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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Topic started by: kathboon on Wednesday 07 September 11 15:47 BST (UK)
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An old story that has come down from previous generations of our family, is that some members of the Donkin family were given land in Nova Scotia by the British Government in the mid 1700's. I am now trying to find which member of the family actually came to Nova Scotia, but don't know where to start looking.
On checking marriage records in England I find that a William Donkin married Ann Scott (which I think are the ones) and then they just disappear. I cannot find any children belong to them in any other records, and there are no deaths for them either. They came from a farming area of England, so I presume that they would have been farming in Nova Scotia.
Could anyone point me in the right direction.
Thanks, Kath
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Here is a link to the Nova Scotia Vital Statistics website. I don't know how far back the records go. I would simlpy put in the last name and see what turns up. Full images are apparently available.
https://novascotiagenealogy.com/
Polarbear
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Hi polarbear
Thanks for that link. Unfortunately it only starts in the 1800's, so it doesn't give me much. What it does give me is confirmation of some of the information I already have.
Kath
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Ah, that's too bad. Glad to hear some info from there was helpful though :).
I wonder if these folks might be able help ... have you tried them?
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/GANS/
PB
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The Nova Scotia Archives has a database for land petitions from 1783-1843 (http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/land/) but no hits for the surname Donkin.
I found a reference to the Nova Scotia Historical Review having an issue with an article entitled "William Donkin, Northumbrian, and his Nova Scotia Descendants" (1990, Vol 10 - 1, pp88-) in a family tree for William Donkin and Ann Scott at Ancestry (there were a number of trees posted). You would need to contact the Nova Scotia Archives regarding back issues of the Nova Scotia Historical Review. Here's a link to their website:
http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/
Also here's a link to a website that has a family for William Donkin and Ann Scott included which uses the publication as a source:
http://beals-genealogy.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I02775&tree=Beals
According to this site, his parents were Robert Donkin and Margaret Hunter and he was born in 1734 in Ovingham, Northumberland.
Jacquie
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If you look at the early bmd's that are available at novascotiagenealogy.com, most are located in Cumberland County so I went to the Cumberland County Genealogical Society in Amherst, Nova Scotia.
Will Book "A" has several Donkins listed and some of the names are William Donkin. The records include will, debts, appraisements, etc. You can look at the index of names before purchasing.
http://www.ccgs.ednet.ns.ca/wb/index.html
www.ccgs.ednet.ns.ca/pubs.htm
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I did some more research on the Yorkshire Immigration and Land Grants and the name William donkin came up so he definitely went to Cumberland County in Nova Scotia. I will give you some sites that you can look at to try to find more information. Some of the sites have links to online books, census, etc. so you may find a fair bit of information to follow up on. In the 1700's Cumberland County took in part of what is now New Brunswick so keep that in mind when looking for information.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nscumber/
Cumberland County Nova Scotia Gen Web
http://www.libris.ca/yrkfam/
http://www.libris.ca/yrkfam/yrkfam.htm
Yorkshire Immigration
Immigrants from Elsewhere
Donkin
William Donkin
See "William donkin of Northumberland" in Nova Scotia Historical Review, 10 (1) June 1990. Howard Trueman (116) writes that the donkins were a Yorkshire family but this is erroneous. Despite the fact that William received lands from the "Yorkshire Grant" he and his wife Ann (Scott) emigrated from Ovinham, Northumberland.
Under Links
The Chinecto Isthmus and its first settlers by Howard Trueman is available to read on-line. (Gutenberg Project)
www.blupete.com/Library/History/NSHR.htm
NSHR volume 10 No 1 (1990) and Volume 10 No 2
"William Donkin, Northumbrian and his Nova Scotia Descendants. Corrigenda by Marian D. Oldershaw
Hopefully, some of the above will give you the answers you are looking for. There is also a Cumberland County Museum in Amherst and many local books are avilable to purchase on local families.
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Do you live in the UK or Canada?
www.canada411.ca
is an on-line telephone directory and there are still Donkins listed in the area of the Yorkshire Immigration - Fenwick, Amherst, Fort Lawrence and Nappan.
