May 23, 2008:
Malcomson Family of Nepean
alternate spelling Malcolmson
Robert Malcomson was born 8 Jul 1795 in Cavan County, Ireland, 
according to his tombstone. His wife was Catherine Stevenson. He died 
28 Mar 1868 in Carleton, and was buried on 30 Mar 1868 in South March, 
Ontario, Canada. Catherine Stevenson, born @ 1798, Ireland (?), died 2 
Jun 1853. (Her tombstone claims she was aged 94 at death, but this is 
rather old to have had her kids. She was married to him by 18 Feb 1838 
(mentioned in a sale of land), so is presumably the married female age 
14 to 44 in the 1842 census. I suspect her death age of 94 is a 
misreading of 54, so born @ 1799. The 1851 census (taken Jan 12, 1852) 
says she will be 55 next birthday, so born in 1797.) The 1842 Census 
says that there is one person in the household born Ireland, one 
England, the rest in Canada. The England one is probably her, but all 
other sources (1851 census, and later censuses which give her 
children's mother's birth place) say Ireland.

Robert Malcomson came to Canada @ 1819 (from the 1842 Census) + got 
land in Goulburn by 1821 (from the 1828 Land Grant), as a 'Military 
Emmigrant' (they got free passage to Canada in military transports 
shipping soldiers back to Europe after War of 1812).

1822 Census - there is a Robert Malcomson listed in Nepean, with a 
wife, 2 sons and a daughter.

11 Sep 1827 he bought 100 acres in Nepean, south 1/2 of Lot 11, Con 2, 
Ottawa front

2 Apr 1828 he received 100 acres in Goulburn twp, E 1/2 of Lot 29, Con 
8. Date of completion of terms of settlement (had to live on land for 3 
years, clear at least 4 acres + erect a dwelling) was 30 Aug 1824 (?)

24 Dec 1828 he appears in the Militia Nominal Rolls, in Nepean, his age 
given as 28.

5 Nov 1835 Robt Malcomson of Nepean and David Miskelly of Goulburn sell 
the land in Goulburn to Edward Mallock for L100.

24 Feb 1838 Robert + his wife Catherine Stevenson sold half acre of 
Nepean Lot 11, Con 2, Ottawa Front.

1842 Census - Nepean twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada = Robt 
Malcomnson (Farmer + Innkeeper, 23 years in Ontario), land held by 
deed, 99 acres. Household has 1 native of England, 1 Ireland, 6 Canada. 
1 male, 2 female age 5-13, 2 single males age 14-17, 1 married male age 
30-59, 1 unmarried + 1 married females age 14-44, all Church of England.

1851 Census (Jan 12, 1852) - C-11716, Carleton Co, Nepean, District 2, 
p121 = Robert Mackimson (tavern keeper, 50, Ireland), Catherine (55, 
Ireland), Joseph (25, Nepean), James (18, Nepean), Sarah (20, Nepean), 
Elizabeth (16, Nepean). All relig = English Church. Column for 
'Residence if Out of Limits' has X beside Robert and Catherine, by 
James it says "Up the Ottawa"

14 Mar 1859 Robert sold 1/4 acre of his land to Robert Crow + Pat 
Corbatt. 5 May 1859 Robert sold 1/4 acre of his land, 3 Jan + 14 Apr 
1862 he sold more

29 Dec 1865 Robert made a will, leaving his sons Joseph and Robert 1$ 
each, and his daughters Jane Stenson, Ann Watt, Sarah Harton + Eliza 
Malcolm (sic) 25c each. As well Joseph got 5 acres of Lot 11, Con 2. 
Rest of land, goods etc to son James, who is executor.


   Children of Robert Malcomson and Catherine Stevenson

Jane Malcomson, b @ 1822, marr Samuel Stinson, 1851 Census - Nepean, 
Ontario - C-11716, Dis 2, SubD 31, Div 3, p81 = Samuel Steenson 
(Farmer, Ireland, 40), Jane (23, Nepean), Samuel (Labourer, Huntly, 
11), twins Robert + Thomas (Huntly, 8), John (Huntly, 5), William 
(Huntly, 2) All relig = [Esta] Presbyterian

1881 Census - Nepean, Ontario - C-13231, Dis 108, SubD A, Div 3, p44 = 
Samuel Stinson (Mar, 66, born Ireland, Farmer), Jane (Mar, 58, 
Ontario), Joseph (27, Ontario, Farmer), Catherian (21, Ontario), 
Saralee (27, Ontario, Seamstress) All ethnic Irish, relig = C. 
Presbyterian

1891 Census - Nepean, Ontario - Div 2, p32 = Samuel Stinson (76, 
Ireland, parents born Ireland, Farmer), Jane (70, wife, Ontario, 
parents born Ireland), Joseph (38, son, Ontario, Dad born Ireland, Mum 
Ontario, Farmer), Catherine (dau, 28, Ontario, Dad born Ireland, Mum 
Ontario), Joseph Malcomson (66, L (lodger?), Ontario, parents born 
Ireland) All relig = Presbyterian

---- ---

Joseph, b @ 1824, died 1 Mar, 1905
14 Nov 1849 - Received land, 100 acres in Con 1, Lot 10, Ottawa Front, 
for 5 shillings, from Frances Ann Emma Thompson of Cornwall. 17 May 
1862 he sold 100 acres, believe that property.

