1851 Census Lookup Request

q98 · Post by **q98** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:41 am

Searching for Elizabeth Workman and her daughter Mary possibly in West Kilbride, Ayrshire.

Although Elizabeth was known to have married, I have no idea of her first husband's surname. Daughter Mary would have been about 1 year old at the time of the 1851 Census.

Elizabeth, Mary and Elizabeth's newly-married husband James arrived in Canada circa 1856. James was about 20 years older than Elizabeth. Mary was known to have been the issue of a previous marriage. Elizabeth and James' sole issue was Hugh, born circa 1865.

Elizabeth's lawyer was assigned the night before her two-day trial! She was hanged 19 June 1873 at Sarnia Gaol, Ontario for the murder of her husband James who it is believed was an abusive drunkard. Elizabeth was the sole woman hanged in Canada contrary to a jury’s recommendation for mercy. Among those who supported her were several important local individuals; the mayor, the sheriff, and a future Canadian Prime Minister, Alexander Mackenzie.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:31 pm

Hi Jim
Not sure where you have looked already. Have you tried Freecen? (check if the area is covered first)
Have you tried IGI or SP for the marriage of Elizabeth - that may give you the husband's name and from there you could check for the birth of their daughter.

If not, the census data should be able to be found on SP. If you've any problems finding them in either of these sources, get back to us and we'll try to help.

Best wishes
Lesley

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:25 pm

No wee Mary but could this be them in 1851 (just going by James's occupation as this guy seems to be living at Ontario in 1861)

Piece: SCT1851/620 Place: West Kilbride -Ayrshire Enumeration District: 5
Civil Parish: West Kilbride Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: West Kilbride
Folio: 0 Page: 18 Schedule: 58
Address: Main Street

Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
WORKMAN James Head M M 34 Flesher Ayrshire - West Kilbride
WORKMAN Elisabeth Wife M F 23 Ayrshire - West Kilbride

Regards,
Annette

ellenavon · Post by **ellenavon** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:34 pm

Hi Jim

These dates don't quite fit with your story, but there's this marraige on IGI

James Workman m Elizabeth Adam, 19 Oct 1850, West Kilbride

and on 1851 census:

James Workman, 34, Flisher (?), b. West Kilbride
Elizabeth Workman, 23, b. West Kilbride
@ Main Street, West Kilbride.
No child with them.

Regards

Ellen

Annette beat me to it lol!

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:43 pm

ellenavon wrote:Hi Jim

These dates don't quite fit with your story, but there's this marraige on IGI

James Workman m Elizabeth Adam, 19 Oct 1850, West Kilbride

and on 1851 census:

James Workman, 34, Flisher (?), b. West Kilbride
Elizabeth Workman, 23, b. West Kilbride
@ Main Street, West Kilbride.
No child with them.

Regards

Ellen

Annette beat me to it lol!

I know that's the only likely marriage but that couple have 2 daughters born 1855 and 1859 and Jim said they went to Canada in 1856.

There is also a Hugh in 1851 at West Kilbride who I feel has to be related-

Piece: SCT1851/620 Place: West Kilbride -Ayrshire Enumeration District: 5
Civil Parish: West Kilbride Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: West Kilbride
Folio: 0 Page: 27 Schedule: 92
Address: Main Street

Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
WORKMAN Hugh Head M M 57 Butcher Ayrshire - West Kilbride
WORKMAN Catherine Wife M F 56 Midwife Ayrshire - Stevenston
WORKMAN Mary Grndau - F 13 At Sewing School Ayrshire - West Kilbride
ROSS Hugh Wm Grnson - M 2 Lanarkshire - Glasgow

Regards,
Annette

ellenavon · Post by **ellenavon** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:54 pm

Hi Annette

Yes, I saw that family of Workmans, and wondered, especially with the granddaughter Mary, although the age is way out for her.

Jim, what sources do you have for the above info on the family? Is it "family lore" which could be significantly out in dates etc, or are they reliable documented sources?

Cheers

Ellen

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 3:05 pm

Just to confuse matters further the attached article states that Mary was James' daughter not Elizabeth's and that she was born around 1853.

http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/canadian_j ... field.html

ellenavon · Post by **ellenavon** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 3:12 pm

Well spotted Susan - was just about to post similar. James was previously married. Interesting reading.

http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/canadian_j ... field.html

Regards

Ellen

grannysrock · Post by **grannysrock** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 3:59 pm

Hi Jim
Susan beat me to it - I was also going to post a link to that article. It says that Mary was also known as Mary Skirving - well on 11 feb 1873
a widow Mary Skirving marries an Andrew Miller at Mooretown,Lambton, Ontario . She was born about 1839 in Scotland and her parents were James and Janet Workman ! .

This ties in possibly to the Mary with mother Janet Fleck on the IGI - but makes her a little older than suspected.

In the 1881 census for Canada, Mary and Andrew are at Moore , Lambton Ontario, along with 23 year old Catherine Workman born Scotland.

Sally

grannysrock · Post by **grannysrock** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:32 pm

Hi Again
There is a marriage record on Ancestry for a Catherine Eliza Workman in 1881 at Moore to a John Robertson -
parents given as James Workman and ..... Elizabeth Workman . Oh dear no maiden name given

In 1901 Census ( searchable at Ancestry or www.automatedgenealogy.com) , Catherine and John appear to be at

Owen Sound in Grey county - the 1901 census gives a birth date for Catherine of 31 Jan 1858. This agrees with the birth date of the daughter of Elizabeth Adam mentioned by Annette.
(It also gives an immigration year for her of 1863 ) .

But I can see no evidence of Hugh anywhere !!