Robert Thomas/Minnie Anstey

[karro]

My great grandfather Robert Thomas was born Square Island Labrador in Dec 1867.  As a young man he married Mildred (Minnie) Anstey on November 18 1893 in Tilt Cove Newfoundland.  They had a daughter Susan Marie Thomas in 1894.
 I can find no record of Minnie Thomas after the baptism of their daughter.  Susan was raised by her grandmother.  It is possible that Minnie may have left her husband and daughter.  How can I find out what happend to Minnie?  Perhaps she also died but I can find no record of her death.
Robert Thomas died when Susan was a child but I haven't been able to find any records of his death.  He worked as a fisherman then a miner. 
Any assistance will be appreciated.

[Jacquie in Canada]

I was looking at Newfoundland's Grand Banks genealogy page and in the civil marriages section it has the marriage for Robert John Thomas and Minnie Anstey on the date you mentioned. In the notes for the entry it indicates that Minnie was residing at La Scie in 1921 and was a widow. Here's a link to that page of the website:
http://ngb.chebucto.org/Vstats/civil-mar-1891-1901-fogo.shtml
It's listed in the bottom third of the page so using Ctrl+F would be the easiest way to find it on the page. I've look at the census transcriptions for 1921 at that site but haven't found her to confirm that note.

[J.J.]

I don't see her either...
Here is a sister Elizabeth Ellen who died of the "fever" age 19  in 1900
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cannf/nd_vistat_deathregister5.htm

Only one close & is a widow is a Minnie Toms...http://ngb.chebucto.org/C1921/21-la-scie-stb.shtml
This site has date of birth for Mildred Fanny Anstey as Sep 25 1877 / Kings Cove /neither of which do I see on the census page
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cannf/nd_vistat90_methbapt.htm


Hmmm...I also just did the math and then looked back at the marriage date for Robert John Thomas and Mildred Fanny Anstey and there is an addition in brackets that her age was 16 at the time of marriage rather than 25 as stated...

[karro]

Minnie was young when she married.  From the date of their daughter's birth, she must have been pregnant at the time of the marriage.  The notation about Minnie being a widow in Le Scie is helpful.  No one every knew what happened to her.

I found a death notice that could be Robert Thomas for Feb 26 1899 Tilt Cove.  Everything is correct except his age.  He would have been about 32 years not 80 years.  Is it possible that such an mistake would be made in the records?  Is there a way to find out if the information is right?

http://ngb.chebucto.org/Vstats/civil-reg-death-1896-1900-tw.shtml
Thanks for your assistance.
Karro

[J.J.]

Of course it is possible that the entry might have said 30. Just recently I saw eights on a census that began at the top left and never reaching back up after the loop, so could have been a bad three or eight. ...so had to look for the other 8s to be sure. Looking at the image...trying to find an obituary or death notice in the papers would be the obvious answer, if it were possible...

Tilt Cove does have a Robert Thomas, labourer, in the 1898 Tilt Cove directory...
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cannf/wbbv_mc98_tiltcove.htm

R.A.O.G.K. can be helpful, but there is only someone available to do cemeteries in limited areas...without the knowledge of where they are buried, that won't help you right now anyway, but here is the site in case anyone ever signs up for your region.   http://www.raogk.org/canada.htm

There are these fee for service researchers  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cannf/researchers.htm But there is never a guarantee they will find anything for you.

[amazon510]

Hi,

The Newfoundland Family History Society has a collection of cemetery transcriptions, including Tilt Cove - you could try contacting them:

http://www.fhsnl.ca/?page_id=59

You could also try contacting the Tilt Cove Museum.  I've been there, it's a treasure trove of all things Tilt Cove.  The curators might be able to help.

Way we Were Museum
We have dozens of 8x10 photographs of Tilt Cove when it operated in 1864-1917 and 1957-67 as a copper mine. Rock samples, antiques, etc.

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 22
Tilt Cove, NL.
Canada. A0K 3M0

[J.J.]

Yes, amazon510, good idea to try them! It seems unlikely an 80 year old would still be called a miner...However if they were estranged they won't likely be buried together, but if a date matches that death notice it surely makes it worth getting a copy of the original entry...
I looked for her brother Samuel George ANSTEY ( also b. King's Cove May 26 1874 To Wm. & Mary England) and didn't find him to be listed ( In case she was with him on the census) Mind you I haven't seen parents William c.1832 & Mary either. J.J.

[amazon510]

Okay, now you have my attention.  My g-g-grandfather was a Samuel George Anstey, born 1862 in Fortune, Newfoundland.  Father was George, mother Elizabeth Warren. No siblings named Minnie or Mildred, but I haven't done much with this branch.  I'll look through my Anstey notes. 

As I understand it, there are two unrelated groups of Ansteys, the Fortune/Burin Penninsula group, and the Twillingate group.  Have you looked outside King's Cove?  King's Cove seems a little off to me - I thought Anstey was a Protestant name, but King's Cove is predominantly Catholic.  Was it a so-called "mixed marriage"?  Might account for the civil registration, which was uncommon.  Maybe she converted?  Or wouldn't convert annd went back to her family?

Jennifer

[J.J.]

yes I saw the other one, with the same name...perhaps the fathers may have been related, or just coincidence...? He was born St. Johns circa 1832  http://ngb.chebucto.org/Vstats/vstats-mar-2-vol-23-sjc.shtml Married at the home of the bride in King's Cove...The 3 children listed ( which includes the subject of inquiry)were born King's Cove...Mary England's brother William was married the same day, his bride lived just down the street (Spin)...listed above them.
Oh I had been looking at other listings of the marriage...That one says they think William Anstey's birth is June 2 1831 Bryants Cove (Harbour Grace), & parents William & Eleanor; & that he'd been married previously, so not a bachelor?