Home Sweet Homestead: SIMs in Ontario

Recently, Ontario Genealogy posted records on Ontario pioneers and the location of their homes. In the 1870 list for Cramahe Township, Northumberland, we find a James SIMM at “bf pt 30 t.”

• In the 1871 census for Cramahe, we found 52 year old James SIM as head of household; occupation laborer. Wife Elizabeth is 39 and not employed outside of home. Children listed were Isabella (16), Mary (14), Sarah (12), Margaret (10), Emma (8), Jemima (4) and our ancestor John Wm (8 months old).

The site location referenced in the pioneer document translates to “broken front concession, part of lot 30, tenant”. A broken front concession is when a lot is on a shore. Tenant indicates that he did not own the property.

We found an old map of Northumberland and located lot 30 – which is on the shore of Lake Ontario. This map also showed the location of the houses on the property. One of these homes is where the SIM family lived.

Lot 30
Black squares show the houses.

Comparing the old map to Google maps, we can see that some of the homes are still there and there are a few foundations left of those that were demolished. Back in 1870, it was a dense cedar forest. Today, most of the area is now part of Victoria Beach, Ontario.  There is a large gravel pit nearby.

Victoria Beach was a famous vacation spot for the wealthy at the turn of the century. The forest was cleared by 1894 and there were numerous hotels. By 1901, James and Elizabeth had moved into their daughter's home in Cramahe Township.  James passed away in 1902 and Elizabeth in 1907. 

Victoria Beach is rated as one of the best beaches in Ontario today.  If you are in the area and can visit, send us some photos and we can post them on this blog.

Read more about the history of Victoria Beach.

Elizabeth’s Twin Sister - Mary Ann GRUER-SIM (1832-1916)

Mary Ann GRUER-SIM

Photo courtesy cousin Sherry T.

George SIM's grand aunt, paternal line

 Mary Ann was the twin sister of our ancestor Elizabeth GRUER (1832-1907).  We do not know if they were identical or fraternal twins.  They were born 12 May 1832 in Hastings, Sussex, England and were christened 17 March 1833 at St. Clements Croft Congregational Church in Hastings.

Mary Ann had a relationship with William ANDERSON that produced a son, William Gruer ANDERSON in 1855 Scotland.  This child remained in Scotland and was reared by his father.  The photos of Mary Ann were obtained from William's descendants.  On the back of the photo #1 (above) is written, "To my dear Willie from his dear mother, Mrs. Wm Sim, Trinity Square, Toronto, Ontario, December 22, 1879" according to cousin Sherry T.  Photo #2 (left) was dated 12 May 1892.

Mary Ann married William SIM (1823-1881) who was the younger brother of our ancestor James SIM (2 brothers married twin sisters).  By 1861, they moved to Colborne, Northumberland, Canada.  (James and Elizabeth moved there about 1855-56.)  William was a baker/confectioner and a tea merchant.

In the 1861 census, they had one child, Sarah Ann SIM-CROWDEN (1853-1886).  If this date of birth is correct, she is likely not the biological daughter of Mary Ann.

Between 1861 and 1870, the family had returned to Aberdeen.  Sarah married in 1870 in Aberdeen and remained in Scotland.

By 1881, William and Mary Ann were living in Toronto, Ontario.  Elizabeth’s daughter Maggie SIM was living in their home in 1881.  In August of that year, William passed away of "uremia" or "disease of the kidneys".  On his death registry, he was listed as a commercial traveler, so he must have continued with his tea trade while in Canada.  He is buried in the Necropolis Cemetery in Toronto and interestingly, the plot was owned by “J SIMS”.  James must have helped pay for his burial.

William's obit from the Sim Scrapbook

 
Mary Ann was still in Toronto for the 1891 census.  In 1911, she was living in Elizabeth’s daughter’s (Sarah COX) home in Northumberland.

Mary Ann died 24 November 1916 in Wooler, Ontario, age 84, due to old age and myocardiac gastritis.  She is laid to rest next to her twin sister in Salem Cemetery in Colborne.  James, Elizabeth and Mary Ann share a gravestone.

Visit her on-line memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=153020327

Magdalane WHYTE (WHITE)-GRUER (1807-1893)

George SIM > John Wm SIM > Elizabeth GRUER-SIM > Magdalane WHYTE-GRUER

BIRTH - Magdalane Whyte was born September 6, 1807 in Forfarshire, Angus, Scotland.  Her father was Alexander Whyte and her mother was Janet Walker.

On the early documents she was listed as Whyte.  After her marriage, Whyte changed to White on the records of her children's births.  Her first name has been recorded with several different spellings on various documents.  However, her birth record stated Magdalane.

MARRIAGE - Magdalane married William Grewer (Gruer) on October 27, 1829 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.  They had at least 11 children which included Flora, twins: Elizabeth and Mary Ann, William, Jesse Magdalen, Isabella, John, Alexander, Daniel, David and James.

