Maxwells of Nova Scotia

[toru4]

is anyone researching Maxwell who emigrated from  Scotland about 1850. Interested in a possible William Maxwell. born Scotland 

[aghadowey]

Maxwell is quite a common name- where in Nova Scotia did he settle?

[toru4]

Hi,
 Not sure.Halifax and Digby mentioned by son who was born in New York about 1850 and emigrated  from Nova Scotia to Australia. So presume original Maxwell b.Scotland emigrated to Nova Scotia arriving through New York.

[toru4]

Told by my father in 1945 that his grandfather ? William emigrated from Scotland to Nova Scotia. His son Robert born New York 1850 so presume William entered Canada via NY. Robert emigrated to Australia and my father to New Zealand. So seeking any William  born Scotland died Canada. Would like contact with any of their descendants.

[AMBLY]

Hi Toru4,

"Seeking any William Maxwell born Scotland, died Canada - possibly Nova Scotia"

His name is not uncommon. Here's a place to search NS BMD's
https://www.novascotiagenealogy.com/

However - you've not much to go on.   If that's all the info you have  - even if you found a death, how to prove it's your William?

Some questions:
1) Do you know the name or any details,  of Robert's mother?
2) Do you know that Robert lived in Canada? ie That he was born in NY, USA then to Canada? Or could the family have started off in Canada then move TO the USA?
3) Have you ever been told of any siblings of Robert?
4) Do you have any other information on William?
5) When did Robert immigrate to Australia?

Any small detail could be the key to tracing your MAXWELLS back to Canada and Scotland, or to finding other descendants of William.

Cheers
AMBLY

[AMBLY]

Um……...is your Robert the rather uniquely named:
Robert Henry Aquila MAXWELL  who died 1934 NSW, Australia?
His son William b 1876 NSW and died 1954, Auckland NZ?
Five trees on A*y, all say this Robert's  dob 24 Dec 1853, mostly say New York or Nova Scotia (one says Quebec).

NSW BMD:
DEATH 1934: Robert H MAXWELL, age 81, Port MacQuarie, NSW

http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?Adam,Maxwell::maxwell::4433.html
Says this Robert  born circa 1850 Nova scotia and went to Australia circa 1876.

It  appears he married in 1876 in NSW (2 index listings under reg Nr: 3737/1876 ):
NSW Marriage: Robert Henry M MAXWELL and Mary Ann FRYAR,  Wallsend, NSW 1876
NSW Marriage: Robert Henry A MAXWELL and Mary Ann MYAR. Wallsend. NSW 1876

Another query on line said he was supposedly "born on a ship in Nova Scotia Harbour"

Cheers
AMBLY

[AMBLY]

Yes that's him….an older 2010 topics:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=500604.0
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,489299.0.html

I realise this new post is on the Canada boards - but it's going to be nigh on impossible to find him, even with all the following that you have from the Australian end in the 2010 topics.

• Robert and a brother, of Scots descent, (brother's name not known), came from Canada to the Ballarat Goldfields circa 1870+.
• His birthday is known in the family to be 24th December.
• Robert married Mary Ann FRYAR in 1876 in Minmi, NSW at the residence of his bride's parents. 
• The  marriage lines didn’t name his parents. The marriage was Methodist.
• Occupations: Miner, and Engineer
• Supposedly built railway lines and timber mills in Hunter Valley area. Definitely drove tugboat "Undaunted"
• On all bar one of the  Birth certs of his children, it says  Robert was born Canada circa 1848 to 1852. The last child's birth cert says Robert was born New York USA
• On a 1890 birth cert,  of one of his children, Robert's place of birth in  Canada changes
• In 1896, his engineers certificate says he was born New York, USA 1850
• Family Story: he was born on board ship as it entered Quebec Harbour, but research says Quebec harbour would be frozen over on 24th December,
• Regards his unusual 3 forename of 'Aquila' or 'Aquilla'  a ship by the same name sailed into N.Y during the right  period but no passenger lists found.
• Oz family say he had a brother who lived in Melbourne, who had a son named Bob who was born 1893 and lived in Narrandera. Bob had a girlfriend named Essie Crinlan.
• The brother's grandaughter was raised by him (the brother?) This Grandaughter died 2000, age 101.

Did you ever trace the Grand-daughter back through her parents...to try identify her Grandfather?

Cheers
AMBLY

 

[toru4]

Hi Ambly,
RHA Maxwell was the father of William who was my father. The granddaughter who lived to 101 was my fathers first born, and was raised by his father and mother RHA Maxwell and Mary Ann Fryer.
What you have written s all the details i have been able to uncover. I presume RHAs father may have been called William as RHA has followed the Scots tradition of naming his children.
many thanks
toru4