Josiah Elliot's Immigration Story

 Anyone who has used the incredible genealogical resource FamilySearch also knows that it has some drawbacks--some of its billions of pages of documents have yet to be indexed, which is an expensive and time-consuming process.  I recently learned, when listening to the podcast Ancestors and Algorithms, that FamilySearch has been using AI experimentally to transcribe these records and allow us to search across the transcriptions.  It's not perfect -- but even at this early stage I'm seeing records I would never have found on my own.  One of them is a letter written by Josiah Elliot, son of Charles Elliot and Lydia Bailey, and brother of my immigrant ancestor Robert Elliot.  It's the kind of document that is rich in detail and tells a story I would never have been able to guess at from the usual immigration paperwork.  It's got a tear in it  but I'm going to transcribe what I can  here.

District of Gore

Dundas Upper Canada 

Janry 5,1829

To His Excellency,

Sir John Colborne, York, Upper Canada

Your Excellency will I trust excuse the Liberty I take in addressing you as the situation of my family humbly inspires me with hopes that something may be done by your Interest to save us from actual want--I arriv'd with my wife and eight children at York on the fourth of June last and Presented my Letter of recommendation to Sir P. Maitland from R.H. Gore Esq. (of the firm of Gore and Greenwood army agents):  Mr Chief Justice Sewell and Sir Noel Hill & etc.  From whence we proceeded to this place in hopes of something occuring during the summer by the interest of the Governor to give me employment in some way for the benefit of my dear family having his assurance to that Effect in the first vacancy that occured -- when my humble abilities might be employed. Unfortunately, on our arrival in Dundas, we were attacked with ague -- Fever -- and Dystentry -- which has lasted thru the summer and autumn - and altho it Pleased God to spare our Lives, yet the effects in our constitutions, will I fear be long felt -- being all ill we had not the power of assisting each other -- and the expense of procuring medical assistance with necessarys -- has exhausted my little capital -- before I can engage in anything for the support of my family -- I have a perfect knowledge of the Malting and Brewing business, Gardening and English Agriculture - and being a good accountant. Sh'd be happy to get into any office or Situation to save my family from want.  Major Hillyer informed me of the late Governor's Intention to assist me as soon as he could. But his removal has now put it out of his power, and I hope and trust your being Plac'd in his situation will enable you to ...(piece torn out of paper) I came from Hayes in Middlesex, London and was well known to Mr. Gore many years.  I was recommended to the brewing here but have not the means of Pursuing it.  Pray forgive this intrusion on your time and patience and let my dear family plead my excuse. I am in the greatest humility your Excellency's servant at Command. (signed) Josiah Elliot P.S. Mssrs. Jos. & Geo. Rolphe M.P. living here are acquainted with my Situation. 

Citation:  "Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3WG-Z88V?view=fullText : Jul 16, 2026), image 1267 of 1611; Upper Canada. Provincial Secretary's Office. Image Group Number: 008600088

I find this so culturally interesting -- apparently this is how some people found work in the connected world of the "family compact". In case you are wondering who the people in his letter are, he is writing to Sir John Colborne was the new Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, having stepped into the position in August 1828.  Sir P. Maitland was Sir Peregrine Maitland, who was Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada before Colborne's taking over the position.  Chief Justice Sewell was Jonathan Sewell, who was Chief Justice of Lower Canada (Quebec) from 1808 to 1838.  I don't know who R.H. Gore was, but perhaps related to Sir Francis Gore, who was no longer in Upper Canada by that time but had been Lieutenant Governor from 1806-1817. Sir Noel Hill was Sir Thomas Noel Hill who was deputy adjutant-general in Canada from 1827-1830.

Josiah is basically presenting his resume here to the highest government official he can find in the hopes of saving his family from ruin after a disastrous introduction to Upper Canada.  It's a miracle that his family all survived.  The timing catches my eye-- he arrived in Dundas shortly after June 1827.  His brother Robert Elliot brought his family over and arrived in Quebec in September 1827 and made their way to Dundas from Quebec sometime in the fall.  For some reason I had always assumed that Josiah had joined Robert in Canada, but it looks like Robert was joining Josiah.  

I don't know if this letter helped Josiah in any way.  I know he eventually became a merchant in Woodstock, Ontario, and his family did not become destitute.  

Family Pictures Found on the Internet Archive

My husband discovered some family pictures on the Internet Archive in the Kilgour family archives.  A few of them are of people I've never seen photos of before, so that's very exciting!  

Here's an undated picture of John Galloway Scott, son of Thomas Chalmers Scott.  I have seen a painting of him as an older gentleman, but in this photo he appears to be of early middle age. Are those sideburns or a beard?  I can't decide.  They are quite extraordinary.  

His eyes look very similar to my mother-in-law's.  They are beautifully expressive.  

