In my last post I mentioned James Adams, the father of Isabella Elsie Adams. He is a shadowy father-figure who died when his children were quite young. Who was he?
James was an Irish immigrant, who by 1853 was in Canada, likely Cornwall, Ontario based on his daughter Catherine Adams’ birth as recorded in the 1861 Census. We also can surmise that he was born around 1829.
James Adams in the 1861 Cornwall, Ontario census
His family appears on the next page:
1861 Census for Cornwall, Ontario – next page after James Adams
We may have a sighting of him across the border in the United States in the 1851 Census, as a bachelor laborer:
This may be our James Adams in 1851 – before children. Franklin County is just across the river from Cornwall, Ontario.
But by the 1871 Census, he was dead:
1871 Census of Mary Adams and children, including Isabella Adams. Mary is listed as a widow.
Based on the birth of James Jr., we can surmise that James Sr. was still alive as late as 1863.
The real question is, as an immigrant ancestor – where in Ireland did he come from? Who were his parents? When did he arrive? These are all difficult, but not necessarily impossible, questions to answer.
Climbing the Family Trees (& Looking for the Nuts!) 