It wasn’t until very recently that I discovered how fascinating the Salter branch of my family tree was. Until about a month ago, the Salters in my family tree started and ended with Henrietta Salter (married to John Fee). But then I found her father and grandfather – David and Richard Salter. This post highlights David Salter – my ggg-grandfather.
David was born on February 5, 1815:
David, son of Richard Salter Serg’t(?) in the 49th Reg. & Sarah, his wife, born the 5th and baptized the 10th of Feb, one thousand eight hundred fifteen by me ?? Chaplain to the ForcesÂ
           Parents – Richard Salter – absent, Sarah Salter X her mark
           Sponsors – (not clear)
 On April 30, 1838, David married Maria Knight:
David Salter of Montreal, tinsmith, and Maria Knight also of Montreal were after publication of Banns united in Holy matrimony on the thirtieth day of April in the year of our Lord on thousand eight hundred and thirty eight in the presence of the subscribing witnesses by me E Botterell, minister.
I am aware of the following children:
Richard George Salter (ca 1839-March 3, 1842)
Sarah Maria Salter (August 1840-October 8, 1842)
Louisa Salter (May 1844 – March 3, 1846)
Jane Salter (ca 1845 – ?)
Henrietta Salter (April 1846-January 22, 1932)
William Salter (ca 1848 – ?)
Charles Salter (ca 1853 – ?)
The 1861 census shows a D. Salter, tinsmith, born in 1815 in Montreal. He was 46 at the time of the census. M. Salter, his wife, was 39, born in 1822. Their children included Jane Salter (18), Henrietta (15), William (12), and Charles (9). Jane and Henrietta, along with their parents, were born in Montreal. William and Charles were born in Troy, NY. It would appear that the family moved south to New York somewhere between 1846 and 1849 and moved back sometime after 1852. They lost at least three children between 1842 and 1846, would that have had any bearing on the decision to move? Â
City directories from 1864, 1865 and 1873 show David living at 132 George Street. Directories from 1877 and 1878 show him living at 15 Mayor Street.
The 1871 census shows David Salter (56), a tinsmith, living at 132 George Street. He was Church of England. Maria Salter (48) and the children were listed as Methodist. All were listed as English. William (23) was a printer and Charles (18) was a jeweller. Also at home were Jane (26) and Henrietta (24).
 Maria Knight died on August 6, 1879. By the 1881 census, a widowed David (66) is living with his son William (33), William’s wife, Sarah E. (26). David’s daughter Jane (36) also lives with them.Â
David Salter died on February 9, 1885.
David Salter of the City of Montreal residing on Mayor Street died on the ninth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty five aged seventy years and was buried on the eleventh day of the same month and year…
By me, George Rogers (?) incumbent
Witnesses: William R. Salter
                      James (?)