1871 Census - living with brother James

In Bruce S Elliott's book "The City Beyond, A History of Nepean" it 
says he went out to North Dakota for awhile but returned.

1880 Census - Township 155, Grand Forks, Dakota Territory, US, p589D = 
Joe Malcomson (single, 53, Canada, Farmer, parents born Canada).

1891 Census - living with sister Jane + borther in law Samuel Stinson

1901 Census - living with sister Sarah Harten

--- ----

Ann, b @1825, d. 5 Nov, 1904, m. John Watt

1851 Census - Nepean, C-11716, Dist 2, SubDist 31, p.99 = James Watt 
(Farmer, Scotland, 72), Judith (Ireland, 70), John Watt (Labourer, 
[?may be Ireland?], 29), Ann (Nepean, 26), James (Nepean, 6), Robert 
(Nepean, 4), Andrew (Nepean, 3), William H (Nepean, 2), + 1 servant, 
Jane Davidson (Nepean, 10) All listed with relig of English Church, 
except Judith, who is R.C.

1871 Census - Con A, Lot 7, Nepean, C-10,015, Div 2, p40 = John Watt 
(47, Ireland, Farmer), Ann (45, Ont), James (25, Ont, Blacksmith), 
Robert (23, Ont, Farmer), Andrew (21, Ont, Farmer), William Henry (19, 
Ont), John (17, Ont, Blacksmith), Ann Eliza (15, Ont, school), Walter 
(13, Ont, school), Howard (11, Ont, school), Thomas (9, Ont, school), 
Lucinda (7, On, schoolt). All listed as ethnic Irish, relig = C of 
England.  1881 Census - Nepean, C-13231, Dis 108, SubD A, Div 2, p43 = 
John Watt (Mar, 57, Ireland, Farmer), Ann (Mar, 56, Ont), Andrew (30, 
Ont, Farmer), Ann Eliza (24, Ont), Thomas (20, Ont, Farmer), Lucinda 
(18, Ont). All listed as ethnic Irish, relig = C of England.  --- ----

Robert, b @ 1825, Nepean, d. 28 Oct 1905. Married Elizabeth Wiggins 
Elizabeth Wiggins born @ 1834, d. 20 Nov 1896, the daughter of Robert 
Wiggins + Ann. Death certificate says born in Scotland, 1881 Census 
says Ireland, 1871 says Ontario. They all agree she was born about 
1834, by which time her father should have been in Ontario, as he 
helped dig the Rideau canal, which was completed in 1832, (unless the 
family returned to Europe for awhile.)

Robert = Age at death and 1901 census suggest born @1821, 1871 Census 
@1825, 1861 Census @ 1825, 1842 Census probably @ 1825-1828.

30 Oct 1850 - Robert Malcomson bought 89 3/4 acres in Nepean, E part of 
lot 3, Con 2. 12 Mar 1858 he mortgaged the land, this time his wife 
(Elizabeth Malcomson) being listed as well.

1861 Census - Nepean, Carleton, Ontario, C-1013, p13, Concession 2, Lot 
pt3 (?) = Robert Malcomson (Farmer, Born WCanada, 33), Elizabeth 
(Ireland, 27), Catherine (WCanada, 6), Ann (WCanada, 4), Robert 
(WCanada, 2), John (WCanada, 1, born in 1860), all Church of England. 
Living in a 1 story log cabin, 88 acres. [WCanada = Ontario]

14 Mar 1866 - Robert and his wife Elizabeth sell the land, rear part of 
Lot 3 Con 2. No later records listed for this land for the Malcomsons, 
but in the 1871 census he is listed as the owner of 89 acres on this 
Lot.

1871 Census - Nepean, Ontario, District 78, Sub-district A, Div 4, p. 
65, Concession 2, Lot 3 = Robert Malcomson (46, Farmer), Elizabeth 
(36), Catharine (13), Ann (12), Robert (10), John (9), Elizabeth (8), 
Thomas (6), Mary Ann (4), Margret (2), William (7/12, born Sep). All 
born Ontario, Church of England, Irish origin, Catharine to Thomas in 
school. Owner of 89 acres.

1881 Census - Nepean, Carleton Co, Ontario, District 108, Sub-district 
A, p. 13 = Robert Malcomson (50 [or 59, 58, 52?], Ontario, Farmer), 
Elisebith (46, Ireland), Anney (25, Ontario), Robert (23, Ontario, 
Farmer), John (21, Ontario, Farmer), Elisebith (18, Ontario), Thomas 
(17, Ontario), Marcyann (15, Ont), Maggie (13, Ont), William (11, 
Ontario), Laucey (8, Ont), Richard (6, Ont), Edmond (2, Ont), Emma (4, 
Ont). All Irish origin, Maggie to Richard in school.  (Spelling is very 
different this year. It matches the spelling for other families in the 
area, so suspect it is the enumerator.)

---- ----

Sarah, born @ 4 Mar, 1830, d. 1 Jun 1904. Married David Hartin on 23 Jun 1853

Birth date is from the 1901 census, year is 1824 from the 1881 census, 
1827 from the 1901 and her tombstone, 1832 from the 1851 census.

1864 there is a mortgage between David Hartin and Robert Malcomson for 
south 1/2 of Lot 11, Con 2, OF, in Nepean, Carleton. David is given as 
a Yeoman of Goulbourn. (Memorial 24571, p.343)

1881 Census - Nepean, Carleton, Canada - C-13231, Dis 108, SubD A, Div 
4, p17 = David Harten (mar, 56, Farmer), Sarah (mar, 56), Charles (26, 
Farmer), Robert (24, Farmer), Gilbert (22, Farmer), Catherine (16), 
David (15), Margaret Ann (14), William Henry (11)
All ethnic Irish, born Ontario, relig = Presbyterian.  Also a carpenter 
+ 3 servants.

----- -----

James, b @ Mar 1854, mar Janet Anderson (dau of Thomas Gilmour Anderson 
+ Cynthia) on 28 Jan 1859.

Left most of father's land, south 1/2 of Lot 11, Concession 2, Ottawa 
Front, Nepean, in his will, in 1868 (will made in 1865.) Believe sold 
it August 1880.

1871 Census - Canada, Ontario, Nepean, Div 2, p27, Con 2, Lot 11, owner 
= James Malcomson (37, race Irish, Farmer), Jeanette (36, Scotch), 
Eliza (11, Irish, in school), Annie (9, Irish, in school), Gertrude (5, 
Irish), Cynthia (1, Irish), Joseph Malcomson (47, Irish, Farmer).  All 
born Ont, relig = C of E.

1880 Census - Township 155, Grand Forks, Dakota Territory, US, p589D = 
James Malcomson (wid, 44, Canada, Farmer, parents born Ireland), Anna 
(dau, Mar, 17, Can, housekeeper, Parents born Can), Gertrude (dau, 12, 
Can), Ceythie (dau, 10, Can), Sahra (dau, 8, Can), Robert (son, 5, Can)

1900 Census - N Dakota, Walsh Co, Forest River = James Malcemson (March 
[?], 67, Wid, born Canada Eng, parents born Ireland, Farmer), Gerty 
(dau, Mch 1868, [22], Single, parents born Canada Eng, Housekeeper), 
Sarah (dau, July [1872], 27, Single, parents born Canada Eng, [?]), 
Robert (son, June 1874, 25, single, parents born Canada Eng, Farm Lab). 
All came to US in 1879, 21 yrs in US

----- ------

Elizabeth, born @ 1836
Mentioned in father's will as Elizabeth Malcolm. Not sure if that is an 
error for Malcolmson, or if she married a Mr. Malcolm.

---- ----- ------

Children of Robert Malcomson + Elizabeth Wiggins

Catharine, b @ 1854

Ann, b @ 1857, had daughter Emmeline, b 12 Apr 1876

Robert b @ 1859

John b @ 1860

Elizabeth Jane, b @ 1863, married James Armstrong

Thomas b @ 1864

Mary Ann, b @ 29 May 1866, mar 7 May 1886 to Francis Crowe (b @ 1860 in 
Bell?s Corners, son of Robert Crowe + Margaret Corbit). Their daughter, 
Edith Elizabeth Crowe, was born 17 Mar 1887. Francis Crowe died of TB 
23 Jan 1888. Mary Ann Malcomson then married Robert George Stephens (b 
@ 1866 in Scotland, a cheesemaker working in Manotick), and they moved 
to Montreal.

Margaret, b @ 1868, married James Adams 23 Oct 1889. (The marriage 
certificate gives her name as Mary, but believe this is Margaret, as 
the age matches. It might be her sister Mary, claiming to be a couple 
of years younger, and a spinster not a widow.)

William, b. Sep 1870

Lucinda, b @ 1873, married John Howard Armstrong

Richard, b, 14 Apr 1875

Edward, b. 5 Apr 1879

... Vivian Stephens

 
E-mail Vivian Stephens and Al Lewis



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