X0293 How Did Percy Douglas lose his leg

Some time ago I posted aboux X00293 raising the question of how did Percy Douglas lose his leg. In the post I mentioned that the next steps would be to look for obituaries to see if any of them mentioned anything

I did manage to find obituaries for Percy Douglas in both the Owen Sound newspapers:

And the Kalamazoo newspapers:

Unfortunately, neither of them had anything to say about losing a leg. I have not been able to find any news articles or documents that say anything about a lost leg, other than the draft registration card. This one remains a mystery.

The Douglas Riddell Brewing Company

The study of family history can often lead to unexpected and fascinating discoveries, shedding light on the lives of our ancestors and the world they lived in. Recently, while researching the Douglas family, I stumbled upon some intriguing information about James Douglas, the brother of John Douglas.

James Douglas married Barbara Riddell, daughter of John Riddell, who founded the Riddell Brewery in 1851. But what caught my attention was a reference to a "Douglas Riddell Brewing Company" that apparently took over an earlier brewing operation in the late 1840s.

Unfortunately, information about this brewery is scarce, and I couldn't find any further details about it. However, I couldn't help but wonder if this was a partnership between James Douglas and John Riddell, with James eventually leaving to pursue a career as the deputy registrar.

If this theory is correct, it would mean that both John and James had partnerships with their future fathers-in-law, who were both brewers around the same time. This is a fascinating coincidence and provides an interesting insight into the brewing industry during the mid-19th century.

It's worth noting that John and James would have likely had some exposure to at least the distilling industry through their mother, Margaret Usher. The Ushers were a prominent brewing and distilling family in Scotland.

Another interesting fact is that John Riddell also originates from Roxburgh in Scotland, the same place as the Douglas family. This suggests that there may have been a pre-existing connection between the two families, further strengthening the possibility of a business partnership.

Although the details are sparse, the discovery of the "Douglas Riddell Brewing Company" and the potential partnership between James Douglas and John Riddell opens up a world of possibilities and further research opportunities. It's incredible to think that a chance discovery can shed so much light on the lives of our ancestors and the world they inhabited.

James Douglas' family names

James Douglas (ca 1820 - 1891) was the son of William Douglas and Margaret Usher. He married Barbara Riddell (1830-1904), daughter of John Riddell and Helen Scott.

The two had six children together that I am aware of:

• Margaret Usher Douglas
• Helen Scott Douglas
• William George Douglas
• John Riddell Douglas
• Thomas Lunn Douglas
• Barbara Douglas

The first four names come from the names of their parents. The last two were named after James' step father (Thomas Lunn) and Barbara. But the interesting thing is where the name George comes from in William George Douglas? Could that be a clue to another family name?

X00305: John Douglas in Amherstburg

Just a quick update on X00305 where I've been trying to find out more about the Douglas and Williams brewers in Amherestburg, Ontario around 1850 and if they were connected to the Douglas and Williams brewers in Guelph from around the same time.

It's not much of a discovery, but going through past issues of the Amherstburg Echo and came across a number of ads like this one posted towards the end of 1849:

It's not much, but it does mean that there was a brewery for sale in the area in 1849. It's certainly not proof of anything, but it's a lead.

Profile: John James Douglas (1860-1938)

John James Douglas (1860-1938)

John James Douglas was born 7 November 1860 in Guelph [D00307, D00335, D00766, D00862, D01131, D01559, D01597, D02022, D04768], the third son of Thomas Williams and Sybel Foxwell. When he was about two or three years old, the family moved from Guelph to Owen Sound [D02412]. In Owen Sound, JJ Douglas attended school at what was known at the time as the old Hill Street School, but later renamed Strathcona School [D02412] and is now closed. He later attended the Ottawa Grammar School, where his brother-in-law Joseph McDowall was a teacher [D02412].

In the mid-1870s, the fifteen-year old JJ Douglas began his training as a watchmaker. He returned to Owen Sound from Ottawa briefly before apprenticing in Toronto. After three and a half years in Toronto, he relocated to Bracebridge, Ontario and ran a watchmaking business there for five years [D02412].

He returned to Owen Sound in the 1880s and purchased a forty-foot schooner, named Caliope with his older brother Frederick [D02412]. The two fitted up the boat to serve as a floating jewellery store and watchmaking shop and sailed back and forth between Owen Sound and the north shore of Georgian Bay, doing business with the crews building the Canadian Pacific Railway in Northern Ontario [D02412].

The floating store business lasted for only a short while and J.J.Douglas opened up a jewellery store on Division Street in Owen Sound. He married Janet Highet Kennedy 16 December 1886 in Tara, Bruce County [D05698].

Janet Highet Kennedy was the daughter of Dr. James Kennedy and Margaret Thom and was born about 1866 [D00766, D04771, D01131, D03075, D04772, D06970].

The couple had two children together, Norman Kennedy Douglas, born 29 May 1888 [D00410] and Clarence Cecil Douglas, born 30 January 1890 [D00409]

Around 1896, Janet Douglas became sick with consumption [D02412, D06977, D06981]. JJ Douglas gave up his business and moved the family out to Rat Portage, now known as Kenora, Ontario in an attempt to aid her failing health. Unfortunately the move had the opposite effect and so after a year and a half, the family moved to the warmer climate of Los Angeles, California along with Janet’s mother [D02412, D06977, D06981].

Sadly, the change of climate did not improve her health, and Janet Kennedy Douglas passed on 27 November 1898 in Los Angeles [D01131, D03075, D04772].

Shortly after the death of his wife, JJ Douglas returned to Owen Sound and began working for A.J. Frost, later buying out his business [D02412].

On 29 August 1901, JJ Douglas married his second wife, Edna Pearl Galbraith in Owen Sound [D00862, D02746]. They had twon children, John Gordon Douglas, born 18 April 1906 [D01535] and Helen Henrietta Douglas, born 23 November 1913 [D00465].

In 1910, JJ Douglas partnered with David Creighton Taylor to form the business of Douglas and Taylor Jewellers and Watchmakers [D02412, *]. Douglas and Taylor knew each other from their apprenticing days [*]. The two ran a successful business located at 941 2nd Ave. West in Owen Sound for several years [D04768, D04932, D04934, D04939]. In 1928, both Douglas and Taylor had sons who were of age to being working in the business and so the two dissolved the partnership and went their separate ways [D02412, *].

J.J. Douglas continued on in his business by himself, and became a successful jeweller and watchmaker and was very well-known for his skills throughout Ontario.

On the eventing of Friday 29th July, 1938, J.J. Douglas was returning from a Rotary Club meeting held in Paisley, Bruce County. He was in a car with three other Owen Sound Rotarians that collieded with another car near Arkwright, Bruce County. J.J. Douglas was critically injured in the accident and was taken to the General and Marine Hospital in Owen Sound [D02412, D05685]. After being in the hospital for a week he contracted pneumonia, which ultimately led to his death on 8 August 1938 [D02022, D02412, D05685].

