If you have any connection to Sarah Jane Elson, or have any information about her, please contact me or leave a message on this page! She is my most frustrating brick wall.Lianne Lavoie, 20:19, 12 July 2012 (EDT)
Currently the goal in all of my research on Sarah Jane is finding her parents.
Censuses: I've found Sarah Jane in the 1852, 1861, 1871, and 1881 censuses. Were there any censuses before that in Ontario/Canada West?
Birth record: Impossible to really search for until her parents' names are known.
Marriage record: I've searched online and haven't been able to find the record of her marriage to Henry Prince. I've posted questions about this on several forums, but so far no one has attempted a look up.
Death record: I have found Sarah Jane's death record (see Sources section).
I do not have experience with less common sources, so I have not yet researched any other types of records. I have done general searches on FamilySearch and come up empty.
Blog Posts
The following posts on my genealogy blog, Stories of a Canadian Family, document my research on Sarah Jane Elson:
Sarah Jane Elson is my direct matrilineal ancestor. I have ordered an mtDNA test and am waiting for the results now. Hopefully this will provide some clue as to her origins. -- Lianne Lavoie
On the 1881 census, there is a 75 year old widow named Mary Elson living with Henry and Sarah Jane and their children. Presumably that is Sarah Jane's mother.
Sarah died in London, Ontario, on November 5, 1881.[2] She died 9 days after giving birth to her last child, which suggests that she may have died as a result of complications in childbirth.
Timeline
c1839 Born, in Ontario
1852 Census, in Westminster, Canada West; age 12; mother Mary, age 29; siblings: Ann, age 14; Elisa, age 10; Elisabeth, age 1 (relationships assumed, not stated in census)
1861 Census, in Canada West; age 20; husband Henry, age 25; children: Mary Prince, age 1. Mary Elson, age 48. Elisabeth Elson, age 9. Elisa Elson, age 18.
1871 Census, in London, Ontario; age 30; husband Henry, age 36; children: Elizabeth, age 11; John, age 9; Jane, age 7; Harriet, age 6; Ida, age 4; James, age 2
1881 Census, in London, Ontario; age 42; husband Henry, age 45; children: John Henry, age 19; Jane, age 18; Harriet, age 16; Ida, age 13; James Edward, age 11; William, age 9; Alice, age 5; Isabella, age 3. Mary Elson, age 75 (widow). James Prince, age 33
1871 Canadian census, London, Ontario; age 30; husband Henry, age 36; children: Elizabeth, age 11; John, age 9; Jane, age 7; Harriet, age 6; Ida, age 4; James, age 2.
1881 Canadian census, London, Ontario; age 42; husband Henry, age 45; children: John Henry, age 19; Jane, age 18; Harriet, age 16; Ida, age 13; James Edward, age 11; William, age 9; Alice, age 5; Isabella, age 3. Mary Elson, age 75 (widow). James Prince, age 33.
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I've concluded that the 1852 census is a match. I found Sarah Jane, with her husband, in the 1861 census, and there are several Elsons living with her that match people in the 1852 census.
For your convenience here's a Google search form. If you find more info please add it to WikiTree so that this is a more complete, better organized resource for future Princes and historians.
