William Inkster1,2

#296, (1798 - 1878)
FatherJohn Inkster1 (1756 - )
MotherAbigail Marion1 (s 1765 - a 1802)
Extended Family
ChartsDescendants of John Inkster & Abigail Marion

Children of William Inkster and Elizabeth O'Donnell

Life Events

Overview
* * * * *

William Inkster was born and baptised in October 1798 in the seaport of Stromness, Orkney, Scotland. In 1820 he emigrated to Marmora Township in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada. There he worked for the Marmora Iron Works where he applied for and received land. In his early 30s, he married Elizabeth O'Donnell who was born in Ireland. Between 1834 and 1852, they had nine children. In the 1850s, the Inksters moved a short distance to Madoc Township where they lived in a one story log house. They moved again in the early 1870s, this time to Bruce County over 200 miles to the west. William died there at the age of 78.

* * * * *

 
OccupationWilliam Inkster was a clockmaker by trade; mechanic with Marmora Iron Works (1820); farmer (1861); ship carpenter (1871, 1878).3,4,5,6,2 
BirthHe was born on 10 Oct 1798 in Stromness, Orkney, Scotland.1,2
 
BaptismHe was baptized on 23 Oct 1798 in Stromness, Orkney.1 
ImmigrationHe immigrated in 1820 to Canada. His land petition stated that he was a native of North Britain [a term for Scotland].7 
OccupationHe was a mechanic in the Marmora Iron Works establishment in 1821.7 
Land Record In 1821, William Inkster entered his name with the land board at Kingston for the front 1/2 of Lot 10 in the 7th Concession in Marmora, Hastings County, Ontario.7 
Land Record On 15 Feb 1831, William Inkster wrote a petition to Sir John Colbourne, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of upper Canada, requesting that the patent be issued on his land.7
William Inkster
Land Petition, 1831
Land Record There is a document in the land file that on 3 March 1831, William Inkster entered his name with the land board at Kingston as Locatee of the front half of Lot No. 10 in the 7th Concession of Marmora in 1821. Owing to some cause with which he was unacquainted, the Location Ticket did not issue. He had settled on the lot and performed the settlement duties. It was recommended that the Patent be issued on payment of fees.7 
Land Record On 25 Jul 1831, William Inkster paid government and survey fees on his 100 acres of land. Receipt No. 1728 at the Receiver General's Office in York, Upper Canada acknowledged payment of Sterling £2,15,5. Receipt No. 1100 was for the Patent fee of £2,18,8.5 
MarriageHe married Elizabeth O'Donnell, daughter of (-?-) O'Donnell, on 20 Nov 1833 in Belleville, Ontario, The certificate reads:
Married by license Wm Inkster Bachelor Yeoman of the Township of Marmora to Elizabeth O'Donnel Spinster of the same place on Wednesday the 20th of November 1833 by me James Ketchan Minister of the Scotch Church in Belleville. In presence of John Kays and Joanna Jennery.8,9
William Inkster & Elizabeth O'Donnell
marriage certificate
Belleville, Ontario, 1833
Research Note The Scotch Church was St Andrew's Presbyterian which was built in 1831. It was a white frame building with plank seating for 300 and lit by tallow candles. By direct road nowadays, it is 47 km from Marmora to Belleville. 
Research Note I believe that John Kays [or Keys] who witnessed William & Elizabeth's marriage was Elizabeth's brother-in-law, i.e. married to her sister Isabella. 
1851/2 Census Unfortunately, the 1851/52 census for Marmora Township did not survive. 
NoteWilliam Inkster was a local school superintendent in Marmora in 1852.10 
Item. This old letter from William Inkster is written on 1 page about 7.5 inches wide and 10 inches long and a second sheet is folded with it to protect the letter. The name written on the outside of the protecting sheet :
D.G. Bower Esqr
Marmora
Ontario
The contents of the letter are as follows.

Marmora June the 20th 1853

D.G. Brown Esqr
Marmora Ironworks

Sir
I had the honour of receiving a few lines dated June the 17th - ----- [presumably a placename but I can't make it out] containing a protest against JW McKinnon the presant [sic] Teacher at the Ironworks and have to state to you in reply that in case of a teacher having his certificate suspended or annuled his case must be examined at the next meeting of the Board of public Instruction for the County. and I think his case and your grievances must be heard at the same Board and I therefor give you notice that the Board of Public Instruction for the County will meet on the first Thursday in July next and that I will present your letter to the Board for discussion when it will necessary for you to be presant [sic] at the Board to sate [sic] your grievances.
I am
Sir your
Most Obt. Servant
Wm. Inkster

N.B. I have sent a copy of your letter to Mr McKinnon that no undue advantage may be taken.
Wm Inkster.11
 
1861 CensusWilliam and Elizabeth Inkster appeared on the 1861 Census of Madoc Township, Hastings County, Ontario. The family lived in a one story log house. William was 62, born in Scotland, a farmer, and the family's religion was Free Church. Elizabeth was 52 and was born in Ireland. The children listed, all single, were John (26), William (25), Magnus (15), Albert (11), Isabella (21), Elizabeth (19), Victoria (13), and Abigail (9). It was noted that one male and two females were attending school. One female member of the family was absent when the census was taken [probably son John's wife Jane who was at her parents' place when the census was taken].3 
DirectoryHe was listed in the 1864 Madoc, Hastings County, Ontario, directory as
Inkster, William, sen., yeoman, 4th concession, part lot 13.12 
1871 CensusWilliam, Sr and Elizabeth Inkster appeared on the 1871 Census of Madoc Township, Hastings County, Ontario. William was 73, born in Scotland, C Presbyterian, of Scotch origin, and a Ship Carpenter. Elizabeth was 60, born in Ireland, of Irish origin, and it was noted that she could read but was unable to write. Their children in the home were Isabella (28), Elizebeth (26), Magnis (24), and Abigill (20). Their married son William was nearby.4 
Land Record On 12 Mar 1874, William Inkster bought from John and Christina McKay for $860 the E1/2 of Lot 1 in Concession 6 in Bruce Township, Bruce County, Ontario. 
DeathWilliam died on 19 Mar 1878 in Bruce, Bruce County, Ontario.
Details from the register: age 79 years, 5 months, Ship Carpenter, birthplace Stromness Orkney, Presbyterian, registered 4 April 1878 by [his son] Magnus Inkster, farmer, Bruce.2 
.
BurialHe was buried in Baie de Dore Cemetery, Bruce Township, Bruce County, Ontario.13 
GravestoneHis gravestone reads:
Wm Inkster
Died Mr.19, 1878
AE 78 YRS.
his wife
Elizabeth
Died May 13, 1882
AE 74 YRS.
two
infant grand children


[The Inkster plot is inside a square fence and between two cedar trees.].13
Inkster monument
Baie du Dore Cemetery
Inkster monument
Baie du Dore Cemetery
Last Edited3 Jan 2015

Citations

  1. Microfilm of the Old Parochial Register of Stromness, Orkney, 1695-1854 (Family History Library, 990514 & 990515).
  2. Death Registrations of Ontario, 1869-1938. Image viewed at Ancestry.com. William Inkster, #001631-78.
  3. 1861 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Canada West, Hastings County, Madoc Township (1), page 7.
  4. 1871 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Ontario, North Hastings (62), Madoc (2-e), page 12.
  5. Upper Canada land Petitions "J" Bundle 16, 1829-1831, RG1, L3, Vol. 259.
  6. Interview with Jeff Sensenstein (Ontario), by J Kolthammer, 1994?.
  7. Letter from William Inkster, Marmora, Upper Canada, to Sir John Colborne, dated 15 February 1831, Upper Canada land book "O" 2 June 1829 - 23 Aug 1831, vol. 33, p. 419, RG1, L1, film C-105.
  8. Letter from Royal and Mary Keys, Marmora, Ontario, to Mr William Keys, dated 9 October 1834, shared by Roy Keys.
  9. Marriage certificate of William Inkster and Elizabeth O'Donnel, married 20 November 1833 in Scotch Church, Belleville. Original in the possession of family.
  10. Chief Superintendent of Schools Annual Report of the Normal, Model and Common Schools in Upper Canada for the Year 1852, John Lovell, Quebec (1853) (viewed on Google Books), page 303.
  11. E-mails from Dianna Inkster to Jennifer Kolthammer, transcribed in email dated 28 Nov 2005; original in her possession.
  12. 1864-65 Directory of the County of Hastings (Belleville: Mackenzie Bowell, 1865). Digitized copy viewed online at Randy Saylor's site "Transcribed Records of the Bay of Quinte", page 284.
  13. Photograph of the Inkster family gravestone at Baie du Dore Cemetery, Bruce Township, Bruce County, Ontario, taken by Bill Inkster, 2004.
  14. Death Registrations of Ontario, 1869-1938. Image viewed at Ancestry.com. John Inkster, #015407-12.
  15. Marriage certificate from the parish register of John Inkster and Mary Rupert, married 8 May 1860 in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada (Family History Library, Film #1030057).
  16. Death Registrations of Ontario, 1869-1938. Image viewed at Ancestry.com. William Inkster, #008491-17.
  17. Marriage Registrations of Ontario, 1857-1928. Image viewed at Ancestry.com. Inkster/Fidler, 1870, page 240.
  18. Province of Ontario Marriage Registers: James Tassie & Ann Inkster, 1860, film #1030057, Family History Library.
  19. Marriage Registrations of Ontario, 1857-1928. Image viewed at Ancestry.com. Fidler/Inkster, #011911-87 [image blurry].
  20. Marriage Registrations of Ontario, 1857-1928. Image viewed at Ancestry.com. McKenzie/Inkster, #001543-78.
  21. Marriage Registrations of Ontario, 1857-1928. Image viewed at Ancestry.com. Inkster/McKechnie, #001511-78.
  22. Death certificate registered in the Province of Ontario "Magnus Inkster, #008211-11."
  23. Marriage Registrations of Ontario, 1857-1928. Image viewed at Ancestry.com. Sanford/Inkster, page 233.
  24. Marriage Registrations of Ontario, 1857-1928. Image viewed at Ancestry.com. Inxter/Cullen, #011182-81.