John James Douglas’ funeral was held two days later at the Division Street Church in Owen Sound and he is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Owen Sound [D01131, D03816, D05719].

---

Sources:
[D00307] 1901 census of Canada, Ontario, district 65, sub-district D-8, Owen Sound, p. 11, dwelling 89, family 100; RG 31; digital images.

[D00335] 1911 census of Canada, Ontario, district 73, sub-district 48, Owen Sound, p. 17, dwelling 173, family 189; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.com.

[D00409] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929; Reel: 98: 700, 10866, 44; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births,".

[D00410] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, Series: MS929; Reel: 98: 700, 10865, 43; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births,".

[D00465] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929; Reel: 240: 268, 27039, 64; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births,”.

[D00766] 1891 census of Canada, Ontario, district 68, sub-district Owen Sound Center Ward, Owen Sound, p. 59, family 282; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca, Ancestry .

[D00776] 1891 census of Canada, Ontario, district 68, sub-district Owen Sound Center Ward, Owen Sound, p. 59, family 282; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca, Ancestry.

[D00862] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages, MS932; Reel: 107: 140, 7796, Douglas-Galbraith; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages,".

[D01131] “Owen Sound Greenwood Cemetery Interments" (typescript, 2005), p. 81.

[D01535] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929; Reel: 179: 708, 20570, 2; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births,”.

[D01559] 1871 census of Canada, Ontario, district 37, sub-district 1-G, Owen Sound, p. 67, dwelling 258, family 262; RG 31; digital images.

[D01597] 1861 census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, Guelph, Guelph, p. 14; RG 31; digital images,Ancestry.ca.

[D02412] "JJ Douglas Dies Result of Injuries," Owen Sound Sun-Times , 9 August 1938, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 1 Nov 2020), Grey County Surname Collection.

[D02022] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Deaths, MS935, Reel 607: 54, 017136; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Deaths," Ancestry.ca.

[D02412] "JJ Douglas Dies Result of Injuries," Owen Sound Sun-Times , 9 August 1938, p. 1, col. 1; digital images, Grey County Surname Collection.

[D02746] Douglas-Galbraith marriage entry (1901); issued 2011, First Methodist Church (Central United) (Owen Sound, Ontario).

[D03075] Greenwood Cemetery (Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario), G-BLM- 37-.

[D03816] Greenwood Cemetery (Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario), G-W34- 4-.

[D04768] 1921 census of Canada, district 83, sub-district 45, Owen Sound, p. 11, dwelling 5, family 5; RG 31; digital images, ancestry.com.

[D04771] 1881 census of Canada, Ontario, district 156, sub-district C-2, Holland, p. 24, dwelling 114, family 120; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca.

[D04772] California California Department of Public Health, 1849-1880, 74; digital image, ancestry.ca, "California, County Birth Marriage and Death Records,".

[D04932] Vernon's City of Owen Sound Street, Alphabetical Business & Miscellaneous Directory for the year 1924 (Hamilton, Ontario: Henry Vernon & Sons Publishers, 1924), 104.

[D04934] Vernon's City of Owen Sound Street, Alphabetical Business & Miscellaneous Directory for the year 1922 (Hamilton, Ontario: Henry Vernon & Sons Publishers, 1922), 106.

[D04939] Vernon's Town of Owen Sound Street Directory, 1917 (Hamilton, Ontario: Henry Vernon & Sons Publishers, 1917), 72. [D05685] "J.J. Douglas, Owen Sound, Died From Injuries Received in Car Accident," Grey County Surname Collection , 11 August 1938; digital images, Grey County Surname Collection.

[D05698] (Owen Sound) The Advertiser, Owen Sound, 23 December 1886, p. 2, col. 4.

[D06970] 1871 census of Canada, Ontario, district 37, sub-district a-2, Sullivan, p. 63, dwelling 200, family 203; RG 31; digital images.

[D05709] Grey County Surname Collection , 1938; digital images(accessed 31 Oct 2020), Grey County Surname Collection.

[D06977] (Owen Sound) The Advertiser, Owen Sound, 29 Nov 1898, p. 1, col. 3.

[D06981] (Owen Sound) Owen Sound Times, 1 December 1898, p. 5, col. 3.

[*] p99 "Owen Sound The Port City by Paul White. Natural Heritage Books Toronto c2000

X00305 Update

I have posted previously about X00305 and how I found listings for a Douglas and Williams brewery in Amherstberg, Essex, Ontario and was wondering if it was the same John Douglas and Thomas Williams who were operating a brewery in Guelph around the same time.

I have since contacted the Essex Branch of the Ontario Genealogy Society to see if they had any more history about a brewery operation in Amherstburg operating aroun 1851. They weren't able to find anything in their collections or in the Marsh Collection about a Douglas and Williams Brewery in Amherstburg.

Recently, however, I was looking at the death registration for Mary Sophia Douglas, John Douglas' first daughter [D01451]. It states that she was born in 1851 in Amherstburg:

If this is the case, it definitely puts John Douglas living in the area at the time. Unfortunately the 1851 census for Amherstburg didn't survive, so it can't be verified that way. And to make things difficult, different documents give different birth years and locations for Mary Sophia Douglas, including Detroit and Guelph. So more further analysis is needed before I can definitely conclude anything.

---

Sources:
[D01451] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Deaths, MS935, Reel 336: 815, 15873, 14; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Deaths," Ancestry.ca.

[D06545] Bowering, Ian, The Art and Mystery of Brewing in Ontario. Burnstown, Ontario, 1988.

[D06546] Sweet, Richard L., Directory of Canadian Breweries (Past and Present); Second Edition. Saskatoon, 1996.

X00306 Solved!

Thomas James Decatur (1848-1887) was the first husband of Helen Douglas. They were married 20 December 1880 in Toronto [D03207].

While researching what happened to Thomas James Decatur, I found his death registration, but oddly no date of death was given in it [D02963]. He died in 1887 of consumption, but no specific date of death was given.

I also couldn't find him in any listings for the Owen Sound cemeteries or any other cemetery listing to that point, so I couldn't get any information there.

So, I put this X-File aside to go and work on other issues. But then just the other day I was looking at my research and realized that this issue was still outstanding and so decided to have another look on Find-A-Grave. To my surprise, someone had added the gravestone for Thomas James Decatur in March of 2020. The stone is in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Orangeville, Dufferin County, Ontario and not only do the birth and death years match but his parents are also listed on the stone, so I'm confident that this is the right person.

The dates given on the stone are:
Birth: 9 May 1848
Death: 5 Jan 1887

So, I now have an answer to the question, as well as a burial location. Some times if you wait long enough these mysteries just take care of themselves.

---

Sources:
[D02963] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Deaths, MS935; Reel: 49: 225, 15838; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Deaths," Ancestry.ca

[D03207] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages 190, 13286, Decatur-Douglas; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages,"

X00213 Update

I have posted previously about X00213: Finding the death/burial info for Mary Ann Coulson Douglas.

