White / Whyte - Surname

My White ancestors were from Scotland and emigrated to Canada around 1820. They  used both spellings, White and Whyte and some descendants can now be found using both.

Me
>Harvey Gordon Berry, 1926 Syracuse, NY - 2000 Haines City, FL
>>Mary Leith Kelly, 1900 Calabogie, Ontario, Canada - 1970 Syracuse, NY (married Kimberly Berry)
>>>Isabella White, 1865 Watson's Corners, Ontario, Canada - 1951 Syracuse, NY (Married James Kelly)
>>>>James M White, 1824-1907, both Dalhousie, Ontario, Canada (Married Isabella Craig)
>>>>>John White, abt 1800 Hawick, Roxburgshire, Scotland - 1877 Dalhousie, Lanark, Canada.

Related posts

Craig - Adam / Craig - White Marriages
White - Kelly Marriage
Kelly - Berry Marriage
Eliza? Jane? Mary?
Where Were They 100 Years Ago?
A Large Piece of Family History
Canadian Roots
Nameless Faces
16 Great Grands
Matrilineal Line
Middle Name Mysteries
Caldwell and Leith Connections Found?

Caldwell and Leith Connections Found?

On Monday I wrote about some of my middle name mysteries. I had four names that I hoped might lead me back a generation; Hurcombe, Goodwin, Leith and Caldwell.

With those names in mind I started looking at my tree and searching online for new information. It wasn't until I went searching through files that were already on my computer that I found something. This is far from the first time that I've had the answer all along had I only re-looked at what I had. I guess this is a lesson that I'm just never going to learn!

Just to recap. James C Kelly was the son of Michael Kelly and Mary ____. James married Isabella White, the daughter of James M White and Isabella Craig. Isabella Craig was the daughter of John Craig and Agnes Adam. The children of James C Kelly and Isabella White were; James Hurcombe Kelly, Mabel Adam Kelly, Phillip Goodwin Kelly, Alexander Craig Kelly, Mary Leith Kelly, Gordon ____ Kelly, Isabelle Caldwell Kelly, Joseph _____ Kelly. (Is that enough Isabella's and James' for you?)


Barbara Griffith has done extensive research on the Adam family. She was kind enough to share her transcription of my great-grandfather, James M White's, obituary. At the time I wasn't specifically looking for references to the middle names of his grandchildren!

For a long time Mr. White had employment with the CALDWELL firm, and his name had often been mentioned in the tales of the old lumbering days on the Clyde River.

There may or may not be a family relationship to the Caldwell's so I won't cross the name off my list just yet but it is possible that Isabella Caldwell Kelly was named to honor her grandfather's business associate.

Also from Ms. Griffith's work was some information about James M White's sister daughter, Ellen White [edited to correct relationship]. Ellen married Robert Leith. From the information provided I was able to verify that Ellen White and Robert Leith were married at Knox Presbyterian Church, Montreal, Canada on 4 Apr 1883. They had four children, Isabella C Leith, Annie Rae Leith, John Gunn Leith and Briar May Leith. Robert Leith's mother was named Ann Rae so daughter Annie was named for her paternal grandmother. I'd bet that Isabella was named for her maternal grandmother, Isabella Craig White, and that her middle initial C was for Craig but so far I haven't been able to verify that. I have no idea if the middle names Gunn and May were somehow significant.

I got a little side tracked there. Isn't that always how it goes? Anyway, Ellen White Leith died 20 Mar 1899 which was just a little more than a year before Mary Leith Kelly was born. Was Mary named to honor her? Was there another connection to a family named Leith? Robert Leith lived in Outremont, Quebec, a fair distance from Dalhousie, Ontario so how did they meet? Always more questions! Another thought that I had was that while I know that the Craigs were from Paisley, Scotland, I do not know where the Whites were from. Could they have been from Leith?

Of the four names that I have now found connections to, all four connect back to Isabella White Kelly's side of the family. Will the other two names lead in that direction too or are Hurcombe and Goodwin connected to the Kelly side? I still do not know the maiden name of James C Kelly's mother, only that she was Mary and was from Ireland.

Middle Name Mysteries

When I first started exploring my family history there were certain names that jumped out at me and I was certain that they held clues that would lead me to previous generations. .

