James + Elizabeth Jane (Libby Jane Lizzy Janee) Lewis. Elizabeth was born on 10 Apr 1863 in Fenwick County, Nova Scotia; died on 14 Dec 1946 in Calgary. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

E Mail from Corinne MacLaurin
I have been slowly working on my family history but it seems that I am ata temporary impasse and hope that you can help me.

My grandfather, James Fraser MacLaurin, was born in 1864 in River John,Pictou County, Nova Scotia and died April 5, 1936 in Calgary, Alberta.He married in 1897? to Elizabeth Jane ("Libby Jane, Lizzy Jane, BeckyJane") Lewis who was born April 10, 1863 in Fenwick County, Nova Scotiaand died Dec 14, 1946 in Calgary. James Fraser and Elizabeth Jane had 7children: Cecil Clifford, Lloyd Alexander, Raymond Gordon, HelenMarguerite, Beatrice Mary Christine, Lottie Edna Isabel, and WallaceFraser (my father) Although I have some 20+ pages of narrative on the"current" MacLaurin family, neither I nor a genealogist from Nova Scotia,are able to confirm even the basics about my great grandfather, Alexander(and necessarily are "blocked" from any work further backwards).

From the 1871 Census of Pictou County, Nova Scotia, my great grandfather,Alexander from Merigomish was born in 1823. He was 48 years old when thecensus was done - occupation listed as Ships carpenter, which confirmsthe information recorded by my late aunt before she passed. Later censusrecords, however, identify his occupation as "Farmer". The genealogistbelieves that this Alexander, an Alexander D., died at Sutherland River,Nova Scotia on June 9, 1886.

He married (his second wife according to my late aunt who recorded someof the family history before passing, but did not provide any informationon a first wife) to Christy, b. 1837 and, from the 1871 Census, she was34 years old. A genealogist from Nova Scotia traced records that showthey were likely married in 1858 when Christy was 21 years old, but wasunable to find the actual record of their marriage. She was unable tofind the resting place for either Alexander or Christy.

From this point, however, nothing seems to match 100%, although I suspectthere are rarely 100% matches. There is, however, no consistency in thechildren's names following through the 1871, 1881 and 1891 Census. Thegenealogist was unable to help me in reconciling the older children fromthe 1871 household of Alexander and Christy.

As the genealogist wrote, it appears that my grandfather, James Fraserwas a twin with Henry. The 1871 Census shows an Alexander and a James (8years); the 1881 Census shows an Alexander and a Henry G. (18 years old.Henry died Feb. 18, 1891 in Trenton, Pictou County). Both officialcensus records shows the annotation "Twins".

My late aunt recalled her father's (James Fraser) sisters and brothers(only 7 identified by her) as being John; Walter; Allan (killed in arailway accident in the U.S.); Ebden; Margaret; Elizabeth who married toa Young with son, Howard Young; Anne in Boston, MA.; and Charlotte whomarried to Fraser Sinclair of Trenton or New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.

To confuse things even more, it would appear my great grandfather spelledthe family name McLaurin. My grandfather (and all his children) spelledthe name MacLaurin.

The census records prior to the 1871Census only show the family name, thenumber of persons censused in the household, whether male or female, andage ranges (under two years of age, 3 to 4 years, 10-20 years, 20-30years, etc.

The closest 1860-1861 Census records were for an Alexander McLaren andshowed only 4 persons in the household (An extension from the 1871 Censusrecords would therefore be Alexander and Christy and the two youngestNeil, Male, 3 to 4 years old and John D., Male, over one year and undertwo years of age) The older sons, Alexander and Zacheus do not appear tohave been included in this Census.

From the 1851 Pictou County Census, there are two AlexanderMcLaren/McLaurin families. One was from District 7 [Hardwood Hill,Pictou County] and there were 3 people in the household, of which onemale child born the year preceding the census. The father's professionis listed as "Mechanic", and the religion is given as Kirk [Church] ofScotland. The other McLaren/McLaurin family, from District 22 [BlueMountain & St. Mary's, Pictou County] censused separately in 1851 alsohad three people, of which one male child under 10 years of age. Thefather's occupation was listed as "Farmer" and again, the religion asKirk of Scotland.

It is possible, but the genealogist was unable to confirm, thatAlexander's brother, or possibly his father, born 1801 (based also on the1871 Pictou County Census records) was named Niel or Neil.

From the 1851 Census of Pictou County, there is a "Niel" [sic: Neil?]from District 21 [Merigomish]. In Niel's household, there were 11 peoplecensused of which 2 Females (under 10 years), 4 Males (under 10), 1F (10to 20 years), 1 Male (20 to 30 years), 1F (20 - 30 years), 1M (40 to 50years) = Niel, and 1F (40 to 50 years) = his wife. For occupations,there was one farmer and one mechanic (the census doesn't match the Mwith professions.

The later 1860-1861 Pictou County Census records also show a "Niel"McLaurin with a household of 11 people, 2M (5 to 10 years), 1M (10-15years), 2F (15 to 20 years), 3M (20 to 30 years); 1F (20 to 30 years); 1Fmarried (50 to 60 years) and 1M married (60 to 70 years). In this1860-1861 Census, there was a note of 2F deaths since March 30, 1860.

I am enclosing a chart of the information I took from the 1871, 1881 and1891 Census records. I have not consistently updated this chart toinclude any of the information from pre-1871 Census records, which I havenoted earlier in this e-mail.

Many thanks for any help you can provide.

Corinne MacLaurin
63 Monte Carlo
Gatineau, Quebec
Canada J8T 6T2