As mentioned previously, I did find the death registration, but I still haven't found anything burial information. But I have also now checked the Greenwood Cemetery listings (as well as other cemetery listings for Grey County and the obituaries for Owen Sound for that time. No luck.

No idea what else to search next. It may be that she was cremated, or there is no listing for her burial.

X00116 John J. Douglas and Janet Kennedy Marriage Record

I have been trying to locate a marriage record for John James Douglas [1860-1938] and Janet Highet Kennedy [1866-1898].

I know when the marriage occurred and where, thanks to this news article from the Owen Sound Advertiser dated 23 December 1886:

Transcription: Married: In the Methodist Church, Tara, on the 16th December, by the Rev. R. W. Williams, John J. Douglas, Jeweler, to Janet H. Kennedy, daughter of Dr. Kennedy, all of Owen Sound. [D05698]

So, I know that it occurred in Tara, Bruce County on 16 December 1886. But I haven't been able to find it in the Ontario Marriage Registrations, seaching under the names of both the bride and the groom. I have even gone through all of the marriages registered on that date and still haven't found it. So, I'm going to conclude that this was one of the marriage registrations that was not registered - as marriage registrations were not required in Ontario at the time. There may be church records out there for this marriage, but as far as the search for the registration, I'm going to consider this one case closed.



Sources:

[D05698] (Owen Sound) The Advertiser, Owen Sound, 23 December 1886, p. 2, col. 4. Rec. Date: 8 Feb 2019.

Who is Lee Ann Bauman - Solved!

A number of years ago I was at Greenwood cemetery and on the Douglas family gravestone I found the name Lee Ann Bauman with no clear connection to anyone else on the stone:



The dates given for her are 1959 - 1967. There is most likely a connection to the Douglas family of Owen Sound, but unfortunately the stone didn't give any further information and the birth and death years are too recent for civil registration. The FindaGrave website did not offer any additional connections either.

Fortunately, I was able to find a newspaper listing for both her birth and death in the Grey County newspapers collection:





So, these two articles not only corroborate her birth and death dates from the stone but also give then names of the parents: Carman and Marjorie Bauman and that her grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Douglas and Mr. and Mrs. George Bauman. So there is our connection to the Douglas family. Stewart A. Douglas was one of the sons of Thomas William Douglas (1859-1955), a well-known tailor in Owen Sound and also buried in the same location. I also later found a marriage notice in the paper announcing the marriage of Carman Bauman and Marjorie Douglas.

I have since sent a request to update the connection on FindaGrave.

The Tragic Death of Harold Wright Douglas

Harold Wright Douglas was the eldest son of T.W. Douglas and Winnifred Henrietta Victoria Wright. He was born 23 July 1885 in Owen Sound [D05715, D06025].



In the spring of 1904, at the age of nineteen, Harold Wright Douglas moved to Toronto to work for Purdy Mansell & Co., a plumbing and steamfitting company located based in Toronto at 16 Adelaide St. West [D00236, D06020]. He had previously worked for Owen Sound plumber A.J. Ross [D00236, D06020].

While in Toronto, Harold roomed at 346 Berkeley Street along with his co-worker William Bell [D00236, D01210, D06022].

Around 4:00 in the afternoon of Sunday 4 June 1904, Harold and William borrowed a canoe from Ewan’s boat-house at the foot of Sherbourne street and began paddling out on Toronto Bay [D00236, D01210]. When they were about four-hundred yards out, Harold, who was cold stood up to put on his coat. The action caused the canoe to overturn, spilling both Harold and William into the lake. The two of them clung on to the side of the canoe and waited for help [D00236, D01210, D06022].

Boaters James Cockerell and James Ramsden were also out on the water at the time and came to the assistance of the two young men. The two were able to rescue William Bell, but Harold had let go and had sunk beneath the waters by the time that they arrived [D00236, D01210, D06022].

A search was conducted, and the drowned body of Harold Wright Douglas was recovered the following day around 3:00 in the afternoon by ex-Esplanade Constable George Williams [D01209, D06020].

His well-attended funeral was held on Wednesday, 15 June 1904 at the residence of his parents [D06016, D6021, D06023]. He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery [D01131, D04954].

---

Sources:
[D00236] "Harold Douglas Drowned," (Owen Sound) The Advertiser, Owen Sound , 14 June 1904, p. 1, col. 6.

[D01131] "Owen Sound Greenwood Cemetery Interments" (typescript, 2005), p. 81.

[D01209] "Douglas' Body Recovered," Toronto Star, 14 Jun 1904, col. 3; digital images, Pages of the Past (accessed 6 Apr 2019).

[D01210] "Canoes Claimed Two More Victims," Toronto Star, 13 Jun 1904, p. 7, col. 2; digital images, Pages of the Past (accessed 6 Apr 2019).

[D04954] Greenwood Cemetery (Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario), G-S9-1.

[D05715] "Births," (Owen Sound) The Advertiser, Owen Sound, 30 July 1885, p. 2, col. 5.

[D06016] "Interred on Wednesday," (Owen Sound) The Advertiser, Owen Sound , 17 Jun 1904, p. 1, col. 3.

[D06020] (Owen Sound) Owen Sound Times, 17 Jun 1904, p. 1, col. 4.

[D06021] (Owen Sound) Owen Sound Times, 17 Jun 1904, p. 5, col. 5.

[D06022] "Harold Douglas Drowned at Toronto," (Owen Sound) Owen Sound Sun , 14 Jun 1904, p. 1, col. 4&5.

[D06023] (Owen Sound) Owen Sound Sun, 17 Jun 1904, p. 1, col. 2.

[D06025] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929, Reel 70: 11742, 96; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births," (16 Mar 2019).

Profile: Clarence Williams Douglas & Mary Louisa “May” Leach

Profile: Clarence Williams Douglas [1865-1923] & Mary Louisa “May” Leach [1863-1896]

Clarence Williams Douglas was born on 9 February 1865 in Owen Sound, Grey County [D00329, D00769, D00838, D01559, D04954] and was the youngest child of John Douglas and Louisa Williams.

Clarence grew up in Owen sound and lived most of his there [D02348]. At the age of sixteen he learned the trade of cutter by apprenticing with a tailor in Toronto [D01354] alongside his older brothers, Thomas W. And Frederick G. Douglas. Back in Owen Sound, Thomas W. Douglas opened a tailoring business where Clarence was employed for seventeen years [D02348].

Mary Louisa “May” Leach was born on 20 October 1863 [D00838, D01131, D01236, D01952, D04954] the daughter of Charles Leach and Margaret Delahaye. She grew up in Trafalgar Township in Halton County, Canada West [D01236], later moving to Oakville [D01334]. She likely met Clarence Douglas during the time he was apprenticing in Toronto.

Clarence Douglas and Mary Louisa “May” Leach were married on 27 December 1887 in Toronto [D00838].