England, Wales, Scotland Census Reports:

1841    Age 32     Living with husband and 6 children on Grant Street, Moray, Duffus,
                            Scotland
1851    Age 43     Living with husband and 7 children and one grandchild on Nether Mill
                            Street, Aberdeenshire, Aberdour, Scotland
1861                    Not listed on census that included her husband, 2 children and one
                            grand child living on Church Street, Banffshire, Rathven, Scotland
1871    Age 63     Magdalane is living with her husband who is retired and her daughter,
                            Isabella Stuart,  who is 26 and unmarried in Moray, Drainie, Scotland
1881    Age 73     Widow, living at 27 King Street, Moray, Drainie, Scotland
1891    Age 83     Widow, annuitant, living on King Street, Moray, Drainie, Scotland

On September 9, 1888, Magdalane wrote the following in the Sim Scrapbook:

Maggie Gruer      Mount Forest, Ont     Arrived from Scotland

Signature from the Sim Scrapbook

DEATH - Magdalane Whyte Gruer died on April 3, 1893, age 85, in Branderburgh, Lossiemouth, Scotland.

Obituary from the Sim Scrapbook



Journey from Scotland to Australia

George SIM > John Wm SIM > Elizabeth GRUER-SIM

Imagine Elizabeth Gruer (1832-1907) and her sister Flora (1831-) leaving their home and family in Scotland for the chance at better lives (and rich husbands) in Australia.

In 1850 Scotland, people were being evicted from their farms.  Many took the opportunity to leave the country and the most popular destinations were Australia and Canada.  Australia needed women and young women were often given free passage.  Advertisements were targeted towards women in work houses and orphanages.  There was also a gold rush in Australia about this time.

From Sidney's Immigrant Journal

 

The girls left Liverpool on 16 June 1851 on a ship called The Reliance (805 tons) under Captain Henry B. FELL.  The journey would take a grueling 3 months. 

View the passenger list (single women are at the bottom of the page)
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/reliance1851.shtml

You may note that there is also a James SIM on this manifest and there is a theory that this was Elizabeth's future husband, but no documentation has been found to support this. 

Ship manifest includes 313 emigrants and ships surgeon-superintendent J. ROBERTSON. Historical records tell of seasickness, disease and lice infestations. Rations were meager and conditions were similar to what they had been aboard the earlier convict ships. There was an unusually high number of deaths on this ship.  The first casualty was 24 year old female who died of a “disease of the heart” one month into the journey.  On July 22, a male passenger went insane and threw himself overboard.  Four adults and one child died of typhoid fever, 2 adults died of consumption, 1 adult died of diarrhea, an infant died of mesenteric disease and 4 other infants died of lung inflammation.

Enduring these dismal conditions, the girls finally landed in Port Adelaide, South Australia on 13 Sep 1851. 

If the GRUER sisters didn’t have a contact in Adelaide, there was a welcoming committee that took the girls into communal housing until they could get work.   Elizabeth and Flora planned on working as servants.  Conditions were poor in this housing and it is likely they started working right away. Both girls soon landed husbands.  Though things did not work out for Elizabeth, Flora married James SMITH (1827-) and had 11 children.  Her descendants are still living in Australia today.

* * *

Baggage, mail and cargo were not moved from the ship for several weeks because the crew deserted to seek their fortune in the gold fields.  Captain FELL wrote to the Adelaide Times on the 27th November 1851:

Passengers that caused problems were placed in the brig and then, taken to court upon arrival (South Australian Register)

 

The Reliance stayed in port until February 1852 when she set sail for Bombay (Australian Register).

References:

Details about the journey to Australia:
https://grisdalefamily.wordpress.com/tag/ship-reliance/

More information on Scotland emigration:
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotsandaustralia/orphangirls/

Elizabeth GRUER-SIM (1832 - 1907)

George SIM > John Wm SIM > Elizabeth GRUER-SIM

BIRTH - Elizabeth Gruer was born May 12, 1832 in Hastings, County of Sussex, England. Her twin was Mary Ann Gruer.  Elizabeth was known as Betsey.  She was the daughter of William Gruer and Magdalane Whyte (White).  Her parents were of Scottish descent.  However, William Gruer was in the Coast Guard and they lived at various locations in England and Scotland.

 

Elizabeth's Birth Certificate and Registry for the twins

PERSONAL LIFE

Scotland:
On May 15, 1851 at the age of 19, Elizabeth Gruer had a daughter, Jessie Coglan Gruer, born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.  Jessie's father was Timothy Coglan.  She was raised by her grandparents.

Australia:
One month later, on June 10, 1851 Elizabeth and her sister, Flora, left from Liverpool, England on the ship, Reliance, arriving in Port Adelaide, South Australia on September 13, 1851.  She is listed on the ship's manifest as a single woman who is a servant from Aberdeen, Scotland.  Her daughter, Jessie Gruer, remained in Scotland with Elizabeth's parents. Read more about Eliza's journey.

