Selena ANSTEY, b1855

[Twojugs]

I am looking for information on Selena Anstey, b 1855 in believe in Newton Abbott and emigrated to Canada sometime before 1871. She may be connected to James Anstey (father or brother), who also went to Canada at the same time.

Many thanks

Tony

[Nimrod58]

Hi

There's a birth recorded for a Selina Jane Anstay (March 1955 Newton Abbot 5b 113) but I can't find any census listings for her.

Hopefully the brith info will be useful

Kind regards

[AMBLY]

Hi

Is this the target family?

1871 Census - Whitby West, Ontario, Canada
James ANSTEY 30, married, labourer, b England/English
Mary ANSTEY 30, married, Ireland/Irish,
Mary J ANSTEY 7 b Ontario/English
Selena ANSTEY 16, b England/English
Susan ANSTEY 8, b Ontario/English
Elizabeth ANSTEY 2, b Ontario/English.Irish
All religion "C. of Rome" [Romas Catholic] [all following records indicate the same]

In 1881 still in Whitby West, James has died - Mary Snr is age 40 and a widow. In the household are:
Mary 17, Elizabeth    11, Susan 18, John 9

In 1891: in Whitby Twp - Widow Mary has aged just 1 year in a decade  , here age 41, with Susan 27, Mary J 26, John 18

In 1893 Ontario Twp: Susan Ansty 29, of Whitby Township married Herbert M YOUNG 2?, b England.
She named her parents as William & Mary Ansty. Witness' were P COFFEY & Mary COFFEY.

Cheers
AMBLY

[Twojugs]

Thanks guys. Yes, this is the correct Selena.

However, there is no direct connection between the birth in Devon and subsequent appearance in Canada.

Also, looking at ages and marriage dates, I don't think that Selena is the daughter of James and Mary(Doyle) as they married in Canada in 1863, five years after Selena was born in England! All of the current family trees which include her have James and Mary as parents.

I am trying to trace her ancestry in England, and might try a copy of the Birth Cert of Selena Jane next.

She eventually married Hiram Canfield, my great-grand father and died in Buffalo, NY.

Thanks

Tony

[AMBLY]

Hi Tony


James - do you have his ancestry?
Wondering do you know  if he is the son born in Chudleigh, Devon abt 1841 of James ANSTEY & Tamzin?

Cheers
AMBLY

[AMBLY]

Have found Selina in 1861 in Whitby Ontario!

1861: B Township of West Whitby, Ontario
William H? ANSTEY 27, b England, Labourer
Susan ANSTEY 29, b England
Salina J ANSTEY 6, b England
James H? ANSTEY 1, b UC (Upper Canada)

In Jun Qtr 1854, in Newton Abbot Reg District, a William ANSTEY and a Susan KENTESBEER appeared to have married  (they're the only two on the page).

A certain site, reads "Selina J" as "Peligrad"  - the enumerator has made an error in writing her name, then has overwritten it, which contributes to the mis-transcript.

Cheers
AMBLY

[Twojugs]

Well done Ambly, I think you have cracked this one!

When Selena married Hiram Can(m)field in 1863 in Lincoln, Ont, the transcript was very  poor, and she was listed as "Helena Ausded", with father "William Ausded" and mother "Susan Henspore" . This has caused me great confusion, but now, the appearance of William and Susan in 1861 makes it all clear.
They must have travelled to Canada when she was very young.

So, I think I was right in thinking that James and Mary Anstey were not her parents. I now need to find out what happened to Willliam and Susan before 1871, when she is listed as living with James and Mary Anstey, and what was their relation to her.

This has also strengthened the link to Selena J born in Newton Abbott in 1855.

Thanks so much guys, this has been an enormous help, and will re-write part of the family tree.

Tony

[AMBLY]

Hi Tony

I'd say, James was Selena's uncle - and that the following is the family in  1841 -  'uncle James' being the baby and little William her father:

1841: Culver Street, Chudleigh, Devon
HO107 / Piece 219 / Book: 11 / Folio: / Pg1
James ANSTY 35, Ag Lab - Y
Mary ANSTY 35 - Y
Mary ANSTY 9 - Y
William ANSTY 5 - Y
Elizabeth ANSTY 3 - Y
James ANSTY 4mths - Y
Richard*  PONSFORD 60, Ind (female) - Y
* Looks a bit like 'Rickord' - the 1841 enumerator has made the relatively unusual notation on the sheet to say it's a female and not a male.

Little Elizabeth it seems, went on to marry William STONEMAN in 1862 Newton Abbot (probably in Chudleigh) and immigrated to Canada also - Parry Sound. There are a number of trees on A*. 

In 1841 James-the-Father, has a wife named 'Mary' which matches the groom's mother's name in the marriage record you have for James ANSTEY jnr & Mary DOYLE in Canada (Selena's Uncle James). However - I think 'Mary' mother in 1841 is - or is also know as - Thomasin (or Thamsin, Tamzin) and was nee PONSFORD and that's likely her mother with them in 1841.   

In the Census of 1851 & 1861 in Chudleigh (let us know if you need these transcribed) the wife/mother is named as T(h)amsin but I think it's the same woman as Mary in 1841. 

IGI Extracted Marriage:
James ANSTEY & Thomasin PONSFORD 9 Jul 1826, Tedburn St Mary, Devon
http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/TedburnStMary/

If the family was R.Catholic (as indicated in the Canadian records), it's highly likely 'Tamsin'  had a 'Saints name'  eg: 'Mary' as a Christening  name. My thought - she preferred one of the 2 names (T(h)amsin), and the other  (Mary) was only ever used 'officially'.   In recent times, my sister was named by our parents with a 'non-English' and non-saint name.  We lived in a small place and the old (Catholic) Monsignieur who christened her refused to do so unless she was given a 'saints name' as a middle name!  So if it can happen a century & a half later, it can happen circa 1800! 

Cheers
AMBLY