When I first started researching my Great Grandmother, Dora Annie Black, I was on a mission to find out who her biological parents are. The only record I had at that point was the 1901 Census of Canada for Weldford, Kent County, New Brunswick, where she was listed as adopted daughter, living with Anne M Black and George A Black (Anne’s son). Dora was listed as Dora A, born March 13, 1884, 17 years old and born in New Brunswick. So, I had her date of birth, first name and middle initial to search by. I found a Late Registration of Birth for a Dora A Ward, born in Cail’s Mills, Kent County, New Brunswick, but her birth date was listed as March 13, 1883. Although it was off by a year, it was the exact day and month, and in the right county, so I felt it warranted more research. I phoned the local library and ordered the microfilm through the interlibrary loan program. I was ecstatic when I got the call that it was in. This document had no father listed, which was obviously a disappointment. The mother’s maiden name that was listed was Jane Ward, born Weldford Parish, Kent County, New Brunswick. The form was completed by a non-relative who stated “I have examined the records on file at the Old Age Assistance Board, which confirms the date of birth as above stated.” It was signed May 11, 1953. Dora’s full name on the form was “WARD, Dora Ann (Mrs. Wilson)”.
I immediately searched for a marriage record for Dora and a Mr. Wilson and found one for a William George Wilson, Farmer, Widower, 60 years old marrying Dora Annie Farrer, Housekeeper, Widow, 50 years on September 1, 1934. It also states she was born in Cail’s Mills, Kent County, NB. Bingo! This birth location and age for Dora Annie Black lined up with the information on the marriage record when she married John Henry Farrer (my Great Grandfather).
On the marriage record to her second husband, William George Wilson, it was very interesting, surprising and exciting that she listed her parents as Thomas Cail, born Pine Ridge, Kent Co., NB., and Jane Ward. This is very surprising since on the marriage record for her and my Great Grandfather, John Henry Farrer she listed her adoptive parents. Why would she now be listing her biological parents?!
This is where I ran out of steam on finding solid leads for who Jane Ward is. There weren’t many options, and none in the immediate geographic location of Dora’s birth. I had a DNA test done with 23andMe to hopefully help break through this brick wall, however, even after four years, I was no closer to solving the mystery. Until now. And it didn’t even happen using genetic genealogy! It was good, old fashioned genealogy research! It was on a record I already had but I either forgot or missed a vital piece of information!
Every so often, I go back over old records for my "brick wall ancestors" to try and find a new lead. And boy, did I hit the jackpot! On February 16th of this year I found Dora’s record of death. I think at the time I was researching Dora’s father, so I had just put this record aside. Looking at it again with fresh eyes the other day, I noticed her parents were listed as “Tomas Cail, born New Brunswick and Zillah Jane Ward, born New Brunswick”. I have to admit that at first, I assumed her first name must have been misspelled and maybe the “Z” was actually an “L” with a pen drag mark making it look like a “Z”. So, I didn’t even search for Zillah. I jumped immediately to Lilah, Lillian and any variation of that. After finding nothing, I finally searched “Zillah”. Three records came up. What?! Yes, her name is Zillah Jane Ward, and there were records there all along.
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Source: Registration of Death for Dora Ann Wilson, 1961,
Provincial Archives of New Brunswick
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Now, online I have seen trees attaching Dora to a Sarah Jane Ward, and I spent years following that trail with no DNA matches connecting me to that line. It is a great reminder never to blindly copy information from other people’s trees. They all seem to copy the same misinformation, so when ten matches show up in your search, it seems legitimate, but when I go in to each tree I see there are actually no records or genetic links to back up their claims, and they’ve all just been copying the same misinformation. Do your own research. Always.
I found a death record for a Zillah Jane Tower. Her spouse was Alexander Tower (deceased) and her parents are James L. Ward, born Rockport, N.B., and Lavinia Cole, born N.B. The informant was her son, Murray Tower of Sackville, N.B. According to this record Zillah was born September 29, 1865 in Rockport, N.B., and died December 31, 1960 in the Moncton Hospital Annex, Moncton, N.B. Although the place of birth is different, all the other information lines up with this being the correct person. I mean, it’s not like I’m searching a Jane Smith here. Absolutely no other Zillahs showed up in any search at all!
I have made some more (a lot more!) progress on this line and may have also made a DNA connection, however, I will save that for another day!
Until next time, happy hunting, fellow gene geeks!
SOURCES:
Ancestry.ca
Library and Archives Canada
Provincial Archives of New Brunswick
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