A Surname Inquiry
Collins
I'm looking for information on former Muskoka (and before that Garafraxa) residents from the Scottish/Irish migration around 1855-1861. Family name is Collins.
Edward Collins ( born 5 AUG 1813 but there are different records so far reporting birth years between 1813-1819 • Northern Ireland - died 11 NOV 1897 • Hastings, Ontario, Canada) and his wife Mary Conway (b. 1821 • Antrim, Northern Ireland), and daughter Margaret Collins (b. 14 OCT 1851 • Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland) lived in Edinburgh, Scotland and immigrated to Canada in the year 1855 or 1856 (as reported/recollected by Margaret or a housemate in later life US census records). It's unclear if this arrival time is exact, as Margaret would have been 4 or 5 years old at the time and may misremember.
The first known record that supports any arrival in Canada is the 1861 Ontario census in Enumeration District 2 in the township of Garafraxa in the County of Wellington. Listed in the Garafraxa household is Margaret Collins 10 years old, Edward Collins, Mary Collins, (there are also 7 other children listed under 18 years old).
The next known Canadian record for Edward Collins is the 1871 Census of Canada, this lists him in Morrison, Muskoka, Ontario. His birthdate is reported different than what I initially had, it says 1808 not 1813. His wife Mary is listed as well.
The next known Canadian record for Edward Collins is the 1881 Census again listing him in Morrison, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, though now it says his birth year is 1817.
We're having so much trouble finding records of this family in Garafraxa or Muskoka if anyone has any leads.
2 comments
Nancy Cunningham
Robin W. and I are ” cousins” researching the same Edward Collins family I am researching their oldest daughter, Jane who is found living away from the family in 1861 living/ working in Amaranth, Wellington, Canada West (maybe with Phillips family) She is listed with a young man named George H. Bevan whom she will marry and have 2 children with while living in the area. (I don’t have marriage or baptisms for those events) and then will immigrated from Canada to Chicago by 1866. thanks for any suggestions
Carol Stevens
Do you know if they died in Muskoka or moved on before.? If they passed away here you could contact Morison Twp office. Cemeteries are now managed locally and they have many records to go with plots.
Morrison is now in the Gravenhurst area. The library there has old copies of their newspaper. Another possible lead.
If these are not helpful let me know.