| Name |
James Frederick MALLETT |
| Birth |
15 Mar 1799 |
Birchill Farm, Langtree, Devon, England  [1, 2, 3] |
- In a letter to his son James Frederick, dated (?) James writes that he was born in Langtree parish, Devon.
It appears as written to be "Sangtree" parish, Devon; but there is no Sangtree today and there isn't one listed in Phillimore's guide to parishes in England. The closest thing in the guide is "Sancreed" parish in Cornwall. It could be that he was born there and his family moved to Bideford when he was quite young, so all he knew was what they told him, and Sancreed could sound like Sangtree, especially if one had never seen it spelled. A researcher with a similar quandary solved it by determining that what she thought was an 'S' was actually an 'L'. This means 'Sangtree' could actually be 'Langtree', which can be found on the maps just south of Bideford. This makes a great deal of sense, and if one studies James' letters, one can see that his 'L's' definitely look like 'S's'.
Langtree's proximity to Bideford substantiates family recollections which said they came from Bideford, and of course there was a James Mallett christened in Langtree in April 1799.
|
| Christening |
17 Apr 1799 |
Langtree, Devon, England |
| Gender |
Male |
| Miscellaneous |
5 Jun 1820 |
Combe Martin, Devon, England [4] |
- James, along with Mary Huxtable, was a witness at the marriage of William Daniel of Berrynarbor, Devon, and Elizabeth Reed of Combe Martin, Devon. This same William Daniel takes ownership of Lot 25, 1st Concession, Wilmot Twp, about 1842, after james had been on the property since 1832.
|
| Occupation |
1826 |
Bideford, Devon, England |
| Schoolmaster, as stated in the christening record for son Frederick James. |
| Occupation |
1828 |
Bideford, Devon, England |
- Cornfactor (middleman in the corn [grain] trade), as stated in the christening record for son James Frederick, and White's Trade Directory for Bideford, 1830.
|
| Occupation |
1830 |
Exeter, Devon, England |
| Joiner (Carpenter), as stated in the christening record for daughter Eliza Ann. |
 Note |
Abt 1831 |
- The family must have come to Canada before 1834, because they are listed in Wilmot "Gore District" in a census and assessment document in that year. They were not listed in 1833, but that doesn't mean they weren't in Canada already, living somewhere else. The Canada Company records show that James purchased his first property in the fall of 1832. They could have purchased it through a Canada Company land agent in England (there was one in Yarmouth, though it was closed in 1830), but it's not likely they'd buy it sight unseen, so it's reasonable to assume they were actually in Canada in 1832. James Jr's eulogy says the family came to Canada in 1831.
Frederick, James, and Eliza (1830) are known to have been born in England. No record has been found of Ann's birth, which was c.1832. She may have been born in Canada, or in the boat, but the 1851 census indicates she was born in England. One might guess that Ann was indeed born in the boat, or at least while the family was in transition, since the (approximate) date of her birth coincides with the earliest record of the family in Canada.
They must have had some money or relatives or something to help them get through that first winter, they had to have stayed somewhere other than the land they had just purchased. They likely traveled to the property in the spring of 1833, after the census of that year, and were settled in Wilmot in 1834, hence their registration in the census of that year.