First there was Isaac Ashley Carlisle. He always went by Ashley, or occasionally I. Ashley so surely I must of had an Ashley ancestor back there somewhere. Not exactly. He was named for his father's brother-in-law, Isaac Ashley of Rochester, NY. He was extremely generous to the family and naming a child for him was simply a way of honoring him for what he'd done.

My grandmother's brother was named Leroy Eastwood Camfield. I struggled with my Camfield and Graham lines for years and was certain that Eastwood was a clue. I learned through the family letters that Mr. Eastwood was a business man in South Bend, Indiana that my great-grandfather admired.

But there has been one success. David Glover was the son of Henry Glover and Hannah Lewis. He named a son Lewis E. Glover and a daughter Hannah Lewis Glover. For his other children I only have middle initials except for my great-great-grandmother. Her name was Lousia Lambert Glover. I still have no idea if Lambert is a hint but I keep it in mind as I work on this line.

My grandfather was Kimberly Powell Berry. Not only is he the only male named Kimberly that I've come across but I'm stumped on the middle name Powell. Grandpa's siblings were Mabel Gertrude, Esther Lillian and Thomas David, nothing that seems to be a surname for any of them. For now grandpa's name remains a mystery.

My grandmother and most (maybe all) of her siblings had surnames as middle names.
The children of James C Kelly and Isabella White were:

1. James Hurcombe Kelly
2. Mabel Adam Kelly
3. Phillip Goodwin Kelly
4. Alexander Craig Kelly
5. Mary Leith Kelly
6. Gordon ____ Kelly
7. Isabelle Caldwell Kelly
8. Joseph _____ Kelly

Isabella White's mother was Isabella Craig and her mother was Agnes Adam.

I have lots of work to do on this section of my tree. I'm hoping that keeping a post-it on my computer with the names Hurcombe, Goodwin, Leith and Caldwell helps me fill in some of the blanks.

SNGF - Matrilineal Line

This week for our Saturday night fun, Randy has challenged us to list our matrilineal line. I did that not long ago with Faces of my mtDNA.

Randy also listed his father's matrilineal line so here is mine.

1. Harvey Gordon Berry, 1926 Syracuse, NY - 2000 Haines City, FL
2. Mary Leith Kelly, 1900 Calabogie, Ontario, Canada - 1970 Syracuse, NY. Married Kimberly Powell Berry.
3. Isabella White, 1865 Ontario, Canada - 1951 Syracuse, NY. Married James C Kelly.
4. Isabella Craig, 1826 Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland - 1908 Dalhousie, Lanark, Ontario, Canada. Married James M. White.
5. Agnes Adam, 1802 Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland - 1882 Dalhousie, Lanark, Ontario, Canada. Married John Craig.
6. Isobel McDougal, dates unknown, Scotland. Married James Adam.

Mary L Kelly had no daughters so the line did not continue with her.

Isabella White had one granddaughter, who also had a daughter.

Isabella Craig had two other daughters but I do not nelieve either of them had a daughter.

Agnes Adam - as far as I know she had just the one daughter but there may have been others.

Isobel McDougal had several daughters and I have not researched this line myself.

To my knowledge no one in my or my father's mtDNA line has had their DNA tested and there a currently no plans to do so.

James Graham etal to Robert S White - 1848

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Amanuensis Monday, hosted by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

I have been trying to transcribe some records in addition to the letters. This deed was found online in the Munice/Delaware County Digital Resource Library. I found this deed confusing in the way it references Margaret Doughty Horner as being under age and the deed won't be executed until she becomes of age.

I believe the land was part of the estate of Littleton Doughty. Susan Clark had been his wife and was now remarried. Elizabeth Graham and Margaret Horner his daughters.


