Who fathered Willard Joseph (raised Dawson) born to Amanda Reece in Ontario Canada in 1869?

Question

Amanda Katherine Reece, sometimes known by Katherine (Kate) Amanda, gave birth to Willard in Ontario, Canada in 1869 while working for Henry Konkle as a servant girl. Katherine Amanda Reece married James A Meddaugh (Middaugh) in1871. The next time I found Amanda was in the 1881 Ontario census living with her son Willard and William Dawson. In the same 1881 census, Willard was also shown in the 1881 census living with Stephen and Sarah Reece, Amanda's parents but Willard's last name on the census photocopy is not legible. I also have not found divorce papers from Amanda's marriage to James Meddaugh or a marriage license to William Dawson. If anyone has information or ideas on how to solve who fathered Willard Dawson I would greatly appreciate the help.

Comments

Hi Ron, if you add the tags Ontario and Canada to your question, it will appear in the newsfeed for members with expertise in that area.  Meanwhile, I'll try to flag to the project in another way.

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If he was illegitimate, you may never know who fathered him.  Genetic testing MIGHT help in conjunction with the paper trail.  For example, if Konkle family member(s) have also tested, you might be able to rule in or out that he came from that line.  Same with her first spouse.

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Hi Laurie, Thanks for the suggestion. Problem is, I still haven't figured out how to add "Tags". I keep getting sidetracked.

Thank You.

Ron Dawson

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Heya Ron, its in the green box that we use to ask or edit a question. Scroll down, below the text you type in, in the area you used to link to his profile, you'll see a prompt to add keywords or  tags.  Anyone who follows the terms you choose will see the question in their newsfeed.

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I "think" I just did what you said.

If not please let me know.

Thanks,

Ron Dawson

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two thumbs up!    

Answer 1

Ron is this the 1871 Census you are looking at?

Steven & Sarah Reese, William, on the next page, 

And is this Amanda, with Henry and Mary Jane Konkle?

Comments

Yes, on line 4 is Amanda Reece working for the Konkles.

Answer 2

I have added his family tree to his profile

Comments

Thank You, Chris. I'm new to Wiki Tree and I'm still stumbling around the site.

Answer 3

There may not have been a divorce.  There certainly is no hit in the LAC divioce database.  It may not be significant but James Middaugh is identified as a widower in the 1861, 1871 and 1891 censuses but married in the 1881 census.

I have found in cases where the 1881 census is hard to read on Ancestry, the images at LAC are often better.  That was certainly the case for the page with Joseph W.I put a screenshot here   Image  It looks to me like the name starts with War.

Comments

Could it be Wardell?

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Thank you for your help.

I'm not familiar with the abbreviation "LAC". Could you help me out?

The name that was whispered by the older family members in reference to Willard's biological father was Joseph WARDELL or some derivative. Willard's biological father was supposedly from Scotland and the story was presented to the family to protect my Great Great Grandmother's reputation. Willard was raised as William and Amanda's son.

I have looked for a Joseph Wardell in that time frame and in that location but haven't had any luck

Even though Amanda gave birth to Willard in 1869, she seemed to have kept her job with the Konkles while her parents kept Willard.

James Middaugh must have been a friend of the family as he shows in other records that deal with the Reeces. That leads me to believe his marriage to Amanda in 1871 was maybe to protect her reputation.

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LAC stands for Library and Archives Canada, Ron. Here's the link to the full Census page https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1881&op=&img&id=e008188141

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You could well be right about the marriage.  Have you noticed that the clergyman was D. W. Misner and the only witness listed was N. J. Misner, who the 1871 census shows was his wife?

It is probably coincidental that in that census, between the Miseners (family #28) and James Middaugh (family #39), there is Francis Waddell (family #34).