Clarence and May lived on Mulholland Street (now 3rd Avenue West) in Owen Sound. They had one daughter, Muriel May Douglas, born 21 May 1889 [D00378, D05264, D05998].

On the morning of Wednesday 26 February 1896, May began experiencing some agonizing pains in her abdomen [D00233]. Several doctors were called in, but they were unable to save her and she died later that day [D00233, D01952]. The cause of the pains and her later death was determined to be an intestinal rupture [D00233].

The entire community was shocked and grief-stricken over her death as she was only thirty-two years of age and left behind a seven-year-old daughter [D00233, D04930, D05999]. Her funeral was held on Friday 28 February 1896 at 3 pm [D00233, D04930, D05999] and being very well-known in the community, drew a procession that was over a mile in length [D04930, D05999]. She is buried in Greenwood cemetery [D00233, D01131, D04954].

After his wife’s death, Clarence sold the house on Mulholland Street to Mr. George W. Patterson [D06017].

Clarence worked as a commercial traveller for a few years in the 1890s before partnering with George Marron to purchase the Paterson House Hotel from W.M. Matthews on 7 April 1903 [D06019]. The Paterson House had been considered on of the best managed hotels in all of Canada just a few years earlier, but took a bit of a downturn after Owen Sound went dry in 1906. Marron and Douglas co-owned the hotel until Clarence’s death in 1923. During their time as co-owners, George Marron and Clarence Douglas became very well-known over all of Western Ontario [D02348].



Clarence and May’s only daughter Muriel May Douglas married Lester Wright Brown on 26 October 1912 in Owen Sound [D00835]. Their first an only biological daughter (as well as Clarence and May’s only biological granddaughter), Frances Eileen Brown, was born 23 August 1918 [D00267, D00345].

In the evening of Thursday, 20 December 1923 passed out while entering his room at the Paterson House. He may have been drinking that evening, leading to the loss of consciousness, as he was known to have been a drinker. As he fell, he cut his leg on the door hinge and knocked over an oil space heater. He was found collapsed on the floor. A doctor was called, but by the time he began treatment, blood poisoning from the cut had already set in [D02348]. Clarence died two days later on Saturday 21 December 1923 [D01951, D02348].

His funeral was held on Monday 24 December 1923 at the home of his daughter, 1104 4th Avenue East [D02348]. The pall bearers were his nephews John Wilfred and Dr. Norman K. Douglas, his son-in-law Lester Wright Brown, his brother-in-law, George Milford and business partner, George Marron [D02348]. He was buried in Greenwood cemetery along with his wife [D01131, D02348, D04954].




Sources:
[D00233] "Deaths," (Owen Sound) Owen Sound Times, 27 Feb 1896, p. 5, col. 3.

[D00267] “Birth Announcements," Owen Sound Sun-Times , August 27 1918, p. 5; digital images(accessed 5 Mar 2017). Rec. Date: 5 Mar 2017. 

[D00329] 1911 census of Canada, Ontario, district 73, sub-district 57, Owen Sound, p. 3, dwelling 36, family 36; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.com (accessed 25 Mar 2017).

[D00345] 1921 census of Canada, district 83, sub-district 36, Owen Sound, p. 5, dwelling 62, family 63; RG 31; digital images, ancestry.com (accessed 2 Apr 2017). Rec. Date: 1 Apr 2017. 

[D00378] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929; Reel: 93: 40, 11105, 76; digital image, Ancestry.com, (20 Apr 2017).

[D00769] 1891 census of Canada, Ontario, district 68, sub-district Owen Sound West Ward, Owen Sound, p. 8, family 39; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca,Ancestry (accessed 13 Oct 2017).

[D00835] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages, MS932; Reel: 211, 8620, Brown-Douglas; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages,"(accessed 9 Dec 2017).

[D00838] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages, MS932; Reel: 63, 14388, Douglas-Leach; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages,"(accessed 16 Dec 2017).

[D01131] "Owen Sound Greenwood Cemetery Interments" (typescript, 2005), p. 81.

[D01236] 1871 census of Canada, Ontario, district 38, sub-district 2-b, Trafalgar, p. 25, dwelling 91, family 91; RG 31; digital images(accessed 30 Mar 2019).

[D01334] 1881 census of Canada, Ontario, district 150, Oakville, p. 50, dwelling 260, family 260; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 8 Jul 2018).

[D01354] 1881 census of Canada, Ontario, district 134, sub-district G, Toronto, p. 136, dwelling 657, family 713; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 30 Sep 2018).

[D01559] 1871 census of Canada, Ontario, district 37, sub-district 1-G, Owen Sound, p. 67, dwelling 258, family 262; RG 31; digital images(accessed 6 Sep 2018).

[D01951] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Deaths, MS935; Reel: 301: 429, 15709, 14; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Deaths," Ancestry.ca (16 Mar 2019).

[D01952] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Deaths, MS935; Reel: 79: 593, 9512, 17; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Deaths," Ancestry.ca (17 Mar 2019).

[D02348] "Prominent Hotel Man Passed Away Quite Suddenly,"Owen Sound Sun-Times, 23 Dec 1923, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 16 Mar 2019).

[D04930] "Deaths," (Owen Sound) Owen Sound Times, 5 Mar 1896, p. 5, col. 3.

[D04954] Greenwood Cemetery (Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario), G-S9-1.

[D05264] “Births," (Owen Sound) Owen Sound Times, 6 Jun 1889.

[D05998] “Births," (Owen Sound) Owen Sound Times, 13 Jun 1889, p.4, col. 4.

[D05999] (Owen Sound) The Advertiser, Owen Sound, 3 Mar 1896, p. 1, col. 7.

[D06017] "Marriages," (Owen Sound) Owen Sound Times, 26 Mar 1896, p. 1, col. 4.

[D06019] "Deaths," (Owen Sound) The Advertiser, Owen Sound, 18 Mar 1904, p. 1, col. 2.

X00305: Douglass & Williams Brewers in Amhertsberg?

I’ve been doing some more research on historical breweries in Ontario and I’ve found something interesting. Both “The Art and Mystery of Brewing in Ontario” by Ian Bowering [D06545] and “The Directory of Canadian Breweries Past and Present” by Richard L. Sweet [D06546] mention a Douglas and Williams brewery operating in Amherstberg, Essex County out near Windsor, Ontario.

The first source (Bowering) lists:

Douglas and Williams, brewers 1851 [D06545]

and the second one (Sweet) lists:

Douglass & Williams; brewers 1851-1853 [D06546]

I came across the attached record for Amherstberg from an 1851 directory of Canada West. This is presumably where Bowering got his information from.



So, the big question is, are these two brewers in Amherstburg the John Douglas and Thomas Williams who were operating a brewery in Guelph around the same time?

On the one hand, the names could be a coincidence, as Douglas and Williams are both very common names. On the other hand, perhaps this ties in with the fact that John Douglas’ marriage notice says that he was from Detroit. Perhaps they operated out of multiple locations? Perhaps Douglas was working as an agent for the Guelph operations?