Know all men by there presents that we, James M. Graham, Elizabeth Ann Graham, Joseph Horner, Margaret Sarah Horner and Susan Clark of (Delaware County and State of Indiana), are held and firmly bound unto Robert S. White of said County in the sum of three hundred and thirty dollars lawful money to be paid to the said Robert White his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns for the payment where of well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 10th day of February A. D. 1848.
The condition of the above obligation is such, that if the above bound James M. Graham, Elizabeth Ann Graham, Joseph Horner, Margaret Sarah Horner and Susan Clark, shall as soon as Margaret Sarah Horner is of lawful age make, execute, and acknowledge a deed of conveyance such as will be suffient to convey and confirm to the said Robert S. White, his heirs or assigns in fee simple clear of all incumbrances of any kind, the following described Real Estate wits: the North West quarter of the South __st quarter of Section No Twenty eight in Township No Twenty one North of Range No ten, East. Containing forty acres more or less, and until such deed shal be executed do permit and suffer said Robert S. White his heirs or assigns, peaceably and quietly to hold and enjoy the above described tract of land, then the above obligation is to be void and of none effect, otherwise to be and remain in full force and ____ in __.

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Josiah Williams

James M. Graham (seal)
Elizabeth A Graham x her mark (seal)
Joseph C Horner (seal)
Margaret S Horner (seal)
Susannah Clark (seal)

For value recieved, I, Robert S. White, do hereby assign over and transfer all my right, title, interest and claim in and to the within title bond to John Williams. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, together with Lovina White, my wife, in testimony that she relinquishes her right and title to Dower in the premises therein named, has also set her hand and seal, this 6th day of March 1848.
Robert S. White (seal)
Lovina White x her mark (seal)

State of Indiana, Delaware County. S.S. I, Job Swain, one of the Justices of the Peace of said County; do hereby certify that the above named Robert S White and Lovina White came personally before me, and acknowledged the forgoing instrument of writing to be their voluntary act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned also, Lovina White the above named wife of the said Robert S White, who being by examined privately, seperate and apart from, and without the hearing of her said husband and the full contents and purport of the foregoing instrument by me made known, she acknowledged that she voluntarily executed the same of her own free will and acord without any coersion and compultion from her husband. In witness of which, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 7th day of March 1848.
Job Swain J.P. (seal)

SNGF - 16 Great Grands

Randy's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun for this week:

Here is your SNGF assignment for the evening (if you choose to accept it - this is not stump the genealogist or even Mission Impossible):

1) List your 16 great-grandparents in pedigree chart order. List their birth and death years and places.

2) Figure out the dominant ethnicity or nationality of each of them.

3) Calculate your ancestral ethnicity or nationality by adding them up for the 16 - 6.25% for each (obviously, this is approximate).

4) If you don't know all 16 of your great-grandparents, then do it for the last full generation you have.

5) Write your own blog post, or make a comment on Facebook or in this post.

Listing them all out shows me where I have some holes to fill.

16. Thomas David Berry was born 8 Sept 1821 in Blockley, Worcestershire, England and died 4 May 1907 in or near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. On 4 August 1851, in Blockley Parish, Worcestershire, England, he married......

17. Jane Rawlings was born 8 September 1830 in Bourton on the Hill, Gloucestershire, England and died 20 September 1914 in or near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

18. James Hollington was married 7 August 1845 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and died 31 August 1923 Nepean, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. On 27 April 1868, in St Mathews, Quebec City, Canada, he married..........

19. Sarah Ann Ross was born 1848 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and died 21 June 1882 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada.

20. Michael Kelly was born about 1822 in Ireland and died between 1870 and 1880 most likely in Adams, Jefferson, NY. It appears he may have immigrated to Canada prior to moving to the USA. It is not know when or where he married..........

21. Mary is missing her maiden name! She was born Aug 1830 and died in 1901 or 1902 in Adams, Jefferson, NY.

22. James M. White was born November 1824 in Dalhousie Twp, Lanark, Ontario, Canada and died 20 May 1907 in Dalhousie Twp, Lanark, Ontario, Canada. On 31 December 1855, at at the Manse of Dalhousie by James Geggie, Minister, ............

23. Isabella Craig was in 1826 in Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland. She died 1 October 1908 in Watson's Corners, Dalhousie Twp, Lanark, Ontario, Canada.

24. Daniel Carlisle was born 22 September 1797 in Westmoreland, Cheshire, New Hampshire and died 31 March 1872 in Buchanan, Berrien, Michigan. He married 1st Louisa Glover. He married 2nd, Hannah Lewis Glover, sister of Louisa.

25. Louisa Lambert Glover was born 24 December 1801 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts and died 1851 in Cass, Michigan.

