Jane Hanspiker (abt 1807-), Annapolis County, Nova Scotia

Genealogy is like trying to put together a giant puzzle except you don’t know how many pieces there are, and you don’t have a box showing you a picture of the completed work. It can be mass chaos, my friends. One minute my notes are concise, clear and organized, the next minute the entire room has exploded with charts, notes, pictures and post-its covering every available surface. There will always be unanswered questions. There will always be loose ends. With that introduction (warning), may I introduce you to my 4^th Great Grandmother, Jane Hanspiker.

Jane was born about 1807 in Digby County, Nova Scotia. We know this from her daughter, Mary Eliza’s death registration. She married my 4^th Great Grandfather, Enoch Marshall (who I wrote about in my last post) some time prior to 1838. 

On the 1838 Census Jane and Enoch Marshall were residing in Wilmot, Annapolis County. Enoch was a farmer. They had 4 children living in the house:  1 boy under 6, 1 girl under 6, 1 boy under 14 and 1 girl under 14. It doesn’t specify if the children are Jane and Enoch’s, although unless I find documentation confirming otherwise I will stick with this theory for now. And if they are Jane and Enoch’s children, this gives us an idea as to how long they have been married. I have been able to confirm that one of these children, a girl named Leah, born in July of 1838 in East Arlington, Annapolis County, NS is Jane and Enoch’s child. She died on May 24, 1929 and her parents’ names are listed on the record. This would indicate that she is the “I girl under 6”. 

I was also able to find information confirming that Jane and Enoch had 3 children born after the 1838 census:

• Ebenezer: born in Wilmot, Annapolis County, NS.; married Barbara Grant on February 5, 1865 in Annapolis County, NS
• Samantha (my 3^rd Great Grandmother): born August 23, 1843 in Annapolis County, NS.; married my 3^rd Great Grandfather, John Grant on Christmas day, 1864 in Harmony, NS. One of the witnesses for their nuptials was a David Marshall. Could this be one of her brothers? Samantha died on June 27, 1931 in Outram, Annapolis County, NS. For further information on Samantha (and the Marshall line) see post from Friday, May 13, 2016: The Marshalls of Nova Scotia: Discovering Roots in New England
• Mary Eliza: born December 31, 1845 in Nova Scotia; married Samuel Bent in Arlington, Annapolis County, NS on November 14, 1875; died December 23, 1922 in Outram, Annapolis County, NS

On the 1861 Census Enoch Marshall is living in Annapolis County, NS. There are 3 males and 3 females. Although we can’t say for certain that Jane was living there, it is probable. Since we know Ebenezer, Samantha and Mary Eliza were all married AFTER 1861, we can conclude that the three females living at this residence in 1861 were Jane and daughters Samantha and Mary Eliza, and two of the males would be Enoch and and Ebenezer. The third male that is unaccounted for is most likely another son that I don’t yet have documentation for.

Like the 1861 census, the City & Area Directories only list the head of house. There is an Enoch living in Annapolis County in 1867. He is listed as “Marshall Enoch, farmer”. Again in 1869, we find an Enoch residing in Wilmot, Annapolis County, NS. He is listed again as “Marshall Enoch, farmer”. We can safely assume that Jane is also residing there as well if this is the correct Enoch. Since no further information is given, we can’t be certain it is. We know Enoch had two sons who I have not been able to account for. Is it possible one of them is also named Enoch? I searched through ancestry.ca and novascotiagenealogy.com and found no records indicating there was more than one Enoch Marshall. I couldn’t locate him on the 1871 census, but I also haven’t found a death record for him. However, the great thing about the 1871 census is that everyone in the household is listed, not just the head of house. So, with the trail running cold searching for Enoch I turned my focus to searching for Jane Marshall. 

