Brick Wall: Henry Prince and Sarah Jane Elson, 19th century Ontario

+4 votes
783 views

This is my most frustrating brick wall right now! Henry Prince and Sarah Jane Elson, married, probably in Ontario, in about 1860, are my 4x great grandparents. Henry was born in England around 1835, and Sarah was born in Ontario around 1841. I can't find them earlier than the 1871 census: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1871/001101-119.01-e.php?&person_id_nbr=2698455&interval=20

Ideally I'd like to find a marriage record for them, which would hopefully name their parents! But any information on them pre-1871 would be much appreciated. :)

~Lianne

WikiTree profile: Sarah Prince
in Genealogy Help by Liander Lavoie G2G6 Pilot (452k points)
edited by Liander Lavoie
I still haven't found anything about their marriage or earlier, but I have some updates about them later in life!

I found a picture of their tombstone: http://www.wikitree.com/photo/Elson-22.jpg

The tombstone gave me their death dates, which confirmed that the death records I thought might be theirs are in fact theirs. :)

I also discovered that Henry Prince remarried after Sarah died! He married Eliza Hodson (or maybe Hodgson): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FMJD-N5Y

So that marriage record confirms Henry's father's name: Joseph Prince. And it confirms that his mother's first name was Elizabeth. I've seen people give Elizabeth a few different last names, so I still don't know which one is right.

3 Answers

+2 votes
 
Best answer

I have a user-submitted record that gives his parents names (nothing for her).  Unfortunately, the record doesn't give a source: Henry Prince.

by Fred Remus G2G6 Mach 4 (43.2k points)
selected by Living Geleick
Just saw that (all?) his siblings are also shown on his parents' records.  His father's record gives "Emigration: 1841 Note: 1901 Census entry" as a note/source.
I wasn't thinking I'd get much from this record, since I don't put much faith in user-submitted records, but that source mentioning the 1901 census entry got my attention. I hadn't been able to find Henry and Sarah Jane in the 1901 census (or any census after 1881). So I looked again, and I found Henry! I don't know why I didn't find this before! I know it's him because he's living with two of his children, and their names and birth dates match children from an earlier census! This is definitely a step. Thanks so much, Fred!! :D

~Lianne
I share your skepticism about user submitted records, but it was the only thing I found.  Glad it was helpful!
+2 votes
My Great-Great Grandmother was Harriet Ann Prince, daughter of Henry Prince and Sarah Jane Elson.

Henry's parents were Joseph Prince Junior and Elizabeth White they are recorded on the back of the replacement tombstone that you found for Henry Prince and Sarah Jane Elson.

Also buried at the same cemtery are John Elson and his wife Mary. Mary was known by various last names the late Charlotte Box believed it to be Boits but I've found many verations. Mary is listed age 75 living with Henry Prince and Sarah Jane Elson Prince p. 16, 167 East Riding Middlesex, No 6 London Township 1881 Canadian census you can search for free for this at Libraries and Archives Canada. Henry was Methodist until the death of Sarah Jane Elson and Henry was Trustee of the Lamely Memorial Methodist Church Hyde Park. When he married his second wife "Eliza" he became a member of the Hyde Park Presbyterian Church along with family members.

JJohn Elson was the son of Johann Elson (Ulson) via researchers I've run into never been able to prove their connection fully but Johann Ulson apparently can be traced back to the Doomsday book of 1066 AD. I've not been able to prove that.

PS I have photo's of these folks if your interested?
by
edited
+2 votes
FreeCen shows Joseph Prince Senior and Joseph Prince Junior with family members including Henry Prince 1841 (taken 6 June 1841) District 11, Cawden & Codsworth, Wiltshire, England See Folio 5, Page 2. Joseph Prince Senior wife is listed as Ann Prince she died before the 1852 Canadian Census as Joseph Senior is listed as a Widower.

The family does not appear in the 1842 (1 Feb 1842)  census at Libraries and Archives Canada, Joseph Prince IIIrd is shown in the 1852 Census born 1843 and he is the first of the Canadian Children. All the older children match with the 1841 save one missing Harriet who appears not to survive to the 1852 census. This name comes down in the family as well via my 2nd Great Grandmother Harriet Ann Prince.
by
Also need to add that the reason you can't find much on Sarah Jane Elson is that John Elson was her Step-Father.

Sarah Jane Biotito (Boits) later Elson 8 Apr 1835 - 5 Nov 1881  was the daughter of ? Biotito (Boits) and Mary White 2 Apr 1809 - 10 Apr 1887. Sarah's Grandmother was also named Mary White d. 14 Dec 1835.

Mary White married John Elson Jr. 14 Dec 1837 in Westminster, Middlesx County, Upper Canada. She had a younger sister Amelia Biotito 1836 - 1928 who was married to Samuel Givson. Mary White then had 2/3 children with John Elson Anna, Eliza (might be nickname for Elizabeth) and Elizabeth.

Signed up for Wiki but can't figure out how to contact you can fill in sources and more details Lianne

John Elson her Step-father was the son of Johann Hendrick Ulson 1763 died 1810 in Tuckersmith and mother Elizabeth Steinhoff 1781 - 1809.

P

Related questions

+5 votes
1 answer
125 views asked Mar 27, 2016 in Genealogy Help by Christine Henderson G2G6 Mach 1 (13.3k points)
+9 votes
2 answers
140 views asked Jun 3, 2022 in Appreciation by Rosette Girouard G2G Crew (400 points)
+8 votes
2 answers
303 views asked Mar 19, 2022 in Appreciation by Nicole Solomon G2G Crew (400 points)
+6 votes
1 answer
177 views asked Dec 2, 2021 in Appreciation by Ann Spiess G2G2 (2.9k points)
+3 votes
1 answer
+9 votes
1 answer
69 views asked May 16, 2021 in Appreciation by Kathy Smith G2G Crew (420 points)

WikiTree  ~  About  ~  Help Help  ~  Search Person Search  ~  Surname:

disclaimer - terms - copyright

...