Donald Fraser in Penetanguishene Ontario

[Rodger]

I'm trying to find more about Donald Fraser born about 1811 and who died in Penetanguishene Ontario about 1862 or 63. Passed down from previous generations was that he was born in Inverness-shire Scotland to John Fraser (1772-1840) and Marjory Rose (1779-1850) and that he came to Canada about 1831. His wife is unknown but he had a son William D. Fraser who lived in Cleveland Ohio. Some of his siblings also came to Canada, Catherine (Smith) 1808-1887, Simon 1822-1857 and Angus 1821-1870 (deputy Sheriff in Goderich Ontario).
There is a tombstone in St. James-On-The-Lines Church Cemetery in Penetanguishene which may or may not be his. The date of death on it is June 2, 1863 and he is from Inverness-shire.

[eileenwilson]

Have you checked Donald Whyte's Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to Canada before Confederation to see if he is noted. There are four volumes.

[eileenwilson]

What was his occupation and where was he before he died in Penetang?

[eileenwilson]

Possible in 1861 Canadian Census in McGillivray Township, Huron County:

Fraser, Donald, aged 50, farmer, b. Scotland, Presbyterian, aged 50
Fraser, Jane, b. Scotland, aged 32
Fraser, John, b. Scotland, aged 11
Fraser, Thomas, b. Upper Canada, aged 8
Fraser, Marjory, b. UC, aged 6
Fraser, Collin, b. UC, aged 3
Fraser, Isabel, b. UC, aged 1

[*Sandra*]

Possible in 1861 Canadian Census in McGillivray Township, Huron County:

Fraser, Donald, aged 50, farmer, b. Scotland, Presbyterian, aged 50
Fraser, Jane, b. Scotland, aged 32
Fraser, John, b. Scotland, aged 11
Fraser, Thomas, b. Upper Canada, aged 8
Fraser, Marjory, b. UC, aged 6
Fraser, Collin, b. UC, aged 3
Fraser, Isabel, b. UC, aged 1

Think the family appear in 1871 Eileen -

http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1871&op=&img&id=4396748_00321

Sandra

[eileenwilson]

So not the guy buried in Penetanguishene whose Find-a-Grave entry says he died in 1863.

There's a Muster Book/Pay List for a Sgt. Donald Fraser for the month of December 1837 for the Perth Military Artillery Company (Ontario) but stationed at Fort Henry, Kingston so a long way from Penetang.

[Rodger]

I don't know what his occupation was but I saw the Muster Book/pay and it is for Penetanguishene as well as Perth so he may have had a reason to be in Penetang and the St. James-On-The-Lines was a military cemetery I believe. I've looked at the 1861 census from Huron County and although his brother went to Huron County I've no evidence that he did and there is no William in that census. I'm very certain that he died in 1862 or 63.

[eileenwilson]

If you look carefully at the military record, it clearly states Perth, but it is part of a record collection that includes places starting with the letter "p", including Penetang.  Suggest you scroll to the pages preceding the actual record and read the very top of the page as well.

So, what you have is that a son William was in Cleveland?  When would he have been born and when did he die?

[oldohiohome]

So, what you have is that a son William was in Cleveland?  When would he have been born and when did he die?

Same question here. The Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and Ohio records are pretty good. Any details on William would help. If he lived past 1908 and died in Ohio you might find his mother's name on his death record, assuming his survivors knew what it was.

On the other hand, I'm not seeing any William D Frasers in Cleveland at familysearch or ancestry.com, and not in the library's obituary index either.