Initially, there was only one result:  

New Glasgow, Pictou County, NS

Marshal Jane

Jane Marshall, F (female), 68, b. NS, religion: Presbyterian, origin: Scotch

Cathrine Marshal, F (female), 30, b. NS

Ann Marshal, F (female), 26, b. NS

Elizabeth Marshal, F (female), 24, b. NS

Jane McGill Marshal, F (female), 23, b. NS

Alax Marshal, M (male) 22, b. NS, occ: Truck Man

In searching the other people listed in the household I couldn’t find a link between our Jane and this Jane. Also, since it is in a different county I was skeptical that it was her.

It wasn’t until I was searching for her daughter, Mary Eliza, on the 1871 Census that I found another Jane Marshall:

Clarence, Annapolis County, NS

Marshall David, male, 84, b. NS, rel: Baptist, occ: farmer, marital status: MW

Marshall Jane, female, 70, b. NS,rel: Baptist, marital status: MW

Marshall Mary Eliza, female, 24, b. NS, rel: Baptist, marital status: -

At first I thought Jane had remarried, but after a search for that came up empty, I took a second look and realized the age of this David Marshall lines up with Jane’s father-in-law. Unfortunately, this census doesn’t provide the household members’ relationship to the head of house, so I can’t confirm it, but this certainly seems like a promising match. David’s wife, Elizabeth, had died 4 years prior (August 17, 1867) and they were living in Port Williams, Annapolis County at that time. On the 1871 census both David and Jane were listed as MW. David died Feb 20, 1876, so unfortunately I have no other census records to compare this one to. Could it just be a coincidence that he is living with two women whose names match his daughter-in-law and granddaughter? I feel this is likely a correct match because there were no other matches for a Mary Eliza on the 1871 Census.

There were no matches for the 1881 Census so I moved on to the 1891 Census and this is where things got interesting. There were two very similar matches:

1.   Jane Marshall, b. abt 1805 – Nova Scotia, residence: Port Lorne, Annapolis, Nova Scotia

2.   Jane Marshall, b. about 1807 – Nova Scotia, residence: Port Lorne, Annapolis, Nova Scotia

How is it that after finding very few records for even ONE Jane Marshall previously I now find TWO that are so incredibly similar? I knew I’d have to go over each record with a fine tooth comb.

The first record:

Milbery David F, male, 55, M (married), b. NS, rel: Baptist, occ: Farmer

Milbery Leah, female, 52, M (married), W (wife), b. NS, rel: Baptist

Milbery David, male, 16, S (son), b. NS, rel: Baptist

Milbery Julia E, female, 12, D (daughter), b. NS, rel: Baptist

Marshall Jane, female, 86, W (widowed), Moth (Mother), b. NS, rel: Baptist  

So, I searched for a birth, marriage or death record to try and find out Leah’s parents’ names. I tried birth first, then marriage and had no luck, but third times a charm! I found her death registration and lo and behold, her parents are listed as Enoch Marshall, b. Port Lorne and Jane Handspiker, b. Digby! The informant for her death was her son, David Milbury, address: Mount Rose. According to this document, Leah Marshall was born in 1839 in East Arlington, NS. She was living in Port Lorne when she died at the age of 90 on May 24, 1929. She was buried two days later in Port Lorne. BINGO! Direct hit on the first try… but… there was another match… 

The second record:

Bent Samuel, M (male), 48, M (married), b. NS, rel: Baptist, occ: Farmer

Bent Mary E, F (female), 44, M (married), b. NS, rel: Baptist

Bent Edmund, M (male), 14, S (son), b. NS, rel: Baptist

Bent Edith, F (female), 12, D (daughter), b. NS, rel: Baptist

Bent William, M (male), S (son), b. NS, rel: Baptist

Bent Joseph, M (male), S (son), b. NS, rel: Baptist

Marshall Jane, F (female), 84, W (widowed), Moth (Mother), b. NS, rel: Baptist

Yep, another daughter of Jane! We had already confirmed this relationship from Mary Eliza’s marriage and death records. So to recap: both wives of these two families are daughters of Enoch Marshall and Jane Hanspiker. Neither of their husbands has a mother with the name Jane Marshall, be it their maiden name or married name. Soooo… huh?

