James Ovens, died 1883, Ontario

[Lisa in California]

I’m wondering if an obituary can be found for James Ovens, please, or any other document that might state his exact birthplace and parents/siblings. Several Ancestry trees state his birthplace was Inishmacsaint and/or Fermanagh, Ireland but there are no sources recorded.  I am only interested in James, none of his family members, please.  The following is information gathered so far.  After a brief search, I have not yet found Barbara’s/Emily’s death.  (Some trees state her name was Barbara Emily Birney, but again, I’ve not found a tree that includes sources.)

1861 Marysburgh, Prince Edward County, Ontario
James Ovens, age 57, born Ireland.  Farmer.  Church of England.
Living in the household (unless otherwise noted, born Upper Canada):
  Emily, age 57, Ireland.  M.A.(?), female, age 27. Adam, age 23. Tho., age 20.  M.E., female, age 16.

1871 Marysburgh, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Born Ontario unless otherwise noted.  Church of England.
James Ovens, age 65, Ireland, Farmer.
Barbara Ovens, age 65, Ireland. Thomas Ovens, age 28. Mary A Ovens, age 26.  Melissa Ovens, age 5. Emily Ovens, age 3.
Adam Ovens, age 33. Jane A, age 26. Ida, age 9.  Emma, age 3.  Ella, born January.

1881 Marysburgh, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Born Ontario unless otherwise noted.  Church of England.
Adam Ovns [sic], age 42, Carpenter. Jane, age 37.  James, age 75, Ireland, widowed, Farmer.  Emma, age 13.  Mary, age 10.  Fany, age 8.  James, age 6.  Ellon, age 3.  Margret, age 1.

Schedule of deaths, North Marysburgh, Prince Edward County, Ontario
James Ovens, farmer, died 7 February 1883, age 77 years (born c1806).  Born Ireland.  Church of England.

I am hoping to find a connection to my ancestor, John Ovens, born c1809, most likely Corcloon/Corclune, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland.  Possible parents were William Ovens and Elizabeth Stinson of Inishmacsaint Parish, Ireland.  John died in 1885, Toronto, Canada.  [I have details about John and his family.  I cannot find proof for his exact birthplace and parents.  Over the years, I’ve posted numerous topics about John Ovens and his possible siblings: Anne and Alexander.]

[*Sandra*]

Sorry Lisa, have had no joy so far.   

[Lisa in California]

Thank you very much for looking, Sandra!  As mentioned in previous topics, my mum started looking for distant Ovens relatives when I was about 11 years old (when we were visiting Ireland).  John’s early years are undocumented (at least I can’t find anything).  I share a small amount of DNA with James Ovens’ descendants.  Since nothing else has produced results, I’m trying to find out if James could be John’s brother, cousin or other relative.  I live in hope of eventually finding proof that William and Elizabeth were John’s parents.

Sandra, thank you for trying!  Lisa

Added:  Our Ovens ancestors passed down first names.  James Ovens gave his children very different first names than my Ovens families.  I’m hoping that James and his wife chose names from her side, or they and their descendants just didn’t want to carry on the tradition.

[RunKitty]

Have you tried contacting the Prince Edward County Archives?

https://www.pecarchives.org/

RK

[Lisa in California]

Hi RK.  Most of my Canadian ancestors lived in and around Toronto.  I did not know about the archives.  I will check that now.  Thank you so much!

[polarbear]

No luck with James either but a couple of other bits….

About Barbara…
You mentioned a last name Birney found in trees with no sources and I’m hoping this will give you one? Daughter Margaret Emily (M. E. in 1861 census?) apparently married a Charles Anderson in 1863. Her death cert from North Dakota USA in 1915 has her parents as James Ovens and Barbara Birney (image on ancestry).

I noticed that when Mary Ann (M. A. in 1861 census?) marries in 1863 she gives her birthplace as Ireland and appears to give Ireland as her birthplace in subsequent Canadian and US censuses. I don’t know anything about Irish records and their possible availabilty but wonder if trying to trace a Mary Ann back in Ireland might help with James, if you haven’t tried this already?

Anyway, food for thought.
PB

[Lisa in California]

About Barbara…
You mentioned a last name Birney found in trees with no sources and I’m hoping this will give you one?…

Thank you, PB!  You’ve proved me wrong, twice.     I actually did see the North Dakota certificate, but it was at the beginning of my search and I didn’t put two and two together before posting this topic.  After reading your post, I looked (a bit) at two of the family trees and just saw that one tree owner (“M”) includes the cert in Barbara Emily’s profile.  So, she did include her source.  Without your help, I don’t think I would have noticed the Birney reference.

I’ve not been especially lucky when searching Irish records but perhaps this time might be different.

Something that just occurred to me…years ago, I was communicating with another Ovens descendant - we couldn’t find our link even though both of our ancestors settled in Ontario around the same time (our ancestors had several occurrences in common).  I believe his ancestor was William Ovens; I will check my records to see if William could be related to James.

Also, “M” has been online recently (it’s disappointing when they haven’t been active for months).  After finding her tree, I decided to write to her as she does have a well put together tree.  We do not share DNA which isn’t too surprising, or, perhaps the tree is not for her ancestors.

Anyway, thank you for noticing Birney and for your help and suggestions!  I might find something helpful by contacting the archives, researching in Ireland and contacting M.

[eileenwilson]

Hey Lisa, I live about 45 minutes from the Prince Edward County Archives, if you need me go have a look in their collections.

[polarbear]

Happy to be able to help.