26/28. Michael Camfield was born 15 March 1822 in Germany and died 18 February 1899 in Batavia, Branch, Michigan. About 1845 in Onondaga, New York he married.........

27/29. Sarah Ann Wisner was born 9 October 1817 in Onondaga, New York and died February 1912 in Buchanan, Berrien, Michigan.

Pearl Camfield married her cousin Ashley Carlisle which explains the above double entries. However Sarah Ann Camfield was actually the adopted daughter of Michael Camfield and Sarah Ann Wisner. I have very little hope of ever learning who her biological parents but I've had fun trying.

30. James M. Graham was born about 1825 in Ohio and died 28 October 1897 in Hoyle, Woods, OK. On 22 Aug 1844, in Delaware, Indiana he married Elizabeth Doughty. She divorced him in 1855.

31. Elizabeth Doughty was born 1826 in Fort Comfort, Virginia and died 05 Jan 1880 in Niles, Berrien, Michigan.


My ancestors came from Great Britain with just a few exceptions. Michael Camfield was from Germany and there is a drop or two of Dutch and Swiss ancestry in the 1600's.

For nationalities I have 5 from the USA, 3 from Canada, 2 from England, 2 from Ireland, 1 from Scotland and 1 from Germany plus 2 unknown.

Tamerson L Carlise, Feb 26, 1899

In this letter from Tamerson to Anna, Tamerson is missing her mother and wishing that Grandma was doing better and could come home with Anna.

She also mentions having gone to her friend Cora's for ice cream and cake, and that another friend, Edna, also went.

Anna's son, Frank was set to Cuba during the Spanish American War and Tamerson writes:

Frank sent us 11 pictures of different places in Cuba.

Jennie Churchil has got three letters from Frank in the past week and he sent her a piece of the Maine. Would you like to have us send you the letter he sent us?

She also talks about the weather and not attending Sunday school due to the mud.

We are having a regular flood here in some places the roads are so bad that the water goes from one house to another in large puddles and the water goes up to the hubbs on the wheels of wagons and this morning when Tambling's Milk wagon went in front of McKays the water got inside of the wagon for it is so low.

I have not located Jennie Churchill on the 1900 census. I don't know what her relationship was to Frank at the time.

On the 1900 census I find a Cora L White, born February 1889 but I'm not certain this is the Cora mentioned.

Based on the 1900 census, Edna is most likely Edna A Kean, born August 1887, the daughter of widow Florence, born June 1855. They lived on Moccasin Ave, Buchanan which would was the block that the Carlisle house backed up to. (Kean's lived just a couple of house from Jay Glover, a Carlisle cousin.)

Claude B McKay, widower, born December 1867, lived on Cauyga St and he had a daughter named Edna who was born June 1893.

In 1900 Robert S. Tambling, born April 1852, was listed as a farmer and dairyman.

For more see:
Camfield Family Letters
Descendants of Sarah Ann Wisner
Michael Camfield


Carlisle, Tamerson Louisa (Buchanan, MI) to “Dear Mother”
[Anna Camfield Carlisle]. Letter. 26 February 1899 Digital Images 1 - 2.
Privately held by Apple, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,]
Snowville, New York. 2009.
[Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, Jan - Mar 1899,
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. 2008.]

Nameless Faces

I have several pictures from my father's family that give very few clues as to who they are of. I'm not even certain if they are from his maternal or paternal line.

A pretty girl. Was she a Kelly? Or perhaps a Hollington or Berry?


Is this the same girl?
My grandmother, Mary Kelly Berry or her sister, Isabelle?
I see myself in this picture so I lean towards Mary.


And who is this very unhappy looking soul?

On the back, written in pencil and hard to see, is "Age 81". On the front is Sproule & O'Connor, Ottawa, Can. The first time I find Sproule and O'Connor listed together in the Ottawa City Directory is 1896.

Edited 7 January 2008 - Janet Isles was kind enough to send me a corrected link for the city directories above and some additional information.

I have two books that I checked for you that go beyond the coverage of what is online. They are derivative sources but are well done.

Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario Photographers List, vol 1 1851-1900 and vol. 2 1901-1925 Milton, ON : Global Heritage Press, 2002 (2nd ed.)

