Margaret deWolf was born on 31 March 1839 in Amherst, Cumberland, Nova Scotia Colony, daughter of William Henry DeWolf (1809–1888) and Sarah Embree Lusby (~1809–1881).[1]
Margaret and John Rounsefell were married, by license, on 30 April 1862 in Wolfville, Kings.[2][3] John was born on 1 May 1833 in Wolfville, Kings, Nova Scotia. Their children were:
In 1871, the family had recently moved to 66 Canning Street, Saint Bride, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, where her husband worked as a ship's chandler, as part of his business.[4] They had five children at that time, including baby Aubrey, who had been born in Wolfville in April 1870.[5] Malinda Higgins, who may have been a cousin, came with them to help with the baby. Margaret's brother John was staying with them, and working at Forsyth and Rounsefell.
They lived in Penge, Surrey from about 1872 to 1875, where Anna Northy and John Vaughan were born.[6][7] Then they moved to Lewisham. They were living on Longton Grove in Sydenham, London in 1881.[8] Their daughter Fanny was born there in 1876, though she lived only a few days.[9] Two years later, Margaret, called "Daisy" was born there.[10] Sarah deWolf was born in the spring of 1882,[11] just before the family moved back to Canada. They arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in August 1882.[12] Little Sarah died there in September.[1]
They spent the next three years in Brandon, Manitoba. Pioneer life in the Manitoba prairie must have been quite a contrast to the decade they'd just spent in London. Their last child, Ella, was born there in 1885,[13] though she only lived six days.[14] Not all of the children went with them to Brandon. Some of the older children stayed back in Halifax with family. John ran a department store there, called "Woodworth and Rounsefell." But in May 1887, he headed west to Vancouver, British Columbia to establish a new business. By 1888, Vancouver newspapers were running advertisements for "Rounsefell & Co., Real Estate and Insurance Brokers."[15]
By 1891, the family was living in Vancouver City, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.[16] They had a house at 1126 Robson in Vancouver, in the 1894 Williams Street Directory.[17]
Not long after, they moved to Chilliwack, British Columbia. Their next-door neighbors included her brother William's family and her sister Lavinia's family.[18]
Margaret died on 13 January 1908 at her son's home in Vancouver, British Columbia, aged 68. She was buried in Chilliwack Cemeteries, Chilliwack, British Columbia.[19][20][21]
↑Marriage:
"Canada, Nova Scotia Marriages, 1864-1918," database with images,
citing Page: P114 CN207; Digital film/folder number: 004059090_002_M9S9-2T6; FHL microfilm: 1298810; Image number: 128; Packet letter: F; Indexing batch: M03870-6,
FamilySearch Record: DX6B-ZZW2 (accessed 2 December 2023)
FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G983-C6MW,
Margaret Dewolf marriage to John Rounsefell on 30 Apr 1863 in Wolfville, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada.
↑Marriage:
"Canada, Nova Scotia Marriages, 1864-1918," database with images,
citing Page: P4 Cn117; Digital film/folder number: 004059090_002_M9S9-2T6; FHL microfilm: 1298810; Image number: 5; Packet letter: D; Indexing batch: M03870-6,
FamilySearch Record: DX6Y-FR6Z (accessed 2 December 2023)
FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G983-C6ZY,
Marg Dewolf marriage to John Rounsfell on 30 Apr 1862 in Wolfville, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada.
↑1871 Census:
"England and Wales Census, 1871," database, citing The National Archives of the UK, FamilySearch Record: VBXM-M4F (accessed 2 December 2023) FindMyPast Image,
Margaret Rounsefell (32), wife, in household of John Rounsefell (36) in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom. Born in Canada.
