RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Canada => Topic started by: USCRx on Tuesday 03 May 16 05:57 BST (UK)
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I'm attempting to find a gravesite, or any other information about two distant relatives that lived in Keene or Peterborough in the 1830 - 1860 time period.
1. William Jeffrey: William is my g-g-g-grandfather. The only specific data I have about him is his name on the christening record of his daughter, my g-g-grandmother Isabella Jeffrey. She was christened 29 Oct 1801 in Foulden, Berwickshire, Scotland. William's wife was Mary Edna Lyall. Another 'Jeffrey' researcher has informed me that family tradition says that William immigrated to Canada to help rebuild the St. Louis Gate in Quebec. Afterwards, he settled on a farm at Keene, near Peterborough, and lived with his daughter, Isabella, who married a George Gillespie. He is said to be buried in Keene, but don't know where. I have also not been able to find the burial site of his son-in-law, George Gillespie. George and Isabella were married in an Anglican church in Cobourg, Ontario, and their children were also baptized in this denomination, so I suspect that George may be buried wherever the Anglicans buried parishoners in the Peterborough vicinity, and that William may also be buried there.
2. George Gillespie - I have provided most of the information I have about him above. He was born 17 May 1785 in Coldstream, in Berwickshire, and died 26 May 1857 in Peterborough.
I would appreciate any information about these two men, especially where they might be buried.
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You can search for possble burials at this link. Instructions are given on the home page regarding how to obtain more info using the reference number.
http://ocfa.islandnet.com
PB
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A google search of George Gillespie and Isabella Jeffrey shows a family group sheet that gives George's death as 4 May 1866. George and Mrs. Gillespie on 1852 census for Otonobee, Peterborugh and 1861 census again in Otonobee as George and Isabell.
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Thanks, Cosmac,
You're right. George Gillespie passed away 4 May 1866. My initial post was in error (I stated Mary Lyall's supposed date of death, not George's). William's wife, Mary Lyall Jeffrey has a monument (grave stone?) in Little Lake Cemetery in Peterborough, that is engraved, "Sacred to the memory of Mary Lyall wife of William Jeffrey aged 83 years." This would put her death around 1857. She does not show up in either the 1842 or 1851 Canadian census. Most of the information about Mary and her husband are deemed, "family tradition." That's why I'm so keen to try to find William's burial site, and really anything I can about his and Mary's life once they came to Canada. Were (are) there burial records that pertain to Little Lake Cemetery? I'm thinking that I should also pursue newspaper records of the deaths Mary Lyall, William, and George Gillespie.
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There is an entry for a William Jeffrey h/o Mary Lyall in the same cemetery as Mary at the cemetery finder link I posted above. You could google for info about the cemetery and see if there is contact info.
PB
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Yeah, I saw that, polarbear. I actually almost "passed out," thinking this was the first time concrete evidence of William has showed up. I emailed a couple of folks that have posted that they take photos of gravestones, and was hoping that this would provide some new clues. But after thinking about it all day, I'm starting to think that this is listed based on the monument of Mary Lyall that I mentioned above. I'll still check it out, but I'm now not as 'giddy.'
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There is also a small grave yard just outside of Keene in the Lang's Pioneer Village. Contacting the historical society that runs the village might also yield some assistance. http://www.langpioneervillage.ca/
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...William's wife, Mary Lyall Jeffrey has a monument (grave stone?) in Little Lake Cemetery in Peterborough, that is engraved, "Sacred to the memory of Mary Lyall wife of William Jeffrey aged 83 years." This would put her death around 1857.
Is there a chance that William's name was not added to her stone? Perhaps he is buried in the plot and for some reason his name was never added? I have at least three ancestors who were buried with their families, yet their names were never added. :-\
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William's wife, Mary Lyall Jeffrey has a monument (grave stone?) in Little Lake Cemetery in Peterborough...
Have you seen a photograph of the monument; it is quite a large one.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=138158851&PIpi=112253620
It looks like there are plaques on at least two sides (one would imagine that there would be one on every side). Perhaps his name is included on one of the other plaques on the monument?
Someone in the cemetery office may be able to tell you how many people are buried in the plot. When contacting them, I might suggest telling them of your reason for wanting to know, let them know how you are related to the deceased, and let them know you cannot visit the cemetery in person.
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Looking at the photograph of the monument again, and comparing the photograph to the cemetery map found on g**gle, it appears that the building in the photo background is the same building that one can see on the map.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01hkj/
It appears that the Jeffrey monument is one (head)stone away from where the road splits into two roads. I'm wondering if William's details might be written on the "front" of the monument, facing the road? :-\
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Thanks, Lisa,
The inscription on the other side (south side) reads, "In memorium of Adam Hall died Oct. 4 1881 aged 77 years Also Catharine Jeffrey Jeffrey wife of the above died Feb. 26, 1882 aged 75 years." Catharine was another daughter of William Jeffrey and Mary Lyall. From my records, Mary Lyall is buried in the family plot of Adam Hall.
The record in the register states, "Mary Lyall, wife of William Jeffrey, age 83, born in Scotland, died in Peterborough, cause of death, old age, date of death 26 May 1857, by Rev. Mr. Reger." John M. Reger was the Presbyterian minister in Peterborough at the time.
As I mentioned in my initial post, William Jeffrey is reputed to be buried in the family plot of another son-in-law, George Gillespie in a cemetery in Keene. But no records have been found to confirm this. No tombstones or gravestones have been found for George Gillespie or his wife Isabella Jeffrey Gillespie, either. So that is the dilemma I am attempting to resolve.
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You might ask the genealogical society for help - http://www.ogs.on.ca/kawartha/
Evidently there are cemetery transcripts or some kind of information for 2 cemeteries at Keene (or perhaps 2 sections of one cemetery - unclear):
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~onkbogs/itemincases.pdf
There is also listed some kind of history of St John the Evangelist Church, which is Anglican, although I think it is more recent.
Either the genealogical society or a librarian at Peterborough Public Library should be willing to check those cemetery transcripts for you. I suggest though that you restrict your query to the ones for Keene so as not to overwhelm the librarian. I knowthey have these things at the library, under lock and key, as I have been there in the past, but I don't live there and can't help you myself.