Vol 1
p. 59
Sproule & O’Connor 1896-1900

Vol. 2
p. 46
Sproule & O’Connor 1901-1903

In 1903 Harry W. Sproule is shown listed separately 1903-1908.

So it looks like the photo was taken between 1896 and 1903.

Being from Ottawa it must be from my father's side of the family. I am guessing that it is a direct line ancestor but it could be an aunt. I feel I can eliminate all those that didn't live to 81 years. Grandma Lottie only lived to 68 and her mother only to 34. Sarah Lower Ross made to to only 72. Ann Berry made it to 81 but she died in the UK at Shipston Union Workhouse, so we can eliminate her.

So I still have six possibilities that lived to age 81.

1. Agnes Adam Craig 1802-1882 Dalhousie Twp.
   
2. Isabella Craig White 1826-1908 Dalhousie Twp
3. Isabella White Kelly 1865-1951 Syracuse, lived Ottawa
4. Eliza Ewing Hollington 1815-1897 Ottawa
5. Jane Rawlings Berry 1830-1914 Ottawa
6. Mary Kelly 1830's-aft 1900, Adams, NY

Agnes Adam Craig died in 1882 and I don't believe that Sproule and O'Connor were working together that early so it is unlikely that this is a picture of her. *Janet also sent me Agnes' death information. She died 14 August 1882, so she was only 80 and her death date is well before 1896 so the picture is not of her.

I have many pictures of Isabella White Kelly and since she lived until 1951 I can safely eliminate her as a possibility.

Isabella White Kelly, year unknown

Isabella Craig White and Mary Kelly never lived in Ottawa as far as I know but I believe they both may have visited family there so I cannot totally eliminate them. *Based on the new information from Janet, Sproule & O'Conner worked together from 1896 to 1903. Isabella would have turned 81 in 1907 and Mary in 1911 so I can eliminate them.

Jane Rawlings Berry and Eliza Ewing Hollington lived near each other in Ottawa and are the most likely candidates. Eliza would have been 81 in 1896 when I first find Sproule and O'Connor together. Jane would have been 81 in 1911. I don't know if the photography studio was still open then. Are the glasses a clue? Two of Jane's grandson's, Thomas and Kimberly Berry, both wore glasses. They are the only descendants of hers that I have pictures of. Some of Eliza's descendants wore glasses and others did not. *So I can now eliminate Jane too. Leaving me with Eliza Ewing Hollington as the most likely candidate. This could of course be someone else, a great aunt perhaps.

For comparison here is a picture labeled Kim with Aunt, another mystery to be solved. Was this aunt a Hollington or a Berry?

Maybe someday I'll find a cousin that also has copies of these pictures, only their copies will be labeled!

This was written for the 9th edition of Smile For The Camera, Who Are You?"

These pictures have previously been highlighted at The Apple Doesn't Fall far From the Tree on 10 June 2006 and here at Apple's Tree on 7 February 2007.

Canadian Roots

My paternal ancestral tree has it's roots firmly planted in Canadian soil. My grandfather literally married the girl next door, both living on Metcalf St, Ottawa, Ontario. Shortly after their marriage in 1922 they moved to Syracuse, NY where my grandfather's uncle resided.

My grandfather, Kimberly Powell Berry, was born in Ottawa on 6 January 1900, the son of Joseph Berry and Charlotte T. K. Hollington. Joseph was born 22 May 1871 in Blockley, Worcestershire, England and emigrated to Canada with his family when just a toddler in 1874, most likely with the aid of one of the emigration societies of the time. The Berry's would have been in the Agricultural Laborours Class in England so their economic and social status was greatly improved by their move across the ocean. I have written more about the reasons for their move to Canada here.

left: Kim Berry c.1935, right: Joseph Berry date unk.

Charlotte Hollington was born 3 October 1875 in Ottawa to James Hollington and Sarah Ann Ross. James was born 7 Aug 1845 in Quebec City to James Hollington (born about 1805 in England) and Eliza Ewing (born April 1815 in Ireland). Family lore states that James, Sr. was in the military and sent to Canada, where he stayed. I have no idea where in Ireland Eliza was from or why she left for Canada. Sarah Ann Ross was born 1848 in Quebec City to Richard Ross (born 1821 Kent, England) and Sarah Ann Lower (born 17 September 1823, Sussex, England). Again, I have no idea when or why they moved to Canada. I don't even know in which country they married.


