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Archiver > METISGEN > 2002-04 > 1017708097


From: Denny Lowe <>
Subject: [METISGEN-L] FROBISHER genealogy
Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2002 16:41:37 -0800


Greetings again, listers...

Several of you have showed an interest in what I have reference the
FROBISHERs of the NWC, and their descendents in Canada.

My initial interest in the FROBISHER's Canadian connection was
'sparked' by my cousin John FROBISHER, formerly of Keighley,
Yorkshire. John, in his research into FROBISHER family history came
to know the late George FROBISHER [1911-1997] and they co-operated on
their research. John had done considerable initial research into the
role played by the FROBISHERs in the NWC, and this was incorporated
into George's privately published family history. See:

George Frobisher, "The Frobisher Story," (Capernwray, Near
Carnforth, LAN, privately printed, ca. 1978).

Please note the early publication date, and the fact that the part
related to Canada is based on research performed long-distance, by
Royal Mail, using a limited number of sources available at that time.
As such, there are some errors and omissions. However, the Yorkshire
research seems (to me) pretty well top calibre, with the possible
exception of the FROBISHER to JACKSON marriages. (Several people in
the USA suggest that George has reversed the two Margaret FROBISHERs
that married into two JACKSON lines...important to them, in that one
Margaret is the sister of Sir Martin FROBISHER; think Frobisher Bay,
the northwest passage and the Spanish Armada.)

George Frobisher visited Canada in (I think) the late 1970s, visiting
Frobisher Bay [Iqaluit], Toronto, Winipeg and possibly Montreal. He
deposited copies of this work in several Libraries, Genalogical
Societies, etc. I do recall that it is available by Inter-Library
Loan from the Archives of Ontario under their Genealogical holdings
for surname FROBISHER. Perhaps the archives in Montreal and Winipeg
may also hold copies.

Having a collateral relationship to Benjamin, Thomas and Joseph, I
have found myself attemping to trace their descendents, rather than
researching ancestors. I have made resonable progress in
establishing Joseph's family in Montreal, but I have not done so well
in terms of the Metis connections. Likely like most of you folks, I
suspect that there is a "glaring gap" in the records being used for
Metis ancestry, and the brothers three.

However, starting with what I believe is correct, I can borrow from
George's work, and correspondence with my Cousin John to suggest that
a Joseph FROBISHER [1710-1763] married Rachel HARGREAVES [1722-1790]
and that they had seven children:

Benjamin [1740-1787]
Sally [1741-xxxx]
Thomas [1744-1788]
Elizabeth [1746-xxxx]
Joseph [1748-1810]
William [1749-1830]
Nathaniel [1752-1799]

I will attempt to get back to the list toward the end of the week,
with more detail on the "brothers three" starting with Benjamin, and
work my way through the remainder a bit later on.

I hope this will be of interest and help to someone...if only to
allow us to identify 'closer to primary' sources and hopefully,
bridge the gap between the Halifax born FROBISHERs and their Metis
born descendents.

I do hope that those with specific interests will be able to wait
until I am able to work my way through what I have to offer. Before
I get one's hopes too high, a lot of what I have Metis-wise is likely
no more than what is in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, or what
you yourselves have probably turned up through Scrip, or other
published sources.

Regards,

Denny (Langley BC)


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