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The Sprague Project
hope the sites work
http://www.sprague-database.org
put in Donkin under last name and search
http://sprague-database.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I348353&tree=SpragueProject
From Helen gibson, correspondent, not of July 24, 2009
William Donkin came out from Yorkshire, england to Nova Scotia in 1772-1774. with him were his wife Ann Scott (1734-1807) their son Robert and daughter Barbara. Barbara is given as being baptized in Ovingha, Northumberland, England so it can be assumed that at least the family were living in Ovingham or thereabouts in 1767. Only Barbara and Robert were on the ship to Nova Scotia so it can be assumed that the other children were either born in Westmorland or River Philip. William donkin settled for several years at Westmorland near Fort Cumberland and afterwards at River Philip.
(I haven't found the ship they arrived on as yet. Westmorland and fort cumberland would now be approximately the border between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. River Philip is closer to Oxford, Nova Scotia.)
In case the site doesn't work, i wrote down this info.
William Donkin
1734-1811
b. 1734, chrsitened 26 June 1734
d. 31 Oct 1811, River Philip, Cumberland Co. Nova Scotia, age 77 years
father - Robert Donkin
mother - Margaret Hunter
m. 18 May 1730
spouse - Ann Scott
b. 1734
d. Feb 1807, River Philip, age 73 years
m. 18 May 1758, ovingham
children
1. Robert Donkin
b. Dec 1758
d. 12 Oct 1832, Amherst, Cumberland Co, NS, age 73 years
m. Janet Crawford
2. Barbara Donkin
b. 1767, Ovingham
d. 19 June 1831, River Philip, age 64 years
m. John Black
3. Margaret Donkin
b. about 1774, Nova Scotia
d. 9 August 1832 age 58 years
m. John Ripley
4. thomas Donkin
b. about 1775, River Philip
d. 6 Nov 1831, River Philip age 56 years
m. Esther Ripley
5. William Donkin
no other information
I included the information from the tree as it gives you the names and possible dates and places to research. I don't take anything as gospel unless I can verify the information but it is something to work with.
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http://www.ccgs.ednet.ns.ca/cumb/cumbco.htm
scroll almost to the bottom
Distinguished Son of Cumberland County
Hiram Donkin
(I am also a descendant of the Yorkshire Immigration and I recognized the surname Donkin as showing up in some of my research in cumberland County. I hope the info is helpful and informative)
Val
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If you google William Donkin, River Philip other sites should come up with information. Also try Yorkshire Immigration and Westmorland.
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http://www.ccgs.ednet.ns.ca/cumb/rivphil.htm
intersting article
http://www.hayward-logan.com/Robinson/other_robinson_speculation.htm
Hayward/Logan Genealogy
other Robertson Speculation
scroll down to Circa 1791
Yorkshire grants of River Philip, consisting of 25,500 acre lots, numbered one to 25 inclusive, being a total of 12, 500 acres
lot 9, Robert Donkin
lot 10, William Donkin
lot 11, Thomas Black
lot 12, Richard Black
lot 14, John Black
lot 16, Henry Ripley
lot 17, Robert Ripley
lot 18, William Donkin Sr.
lot 19, George Oxley, Sr
lot 20, George Oxley, Jr
lot 24, John Black
http://heritage.tantramar.com/y2trib-article.html
interesting read
Westmorland Point, Pointe de Bute and Fort Lawrence - Donkin (acutally from Northumberland) one of the settlers
Let me know when you want me to stop (ha, ha)
Val
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Hey, great job...especially valerie ;D Lots for Kath to chew on there...
I'll just add this more recent history, all covered already, but honouring another decendant
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nscumber/bio/donkinf.html
and a wee mini bio, seems reluctant to do more than to mention women :
http://www.hayward-logan.com/Robinson/early_english_settlers.htm
There was also a William Donkin Christened Feb 6 1765 Ovingham, Northumberland, England.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/9CNK-4GJ/p1
and christenings & deaths for an Ann & Thomas as well, Ovingham...
Barbara Donkin /Job Black http://www3.telus.net/chignecto/black/aqwg02.htm
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Hey, great job...especially valerie ;D Lots for Kath to chew on there..
Now I guess we need to wait for Kath to respond so we know whether this is the correct family or not since she didn't include any information about her William's parents or birth. :P
Jacquie
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Wow!. I don't manage to get back on to my computer for a short while and everyone has worked so hard for me, especially Valerie. This information is fantastic, with all the sites and everything. Our family know we are connected to the Donkins in Canada, but trying to find out anything here is a long hard slog. I will try these sites out.
