Ancestral Histories
Family History Cultural Research Report
Ontario, Canada
I have some ancestors in who traveled from Germany to Ontario Canada. I tried to research there city in Germany, but I wasn’t able to find anything so I decided to study Ontario Canada during 1840. I know that My ancestor Ignatius Weiler died in Ontario Canada in 1840.
During 1832 they completed Ridaeu Canal from Kingston to Ottowa. This canal took them 6 years to build. By 1840 they were deep in debt because of the canals that they had built. Also in 1832 an outbreak of cholera killed thousands in southern Canada. In 1837 there were two separate rebellions. They were inspired by the American Revolution. Unfortunately the British military stopped both rebellions, diminishing any hope of Canada becoming a Republic.
I believe that my ancestor probably came into Canada during the time of rebellion so I tried to research more about it. The Canadians uprising really progressed the fall of 1837. The started gathering mass groups of people for demonstrations. There were three major speakers for the uprising of the people. Their names were Joseph Howe in Nova Scotia, Louis-Joseph Papineau in Lower Canada and William Lyon Mackenzie in Upper Canada.
Louis-Joseph Papineau’s main message was that the people needed to “elect their own justices of peace.” The demonstrations were not satisfying their political needs. They decided that they needed to take it a step further. One rebel said “the time for speeches has passed, it is lead we must now send to our enemies.” Soldiers started arriving in Montreal, I think because they realized that the rebels were started to want to take a violent rise against the government. That increased the tension that the rebels were already feeling. High treason was issued for all the major speakers of the rebellion. On November 23 1837, the 300 British soldiers confront 800 patriots, and the battle begins. The battle lasts for six hours. The British soldiers are ordered to retreat. They were caught by surprise which led the rebels to a victory! However, later on the British were able to overpower the rebels. Some rebels surrendered while others fought to the death. The battles continues to be bloody. Some rebels try and escape to the American border, while others are captured and taken prisoner.
From 1874-1880 my ancestors migrates to the United States. While I am unsure of the cause of their move, I do know that they moved to Kansas, Nebraska and eventually to California.
Nauvoo History
I read a document titled “Owens Nauvoo History.” In it they describe my ancestors life James Clark Owens. He was taught the gospel by Lyman Wight and John Whitman and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Times were hard for them because of the mob and they couldn’t follow the saints for 2 years because he was a stone mason and the mob wanted him to stay and work for them. He built five large brick houses for his family. All of them were destroyed by the mob. Many threats were made to his family. They would pass by the house and say that they were going to kill them. One time they did enter into the home and hurt James Owens pretty badly. However, they never did kill him because they valued his skill too much. The mob even tried to offer James Clark money to deny what Joseph Smith said and to work for them. But he would not deny what he knew to be true. James son said what a good example James Clark Owens was to him. He said that he would do all he could to help the saints. He was threatened, abused and arrested because of his help. But, because of his great example and his great faith in Christ and his belief of what Joseph Smith had taught him, his son learned to love and admire Joseph Smith.
Amelia Owens (daughter of James Clark Owens) gives an account of everything she witnessed during this time. Reading the accounts of what she had to see is unbelievable. She had to see people tarred and feathered, beaten to death. She had to see her own mother called names. She witnessed so many threats upon her life and her families. She even witnessed a heavy door crashing on her mother and knocking her unconscious.
It was very interesting to read this and read all the trials that my ancestors had to go in at the time. I have never had anything like this happen to me but I have interned at a counseling office where others describe the pain and suffering that they have witnessed or endured and it is very scaring for them. I can’t imagine what my ancestors went through during this time period. For some reason it is so much more meaningful to read actual accounts of my ancestors during this time. I often have read accounts of other stories of the early latter day saints and it is just truly amazing what they went through!
North Carolina
My husbands ancestors are from North Carolina. I did some research to find out a little bit of history during the 1850’s. The 1850’s were a changing time in North Carolina. Railroads were starting to be built all around. Education reforms were being created. So this was a great time for the residents of North Carolina. Their children were starting to get great public education. Transportation was starting to get to distant farmlands. Unfortunately slavery was very common, even more than it had been in the past. About one third of the state was slaves. That means that more than likely my husband’s ancestors owned slaves. Later on the beginning of the Civil War started.