|
| Land Transaction |
24 Nov 1832 |
Lot 25, Concession 1, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada |
- James Mallett enters into an agreement (no. 1726) with the Canada Company to purchase lot 25, con 1 in Wilmot A, 200 acres. The price is 112.10 lbs. There is a payment schedule laid out which would have the property paid for in 5 years, 5 equal payments of 18 lbs with a down payment of 22.10 lbs. The payment schedule does not appear to have been followed. In fact, the last payment isn't made until April 1850, at which time the property is transferred to William Daniels. The deed is issued in May of 1850 to William Daniels. According to the abstract for that property, the Canada Company sold that property directly to William Daniels, he is the first registered owner in Wilmot (after the Canada Company), even though James had been there since 1832 making payments on it. The deed isn't issued until the last payment is made. Payments were actually made as follows:
May 20, 1839, 18.15
Mar 20, 1844, 7.19
Dec 31, 1845, 25.00
Feb 20, 1850, 27.10
Mar 19, 1850, 2.70
Apr 3, 1850, 0.30
|
| Census |
18 Apr 1834 |
Lot 25, Concession 1, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada [5] |
- Name as enumerated: James Mallett. Only the head of household is mentioned by name. This property is right along the Huron Road. The writing is difficult to read but it appears to say 196 acres uncultivated, 4 acres cultivated. He owns both the north and south halves of the lot. 1 male and 1 female over 16. 2 males and 2 females under 16, 6 people in the family. No names other than head of household are listed, but the number of children, male and female under 16 matches perfectly the size of their family as it must have been in that year. They have 2 "milch" cows, and 3 other cattle (hard to make out). A second look at this microfilm indicates 2 oxen, nothing else. Difficult to read. No dwelling place is listed, but it was likely a log shanty. No dwelling place is listed for most of the people enumerated, but if you look at the headings for this section, it seems they were looking for a "proper" house such as frame or brick. Perhaps if such a house was not present, it was not listed. Just as well, their assessment would have been higher. Henrietta will be born later this year.
Their ages in 1834, calculated backwards from the 1851 census where their ages are listed:
James - 35, Elizabeth - 29, Frederick - 7, James - 5, Eliza - 4, Ann - 2.
|
| Census |
1837 |
Lot 25, Concession 1, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada [6] |
- Name as enumerated: James Mallatt. Only the head of household is mentioned by name. 8 acres cultivated, 92 uncultivated. Lot 25 1st concession, south 1/2. 2 milch cows, 2 other cattle, property assessed at 40 lbs. 1 male and 1 female over 16. 2 males and 4 females under 16. Henrietta and Elizabeth appear to have been born.
Their ages: James - 38, Elizabeth - 32, Frederick - 10, James - 8, Eliza - 7, Ann - 5, Henrietta - 3, Elizabeth - 1.
|
| Census |
25 Mar 1838 |
Lot 25, Concession 1, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada [7] |
- Name as enumerated: James Mallet. Only the head of household is mentioned by name. 92 acres uncultivated (looks like) 28 cultivated (doesn't add up). Can't make out the rest. Property assessed at 60 lbs 8 s.
|
| Census |
1839 |
Lot 25, Concession 1, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada [8] |
- Name as enumerated: James Mallett. Only the head of household is mentioned by name. Not a part lot. This contradicts the 1837 assessment which says he only has the south 1/2, but substantiates the 1834 assessment which seems to indicate 200 acres. Uncultivated looks like 189 but might be 89 (unless he owns the north half too). Cultivated is 11. 2 oxen and 2 milch cows. 62 lbs 16 s assessment. Family is still 8 people.
|
| Land Transaction |
1839 |
Lot 25, Concession 1, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada [9] |
- James appears to sell his property to William Daniels. No registered land transaction has been found, but William Daniels is on Lot 25, and James has moved to Lot 28 by the spring of 1840 when the census for that year was taken. William is eventually issued the deed for lot 25 (1850), while James is issued the deed for lot 28 in 1857.
|
| Census |
1840 |
Lot 28, Concession 3, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada [10] |
- Name as enumerated: James Mallat. Only the head of household is mentioned by name. 3d concession lot 28, south part of lot. 100 acres, all uncultivated, assessed at 20 lbs. The family is still shown as only 8 people. 1 male and female over 16, 2 males under 16, 4 females under 16. So now they have moved to the place we thought they had originally, but William appears not yet to be born, even though his obituary says he was born in 1839. One wonders why after so many years clearing land bit by bit on the other place he chooses to start all over again. Did William Daniels give him a nice bit of cash for the land already cleared, enough incentive to start over? Perhaps James and William had an arrangement all along. We know that they knew each other since 1820 at least. Now too he has 2 teenage sons who can swing an axe and help out.
