| Name |
James Frederick MALLETT |
| Birth |
29 Mar 1828 |
Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales  [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
 Note |
14 Sep 1828 |
- Baptised in Bideford, Devon, England. Father's occupation: "Cornfactor".
|
| Census |
18 Apr 1834 |
Lot 25, Concession 1, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada [2] |
- 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 [3] |
- 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 [4] |
- 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 [5] |
- 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.
|
| Census |
1840 |
Lot 28, Concession 3, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada [6] |
- 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.
|
| 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.
|
| Note |
Abt 1851 |
- James was already 22 in the 1851 census. He left home at the same time as Frederick, they both took up land from the Canada Company in (West) Williams Twp. The transaction no. is 4342 dated June 27 1851 for lot 17 con 19. The brothers are right side by each. It was a lease, which was converted to sale no. 6721 on Mar 22 1860. There is a note below the original record which says to John Mallett Sen. July 1859. Immediately below the John is Jas (James). This makes no sense. I know of no John other than James' son John who is listed in the 1861 census, but would have been a baby, if born at all, in July 1859.
1861 census: James 33, Sarah 30, Caroline 6, Sarah 5, Martha 3, John 1. John is not listed as being born in 1860, so he was probably born in the second half of 1859. They are listed as P (primitive) Methodist. They live in a log house, 2 children go to school.
James is not listed in the 1871 census, not in West Williams, and not in the index. He was there as late as 1863 when he flipped a town lot in West Wood (now Parkhill), buying it in the spring for $40.00, and selling it in the fall for $250.00. I'd like to know more about that. He is said to have gone to Iowa, and is said to have written to William Henry while alive, but there is no further information. He is mentioned in James' will, and someone had to know where he was to get his money to him. I wonder if I could find this out from records surrounding the probate of the will, of which William Henry was the executor.
I found the estate file of the old man's will. There is nothing specific about the whereabouts of anyone. I will go back to the Ontario Archives and search the land records. I can probably find him selling his property, which will at least narrow the time frame in which they went to Iowa. Perhaps I can find church records too to flesh out the details of the family before they left.
A look at the abstract index for James' property and a closer look at the Canada Company records indicates that James Jr never held title to lot 17, James Sr did. I believe that James Jr is the one who took the original lease from the CC in 1851, but in 1859 it was transferred to John (James?) Sr. On Oct 9, 1866, James Sr leases the property to Henry Johnson (#714). It says James Sr plus in the body of the agreement there is a provision for "the lessor's son Frederick" to take off firewood already cut on lot 17. On June 14 1869 James sells the farm to William Henry for $1500.00, and holds a mortgage in that amount (# 1282 and 1283). On Jan 24 1870, William Henry and his wife Elizabeth sell the farm to Henry Bates for $1700.00 (#1438). "John" Mallett of Wilmot Twp witnesses this agreement. "Jno", which is short for John, is also found in the document in a couple of places reference the witness. What I saw is a transcribed copy of the original agreement, so the clerk may have made a mistake, but "James" and "John" don't look alike to me. The Canada Company land index shows this property being transferred to "John" Mallett Sen. in 1859 (lease), and "Jas" Sen. in 1860 (sale). In 1859 James took over the lease, and in 1860 the lease was converted to sale. I'm sure we're talking about the same guy. "Jas" is written just beneath the "John" in the Canada Company record as though it were a correction. I ignored this as a mistake, but now I wonder, it doesn't seem likely to have been a mistake twice. Maybe his name IS John, maybe I should check the Devon marriage index again for a John Mallett.
Anyhow, the land records give no clue as to James whereabouts in 1866, but this at least narrows the time frame in which they left the farm, although not necessarily for Iowa. Since the lease transaction took place in the fall, it seems likely that James Jr and his family left in the spring of 1866.
In 1864, when the mother died, James was evidently gone from West Williams some great distance, because the old man didn't try to get hold of him by telegraph (as he did Frederick) and have him come down for the funeral. He only sent a letter some two weeks after the event in which he states "My dear James - as I never expect to see you again here". Perhaps they were in Northern Michigan or Wisconsin already, but definitely gone, and not planning to come back. One of their children is said to be born in Michigan in 1864, the ones that follow are born in Wisconsin starting in 1867, the last one, Gaylord born in 1875 in Wisconsin.
