Who Are These Guys? 1911 Says They're Family ...

Well, I told you I would talk about my current Thompson findings but something came up. Yesterday, I said I had received a letter from my cousin, Doris. Well, she goaded me into researching the two Freere boys in my great-grandparents' wedding photo from 1910. I just can't give up a good lead...

A little background information: Pictured, according to my late great Aunt Reta, are two home boys that belonged to my great great grandfather, James Edward Mudford. In the 1911 Census of Canada (South Walsingham Township, Norfolk County, Ontario), they are listed as sons of J. Edward and his second wife (the strange one looking off to the right), Jane Ellen Robertson. In the 1916 Western Canada Census (Maple Creek, Saskatchewan), only Walter is found with my great-grandfather's brother, Austin William, and family. There, he is first listed as a servant, then it is stroked out and listed as a cousin.

So, a mystery like this is just asking for some sleuthing. It was quite easy to find their births. The Feere name is still around in that part of the country - both my cousin and Mom remember Feere's living in Port Rowan, Ontario.

I located both birth records, which had their birth years and months exactly as in the 1911 census. It turns out they were the sons of George Henry and Ellen Elizabeth (Crandall) Feere. Their mother died in 1906, and the father married (his third wife). I suspect that the two were either a burden to the family (there were quite a few children from the two previous marriages and more to come) or were not wanted by the new wife. How they came to live with the Mudford's is still a mystery. By that time, only Pearl (pictured between them) were living at home (Austin, Ada and Ruth were in Saskatchewan going to normal school) and great great grandfather probably needed help on the large farm located north of Port Rowan one concession south of Highway 24. The boys were young, but it was better than paying for farm hands. And Mudford's are quite the skin flints!

So, here I am, with the pedigree of the Feere boys figured out but no clear idea of how they ended up with Edward and Jane (Robertson) Mudford. I hope there's some help out there!

News on the Thompson Front

After coming home and taking down the Christmas lights and decorations outside, I sat down to do a little digging. It's funny, I had meant to just spend some time warming up (although it was really a warm day) and got hooked. At first, I search for any Alvey or Alva Thompson's to be found in 1861. Only one was found - living with a family at age 20. From GGG Grandfather's death record, I knew he was born in Lennox County, and from the obituary I knew he came to Norfolk "as a young man." Since no other Alva's were found, this had to be him.

Hmmm .... so I checked to names on the census. Although very difficult to read, I finally surmised that it was Joel and Mill Thompson, with Joel being born about 1830 in Upper Canada. Since the census says Alva is a member of household, I thought Joel must be his brother. In searching for a Joel Thompson (b. abt. 1830), I ran across one, the son of William and Hanna (Wees) Thompson in Lennox County. One tree says he was married to a Mary Mills. At that point, I had to walk away, and do what I have done since university when I need to think - keep my hands busy in household chores.

So, the evening went by (yes, I returned to the computer, but only to email a couple of researchers who have posted their trees on Ancestry.ca), and went to bed at a decent time. Since I had not a clue as to how to develop a game plan to solve this riddle, I knew I needed more time to consider my findings - what's better than sleep for that? The next morning, I woke and returned to the computer to check my email (something I have to do at least 4 times a day to stay on top of things). Lo' and behold, a Pat Thompson had emailed me! She said my Alva could not be part of her William and Hannah (Wees) Thompson tree, but she had run across him and had no idea where he fit in. Crestfallen, I returned to my primary line of research - to find the parents recorded on Alvey Thompson's death record - John and Jane Thompson.

Well, I have now spent a couple of hours researching - no luck. The only John and Jane Thompson on the 1852 census are from Woodhouse Township in Norfolk County -no children. As well, the only Alva Thompson is living with a Blyth Armstrong in North Gwillimbury Township, York County. So, here I stand, being no further than nearly 40 hours ago.

The Thompson Branch

So, I have been working on developing a simple, graphic family tree that I can take with me to remind me of the progression and pedigree of my 16 branches of my family tree. The actual family tree is quickly approaching 9 000 individuals, and I really need something that I can pull out and refer to when in the midst of research. I never thought the tree would get so large so fast!
Anyway, as I was progressing through my father's side, I realized I had done very little research on the Thompson's. I guess I should have known that when, at Bayfest in Port Rowan, Ontario, my mother introduced me to a Thompson relative. I had no idea how she was related to me. I really don't like not knowing ... well anything, really. So, now I have turned my attention to developing the branch.Granted, I really should be working on my mother's family tree book, but I just can't get into it. I'm not in the right frame of mind to begin writing another book, especially when there seems to be so many unfinished business and unanswered questions. Therefore, off I go to research a branch that has withered under my care. A little time and attention will have it growing in no time!
Note: Pictured above are my great grandmother, Hazel V. (White) Smith, and her parents, Ada (Thompson) and Hezekiah S. White.