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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Canada Lookup Request => Topic started by: Decker21 on Sunday 22 February 15 13:48 GMT (UK)
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I am looking for any information on James Steppings and his wife Elizabeth Blowes both born in Cambridgeshire, England about 1850. The 1916 census gives an address of 9, Marquette, Manitoba and that he emigrated in 1882. They are both on the passenger list to England in 1889 and returning to Quebec in 1990. Any help would be appreciated as I am researching from England.
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Hi,
1901 Shoal Lake Manitoba
James Steppings 51 Born Eng. Immigrated 1896.
Elizabeth Steppings 50 Born Eng.
Frances Steppings 10 Born Manitoba.
Issabella Burgess 20
http://www.automatedgenealogy.com/
Sandra
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1906 Manitoba
James Steppings 56 Immigrated 1890.
Elizabeth Steppings 55
Tornese Augusta Steppings should be Frances Augusta - Adopted Daughter.
http://www.automatedgenealogy.com/
Sandra
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17, Marquette, Manitoba - 1916
James Steppings 66 Born Eng. Widowed. Immigrated 1882. Farmer.
Beatrice Auld 27 Nurse
Minnie Jameson 28 Porter
William Porttack 48 Domestic
Rosie Jumags 18 Jeweller
Sandra
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Death of Elizabeth Harper Steppings - 1/11/1915 - aged 64 years - Shoal Lake.
http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/ListView.php
Sandra
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FIND A GRAVE
Elizabeth Steppings - born 28 Feb 1952 and died 1 Nov 1915
Burial :- Shoal Lake Cemetery Shoal Lake Western Manitoba Census Division Manitoba, Canada.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=95152762&ref=acom
Sandra
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James Steppings - born 31/1/1850 - died 23/2/1938 Manitoba - aged 88 years.
http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/ListView.php
http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/DetailView.php
Sandra
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http://sprague-database.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I295268&tree=SpragueProject
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The Winnipeg Tribune - February 24, 1938 (short except - can purchase original)
JAMES STEPPINGS .Tames Stepping, of 502 Notre Dame ave., died Wednesday at his residence In his 80th year. A funeral service will be held Friday at p,m. in Mordue's rhapel, following which the body will be forwarded to Shoal Lake, Man
http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/37265371/
Sandra
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Hi,
Found an obituary in the Shoal Lake Star - March 3, 1938.
Said James Steppings was a pioneer of the district and was buried on Monday in the family plot in Shoal Lake Cemetery. He had been in failing health for the last 3 years. He passed away at his home in Winnipeg on Feb 23rd, in his 89th year.
He was born in Gamblingay, England in January 1850. He and his wife left London in 1882 and came to Ontario, where they lived for 5 years, before coming to Manitoba. They went to his homestead, 4 miles north of Shoal Lake, which he had taken up "some time previously" (I have no idea when... it doesn't say.) In his early years, Mr Steppings had engaged in railroad construction work.
In the spring of 1915, the Steppings left the family farm and moved to a house in Shoal Lake. Mrs Steppings passed away on Nov 1st 1915. IN 1918, he married Elizabeth Dillon of Winnipeg, who survives him. They lived in Shoal Lake until 1931, when they moved to Winnipeg. They sold their house to George Campbell.
Funeral was at St George Church.
RK :)
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Well done RK - no mention of the adopted daughter - never found her after 1906 ???
Sandra
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Thank you both for so much helpful information. I am quite astounded! Have you any idea why his immigration date keeps changing? I think the 1882 date tallies with the newspaper article and I can't find him in England after 1818. His birth in Gamlingay 1850 confirms that this is the person I was looking for. Thank you again for your help.
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It was not unusual for immigration dates, birth years etc to vary - in fact quite common.
Sandra
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Hmmm - will see if I can find her.
In the meantime, there is an article in the Winnipeg Free Press Feb 28, 1935. It is about Mr Steppings 85th birthday. There is some good information in here!! It starts out by referring to him as "Uncle Jim" - but doesn't mention an author's name. I have no idea if this is what he was called as a sort of nickname, or if a niece/nephew wrote the piece ??? ???
Anyway - the important bits are:
He had his 85th birthday in January. He lived at 502 Notre Dame Avenue. He likes parties and having a good time, and he walks every day. He was born in Gamblingay, Cambridgeshire, England in 1850. He came to Canada at age 22. He went to Peterborough, Ontario first, where he worked for the Midland Railway, doing construction work. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of railroad construction. In March of 1883, he was transferred to Thunder Bay, where he continued with railroad construction until 1887. Then, he moved to Shoal Lake to take up farming. In 1901, he returned to England for a vacation to his home town, then he came back to Canada several months later. In 1914, he sold his farm and moved to the village, where he had intended to retire. He didn't like retirement, so he worked on some of his neighbours' farms. In 1922, he regained his own farm and worked it for 5 more years. In 1928, he retired to Shoal Lake again, where he lived for 3 years. He later moved to Winnipeg.