Their ages: James - 41, Elizabeth - 35, Frederick - 13, James - 11, Eliza - 10, Ann - 8, Henrietta - 6, Elizabeth - 4.
William Daniels is shown in the census on Con 1, Lot 25, 75 acres uncultivated, 25 cultivated. This property isn't conveyed to Mr Daniels until 1850. There is an as yet undiscovered connection between James and this William Daniels. James was a witness at William's wedding in Devon.
|
| Land Transaction |
19 Jan 1842 |
Lot 28, Concession 3, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada |
- James Mallett enters into a second purchase agreement with the Canada Company (no. 4134), this time for the south half of lot 28, con 3 Wilmot A, 100 acres. The purchase price is 100 lbs, with a down payment of 20 lbs and 5 equal annual payments of 16 lbs. Again, the payment schedule is not followed. Payments were made on the following dates, amounts are not clear:
Feb 6, 1846
Mar 19, 1847
Feb 11, 1848
Oct 23, 1848
Oct 19, 1849
Oct 5, 1850
Jan 10, 1857
Jan 24, 1857
The deed for the property was issued Jan 25, 1857.
It's not at all clear what went on with lot 25. There is a similar situation with Frederick's lot 18 con 20 in West Williams, when it appears that when the original purchaser makes his last payment, the property is transferred to someone else. The census records indicate that James was on lot 28 by 1840, yet his agreement to purchase that lot is dated 1842. What money changed hands between William Daniels and James? It must have simply been a gentlemen's agreement; there appears to be no record of it.
|
| Letter |
2 Apr 1843 |
Wilmot, Wellington District, Upper Canada, Canada [11] |
- The following is a transcript of an original letter written by James to his older brother William who settled in PEI at about the same time as James came to Wilmot (1831/32). The transcript was done by Hazel J Mallett, G grand daughter of William Mallett. The original letters (or one of them at least) are in the possession of Hazel's family, descendants of William.
Transcript begins:
Letter to William Mallett (My [Hazel's] great grandfather) from brother James (Ontario)
Upper Canada Wellington District
Township of Wilmot, 2nd April, 1843.
Dear William;
I feel somewhat uneasy at not hearing from you in such length of time - I have had several letters from England since I heard from you but did not say if they heard from you lately - I received a letter from brother Humphrey about two weeks ago - they were all well - George's wife has lately been confined with twins, a boy and a girl and both likely to live. I believe brother Henry is living in London (England). Mr. Richard Bond came to this country last summer - he has bought an old cleared farm and tavern that stand about 30 miles from me in the township of Beverley District 250 acres 150 cleared it cost 90 pounds sterling. I hear tis a poor farm - I have been once to see them last January when the land was all covered with snow - but I heard a poor account of it - he stopped with us for a week or two when they first came to the country but did not like the neighborhood being so much wooded - but I 'think he would have done better if he had stopped here - We have had an extraordinarily long and severe winter - it set in the 20th of November and we have not seen the face of the country since - we have at this time 3 feet of snow on the ground and in some parts of the country as much as five feet - I suppose no one can recollect ever seeing such a winter in Upper Canada before - There is a great want of fodder - almost every person is very short and some entirely run out - The-only recourse to keep the cattle alive is to chop brush for them - there have been thousands of cattle died for want of feed - I have not lost any yet but how soon I don't know - I have very little feed left about 5 or 6 cwt of hay no straw and about 50 or 60 bushels of turnips. I have 16 head of cattle 25 sheep and a mare and colt the sheep and cattle have almost entirely to live on tree tops - We had but poor crops of grain through the country last year and the prices very low wheat 3/0 to 3/6 barley 1/6 to 2/0 oats 1/0 beef 15/0 to 20/per cwt pork nearly the same - I hope you are getting on well with your farm your boys must be of great service to you - We have 8 children - the two oldest and two youngest are boys - I would be glad to see you once more but I am afraid I never will unless you come to this country - you once talked of coming to settle here - I expect this is a better farming country according to Mr. James Smith's accounts - he lives about 1 1/2 miles from me - he is getting on pretty well - let me beg you will favour me with an answer the earliest opportunity - I hope you are all well - Thank God we are all enjoying the blessing of good health at present and have been generally so ever since we have been in this country - remember me kindly to Edwin and William and the same to yourself and wife and the rest of the family we all beg to unite in the same affection and may God bless you all and if it be so ordained we are not to meet again here I shall hope we shall hereafter - farewell I remain your affectionate brother James Mallett.