The 1851 census would likely give some indication, but unfortunately that portion of the census has not survived for Amherstburg. I've checked the 1861 census for Amherstburg and there doesn't appear to be anyone with the surname of Douglas living there at the time. Nor is there anyone with the surname Williams with an occupation of brewer.

Next step: Check other resources to see if I can find out the first names of the Douglas and Williams of Amherstberg.

---

Sources:
[D06545] Bowering, Ian, The Art and Mystery of Brewing in Ontario. Burnstown, Ontario, 1988.

[D06546] Sweet, Richard L., Directory of Canadian Breweries (Past and Present); Second Edition. Saskatoon, 1996.

World War One and the Douglas Brothers

In 1914, TW Douglas and Winnifred Henrietta Victoria "Etta" Wright had three surviving sons: John Cameron Douglas born 29 August 1887 [D00379], Thomas Wilfred Douglas born 23 April 1895 [D00307, D00334, D02604, D03212, D04728, D04954, D05659] and Stewart Arnold Douglas born 8 August 1898 [D06213].

Shortly after World War One began, John Cameron enlisted to join the Canadian Expeditionary Forces on 5 November 1914 [D02603]. He was among the first twenty men to enlist in Owen Sound [D05672]. He was assigned to the 20th Battalion [D02603].

John was awarded a good conduct badge on 5 January 1918 and was promoted to Lance-Corporal on 30 March 1918 [D02603].

John’s two brothers, Wilfred and Stewart both eventually enlisted as well on 28th May 1918 and were given the ranks of Sapper [D02604, D04654]. Stewart didn’t see much action in France before developing Rheumatic Fever and was eventually discharged back to Canada in January of 1919 [D04654]. Wilfred’s previous training as an electrician got him assigned to the Canadian Engineers and the 7th Battalion [D02604].

All three of the Douglas brothers survived the war.

---

Sources
[D00307] 1901 census of Canada, Ontario, district 65, sub-district D-8, Owen Sound, p. 11, dwelling 89, family 100; RG 31; digital images(accessed 11 Mar 2017).

[D00334] 1911 census of Canada, Ontario, district 73, sub-district 48, Owen Sound, p. 8, dwelling 68, family 83; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.com (accessed 25 Mar 2017).

[D00379] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929; Reel: 81: 534, 10982, 95; digital image, Ancestry.com, (22 Apr 2017).

[D02603] Canada, "Military Service Record - John Cameron Douglas"; digital images, ancestry.ca,ancestry.ca (accessed 1 Sep 2019).

[D02604] Canada, "Military Service Record - Thomas W. Douglas"; digital images, ancestry.ca,ancestry.ca (accessed 1 Sep 2019).

[D03212] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages, Reel: 12-333, 12259, Douglas-Barber; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages".

[D04654] Canada, "Military Service Record - Stewart Arnold Douglas"; digital images, ancestry.ca,ancestry.ca (accessed 1 Sep 2019).

[D04728] 1921 census of Canada, district 83, sub-district 45, Owen Sound, p. 1, dwelling 13, family 14; RG 31; digital images, ancestry.com (accessed 17 Oct 2018).

[D05659] “Thomas Douglas,"Grey County Surname Collection, 31 Oct 1975; digital images(accessed 3 Apr 2019).

[D05672] "Life Long Resident John C. Douglas Dies in Hospital,"Grey County Surname Collection, October 1960; digital images(accessed 14 Apr 2019), Grey County Surname Collection.

[D06213] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, Reel 929; Series 142: 175, 119, 14903; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births," (3 Apr 2019).

William Robinson Bulleyment and other discoveries

When I was researching the background of Frances Bulleyment, who married Frederick Gabriel Douglas, I found this information written in the 1861 census under the "Deaths in 1860" column for the family [D05007]:



From what I can read of the inscription, it would appear that someone in the family died at age 25 due to the falling of a tree. And since the matriarch of the family (Caroline Bulleyment) is the head, it seems that it would have been the father who died.

According to Frances' death record her parents were Robinson Bulleyment & Caroline Sexton [D05006]. So the father would be Robinson Bulleyment.



I checked with the Greenwood Cemetery listings and found a record for a Robinson Bulleyment who died 15 March 1860, aged 37. I went to the site at Greenwood and found the stone [D06476]:



But next to the stone was a stone with surnames of Sexton and McKay on it [D06489]:

• Caroline McKay (d.1901)
• Robert McKay (d. 1893)
• Jesse McKay (d.1889)
• Arthur Allen McKay (d. 1873)
• William Sexton (d.1892)
• Elizabeth Sexton (d. 1888)

From the gravestone, Jesse and Arthur are the children of Caroline and Robert McKay. I did some more investigation and found a marriage record between a Caroline Bulleyment (nee Sexton) and a Robert McKay in 1862 [D06487].

Next thing to investigate: Who are William & Elizabeth Sexton? Caroline Sexton's parents are William & Francis Sexton according to the marriage record [D06487]. Could Elizabeth and Francis be the same person? Or a remarriage?

Sources:
[D05006] Michigan Department of State - Division of Vital Statistics, Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950, 582, 17762, 8252; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Michigan Death Records," Ancestry.ca (19 Jan 2019). Rec. Date: 30 Sep 2018. Cit. Date: 19 Jan 2019.

[D05007] 1861 census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, Grey, district 3, Sydenham, 18; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 27 Jan 2019). Rec. Date: 5 Feb 2018. Cit. Date: 27 Jan 2019.

[D06476] Greenwood Cemetery (Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario), G-BLK- 11-2. Rec. Date: 6 Jul 2019. ID: D06476. Cit. Date: 6 Jul 2019.

[D06487] Ontario, Ontario County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869, 13: 55, McKay-Bulleyment, 1862; digital images, FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch (accessed 6 Jul 2019).

[D06489] Greenwood Cemetery (Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario), G-BLK- 11-1. Rec. Date: 6 Jul 2019. ID: D06489. Cit. Date: 6 Jul 2019.

Analysis: Birth info TW Douglas

Details/Background:

Different dates of birth have been found for TW Douglas ranging from 1858 to 1859. No records earlier than 1861 (i.e. baptism record or news articles) have been found.

---

Analysis:

Ref	Desc	Birth Date Given	Notes
D01597	1861 Census	Abt. 1858	3 years old in 1861
D01559	1871 Census	Abt. 1859	12 years old in 1871
D01354	1881 Census	Abt. 1859	22 years old in 1881
D02623	Marriage Record	Abt. 1858	26 years old on 26 Aug 1884
D00764	1891 Census	Abt. 1858	33 years old in 1891
D00307	1901 Census	24 June 1859
D00334	1911 Census	24 June 1859
D04728	1921 Census	Abt. 1859	62 years old in 1859
D04954	Gravestone	1858
D01131	Burial Registration	Abt. 1858	96 years old on 23 April 1955
D05663	Obituary	Abt. 1858	96 years old on 23 April 1955

The only calendar date of birth given in 24th of June from both the 1901 and 1911 census records [D00307, D00334], so that is most likely the date of birth.

