Albin Giles Mallory
On my mother’s side, my 3rd great grandfather was a man by the name of Albin Giles Mallory. His name is unique – I haven’t found another Albin anywhere else in my family tree. Of his eight children, none carried either his forename or his middle name of Giles. In searching for his ancestors, I have yet to come across another Albin, or Alvin for that matter! I had hoped that maybe it would off me a clue at some point – maybe when considering who his forebears were, that name would pop up and offer evidence of some sort. But no, there seems to be only one Albin.
On the positive side though, I have been able to find him listed on the 1850 census in the United States. Perhaps, that gives me some clues that I can use to track him down. Albin was reputedly born about 1830 in Ganaonque, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada. A specific birthdate of September 29th, 1829 is listed for him in the 1901 census but I have found no documentation to prove this date. There is enough evidence to suggest that 1829-1831 was his approximate birth year. I have tried to deternine who his parents were through my research but have found limited clues. There are a couple of things of note that I have discovered…1) Gananoque is about 30 kilometres to the West of Mallorytown. Mallorytown is so named for the Mallory families that came from the United States after the American Revolution. 2) His father was named Peter (found listed on his death registration) and 3) His ancestors may or may not have been Loyalists. Bottom line, I can conclude very little on from where and who he came from!
But, I can trace his life. His obituary, printed on page 7 of the Lindsay Watchman Warder on October 1st, 1908 tells of his birth place and that he stayed there for about 25 years, before moving further West into Durham County, finally settling in the town of Millbrook about 1858. Based on the census records, these dates may not be accurate. It also says that Albin married Maria Robinson, of Clarke, in 1857.
From a census perspective, Albin Mallory was living in Rock, Wisconsin in 1850. He is engaged in farming, is 19 years of age, born in Canada and living with Samuel Powers and his family, including wife Maria Moulton. How do we know that this is him? Well, as I said, there aren’t any other Albin Mallory’s at that time! Not only that, but I have documented Samuel Powers to be the son of Nathaniel Hart Powers and his wife Rebecca LaRue. Samuel was born in the County of Leeds in 1819, married Maria Moulton in Orono, Durham County on January 26th, 1842 then had their first child Ambrose in Durham in 1846, and second child Clarence in Wisconsin in 1850. These families are tied together but in a way that I do not know at this point. But, I can conclude that this is Albin in Wisconsin in 1850.
Albin is also documented in the 1851 census in Canada, so he didn’t stay in Wisconsin for long. At this time, he is living in Clarke, Durham County in the household of Sala Robinson – he is employed as a servant and aged 22 years. This must be where he met his wife, she was the eldest daughter of Sala and his wife Louisa Ceryon – also listed as part of this family unit, aged 18 years. Interestingly, and further suggesting a link between several families, the Robinson’s are listed as living beside Hiram Powers and his family. Hiram was the older brother of Samuel Powers.
The marriage year of 1857, suggested in Albin’s obituary makes some sense, as does the location of Clarke, Durham. No marriage registration record has been found to prove it though. Albin and Maria would be parents to eight children, four boys and four girls. Their eldest daughter, Emma was born in April 1858 in Clarke and died at the age of 28 years, leaving her husband Charles Jacques with three children under six years of age. Also dying at a young age was their first son Albert Casey who died in 1889 before he turned 30. Other children were Lilly Elvy (1859-1942) who married George Lock (my great great grandparents); Amelia Louisa (1862-1944) who married John McComb; William Warren (1863-1944) and resided in Peterborough; Alice Fair (1867-1929) who married John Nathaniel Powers (yes, Powers again…he was the son of Hiram, neighbour to the Robinson’s in 1851); Frederick Bruce (1870-1945) who married Elizabeth Emerson and moved into Toronto by the 1921 census; and finally, Wilbert John (1876-1917) who died on a field in France during the First World War.
Albin Mallory was a Sawyer, working with wood throughout his life. His is listed in various census’ as a carpenter, a Sawyer and a Sawmillman. His obituary mentions that he was the proprietor of saw mills into two towns for years. In 1861, he is listed as residing in Clarke, Durham with his wife and three small children. He is living very close to Maria’s parents. In 1871, the family is still in Clarke and now there are seven children. By 1881, things start to change…In the 1881 census, Albin and Maria have moved up into Millbrook, Cavan, Durham, where he is now a Sawmillman. The three eldest daughters are married and living with their husbands, the three middle children are living with their parents and the two youngest are not living with the family. By 1891, the family has been split apart. In the 1891 census, Albin is residing in Millbrook with his son in law George Lock and his family. He lists himself as married but Maria is not living with him. In fact, Maria is found in this census back in Clarke living with sons Fred and Wilbert. She lists herself as widowed. By 1901, she is working as a live-in housekeeper for a man by the name of Samuel Halladay. Both are widowed. Albin, on the other hand, is living in Millbrook and with a couple named Leith and is a domestic for them. I am not sure what the indication of C.W. is in marital status but that is what is listed for him. Clearly something happened to the couple that they spent over 10 years living apart and claiming to be widowed.
Albin died on the 19th of September 1908 in Millbrook. His death was reported by his son in law George Lock. His obituary ran a few weeks later in the local newspaper. Maria died two years later in August 1910 in Kendall, Clarke, Durham – she had been sick for some time. Her death was reported by her son in law John Powers.
The couple has left many descendants, some of which still reside in the area around Whitby, Oshawa and Lindsay. I have many DNA cousins out there who share this family history. I only hope to continue the search fro Albin’s ancestors in hopes of finding out just who they were, and where the name Albin Giles really comes from?!