Mr Steppings has been married twice. First in England in 1872, then in 1920 at the age of 70.
RK
PS - there is a picture of him too.
Marriage date for second marriage is a bit different here... I guess it was either 1918 or 1920...
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Hi:
There is a current blog called 'Shoal Lake History' written by Reid Dickie, a writer and former resident of Shoal Lake. It contains a great deal of interesting information on Shoal Lake and its history.
You may be able to get further information on the Steppings family by contacting him.
http://shoallakehistory.com
sami
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Hmmm - will see if I can find her.
In the meantime, there is an article in the Winnipeg Free Press Feb 28, 1935. It is about Mr Steppings 85th birthday. There is some good information in here!! It starts out by referring to him as "Uncle Jim" - but doesn't mention an author's name. I have no idea if this is what he was called as a sort of nickname, or if a niece/nephew wrote the piece ??? ???
Anyway - the important bits are:
He had his 85th birthday in January. He lived at 502 Notre Dame Avenue. He likes parties and having a good time, and he walks every day. He was born in Gamblingay, Cambridgeshire, England in 1850. He came to Canada at age 22. He went to Peterborough, Ontario first, where he worked for the Midland Railway, doing construction work. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of railroad construction. In March of 1883, he was transferred to Thunder Bay, where he continued with railroad construction until 1887. Then, he moved to Shoal Lake to take up farming. In 1901, he returned to England for a vacation to his home town, then he came back to Canada several months later. In 1914, he sold his farm and moved to the village, where he had intended to retire. He didn't like retirement, so he worked on some of his neighbours' farms. In 1922, he regained his own farm and worked it for 5 more years. In 1928, he retired to Shoal Lake again, where he lived for 3 years. He later moved to Winnipeg.
Mr Steppings has been married twice. First in England in 1872, then in 1920 at the age of 70.
RK
PS - there is a picture of him too.
Marriage date for second marriage is a bit different here... I guess it was either 1918 or 1920...
Just going from memory on passenger lists I looked at earlier, feel sure one showed a Geo Stepping aged 25 years as well as an Eliza aged 9 years. Could Eliza have been Frances - same age group.
Sandra
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Here it is a Canadian Passenger List - Liverpool to Montreal arriving 24 April 1900 on the Vancouver. Geo Steppings aged 25 years, labourer. Eliza (daughter) 9 years. J Stepping 50 years and Eliz aged 50 years. All going to Portage la Prairie Ma.
Sandra
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Hi again
The obituary for Mrs James Steppings was in the Shoal Lake Star, November 4, 1915. Her own name is never mentioned!!!
It says she died on Monday. She was 64. She and her husband came to Canada from England in 1882. They came to Manitoba 5 years later, but went back east "for a while" (doesn't say where, but I assume Ontario - from the other notices about James. Doesn't say how long, either), then came to Manitoba to live about 4 miles north west of Shoal Lake. They remained there until a year last march, when they came to live in town. She attended the English Church. She leaves her husband, a sister and 3 brothers in England, and a brother Alfred in Shoal Lake. Funeral at St Paul's Church.
RK
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Well, looks like the second wife also went by the name Adelaide... The obituary I mentioned for James certainly says wife number 2 is Elizabeth Dillon. However, there is a short death notice in the Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 25, 1938 that says Mr James Steppings, husband of Mrs Adelaide Steppings, died at his home 502 Notre Dame on the 23rd.
Found an obituary for Adelaide Steppings - She died at the Winnipeg General Hospital on April 23, 1948. Burial at Elmwood Cemetery. She was born in England and had lived in Winnipeg for 24 years. Husband was James Steppings.
RK
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Hi - also in the Shoal Lake paper in Jan. 1933, is a memorial notice for Alvin Hinton, who passed away Dec 31, 1930. It was placed in the paper by his cousin James Steppings.
In 1934, he places another memorial for Alvin - this time he says Alvin died on Dec 31 1929.
