Hi everyone, first a little background info on naming patterns for German Descendants for this family. Most boys had their first names as John (English) Johan(n) (German); girls all started with Mary (English) Maria (German). It was not uncommon to have members of this family switch from English/German spellings, be known by their first names on some documents, and their second name on others. Some members of this family not only had 2 names but 3. In the case of Maria Ernst, her proper name was Maria/Mary Maud Euphimia "Effie" Ernst. In Jared's message May 3, 2012 he posts the 1911 census, line 36 Jane Ernst. This was my grandmother and her full proper name was Mary Jane Ernst; her 3 sons and 1 daughter always referred to her Mary Jane but she was known as Jane or Janie; she married my grandfather John "Charles" Walker. Jane's mother was Amelia Sarah Margaret Neiforth, from Seaforth, NS. She died in 1974 and I recall visiting her several times; for she was quite a character. She always smoked a pipe and if anyone came to visit she would quickly hide it under her apron because pipe smoking was un-lady like. Her apron had many burn holes in it. Although she was a smoker she lived to the age of 96 her only infirmity was diabetes and she had a penchant for dietetic chocolates which my father and I always brought when we visited her; she was also very fluent in German. She was known by several aka's: Amie, May/Mae, Mildred, Emilia, Mary, Sarah & Margie to name a few; I knew her as Grannie Ernst. Her 1974 newspaper obituary listed her as May Ernst. William Leander, Amelia S M Nieforth and family moved to Bayer's Road area of Halifax (also known as Dutch Village/Town); which is why they are shown living with William's uncle Reuben on the 1911 census. They were getting ready to move. The house still stands, is one of the 3 from the corner of Romans Ave (I think it is currently painted brown). This would have been how Mary Jane Ernst met my grandfather John "Charles" Walker for the Walkers lived on the other side of the street. Confusion over who was Gracie's Errnst's father - Anne Druscilla Graham was married before to a "Coates" but he died before Gracie was born. Family stories state that Anne was from Digby area moved to Dartmouth immediately after the death of her husband "Coates" (our family thinks he died from consumption). Expecting and looking for work she met James Henry who needed help with his young family while his first wife was ailing. This is why it seems strange for Gracie to have "Coates" scratched out and replaced with Ernst on her records & Sarah/Anne for her mother. Gracie was born from Anne while working as help for James Henry and Sarah. Sarah dies when Gracie would have been about 3-5 years old. The Preston area that most of the records refer to was also known as Lake Major/Westphal. When James Henry Ernst passes there was some sort of a family rift with some of his children from his first marriage with the spouse of his 2nd marriage. As far as what we Walkers know is that James Henry felt that the children of his first marriage had already established themselves. Since Gracie and Percy had very little he left the lands to them to help them become established. The area is now a golf course I believe. To add to the confusion of names, James Henry's first wife was Sarah Robina Hirtle; but she was also known by the last name of Hartlin/Hartling. I'll try to post a descendant listing later.