I can’t tell you how many times I re-read the documents to try and figure this out. The only theory I have been able to come up with is that it is the same Jane Marshall listed at both residences. Perhaps she was in transition and inadvertently ended up being enumerated at both addresses??? I really can’t say for sure. It’s certainly an interesting thing to find and I don’t have an answer for what exactly is going on here.

Sadly, the 1891 census is the last record I could find for her, so this is where the trail for Jane ends. For now. :)

In the meantime, happy hunting fellow gene geeks!

Sources:

Ancestry.ca (1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 Census Records)

Novascotia.ca (1838 Census Returns)

Novascotiagenealogy.com (Birth, Marriage, Death Registrations)

Enoch Marshall: Living in Nova Scotia during Confederation

Some ancestors are easy to track. You find one document and suddenly it leads you to an entire history of a family line. Then there’s the ancestors who you can spend years trying to find documents for with very little to show for it. My 4^th great grandfather, Enoch Marshall, falls into the latter category. I’ve seen certain information for his death and marriage to my 4^th great grandmother, Jane Hanspiker, on people’s family trees on ancestry.ca, however, they didn’t give a source for the information, and I have been unsuccessful in finding documentation to confirm that information.

This line of my ancestry is on my maternal line, through my great grandfather, George Angus Grant. I do also have a Marshall line on my paternal side, who lived in Scotland until my 2^nd great grandmother, Ann Marshall moved to Canada with her husband, Peter Williamson in 1905… but I digress… back to this Marshall line…

They came up from Massachusetts. Isaac and Mary (nee: Robbins) Marshall settled in Nova Scotia in 1760. Their son, David Marshall and his wife, Elizabeth (nee: Beardsley) had a son, Enoch Marshall, who I’m writing about today.

Enoch was born in 1807 in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. The next record I found for him is the 1838 Census. From this document, I know he was already married to Jane Hanspiker and that they had a total of six people in the household. Besides the two of them there is 1 boy and 1 girl under 6 years old, and 1 boy and 1 girl under 14 years old. On the 1861 census for Annapolis, there is an Enoch Marshall listed, and there are 3 males and 3 females in the household. In Hutchison’s Nova Scotia Directory, 1866-1867 a farmer named Enoch Marshall is listed as living in Wilmot. Also in McAlpine’s Nova Scotia Directory, 1868-1869, there is a farmer named Enoch Marshall listed as living in Wilmot. As this is the only Enoch Marshall I found, it is likely the same person.

I was also able to find marriage registrations confirming 3 children, one being my 3^rd great grandmother, Samantha Marshall, as well as 2 other children:

·        Ebenezer (1841-), m. Barbara Grant (1846-)

·        Samantha (1843-1931), m. John Grant (1843-)

·        Mary Eliza (1845-1922), m. Samuel Bent (1841-)

Looking at the 1838 Census in conjunction with these three marriage registrations it appears that Enoch and Jane had at least 7 children, assuming the 4 children living with them on the 1838 Census are their children, and taking into consideration that the latter 3 were born after the 1838 census.

