be found on Google books)


Back in 2003, I had an email from a relation of William Boyd who had found my Stiver website. He provided the photo above and has kindly given me permission to post this photo. Thank you Shane.
© 2009 Janet Iles

Home Sweet Home - home of my great grandparents Love

Home Sweet Home ---

I never knew my great grandparents, James Love and Elizabeth Fields (Robinson) Love but I have been in what was their home on Manitoulin Island. The farm is in Carnarvon Township (now part of the Township of Central Manitoulin).

The Love brothers owned property at Lots 12, 13, 14, and 15 of Concession 4 and Lots 14 and 15 of Concession 3 and Lot 15 of Concession 2. The house, I believe, would have been on Concession 3. [Thanks to knowing the coordinates of the Mindemoya Cemetery, which is on the same road on Lot 16, Concession 3. 

Situated across the lane from the home in which my mother lived, it was the home of my uncle Ross and his family, in my childhood years.

 

This photo is likely from 1902 - 1908 era. 

Notice the roughness of the lane. When I was a child we entered by the side door. 

To see a family photo in front of the house, go to my article on the Love Family ca 1902

I don't know if I realized at the time, when I would be there for meals, that it had been my great-grandparents home. I don't think I felt any special connection to the past. It was just a great place to visit my aunt and uncle and of course, all my cousins.

My recollection of the place is that we entered into a large family farm kitchen. Also on the main floor was the parlour with a player piano. I wonder if my recollections are correct? I know that my mother used to spend a lot of time in the house visiting with her grandmother and aunt Margaret, when she was a young girl.

This has been written for the Canadian Carnival of Genealogy

photo from the collection of Margaret Love, in the possession of the author.
© 2009 Janet Iles

Summer Vacations - Canadian Carnival of Genealogy

With two carnivals with due dates close to each other talking about summer vacations, I will focus this posting for the Canadian Carnival of Genealogy on vacations at Manitoulin Island and the other will be about vacations at Sauble Beach.

My mother came from Manitoulin Island. Born a "haweater" she was, so it was natural that summer vacation trips were to Manitoulin Island. We started to travel there when we were young. I imagine after our family had its own car.

I can recall that the trip to Tobermory from Owen Sound was an adventure. To catch the 7 o'clock ferry meant an early departure time from home. The children would leave home in our pajamas. My dad rigged up "a bed" in the back seat with crates and likely blankets to make it like a "double" bed. This, of course, was before the days of seat belts.

The roads were quite windy in the early years with lots of twists and turns through forested areas. As we got closer to Tobermory, my parents would be hoping that we would get in the line for the ferry with enough time to get us in to our clothes before it was time to load the boat. As I remember it, you had to be there before 6 a.m. to keep your guarantee of a reservation.

The next part of the adventure was the crossing on the ferry. Passengers walked up the stairs, while the drivers drove the vehicles on. During the years we travelled back and forth as a family, there were several that travelled this route -- the Normac, Norgoma and Norisle. Most of our trips were on the Norisle. When these ferries were retired, the Chi-cheemaun became a faster way to travel between the mainland and the island.

The Norisle had state rooms. We often booked one. Once my sister and I went up with our great aunt Grace and her husband to attend a cousin's wedding. We went up the night before the sailing and slept on the boat overnight. That was fun!

Sometimes the waters of Lake Huron were rough. The trip was longer than it is now.

When we arrived at South Bay Mouth, an announcement called for the drivers to go down to the car deck to prepare for the arrival at South Bay Mouth. The passengers walked off and waited to be picked up.

We were almost there. We travelled the windy roads to Mindemoya. Now my memory is foggy on where we stayed each time we went. I recall most often staying with my Aunt Winnie, but a visit there would include time spent with my grandparents while they were still living and at my Uncle Ross' farm. I have lots of cousins who are around our age.

The Iles and Cox families at the Cox farm. Of all the children only my brother Ted and I are facing the camera.
L to R in back Ted Iles in the arms of Bob Iles, Marion Iles, Art Cox and Winnie Cox
front row Tom Cox, Janet Iles, Nancy Iles and Valerie Cox.


