ELLEN JANE LEASK (GRIFFIN) OF WINDHAM ONTARIO

     Ellen Jane Leask, my direct ancestor, was born 28 June 1837, in the Shetland Islands. She joined her siblings in Windham Ontario about 1856. She married Peter Smith Griffin on Jan 1st, 1861. Ellen died 2 June 1901, also in Windham. It was from Peters obit in the Waterford Star 29 April 1920 that I had confirmation that Ellen was indeed the sister of Abram Leask.

“He was the only son and sole survivor of the large family of Richard Griffin and Hannah Mills., his wife was Ellen Leask, a sister of the late Capt. Abram Leask of Windham.”

Peter Smith Griffin and Ellen Lisk

 Peter Smith Griffin and Ellen Jane Leask had the following children:

• JOHN SANFIELD GRIFFIN was born on 03 Aug 1861 in Norfolk, Ontario. He died on 27 Jul 1944 in Buffalo, Erie, New York. He married Josephine Rosalina Pearl on 11 Dec 1907 in Welland, Ontario.

• IDA MAY GRIFFIN was born on 28 Feb 1865 in Windham, Norfolk, Ontario. She died on 13 Aug 1945 in Buffalo, Erie, New York. She married George Robert Reid on 21 May 1889 in Norfolk, Ontario.

• LUELLA JANE GRIFFIN was born on 16 Feb 1867 in Windham, Norfolk, Ontario. She died on 12 Dec 1951 in Vancouver, British Columbia. She married Victor Norman Pattullo, son of William Thompson Pattullo and Jessie McGregor, on 28 Dec 1892 in Norfolk, Ontario. Victor was born on 16 Apr 1867 in Caledon, Peel, Ontario and died on 28 Nov 1949 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

• MARY OLIVE GRIFFIN was born in 1868 in Windham, Norfolk, Ontario. She died on 12 Sep 1925 in Norfolk. She married John Delbert Pullen on 22 Feb 1892 in Simcoe, Norfolk, Ontario.

• FLORENCE R GRIFFIN was born in Jun 1869 in Windham, Norfolk, Ontario. She died in 1941 in Windham. She married William Henry Ward on 29 Sep 1897 in Norfolk, Ontario.

• RUSSELL ERNEST GRIFFIN was born in Mar 1871 in Windham, Norfolk, Ontario. He also died in Windham in 1957. He married (1) MARGARET MCPHERSON on 29 Dec 1897 in Norfolk. She died on 04 Feb 1923 in Simcoe. Russell then married (2) AUGUSTA CAROLINE HERRON on 23 Apr 1924 in Norfolk.

• HORACE GRANT GRIFFIN was born on 25 Nov 1876 in Windham, Norfolk, Ontario. He died on 28 Apr 1949 in Los Angeles, California at age 72. He married Ada Hook Lowe on 27 Nov 1911 in Santa Ana, Orange, California.  

My great grandfather,Victor Pattullo was not only interested in genealogy but he was also an avid photographer, this is one of his photos. 

Back row from left to right: Victor Pattullo, his wife Louella (Griffin), possibly her brother Russell, sister Florence and her husband William Ward. 

Seated is Peter Smith Griffin, granddaughter Mae Pattullo, and Peter’s wife Ellen (Lisk) 

I believe the other child is Florence and William Wards son William Grant Ward. 

Back of the photo – PS Griffin home

Peter Smith Griffin and wife Ellen Leask with granddaughter Mae Pattullo (my grandmother) and possibly grandson William Grant Ward. 

John Leask

    In the 1851 census there is a John born 1836 in James Leask/ Jane Sinclair family. In the 1841 Shetland census there was a John born in 1826 into the George Leask Mary Pottinger family. I have no idea if either John came to Canada.

     There was a John Leask who died in Port Dover, Ontario 13 Jan 1887 at the age of 77, a ships carpenter and born in the Orkney Islands. John Leask had a daughter Margaret (1839 – 1899) who married Edward Norquay (1835-1905). This John was too old for either of the above Johns.

    There was also a John Leask b 1837 who married Minnie Ross in 1866 in Haldimand County, Ontario. His father was John and his mother Isabella Mowat (I464567).

NELLIE LEASK ANDERSON

     Nellie Leask was born 17 Feb 1829 in Burra, Shetland, Henry 4 Mar 1829.  I recently found that James and Jane had another Nellie.  She died at about 5 years of age in 1825.  In those days it was common practice to reuse a name if the first child died.

    Henry was listed in the 1851 census as a servant and fisherman living with the family of John Sinclair in Minn. John was a possible brother of our Jane.   I assume this is how Nellie met Henry.   It was Henry’s marriage into this family that helped unravel the mystery of where my Leasks came from in Shetland. Abram’s marriage record guided me to Gussigarth and Henrys name along with his father-in-law James, on the Gussigarth list of tenants helped confirmed I was on the right track.

