Pam I saw pictures as well and was certainly baffled by the enumerator's account. I sure hope you can find info and put all this to rest. xoxo Sandy > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:34:42 -0400 > From: Pam Tessier <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [CAN-ONT-SIMCOE] Carter family > To: [email protected] > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Sandy, > > There is a clear copy of the 1901 census on Ancestry.ca and it reads as > follows: > > Ontario, East Simcoe, Tiny Township > Line 13, 84-84 Carter, William, male, B (the original letter(s) has been > overwritten), Head, married, May 22, 1847, 53, born Ont., African, Can., > Presby., sawyer, mother tongue English > > In the margin, very faint, is written the notation: negro origin. > His children are all recorded with the letter B as above and their > origin is also African. His wife is white and English which is correct > and borne out by other documents. > > In the 1911 census (and others) the enumerator refers to him as English, > Canadian. > > We have determined he was employed by the Davidson Lumber Mill as a > sawyer/millwright in 1901 and living in Penetanguishene at 150 Main > Street. > > Both enumerators were probably known to him. Likely it was a case of > bias or prejudice on the part of the enumerator based on what he > perceived to be the facial features and hair texture of the family > members. A photo of William's son shows a man of fair complexion, > ordinary features but very closely waved hair. A living descendant, who > met father William before he died in 1933, claims that other than his > hair, he was an 'ordinary looking man'. > > If we can locate other Carter family members or documents predating his > arrival in Simcoe County about 1872, we may be able to put this story to > rest. > > Pam