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Searching origin of husband's family

Attempting to breach a brick wall for the surname Battist in Nova Scotia. First record I've been able to find is a marriage bond from October 1815 on which he made his mark (X) and someone wrote the name as John Baptiste. Subsequent census, deeds, etc show spellings of Battist, Battis, Baptiste, Battiste and even Bates for confirmed family members. Nova Scotia census of 1871 shows nationality as English but 1881 shows Irish. I'm not sure how to confirm or refute this information as I don't know where to start looking for corroborating evidence. Any help greatly appreciated.

JustJulieB

3 replies

Julie:

I don't see any Baptiste records in the Tithe listings from the 1820s. Also, no Baptiste records in the Griffiths Valuation survey (land and taxes) from the mid-19th century. The only Baptiste in the 1901 census were men involved in the shipping trade and not native Irish.

Perhaps your husband should take a general DNA test which will provide information on ethnicity.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you! My thinking is perhaps another nationality who subsequently pledged allegiance to the King. I'm trying to follow all possible avenues. Thanks again for replying!

JustJulieB

Date of birth for John would have been @1790 according to age in subsequent Nova Scotia census. Emigration would have been prior to 1815 (date of Nova Scotia marriage bond). Perhaps he was born in Nova Scotia, so it would have been his parents (names unknown at this time) who left from Ireland or England. Halifax Victualling List, 1750 shows # 865 as John Baptista. Possible this is "my" John's father but no proof of that unfortunately, and not showing a wife or family with this person.

JustJulieB

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