The census records seem to either give dates of birth of 1858 or 1859, but since the census dates are often in the months of May or June, that could be dependant on when the census was conducted. The dates given by people who would better know such as Marriage records or records after death all seem to suggest a birth year of 1858.

---

Conclusion:

The most likely date of birth for T.W. Douglas is 24 June 1858.

---

Sources:

D00307 1901 census of Canada, Ontario, district 65, sub-district D-8, Owen Sound, p. 11, dwelling 89, family 100; RG 31; digital images(accessed 11 Mar 2017). Rec. Date: 4 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 11 Mar 2017.

D00334 1911 census of Canada, Ontario, district 73, sub-district 48, Owen Sound, p. 8, dwelling 68, family 83; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.com (accessed 25 Mar 2017). Rec. Date: 18 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 25 Mar 2017.

D00764 1891 census of Canada, Ontario, district 68, sub-district Owen Sound Center Ward, Owen Sound, p. 36, family 181; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca, Ancestry (accessed 5 Oct 2017). Rec. Date: 30 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 5 Oct 2017.

D01131 "Owen Sound Greenwood Cemetery Interments" (typescript, 2005), p. 81. Rec. Date: 6 May 2018. ID: D01131. Cit. Date: 30 Sep 2018.

D01354 1881 census of Canada, Ontario, district 134, sub-district G, Toronto, p. 136, dwelling 657, family 713; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 30 Sep 2018). Rec. Date: 17 Feb 2018. Cit. Date: 30 Sep 2018.

D01559 1871 census of Canada, Ontario, district 37, sub-district 1-G, Owen Sound, p. 67, dwelling 258, family 262; RG 31; digital images(accessed 6 Sep 2018). Rec. Date: 4 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 6 Sep 2018.

D01597 1861 census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, Guelph, Guelph, p. 14; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 13 May 2018). Rec. Date: 5 Feb 2018. Cit. Date: 13 May 2018.

D02623 Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages, MS932; Reel: 47: 494, 8179, Douglas-Wright; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages,"(accessed 30 Sep 2018). Rec. Date: 9 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 30 Sep 2018.

D04728 1921 census of Canada, district 83, sub-district 45, Owen Sound, p. 1, dwelling 13, family 14; RG 31; digital images, ancestry.com (accessed 17 Oct 2018). Rec. Date: 1 Apr 2017. Cit. Date: 17 Oct 2018.

D04954 Greenwood Cemetery (Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario), G-S9-1. Rec. Date: 1 Dec 2018. ID: D04954. Cit. Date: 1 Dec 2018.

D05663 Grey County Surname Collection; digital images(accessed 3 Apr 2019). Rec. Date: 2 Nov 2018. Cit. Date: 3 Apr 2019.

Profile: Frederick Gabriel Douglas, Mary Ann Coulson and Frances Bulleyment

Profile: Frederick Gabriel Douglas [1855-1916], Mary Ann Coulson [1857-1888] and Frances Bulleyment [1856-1922]

Frederick Gabriel Douglas was born 28 March 1855 in Guelph, Wellington County, Canada West [D00743, D00763, D01354, D01559, D01597, D02738]. He was very likely named after his uncle, Gabriel Williams who had died the year before. He was the third child and first son of John Douglas and Louisa Williams [D00743, D01464]. Although born in Guelph, he was baptized at St. George’s Anglican church in Sydenham (now Owen Sound, Grey County, Ontario) on 6 May 1855 [D02738].

Frederick spent his early years with the family in Guelph and moved to Owen Sound in the 1860s [D01597, D01559]. He began working as a cabinet maker in Owen Sound in the 1870s [D00491, D00743, D01354].

Frederick married Mary Ann Coulson on 13 December 1876 in Owen Sound [D00743]. Mazzie, as Mary Ann was known, was the daughter of hotel-owner John P. Coulson and Susan Venetia Lister [D00743, D05343]. Their first child, Percy John Douglas was born 10 May 1877 [D00491]. Two more sons would follow, Frederick G. Douglas born 29 December 1884 [D05505, D05878], and John Coulson Douglas born 4 September 1887 [D05505, D05666].

Tragically, Mary Ann died on 16 December 1888 of pulmonary phthisis at the age of thirty [D04646, D05343].

Frederick moved to Detroit, Michigan in the 1890s where he continued his career as a cabinet maker [D01464]. He married Frances Bulleyment on 23 June 1893 in Detroit [D01464]. Frances was daughter of William Bulleyment and Caroline Sexton [D05006]. She had previously been married to John Vandrick and they had a child together, Arthur J.B. Vandrick, born in 1883 [D04975].

On 21 May 1916, Fred was working on his boat and scraped his leg on a rough piece of board. The accident let to blood poisoning in the wound [D05345]. At first, the injury was not considered serious, but erysipelas developed soon after. The erysipelas prevented an amputation and it was determined that nothing further could be done. His two brothers, John J. Douglas and Clarence Douglas went to Detroit to see him before he died on 2 June 1916 [D01462, D05345, D05347]. His funeral was held at the home of his brother-in-law, Charles Milford on 5 June 1916 [D05347]. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in the family plot [D01131, D05347].

Frances Bulleyment Douglas died 25 August 1922 of mitral insufficiency [D05006]. She was buried 28 August 1922 in Greenwood Cemetery [D01131, D04994].

As for the three sons of Frederick Gabriel Douglas and Mazie Coulson Douglas, Percy Douglas moved to the United States and worked as an engraver [D05308, D05309, D05311]. He married Frances Eleanor Johnson on 23, October 1911 [D05310] and they had three children, Donald Coulson Douglas (1912-2004), Dorothy Mazie Douglas (1914 -1979) and Fern Mary Douglas (1915-?) [D05311]. Percy died on 17 July 1927 at the age of fifty [D04809, D05300].

Frederick G Douglas moved to Smugglers' Mines, Telluride, Colorado [D05505]. John Coulson Douglas was only a year old when his mother died. He was raised by his aunt and uncle in Sarawak, Grey County [D05350]. He worked as a gardener and fought in World War 1 [D05505, D05666]. He married Ivy Irene Palter in 1954 and lived until 30 August 1971 [D05666].

---

Sources:
[D00491] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929; Reel: 27: 431, 6425, 42; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births," (11 Jun 2017).

[D00743] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages, MS932; Reel: 26: 369, 12829, Douglas-Coulson; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages,"(accessed 10 Sep 2017).

[D00763] 1891 census of Canada, Ontario, district 68, sub-district Owen Sound Center Ward, Owen Sound, p. 35, family 175; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca,Ancestry (accessed 5 Oct 2017).

[D01131] “Owen Sound Greenwood Cemetery Interments" (typescript, 2005), p. 81.

