John William Simpson

[DonM]

They aren't in the 1851 Ontario Census (took place Jan 1852) and not in the 1851 SCT Census (March 1951) so young John either died in Canada, onboard the returning ship or in Scotland. 

Canada had no interest in the Crimean War and I don't see William running home to sign up in 1853 if he had he would have been in the 1851 Census.  So, they would have returned spring of 1851-1853 and therefore missed both Census.  And they would have sailed when the spring shipping season begun or until it closed in the fall.

Also note in 1851 Ontario experience one of the worst recorded winters ever.  It would have certainly helped with the decision to return to the UK.

I don't know how you find a pre 1851 death in Canada unless you try the church records.  https://presbyterianarchives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Archives_InfoSheet_GenealogyGuide.pdf

Or, check the 1855-1861 deaths on SP or even the OPR 1851-1854.

Don

[eileenwilson]

They were married in 1843 in Halifax.  Record available online at novascotiagenealogy

He is noted as being a member of the Rifle Brigade, so he would have moved with the Brigade when it went to the Crimean.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifle_Brigade_(The_Prince_Consort%27s_Own)

When the Crimean War broke out in 1853 the Rifle Brigade sent two battalions which fought at the Battle of Alma, where one of the battalions led the advance across the Alma River in September 1854. The regiment also saw action at the Battle of Inkerman in November 1854 and at the Siege of Sevastopol in winter 1854. Eight members of the regiment were awarded Victoria Crosses during the Crimean War.

Online tree says oldest child Mary born in Halifax in 1844, then John William in Toronto in 1848 (St. Paul's Catholic Church baptism record), and then James.  Original poster says oldest and youngest born in Kingston, Ontario, but not sure about that.

The 1851/52 Census for Toronto has not survived, and I've looked in the Kingston area and also not found them.  I suspect she would have travelled with the army battalion back to Europe on their way to the Crimean in 1853.

[eileenwilson]

Some references to the Rifle Brigade in the Toronto newspaper The Globe gives a timeline to where they were over time.

February 3, 1849:
DIED
In this City, on the evening of 31st January 1849, second Lieut. C.E. Bott, second battalion Rifle Brigade.

September 1, 1849:
References the murder of a man -- both parties were privates in the Rifle Brigade.

November 27, 1849:
The three companies of the Rifle Brigade at Fort Henry are ordered immediately for Toronto.

December 4, 1849:
Our garrison yesterday received an addition of three companies of the Rifle Brigade. They came from Kingston in the Princess Royal.

February 1850: Reserve battalion in Quebec City and posted to St. John

May 28, 1850: Desertion of six men from the Rifle Brigade (from the Kingston News)

October 19, 1850:
Yesterday morning, the company of the Rifle Brigade, that went to Mica Bay about 12 months ago under the command of Captain Cooper, to quell the threatened disturbance of the Indians, marched along King Street on their way to the garrison.

July 17, 1852:
H.M.S.V. Simeon with the Rifle Brigade on board arrived at Portsmouth on the 25th ult. after a voyage of three weeks and a day from Quebec.

December 2, 1852:
List of army stations shows 1st battalion of the Rifle Brigades at the Cape of Good Hope on October 27, 1852.

March 9, 1854:
From the Kingston Herald: Col. Young inspected the Rifle Brigade in Tete de Ponts Barracks in order to report the number of men to the British Government fit for active services.

March 13, 1854:
The first division of the British force of 10,000 men which had sailed for Mediterranean stations preparatory to being transferred to the seat of war  in the east consists of the following regiments ... 20th Battalion Rifle Brigade.

April 10, 1854: 3rd Battalion of the Rifle Brigades listed as being part of troops sent to join the war

May 8, 1854: references some of the Rifle Brigade being at Gallipoli.

August 1854: reference to Rifle Brigade being at Varna.

October 28, 1854: lists the fatalities and wounded by rank (but not name) for the Battle of the Alma

[DonM]

Thank you Eileen,

Didn't know he was career soldier.  He and his family would have been at Fort York.  If his son died in Toronto he would have been buried at the Portland Ave Burial Ground.

https://www.fortyork.ca/news-a-events/events/65-the-strachan-avenue-military-burying-ground.html

Don