William Sutherland's 1870 Emigration From Scotland

Calendar created with Family Tree Maker 2017; Edited to exclude living relatives

My daily genealogy practice since 2017 has been to create monthly calendars using my Family Tree Maker 2017 program that lists all of the births, marriages and deaths for the 1700 ancestors in my family tree.

Each day, I look at the ancestors listed on that particular day and I:

1. honour them by saying their name and then looking them up on my Ancestry Family Tree
2. review all of the information that I have for that ancestor on ancestry.ca
3. search for any new information on that ancestor (shaking "green leaves") that may have become available since the last time I checked
4. create an OTD ("On This Day") social media post on that ancestor to share with my extended family (see a recent example below)
5. create a blog post about an exciting new piece of information that I have found after doing number 1 and 2 above (like I am doing now for William Sutherland)

My 2nd great-uncle James Moynahan who was born in Maidstone, Ontario on Feb. 6, 1879

Above is an example of an "OTD"  that I recently created on February 6, 2018 for my 2nd great-uncle James Moynahan who was born in Maidstone, Ontario on Feb. 6, 1879. He married Miriam Bondy in 1903 and had three sons (Albert of Detroit and Norman & Lawrence of California)
http://moynahangenealogy.blogspot.ca/2016/02/52-ancestors-no-48-moynahan-bondy.html

William Sutherland

I had no idea when I began my "OTD" research for William Sutherland that I would uncover such a tragic story and, at the same time, find NEW information about my 2nd great-grandfather James Henry Allan Annal's emigration to Canada!

William Sutherland (born February 7, 1781 in Aberdeen, Scotland) is the father-in-law of my 3rd great-aunt Jemima Almina Annal (1846-1920) and, when I reviewed recent ancestry.ca hints for William, the 1870 New York City (NYC) passenger list (below) caught my attention!

The 1870 NYC Passenger List

Source:Ancestry.ca; Year: 1870; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Microfilm Roll: Roll 336; Line: 34; List Number: 1031

I found William Sutherland on the passenger list of the ship Columbia that arrived at the port of New York, New York from Glasgow, Scotland on November 5, 1870. On this New York Passenger list I also found more Sutherlands and one Annal! The names on the Passenger List were a bit confused and I have clarified them (in the order listed) below:

• William Sutherland (1781-1870)
• Mrs Sutherland; Barbara (Barron) Sutherland (1804-1898)
• James Sutherland (1850-1933) the son of William and Barbara Sutherland.
• James Annal (1849-1930) This is my 2nd great-grandfather James Henry Allan Annal
• Mrs Annal; Jemima Almina (Annal) Sutherland (1846-1920)
• Barbara Annal; (1870-1929) baby Barbara Sutherland only 8 months old when she made the crossing

 My 2x Great-Grandfather Annal Found 
On The S.S. Columbia

I had always wondered under what circumstances my 2nd great-grandfather James Henry Allan Annal made his way to Canada. I knew that he was a sailor all of his life and so I imagined that, on one of his many trips across the Atlantic, he had simply disembarked and made a new life for himself in Ontario, Canada but now I know he traveled (at twenty-two years of age) in steerage aboard the ship Columbia with his sister Jemima's in-laws the Sutherlands.

The Sutherland Family 

of Chatham, Ontario

The family of James and Jemima (Annal) Sutherland; Chatham, Ontario

The story of James Sutherland (1850-1933) found in The Commemorative biographical record of the county of Kent, Ontario (p 513)

For William's son James, the trip across the Atlantic was worthwhile because he went on to become a "prosperous farmer and leading citizen of Gore of Chatham, Lot 7, Concession 1".

Unfortunately, the crossing over the Atlantic proved fatal for his ninety-year-old father William Sutherland.

November 1870: William Sutherland's Ship

Arrived in New York City Nov. 5th and He Died Nov. 9th

The ship Columbia left Scotland on October 15, 1870  and arrived at the port of New York, New York on November 5, 1870 with six family members from the Sutherland and Annal families. On Wednesday morning, November 9, 1870, the Rochester Daily Democrat Newspaper, (Vol. 38 #2054) reported:

SUDDEN DEATH --- This morning about two o'clock, Wm. Sutherland, who was with his wife and son on the emigrant train from the east, was found dead in his seat in the car on the arrival of the train at the depot. He was ninety years of age, Coroner Harder was called, but the holding of the inquest was postponed until today at 8 o'clock.

