Another William James Sabiston from Manitoba.

[Spanish_Eyes]

It is interesting that they aren't in the 1916 census since William was born in 1916 and his sister in 1912. It makes sense that they had other siblings and possibly some born before 1912 or perhaps after 1916.

I did receive the other stuff you emailed and have them printed off and I also scanned the stories to make them bigger and easier to read. This definatley is an interesting family.....

George

[Jacquie in Canada]

Based on something written in one of the articles from 1972, it appears the family had some aboriginal roots in Manitoba (the article mentioned one of the Sabistons was speaking Saulteaux). I'm not certain but it is possible that if they were living on reserve in 1911 and 1916 that they might not appear on the census. Maybe someone with more knowledge regarding Canadian census can let us know whether reserves were included on the "regular" census or if they were enumerated on a special schedule.

Jacquie

[valeriec]

If you go back through all the census records you will see that the Sabiston as being Scotch and Metis.

If you go to Library and Archives Canada at
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html

at top of page you will see Search, click there and then click on Ancestors Search, scroll down to Metis Scrip Records and enter Sabiston in the block for inquiry.

[valeriec]

forgot to add that most of the Sabiston's are listed as born in the NWT (Northwest Territories)

[Jacquie in Canada]

Dollylee contacted me with a possible 1916 census entry but she didn't have time to post it here so I'll do it for her:

1916 census for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta - Selkirk District, Manitoba

George Sebeiston, head, 55, born Manitoba, fisherman
Anne S Sebeiston, wife, age not given, born Manitoba
Mary Sebeiston, daughter, 13, born Manitoba
Donald Sebeiston, son, 7 born Manitoba
Mima Sebeiston, daughter, 5 born Manitoba
David Sebeiston, son, 3, born Manitoba
William Sebeiston, son, 3 months, born Manitoba

The age for William fits and it's possible that Mima could be a nickname for Catherine although that might be a stretch. That's the best we've found so far.

The words "Treaty Indian" are written over top of Anne's birth place and religious affiliation and in the "other languages spoken" column it says "Indian" for the entire family. I'm not sure whether the reference for "Treaty Indian" applies just to Anne or the entire family. Given the fact that at that time a native woman would lose her treaty status if she married a non-status native man, it seems likely the reference was to the entire family.

Jacquie

[valeriec]

found this information at the Hudson Bay company Archives.
the surname Sabiston and alternates goes back to the late 1700's and early 1800's. gives the orginal place in England and when they served with the HBC
I checked the Biographical Sheets and the Probate Records and names do pop up so you may want to google for info. I started the search with North West Territory Births.

[Spanish_Eyes]

Hi Jacquie,

The family definatley have Indian in their line as the young lady I am doing this for is about 20 and she looks as Indian as you can get. I saw a few pictures of her father and an uncle and they look very Indian also. I am sure the Sabiston side will go back to Orkney and it is obvious they married Indian woman as a lot did in those days.

On our Sabiston side we have Indian woman in our family also and we all have our status for Metis.

I know for sure that William James was born in Fort Alexander which is an Indian Reservation and I assume his sister who was born about 4 years earlier was born there too. William and Catherine's son Jules (Joseph) James was born in Pine Falls which is an area right next to Fort Alexander and off the reservation. I believe that Roland and Larry (Lawrence) were born in Pine Falls too.

Many thanks to Dolly Lee and you of course for the assistance and it would seem that this George and Anne could be the parents of William James if no others are listed around that time.

Cheers, George

[valeriec]

Check the area for historicial and genealogy societies. It is amazing the information they will have that isn't available online. Examples could be scribblers with birth, death and marriage information that someone in the community wrote down. Some of the societies have church records as well or books that were written in the time period. I live in Nova Scotia and it is amazing what some of these little groups have managed to gather. Also check with the band council in the area as they may also have someone who has been researching band genealogy.
The Hudson Bay Records have lots of info and at least one of the Sabiston's had links to Orkney.
Good luck.

[Spanish_Eyes]

Hi valeriec,

I have already emailed the band office in Fort Alexander but they haven't replied as of yet. I am sure someone in the community knew or knows who the family is.

I have all the Hudson's Bay records but this family is not part of them. Most Sabiston's that are listed with Hudson's Bay were brought over from Orkney as my Great Great Grandfather was in 1862. I have not been able to trace the link between this Sabiston line and ours but will maybe find it some day as well as 3 other family lines in Manitoba, 1 line in Ontario and 1 line in New Brunswick/Montreal.
There are also Sabiston's in British Columbia that I am working on to find the link as they say all Sabistons are related however distant.

If I don't hear from the band office in Fort Alexander by this weekend I will phone them next week and see what I can find out.

George