My grandmother, Mary Leith Kelly, was born 6 June 1900 in Calabogie, Renfrew County, Ontario, the daughter of James Kelly and Isabella White. I know very little about the Kelly's. James was born 18 March 1856 in Adams, Jefferson County, NY, the son of Michael and Mary Kelly. His eldest brother, John, born about 1854, listed his place of birth as Canada on the 1880 census. My best guess is that Michael and Mary left Ireland for Canada at the time of the potato famine, stayed a short while and then moved on to northern New York where they remained. I do not in which country Michael and Mary met and married and I have few clues as to Mary's maiden name. I have no idea why James moved north to Ontario. Does my grandmother's middle name, Leith, hold a clue?

Isabella White was born 6 April 1865 in Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario, the daughter of James M. White and Isabella Craig (born 1826 Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland). James M. White was born November 1824, Dalhousie Township, Lanark County, Ontario, the son of John born abt 1806 in Scotland. I have not worked much on these lines. I have yet to discover who was the mother of James or why the White and Craig families emigrated to Canada.





This was written for the first edition of the Canadian Genealogy Carnival hosted by Looking4Ancestors. Since my father's death in 2000 I have not worked very often or very hard to fill in the gaps about my Canadian ancestors, preferring instead to research my maternal lines while Mom is still here to enjoy the journey with me. I do still find little gems now and then, usually when looking for something else. Hopefully this new Carnival will inspire me to dig just a little bit more each month.

A Large Piece of Family History

Until I was ten I was a very frequent guest at my grandparents home on Rider Ave in Syracuse, NY. My room was the small bedroom at the top of the stairs, the windows on the right side in the picture. Others may have occassionally stayed in that room but generally guests were given the larger back bedroom. There was a twin size bed, a small dressing table, a free standing closet, half of the set of barrister book cases and a bureau that held extra linens.

The bureau had a history. I was always told that it was brought over from Scotland to Canada by my ancestors and that it had been a wedding gift. As with all family traditions I'm sure there is some truth there.

The bureau as it looks in my home today.

John Craig was born in Scotland 20 April 1802. On 19 December 1825 he married Agnes Craig who was born 2 April 1802 Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland. They emigrated to Canada sometime between 1826, when daughter Isabella was born in Paisley, and 1838 when their son William was born in Canada.

Isabella Craig married James M. White on 31 December 1855 in Dalhousie Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada. James was born November 1824 in Dalhousie Twp.

Scan of a photo copy of the marriage certificates.
Location of original documents unknown.

Top:
This is to certify that James White, Lumborer and Isabella Craig, Spinster both of the Township of Dalhousie, were married at the Manse of Dalhousie by James Geggie, Minister
Given this thirty first day of December One thousand Eight hundred & fifty five

Alex McNicol } Witnesses
Marion Park

Bottom:
Low Church Parish, Paisley, Dec 19, 1825.
That John Craig and Agnes Adam both in this Parish, have been regularly proclaimed in order to marriage, and no ojection made is certified

John Craig and Agnes Adam both in the Low Church Parish, Paisley
having produced a Certificate of Proclaimation of Banns, were married this 25th day of Dec 1825 by me, ........., Minister

So was the bureau a wedding gift to John and Agnes Craig that they brought with them on a ship from Scotland? Or was it a wedding gift to James and Isabella White and the part about the bureau being brought from Scotland a nice embellishment? Is it possible that it was a wedding gift to James and Isabella White's daughter, Isabella?

Isabella White was born 6 April 1865 in Ontario, Canada, most likely in Dalhousie Twp. She married James Kelly 15 July 1891 in Ottawa, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada. James was born 18 March 1856 in Adams, Jefferson County, NY. I feel fairly certain that she owned the bureau at some point.

Scan of photocopy. Location of original document unknown.

Marriage Certificate

I hereby certify that on the 15th day of July 1891
the rite of Holy Matrimony was solemnized by me, by
authority of Licence between James Kelly
of the city of Ottawa in the County of Carleton Province
of Ontario Dominion of Canada, and Isabella White
of the city of Ottawa in the County of Carleton Province
of Ontario Dominion aforesaid.

