Rachel & James Watkins

[qtonenz]

I have recently been researching the birth, death and marriage details for the above persons.The details I have discovered shows that James was born in the USA in 1860 and Rachel in Smith Falls,Lanark South, Ontario, Canada, on 16 May 1868. Both have been shown with parents as Henery G  and Elizabeth Watkins.  However on obtaining a copy of the 1871 Canadian census this shows on page 16 for the Province of Ontario District 79 South Lanark, Sub-District Smith Falls, on lines 17 - 20 the Watkins family as it was at that time. I note that in column 33 (Remarks) Rachel and James are noted as "adopted child". I would assume from this that Henery and Elizabeth are their adoptive parents and Rachel and James have been given the surname Watkins. Is it possible to  obtain a copy of the adoption orders, and details of the biological parents, for the two children especially Rachel as she is part of the family pedigree? Any help would be appreciated. Living in New Zealand as I do, it is not possible to carry out any searches of Canadian archives in person.

[cosmac]

http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/access/documents/research_guide_223_guardianship_and_adoption.pdf
This document from the Ontario Archives explains guardianship and adoption.  The main page of the Ontario Archives genealogy section gives links to Ontario researchers who can perform searches at the Ontario Archives.

One of Rachel's children, Arthur Garrison Ward Bentley, obtained the Ward from his father's mother.  Perhaps the Garrison came from his mother's side?

Do you have Rachel's obituary.  The memoiral headstone in Lanark county indicates her death took place Nov 25, 1939 Edmonton, Alberta (family trees show Vancouver, BC).  Perhaps the obituary, if it exists, might allude to parents other than her adopted ones.  You could check out this site
http://albertagenealogy-research.ca/

The Edmonton Cemetery where Rachel is buried might also have information on her actual parents, although she was so young when she appeared on records with Henry and Elizabeth she might have only known them as her real parents.

Have you found any trace of James past the 1871 census?

[cosmac]

occupation on the 1871 for Henry was barber.  I can't see this family on the 1861 census
1860 US census for Ogdensburg, New York State is a Henry Watkins, 37, b. 1833 Canada with occupation of barber
In household is his wife Elizabeth b. New York age 29 and 2 month old daughter Henryetta E. b. New York.
Race is M - mulatto
Not picking this family up on the next census for the U.S.
??