Then on Thursday morning, November 10, 1870, the Rochester Daily Democrat Newspaper, (Vol. 38 #2055) reported:

THE DEATH AT THE DEPOT --- William Sutherland, who died at the Depot in this city on Tuesday night, as mentioned in Wednesday's paper, was a Scotchman, on his way to Canada. With his wife and son and one or two other members of his family, he left Scotland on the 15th of October, and landed in New York on Monday last. Before arriving in Rochester, for an hour or two, Sutherland became quite sleepy and had to have assistance in getting on board the Falls train. Soon afterward he was found dead. He was ninety years old, and became much exhausted during the voyage to New York.
Coroner Harder investigated the case, but did not deem it necessary to hold an inquest. The deceased was buried yesterday, and the family left last evening for Canada, where they have relatives residing. 

 William Sutherland Buried at

Mount Hope Cemetery Rochester, Monroe County,  

New York, USA

According to Mt. Hope internment records (http://www.lib.rochester.edu/IN/RBSCP/Databases/IMAGES/MtHope/disc1/00000722.pdf ) William Sutherland was buried in the Public Grounds in Row 16 / Grave #35. 

Joel Shore (who takes headstone photographs for Find A Grave) has done extensive research on this area of the Mt. Hope cemetery in Rochester and the many changes made there since 1870. There is no marker for William Sutherland and it is estimated that his final resting place is captured in the area of these surviving markers in the photograph below taken by Joel Shore.

The Mt. Hope cemetery map is here: http://mcnygenealogy.com/cem/mh-intro.htm
 

Mt. Hope Cemetery, Rochester, New York; Photo taken by Joel Shore (used here with his permission); Find A Grave

Mt. Hope internment records (http://www.lib.rochester.edu/IN/RBSCP/Databases/IMAGES/MtHope/disc1/00000722.pdf

Barbara (Barron) Sutherland Died 1898

William's wife Barbara (Barron) Sutherland died on November 15, 1898 twenty-eight years  after arriving in the port of New York, New York and losing her husband. She is buried in Plot 1011 at the Riverview Cemetery Wallaceburg, Ontario.

 The OTD Review Yields NEW Information

I had no idea that my 2nd great-grandfather James Henry Allan Annal's emigration story was filled with such tragedy and loss and yet I knew that this was common occurrence for so many Scottish and Irish emigrants who took a chance crossing the great Atlantic to make a new life in Canada.
 
These new facts about my Sutherland and Annal ancestors came to me by way of my regular practice to honour my ancestors through my daily OTD (On This Day) review. It is a really helpful practice that I highly recommend for other genealogists and as you can see from William Sutherland's example, you never know what you might find!

The S.S. Columbia
My 2nd Great-grandfather 
James Henry Annal's Emigration Ship
 

This Currier and Ives print is available for sale at http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/140283.html

 1870 Anchor Line announcement for Routes on the Norway - Scotland service (Norwegian newspaper)

The S.S. Columbia was built in 1866 at Glasgow by Alexander Stephen & Sons and she was a : "Clipper stem, one funnel, three masts (ship-rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 10 knots. There was accommodation for 80-cabin and 540-3rd class passengers.(Source: http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=colun)

Her maiden voyage was from Glasgow to New York October 27, 1866 and the time needed to cross the Atlantic was fifteen days.

More S.S. Columbia Links

• A Souvenir of the Anchor Line Agents Excursion on the Steamer California ... By Anchor Line
• Ships of Our Ancestors By Michael J. Anuta

Previous Blog Posts About the Annal, Sutherland(and Hess) Families

• 52 Ancestors No.31 Meeting Distant Cousins from the Annal-Hess Clan
• Distant Cousins from the Annal-Hess Clan Part II 
  
• 52 Ancestors # 33: Orkney Sailor James Annal (1849-1930) 
• ANNAL: Family Photograph Mysteries 
• ANNAL: Fire Chief and Ice Dealer James Annal  
• ANNAL: Great Grandmother Elizabeth's Brother John  Annal 
• HESS - ANNAL: Hess & Annal : Feather Renovators (1906) 
• HESS - ANNAL Historical Ontario Vital Statistics Records Available Online for FREE 
• HESS - ANNAL: Annal-Hess
   

52 Ancestors No. 11 Hess & Annal : Feather Renovators (1906)

This is the tenth of 52 blog posts for the 2015 edition of the 52 Ancestors challenge. I have been blogging my family history for the #52Ancestors challenge since it began in 2014.

#52Ancestors asks bloggers to "have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.”

This week's blog post is about a wonderful 1906 photograph that was sent to me recently by family historian, genealogist Vicky Hess with whom I share ancestors in our Hess-Annal-Coughlin family tree.

Hess & Annal Feather Renovator
Joe Hess (pictured in the derby hat) with James Hess and other unidentified men
Source: Vicky Hess family archive photos

Vicky also sent me the following news clipping text from the Wallaceburg News (1906):

It was difficult to locate information online about the occupation of Feather Renovators.