This, sadly, is the extent of personal information I have found on Enoch. However, since he is listed in the Hutchison’s Directory for 1866-1867 we know that he and his family were living in Nova Scotia when the colony joined Confederation. This was an interesting time in Nova Scotia as many opposed joining, especially those involved in the prosperous shipping, shipbuilding and farming industries. Enoch was a farmer. Was he opposed too? Journalist and politician, Joseph Howe, was a vocal opponent to Confederation. He felt Nova Scotia would be a neglected member of a much larger country, and believed the colony would flourish on its own. He and those who agreed felt much closer familial and economic ties to the New England states than to Canada West (Ontario) and Canada East (Quebec). He thought the people of the colony of Nova Scotia, a population of about 350,000 should make the decision. Despite popular opposition, the Nova Scotia delegations in the 1864 Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences committed to the colony joining Confederation, believing it would be beneficial in securing against a possible American expansion, a wider domestic market for Nova Scotia trade goods, as well as financial help to construct a national railway linking the Atlantic colonies to Ontario and Quebec. Two years later, Premier Charles Tupper, who had led the Nova Scotia delegates, used his government’s majority in the colonial legislature to pass the terms of Confederation agreed to in Quebec. The decision to join the Confederation sparked protests, and anti-Confederation Nova Scotian’s fought for 2 years to repeal the union but they were unsuccessful. Nova Scotia officially joined the Confederation in 1867, and was one of the founding provinces, along with New Brunswick, and the former province of Canada, which became to separate provinces: Ontario and Quebec.

So, although I am frustrated at the lack of personal information I have found on Enoch, it is helpful to know where he was and what his profession was at the time of Confederation. It gives me an idea of what it would have been like living there at the time, which is always interesting to learn. I do know that I could learn more by hiring someone in Nova Scotia to do local research for me, however, it is my hope to do that myself one day. Researching is my favourite part. Having someone else do it would spoil the fun!

Until next time, happy hunting, fellow gene geeks!

Sources:

1861 Census of Canada

Ancestry.ca

Census Returns, Assessment & Poll Tax Records, 1767-1838

History of the County of Annapolis

Hutchison’s Nova Scotia Directory, 1866-1867, Nova Scotia, Canada

Library and Archives Canada

McAlpine’s Nova Scotia Directory, 1868-1869, Nova Scotia, Canada

North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000

Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics (novascotiagenealogy.com)

The Canadian Encyclopedia (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca)

Jan Vidito and Jannetje Jaspers ~ Life in New York In The 1600s

Last December I wrote about the Vidito branch of my family tree. I am connected to this line through my great grandmother, Leafy May Vidito, the mother of my maternal grandfather, Angus Grant. In that post I traced the line back to Jean Vittiteau, the first of this line to immigrate to the American colonies in the mid-1600s. He was a Huguenot who fled France due to religious persecution, first to Holland and then to New Amsterdam. According to the information I have been able to piece together I believe he is my 10^th great grandfather.

In last December’s post I gave a brief overview of each Vidito ancestor. Today I am going to focus on Jean Vittiteau and his family. One thing is for certain, there is a large variety of spellings for Jean’s name. First of all, there is the obvious variation of spellings for his first name: Jean, John and Jan. I am going to refer to him as Jan through the remainder of this post because most of the records refer to him as such. Then there is his surname, which there is a slew of spellings/misspellings for: Vittiteau, Vittito, Vittitoe, Videt, Vidette, Vedito, Vedette, Videtto, Vidithe, Widelte… and so on. This certainly makes it challenging to search for him, and in some records his surname was missing completely! Thankfully Alice L. Priest’s book: Vidito, John Vidito of New York City and His Descendant, A Huguenot Founder of an American Family; the New England Historic Genealogical Society’s database, americanancestors.org; and ancestry.ca have all been helpful in piecing together information on Jan and his family.

Below is a timeline for Jan and his family, and I’ve included notable events that would have had an impact on them, based on the time frame and location:

·        March 3, 1656:  Jean and Jannetje were married in New York, NY in the Reformed Dutch Church. The transcription reads “Jan Widelte, Van Condom in Vranckryck, en Jannetje Jaspers, Van Amsterdam”. This translates to Jan Widelte, from Condom in France, and Jannetje Jaspers, from Amsterdam. This is fantastic because it confirms they were both in New York by 1656.

·        Jan 21, 1657: Jannetje Jaspers is a witness to the baptism of Marie, child of Carel Margen and Cathalyntie Hendricks. The other witnesses were Jan and Marie Pceck, and Claes Pauluszen.