RK
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Here is the FIND A GRAVE entry for Adelaide Stepping
Burial: Elmwood Cemetery Winnipeg Greater Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
Plot: 14A-G0076
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=steppings&GSiman=1&GScid=1975066&GRid=122984254&
Sandra
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Alvin Hinton was 73 years of age when he died 31/12/1929
http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/ListView.php
http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/DetailView.php
Sandra
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1921 Census Shoal Lake shows an Alvin Hinton and Mary - transcribed on the A site as Hanton.
Alvin Hanton 62 Born Eng. Immigrated 1889.
Mary Hanton 57 Born Eng. Immigrated 1906.
Living next door to James Stebbings aged 64 years. Born Eng. Immigrated 1885. Labourer. Wife Ann Stebbing aged 49 years born England. Immigrated 1907.
Sandra
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Alvan Hinton - birth registered 1856 - Caxton Cambridgeshire. 3b 413.
Alvan/Alvin with parents - Gamlingay Cambridgeshire 1861 - all born Gamlingay.
Charles Hinton 27 Ag Lab. Edy Hinton 26
Sarah Ann Hinton 6 Halvan Hinton 4
Charles Hinton married Edith Field September 1855 - Caxton Redg Dist - 3b 665
Alvan's was transcribed as Alban on his first marriage ro Rachel Masters - Caxton - 3b 719
This was the death of Alvan's first wife Rachel - 1/5/1906 Shoal Lake. Manitoba.
http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/ListView.php
Alvan married again to Elizabeth Stead 24/10/1912
http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/ListView.php
http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/DetailView.php
Sandra
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Also found an obit for a Mary Scott, wife of George Blowes. I expect George is related to Elizabeth Blowes Stepping...Mr and Mrs Jas Stepping were among those who sent flowers.
Mary died on Sept 12, 1928. She was the daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Innis of Shoal Lake. Granddaughter of Duncan McRae, M.P. of Toronto and niece of Reverend Dr Wm Wallis of Toronto. She married George Blowes in 1907. They lived in Lavinia district, then to Shoal Lake. In 1914, they moved to Theodore, Saskatchewan, then came back to Shoal Lake in 1926. She leaves her husband and 6 children - Lorne, Lorraine, Mervyn, Doris, Verdun and Evelyn.
RK
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There is this connection of Stepping to Fields
There is a marriage Gamlingay Cambridgeshire 9 November 1838 of Eliza Fields to David Whitbread.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2QD-L65
A death of David Whitbread - Caxton - Vol 14 Page 24 - March 1840
There is a marriage in Cambridgeshire in 1840 of a John Steppings (father of James) born 1818 to Eliza (nee Fields/Whitbread) born 1817 - Marriage Dec 1840 - Caxton - Vol 14 Page 45
This Eliza Fields must be related to Alvan's Mother Eliza Fields born 1835 who married Charles Hinton (Alvan's parents)
Sandra
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Cor blimey! As us English are renowned to say. You are spot on. James Steppings was my GtGrandmother's brother. Their parents were John Steppings and Eliza Whitbread nee Fields. I'm not sure of how the other Eliza Fields is related as I've not explored them yet. I had a feeling that more of the family might have gone to Canada with them, in particular James' younger brother Frederick and his wife Minnie. Perhaps they did go but stayed in Ontario. Well done and many thanks for so much information. James and Elizabeth had no births recorded in England but left England after a visit in 1990 for Canada with 3 children surnamed Steppings - George age 15, Thomas age 15 and Elizabeth age 10. Maybe these were adopted children as well as Frances.
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I've just got my head in order and yes Eliza Fields had a younger sister Edith. So she married Charles Hinton and Alvin and James were indeed cousins.
The thing that puzzles me is the names of James wives. His first wife was Elizabeth Blowes who died 1915. In the 1921 census it says wife Ann, when he dies in 1938 his wife is said to be Elizabeth one day and Adelaide the next day. When Adelaide died in 1948 it says she lived in Canada 24 years which would mean since 1924 after the 1921 census. So did James have a second wife Ann and Adelaide was his third wife? Gets a bit confusing.
The connection with Mary Scott m. George Blowes seems to lead back to Ontario where James lived when he first came to Canada. The railroad connection with his work could be the reason he decided to settle in Manitoba as I read something about the railroad through Manitoba being completed around 1887.
The misspelling of Steppings goes way back to 1780 and beyond. The name has been spelt Steppings, Steppens, Stephens, Stebbings and Stebbins at various times.
You've certainly given me a lot of information for which I am very grateful.
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You're very welcome. It would be good if we can unravel the mystery of the wives. Alvan was exactly the same, with his marriages.
1921 Mackenzie Saskatchewan
George Blowes 40 Born Eng. Immigrated 1891. Farmer.