[D01354] 1881 census of Canada, Ontario, district 134, sub-district G, Toronto, p. 136, dwelling 657, family 713; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 30 Sep 2018).

[D01462] Michigan Department of State - Division of Vital Statistics, Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950, 5329; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950," Ancestry.ca (30 Sep 2018).

[D01464] Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952, 2805, Douglas-Bulleyment; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867- 1952," Ancestry.ca (accessed 30 Sep 2018).

[D01559] 1871 census of Canada, Ontario, district 37, sub-district 1-G, Owen Sound, p. 67, dwelling 258, family 262; RG 31; digital images(accessed 6 Sep 2018).

[D01597] 1861 census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, Guelph, Guelph, p. 14; RG 31; digital images,Ancestry.ca (accessed 13 May 2018).

[D02738] St George's Anglican (Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada), "Baptism Record - Frederick Gabriel Douglas," p 8.

[D04809] Michigan Department of State - Division of Vital Statistics, Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950, 5707, 537; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Michigan Death Records," Ancestry.ca (20 Jan 2019).

[D04646] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Deaths, MS935 Reel 50: 517, 6080, 89; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Deaths," Ancestry.ca (23 Sep 2018).

[D04975] 1901 census of Canada, Ontario, district 65, sub-district D-7, Owen Sound, p. 4, dwelling 47, family 47; RG 31; digital images(accessed 19 Jan 2019).

[D04978] 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Detroit, enumeration district (ED) 0108, sheet 5B, dwelling 93, family 92; digital images,ancestry.com (accessed 20 Jan 2019); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll T624_683.

[D04994] Greenwood Cemetery (Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario).

[D05006] Michigan Department of State - Division of Vital Statistics, Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950, 582, 17762, 8252; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Michigan Death Records," Ancestry.ca (19 Jan 2019).

[D05300] Riverside Cemetery (Kalamazoo, Michigan).

[D05308] Muskegon, Michigan, City Directory 1924 , 1924:, 585; digital images, ancestry.ca (ancestry.ca : accessed 6 Feb 2019).

[D05309] Muskegon, Michigan City Directory 1926 , 1926 vols., 1926:, 598; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 6 Feb 2019).

[D05310] Cook, Illinois, Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1920, 579191, Douglas-Misbach, 23 Oct 1911; digital images, Family Search,Family Search (accessed 6 Feb 2019).

[D05311] Cook, Illinois, 3974; digital image, FamilySearch, "Illinois, Cook County Birth Certificates 1871-1922,"FamilySearch (Familysearch.og: 6 Feb 2019).

[D05343] "Deaths," (Owen Sound) The Advertiser, Owen Sound, 20 Dec 1888, p. 1, col. 4. Cit. ID: D05343.

[D05345] ”Deaths,"(Owen Sound) Owen Sound Sun, 2 Jun 1916, p. 5, col. 4.

[D05347] “Deaths," (Owen Sound) Owen Sound Times, 6 Jun 1916, p. 5, col. 5.

[D05350] 1901 census of Canada, Ontario, district 65, sub-district E-3, Sarawak, p. 2, dwelling 17, family 17; RG 31; digital images(accessed 19 May 2019). Rec. Date: 4 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 19 May 2019.

[D05505] ”Deaths," (Owen Sound) Owen Sound Times, 9 Jun 1916, p. 1, col. 2.

[D05666] "John C. Douglas dies in hospital," Grey County Surname Collection , 30 Aug 1971; digital images(accessed 9 Mar 2019).

[D05878] Ontario Archives of Ontario, MS 929, reels 1-245, MS929 Series 70: 249, 11651, 3; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Ontario, Canada Births," (10 Mar 2019).

Analysis: Birth info Winnifred Henrietta Victoria Wright Douglas

Details/Background:

Different dates of birth have been found for Winnifred Henrietta Victoria Wright (Douglas) ranging from 1864 to 1865. No records earlier than 1871 (i.e. baptism record or news articles) have been found.

---

Analysis:

Ref	Desc	Birth Date Given	Notes
D06232	1871 Census	Abt. 1864	Age 6 in 1871
D06233	1881 Census	Abt. 1864	Age 16 in 1871
D02623	Marriage Record	Abt. 1864	Age 20 on 26 Aug 1884
D00764	1891 Census	Abt. 1864	Age 26 in 1891
D00307	1901 Census	11 November 1865
D00334	1911 Census	11 November 1864
D04728	1921 Census	Abt. 1864	Age 56 in 1921
D05634	Death Registration	11 November 1864
D04954	Gravestone	1865
D01131	Burial Records	Abt. 1864	Age 82 on 23 July 1947

Only three of the sources [D00307, D00334 and D005634] give a calendar date and all three give the date of November 11th. So, it is safe to assume that November 11th is the calendar date and that she was born either November 11, 1864 or November 11, 1865.

So, if we assume that her birthday was in November and most of the censuses were taken in the middle of the year, most of the records support a birth year of 1864; the only exceptions being the 1901 census and the gravestone which suggest a birth year of 1865.

The 1901 census record is difficult to read, however, and there were a lot of cases where the 1901 census was off by a hear. And the gravestone was carved after her death. So, I would conclude that those two records are outliers.

---

Conclusion:

The most likely conclusion is a date of birth of 11 November 1864.

---

Sources:

D00307 1901 census of Canada, Ontario, district 65, sub-district D-8, Owen Sound, p. 11, dwelling 89, family 100; RG 31; digital images(accessed 11 Mar 2017). Rec. Date: 4 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 11 Mar 2017.

D00334 1911 census of Canada, Ontario, district 73, sub-district 48, Owen Sound, p. 8, dwelling 68, family 83; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.com (accessed 25 Mar 2017). Rec. Date: 18 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 25 Mar 2017.

D00764 1891 census of Canada, Ontario, district 68, sub-district Owen Sound Center Ward, Owen Sound, p. 36, family 181; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca, Ancestry (accessed 5 Oct 2017). Rec. Date: 30 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 5 Oct 2017.

D01131 "Owen Sound Greenwood Cemetery Interments" (typescript, 2005), p. 81. Rec. Date: 6 May 2018. ID: D01131. Cit. Date: 1 Dec 2018.

D02623 Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages, MS932; Reel: 47: 494, 8179, Douglas-Wright; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages,"(accessed 30 Sep 2018). Rec. Date: 9 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 30 Sep 2018.

D04728 1921 census of Canada, district 83, sub-district 45, Owen Sound, p. 1, dwelling 13, family 14; RG 31; digital images, ancestry.com (accessed 17 Oct 2018). Rec. Date: 1 Apr 2017. Cit. Date: 17 Oct 2018.

D04954 Greenwood Cemetery (Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario), G-S9-1. Rec. Date: 1 Dec 2018. ID: D04954. Cit. Date: 1 Dec 2018.

D05634 Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Deaths, MS935 Reels 1-694: 23610; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Deaths," Ancestry.ca (14 Apr 2019). Rec. Date: 3 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 14 Apr 2019.