All the names, etc you mention are part of the Donkins I am trying to research. They must have left siblings over in England because my g.uncle's grandson can remember beging taken to the Ovingham area of Northumberland to stay with his cousins.
My g.uncle came to Canada in the early part of the 20th century, and we have photographs of him and his second wife and his son taken outside a log cabin. His grandson gave me copies, so I know this is true. Also true is the fact that he was asked to leave Canada - before the authorities arrested him on some charge or another. (skeleton in the cupboard?) None of the family know the reason for this.
Once again, thanks for all the information and pointers. I shall try and let you know how I come on with my research.
Kath
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http://www.canadagenweb.org/archives/ns/wmblack.txt There are some great little stories in this page
...(the Black family history) follows some Donkin through the generations ( like any small communities, they also intertwine) Use the find on page feature to see all that is in there...in order to follow the stories and
family lists. There is a great story of Barbara's mother in law bringing her fox hunt riding gear, and white
satin gowns which had no use in this country...but later sad as she died soon after coming here.
re the mystery above...If you name your great uncle something might be found of the matter
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Hi JJ
Thanks for that information. Everything I have received so far is absolutely fantastic. I am having great fun reading through everything.
I tried putting in my g.uncle's name, but nothing came of it. If anyone would be willing to try to find out what he was 'deported' back to England I would be most grateful.
His name was John Lumsden Donkin, born 30/07/1882 and went out to Canada with his wife Elizabeth and son Alexander. Alexander was born in 1907 so I think it must have been about 1914-ish that he went to Canada.
Kath
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Are you sure that his wife and son went to Canada with him or did he go by himself with the intent of her following at a later date.
I have found a John ? Donkin, b. 1882, Liverpool to Halifax in 1919 but nothing for his wife and child.
Found the info through the following pay site.
www.ancestorsonboard.com
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have you checked the incoming passenger lists at ancestry. Some libraries have subscriptions to that site, there are 4 possible John Donkin's to look at.
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Hi
There a lot of emigration records for John Lumsden Donkin b 1882 he was toing and froing between England and Canada on numerous occasions with Alexander Donkin b 1887 here are a few
Canadian Passenger List 1865-1935
John L Donkin
Date of Arrival 8 June 1912
Vessel Numidian
Port of Arrival Halifax Nova Scotia
Port of Departure Glasgow
UK Incoming Passenger List 1878-1960
John L Donkin b 1882 with Alex b 1887
Arrival 8 Dec 1914 Glasgow
Port Dept Montreal Quebec
John Donkin b 1882 Address in England 2 Delaval Terr Blyth Northumberland
Arrival 8 Dec 1920 Liverpool
Ship Metagama
Border Crossing Fron Canada to US 1895-1956
John L Donkin with Alex arrival Jul 1920 St Albans Vermont US
I hope this helps
Margp
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Hi
You may find this link useful
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/the-public/005-1142.06-e.html
Margp
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Again, wow. You lot know a lot more than I do. Everything you have pointed me to so far has been what I am looking for. With regards to John L Donkin, I didn't know he went backwards and forwards to Canada, or that my g.uncle Alexander was with him. That is a turn up for the books. If he went to Halifax then he must have gone to relatives there. I just need to check out which of the Donkins lived there during this period. I have photographs of him with some other people, but don't know who they are.
I only wish I had asked more questions when I was younger, but I do have a couple of cousins who are in their 80's who's grandmother knew an awful lot of things. One of my cousins has admitted that she now wishes she had listened more to her. You never know though, she may remember something. Worth a visit up to see her. She may know of other cousins living in our area who I don't know.
Thanks for all the information and pointers you have given me.
Kath
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Hi Kath
If you send me a PM with your e-mail details I will send you 2 emigration records for John and Alex it as a name and address where they are staying in Canada
Margp
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Hi Kath
I have sent the records let me know if you have received them, I was not sure if there was a dot after net on your e-mail address I have sent them without the dot
Margp
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Hi Marg P
Thanks for that information. This just proves that my grandmother never told us the correct story about our uncle. We never knew that Alexander went abroad, only John, and we were told that he was asked to leave Canada for some reason or another (which was never made clear to us). Now it appears that he wasn't asked to leave Canada at all - he was refused entry to America to see his sister (whose family still live there, and I have just recently found). Would still like to know if there is some way to find out where he stayed in Canada when he came over the two previous times.
Thanks again for your help.
Kath