WHEN & WHY DID OUR NOBES COME TO CANADA?

John & Mary’s son James was born in England about 1831 and daughter Mary Ann was born in Kingston in 1836.  From the following newspaper article we know John was in Kingston by 1835.  This gives a very small window for their move to Canada.

Many years ago a cousin told me what she knew about her great grandfather - “John was a gambler and the owner of a stone quarry from which was taken stone to build the prison & the courthouse in Kingston.”  I was never able to verify any of this and knowing how family stories change and grow had finally discounted the entire description.  The following article confirms John was a provider of stone.  And it is certainly possible that he was one of many that provided stone for the prison & the courthouse.

John also appears on the Canadian Militia pay list for the 1st Frontenac Dragoons in 1839 and 1840.  The militia was hastily formed during the 1837 Rebellion. 

“The first permanent Militia Garrison of Kingston was assembled to defend this city during the Upper Canadian Rebellion. The mobilization saved Kingston from invasion since the regular forces had been sent to Lower Canada.”

Reading more about the history of Kingston I found out that our Nobes were living in a very poor area of town that provided “cheap but dangerous housing for new residents”.  According to an article on the internet “Stuartsville”, which was the area the Nobes lived in “was considered unsanitary, crowded, copiously dotted with hog-pens and slaughter houses and consequent accumulations of feculent matter,” and “chiefly inhabited by working classes.” Other complaints were “the distress, poverty, and alleged drinking habits of the population who were served by the excessive number of Stuartsville taverns.”  The Nobes were coming from poor circumstances in England and this area of Kingston would have afforded them the housing they needed.

Arrow points to Clergy near Barrie

Map & information about Stuartsville from https://kingstonspast.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/stuartsville/

       The Stuartsville area of Kingston is outlined in red, Queens University makes up a portion of it.  The information I had gleaned from early directories was that the Nobes lived at Young near Barrie, but I could not find Young Street on a map.  I wrote to the Ontario Genealogy Society in Kingston and learned that Young St. changed to Clergy West therefore Nobes lived at Clergy West near Barrie, Victoria Ward.

Further newspaper articles add a bit more of John’s story:

                     STRAYED

On the night of the 12^th inst., a Bay Horse, stands about 16 hands high, and is about 7 years old, has a scar on the right hind thigh, and a short switch tail. Any information respecting him will be thankfully received, and all reasonable expenses paid by the subscriber.  

John Nobes Kingston, May 15^th, 1841

                     LIST OF LETTERS

Remaining in the Kingston Post Office 3 April 1844 

Persons calling for advertised letters should be particular to ask for such:    John Nobes

As records are digitized I am hopeful more of the Nobes life in Kingston will emerge.