D06232 1871 census of Canada, Ontario, district 54, sub-district 02, Hamilton, p. 24, dwelling 77, family 79; RG 31; digital images(accessed 12 May 2019). Rec. Date: 4 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 12 May 2019.

D06233 1881 census of Canada, Ontario, district 124, sub-district C-3, Hamilton, p. 44, dwelling 196, family 202; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 12 May 2019). Rec. Date: 17 Feb 2018. Cit. Date: 12 May 2019

Analysis: Birth Info for Clarence Williams Douglas

Details/Background:

Different dates of birth have been found for Clarence Williams Douglas ranging from 1864 to 1867. No records earlier than 1871 (i.e. baptism record or news articles) have been found.

---

Analysis:

Ref	Desc	Birth Date Given	Notes
D01559	1871 Census	Abt. 1865	Age 6 in 1871
D01354	1881 Census	Abt. 1864	Age 17 in 1881
D00838	Marriage Record	Abt. 1865	Age 22 on 27 Dec 1887
D00769	1891 Census	Abt. 1865	Age 26 in 1891
D00329	1911 Census	Feb 1865
D00348	1921 Census	Abt. 1868	Age 53 in 1921
D01951	Death Registration	9 Feb 1867	Recorded 1923
D04954	Gravestone	1865
D01131	Burial Records	Abt. 1867	Age 56 on 22 Dec 1923

Most of the records imply a year of birth of 1865. There are a couple of census records (1881 and 1921) that are outliers. The death registration and burial records both suggest a birth year of 1867, but those likely could have used the same source for their information.

Also, since his next oldest sibling was born in 1860, a birth year of 1865 would be more likely than 1867.

---

Conclusion:

Based on the evidence found, the most likely date of birth for Clarence Williams Douglas is 9 February 1865.

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Sources:

D00329 1911 census of Canada, Ontario, district 73, sub-district 57, Owen Sound, p. 3, dwelling 36, family 36; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.com (accessed 25 Mar 2017). Rec. Date: 18 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 25 Mar 2017.

D00348 1921 census of Canada, district 83, sub-district 46, Owen Sound, p. 9, dwelling 98, family 100; RG 31; digital images, ancestry.com (accessed 31 Mar 2019). Rec. Date: 1 Apr 2017. Cit. Date: 31 Mar 2019.

D00769 1891 census of Canada, Ontario, district 68, sub-district Owen Sound West Ward, Owen Sound, p. 8, family 39; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca, Ancestry (accessed 13 Oct 2017). Rec. Date: 30 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 13 Oct 2017.

D00838 Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages, MS932; Reel: 63, 14388, Douglas-Leach; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages,"(accessed 16 Dec 2017). Rec. Date: 9 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 16 Dec 2017.

D01131 "Owen Sound Greenwood Cemetery Interments" (typescript, 2005), p. 81. Rec. Date: 6 May 2018. ID: D01131. Cit. Date: 30 Sep 2018.

D01354 1881 census of Canada, Ontario, district 134, sub-district G, Toronto, p. 136, dwelling 657, family 713; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 30 Sep 2018). Rec. Date: 17 Feb 2018. Cit. Date: 30 Sep 2018.

D01559 1871 census of Canada, Ontario, district 37, sub-district 1-G, Owen Sound, p. 67, dwelling 258, family 262; RG 31; digital images (accessed 6 Sep 2018). Rec. Date: 4 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 6 Sep 2018.

D01951 Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Deaths, MS935; Reel: 301: 429, 15709, 14; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Deaths," Ancestry.ca (16 Mar 2019). Rec. Date: 3 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 16 Mar 2019.

D04954 Greenwood Cemetery (Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario), G-S9-1. Rec. Date: 1 Dec 2018. Cit. Date: 1 Dec 2018.

Analysis: Birth info Mary Louisa Leach Douglas

Details/Background:

Different dates of birth have been found for Mary Louisa Leach (Douglas) ranging from 1863 to 1868. No records earlier than 1871 (i.e. baptism record or news articles) have been found.

---

Analysis:

Ref	Desc.	Birth Date Given	Notes
D01236	1871 Census	Abt. 1864	Age 7 in 1871
D01334	1881 Census	Abt. 1865	Age 16 in 1881
D00838	Marriage record	Abt. 1864	Age 23 on 27 Dec 1887
D00769	1891 Census	Abt. 1865	Age 26 in 1891
D01952	Death Notice	Abt. 1864	Age 32 on 26 Feb 1896
D04954	Gravestone	20 October 1863	Possibly 1868
D01131	Burial Record	Abt. 1864	Age 32 on 26 Feb 1896

The gravestone inscription is difficult to read: it could be 1863 or 1868. A date of birth of 20 October 1863 would be consistent with the death notice and burial records, which would have been from about the same time. Her next oldest sibling was born about 1857, so a birth date of 1868 would be very unlikely.

Five of the records [D01236, D01952, D01131, D04954, D00838] are consistent with a birth date of 20 October 1863.

The remaining two are census records [D01334, D00760] and are only off by a year. The oldest census record is consistent with a date of birth of 20 October 1863.

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Conclusion:

The most likely date of birth for Mary Louisa Leach Douglas is 20 October 1863.

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Sources:

[D00769] 1891 census of Canada, Ontario, district 68, sub-district Owen Sound West Ward, Owen Sound, p. 8, family 39; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca, Ancestry (accessed 13 Oct 2017). Rec. Date: 30 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 13 Oct 2017.

[D00838] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Marriages, MS932; Reel: 63, 14388, Douglas-Leach; digital images, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Marriages,"(accessed 16 Dec 2017). Rec. Date: 9 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 16 Dec 2017.

[D01131] "Owen Sound Greenwood Cemetery Interments" (typescript, 2005), p. 81. Rec. Date: 6 May 2018. ID: D01131. Cit. Date: 1 Dec 2018.

[D01236] 1871 census of Canada, Ontario, district 38, sub-district 2-b, Trafalgar, p. 25, dwelling 91, family 91; RG 31; digital images (accessed 30 Mar 2019). Rec. Date: 4 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 30 Mar 2019

[D01334] 1881 census of Canada, Ontario, district 150, Oakville, p. 50, dwelling 260, family 260; RG 31; digital images, Ancestry.ca (accessed 8 Jul 2018). Rec. Date: 17 Feb 2018. Cit. Date: 8 Jul 2018.

[D01952] Ontario Archives of Ontario, Ontario, Canada Deaths, MS935; Reel: 79: 593, 9512, 17; digital image, Ancestry.ca, "Ontario, Canada Deaths," Ancestry.ca (17 Mar 2019). Rec. Date: 3 Sep 2017. Cit. Date: 17 Mar 2019.

[D04954] Greenwood Cemetery (Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario), G-S9-1. Rec. Date: 1 Dec 2018. ID: D04954. Cit. Date: 1 Dec 2018.