    Further a record of their son James birth in Gussigarth in 1854 confirmed I had the right family:
"James son of Henry Anderson & Nelly Leisk his wife was born at Gussigairth 8th Sept 1854"

 Henry Anderson and Nellie Leask had the following children:

• JAMES LEASK ANDERSON was born on 08 Sep 1854 in Gussigarth, Burra, Shetland. He died in 1858.

• JOHN W. ANDERSON was born on 09 Oct 1856 in Gussigarth, Burra, Shetland. He married BESSIE STONEHOUSE.

• MARGARET JANE ANDERSON was born on 06 May 1859 in Windham, Norfolk, Ontario. She died on 23 Oct 1938 in Charlotteville, Norfolk, Ontario (Age: 79). She married Lewis Absalom Unger on 06 Feb 1884 in Charlotteville, Norfolk, Ontario.

• HENRY ANDERSON was born on 22 Sep 1863 in Windham, Norfolk, Ontario. He died on 09 Jul 1889 in Norfolk

• WILLIAM ERASTUS ANDERSON was born on 11 Apr 1867 in Windham, Norfolk, Ontario. He died on 20 Feb 1914 in Wyoming, Lambton, Ontario. He married ANNIE (ANDERSON).

• ELLEN ANDERSON was born on 02 May 1869 in Charlotteville, Norfolk, Ontario. She married Alva German Kitchen on 23 Mar 1891 in Dehli, Norfolk, Ontario.

• HARVEY EUGENE ANDERSON was born on 23 Aug 1872 in Charlotteville, Norfolk, Ontario. He died in 1877 in Norfolk, Ontario.

    Henry followed his brother-in-law Captain Abram Leask to Canada circa 1857, settled in Windham Township and sailed with Abram on the Great Lakes as his First Mate and subsequently as Captain of Abraham's second schooner.

     (Census records for the Andersons in Ontario)
 
     Henry died in 1901 and Nellie in 1906, both in Windham. They are buried in the Bethel Cemetery.

MARION GOODLET OF WINDHAM, ONTARIO

     Marion Leask Goodlet, daughter of James Leask and Jane Sinclair was born on the 20th Feb 1823 in Minn, Burra, Shetland Islands. The 1901 census and her obit say she was born 8 Feb 1823 but according to the parish register the 20th was the date recorded for her birth. Her obit also says she was born in Lerwick, although it was Minn.

     James Leisk and Jean Sinclair in Minn Burra had a daughter born 20 Feb 1823 and baptized 3rd March 1823 called Merron.

     Marion married William Goodlet. From trees on the internet comes the marriage date of 11 Apr 1845 in Lerwick, Burra. I have not been able to find their marriage document yet.

     Their children were:

• Mary (b 1846 in Burra, Sheltand & died about the age of 4) 
• James Goodlet (b 1850 in Windham, Ontario
• Mary Jane Goodlet (b 1854 Windham, Ontario)

     By the 1851 census for Shetland Williams brother James and wife Margaret Hughson were living in Gussigarth. William and Marion would have already moved to Ontario by that census.

     William and Marion were in the 1851 census for Windham, Norfolk, Ontario. Their daughter Mary was born in Shetland, there son James in Windham.  They probably came to Canada about 1849.    

     Although William's surname was consistently spelled Goodlet in Canada, Goodlad was usually used in Shetland.     

     According to the Simcoe Reformer, Marion's mother, Mrs. James Leask [recorded as Leisk] died 22 Mar 1872 at the Goodlet home in Windham Township. Marion stayed on there almost to her death, which occurred at son James' home, next door. (Source: John Cardiff of Simcoe, Norfolk County.)

      William Goodlet was the son of Thomas Goodlad and Mary Davidson. William died 24 Jan 1885 in Windham Township, Norfolk County (age 62) and was buried along with Marion in the Bethel Cemetery, Windham Township.

Marion’s Obituary

    Marion Leask, the subject of this memoir, was the second daughter and third child of the late James and Jane Leask. She was born at Lerwick, on of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, on the 8th day of February, A.D. 1823.

    At the age of twenty-two she was united in marriage with William Goodlet of the same place, April 11th, 1845, and after a residence of two years of married life she with her husband emigrated to Canada and settled on lot No. 10 in the 13th con. of the Township of Windham of Norfolk, which was at that time almost an unbroken wilderness, where she lived continuously up to the time of her death, her husband having predeceased her some twenty odd years.

    By this union four children were born, two of whom died in infancy, and a daughter, (Mrs. John Boice) about fifteen years ago. The son, James, survives her and lives on the homestead, with whom she lived continuously during her widowhood.

    In religion she was a Methodist, having united with that church before she left her native country.

    She died on the 8th day of February, 1906, a somewhat singular coincidence, having attained the ripe age of eighty-three years.

    The funeral took place from her late residence to Bethlehem Cemetery on Sunday, and was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Strongman, and the large number attending was conclusive proof of the high esteem in which she was held.