Great Grandparent’s Family Picture

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Series

Prompt: Favorite Picture

Back Row: Frederick, Jane, Robert Elizabeth, Annie, Catherine
Front Row: Margaret, Millicent, Frederic, Edith

The picture I am referring to this week is one of my Great Grandparent’s family. When I first saw this picture I was enthralled by all my Grand Aunts and Uncles and of course my Grandfather’s young age. It was hard for me to imagine these people being as young as they were since I only knew them as being “old.” I knew my Grandfather Frederick and Grand Uncle Robert since he did live in the same community I grew up in and I had met three of my grand Aunts Millie, Annie and Edith

I can remember looking at the picture and thinking about each one and what they were like, what kind of life they led, and who were in their families. Unfortunately, I was too shy of a kid to ask anyone and only picked up bits and pieces that I overheard or the occasional story someone would tell. The most intriguing was that story of my Great Grandfather Frederic Daniels, and this is what I learned.

Frederic Daniels was born on 28 April 1848 in Sotteville-Les-Rouen, France. This was during the years his father John was working on building the railways in France. I am not sure if they left France directly to Canada or if they went back to England first but they found their way to the Hamilton, Ontario area sometime after 1851 and John began working on the railway building there. According to oral family history, John died in Copetown when the engine he was driving went down in the quicksand. John’s wife Jane died a few months later, of what they called a broken heart, and the children were split up into different homes. Frederic went to the Hamilton Orphans Asylum 30 May 1854 at six years of age.

One year later Frederic was taken to live with Mr. Robert McDonald of Valens, Ontario. Mr. McDonald and his wife raised Frederic to adulthood, and I believe that Frederic took over the family farm. Frederic married Margaret Clark Dalziel, 21 September 1872 and they had a family of eight, six girls and two boys. Frederic died 30 May 1908 from cancer according to his daughter Jane. He is interred in the Kirkwall Presbyterian Cemetery in Kirkwall, Ontario.

Thank you for joining my search!

Dennis

Credit for this series to Amy Johnson Crow Certified Genealogist