From:                              Robert Ross [rnross@apci.net]

Sent:                               25 June 2007 04:58

To:                                   ajs@fivenine.co.uk

Subject:                          Ellen Marian Sparkes Swindale

 

Mr.  Swindale:

 

Greetings from the States. 

 

I came across your website and notice you had an entry for Ellen Marian Sparkes Swindale.  I am researching my wife's family history.  Ellen Marian Sparkes Swindale is her 2nd Great-Grandmother.  Ellen M. S. Swindale was the daughter of John Swindale and Marian Creeggan (also spelled Creggan).  This is what I know of the family (spelling is as found in the various records):

26 July 1859: Marriage of John Swindale and Marian Creeggan in the Parish Church of Stroke Damerel, Devon, England (Source Register Book of Marriages).  I have a copy of this record. 

Apr-Jun 1860: Ellen Marain Sparks Swindale birth registered in Stoke Dameral, Devon, England [Source: England and Wales, Birth Marriage Death Index, 1837-1983]

Apr-Jun 1860: A John Swindale's death is recorded in the quarter of Apr-Jun 1860 in Plymouth, Devonshire, England. [Source: England & Wales Free Birth Marriage Death Index: 1837-1983]

18 July 1860: Baptism Record for Ellen Marian Sparkes Swindale at the Garrison Chapel, Devonport, County of Devon, England; Baptized - 3 June 1860; Child's Christian name: Ellen Marian Sparks; Parents Name: John and Marian SWINDALE; Abode: S---ly Fields (possibly Stanley); Profession: Sergeant Royal Artillery); ceremony performed by Hugh Hulealt, Garrison Chaplin  (I have a copy of this record.)

1861: UK Census for Stoke Dameral, Devonport, Devon, England.  Maria(n) Swindale, age 19, is listed as a widow. She and her daughter Ellen M. S. Swindale are living with Marian's parents John and Maria Creggan.  John Creggan was also in the Royal Artillery. 

1861: Marian Swindale married James Bewton (possibly Burton) Wilson in late 1861. Marriage was registered between Oct-Dec 1861. [Source: England & Wales Free Birth Marriage Death Index: 1837-1983]

About 1880: Ellen Swindale immigrated to Canada in 1880 according to the 1901 Canada Federal census.  Her step-father and mother remained behind in the UK.

5 March 1880: Ellen M. S. Wilson marries Charles Foster Whitehead Brown in Frontenac, Ontario, Canada. The marriage record identifies her as 22, born England, and lists her parents as James and Mary Wilson. Based on this, Ellen appears to have taken her step-father's name and was possibly adopted by him. [Source: Registration of Marriages, 1857-1922, Ontario, Canada. Marriage from the Ontario Marriage Index 1858-1899.]

16 March 1948: Ellen Marian Sparkes Swindale Brown dies in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.  Date of Death from British Columbia Death Index: 1872 to 1979, which also lists her birth as 15 May 1860.

I know nothing else regarding John Swindale.  I was hoping that perhaps you might have discovered additional information.  I believe Ellen's second middle name of Sparkes is a family name, and your reference to Cecilia Anna Maria Bronton Sparkes is intriguing.

Regards,

Bob Ross

 

Alan:

 

Thank you for the response.  A lot of good information here that I'll have to work through. 

 

Please feel free to use the information I've provided to you on your web site, as well as adding my contact information.  My wife's grandmother indicated that she had "cousins" (from the Creggan side) still living in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada but we never got any details from her before she died.  Hopefully, someday one of them will be researching this and find your web site.

 

The military connection is interesting.  John Creggan (Marian Creggan's father), was a Sergeant in the Royal Artillery.  Marian's brothers George and William were also in the Royal Artillery (although William did not make it a career); George immigrated to Canada in the 1860s.  Marian Creggan was "Born at Sea" in 1842 in the South Atlantic Ocean (this is repeated in several UK Census records).  Charles Foster Whitehead Brown, Ellen Marian Sparkes Swindale's husband was in the Royal Artillery as well, and he also immigrated to Canada in the 1860s shortly after he "joined up".  Charles Browne was still in the Army at the time of the 1881 Canadian Federal Census.  Ellen's step-father, James B. Wilson was also a Sergeant in the Royal Artillery, and was stationed in Devon at the time of her father's death.  

 

It would be interesting to see if there are any surviving military records and what they might say.  I have experience researching my ancestor's military records here in the US; but have no idea where to start for British military records.  

 

Charles was 18 years senior to Ellen, so the age difference between Marian Creggan and John Swindale is certainly a possibility.  Charles and Ellen Swindale Brown appear in the 1881, 1901, and 1911 Canadian Federal Census for the province of Ontario. 

 

Like you, I'm easily distracted, but everyone once in a while that distraction pays off...

 

Bob