Witness my hand at Ottawa this 15th day of July 1891
In presence of Jennie McCormick
Henry Bell

(I can't read the name)
Officiating Minister
#399 registered at Ottawa

Isabella White Kelly 1949.
I'm not sure if this was taken in Ottawa or Syracuse.

The next owners of the bureau were my grandparents, Kimberly and Mary (Kelly) Berry. Kimberly Powell Berry was born 6 January 1900 Ottawa, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada and Mary Leith was born 6 Jun 1990 in Calabogie, Refrew County, Ontario, Canada. At some point Mary moved with her mother to Ottawa and Mary and Kim lived next to each other at 493 and 491 Metcalf Ave where they were married on 12 April 1922. I believe that the bureau was given to them at the time of their marriage. Shortly after their wedding they relocated to Geddes,Onondaga County, NY near where Kim's uncle, Daniel Holligton, and his cousins lived.

Scan of photocopy. Location of original unknown.

Certificate Of Marriage

Certify that I solemnized the marriage of:
Kimberly Powell Berry
and Mary Leith Kelly
Ottawa
Province of Ontario
on the 12th day of April 1922
In the presence of
Witness Thomas David Berry
Address 491 Metcalf St
Witness May Jarvis
Address 18 Fourth Avenue
Name A. F. Pollack
Address 138 Lewis St.
Denomination Congregational

Kimberly P Berry and Mary L Kelly.
It is thought that this is their wedding portrait.

During the Depression my grandmother hired someone to add the ivory diamonds. I'm guessing that the drawer pulls were changed at that time as well. Kim and Mary moved to the Rider Ave. house in April 1936.

Grandma died 10 October 1970 and my overnight visits ended. The bureau remained in the little front bedroom until Grandpa died 1 August 1984. My father was the executor of the estate and he gave the bureau to me telling me that that was what grandma had wanted. He was disgusted that grandma had had the ivory diamonds added as he felt it decreased it's value. To my mind it may have decreased the monetary value but it increased the sentimental value. The bureau has moved with me 5 times so far and I use it everyday. I don't plan to part with it any time soon but it is my hope that it will eventually find a new home with another female descendant of my grandmother's.

So how old is it? Who were the original owners? I may never know. I know very little about how to judge the age and I have never had it appraised. It is my guess that it originally belonged to James and Isabella Craig Kelly because I don't believe that such a large piece would have accompanied the family on the journey from Scotland c1830 and family oral history is that it has been passed down through the family.

Where Were They 100 Years Ago?

Lisa, writing at 100 Years in America, asked where our ancestors were in 1908. It took me a bit to look it up and in some cases I don't know exactly but I have a pretty good idea. In one case I'm not sure if one great-grandmother was still living or not. In researching this I was surprised at how little I have written on these ancestors!

My maternal grandfather, Daniel Michael Carlisle, would have been 23 and was living with his parents, Isaac Ashley and Sarah Ann (Camfield) Carlisle in the Carlisle family home on Main St, Buchanan, MI.

My maternal grandmother, Pearl Vivian Camfield, was 22. In 1900 she was living with her parents, Joseph Harrison and Arazina Rose (Graham) Camfield in Portage Twp, St. Joseph Co, IN. By 1910 her parents had seperated and she was living with her mother and sister, Ruby, in South Bend, IN. In 1908 Joseph Camfield was also living in South Bend, IN. So I'm not certain what the family dynamics were in 1908 but they all were living in (or very near) South Bend, IN.

My great-great-grandmother, Sarah Ann (Wisner) Camfield, age 90, was living with her son Joseph in 1910 and my best guess is that she would have been with him in 1908 as well, although she could easily have been living with her daughter Sarah Ann in Buchanan.

My paternal grandfather, Kimberly Powell Berry, age 8, and his brother, Thomas David Berry, age 10, would have been living with their mother, Charlotte Teresa Kate (Hollington) Berry, age 32, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. My great-grandfather, Joseph Berry, died in 1903 and Charlotte didn't remarry until 1909. I don't know if they were living with other family members or what section of Ottawa they were living in.

