John Clazie (abt. 1829 - 1875)

Born about 1829 in Berwickshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Martha Smith — married 26 Mar 1861 (to 3 Jun 1875) in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 3 Jun 1875 at about age 46 in Sidney Township, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Paul Fergie [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Clezie Name Study.

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Clezie_Name_Study

Note: Spelling varied wildly before the 20th century. Anyone searching for ancestors in this family should consider alternative spellings: Clazey, Clazie, Clazy, Clezie, Clezy. The name has even been found as Clacey, Clacy, Claisye, Claise, Clasey, Clasie, Cleasie, Clisy, Clize, Clizzee.

John was born about 1829 in Berwickshire, southern Scotland, the exact date and place unknown. He was the son of William Clazie and Isabella Purves, who were farm servants, moving from place to place, wherever work was available. The 1841 U.K. census showed John was age 12 and lived with his parents at Hutton, Berwickshire. Other people in that vicinity used the spellings Clazey, Clazy, Clezie, Clezy.

In April, 1842 John sailed from Liverpool on the ship "England" to New York. What were the circumstances? The ship's list showed "Jno. Clazey, 13, male". No similar surnames were found on the ship. Was he sent by his parents, or was he a runaway? Or perhaps most likely, a cabin-boy, working on the ship?

The ship "England" arrived in New York on 9 May 1842. But John seems to have later returned to the UK: the 1851 UK census showed him, age 22, living with his parents at Wynfield Farm, near Whitsome, Berwickshire. So, it seems to make most sense that John, a young teenager, had been working on the ship; we don't have all the facts.

About 1852, John's elder brother, William Clazie and his wife Jane Grieve, migrated to Canada, where they settled at Thurlow, Ontario. And that is near where John was next found: the 1861 Canada census showed "John Clacy", age 28, a servant for a Wallace family, at the town of Cobourg, Ontario, about 6 km or 4 miles from Thurlow. It seems likely that John didn't know either his exact age, or how to spell his name.

While at Cobourg, John married another servant, Martha Smith; but what was the date? One source shows the marriage was on 26 March 1861. Another source says it was on 27 March 1862. Which year is correct?

Their first child was born in January 1863, a daughter, Isabella, possibly named jointly after John Clazie's mother, Isabella Purves, and Martha Smith's mother, Isabella Grant. Their only son, born in 1864, was called James - not reflecting either grandfather. Two further daughters were named Martha (1867) and Margaret (1869).

The 1871 Canada census showed this family at Maryborough North Township, in southwestern Ontario. But the census mistakenly called the husband "James" - that was actually their son! So much confusion over names and dates.

They moved farther west, to Port Elgin, now called Saugeen Shores, on Lake Huron. John Clazie passed away there in 1875. The circumstances of his early death are unknown. He was apparently 46, but the grave marker shows age 42, reenforcing the belief that he didn't know his exact age.

He was buried at Sanctuary Park, Port Elgin, where the inscription says:

"In memory of my beloved husband, John Clazie, who died June 3, 1875, age 42 years, a native of Berwickshire, Scotland”.

His widow, Martha, remarried in 1880 to Samuel Evans but had no more children. She lived until 1920.

^[1]

Do you have information about John Clazie? Please contribute to his biography.m Everything on WikiTree is a collaborative work-in-progress.

Sources

• http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/passengerlists/

• 1851 U.K. census, Whitsome, Berwickshire

• 1861 Canada census, Cobourg, Ontario

• https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?q.birthLikeDate.from=1801&q.birthLikeDate.to=1811&q.givenName=Isabella&q.otherGivenName=Martha&q.otherSurname=Smith&q.spouseGivenName=John&q.spouseSurname=Smith&q.surname=Grant

• 1871 Canada census, Marysborough North, Ontario

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184603117/john-clazie

Footnotes

1. ↑ Entered by Rick Heiser, Feb 17, 2013

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Rick Heiser for starting this profile.

Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Rick and others.