From an Adelaide Observer, Sep 1852

On March 8, 1852 at St. John's Church, Adelaide, S. Australia, Elizabeth married Thomas Holland Edge.  In the South Australia newspaper, articles were found showing that Elizabeth (Betsey) & Flora's parents along with the emigration agent were looking for them.

Government Gazette, 31 July 1852

In September 1852 an article was found that stated Elizabeth Edge charged Thomas Edge with beating her and threatening to take her life.  Another article found charged Thomas Holland Edge with desertion by his wife, Elizabeth Edge.  Yet another article listed Thomas Edge on the inquest of the murder of Thomas Cornell.  Thomas along with two other "bushrangers" escaped prosecution.

Adelaide Observer, 30 April 1853


A daughter, Eliza Edge, was born on March 10, 1853 from this union.  Eliza Edge died on May 6, 1854 at the age of one.  Cause of death has not been found.  Baby Eliza Edge is buried in West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, Australia.

Scotland:
Elizabeth next showed up in Drainie, Moray, Scotland on May 27, 1855 with the birth of a daughter, Isabella Sim, with her husband, James Sim.  No divorce from Thomas Edge or marriage to James Sim have been found.

Canada:
Later in 1855 the Sim family moved to Canada.  They settle in Northumberland, Ontario and appear on the 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1901 Canada Census Reports.  Elizabeth Gruer Sim lived in Canada for 52 years.

FAMILY - Elizabeth and James Sim had at least 8 children.  They are Isabella, Mary, Sarah, Margaret, Emma, Willie, Jemima and John.  Three of the children died young.  They include Willie who was one-day old; Emma, eight years old; and Margaret who was 25.  Elizabeth's daughter, Jessie Gruer, joined the family in Canada some time after 1879, and was known as Jessie Gruer Sim Skinner. Read more about their children here.

OCCUPATION - Besides wife and mother, a Sim scrapbook article on Elizabeth dated April 1889 stated Mrs. James Sim was an agent for home improvements in their village.  She appeared to be a well-respected member of the community.

From the Sim Scrapbook

DEATH - Elizabeth Gruer Sim died on Saturday, July 20, 1907 at the age of 75 in Northumberland, Ontario, Canada.  She was buried in Salem Cemetery, Cramahe, Ontario.

 

Obituaries

From the Sim Scrapbook

Visit her On-Line Memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=116859255

Thomas Edge Charged with Murder (prior to marriage to Elizabeth), Colonial News, 1845

Elizabeth Gruer-Sim was my favorite ancestor to research.  She was a pioneer, a risk-taker and a woman before her time.  I believe the Sim Scrapbook was started by her.  It shows she loved fashion, the Royal Family of England, poems about life and her religion.  For a short time, someone continued to place articles in the book after her death.  The scrapbook gave us a peek into her life.  

James SIM (1818 - 1902)

Flag of Scotland

George SIM > John Wm SIM > James SIM

BIRTH - James Sim was born May 12, 1818 in Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland. William George Sim had always said William was James' middle name. Bill said he was the fourth Sim to have William in his name. We have been unable to find James Sim until the time he is with Elizabeth Gruer.

Click here for Map of Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland

OCCUPATION - 1871 and 1881 Canadian Census reports list James as a laborer. His 1902 Register of Death states he was a farmer.

FAMILY - No records have been found of his actual marriage, date or place. Many documents list his wife as Elizabeth Gruer. He was the stepfather of Jessie Coglan Gruer Sim. James was the father of Isabella, Mary, Sarah, Margaret, Emma, Willie, Jemima and John. Read more about their children here. James' brother, William Sim, was married to his wife's twin, Mary Ann Gruer. We also found a  George Sim, who was married to his wife's sister, Isabella Stewart Gruer.  We do not know if George is James' brother or a cousin due to a 30-year age difference.

James, Elizabeth and their daughter, Isabella, immigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1855.

CANADA CENSUS REPORTS

186l    Age 43    Percy, Northumberland, ON                Religion FC (Free Church or
                                                                                     Presbyterian)
1871   Age 52    Cramahe, E. Northumberland, ON      Religion Presbyterian
1881   Age 62    Colborne, Northumberland East, ON  Religion E. Methodist
1891   Family not found
1901   Age 83    E. Northumberland, ON                      Religion Presbyterian
           James is living with his daughter and son-in-law, Sarah & Edward Cox.

Click here for Map of Northumberland, Ontario, Canada

DEATH - James Sim died from general debility on Friday, June 27, 1902 at the home of his son, John Sim, who lived at 138 Summit Street, Batavia, NY. He was 84-years old.  His death transcript states his parents were Edward Sim and Mary Gala. No information has been found on his parents. He was buried in the Salem Cemetery, Cramahe, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada.

  

Obituaries from the Sim Scrapbook

Death Registry

Visit his on-line memorial
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=116859139

Reference:
SIM is included in Clan Fraser and more clan information is available on-line:
http://www.scotclans.com/scottish-clans/clan-fraser-of-lovat/fraser-of-lovat-history/

Read about SIM male Y-DNA test results