My great-great-grandmother, Jane (Rawlings) Berry, age 88, was most likely living with her daughter and son-in-law, Caroline and Arthur Wilson, on Nelson St, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

My great-great-grandfather, James Hollington, age 63, was living with his second wife, Mary Jane (Dudley) Hollington, on Nelson St, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

My paternal grandmother, Mary Lieth (Kelly) Berry, age 8, would have been living with her parents, James and Isabella (White) Kelly in Ontario, Canada. Sometime between 1901 and 1911 the family moved from Lanark to Ottawa. James' mother, Mary (?) Kelly died sometime between 1900 and 1910. If she was still living in 1908 she would have been living in Adams, Jefferson Co, NY.

My great-great-grandmother, Isabella (Craig) Kelly died in 1908 at the age of 92, in Dalhousie Twp, Lanark Co, Ontario, Canada.

Eliza? Jane? Mary?

I ran across the original of this photograph today and looked at it a little more closely. On the back, written in pencil and hard to see, was Age 81. On the front is Sproule & O'Connor, Ottawa, Can.


Being from Ottawa it must be from my father's side of the family. I am guessing that it is a direct line ancestor but it could be an aunt. I felt I could eliminate all those that didn't live to 81 years. Grandma Lottie only lived to 68 and her mother only to 34. Sarah Lower Ross made to to only 72. Ann Berry made it to 81 but she died in the Shipston Union Workhouse, so we can eliminate her.

Agnes Adam Craig 1802-1882 Dalhousie Twp
Eliza Ewing Hollington 1815-1897 Ottawa
Isabella Craig White 1826-1908 Dalhousie Twp
Jane Rawlings Berry 1830-1914 Ottawa
Mary Kelly 1830's-aft 1900, wish I knew more about her, I don't know if she ever lived in Ottawa
Isabella White Kelly 1865-1951 Syracuse, lived Ottawa

I can probably eliminate Agnes Craig and Isabella White because they did not live in Ottawa but they could have traveled there to see family and had a picture taken.

I have no reason to think that Mary Kelly lived in Ottawa but she, too, could have visited there and had a picture taken. Her son, James, lived in Ottawa and I can't locate her after the 1900 census.

I have pictures of Isabella Kelly so I know it isn't her.

That leaves:
Eliza Ewing Hollington 1815-1897 Ottawa
or
Jane Rawlings Berry 1830-1914 Ottawa

The clothing makes me think it must be Eliza taken in 1896, which would have been the year that Sproule and O'Connor started their photography business (or at least the first year they were listed together in the city directory.) But it is possible it was taken in 1911 and is Jane.

Any thoughts? Do any of these others resemble her? I've never been good at making facial comparisons.

Kelly - Berry Marriage

Mary Leith Kelly, daughter of James Kelly and Isabella White, married Kimberly Powell Berry, 12 April 1922, Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. Witnesses were Thomas David Berry, brother of Kim, and his fiancee May Jarvis.




Edited Oct. 7, 2007
This picture of Mary and Kim is thought to be their wedding picture. I have posted this picture before but felt it should be added here as well.

My mother just recently told me that the minister that performed the ceremony, A.F. Pollack, was a friend of theirs who did missionary work. That was all she could remember my grandparents saying about their wedding. Kim literally married the girl next door. His family lived at 493 Metcalf.

White - Kelly Marriage

Isabella White, daughter of James White and Isabella Craig, married James Kelly,15 July 1891, Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada.

Craig - Adam / Craig - White Marriages

John Craig and Agnes Adam married in Scotland in 1825. Their daughter, Isabella, married James White 30 years later in Dalhousie, Lanark, Onatrio, Canada. This is a scan of a photocopy that my grandparents had. I do not know who has the originals.


Top:
This is to certify that James White, Lumborer and Isabella Craig, Spinster both of the Township of Dalhousie, were married at the Manse of Dalhousie by James Geggie, Minister
Given this thirty first day of December One thousand Eight hundred & fifty five

Alex McNicol } Witnesses
Marion Park

Bottom:
Low Church Parish, Paisley, Dec 19, 1825.
That John Craig and Agnes Adam both in this Parish, have been regularly proclaimed in order to marriage, and no ojection made is certified

John Craig and Agnes Adam both in the Low Church Parish, Paisley
having produced a Certificate of Proclaimation of Banns, were married this 25th day of Dec 1825 by me, ........., Minister