Biography

Amelia Rice was born in Upper Canada in 1822.^[1] (See research note, below, re: unknown parents).

Amelia's husband was John Etches. Their first child, John, jun., was born in 1844,^[2] suggesting that Amelia and John, sen., were married c.1841/2.

Amelia's husband died on 19th May 1889, aged seventy-nine years.^[3]

Nearly seventeen years later, shy one day, on 18th May 1906 Amelia Etches née Rice died in London, Ontario, aged eighty-three years.^[4]

Census enumerations

1861 census (Canada)

• Jn’o [John] Etches, carpenter, born in England, religious denomination: Church of England, age 50 [born c.1811], male, married
• Amelia, born in Upper Canada, religious denomination: Wesleyan Methodist, age 42, female, married
• John, do. [ditto], …, age 19, male, single
• Phillip, do., …, age 17, do., …
• James, do., …, age 15, do., …
• Thomas, do., …, age 13, do., …, attended school within the past year
• Henery, do., …, age 11, do., …, attended school do.
• Jenny, do., …, age 8, female, do., …, attended school do.
• Charlotte, do., …, age 6, female, do., …, attended school do.
• Anna Marks, servant, born in Upper Canada, Roman Catholic
• census place: Chatham (town), Kent County, Canada West (frame house, one storey)^[5]

1871 census (Canada)

• Emelia [Etches], female, married, age 48 [born c.1813], born in Ontario, origin: English, religious denomination: Wesleyan Methodist‡
• John Etches, male, married, age 58, born in England, origin: English, religious denomination: Church of England, occupation: carpenter
• John, male, age 27, born in Ontario, origin: English, religious denomination: Church of England, occupation: farmer
• James, male, age 25, born do. [ditto], origin and religious denomination do., occupation: teamster
• Thomas, male, age 22, born do., origin and religious denomination do., occupation: machinist
• Henry, male, age 20, born do., origin and religious denomination do., occupation: labourer
• Jennie, female, age 17, born do., religious denomination: Wesleyan Methodist
• Charlotte B., female, age 16, born do., religious denomination: do.
• census place: Chatham, Ontario^[6]

‡ Note: Emelia’s data was written in error as the last name of the Woods household, appearing on the line directly above John Etches’ data.

1881 census (Canada)

• John Etchis, male, age 71 [born c.1810], born in England, married, religious denomination: Methodist [church] of Canada, origin: English, occupation: merchant
• Amelia, female, age 60, born in Ontario, married do. [ditto], religion and origin do.
• Jennie, female, age 23, born do., religion and origin do.
• Alexander Phillips, male, age 35, born in Ontario, religion and origin do., occupation: minister of the gospel
• William Bodkin, male, age 24, born in Ontario, religion and origin do., [no stated occupation]
• census place: Chatham, Ontario^[7]

1891 census (Canada)

• Mrs Jn’o Etches, female, age 67, widow, born in Ontario, both parents born in Ontario, religious denomination: Methodist, no stated occupation, education: reads and writes
• Jennie, female, age 36, D [struck out, then rewritten in another column], born in Onario, father born in England, mother born in Ontario, do. [ditto], …
• census place: Chatham, Kent County, Ontario^[8]

1901 census (Canada)

• Amelia Hetcas [or Helcas], female, white, head, widow, born 22 April 1822, age 78, born in Ontario, nationality: Canada, religious denomination: Methodist; occupation: living on own means, earnings $300, education: reads and writes, language: speaks English
• Janey, female, white, daughter, single, born 27 May 1854, age 48; born, nationality, and religious denomination, occupation, and earnings, do.
• Lena Hamilton, female, white, boarder, born 10 November 1893, age 7; born, nationality, and religious denomination, do., …, speaks English
• Frank Hamilton, male, white, boarder, born 6 January 1896, age 5, do., …
• Arthur Masion, male, white, boarder, born 20 March 1900, age 1
• census place: Chatham, Kent County, Ontario^[1]

Research notes

• Unknown parents:—In attempting to trace Amelia’s parents, a baptismal record was not found. Neither was a marriage record for Amelia with John Hedges, which might have named their respective fathers, at least. In lieu of either type of record, a survey was made of the census records for other Rice households in Kent County:

1. For example, Benjamin Rice was an immigrant from England and held a farm on Lot 19, Communication Road, Harwich township, near Chatham. According to the County of Kent biographical record published in 1906, Mr. Rice had three known children: Emma, who married Philip Rice, later of Port Lambton, and with she settled at Marine City in Michigan; Frederick, born in England, who married Esther Brown and settled on the family homestead in Harwich township; and George, also born in England, who remained in Toronto for some time after immigrating to Canada and later came to Harwich township and married Sarah Brown.^[9][10] Unfortunately, the name of Amelia does not appear in this local history book.
2. John Rice was age 30 and apparently a bachelor, working as a clerk, Episcoplian by denomination, when he was enumerated in Chatham during the 1851 census.^[11] His age makes him a contemporary of Amelia Etches née Rice (b.1822). In Chatham in 1861 (spelled Rise), with wife, Mary, and three children, all born in Upper Canada; all Methodist. In the 1891 census, John stated that both his parents were born in Ontario. John Rice died 1st September 1907, aged 77 years, retired merchant, widower, of heart disease, religious denomination: Methodist, born in Dover township, died in Dover.
3. The 1861 census enumerated a Rice family living in Raleigh township, which includes a large area extending from Erie Beach on the Lake Erie shoreline, west to south of Merlin, northeasterly through Merlin to Prairie Siding, then skirting the southwest bounds of the town of Chatham. The township also includes the villagees of North Buxton, South Buxton, and Dealtown. The household was headed by Patrick Rice, age 36 [born c.1825], a farmer, and Catherine, his wife, age 38, both born in Ireland, with five children born in Uppper Canada, all declaring Roman Catholicism as their religious denomination.^[12] As Amelia stated that her heritage was English and her religious denomination as Methodist, it seems unlikely that she was related to this family.
4. Allen Benjamin Rice b.1812 Ohio, d. 28 Aug 1860 Camden, wife Jane Wallen b. Ontario; family were Methodists: see 1861 census at Camden (Jane as head).
5. Richard Rice (70), born in N.S. or U.S., and Henrietta (61) with daughter, Lovenia J. (26), and grandchildren, James K. Williams (5) and Henrietta Williams (3), in Camden township (1861 census).
6. James Rice, dry goods merchant, Congregationalist, born in Upper Canada, age 36 [born c.1825], with wife, Clara (25), and three children, aged 2–8 years, all born in the U.S., in Chatham (1861 census).

The problem with all of these records is that there is no mention of Amelia or in Amelia’s records, a mention of any other Rice individual.—Recommend consulting the local history and genealogy resources held at the Chatham-Kent Public Library, including any genealogical file for the Rice family.—Kilpatrick-1128 (2020-06-27)

