Jen's Genealogy Pages

Amy Johnson Crow, on her blog No Story Too Small, has challenged her fellow bloggers to post 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. This is week eleven.

My great-great grandmother Alice Jane Burton was born on December 22, 1848. She was the first child born to Thomas Burton and Dionysia (Ansted) Burton. At the time the family was living in Loddon, Norfolk, England.

The 1851 census finds two-year-old Alice Jane living with Dionysia (23) and Thomas (34) in Thurton Hall in Thurton, Norfolk. Alice Jane’s younger brother, Thomas Northeast (5 months) is also part of the family along with a variety of domestic staff. The family is quite prosperous, with Thomas listed as a farmer with 269 acres and employing 10 labourers and 2 boys.

The 1861 census has the family living on Loddon Road. Thomas (45) and Dionysia (33) now have seven children: Alice Jane (12), Thomas Northeast (10), Arthur Henry (8), Edith Emily (6), Clara Dionysia (4), Margaret (2) and Helen (6 months). Thomas is still a farmer of 260 acres, employing 14 men and 2 boys. The family also continues to employ a number of household staff.

Something – I haven’t figured out exactly what yet – appears to happen to the family fortunes between 1861 and 1868, since in the latter year, the family can be found emigrating to Canada. The family sailed cabin class on the Thames, leaving London on September 24 and arriving in Quebec a month later on October 20. The ship’s manifest shows the family consisting of Thomas (52), Dionysia (42) and children Alice Jane (19), Thomas (17), Edith (14), Clara (11), Margaret (10), Helen (8), Clement (6), Leonard (4), Amy (2) and Frederick (4 months).

The Burtons settled in Montreal and they show up on the 1871 Canadian census in the Jacques Cartier district. The family at that time consists of Thomas (54), Dionysia (43) and their children: Alice Jane (22), Thomas Northeast (20), Arthur Henry (18), Edith (16), Clara Dionysia (14), Margaret (12), Helen (10), Clement William (8), Leonard Decimus (6), [Amy] Ansted (4), Frederick (3) and Charles (10 months). Thomas is listed as a cultivateur (farmer).

In March of 1873, Alice Jane married John George Johnson, son of Baptist and Ann (Kelly) Johnson.

In 1881, it appears John (33) and Alice (31) are living with John’s parents along with John’s youngest brother Joseph (22). However, other records – including later censuses – suggest that at the time of the 1881 census, John and Alice should have two children (Emily and Grace). I am still trying to figure out where they might be!

On the 1891 census, John (44) and Alice (43) are found at home with their children, Emily (14), Grace (13), Annie (10) and Margaret (8). And in 1901, John (54), Alice (52), Annie (20) and Margaret (17) are in the family home. The same is also true in 1911, when John (64), Alice (62), Annie (26) and Margaret (24) are living at home in St. Laurent.

By the 1921 census, however, John (74) and Alice (72), along with Annie (40), are living in Athelstan, Quebec. Sometime between 1911 and 1913 – when daughter Margaret married – the family moved from Montreal down to Athelstan. I have yet to figure out the ‘why’ for that move.

In 1928, on May 26, Alice Jane passed away. She was buried on May 28 in the Athelstan Presbyterian Church cemetery. John continued to live in Athelstan until he, too, passed away in 1939.