To - - Mr. William Mallett Queen's County, Graham's Road, Prince Edward Island Gulf of St. Lawrence - N. America. (Post marked P.E.I. My 4 1843).
NOTE (Hazel Mallett) - I think the Bonds were in-laws but I don't know how/ James Smith was probably Dr. Harry Smith’s grandfather (Dr. Smith of Edmonton) I understood Wm. Mallett went security for some in-laws or someone related to him and he had to pay it. I think he was rather bitter and so Dad's father didn't want to bother with relatives.
In the letter copied above George may be a brother.
Transcript ends.
|
| Census |
1851 |
Lot 28, Concession 3, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada |
- Only census information available, nothing about the property. This is the first census in which all names of individuals within the household were listed. Eliza was enumerated twice, once at home, and once as a servant in the 2 story brick house of Dugald McLachlan. The family lives in a 1 story frame house. All the children are listed as single. The first four are shown as born in England, all of the rest in Canada. None of the children are listed as attending school.
Their ages: James - 53, Elizabeth - 46, Frederick - 24, James - 22, Eliza - 21, Ann - 19, Henrietta - 17, Elizabeth - 15, William - 13, Henry - 10, Caroline - 5.
|
| Letter |
8 Mar 1852 |
Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Upper Canada, Canada [12] |
- Transcript begins:
A SECOND LETTER TO Wm. MALLETT FROM BROTHER JAMES IN ONTARIO
Wilmot, 3rd March 1852
County of Waterloo, Upper Canada
Dear William;-(Note H.J.M. Wm. died in 1857)
After so many years silence I again venture to write you a few lines hoping to get an answer this time - the facilities of communication at this time should be no bar to friends in corresponding with one another. I hope when this-reaches you it will find you and your family in good health thank God we are all well - or as well as can be expected from age etc. - I had a severe sickness 8 years ago and have never been so well since as I was before - I hope you keep up your age well - I have had good deal of hard work since I have been in this country but thank God I have surmounted a great many difficulties - I have 100 acres of land 75 of it cleared and getting pretty free of stumps - with a good frame house and frame barn 60 ft by 40 ft free from all encumbrances five horses five cows and 7 other cattle 32 good Leicester sheep - I had 27 acres of wheat last year, averaging about 20 to 25 bushels per acre - but the prices this winter have been very low 2/6, but it is now selling at 3/3 to the cwt. Oats 1/3 potatoes very scarce but last year a general failure almost - now selling different places at 3/ and 3/6 the bushel - my two oldest sons are gone on to farms of their own they have 150 acres each in the township of Williams 85 miles south of the west from me near the lower end of Lake Huron - I have two younger boys one about 12 years and the other about 10 - rather young you will say to be of much help for the present but they are very good boys and are of great service to me - but for the next 2 or 3 years if it please God to spare me I don't intend to try to raise much grain principally sheep and cows - which will require less labour - by that time my boys if they are spared will be able to take hold of most work on the farm - Mr. James Smith is doing well - he lives about a mile from me - I have just been writing a letter to brother Humphrey - I have not heard from him for a year past - I received my legacy that poor father left me last March. I should like to see Edwin and William - I expect they are grown to fine young men - say in your next where they are and their occupation - We have four boys and five girls none married - We have had a very severe winter - not the like since 1843 - Snow at this time average two feet - Kind respects to you all and may God bless which is the sincere wish of your affectionate brother
James Mallett
P.S. I should like to see you or some of your family here - there will be steam communication between P.E. Island and Quebec next summer.