2 Apr 1871: Liverpool, Lancashire
Name
Relation
Status
Sex
Age
Occupation
Birth Place
John Rounsefell
Head
Married
M
36
Ship Chandler
Canada
Margaret Rounsefell
Wife
Married
F
32
Canada
George F Rounsefell
Son
M
8
Canada
Mary C Rounsefell
Daughter
F
5
Canada
Frank W Rounsefell
Son
M
3
Canada
Charles A Rounsefell
Son
M
11m
Canada
Malinda Higgins
Nurse
F
12
Nurse Maid
Canada
John S Dewolf
Boarder
M
26
Ship Broker
Canada
↑Birth of son Charles Aubrey Ronnsefell:
"Canada, Nova Scotia Births, 1864-1877," database with images,
citing Digital film/folder number: 007560938; FHL microfilm: 1319557; Image number: 257; Packet letter: C; Indexing batch: I02874-5,
FamilySearch Record: F26W-4B2 (accessed 2 December 2023)
FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-996W-V337,
Charles Aubrey Ronnsefell born to Margaret Dewolf on 19 Apr 1870 in Wolfville, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada.
↑Birth Registration for Anna Northy Rounsefell:
"England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database,
citing Birth Registration, Croydon, Surrey, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England,
FamilySearch Record: 2XCY-B8J (accessed 2 December 2023),
Anna Worthy Rounsefell birth registered Oct-Nov-Dec 1873 in Croydon.
↑Birth Registration for John Vaughan Rounsefell:
"England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database,
citing Birth Registration, Croydon, Surrey, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England,
FamilySearch Record: 2X8P-H28 (accessed 2 December 2023),
John Vaughan Rounsefell birth registered Jan-Feb-Mar 1875 in Croydon.
↑1881 Census:
"England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, citing The National Archives of the UK Class: RG11; Piece/Folio: 736/120; Page: 11; Line: 8, FamilySearch Record: Q277-DWBT (accessed 2 December 2023) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS31-Y75M-T,
Margaret Rumsefell (41), wife, in household of John Rumsefell (47) in Lewisham, London, Kent, England. Born in Nova Scotia Kings County.
3 Apr 1881: Lewisham, London, Kent
Name
Relation
Status
Sex
Age
Occupation
Birth Place
John Rumsefell
Head
Married
M
47
Ship Owner & Broker
Nova Scotia Kings County
Margaret Rumsefell
Wife
Married
F
41
Nova Scotia Kings County
George F Rumsefell
Son
Unmarried
M
18
Clerk
Nova Scotia Kings County
Mary C Rumsefell
Daughter
Unmarried
F
14
Nova Scotia Kings County
Annie N Rumsefell
Daughter
Unmarried
F
8
Penge, Surrey
John Rumsefell
Son
Unmarried
M
7
Penge, Surrey
Margaret Rumsefell
Daughter
Unmarried
F
2
Sydenham, Kent
Jane Duncan
Servant
Unmarried
F
22
Serv Housemaid
Scotland
Margaret Anderson
Servant
Unmarried
F
20
Serv Cook
Scotland
↑Birth Registration for Fanny Rounsefell:
"England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database,
citing Birth Registration, Lewisham, London, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England,
FamilySearch Record: 2XDT-H79 (accessed 2 December 2023),
Fanney Rounsefell birth registered Oct-Nov-Dec 1876 in Lewisham.
↑Birth Registration for Margaret deWolf Rounsefell:
"England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database,
citing Birth Registration, Lewisham, London, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England,
FamilySearch Record: 2XXF-XWK (accessed 2 December 2023),
Margaret De Wolf Rounsefell birth registered Oct-Nov-Dec 1878 in Lewisham.
↑Birth Registration for Sarah deWolf Rounsefell:
"England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database,
citing Birth Registration, Lewisham, London, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England,
FamilySearch Record: 2XK7-6ZR (accessed 2 December 2023),
Sarah De Wolf Rounsefell birth registered Apr-May-Jun 1882 in Lewisham.
↑Passenger List:
"Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865-1935," database with images,
Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Series RG 76-C, Roll C-4532,
Ancestry Sharing Link (free access) Ancestry Record 1263 #784291 (requires subscription, accessed 2 December 2023),
Vessel Thames, Gender Female, Birth Year abt 1840, Arrival Port Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Departure Port London, England, Arrival Date 21 Aug 1882, Name Mrs Mgt Rounsefell, Arrival Age 42.