In 1913 Lydia swore an affidavit which outlines the various places the family lived.
The past 10 or 12 years in Portland, Oregon (c 1900)
Barton Co. Missouri for 4 years (c 1895)
Baxter Springs Kansas
Custer Co. Nebraska (c 1888)
Alamosa Colorado
Cadillac Michigan (c 1884)
Sulphur Springs, Kansas (c 1879)
Creston, Iowa (c 1877)
Moston Wisconsin (1866 to 1875)
Eagle Harbour Michigan (Between 1853 and 1864 they must have split their time between here and West Williams)
Their daughter Sarah married George Sylvester in Orient, Adair, Iowa Dec 9 1877. Their first child was born in Creston, Adair, Iowa Nov 18, 1877. The birthplaces of Sarah and George's children seem to mirror the trail of addresses stated by Lydia, so perhaps we can assume that they lived in these places at the same time.
1853 Eagle Harbour Michigan
1861 West Williams Twp Ontario
1864 Eagle Harbour Michigan
1866 Juneau Co. Wisconsin
1875 Last Child of James and Lydia is born in Wisconsin
1877 Sarah is married to George Sylvester and their first child is born in Iowa
1879 Second child is born, Sulphur Springs, Cloud, Kansas
1881 Third child born, still Kansas
1884 Fourth child, Cadillac, Wexford, Michigan
1886 Fifth, Lime Ridge, Sauk Co., Wisconsin
1888 Sixth, Broken Bow, Custer, Nebraska
1892 Seventh, College View, Lancaster, Nebraska
1895 Bushnell, Barton Co., Missouri
In Fred Mallett's obit it says he was first taken on by the Portland police in 1898, and that before that he worked as a streetcar conductor. He would have been 25 in 1898. The family must have been in Portland before 1898.
From the information I have, it seems that George James, Frederick James, and Gaylord all stayed in Portland. John Wesley must have gotten off the caravan before it got to Portland. He may be the W Mallett who bought a cemetery plot in Orient Adair Iowa. He would have been 19 by then. Eliza and Myrtilla died about this time but the purchase date of the plot doesn't really jibe with either event. Eliza died Feb 3 1878, the plot was purchased Mar 8 1879, and Myrtilla died June 5 1879. It doesn't really look like W anyway, I'm pretty sure it's Wm., but the William in this family would only have been 8 years old.
There is a photograph of the Rinker family in Cadillac Michigan, no date, but judging from the age of the children, I would guess c 1905. This means Orcelia jumped ship in Cadillac c 1884, when she would have been 20.
The eulogy says he is survived by 8 children (1909). The family photograph says 7 of 10 children. It also says the picture was taken about 1870 - that can't be, Gaylord is a young man, at least 20 I'd say, and he was born in 1875.
|
| Letter |
30 Nov 1864 |
Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada [7] |
- 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 |
1 Jun 1870 |
Summit, Juneau, Wisconsin [8] |
| Occupation |
1 Jun 1870 [8] |
| Farmer. |
| Letter |
27 Aug 1883 |
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada [9] |
- 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 [10] |
- 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 [11] |
- 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 [12] |
- 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.
|
| Photo |
Abt 1897 |
Bushnell, Missouri, USA |
 |
James Mallett Family
Photo taken about 1897 in Bushnell, Missouri. They look like they just came in from a trail drive!
James and Lydia are seated in front, their son Will is standing second from left, while daughter Sarah and her husband George Sylvester are standing immediately behind them. George and Sarah's children are scattered about: George, Martha, James, Simeon (Frank), Chester, Caroline, and Wesley Ray.
A best guess as to who's who, from the left:
Chester Sylvester, William Mallett, Simeon Sylvester, James Mallett, Sarah (Mallett) Sylvester, Martha Sylvester, Wesley Sylvester (the little guy in front) James Sylvester, George Sylvester Sr., Lydia (Williams) Mallett, Caroline Sylvester, and George Sylvester Jr.