On the need for feathers to be renovated, I found this 1872 advice from Alexander E. Youman to housewives on the daily care of their feather beds:

Source: A Dictionary of Wants 1872
(Free eBook)

If feather beds had not been cared for on a daily basis (as suggested above), The Southern Cultivator and Dixie Farmer (1887) advised "lady readers" to "put them on the grass where rain pours heavily, and let them become thoroughly wetted.":

The Southern Cultivator and Dixie Farmer (1887)
(Free eBook)

Thankfully, at the turn of the last century, there were many patents submitted and granted for inventions of new and improved mechanical "feather-renovator" devices to do this work instead of the methods described above.

It is wonderful to know that our Annal-Hess ancestors provided this valuable service to the residents of Kent county Ontario in the early 1900s.

I am grateful to Vicky Hess for passing on this wonderful photograph that I had never seen before and sharing facts about our ancestors that I would have never known.

Wallaceburg Links

• Vintage Wallaceburg on Facebook
• Wallaceburg News from 1896-1983 at Wallaceburg branch of Chatham-Kent Public Library; indexed from 1896 to 1956.
• Ontario Genealogical Society’s Kent Branch.

Feather Renovator Links

• Need Your Feathers Renovated?
• Modern Day Feather Renovation (Czech Feather & Down Co.)

52 Ancestors No. 9: Great Grandmother Elizabeth's Brother John Annal

This is the ninth of 52 blog posts for the 2015 edition of the 52 Ancestors challenge. I have been blogging my family history for the #52Ancestors challenge since it began in 2014.

#52Ancestors asks bloggers to "have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.”

This week's blog post is about my great grandmother 'Lizzie' (Annal) Coughlin's brother John Annal (1875-1960). 

John was the last of my great grandmother Coughlin's Annal clan (parents & brothers & sisters). He was a bachelor until he was 51 years old. He was a sailor on the great lakes, a carpenter, and a farmer. He cared for his parents (sailor James Annal and Mary Hess) in his home in their final years and his nephew Lawrence Coughlin was a flower bearer at his funeral in 1960 

John Annal (1875-1960) and his sister Elizabeth (Annal) Coughlin (1884-1953)
on 1025 Hickory Avenue, Windsor, Ontario

John was born on the 9th of January 1875 in Pilkington Twsp, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada the second son of James Henry Annal and Mary Hess.

The three eldest children with their mother
Mary (Hess) Annal
(courtesy of Vicky Hess)

Annal-Hess men
(John is seated in the front on the left)
(courtesy of Vicky Hess)

Annal-Hess family
(courtesy of Vicky Hess)

1901

We know (based on the census below) that in 1901 at the age of 26, John Annal was employed as a sailor with his father .

1911-1921

I was unable to locate John Annal (so far) on either of the 1911 & 1921 census reports but it is reported on his eldest brother James' obituary that he was a resident of Windsor in January 1921.

1926

In 1926, at the age of 51 years, bachelor John Annal married widow Martha Jane (Owen) Wood. 

We know from the 1926 marriage record that John was a carpenter living in Windsor at the time of his marriage. The "quiet wedding was solemized on August 31, 1926 at Dresden" and "Mr. and Mrs. Annals will be at home to their friends after Oct 1st at their home on the Wood farm, near Wallaceburg."

1927-1930 Caring for His Ailing Parents

John Annal's mother Mary (Hess) Annal passed away at John's home on the 30th of December 1927. She had been ailing for some time. John's father died in his home as well in 1930. He "had been ailing for the past year and his demise was not unexpected".

John's mother Mary (Hess) Annal's obituary (1927)
She died in John's home Lot 14, Concession 1
(courtesy of Vicky Hess)

John's father James Annal's obituary (1930)
He died in John's home Lot 14, Concession 1
(courtesy of Vicky Hess)

John Annal (1875-1960)

1955

In 1955, John's wife Martha Jane passed away. She had been seriously ill for some time and died in the house where she had lived all of her life. According to the obituary (below) Martha was an accomplished poet and song writer!

Martha (Owen) Annal's obituary

Martha (Owen) Annal's Funeral Notice

1957

1957 Voters List for Wallaceburg, Ontario

Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan with her Uncle John Annal

John Annal (1875-1960)

1960

John Annal's Obituary 1960

John Annal's Funeral Notice 1960

John was 85 years old when he died. He passed away at the Lapointe-Fisher Nursing Home that was established in 1950.

(Note: When John Annal died in 1960 - Lawrence Coughlin was a flowerbearer: An individual who walks before or behind the casket carrying flower tributes sent to the family.) John is buried at the Riverview Cemetery in Wallaceburg Ontario with many other Annal and Hess relatives.

John Annal, the last of his kin, passed away in the possession of the family bible that he used for a 1949 affidavit to prove the date of birth for my great grandmother Elizabeth (Annal) Coughlin. I wonder where that bible is today?

John's 1949 affidavit for his sister Elizabeth (Annal) Coughlin