I received a letter today from my cousin, Doris, who's mother was my maternal grandmother's older sister. She published a family history book on the Mudford's in 2004. I wrote her a few weeks ago and was anxiously awaiting her reply. I had asked her a number of questions, many of which she answered. My Mudford line stems from Charles Mudford, born about 1814 in the Somerset area of England, as far as I can figure. He came to New York in the summer of 1837, bound for Lower Canada. He married Elizabeth King in 1843 in Montreal, and then doesn't show up until 1850 in Toronto, where he marries my ultimate grandmother, Hannah "Annie" Jackson. He had one child from the previous marriage, Charles, who last shows up in 1861. He also had a number of sons and daughters with Annie, one of whom was James Edward Mudford (1852-1931).
The questions were regarding two brothers, Walter Feere (b. 1901) and Frank Feere (b. 1905) who show up in the 1911 Census of Canada with my great great grandfather, James Edward Mudford, and his second wife, Jane Ellen Roberston (1872-1944). Walter also shows up with my ggg uncle, Austin William, and family in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, in 1916. Both boys also appear in my great grandparents'. Robert Henry and Stella (Harris) Mudford, wedding photo, taken 1910.
Doris writes, "Walter and Frank Feere: My Mom always said she thought they were home children, but I see in your research Jane Ellen [Robertson] was born in Port Dover as were the Feere boys - possibly a connection there." Hmmm ... I really need to check in on the Feere (pronounce Fairy) surname, more.
I had made couple of mistakes in confusing Harold Henry, my last surviving Mudford great-uncle, and Howard Henry, my second cousin. I fixed that.
She also writes about a few other questions, but offers little in explanation. Unfortunately, it looks like I have more research than Doris -- a problem I find all too frequent.
The second front is concerning the Thompson line. Pat Thompson emailed me some information I need to disseminate before I post anything on it. It looks like, by the end of the month, I will have more research on this family!