Courtesy Bud Irwin. |
| Photo |
Abt 1900 |
Portland, Oregon, USA |
 |
James Mallett Family
This photo may have been taken c. 1900, shortly after the family arrived in Portland.
Back row, left to right:
Frederick James Mallett, Martha Helen (Mallett) Cohoon, Orcelia (Mallett) Rinker, & William Henry Mallett.
Front Row, left to right:
Elizabeth Henrietta (Mallett) Brice, Lydia Orcelia (Williams) Mallett, Gaylord Benjamin Mallett, James Frederick Mallett, and Sarah (Mallett) Sylvester.
Courtesy Bud Irwin. |
| SW Group |
1 |
| UKC 1881 |
N |
| Death |
25 Dec 1909 |
879 Syracuse Street, Portland, Oregon, USA [1] |
- Cause of death: Heart failure from dropsy, the result of chronic nephritis.
|
| Burial |
28 Dec 1909 |
Columbian Cemetery, Portland, Oregon, USA [1] |
- The undertker was E. "Holman"?, 220 - 3rd.
|
| Person ID |
I43 |
Southwest |
| Last Modified |
11 Apr 2023 |
| Family |
Lydia Orcelia WILLIAMS, b. 14 Jun 1834, Harrisburg, New York, USA d. 26 Apr 1915, 1275 Burrage Street, Portland, Oregon, USA (Age 80 years) |
| Marriage |
6 Jul 1853 |
Eagle Harbour, Michigan, USA |
| Children |
| | 1. Caroline Antonetta MALLETT, b. 29 Sep 1854, West Williams Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada d. 14 May 1875, Orient, Adair County, Iowa, USA (Age 20 years) |
| + | 2. Sarah MALLETT, b. 24 Mar 1856, West Williams Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada d. 31 Jan 1945, Portland, Oregon, USA (Age 88 years) |
| | 3. Franklin MALLETT, b. 30 Apr 1857, West Williams Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada d. 9 Aug 1858, West Williams Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada (Age 1 year) |
| + | 4. Martha Helen MALLETT, b. 26 Aug 1858, West Williams Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada bur. Aft 1890, Cemetery, Dayton, Washington, USA (Age > 33 years) |
| + | 5. John Wesley MALLETT, b. 22 Mar 1860, West Williams Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada d. 21 Oct 1934, Omaha, Nebraska, USA (Age 74 years) |
| | 6. Eliza MALLETT, b. 18 Aug 1861, West Williams Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada d. 3 Feb 1878, Iowa, USA (Age 16 years) |
| | 7. Myrtilla MALLETT, b. 7 Jan 1863, West Williams Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada d. 5 Jun 1879, Iowa, USA (Age 16 years) |
| + | 8. Orcelia MALLETT, b. 25 Jun 1864, Eagle Harbour, Michigan, USA |
| + | 9. George W MALLETT, b. 18 Apr 1867, Wisconsin, USA d. 21 May 1926, Multnomah Hospital, Portland, Oregon, USA (Age 59 years) |
| + | 10. Elizabeth Henrietta MALLETT, b. 8 Jul 1868, Juneau, Wisconsin, USA d. 1913 (Age 44 years) |
| + | 11. William Henry MALLETT, b. 24 Aug 1871, Sauk County, Wisconsin, USA d. 21 Apr 1934, 1735 North Emerson Street, Portland, Oregon, USA (Age 62 years) |
| + | 12. Frederick James MALLETT, b. 13 Jul 1873, Sauk County, Wisconsin, USA d. 15 Dec 1937, Oregon State Hospital, Salem, Oregon, USA (Age 64 years) |
| | 13. Gaylord Benjamin MALLETT, b. 21 Oct 1875, Manstin, Juneau County, Wisconsin, USA d. 13 Jan 1949, Portland Sanitarium, Portland, Oregon, USA (Age 73 years) |
|
| Family ID |
F21 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
1828 - 1909 (81 years)
