Alexander Jeffrey CAMBIE and Elizabeth POSTON
Ireland to Quebec to Ottawa
April 23, 2006:
Hi Al Lewis
I can't tell you how pleased I was to find your website today.
My maternal great-grandfather, Alexander Jeffrey Cambie, was born in Ireland about 1835.
He emigrated to Quebec (date unknown) and married Elizabeth Poston there on June 05, 1866.
According to census information, he was in the civil service, and later on, chief clerk
and patent clerk with the Department of Agriculture. Through part of your website,
http://www.bytown.net/timesott.htm, I discover their 1866 marriage announcement in the
Ottawa Times. This was so moving to me as their history has been predictably
not personal at all.
I know very little about this part of my family and would love to learn more. Please
advise on how to do this via your website.
Janet
_______________________
Here is the Alexander Cambie family in the 1881 Census:
1881 Census Place: Wellington Ward, Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada
Source: FHL Film 1375865 NAC C-13229 Dist 105 SubDist A Div 2 Page 126 Family 605
Sex Marr Age Origin Birthplace
Alexander J. CAMBIE M M 46 Irish Ireland
Occ: Civil Service Religion: Church of England
Elizabeth CAMBIE F M 36 English Quebec
Religion: Church of England
Henry W. CAMBIE M 13 Irish Ontario
Religion: Church of England
Charles CAMBIE M 10 Irish Quebec
Religion: Church of England
Sussan CAMBIE F 8 Irish Ontario
Religion: Church of England
David CAMBIE M 7 Irish Ontario
Religion: Church of England
Sarah A. CAMBIE F 5 Irish Ontario
Religion: Church of England
Alexander J. CAMBIE M 3 Irish Ontario
Religion: Church of England
Eilean CAMBIE F 1 Irish Quebec
Religion: Church of England
George R. MAYOR M 25 Irish Ontario
Occ: Civil Service Religion: Church of England
Jane WRIGHT F 35 English Ontario
Occ: Servant Religion: Church of England
April 26, 2006:
Hi Al
Thank you very much for setting up the Cambie webpage on your website.
I have some more secondary sources for Cambie and thought perhaps the
website should have them so no one else has to search for these ones in
particular, or at least knows where to go to look.
As far as I can see, Alexander J. Cambie worked in Ottawa although I notice
a few of his children were born in Quebec. I wonder about this; did he clerk
both in Ontario and Quebec? Was he a clerk who contracted himself out, so
to speak? Was this the system back then?
I haven't been able to find anything about his death but his wife (maybe a widow
at the move to BC, certainly later in BC) and some of their grown-up children
moved out to Vancouver, BC., including my maternal grandfather, David Cambie.
1) From The Ottawa Times, 1860's and 1870's...http://www.bytown.net/timesott.htm
MARRIAGES - APRIL TO JUNE INCLUSIVE, 1866.
Quebec, June 6, Alex J. Cambie, Patent Clerk, Dept of Agriculture, to Lizzie,
eldest daughter of William Poston, Quebec.
2) Cambie, Alexander J. Event : Living
Year : 1871
Place : Ottawa
Province of record source : Ontario
County of record source : Carleton
Comments : Chief clerk & patent clerk.
Source : Lovell's Canadian Dominion Directory for 1871.
Publisher : John Lovell
Publication place : Montreal
Volume/Page(s) : 586
3) 1901 Census BC
39 63 Cambie Elizabeth F Head W Feb 1845 66 1901
40 63 Cambie Alexander M Son S Oct 1877 34 1901
41 63 Cambie George M Son S Aug 1891 30 1901
42 63 Hong Chang M Domestic S Apr 1902 9 1901
4) Cambie, Mrs. A. J. Event : Living
Year : 1901
Place : Vancouver
Province of record source : British Columbia
County of record source : City of Vancouver
Comments : Widow.
Source : Henderson's British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory and Mining Companies for 1900-1901.
Volume/Page(s) : 777
5) Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, BC Community Services
Elizabeth J. Cambie d. May 25, 1928
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/NONMARKEtOPERATIONS/MOUNTAINVIEW/burials/ca.htm
... Janet
________________________
At the time of Confederation in 1867, some Civil Servants from the provincial capitals
were just transferred to Ottawa to work on federal matters. This is probably the
case with Alexander Cambie.
... Al
E-mail Janet Ker and Al Lewis
Back to Bytown or Bust - History and Genealogy in the Ottawa, Canada area -- Civil Service in the 1800's