Mailed to;- Mr. William Mallett, Near New London harbour, Prince Edward Island
Gulf of St. Lawrence, N.A. post mark 8 Mar. 1852.
Transcript ends.
|
| Land Transaction |
25 Jan 1857 |
Lot 28, Concession 3, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada |
- The deed is issued for lot 28. James now owns his own property "free from all encumbrances" as he told brother William in a letter March 3, 1852.
|
| Census |
1861 |
Lot 28, Concession 3, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada |
- Only Ann, William, Henry and Caroline remain at home. Henrietta and Elizabeth have gone 3 farms or so down the road and married the brothers Smith, William and Thomas. Frederick and James have gone to West Williams Twp and are listed in the census there. Both are married and have children. Frederick dies sometime before the 1871 census. Eliza has married Thomas Paddock and is likely living in Puslinch Twp. Henry and Carrie are attending school. All the children are said to be born in Canada, (contradicts 1851 for Ann), none are said to be married.
Their ages (next birthday):
James - 62, Elizabeth - 56, Ann - 27, William - 21, Henry - 18, Caroline - 14.
|
| Letter |
30 Nov 1864 |
Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada [13] |
- Announces Mother's death, and confirms date I already had. Also provides birthdates of James Sr and Jr, and Elizabeth. James Jr was born in Swansea Wales. Eliza Ann was born in Exeter, Devon. They must have moved around in search of work. I don't know where Frederick was born, but likely closer to Bideford, being the first born. In this letter James Sr mentions that Frederic (sic) was down for the funeral ("we telegraphed for him"). "Eliza was also here & Thomas & your Aunt from Beverly". This must refer to Eliza and Thomas Paddock, but who is the Aunt? When Eliza married Thomas Paddock he was described as a "farmer from Beverley". Beverley is a township bordering Puslinch. I wondered how Eliza met Thomas in the first place, perhaps she was living with her Aunt who happened to live near wherever Thomas lived at the time.
|
| Census |
1871 |
Lot 28, Concession 3, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada |
- Only William remains on the home place with his father and new bride Elizabeth Lockhart and their first child James, only 6 months old. Henry owns part of lot 31 in the 4th concession (his brother in law Thomas Smith holds the other part). Ann lives with Henry. Henry is not married. Carrie has gone off and married Edward Thrupp, has given birth to a boy and seen him die this very year. The mother, Elizabeth, has died. William is shown as the owner now of lot 28, but not listed as head of household. The farm is described as 100 acres, 75 improved, 32 in pasture. They have 3 horses, 13 milch cows, 6 other cattle, 8 sheep, and 9 swine. Henry has 90 acres, 70 improved, 1 barn but no dwelling house (Thomas' property has 2 dwelling houses, Henry and Ann probably lived in one of them), 3 horses, 9 milch cows, 6 horned cattle, and 19 swine. William owns a cheese factory in which he has invested $490.00 fixed capital and $100.00 floating capital. It doesn't say where the cheese factory is located.
Their ages: James - 72, Elizabeth - dead, Ann - 38, William - 30, Elizabeth - 22, James - 6 mos., Henry - 27.
|
| Census |
3 Apr 1881 |
Riverside Farm, Arthur Township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada [14] |
- William is gone to Arthur Twp, the old man is with him, Henry is gone, probably to Alberta, Ann is still unmarried and living with her sister Elizabeth and her husband Thomas Smith, perhaps in the same house she and Henry were living in 1871. James's name is enumerated as "James F Mallett" the only documentary evidence that his second name may have been Frederick.
