Hannah C. (Collard) Gilbert (abt. 1807 - 1887)

Born about Sep 1807 in Lower Canada (Quebec)

Ancestors

Wife of Peter Gilbert — married 24 Nov 1831 in Norwich Township, Oxford, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 22 Mar 1887 at about age 79 in Dereham, Oxford, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

It is believed through Canada Census and Hannah Collard's death record that she was born In September, 1807 in Lower Canada (Quebec). It is highly likely that Hannah's parents were Edward Collard and his wife Sarah (unknown maiden name), although no definitive record joining the two was located. A picture of Robert Collard (veteran of the War of 1812- 1814), labelled as the brother of Hannah, was located in family memorabilia. Research showed that Robert was born in New Brunswick which aligns with a land grant in New Brunswick Edward received as a result of his Loyalty to Britain in the American Revolution. Future census records showed that Hannah was born in Canada East (Quebec) in 1806/ 1807 which would align with Edward Collard's voyage from New Brunswick to Upper Canada. His 1816 Upper Canada Land petition in 1816 said he had first lived in New Brunswick but had moved to Upper Canada 10 years prior to the land petition date. It is believed that Hannah had three brothers (David, Robert, Edward) and one sister (Elizabeth Catherine [Collard] Mills). All four of her siblings were born in New Brunswick. Edward died in 1824 in Windham, Norfolk County which was the home location of his daughter Elizabeth Mills. The 2X great grand-daughter of Hannah (Collard) Gilbert shows a DNA match to a descendant of Elizabeth (Collard) Mills.

On November 24, 1831, Hannah married Peter Gilbert in Norwich, Oxford, Upper Canada (Ontario). The ceremony was performed by Solomon Lossing a Justice of the Peace. Witnesses included Amos Reavely, Xenophon Earle (perhaps a brother to Peter's first wife), Josiah T. Allen and Abe Schooley. A different source also included David Collard's name as a witness to the marriage. Together, Peter and Hannah had five children (two sons and three daughters). Their children and birthdates are: Helen Marr (1835), David Hugh (1838) (named after his mother's older brother?), Nelson Robert (1841), Mary Francis (1843), and Margaret Elizabeth (1848). Farming was the primary occupation of their children's adult lives, however Nelson became a doctor who practiced in Bay City, Michigan.

In 1851, Peter and Hannah were shown in the census to be living with their children (ages 4- 17) in Norwich Township. Hannah at this time was shown to be 45 years old and her birthplace was shown as Canada East (specific location was not given).

In the 1861 census the family's location was shown to be Dereham, Oxford, Ontario. The agricultural census component showed they lived on Concession 5, Lot 23 in Dereham. Hannah's birthplace once again was shown to be Canada East (Quebec) and she was 53 years old. The family was also shown to be living in a one storey frame house. The 1867 Oxford and Norfolk Directory and Gazetteer was showing the family still lived at the same location as the 1861 census.

The 1871 Lovell's Ontario Directory showed Peter Gilbert, farmer, living within the boundaries of Verschoyle, Dereham Twp. It is likely that the family did not move, but the boundaries did.

Peter passed away March1, 1879 in Dereham Twp from disease of the stomach and liver. Hannah lived an additional eight years. Efforts to find where Hannah lived in the 1881 census were not successful. She passed away March 21, 1887 in Caradoc, Middlesex, Ontario which was the location identified in the 1891 Voter's List as the location where her youngest daughter Lizzie lived with her family. It is likely Hannah was living there after Peter's death. Her son Dr. Nelson R. Gilbert was the informant in the death record. Peter and Hannah are buried together in Ebenezer-Grove Cemetery. A gravestone was erected by Hannah and Peter's 2X great grand-daughter in 2023. They are buried in Lot 79- Plots #1 and #2.

Sources

• "William R. Yeager, Wills of the London District 1800-1839, Norfolk Historical Society, Simcoe, Ontario, 1979." Document filed by Sarah Collard to settle estate of her late husband Edward Collard in 1824.

• "Marriages of the London District, 1800- 1833, Oxford County Entries, Ontario Genealogical Society Oxford County Branch.

• "Early London District Marriages (1800- 1839) by Solomon Lossing"- http://my.tbaytel.net/bmartin/london_m.htm

• "Canada Census, 1851," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWT6-P3L : 3 August 2016), Hannah C Gilbert, Norwich, Oxford County, Canada West (Ontario), Canada; citing p. 138, line 16; Library and Archives Canada film number C_11745, Public Archives, Ontario.

• "Ontario Census, 1861," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQWC-1KL : 5 September 2017), Hanna Gilbert, Dereham, Oxford, Ontario, Canada; citing p. 35, line 36; Library and Archives Canada film number C-1060-1061, Public Archives, Toronto; FHL microfilm 2,435,935.

• "Lovell's Province of Ontario Directory for 1871", page 919, http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/directories-collection/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=51302

• "Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JNNP-WY8 : 9 March 2018), Hannah C. Gilbert, 21 Mar 1887; citing Caradoc, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada, yr 1887 cn 10189, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,853,486.

• Grove Cemetery Burial Record (1855- 2004), Concession 4, Lot 20, Dereham Township, Ontario Genealogical Society, Oxford Branch

• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pattyrose/engel/gen/fg10/fg10_334.htm