Stephenson - Nicholls

[Ken S]

Thanks to this site, I have found one load of ancestors coming to New York in 1854 (landed Nov 12th) - they settled in Hamilton area in Ontario - this also goes along with a family story, that a storm blew the ship off coarse (so landed US- instead of Canada). Two other family members are not on the passenger list of this ship --- so I am thinking they likely came first - likely to a Canadian Port. The two names I'm looking for are -- William Stephenson (or Stevenson) and Edward Nicholls. By going too ancestry.ca - in Passenger and Im. Lists Index 1500 - 1900's, they have one listing for Edward Nicholls (this exact spelling) --- could anyone find out what other info. is here for Edward  --- if I could find him on the same ship with a Wm Stephenson  -- then I could pretty well say it is him. Both were from East Yorkshire, and likely sailed from Hull (!852 - 54?)

[J.J.]

On the 1901, there is an Edward Nicholls who says he immigrated in 1855
http://automatedgenealogy.com/census/DisplayPagePanb.jsp?id=18464&highlight=25

There are umpteen dozens of
William Stephensons but this one says he came over in 1853
http://automatedgenealogy.com/census/DisplayPagePanb.jsp?id=56053&highlight=31

You will need birth years in order to find the right details on passenger lists...J.J.

[Ken S]

Yes the Edward Nicholls is the right one - but this is a different William Stephenson. My William would be found in the Barton Township, Wentworth County, Ontario census of 1861 (this is near Hamilton, Ont.)[although was spelled Stevenson here]. In about 1862 the family moved to Strathroy Ontario (Middlesex County) -- and at 52 yrs of age William was killed working for the Great Western Railway - May 1866 - Oil Spings, Lambton County Ont. - leaving a wife and 7 or so children at Strathroy. But as you found out William Stephenson is a very common name.
  Two of Williams sons (who came as children, on the boat record I do have for 1854) Alfred and Robert are found in the 1901 census (Middlesex Co. Ont.) and they gave year came as 1855 here --- although I now know they landed Nov. 1854.

[Janice M]

You may want to try searching some of the directories for Ontario in the 1860's - 1870's

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/canadiandirectories/index-e.html

Census - Ontario 1871
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/020108_e.html

Janice

[MJP]

Hi Ken,

I have looked up the Ancestry.ca record for you, but it is not new information.  The Canadian info in this database (Passenger and Immigrant Lists 1500-1900) is just a list of all the people who were born outside of Canada in the census!  In your case, it is just an Edward Nicholls (could be yours) who is on the 1871 census who was not born in Canada., meaning he immigrated at some point.  Kind of a lame database, really.    

The American info seems to be actual indexes of naturalization records and such, which could be more useful, although I have never used it myself. 

Sorry it was not more interesting! 

Canada didn't start keeping track of passenger lists until 1865, so you may be out of luck in terms of finding your two guys.  But have a look at this thread for a list of resources for passengers pre-1865.  http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,159814.0.html

MJP

[Ken S]

Oh well, you can't find everything -- I was amazed that I got the rest of the family, on New York Port records. Now William may have come through N. Y. also, I'm just guessing Canada because thats where they all settled. William Stephenson himself was killed working for the Great Western Railway, May 1866 (Oilsprings Lambton County Ontario) Now while both Strathroy (his home town at this point) and Oilsprings had a newspaper - none seem to have been saved from the 1860's. So I have not been able to find out much about this.

[Janice M]

Hi,

You could try writing to the library, as someone there may be able to give you some information.

Lambton County Library
http://www.lclmg.org/

Or

You could try the site below, as there is someone within Lambton County willing to do lookups, including the "Sarnia Observer".

Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness - Ontario
http://www.raogk.org/ontario.htm

Janice