I am a new member who has not been able to add to my tree back this far. I wanted to post the question as I have been investigating this for a while and have not found answers yet.
My Great Great Grandfather was named John Hazel. He came to Canada as a child (age around 8 according to him). He believed he was born in 1864 or 1867 (he alternated between writing these dates and recording these dates in the census). Most times he states his birthdate is 22 Sep. He never knew his parents names, only that he was born in England. We do not know how he got to Canada or why. He lived with and grew up with a couple named Joseph and Jane Tripp in Fish Lake, Sophiasburgh, Prince Edward Ontario. The Ontario Census's are all different when referring to him. One later census notes that John arrived in Canada in 1872. I know that as a young man he went to California to attend Stockton Business College. I have his text books with his name and location in them and the postcards he sent back and forth to the Tripp's. He returned some time after the 1881 Ontario Census (he is not on it). His granddaughter recalled John talking about growing up with the Tripp's. John is listed in the 1891 census as a domestic in the Tripp household, age 24. In 1892 Joseph Tripp dies (according to Ontario death records). In the 1901 Census John Hazel is head of household at the lot and dwelling that had belonged to the Tripp's. In his household are his wife, Victoria, Jane Tripp (listed as a domestic) and John's two children Joseph and Anita. There are no marriage records for John and Vicki but they are always listed as husband and wife. Vicki was from a local family, maiden name Kotchapaw. In the 1911 Census John's household is in the same location and is made up of the same people, except this time Jane Tripp is listed as his Foster Mother. By the 1921 census, John and Vicki have moved into Picton and John's son Joseph, and his wife Jessie, are living on the farm. Jessie and Joseph Hazell's diary 1917-1919 documents the death of Jane Tripp from La Grippe (flu) in 1917 and also the move of John and Vicki into Picton.
It is documented in the Census and in Jessie Hazell's journal, that the Tripp's had 1 girl, not family, in their household over the years. Another child is documented as a Home Child and is listed as living with Joseph Tripp in 1888. The girl seems to appear in the Home Child Lists but the Census states she was born in England. I have been trying to find a child named John Hazel arriving in the early 1870s that might have been him, but come up with only more questions. I would really like to find out if there was any extended family in England and from what part of England he came.
Thanks for any help anyone can provide.
Krista
