James and Martha Vousden - from Kent to Canada

Whilst researching for the Vousdens Abroad - Canada page on the One-Name Study web site I found that in the 1901 census there was only one Vousden family in that country. This was James and Martha and their children in Saskatchewan, and I found them also on the 1881 census in England, before their emigration.

A couple of weeks ago I was re-checking old entries on the Rootsweb Vousden Message Board and I spotted a request in 2002 by a Joan Hedberg for the following information: "Trying to find anyone that knows of Vousdens, Elizabeth, parents, James and Martha. What I know of them they were in Ernestown, Lennox and Addington in Ontario late 1800 to early 1900s. Elizabeth married Wesley Lester in Ernestown 21 March 1892 and they had a son born Ernestown 24 May 1893, Bap 21 Mar 1894."

One and the same family! No doubt. And no reply had been posted in over 4 years. A quick e-mail and an equally quick reply from Joan confirmed that we were talking about the same family. One of Joan's Lester ancestors had married Elizabeth Vousden and we are now working together, trying to track Elizabeth's father James through his early life in Brenchley, Kent, England.

I have obtained a copy of James and Martha's marriage certificate and this tells us that his father was William Vousden, a labourer. I have now sent for James' birth certificate. Meanwhile, Joan has found the Vousdens on the 1851, 1861, 1871 census as well as Elizabeth Wheatley and daughter Martha on the 1861 census.

We are making rapid progress, and I am confident that we will soon have James fitted into the main body of Vousdens from Goudhurst.

And it so happens that Joan also has Brown ancestors and she lives near Vancouver just a few miles away from my cousin Linda.