First Cousins - Hal Love and Janet Iles

It has been 13 years since I last visited the Manitoulin Island. I wonder what changes I would find if I returned to visit?

Black Sheep Canadian Ancestors

Do you call a person a black sheep if they took part in a riot? My fourth great grandfather, Johan Niclaus Stoeber (Stiver) took part in "a riot" before coming to Canada.

In 1792, the Stoeber family left what is now Germany, as part of a group that left Europe under the leadership of William Berczy to come to America. They were to get about 23 acres of land (20 acres of woodland and 3 of pasture) in the land of the Genesee "for six years as tenants bound to deliver half the crop, with the right of preemption, at a 10 percent discount after the expiraton of the agreement. Funds for the passage as well as for supplies were forwarded to them by the [Genesee] Association and were to be repaid during the following six years."

The men worked at cutting the Williamson Road (named for Charles Williamson who built the Benjamin Patterson Inn at Painted Post, New York). The settlers endured many hardships.

Berczy and Williamson did not get along. On 28 July 1793, Williamson, it is reported, made three demands that Berczy would not accept
1. the settlers should accept Williamson as the leader
2. the contracts should be changed
3. the settlers should draw two or three months supply of beef, or pork, and flour.

Reluctantly, Berczy let Williamson speak to the settlers. The settlers refused to accept Williamson as their leader.

"Williamson then threatened to cut off their support. At this, they became angry and started hurling questions at Williamson: where were the promised mills and our church?" Berczy was able to quieten the settlers and Williamson promised them oxen.

29 July 1793 - Day of the Riot
A doctor, who had been hired by Williamson to spread rumours about Berczy, amongst the German settlers, told the settlers that Williamson was willing to forgive all their debts if they left the country. When the settlers asked Williamson about this, he said it was untrue. The doctor took back what he said, but the settlers "gave the doctor a few good blows." Williamson withdrew his offer of oxen, but this angered the settlers so they took oxen out of his barns in Williamsburg.

In August while Berczy and four of the men were in New York, Ontario County officials arrested "the most 'unruly' of the settlers . . . and put them in the Canandaigua jail to await trial. With the aid of the German Society, Berczy was able to get an injunction that "forbade Williamson from further troubling Berczy or his settlers."

The Trial - 30 October 1793

Fifteen of the settlers were tried.

The indictment:

with force and arms to wit with clubs and guns, with an intention to disturb the peace of the said people at the Town of Genesee, unlawfully riotously and routously assembled and met together and being so assembled together in and upon one Charles Williamson, then and there being in the peace of God and the people of the State of New York, made an assault on him the said Charles Williamson and him then and there did evilly treat and other wrongs then and there did to the said Charles Williamson to the great damage of the said Charles Williamson and against the peace of God and the people of the State of New York and their dignity.

The men named as "perpetrators of this 'evil deed' included Johan Nielas Staver" who would be my fourth great grandfather. They were found guilty and given a light fine, which, it is said they were able to pay off by working for the people of Canandaigua.

The "Berczy Settlers" left the area the following spring and headed to Upper Canada after working out a deal with Lord Graves Simcoe.

As far as I know, this was John Stiver's only confrontation with the law.

Information about the above is from the booklet, The Land of the Genesee : retracing the route of the Berczy Settler Ancestors by way of the Williamson Road, 1792-1794, Williamsport, Penn to Markham, Ont., October 23-26, 1996 : Background Booklet prepared by Bob Shank and Lorne Smith.

To learn more about the Markham Berczy Settlers, visit the website

Around the Table - Canadian Style

I don't know if our family ate anything that was typically Canadian that was not enjoyed elsewhere.

Maple syrup - My mother grew up on a farm that made maple syrup and my cousins still live on the family farm. The last time I heard they were still producing maple syrup every spring. My mother served maple syrup with home made tea biscuits. I don't buy maple syrup but my brother loves maple syrup; so much so that he asks visitors from Canada to bring maple syrup when they go to visit him.

