Jen's Genealogy Pages

Amy Johnson Crow, on her blog No Story Too Small, has challenged her fellow bloggers to post 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. This is week eight.

My great-great grandfather Harrison Thomas was the second son born to Reuben Thomas and Melissa Haight. Reuben was an immigrant from Cornwall, England, while Melissa had been born in Canada. Reuben and Melissa had 11 children – five boys and six girls – not all of whom lived into adulthood.

Harrison was born on December 30, 1846. On the 1851 census, the 5 year old Harrison is shown with Reuben (32), Melissa (31), Nicholas (7), Philander (4), Sophronia (2) and baby Silas (1). Not shown is Harrison’s older sister Agnes who passed away just a few months after he was born at three years of age. Also with the family is a servant, Catherine MacVale (20).

The 1861 census shows Reuben (43), Melissa (at a very young – and wrong – 29), Nicholas (16), Harrison (15), Philander (13), Sophronia (12), Silas (10), Idilia (5), Cynthia (2). In the gap between Silas and Idilia were William and Jane. William passed away at not quite a month old and Jane was not quite a year old when she died.

On December 14, 1870, Harrison married Elizabeth Heal, daughter of James and Helen Heal. The 1871 census shows Harrison and Elizabeth living in Whitby East, Ontario. But sometime before 1874, Elizabeth passed away. I have yet to discover a death record of any sort for Elizabeth but on June 9, 1874, Harrison remarries.

Harrison Thomas and his first wife, Elizabeth Heal

On that day, Harrison married Jane Summerville, daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth Summerville. The marriage registration shows Harrison as a bachelor, despite his previous marriage.

Jane Summerville Thomas

On May 25, 1875, Gertrude Ethel Thomas is born to Harrison and Jane. Three years later, on April 10, 1878 another daughter joins the family, Maud Evelyn.

Sadly, Harrison passed away from consumption on December 5, 1878. He is soon followed by Maud on March 30, 1879.