↑Birth of daughter Ella Rounsefell:
"Web: Manitoba, Canada, Birth Index, 1870-1917," database with images,
Manitoba Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Manitoba, Canada, Vital Statistics, URL http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/Query.php,
Ancestry Record 70599 #1078446 (requires subscription, accessed 2 December 2023),
Ella Rounsefell born on 3 Jul 1885, daughter of Margaret DeWolf, in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
↑Death of daughter Ella Rounsefell:
"Web: Manitoba, Death Index, 1871-1951," database with images,
Manitoba Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Manitoba, Canada, Vital Statistics, URL http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/Query.php,
Ancestry Record 70601 #1187204 (requires subscription, accessed 2 December 2023),
Ella Ronnsefell death 4 Aug 1885 (age 1) in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
↑Newspaper Ad:
"Rounsefell & Co Advertisement" Newspapers.com, The Weekly News-Advertiser, October 10, 1888, page 7,
Newspapers Clip: 136190908 (accessed 2 December 2023)
↑1891 Census: "Canada Census, 1891," database, FamilySearch Record: MWK3-QWT (accessed 2 December 2023), M Rounafel (58) in Vancouver City, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. Born in Nova Scotia.
1891: Vancouver City, New Westminster, British Columbia
Name
Age
Relation
Status
Sex
Occupation
Birth Place
I Rounafel
63
Head
Married
M
Real Est. Agt.
Nova Scotia
M Rounafel
58
Wife
Married
F
Nova Scotia
G Rounafel
27
Son
Married
M
Coal Mercht.
Nova Scotia
L Rounafel
20
Daughter-in-law
Married
F
England
F Rounafel
22
Son
Single
M
Clerk - Fire Ins Co
Nova Scotia
A Rounafel
21
Son
Single
M
Nova Scotia
A Rounafel
17
Daughter
Single
F
England
D Rounafel
13
Daughter
Single
F
England
I Rounafel
16
Son
Single
M
England
I Rounafel
4/12
Grandson
Single
M
British Columbia
Sam Sing
20
Domestic
Single
F
Servant
China
↑The Williams' official British Columbia directory - 1894, page 535, "Rounsefell, Jno, real estate agent, Holland Block, 413 Cordova, res 1126 Robson"
↑1901 Census: "Canada Census, 1901," database with images, citing Page: 1; Digital film/folder number: 101692780; Image number: 774, FamilySearch Record: KHVJ-RGR (accessed 2 December 2023) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSS1-L8G7, Margaret Rounsfell (61), wife, in household of John Rounsfell (67) in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. Born in Ns.
1901: New Westminster, British Columbia
Name
Sex
Age
Relation
Status
Birth Date
Birth Place
Occupation
John Rounsfell
M
67
Head
Married
Ns
Margaret Rounsfell
F
61
Wife
Married
Ns
A Mary Dempster
F
35
Guest
Married
Ns
Robert Dempster
M
10
Guest
Single
British Columbia
Katherine Dempster
F
8
Guest
Single
British Columbia
Arthur Dempster
M
6
Guest
Single
British Columbia
↑Death:
"Canada, British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993," database, citing Affiliate Film Number: B13096; Digital film/folder number: 004437601; FHL microfilm: 1927124; Record number: 1882; Packet letter: A, FamilySearch Record: FLKC-1Z7 (accessed 2 December 2023),
Margaret Rounsefell death 13 Jan 1908 (age 69) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
↑Obituary:
"Obituary for Margaret ROUNSEFELL (Aged 68)" Newspapers.com, The Chilliwack Progress, January 22, 1908, page 1,
Newspapers Clip: 46129091 (accessed 2 December 2023)
↑Memorial:
"Find a Grave," database with images,
Find A Grave: Memorial #69055795 (accessed 2 December 2023),
Memorial page for Margaret DeWolf Rounsefell (31 Mar 1839-13 Jan 1908), citing Chilliwack Cemeteries, Chilliwack, Fraser Valley Regional District, British Columbia, Canada (plot: 380-4); Maintained by Katrina Lawson (contributor 47059177).
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