Pea Soup - When I had the French club at the library, I made them home made pea soup. I haven't had it in many years.

Saturday at noon was our day to have the "big meal" of the week. This was usually a roast generally alternating between beef and pork. This was a great meal to have on Saturdays. Mom could put it in the oven to cook while she worked on the payroll for the supermarket staff. It was easy to keep warm if dad didn't get home right at noon for the dinner.

Saturday's supper traditionally was Slop. Both my sister and I still like to make it.

Sunday evening supper meal was often served on TV tables. The menu could be sloppy joes, hamburgers, or TV dinners. In the summer, of course, it would be barbecues at the cottage. When my mother was growing up, you didn't cook on Sundays. I don't remember my dad commenting on this, but I am sure that was true for them too. The food was prepared the day ahead and reheated on Sunday for serving. I remember my great aunts continued this practice in their latter years.

I still love leftovers. Now, leftovers are often popped into the microwave; in the past, you'd fry them up with leftover bacon grease. Now I am more likely to use a little oil or oil spray. One favourite was fried up mash potatoes and turnip (really rutabagas but we always called them turnips). My English cousin introduced us to bubble and squeak (potatoes and cabbage). I like that too but I don't think we ever had it except when he was here to visit.

This was written for the 3rd edition of the Carnival of Canadian Genealogy.

My most famous Canadian relative

The 2nd edition of the Canadian Carnival of Genealogy hosted by Kathryn at looking4ancestors asks

The topic for the next edition of the CGC is "My Famous Canadian Ancestor". Was your ancestor a famous Canadian hockey player, actor or politician? Tell us about famous Canadians in your family. Don't have a famous Canadian ancestor in your family tree? Not to worry; choose a famous Canadian you admire and share why you would like to have this person as your ancestor.

If, all my information is correct, my most famous relative would be Billy Bishop, World War I flying ace. Before I say anything about him, I will first relate what information I have that is pointing to him as being a relative. Our common ancestor would be John Nicholas Stiver [Stoeber] and it is believed that we are both descendants of two of the daughters of John and his wife Anna.


I would be a descendant of their daughter Anna Stiver who married Josiah Hemingway. Unfortunately, I have not found a marriage record of this marriage which took place about 1800 but several sources connect the Hemingway and Stiver families.


Billy Bishop is considered a descendant of Mary Ann Stiver who married Johann Englehardt Helmke. It is believed that they married in the United States in 1793 while the group of Germanic folk travelling with William Berczy were living there. Johann Englehardt Helmke is listed with only a son on the passenger list of the Brigantine Catherine that left Hamburg and arrived 3 August 1792 in the United States.


When Johan E. Helmke died on 8 November 1835, he was buried in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Buttonville, Ontario. Whereas when Mary Ann died on the 26 February 1855, she was buried in the Bethesda Lutheran Cemetery in Markham, Ontario amongst the other Stiver tombstones. Some of the early research on the family said that Mary Ann had been a Quantz but it is now felt that Johann's first wife may have been a Quantz

[If anyone reading this has documented evidence to support or disprove these statements, I would love to receive the information.]



Johan Englehardt Helmke and Mary Ann Stiver had a daughter Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Helmke married Avery Bishop

Their son Eleazer Wilson Bishop married Sara Sophia Kilbourn

Their son William Avery "Will" Bishop married Margaret Louise Green

Their son William Avery Bishop became famous for his accomplishments during World War I.

During the First World War, he was the most decorated Canadian.

Billy Bishop's childhood home is a national historic site and can be visited to learn about him and others who fought in the First and Second World War.

