| Notes |
- From Find A Grave
The following information was taken from birth, marriage, death, and census records. Also information and photos were obtained from Katherine Fox Bass's granddaughter Marjorie Woods of Lombardy, Leeds, Ontario. Researcher Susan Garske Sylvester
I was on a mission in Leeds, Ontario to discover my 2G grandmother's name. She was the first wife of Charles Fox and together they had a child Edward J. Fox who was my great-grandfather. I failed at my mission yet was rewarded with stories about his half brothers and sisters and a treasure trove of photos which were provided by Marjorie Woods. This is what I discovered about my 2 G grandfather Charles Fox.
Charles fox was born on October 20, 1830 in New York, United States. His father was Michael Fox and I have no name for his mother. I was only able to tie up one other sibling to Charles and her name was Mary Fox. She was also born in New York. I believe they were raised Catholic but Charles will convert to Wesleyan Methodist. What date Charles and Mary immigrated to Ontario is unknown.
The first census record Charles Fox was found on was in the 1851 Census of Canada. Charles was living in Crosby Township, Leeds, County. He was 22 years old and born in 1830. His occupation was a laborer. He was working for a Joseph Perkins. Brockville archivists provided this document.
I could find no record of Charles Fox's first marriage. He also was not on the census of 1861 of Canada or in the US Census of 1860 in New York. I do know from a diary that his son Edward James Fox was born July 31, 1857 in Forfar, Bastard Township, Leeds, Ontario. Edward's mother died at a very young age and Edward was given to Charles's sister Mary Fox Gutridge to raise. Edward grew up with his cousins in South Burgess, Leeds, Ontario. They lived in an area called the Mill Pond.
According to family history Charles was a cooper by trade. He came to Canada and worked at this trade many years while living at Forfar, Ontario.
Charles Fox will marry Janette Belonger which was on October 14, 1857. Charles was 32 and Janette was 23 years old. They were married in Smith Falls, Lanark County, Ontario.
In the Cranworth Chronicles by Barbara Gibson, she stated that Charles Fox was a mining entrepreneur in the local area. He had a short term lease in 1868 from John Dooher new Bass Lake covering a variety of minerals but soon assigned it to a N.Y. man. She further relates that off of Old Kingston Highway onto the Scotch Point Road at the foot of a hill is a spot referred to locally as the Spring Well Hill, a hill in this area was also called Fox's Hill after the family by the name who resided nearby in the late 1800's."
In the 1871 Canadian Census, Charles and Janette were living in the District of Leeds and Grenville North, District #70 in the Sub district of Elmsley b. Charles birth date was 1835 and he was 36 years old. He is married to Janette Fox who was 27 years old and was born in 1844. Charles birth place was listed as Ontario. His religion was Wesleyan Methodist and his origin was Irish. Janette was born in Ontario but lists her origin as French. There were 4 children listed at this time: Mary Fox who was 3 (Mrs. Lewis Kennedy), William John Fox who was 1, and Peter and Mary Ann Fox who were 2 months old. Charles occupation was a farmer.
Katie Emma (Agnes) Fox was born after this census in 1874 and she becomes Mrs. Richard W. Bass.
A tragedy occurs on March 11, 1877 with the death of Charles second wife Janette Belonger Fox. This leaves 5 children under the age of 9 with no mother to bring them up. Charles will split the children up to live in various homes.
I could not find Charles Fox on the 1881 Canadian Census or a US census record of 1880.
I did catch up with him in New York. The Fox family history says he stayed in New York (Jender Falls, Lewis County for some years.) From the Cranworth Chronicles by Barbara Gibson she has the date of 1886 as a move of Edward Fox (his son) to this location. I think this is a mix up in names. Edward was already in Langdon, North Dakota so this might be the time Charles moved to New York.
The 1890 US census records were destroyed so a New York Census record of 1892 found Charles in the township of Diana in Lewis County, New York. In this census he gave his birth year as 1840 (1830) and stated he was US born. His occupation was farming. Living with him was his son John age 22 years old. He stated he was born in Canada. Diana township was located next to Jerden Falls so I felt comfortable that this was the correct Fox.
Canadian Immigrant Record Part One: Recorded a Charles Fox of Lanark County in 1901 stated that he was born outside of Canada. He was 66 years old and date of birth 1834 (1830)
1901 Canada Census Record Charles was living with his daughter Ann Fox Leach and her husband Thomas Leach and their children. They were residing in District 81, Montague Sub district G-3 which was located in Lanark County. Charles states he was 66 years old and born on October 20. 1834. He was born in the United States and was a farmer.
1905 New York Census Record Charles was back on his farm in Diana, Lewis County, New York. He was born in the United States and born in 1836 (1830). He gave his age as 69 years old and was living by himself. His occupation was farming and on the side of the census record was written Jerden Falls Road.
1911 Canadian Census state Charles was born in June 1838 (1830) and was 73 years old. He was born in Ontario. He was head of the household, living alone and a widower. He was living in the County of Leeds in District number 91 Sub-District 1. This was the same description given for the location of his daughter Mary Fox Kennedy and her husband Lewis Kennedy. The Fox family history stated he had lived in a house across the street from his daughter Mary of Portland, Leeds, Ontario until his death in 1918. Living next to Charles was Patrick Kennedy, the father of Lewis Kennedy.
Charles J. Fox will die on August 20, 1918. He was buried in Lombardy Union Methodist Cemetery. He shares the headstone with his son Peter Fox who had died in 1908.
Charles death Record: It was filled out in South Crosby in Leeds County. It states his name was Charles William Fox (which certainly does not go with the J. on his headstone) Recorded as an American, born in 1830 and death date as August 20, 1919. He was 88 years old when he died. He was residing in the township of South Crosby. His occupation was listed as a discharged US soldier. He was a widower. His cause of death was old age. Finally it says his mother was Janet Bouque (Janette Belonger?) and lists no father's name. I do not believe that was his mother's name. I think it was a poor spelling of his second wife's name. It was probably and error because the line for wife was left blank.
I spent weeks researching enlistments into the armed services of the United States. I also checked pensions that were drawn. I was unsuccessful at finding any records that showed Charles Fox was a discharged US soldier.
Family links:
Spouse:
Janette Belonger Fox (1842 - 1877)*
Children:
Edward J. Fox (1857 - 1931)*
Mary Fox Kennedy (1867 - 1934)*
William John Fox (1869 - 1950)*
Eliza Anne Fox Leach (1871 - 1959)*
Peter Fox (1871 - 1908)*
Katherine Agnes Fox Bass (1874 - 1952)*
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Singing Our Family Song
1830 - 1918 (87 years)