Here is a picture of Sophia Oliphant, Daughter of David Oliphant and Sophia Watt, wife of William Elliot.  It is annotated "Grandmother Elliot".   She looks pensive.  

Here's a picture which was taken by D.C. Butchart, Toronto.  The annotation reads "Mrs. Wm. Elliot nee (Mary Oliphant) Born St. Andrews Scotland about 1804 aged 40, 50, 60, 70?"  It  is hard to tell how old she is--her clothing makes her appear older.  

Here is a picture where she genuinely does appear to be older.  The annotation here reads "Mrs Wm. Elliot nee Mary Oliphant Sister of William and David Oliphant".  

Here is a photo of Cynthia Jane Elliot (1854-1931), daughter of William Elliot and Mary Oliphant.  

The photo was taken by Notman & Fraser, Toronto.  There is an inscription on the back, partially illegible, which reads, "From ? Dear ? a Happy New Year, Dec. 1879, Jane Elliot, Toronto".  I have seen her referred to as "Janie" in family documents.  

Here's another photo of Cynthia Jane by the same photographers.  She appears to be roughly the same age as in the other photo, but she is wearing a different outfit so it's not the same sitting.  

This one is annotated "Cynthia Jane Elliot cousin of Sophia Oliphant".  

And here's a  picture of Cynthia Jane, this one taken in New York. An inscription on the back reads "With cousin Jannie's Love, Cynthia Jane Elliot".  

This one is unfortunately faded.  But!  It was taken in Paris!

I'm not sure what delectable item she's holding -- a hat or a purse?  It's got fabric flowers and a ribbon.  Who wouldn't go shopping in Paris?  The photo is marked with the name and address of the studio,  Atelier de Eugène Delannoy, 8, Faubourg Saint-Martin, 8, Paris."  It is annotated "Miss C. J. Elliot, Aunt Janie".  

I loved finding this childhood photo of Cynthia Jane. Look at that off-the-shoulder dress!  Very chic.  

Here is Harriet Rose Elliot, daughter of William Elliot and Mary Oliphant.

 

And another picture of Harriet Rose, annotated "Hattie Elliot (Harriet Elliot Staynor) sister of Sophia and Cynthia".  

Here's a full-body photo of Harriet Rose.  That is some outfit--it looks like a coat more than a dress.  

This is a picture of Robert Watt Elliot, son of William Elliot and Mary Oliphant, husband of Catherine Anne Scott.  It is annotated "For Sophy Oliphant Robt. Elliot".  

Sophie Elliot would be his sister, Sophia Watt Elliot.  Here are some photos of Sophia. The first photo is by Richard Sarly Brooke, Dundas, Ontario, and is annotated "Sophia N. Watson".  The second photo is by E.J. Palmer, Toronto, Canada West and is annotated "Sophia Elliot Watson".  The third is by an unknown photographer and is annotated simply "Mrs. Watson".  The fourth photo is annotated "Sophia Elliot Watson", photographer again unknown.  It looks to me as if she is relatively young in the first photo (which tracks with her being in Dundas, before her family moved to Toronto) and older in the final picture.  

Here is a picture of Mary Elliot, wife of John Galloway Scott, and daughter of William Elliot and Mary Oliphant.  The annotation says that the child is unidentified but probably her son Arthur H. Scott.

Here are another two pictures of Mary Elliot, reading a book in one.  The annotation for the first photo is "Aunt Minnie"  The second photo is annotated "Mrs. J Scot (sic) Toronto".  

This is a real treasure trove.  There are many more relatives in the Kilgour family album, but for many of them I'll have to investigate the relationships.  Thanks to the person who posted these!

Portrait of Julia Norton or Amaryllis Andrews

 I was recently lucky enough to find this portrait for sale on ebay.  It is very small, possibly a calling card.  

Hmmm. As far as I know, Louisa Davis of Aylmer (wife of Adoniram J. Davis) was the daughter of William Norton and his wife Amaryllis Andrews.  Now I haven't seen her actual birth record, just an abstract, and it is possible that the A. in Julia A. Norton stands for Amaryllis, and she used her middle name instead of her first name, but none of the written records we have—including her gravestone—suggest that.

However, Louisa Davis does have a sister named Julia C. Norton. Her dates are 1822-1857, so she would have been 35 when she died. That’s far too young to be the person in this portrait.  Amaryllis lived until she was 72, dying in 1872. That fits the woman we see here much better. I’m  99% sure this is Amaryllis, and it’s lovely to know she was able to visit her daughter at least once. If anyone out there can confirm her identity, I’d love to hear from you!

Margaret Jackson’s Sister

 Ellen Jackson, sister of William Rutherford Senior’s wife Margaret Jackson, married in Montreal but ended up in Chicago. Here is a synopsis of her husband’s career.

From the book “Industrial Chicago, The Building Interests”, Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1891. 

