Haslett in Montreal

[catanaccio]

Don't know if anyone can help but here's hoping!!!

We are tracing my wife's family who, although originally Irish (from Londonderry), moved across to Canada in the late 19th century/early 20th century.  Some, including her father and aunt, have now moved back to the UK but have no real recollection of the history of the family while in Canada.

The clues are as follows:

My wife's grandfather was born on 2 September 1922 (we believe) in Montreal and called Norman Haslett.  His father was Robert James Haslett (born Ireland on or around 2 May 1876 and for whom we have military records for his time in the Princess Patricia's).  We are not certain of Norman's mother.  We believe she was called Jennie (or Jeannie) Gordon and was also Irish but, and herein lies the confusion, we believe that Robert James was her second husband after, allegedly, being previously married to his uncle Thomas!!!  Again legend has it that Thomas Haslett died falling from a balcony in Montreal but we have nothing to substantiate that.  We therefore assume that she married Robert James in Canada (probably Montreal) but have no record of that marriage.

Anything that anyone may know or be able to deduce would be great.

In addition could anyone tell me whether I would be able to order a copy of the birth certificate of Norman Haslett and, if so, how I could do that?

Many thanks.

Ian Holmes.

[aghadowey]

Looks like there might be records on Ancestry but I don't have a subscription.

A Thomas Haslett d.1913 Quebec
Marriage in Ontario 1915 for a Robert James Haslett and Jennie Gordon.

[jorose]

http://bibnum2.bnquebec.ca/bna/lovell/index.html
 - Lovell's directories of Montreal could help you track the family. i.e. there's a T. Haslett, painter, there in 1912-1913 but not in 1913-1914 directories.

[Jacquie in Canada]

I checked the marriage for Robert James Haslett to Jennie Gordon that aghadowey mentioned and it had the following details:

Robert James Haslett, age: 38, born: Londonderry, Ireland, bachelor, father: Thomas Haslett, mother: Mary White

Jennie Gordon, age: 25, born: Belfast, Ireland, spinster, father: Hugh Gordon, mother: Jane Meek

There were married 27 Nov 1915 in Toronto.

I found the following entries in the Drouin Collection:

Norman Haslett, son of Robert James Haslett and Jennie Gordon, born 1 Sep 1922 and baptised 12 Nov 1922 (Montréal - Anglican Saint John the Evangelist)

Phyllis Haslett, daughter of Robert Haslett and Jennie Gordon, born 11 Aug 1920 and baptised 12 Mar 1922 (Montréal - Anglican Saint John the Evangelist)

Robert James Haslett, son of Robert Haslett, furniture finisher and Jennie Gordon,  born 11 Feb 1917 and baptised on the 9 Sep 1917 (Montréal - Methodist Dlelorimier)

Myrtle Haslett, daughter of Robert Haslett and Jennie Gordon born 15 Feb 1919 and baptised 8 Aug 1919 (Montréal - Methodist Dlelorimier)

I think I see where the family legend came about. There is an entry in the Drouin Collection regarding the burial of Thomas Haslett, husband of June Gordon (it looks more like June than Jennie to me). He died 3 Jun 1915 and was buried 26 Jun 1915 in Montreal. I couldn't find any reference to their marriage or any children.

If you PM me your email address I can send you some information.

[catanaccio]

Thanks so much to all of you.  You've whetted my appetite for this mystery so much that I've just bought the subscription for Ancestry so will look up all that you have found.

It seems that Jennie Gordon told a little white lie on her marriage certifcate ... she appears not to have been a spinster!!!!  And she married Robert James Haslett less than six months after the death of her first husband ... and in a different province!!!!

Bizarre!!!!

[aghadowey]

Thomas Haslett married 1856 Co. Derry to Mary White.
1. Mary Ann born 5 Dec.1864 Londonderry district, Co. Londonderry
2. Letitia born 25 July 1866 Londonderry district
3. Isabella born 4 Aug.1866 Co. Londonderry
4. William John born 28 Dec.1870 Co. Londonderry
5. Essie born 2 Mar.1872 Co. Londonderry

There were probably children born 1856-1863 but civil registration of births only started in 1864.

Will check Londonderry Sentinel later for births, marriages and deaths.
Have checked Sentinel index 1829-1869 and nothing listed for Thomas' family.

Might be a connection here:
1910 Ulster directory
Drapers, Milliners & Dressmakers: J Haslett, Bond St.
Marble & Stone Cutters: Haslett Bros., Strand Rd.

[catanaccio]

Thanks again"aghadowey".

What sourec did you use for the marriage and births?  Is it available online?

[aghadowey]

Births in IGI (www.familysearch.org)- if you put only parents names into Advanced Search page children will be listed under IGI section.
Marriage from Derry Genealogy Centre (now cloaed) index to database.
1910 directory at: www.libraryireland.com/UlsterDirectory1910/Contents.php
Londonderry sentinel index (bmd) covers 1829-1869.

[weedickitygurl]

Are you positive that you have the correct spelling of JGordon??
And the right Husband? Thanx