|
| Census |
3 Apr 1881 |
Arthur, Wellington North, Ontario, Canada [15] |
| Occupation |
3 Apr 1881 [16] |
| n/g. Religion: Church of England |
| Letter |
27 Aug 1883 |
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada [17] |
- He mentions that Eliza has a new house. All are well. William lost a little girl, nearly 11, the oldest of 4 girls (Mary). All are well otherwise. William has 12 cows whose milk he sends to the cheese factory. He averages 36 to 40 dollars per cow for the season of 6 months. William built a new house last summer (on the Arthur farm). Ann is living with Henry since spring, all are well. James likes Henry's place and neighbourhood very well. Two of William Smith's daughters are there at present on a visit. He sends James $6 in this letter, $1 is from Carrie. He gives two addresses where he can be reached: Wellington County, Teviotdale PO, Ontario, Riverside Farm; and Co. Waterloo, New Hamburg PO, Care of Mr. Wm. C Smith, Ontario.
|
| Letter |
17 Oct 1883 |
Riverside Farm, Arthur Township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada [18] |
- James Jr acknowledges receipt of James Sr earlier letter and thanks him for its contents (the above mentioned $6 no doubt). James has been in Port Stanley, Wilmot and Arthur. Henry has lost the youngest of his two children, a little girl about 6 months old. William is not very well, but the rest of his family is well. Wm. and Thos. Smith families are well. Eliza and Henry's families are well. One of James Jr's sons is "delicate".
|
| Letter |
26 Jan 1885 |
Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada [19] |
- James Jr's health is "broken down". James Sr's health is also "very poor". Thomas (Paddock) is also very sick just now. James Sr sends $10. "I would like to have sent you more - everybody seems to be short of money - I will send you a little more as soon as I can get it". James Jr has sent a photograph. In the spring, James Sr intends to have some taken, and will try to get some of the other families. Everyone is complaining of hard times. Eliza and family are well except Thomas, whose health in general is very poor. All the rest are in their usual health.
|
| Letter |
24 Sep 1885 |
Riverside Farm, Arthur Township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada [20] |
- Teviotdale Post Office Arthur Township Co. Wellington Ont. Sept 24, 1885
Eliza has a comfortable house (stone). Dear Eliza is very kind and motherly. Thomas' health is not very good in general. Maria and Hettie are married. Eliza Adelaide and Jane are home (why no mention of Carrie?). All in their usual health. I went to Port Stanley to see your dear sister Caroline and found her and her little family all well 3 children 2 girls 1 boy. Her husband John Price is in the store business a very fine business man, his father has given up the business to him for the last 3 or 4 years. From Port Stanley to see Henry County Norfolk Co. Town Simcoe, his PO is Vittoria one child a boy about 3 1/2, fine little fellow. Ann is living with Henry and likes it very well she is quite at home. Henry has 200 acres, 100 cleared good house, land rather light. James Sr sends $5. James Sr will send a photograph in a day or two. He will also send a silver table spoon once "owned by your dear mother" engraved with the initials E.C. her maiden name Elizabeth Crook. Thomas Smith has just returned from England and fetched 5 horses with him.
|
| SW Group |
1 |
| UKC 1881 |
N |
| Alternate Name |
John Mallett |
| Reference Number |
M1JF21 |
| Death |
11 Feb 1888 |
Home of Eliza Ann and Thomas Paddock, Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada [21] |
- This is the date given in the SJAC parish register and the probate of his will.
No obituary has been found for James. The Kitchener public library has a collection of New Hamburg papers on microfilm, including 1888, but the collection is spotty, and the specific papers in the month of James' death are not there. The Cambridge archives have an indexed collection of obituaries for Puslinch Township, where he died, but his name is not listed.
|
| Burial |
14 Feb 1888 |
St James Anglican Church, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada [21, 22] |
- Age 89 years, residence Puslinch Township, Occupation, Farmer. This is the burial date entered in the parish register of and the date recorded on the tombstone in the cemetery of St James Anglican Church in Wilmot.
|
| Person ID |
I21 |
Southwest |
| Last Modified |
8 Jun 2020 |
1799 - 1888 (88 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set