·        Apr 11, 1657: Daniel Teneur appears in court requesting to build on the lot granted him by the city “but as it is understood he has sold the lot to Jan Videt contrary to order and also that the present middle door is regulated ‘tis finally received to inspect it.” (Alice L Priest’s book, p.23) I think Daniel’s last name may be misspelled because there are records for a Daniel Terneur in New York, NY during the same time as Jan Vidito.

·        Apr 13, 1657: Jan Videt is admitted to be a Small Burgher. He is the 20^th name on the list; one copy has him listed as “Jean Videt, Frenchman” and the other has him listed as “Jean Videt, French Tailor”. This confirms he is French, and that he is a Tailor.

·        Apr 26, 1657: Jan Videt’s request to build on Daniel Teneur’s lot is rejected because “’tis decreed as the lot is cut in two, and a corner house is to be on it, that such little houses cannot be placed there.” (Alice L Priest’s book, p.23)

·        Jan 27, 1658: Baptism of Jan Vidette and Jannetje Jaspers’ daughter, Anna Marie in the Reformed Dutch Church. The witnesses were Mattheus de Vos, Marie Polet and Anna Bayard.

·        Aug 4, 1660: Baptism of Jan Vidette and Jannetje Jaspers’ son, Jasper in the Reformed Dutch Church. The witness was Francois Allard.

·        Jun 13, 1662: “in the City Hall. Peter de Rymer, plaintiff v/s Jan Videt, defendant. Deft. in default”. (Alice L Priest’s book, p.23)

·        Jun 20, 1662 (Tuesday): “In the City Hall. Pieter de Rymer, ptf, v/s Jan Videt, deft. Pltf, demands from deft, seven guilders and costs. Deft. acknowledges the debt; says he shall pay, as soon as he receives money. The (illegible) Court order deft. to pay pltf.” (Alice L Priest’s book, p.23) This gives us insight into his financial situation, which appears to be a little grim.

·        Aug 28, 1662: Baptism of Jan Vedite and Jannetie Jaspers’s son, Francois in the Reformed Dutch Church. The witnesses were Francois Velyn and Roose Nelle.

·        Aug 29, 1663: Baptism of Jan Vedette and Jannetie Jaspers’ son, Francois in the Reformed Dutch Church. The witnesses were Francois Selyn and Marie Dopsen. As there are two Francois with very similar birth dates, it is possible there has been an error in the recordings of the event, and they are one and the same person. However, it is also possible, that the first Francois died within his first year, and they bestowed the same name on their next born child.

·        Sep 8, 1664: New Amsterdam is seized by the British and the name is changed to New York in honour of the Duke of York.

·        Oct 21^st, 22^nd, 24^th, 26^th, 1664: Jan Videt is one of the “Names of the Dutch who swore Allegiance after the surrender of New York”. (Alice L Priest’s book, p.23)

·        Apr 19, 1665 (Wednesday afternoon): “List of Burghers and Inhabitants of this City that are Assessed:” (to supply/pay for lodging of soldiers) “…The Cingel or City Hall; (Ten names, Jan Videt the third, 1 (illegible)orin.)”

·        May 20, 1665: Baptism of Jan ----- and Jannetie Jaspers’ son, Pieter in the Reformed Dutch Church. The witnesses were Nicolaes Dupu and Annetje Abrahams.

·        Oct 15, 1666: Jannetje Jaspers was a witness to the baptism of Johannes, son of Hendrick Vandoesenburg and Marritje Hendricks. The other witnesses were Pieter Janszen Van Werckendam and Evert Duicking.

·        Oct 24, 1666: Baptism of Jan (blank) and Jannetje Jaspers’ daughter, Jannetie in the Reformed Dutch Church. The witnesses were Jan Gerdyn and Hester Vincent.

·        Dec 7, 1667: Baptism of Jean Vedette and Janneken’s son, Hester is baptized in the Reformed Dutch Church. The witnesses were Jan Gerdyn and Hester Vincent.

