This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/SRB.2ACE/630.1440.1969.2642.1.2.2.1.1 Message Board Post: Patricia, I have seen this family in the 1881 census and based on the following entries from the index to the 1871 census STALEY , JACOB 67 USA OXFORD NORTH Nissouri East STALEY , THOMAS 24 ONTARIO OXFORD NORTH Nissouri East I ordered photocopies of the returns for them from the 1871 census which I noted in my database some time ago (but which I could not locate today, although I certainly still have them filed somewhere): There is a Jacob Staley 67 (Born USA, Dutch, Shoemaker) living in Nissouri East, Oxford North in the 1871 Ontario census, but he has a wife Hannah 55, born Ontario. There is a Thomas Staley 24 (born Ontario, Dutch, farmer) living in Nissouri East, Oxford North in the 1871 Ontario census with wife Susan 22 and son Nelson 5 months. On the surface it appears that this Jacob and Thomas could be father and son, but it also appears that he may not be the same Jacob as the one I have identified as related to Peter Staley of Malahide who is recorded in the 1851/2 census as having a wife Nancy: In 1851 at Malahide Twp., Elgin, Ontario (p. 17) Jacob Staley, 44, Labourer born NY, Bapt. with wife, Nancy, 42, born Canada and children, John, 23, Eli, 19, Mary, 17, Jane, 15, Jacob, 13, Nancy, 9, Thomas, 7 and Emily, 3. In 1861 at Malahide Twp., Elgin (4-17) are John Staley, 22, Bapt., farmer, with siblings, Jacob, 22, Nancy, 16, Emily, 11 all single. Had parents died? AsI believed that "my" Jacob died at Malahide, I am sorry but did not follow up the families from Oxford county (I did follow up the familes of John and Nancy who remained at Malahide) I do have one other mention of the Staley family of Malahide, from an article which appeared for a son of Peter on his 90th birthday which goes as follows - perhaps there is something useful for you to connect or not the two families: The Aylmer Express, March 1, 1934, page 8 MALAHIDE'S GRAND OLD MAN -- SAMUEL STALEY It should be considered very fine for a person to live 70 or 80 years, and be a keen observor during that period, retaining all his faculties, but when one reaches ten more, and yet in good health, alert both mentally and physically, it is something worth even boasting about. Malahide's Grand Old Man, Samuel Staley, scores in the latter, as on Wednesday of last week, with a number of relatives and friends, in his beautiful home in the Gore between the 7th and 8th concession, he celebrated his 90th birthday. He was born on the townline in Malahide, about a mile west of Springfield, and thus has spent his four score and ten in the township of his birth. The Staleys came from New York state, near Albany. For a time some of his father's brothers and other relatives lived on Grand Island in the Niagara River. Some of the brothers went to Markham, and one to Talbot Street west of Aylmer. Sam's father and mother were on a visit to the Aylmer brother, when he fell in with Father Pettys, a travelling preacher, then living on the farm now occupied by Orland Wall. Father Pettys, needing some family on the farm to look after the work, bargained successfully with Peter. Peter Staley, wife and two children arrived at the Pettys farm on the 21st of February, and that night Samuel was born. Sometime later, this Staley family moved in east of Glencolin, where the Chambers family had been for some time, and finally settled, taking up land. Samuel and his elder brother, John M., occupied the place where Gordon Staley now lives, and their sister, Rebecca, kept house for them for a few years. By the time Sam was 25 years he and a Miss Chambers had decided that the bonds of matrimony were the only road to true happiness. They were duly married, and the next day Samuel with his oxen and an old truck, drove his bride to the farm on which he has since resided. Some five years ago, his beloved partner in the joys and worries of pioneer life, passed to the Great Beyond. No children were there to bless this union, however they kept on the young side of life by always having a nephew or two with them. About the time of Mrs. Staley's death, his sister, Rebecca, who had also married into the Chambers family, and had spent a number of years in the vicinity of Alvinston, returned a widow, and has since most effectively managed the household, although she is well past the four score. There being much fine pine in the vicinity of the Chambers-Staley Corners, the sawmill and the shingle mill flourished. To operate the shingle mill, a Robert Willis was engaged. This young man and two of his brothers married three of Sam's sisters. The Robert Willis referred to was the father of Robert Willis, of Springfield. The day of the celebration brought together a number of his nephews and nieces and other friends, about 50, and while all enjoyed themselves and ate heartily of the bounteous spread, none were more pleased than "Uncle" Sam himself. Samuel Staley and his sister, Mrs. Rebecca Chambers are the only ones left of a large family. After the dinner, or feast rather, all repaired to the large front room where Samuel delighted all with the humorous stories of by-gone days in the woods. Among those present was one, Mrs. Ralph Chambers, now 88, who had taught in the school of that section 70 odd years ago. She readily vouched for the various reminiscenses. It is indeed a rare thing to find even among men, half the age, those who can depict events as clearly and as delightfully as can Uncle Sam. If we were to put into print all his remarks, we feel that too much space for one issue, would be taken. Sam knows Malahide and Aylmer, as no other living man knows it and more too, he can tell about them and the early settlers. May he enjoy with his friends, many more such occasions. One last tit-bit of information: From the 1837 Toronto & Home District Directory (http://www.rootsweb.com/~onyork/1837S2.html) living in Scarborough at concession 4, lot 27 are Boltus, Conrad, Jacob and Peter Staley. Hope this has been of some help, if only that of eliminating a possible blind alley. Peter