Mary Blowes 35 Immigrated 1891. Farmer.
Lorne Blowes 12 Born Sask.
George Blowes 1 Born Sask.
Doris Blowes 10 Born Sask.
Lorane Blowes 4 Born Sask.
Alfred Blowes 65 Born 1856 Eng. Widowed. Gentleman.
Sandra
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Think this link shows Alfred and Elizabeth (Stepping) were brother and sister -
Alfred Bowles worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway between Albert and British Columbia about 1880.
To Canada c. 1891 direct to Shoal Lake to Mrs Steppings (his sister Betsy).
http://sprague-database.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I295273&tree=SpragueProject
Sandra
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Hi,
I think James was married twice - the first wife was Elizabeth Blowes and the second wife was Elizabeth/Adelaide Dillon. Adelaide's obit says she was in Winnipeg for 24 years, so she certainly could have lived in other parts of Canada before that. Also, I found a couple of memorial notes in the paper from Adelaide mentioning her husband James Steppings who died on Feb 23, 1938. The memorial notes are signed Adelaide. In fact the only place I see her listed as Elizabeth is in James' obituary. Perhaps she was Elizabeth Adelaide Dillon -- or Adelaide Elizabeth Dillon??
RK
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Forgot to ask, you mentioned a photo of James in the Winnipeg Free Press of 1835. Can you tell me where I can access it.
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Also found an obit for a Mary Scott, wife of George Blowes. I expect George is related to Elizabeth Blowes Stepping...Mr and Mrs Jas Stepping were among those who sent flowers.
Mary died on Sept 12, 1928. She was the daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Innis of Shoal Lake. Granddaughter of Duncan McRae, M.P. of Toronto and niece of Reverend Dr Wm Wallis of Toronto. She married George Blowes in 1907. They lived in Lavinia district, then to Shoal Lake. In 1914, they moved to Theodore, Saskatchewan, then came back to Shoal Lake in 1926. She leaves her husband and 6 children - Lorne, Lorraine, Mervyn, Doris, Verdun and Evelyn.
RK
Well done RK. Have a date of death for for George Blowes born 1879 died 30 May 1962 in Shoal Lake, Manitoba which might help locate an obituary. (Source Anc tree)
Another private members entry says "Obituary 8 June 1961 Shoal Lake Manitoba" and a Memorium 4 June 1964 Shoal Lake Manitoba.
Sandra
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Hmm
From the 1921 census, I might infer that Alfred was George Blowes father - so also Elizabeth's father. BUt, George's obituary (June 8 1961) says that he was the only son of Richard Blowes. He died on May 30, 1961. He was 84. He is buried in Shoal Lake cemetery. George was born in "Lancastershire" England on Nov 10 1876. In 1888, he came to Canada with his parents and two sisters - Florence and Nellie. They first came to the Lavinia District. Then they moved to the farm previously owned by Jim Martin - now known as Blowes farm. IN 1907, George married May Innis. Later, they moved to Springside, Saskatchewan. They returned to Shoal Lake in 1926 and took up farming on the Steppings farm. This was where, in 1928, Mrs Blowes died. He is survived by a sister Mrs J O Rae. Also, children Lorne, Lorraine (Mrs I Dellar), Evelyn (Mrs J Park), all of Shoal Lake, Doris (Mrs R Brown) and Verdun of Winnipeg, Irvin of Kent England.
RK
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Maybe that was Lorraine - Mrs J Dellar? I found a note in the Shoal Lake paper from 1933 saying the Mr and Mrs J Steppings were up from Winnipeg visiting Mrs J Dellar.
I looked at it again, and the obit says Mrs I Dellar. But, in any case, this is another connection between the Steppings family and the Blowes/Dellar families.
I hope I haven't muddied the waters for Decker21 with this :-\ :-\.
RK
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Thanks for all that, it's certainly building up a lot of information to explore. Somewhere it said Alfred Blowes was known as Dickie so perhaps that's where the son of Richard comes from in George's obit. The Dellar surname is interesting as James' uncle William had a son b. 1849 at Lambeth, Surrey called Edward Deller Steppings. His mother's maiden name was Guilford so I don't know where the name came from. He joined the army, married in Ireland and had a son b. 1877 in India called William Deller Steppings. Edward died 1898 in Camberwell, Surrey and William was married and living in Gloucestershire in 1911. I'll do some exploring to see if there is a connection.
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Forgot to ask, you mentioned a photo of James in the Winnipeg Free Press of 1835. Can you tell me where I can access it.
Here's the picture from the Free Press.
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Thank you, that's very kind of you.