• Estimated date of marriage:—has been set at c.1841, about two to three years before the birth of their son, John Etches, in 1844.^[2]—Recommend consulting the booklet of early entries for marriages and baptisms solemnized in St Paul's Anglican church in Chatham between 1829–1841, held by the Kent branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society. Please note that there follows a gap in the records for that church, which pick up again c.1855.—Kilpatrick-1128 (2020-06-27)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Canada 1901 Census. Extract: Amelia Hetcas [or Helcas], female, white, head, widow, born 22 September 1822, age 78, born in Ontario, nationality: Canada, religious denomination: Methodist; occupation: living on own means, earnings $300, education: reads and writes, language: speaks English; Janey Etches, female, white, daughter, single, born 27 May 1854, age 48; born, nationality, and religious denomination, occupation, and earnings, do.; Lena Hamilton, female, white, boarder, born 10 November 1893, age 7; born, nationality, and religious denomination, do., …, speaks English; Frank Hamilton, male, white, boarder, born 6 January 1896, age 5, do., …; Arthur Masion, male, white, boarder, born 20 March 1900, age 1; census place: Chatham, Kent County, Ontario. Original record: Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2004. Archival ref. district no. 76 Kent, polling sub-division no. 3 Chatham (city), pp. 5–6, dwelling no. 47, family no. 47, enumerated 12th April 1901. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-06-27).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Province of Ontario. Civil Registration of a Death. Extract: “John Etches, male, origin: English, single, aged 79 years 7 months 27 days, born 11th January 1843 in Kent, occupation: farmer (for life), length of residence at place of death: 78 years 8 months; father: John Eitches [sic], born in England; mother: Amelia Rice, born in England; informant: James Etches, nephew, Chatham; buried in Chatham, 9th September 1922; undertaker: J.J. Hinnegan, Chatham. Medical certificate of death: died 7th September 1822, cause of death: gangerine [sic] of foot, attended by physician from 1st May to 7th September 1922, no surgery, no autopsy, signed: C.B. Oliver, Chatham, 8th September 1922, received by registrar 10th September 1922.” Original record: Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1947 (MS 935, reels 1-694), Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Archival ref. collection no. MS935, reel no. 289, pg. 175, no. 2/016835. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-05-12).
3. ↑ Province of Ontario (Canada). Civil Registration of a Death. Extract: “John Etches, died 19th May 1889, male, aged 79 years, occupation: carpenter, born in England, cause of death: general debility, physician: Dr. Tye, informant: Henry Etches, registered 20th May 1889, religious denomination: Methodist, registrar: Jno. Tisseman[?].” Original record: Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1947 (MS 935, reels 1-694), Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Archival ref. collection no. MS935, reel no. 54, pg. 402, no. 008246. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-05-09).
4. ↑ Province of Ontario. Civil Registration of a Death. Extract: “Amelia Etches, female, died 18th May 1906, aged 82 years, died in the asylum for the insane, marital status: M [sic], born in Canada, cause of death: senility, length of illness: 4 years, physician in attendance: asylum staff, informant: George McNeill, registered 18th May 1906.” Original record: Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1947 (MS 935, reels 1-694), Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Archival ref. collection no. MS935, reel no. 126, pg. 411, no. 48/018655. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-05-09).
5. ↑ 1861 Canada Census. Extract: “Jn’o [John] Etches, carpenter, born in England, religious denomination: Church of England, age 50, male, married; Amelia, born in Upper Canada, religious denomination: Wesleyan Methodist, age 42, female, married; John, do. [ditto], …, age 19, male, single; Phillip, do., …, age 17, do., …; James, do., …, age 15, do., …; Thomas, do., …, age 13, do., …, attended school within the past year; Henery, do., …, age 11, do., …, attended school do.; Jenny, do., …, age 8, female, do., …, attended school do.; Charlotte, do., …, age 6, female, do., …, attended school do.; Anna Marks, servant, born in Upper Canada, Roman Catholic; census place: Chatham (town), Kent County, Canada West (frame house, one storey).” Original record: Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Census Returns For 1861; Roll: C-1038-1039. Archival ref. pg. 59, individual nos. 37–46. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-05-09).
6. ↑ Canada 1871 Census. Extract: “Emelia [Etches], female, married, age 48, born in Ontario, origin: English, religious denomination: Wesleyan Methodist*; John Etches, male, married, age 58, born in England, origin: English, religious denomination: Church of England, occupation: carpenter; John, male, age 27, born in Ontario, origin: English, religious denomination: Church of England, occupation: farmer; James, male, age 25, born do. [ditto], origin and religious denomination do., occupation: teamster; Thomas, male, age 22, born do., origin and religious denomination do., occupation: machinist; Henry, male, age 20, born do., origin and religious denomination do., occupation: labourer; Jennie, female, age 17, born do., religious denomination: Wesleyan Methodist; Charlotte B., female, age 16, born do., religious denomination: do.; census place: Chatham, Ontario, Canada. *Note: Emelia’s data was written in error as the last name of the Woods household, appearing on the line directly above John Etches’ data.” Original record: Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1871. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, n.d.. RG31-C-1. Statistics Canada Fonds. Archival ref. microfilm roll no. C-9893, pg. 34, family no. 331, district: Kent (no. 2), sub-district: Chatham (G), division no. 2. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-05-11).
7. ↑ Canada 1881 Census. Extract: “John Etchis, male, age 71, born in England, married, religious denomination: Methodist [church] of Canada, origin: English, occupation: merchant; Amelia, female, age 60, born in Ontario, married do. [ditto], religion and origin do.; Jennie, female, age 23, born do., religion and origin do.; Alexander Phillips, male, age 35, born in Ontario, religion and origin do., occupation: minister of the gospel; William Bodkin, male, age 24, born in Ontario, religion and origin do., [no stated occupation]; census place: Chatham, Ontario.” Original record: Canada. "Census of Canada, 1881." Statistics Canada Fonds, Record Group 31-C-1. LAC microfilm C-13162 to C-13286. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa. Archival ref. microfilm roll no. C-13280, pg. 70, family no. 322, district: Kent (no. 1), sub-district: Chatham, division no. 1. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-05-11).
8. ↑ Canada 1891 Census. Extract: Mrs Jn’o Etches, female, age 67, widow, born in Ontario, both parents born in Ontario, religious denomination: Methodist, no stated occupation, education: reads and writes; Jennie, female, age 36, D [struck out], born in Onario, father born in England, mother born in Ontario, do. [ditto], …; census place: Chatham, Kent County, Ontario. Original record: Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1891. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada [LAC], 2009. Archival ref. LAC roll no. T-6346, district no. 79 Kent; sub-district B, Town of Chatham; pg. 2, houses inhabited W 2/5, family no. 3, enumerated 6th April 1891. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-06-27).
9. ↑ Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Kent, Ontario. Toronto: J.H. Beers & Co., 1904 (pp. 182-83).
10. ↑ Canada 1861 Census. Extract: “Benjamin Rice, farmer, born in England, origin: English, age 65, male, married; Anne, born in England, origin do. [ditto], age 60, female, married; Frederick, farmer, born and origin do., age 27, male, single; census place: Harwich township, Kent County, Ontario (two storey, frame house.” Original record: Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Census Returns For 1861; Roll: C-1039-1040. Archival ref. pg. 54, individual nos. 37-39. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-05-09).
11. ↑ Canada 1851 Census. Extract: “John Rice, clerk, born in Canada West, religious denomination: Episcopalian, age 22, male; census place: Chatham, Kent County, Ontario.” Original record: Census of 1851 (Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Canada. Archival ref. district: Kent County (no. 17), sub-district: Chatham (no. 162), pg. 23, individual no. 19. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-05-09).
12. ↑ Canada 1861 Census. Extract: “Patrick Rice, farmer, born in Ireland, Roman Catholic, age 36, male, married; Cath[erine], born in Ireland, age 38, married; Thomas (20), Margaret (18), Catharine (12), James (8), and Joseph (7), all born in Upper Canada and Roman Catholic; census place: Raleigh township, Kent County, Ontario.” Original record: Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Census Returns For 1861; Roll: C-1039-1040. Archival ref. pg. 29, individual nos. 16–22. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-05-09).