Eva May Little, born (June? July? 1897? 1898?) in Elmvale, Ontario

[abstraction]

I can't seem to find any online BD&M for Ontario that's free. I'm on a budget, so can't afford an ancestry membership.

Eva was my grandmother, and my grandfather's story is about to be published - I'd love to get the details of her birth record, as I have contradictory information.

Her parents are Mark W Little and Agnes (Ritchie).

Would dearly appreciate any assistance.

[susano]

Hi abstraction,

I am not able to find a birth registration for Eva May Little on Ancestry; however, I did find her with her sister Ena and parents on the 1901 Census.  Her birth date on the census is shown as June 24, 1897.

You can view the 1901 and 1911 Census for free on www.automatedgenealogy.com.  Select the split screen option and you will see the original image on the top and the transcription on the bottom of the screen.

Susan

[susano]

Hello again,

You can search Ontario births for free at familysearch.org.
I always forget about that site.

Susan

[abstraction]

Thank you for such a prompt response! Very kind.

It creates a puzzle if it's correct, which is likely - although it is possible to make an error in reporting census details. My grandfather in his story said Eva turned 19 the week before he turned 21. In his book spanning ten years of his youth and three continents, he only made one factual error that i'm aware of. Then to make one with his wife's age? Not something I'd dare to do!

Just got your second message, so I'll cross check.  Thank you so much!!

[polarbear]

It looks like the births of the girls may not have been registered at the time.  I have found a late registration for Ena Sprae/y dated 1962. No sign of a late reg for Eva at the moment.

Eva's marriage (looks like 03 Jan 1918) has her age as 19.

You might check whether your local public library subscribes to Ancestry Library Edition. This would give you access to the Canadian records with images.

PB

[susano]

I agree that the Census is not a very reliable source for dates; however, I'm coming up empty with a birth registration.  It crossed my mind that perhaps the parents hadn't registered the birth.

The date of birth on the 1911 Census reports June 1899 for Eva May....so same month but different year.

Good luck.

Susan

[abstraction]

Agree, very possible it wasn't registered. And the birthdate given for older sister Ena in the census is the incorrect date, incorrect year (stated as Jan 1895, whereas birth record I researched in familysearch now shows it was Dec 1894). So some evidence that whoever reported the census appears to have been guessing.

Thanks for opening up some sources for me, Susan.

[abstraction]

The other piece I can't find is their marriage, which I believe would have occurred in 1918 before he went to war. 
Eva May Little
John Christopher (Levy) Mercer.
I can't get any marriages in Familysearch at all - just a blank page - not sure if it's crashed.

[susano]

Hi

Eva May Little, age 19, born Elmvale, Ontario, spinster, d/o Mark Little and Agnes Ritchie, Presbyterian
and
John Christopher Levy Mercer, age 21, born Australia, soldier, bachelor, s/o Henry Mercer and Mable Sanderson, Church of England

were married on January 3, 1918 in Toronto, Ontario.

The marriage was witnessed by Ena Sprue (sp?) Little and Arthur James Bryan or Sryan (?).

Susan