Another Bland Family Sexton

I've come across another Bland sexton of Hammersmith.  Robert Bland, son of sexton James Bland, reveals that he serves the same post as his father in his marriage licence.  That would make Robert the fifth Bland to occupy the post.  

Source Citation

London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: DD/0746/02/003

Source Information

Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1936 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Original data: Church of England Parish Registers. London Metropolitan Archives, London.

Sword Cutlers in the Bland Family

The first sword cutler we know of in the Bland family is John Highlord Bland, brother of our ancestor Stephen Bland. John was born circa 1732 and died childless  in 1791.  We don’t know who he apprenticed with or when, but we do know he was sword cutler to King George III, so he must have been good. 

Here’s one of my favourite advertising artifacts, property of the British Museum, unfortunately not on display:

Isn’t it elegant? I love it. 

If you go to the website of the Royal Collection Trust and search for Bland & Foster swords, you can see some images.  Here's a sample of some of their work: 

A straight cavalry sword. Brass stirrup hilt with scrolled branches and scalloped shells. Fishskin grip bound with herringbone brass wire. Double-edged steel blade with matted central section. Black leather scabbard tooled with crowned GR monogram and three brass mounts.  Provenance:  Acquired from Bland and Foster.

Thomas Bland, son of Edward and Frances Bland of Hammersmith and probably a younger brother of John Highlord, also apprenticed to be a sword cutler. 

 This Indenture Witnesseth that Thomas Bland son of Edward Bland of Hammersmith in the County of Middlesex Clerk of Hammersmith aforesaid doth put himself apprentice to Sanders Davenport Citizen and Cutler of London…

The apprenticeship term is seven years and the fee is only five shillings, which seems very low. The document is dated March 17, 1758.  Thomas  was born in 1741, which would make him 17 when this apprenticeship began. Unfortunately he died fairly young, at the age of 44.

Here’s the source and some information on what this document signifies.

It would be great if we knew that John Highlord and Thomas worked together, but I don’t think they did. Thomas did not apprentice with John Highlord, and we know that John Highlord had a partner who was not Thomas (his name was Robert Foster). 

Stephen Bland was John Highlord Bland's brother. His son James, who was John Highlord Bland’s nephew, apprentices to be a cutler on October 7, 1789 with John Foster, who is to be paid ten pounds for the seven year apprenticeship. 

This Indenture Witnesseth that James Bland son of Stephen Bland of Hammersmith in the county of Middlesex Gardener doth put himself apprentice to John Foster Of Fetter Lane London Sword Cutler …

James ultimately leaves sword-making, either before or after his apprenticeship is complete, to become the Hammersmith Sexton after his father’s death in 1810. 

We don’t have an apprenticeship record for Edward Bland, but the book London Silver-Hilted Swords, Their Makers, Suppliers and Allied Traders, with Directory by Leslie Southwick (Royal Armouries, 2003)  tells us that Edward is another son of Stephen Bland (so would be a brother to James), was apprenticed to Thomas Foster, and later worked in Fetter Lane. 

On April 2, 1819, Edward's  son Stephen John Highlord Bland enters an apprenticeship with sword cutler Charles Matthews. Stephen John Highlord Bland would be John Highlord’s great-nephew and the third generation of this family to work as a sword cutler. 

This Indenture Witnesseth that Stephen John Highlord Bland son of Edward Bland of  Cow Cross Street West Smithfield  Sword Cutler doth put himself Apprentice to Charles Matthews of Kings Head Court Shoe Lane London Cutler, a Citizen and Goldsmith of London, to learn the art of the Cutler. 

Smithfield is in West London and is the site of a very old weekly livestock market which began in the 1100s and ran until Victorian times, thus the name Cow Cross Street where these Blands made their home. There is a history of this area and street on the British History Online website.  Curiously, the apprenticeship fee of five pounds is to be paid to Charles Matthews by “the Treasurer of Christ’s Hospital London”, which is apparently not an actual hospital but rather a school and orphanage.

 

And coming full circle, there is a John Highlord Bland working as a cutler at 2 Charterhouse Street, London, and listed in the 1865 and 1870 London Post Office Directories.  He's the son of Stephen John Highlord Bland and his wife Deborah Smithson, and he would represent the fourth generation of sword cutlers in this family.  

Edward’s Mysterious Marriage

 Did Edward Bland marry the same woman twice?  When I was looking for a record of his marriage to a woman named Hannah, this is what I found.

Here’s a close up of the names. Notice there is no detail about where they live or what Edward’s profession is. 

Fast-forward eighteen years, and the same database shows this. 

January 14, 1719. Edward Bland Widr & Gardner of Hammersmith and Hannah Every Spr. Ditto.

Hannah’s last name is actually indexed as Evry in the database, which is even more similar. Is this the same Edward? Is it the same Hannah?  It’s so strange.