·        Oct 12, 1670: Baptism of Jean Vidithe and Janneken Jaspers’ son, Thene in the Reformed Dutch Church. The witnesses were Thene Gayneau and Lydia Metrou.

·        1673: The Dutch briefly regained the city

·        Nov 1674: The Dutch relinquished control of the city to the English in accordance with the Second Treaty of Westminster.

For those of you who like me, hadn’t heard the term Small Burgher before, it is part of a system New Amsterdam had between 1657 and 1668 to guard the citizens’ commercial interests against non-resident trade. The two titles were Great Burgher and Small Burgher. It basically created an aristocracy since the title Great Burgher was hereditary, and awarded them access to the highest public positions in the colony. That being said, it is viewed as having been built on democratic principles because any citizen could become one, depending on a few rules and the payment of a fee. In 1657 there were 20 Great Burghers and 216 Small Burghers. Over time these numbers grew.

Unfortunately, this is where the document trail ends for Jan and Jannetje. I know their son, Jasper, who is my 9th great grandfather was living in Greenwich, Connecticut by 1686, but as to whether he moved there on his own or with the rest of his family is unclear. As per usual, I don’t feel done, and wish I had been at least able to find documentation of their deaths, to confirm if they had stayed in New York or not.

Until next time, happy hunting fellow gene geeks!

Sources:

New England Historic Genealogical Society (americanancestors.org):

·        The American Genealogist, Record 1933, Vol. 10, p.42

·        New York, NY: Parents and Witnesses at Baptisms in the Reformed Dutch Church, 1639-1801, pp. 44, 48, 57, 66, 70, 79, 84, 89, 99

·        New York, NY: Marriages in the Reformed Dutch Church, 1639-1801, p.20

Vidito, John Vidito of New York City and His Descendants: A Huguenot Founder of an American Family, by Alice L. Priest

Ancestry.ca

Wikipedia.org

iloveny.com

Sidney Adams, Canadian Expeditionary Force, WWI

Today, as we remember and express our gratitude to the men and women who have courageously and sacrificially served our country, I would like to honour my Great Grandfather, Sidney Adams, by writing this year’s Remembrance Day post about him. I always struggle writing posts about family members I didn’t have the chance to know. I love searching for information. When I find a document it feels like Christmas morning, but the truth is, I am always left wanting more. There are always unanswered questions. It feels all the more so when war is involved. With that being said, I will do my best to do his life, his time here, and his service to our country, justice.

My Great Grandfather, Sidney Adams was born in Botwood, Green Bay, Newfoundland on March 19, 1898 to his parents Abraham Adam Adams (for real) and Matilda Jenkins.

Sidney enlisted on December 28, 1916 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He had moved to N.S. some time prior to this date, and had been working as a Miner in the Reserve Mines in Sydney prior to enlisting. There were two locations at the Reserve Mines Sidney could have worked at: Dominion Colliery No. 5, which opened on the Phalen Seam in 1872 and closed in 1938, or No. 10, which opened on the Emery Seam in 1905 and closed in 1942. Before it closed, No. 5 produced 350 tons of coal per day; No. 10 produced 1,470 tons per day.

Dominion Coal Company's Reserve Mines Colliery, Sydney, Cape Breton, N.S. ca. 1900
Source: Cape Breton at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century,
Toronto; Nation Publishing, 1903, Author: C.W. Vernon

In the Summer of 1916, while Sidney was working at the Reserve Mines, the 246^th Battalion, a unit of the Canadian Expeditionary Force based in Halifax, Nova Scotia began recruiting throughout the province of Nova Scotia. Spoiler alert: Sidney enlisted.

He signed up on December 28, 1916. He was 18 years old at the time, and according to his medical exam from that day he had a dark complexion with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He was 5 feet 2 ¾ inches tall (no short jokes today, we’re honouring him…besides now I know what I inherited from him). Also, his religious denomination was Salvation Army. This is the first branch of my family I’ve come across that were members of the Salvation Army. I found that interesting since I worked for the Salvation Army for a while.

