The Families of John Gibson and William Gibson in the 1871 Census of Canada

While at the Family History Library recently, one of my goals was to obtain additional records of the Gibson family in the Canadian Census. I had previously presented the records from the 1851 Census and the 1861 Census. The records below show the families of John Gibson and William Gibson in the 1871 Census of Canada.

Gibson Families in the 1871 Census of Canada – Page 46

SOURCE: John Gibson and William Gibson Households, 1871 Canada East Census (Québec), Parish of St. Georges de Clarenceville, Missisquoi County, page 46, lines 18-20. National Archives of Canada Film C-10070 Nominal. Microfilm FHL US/CAN Census Area 0493463, Family History Library [FHL], Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gibson Families in the 1871 Census of Canada – Page 47

SOURCE: John Gibson and William Gibson Households, 1871 Canada East Census (Québec), Parish of St. Georges de Clarenceville, Missisquoi County, page 47, lines 1-5 National Archives of Canada Film C-10070 Nominal. Microfilm FHL US/CAN Census Area 0493463, Family History Library [FHL], Salt Lake City, Utah.

The images are difficult to read, but most of the information can be deciphered.

Census of 1871
Province of Quebec
District No. 125 Missisquoi
Sub-District b, Parish of St. George de Clarenceville
Schedule No. 1 – Nominal Return of the Living

Page 46

Line 18, Dwelling 172, Family 178
Name: Gibson, John
Sex: M[ale]
Age: 70
Country or Province of Birth: United States
Religion: W. Methodist
Origin: Irish
Profession, Occupation or Trade: Farmer
Married or Widowed: M[arried]

Line 19, Dwelling 172, Family 178
Name: ” [Gibson], Sarah
Sex: F[emale]
Age: 54
Country or Province of Birth: ” [United States]
Religion: ” [W. Methodist]
Origin: ” [Irish]
Profession, Occupation or Trade: –
Married or Widowed: M[arried]

Line 20, Dwelling 172, Family 178
Name: ” [Gibson], James
Sex: M[ale]
Age: 34
Country or Province of Birth: Quebec
Religion: ” [W. Methodist]
Origin: ” [Irish]
Profession, Occupation or Trade: –
Married or Widowed: –

Page 47 

Line 1, Dwelling 172, Family 178
Name: Gibson, George
Sex: M[ale]
Age: 21
Country or Province of Birth: Quebec
Religion: W. Methodist
Origin: Irish
Profession, Occupation or Trade: –
Married or Widowed: –

Line 2, Dwelling 173, Family 179
Name: Gibson, William
Sex: M[ale]
Age: 34
Country or Province of Birth: ” [Quebec]
Religion: ” [W. Methodist]
Origin: ” [Irish]
Profession, Occupation or Trade: –
Married or Widowed: M[arried]

Line 3, Dwelling 173, Family 179
Name: ” [Gibson], Margaret
Sex: F[emale]
Age: 38
Country or Province of Birth: ” [Quebec]
Religion: ” [W. Methodist]
Origin: ” [Irish]
Profession, Occupation or Trade: –
Married or Widowed: M[arried]

Line 4, Dwelling 173, Family 179
Name: ” [Gibson], [Sothemon?]
Sex: M[ale]
Age: 8
Country or Province of Birth: ” [Quebec]
Religion: ” [W. Methodist]
Origin: ” [Irish]
Profession, Occupation or Trade: –
Married or Widowed: –

Line 5, Dwelling 173, Family 179
Name: ” [Gibson], Carrie
Sex: F[emale]
Age: 6
Country or Province of Birth: ” [Quebec]
Religion: ” [W. Methodist]
Origin: ” [Irish]
Profession, Occupation or Trade: –
Married or Widowed: –

I had previously discovered that John Gibson (born about 1800) and Sarah Waters (born about 1804) had six children: Clark (born in 1823), James (born in about 1830), Martha (born in about 1833), William (born in about 1836), Sarah (born in about 1841), and George (born in about 1849).

John, Sarah, James, William, and George are mentioned in this record. Their ages in this record agree with the information I previously found, except for Sarah (who should be about 67 in this record, but is reported as 54) and James (who should be about 41, but is listed as 34).

Clark had previously married and was enumerated on another page. William is enumerated with his spouse and children immediately after John’s family. I don’t know where Martha and Sarah were in 1871, but it is likely they were married and enumerated with their spouses.

I was unable to read the first name of William’s son. While in the Family History Library, I asked some of the staff if they could read the name, but none of us could tell what the name should be.

I didn’t realize at the time, but the Family History Library has microfilm copies of the other schedules of the 1871 Census, including the Agricultural Schedule. I’ll have to look up the Agricultural Schedule the next time I’m in Salt Lake City.