William Avery Bishop was born 8 February 1894 in Owen Sound to William Avery and Margaret Louise Greene. [1] He received his education in the Owen Sound schools. In 1911, he went to Kingston to attend the Royal Military College [2]

On the 30th of March 1915, William signed up with the Canadian Over-seas Expeditionary force as an officer. He is described on his attestation papers as 5 foot 6 inches of fair complexion with blue eyes and light brown hair. Because he contracted pneumonia, he did not leave Canada with the other members of the Mississauga Horse of Toronto. He went overseas with the 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles. The muddy English training camp was not to his liking and he was able to get transferred to the Royal Flying Corps first as an observer and then later as a pilot. In March 1917, Billy Bishop went to France. [3]

During a leave in Canada, William Avery Bishop married Margaret Eaton Burden on 17 October 1917 in Toronto. [4] He returned overseas where he is said to have shot down 72 enemy planes. He was awarded many medals but the highest honour was the Victoria Cross.

He died at his home in Palm Beach Florida at the age of 62 on 11 September 1956. His funeral service was in Montreal. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Owen Sound. [5]

If further research proves that I am not related to him, I will be still proud of what he accomplished for he was an Owen Sound lad and he was a Markham Berczy Settler descendant.

To see a companion article at Graveyard Rabbit of Grey County Ontario read William Avery Bishop.
Some of the sources for the above.


[1] William Avery Bishop Ontario birth registration #009363 (5 March [?] 1894); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 1 December 2008), citing microfilm MS 929 reel 120, Archives of Ontario, Toronto

[2] William Arthur Bishop. The Courage of the Early Morning : a son's biography of a famous father. Toronto : McClelland & Stewart p. 15-16

[3] "Air Marshall Bishop native of Owen Sound dies in sleep at home" The Owen Sound Sun Times September 12, 1956.

[4]William Avery Bishop – Margaret Eaton Burden Ontario marriage registration #904316 (23 [?] October 1917); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 1 December 2008), citing microfilm MS 932 reel 411, Archives of Ontario, Toronto

[5] "Air Marshall Bishop native of Owen Sound dies in sleep at home" The Owen Sound Sun Times September 12, 1956.; "Funeral of War I Ace W. A. (Billy) Bishop in Toronto on Friday" The Owen Sound Sun Times 12 September 1956; "Air Marshall Bishop's Ashes Interred in Family Plot" Owen Sound Sun Times September 18 1956; previous all from the Bruce Grey Branch Ontario Genealogical Surname Collection on microfiche; "Canada's Air Ace Billy Bishop, 62 dies in Florida" Toronto Star September 14, 1956 p. 1 & 2 digital image

Robert J. Shank. Descendants of Johan Engelhard Helmke, Ottawa : R. J. Shank, 1994

My Ancestors were Canadian eh!

Ok, I don't think I say eh!. My often used word is okay. So now, this is the first edition of the Canadian Carnival of Genealogy being hosted by looking4ancestors

As a Canadian, I have Canadian ancestors.

Paternal

I am second generation Canadian. The Iles family came to Canada in 1904/5 and settled in Grey County, Ontario. They came from Birmingham, Warwickshire, England but had originated in Gloucestershire, England.

Maternal

My mother's side of the family have been in Canada longer.

The first to arrive were the Stiver (Stober) family back in 1794 (John and Anna and family). They left, what was to become Germany, in 1792. Two years were spent in northern United States before coming to Canada with other families under the leadership of William Berczy. The settled in Markham Township, York County, Ontario late in 1794.


The Hemingway family arrived, it is said, in Canada in the late 1790s from the United States. They most likely originated in England. The Hemingway family settled in Markham Township.

Next, I believe were the Johnston family - James and Margaret and their children. They came in 1833 from Annan, Scotland and after a couple of years in Richmond Hill, Ontario, they moved to Uxbridge Township. Their son David, my ancestor, settled in Markham Township.

Next, would be the Love family who would have come early in 1840s from Scotland to the Wentworth County area.

I am not sure when the Robinson family arrived in Canada. They were from England.

Some of the Johnston, Love and Robinson families eventually moved to Manitoulin Island.

I will be interested in reading the other entries in this first Canadian Carnival of Genealogy.