Sidney’s Regimental number was 1060284, and his rank was SPR (Sapper). His commanding officer was N.H. Parsons, Lieut-Col., Commander of the 246^th Reserve, [N.S. Highlanders]. 

The unit sent two drafts to England, both of which were absorbed into the 17^th Reserve Battalion, CEF upon arrival. The first group left on March 28^th, 1917 aboard the S.S. Metagama, arriving in Liverpool on April 7, 1917. The second group left June 2, 1917 aboard the S.S. Olympic, arriving at Liverpool on June 9, 1917. On June 10, 1917 they were reunited and absorbed by the 17^th Reserve Battalion under C.R.O. 1462. Their role was to provide a reinforcing battalion for the Canadian Corps in the field. To quote the Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group: The Matrix Project, “as of October 15, 1917 the 17^th Reserve Battalion became the sole reinforcing unit of the Nova Scotia Regiment”. They made their final move from Bramshott to South Ripon on January 23, 1919, however, it appears by this point, Sidney was no longer with them.

I have very few treasures passed down to me from my ancestors, but I am incredibly blessed to have been given two Pay Books that belonged to my Great Grandfather. I like to hold them, knowing he held them too. They have also been a source of some key information in tracking his movements during WWI. In the first Pay Book it states he was transferred to the No. 2 Tunnelling Company (Engineers) C.E.F., Canadian Engineers Training on May 15, 1918. According to Library and Archives Canada this company “ceased to exist 6 July 1918: personnel to 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th Battalions, Canadian Engineers.” This information from LAC seems to expand on a note, handwritten in pencil, in Sidney’s Pay Book. Underneath where it states he was transferred, someone has written “1^st Bn. C.E.” with no date. I wonder if this was pencilled in when No. 2 Tunnelling Co’y ceased to exist, and he was transferred to the 1^st Battalion, which would line up with the information from LAC!  Also written in this Pay Book is another piece of important information: “Leave to Brussels”. It is handwritten and I had some trouble deciphering the date, but I think it reads: “Mch 2 to 4-3-1919”. Could that mean March 2 – 4, 1919? Another lead to follow up on!

 

Sidney Adams' Pay Books, 1918-1919

Unlike in the previous Pay Book, there are only entries for one day in the later one: April 14, 1919. It states his English Balce (I’m assuming “Balance”) was $340.93, his pay and allowance was $31.90, his civilian clothing allowance was $35.00 and his 1^st payments W.S.G. was $70.00. There were also some in the charges column: $9.73 (unspecified), Boat Expense Money:  $4.87, Train Expense Money: $5.00, and a cheque, No. 1446 for $458.23. His total balance was $477.83. That would be $5, 902.00 today. And a shout out to the Bank of Canada Inflation Calculator for doing the math for me on that one! 

Here is a timeline for Sidney during WWI:

December 28, 1916:          

Enlisted, was working at Reserve Mines, Sydney, NS

January 8, 1917:                 

Was approved and joined the 246^th Reserve Battalion, CEF

April 7 or June 9, 1917:     

Sailed to England

June 10, 1917:                    

246^th Reserve was absorbed into 17^th Reserve Battalion, CEF

Aug 15 – 25, 1917:           

Engaged in the Battle of Hill 70

Oct 26 – Nov 10, 1917:     

Engaged in the 2^nd Battle of Passchendaele

May 15, 1918:                    

Was transferred to No. 2 Tunnelling Company (Engineers), CEF

July 6, 1918:                        

No. 2 Tunnelling Co'y ended, transferred to 1^st Battalion, Cdn Engineers

Approx. March 1919:        

Leave to Brussels

April 26, 1919:

Board ship to sail home

I’ve read a few pages of the War Diary for the 1^st Battalion, Canadian Engineers, and although I haven’t found an entry of his battalion going to Brussels, there are a series of entries that seem to show the tail end of their time overseas, and preparing to come home:

On March 24^th they marched to Huy Station, and amongst the group was the 1^st Battalion. What followed was a detailed account of the group travelling by train, stopping along the way for tea or a hot meal. On March 26^th they arrived at Le Havre at 1590 hours and marched to the Canadian Embarkation Camp. They had a hot meal and were directed to their quarters. The following day “All men were bathed and clothing deloused”. On March 28^th they “paraded at 2030 hours with Group 23 (Winnipeg) and marched to the Docks where they embarked on the S/S Devonshire at 1145pm…Accommodation was very poor and the sea rather rough”. On March 29^th they arrived at Weymouth, travelled again and arrived at Liphook at 1615. After tea, they marched to the Canadian Corps Camp. The following day the whole group participated in a Muster Parade and documentation was carried out. From this day on the schedule seems pretty relaxed and many were given leave. On April 18^th it states they were in Bramshott, the weather was warm and bright, there was a Pay Parade and Last Certificates were signed. On April 21^st they were preparing for sailing. On April 23^rd the sailing rolls were closed. On April 24^th auditors checked all the documents, and finally on April 25^th, 1919 Arrangements were made for sailing on the 26^th. That is all the information I was able to find (for now), but it is probable that Sidney was back in Canada soon after. Wherever he landed, it appears he didn’t go back to Nova Scotia or Newfoundland for very long, if at all.

By August, Sidney had moved to Hespeler, Waterloo, Ontario, married Maggie Brown Williamson and his occupation was “Scouring at Woolen Mills”. When thinking of why he would move to Ontario instead of back to Nova Scotia or Newfoundland, I should tell you a bit about his mother, Matilda. She had gotten remarried to Elkanah Sheppard/Shepherd on January 10, 1914 in Botwood, and they had moved, first, to Grand Falls, NFLD some time prior to Sidney enlisting, and second, to Ontario in 1918. As of June 1, 1921 Matilda and Elkanah were living in Welland, ON. So the fact that he moved there and married Maggie within months of the war ending may imply that his mother was a connection in both accords.

Shortly after Sidney and Maggie married they moved from Waterloo to Hamilton. Then some time before or about 1924 they moved to Welland, ON., where Sidney helped build the Welland Canal. He eventually became Bridge Master.

They had many children, thirteen by my count, including my Grandmother. Sadly, two of their children died very young. Their son, Arthur drowned in the Welland Canal when he was 7 years old. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was born with Down Syndrome and died about a year and a half later due to health complications.

Sidney’s wife, Maggie died on July 26, 1958.

Sidney died in 1978. Although I don’t have documentation for Elizabeth, Maggie or Sidney’s deaths, I learned this information from my Grandmother, and being their daughter and sister, I’m confident the information is accurate.

How do you sum up a person’s life in a few pages? You can’t. Or at least I can’t. I do hope, however, that this gives a good overview of his life, and touches on some important events in his life.

May we honour them today and hold them in our hearts always.

Happy hunting, my fellow gene geeks!

Sources:

• Ancestry.ca (www.ancestry.ca) – Marriage Registration, 1919 & Voters List, 1949Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group “The Matrix Project” 
• Canada History (www.canadahistory.com) 
• Canada War Museum (www.warmuseum.com) 
•  Canadian Great War Project (www.canadiangreatwarproject.com)
• History of Coal Mining in Nova Scotia (www.mininghistory.ns.ca)
• Library and Archives Canada (www.bac-lac.gc.ca) – Attestation Paper, 1916; War Diaries of the First World War
• National Defence and the Canadian Forces (www.forces.gc.ca)
• Newfoundland and Labrador in the First World War (www.heritage.nf.ca)
• Newfoundland Grand Banks (www.ngb.chebucto.org)
• Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) – 246^th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF