Here is what we know so far: John Elston was born in England in about 1830, and immigrated to Canada in about 1851. In Canada, he first lived near Galt (now Cambridge), Ontario, where he married Mary Martin. By 1865, they had moved to Morris Township in Huron County, where John started a farm as they continued building their family. John died in Morris in 1912. We know he was involved with the Wingham fall fair, and was a good neighbour. We also know he could grow a mean fluffy neckbeard.
Things begin to get foggy when we look at John’s life before he came to Huron County. In most records his birth location is listed as Lincolnshire. There were lots of Elstons living in Lincolnshire at the time. His wife Mary and her family had also immigrated from Lincolnshire (Glanford Brigg and the south part of Yorkshire, just across the Humber). Whether John and Mary became acquainted with each other before, during, or after their big boat ride west is a mystery, as is the date and location of their marriage. I’ll be looking at their early life together in more depth in the near future.
Related:
- John Elston’s Lincolnshire roots
- John Elston in Morris Township (ca. 1861 – 1912)
- John Elston in Brant/Oxford (ca. 1851 – 1861)
- Mary Martin and her family
- Descendants of John and Mary Elston
- Who wasn’t John Elston?
This page is a work in progress.
Elstonology 