Ontario, Canada
I have some ancestors in who traveled from Germany to Ontario Canada. I tried to research there city in Germany, but I wasn’t able to find anything so I decided to study Ontario Canada during 1840. I know that My ancestor Ignatius Weiler died in Ontario Canada in 1840.
During 1832 they completed Ridaeu Canal from Kingston to Ottowa. This canal took them 6 years to build. By 1840 they were deep in debt because of the canals that they had built. Also in 1832 an outbreak of cholera killed thousands in southern Canada. In 1837 there were two separate rebellions. They were inspired by the American Revolution. Unfortunately the British military stopped both rebellions, diminishing any hope of Canada becoming a Republic.
I believe that my ancestor probably came into Canada during the time of rebellion so I tried to research more about it. The Canadians uprising really progressed the fall of 1837. The started gathering mass groups of people for demonstrations. There were three major speakers for the uprising of the people. Their names were Joseph Howe in Nova Scotia, Louis-Joseph Papineau in Lower Canada and William Lyon Mackenzie in Upper Canada.
Louis-Joseph Papineau’s main message was that the people needed to “elect their own justices of peace.” The demonstrations were not satisfying their political needs. They decided that they needed to take it a step further. One rebel said “the time for speeches has passed, it is lead we must now send to our enemies.” Soldiers started arriving in Montreal, I think because they realized that the rebels were started to want to take a violent rise against the government. That increased the tension that the rebels were already feeling. High treason was issued for all the major speakers of the rebellion. On November 23 1837, the 300 British soldiers confront 800 patriots, and the battle begins. The battle lasts for six hours. The British soldiers are ordered to retreat. They were caught by surprise which led the rebels to a victory! However, later on the British were able to overpower the rebels. Some rebels surrendered while others fought to the death. The battles continues to be bloody. Some rebels try and escape to the American border, while others are captured and taken prisoner.
From 1874-1880 my ancestors migrates to the United States. While I am unsure of the cause of their move, I do know that they moved to Kansas, Nebraska and eventually to California.
Nauvoo History
I read a document titled “Owens Nauvoo History.” In it they describe my ancestors life James Clark Owens. He was taught the gospel by Lyman Wight and John Whitman and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Times were hard for them because of the mob and they couldn’t follow the saints for 2 years because he was a stone mason and the mob wanted him to stay and work for them. He built five large brick houses for his family. All of them were destroyed by the mob. Many threats were made to his family. They would pass by the house and say that they were going to kill them. One time they did enter into the home and hurt James Owens pretty badly. However, they never did kill him because they valued his skill too much. The mob even tried to offer James Clark money to deny what Joseph Smith said and to work for them. But he would not deny what he knew to be true. James son said what a good example James Clark Owens was to him. He said that he would do all he could to help the saints. He was threatened, abused and arrested because of his help. But, because of his great example and his great faith in Christ and his belief of what Joseph Smith had taught him, his son learned to love and admire Joseph Smith.
Amelia Owens (daughter of James Clark Owens) gives an account of everything she witnessed during this time. Reading the accounts of what she had to see is unbelievable. She had to see people tarred and feathered, beaten to death. She had to see her own mother called names. She witnessed so many threats upon her life and her families. She even witnessed a heavy door crashing on her mother and knocking her unconscious.
It was very interesting to read this and read all the trials that my ancestors had to go in at the time. I have never had anything like this happen to me but I have interned at a counseling office where others describe the pain and suffering that they have witnessed or endured and it is very scaring for them. I can’t imagine what my ancestors went through during this time period. For some reason it is so much more meaningful to read actual accounts of my ancestors during this time. I often have read accounts of other stories of the early latter day saints and it is just truly amazing what they went through!
North Carolina
My husbands ancestors are from North Carolina. I did some research to find out a little bit of history during the 1850’s. The 1850’s were a changing time in North Carolina. Railroads were starting to be built all around. Education reforms were being created. So this was a great time for the residents of North Carolina. Their children were starting to get great public education. Transportation was starting to get to distant farmlands. Unfortunately slavery was very common, even more than it had been in the past. About one third of the state was slaves. That means that more than likely my husband’s ancestors owned slaves. Later on the beginning of the Civil War started.