Edwin Bartlett Handspiker I've listed Edwin's marriage to Jane Margaret Keene, because that information was provided to me, early on. However, he could have been married at least twice. And, to WHO and WHEN surely appears to be a quandry. The candidates are: Mary Jane Weagle, Mary Jane Almon, Mary Jane Weagle Almon, Mary Jane Almon Weagle, oh... let us not forget Jennie Wentzell! The only date associated was to a 'Mary Jane' and that was recorded as 19-Apr-1866. The other possibility is that one name, either Weagle or Almon is her maiden name, the other her first married name.
E.B. May have been a shoemaker (awaiting confirmation), but an E.B. was listed in a Digby directory as being a shoemaker.
NOTES:
Seems some lines and dates find ways for E.B. to cross with Edward T. (The TRURO Handspiker). That should be kept in mind, whenever research of either family is undertaken. There are several possible reasons for this, which require extensive research. At one point, I wondered, and sometimes still do, if Edwin Bartlett may have, at some point, become estranged from the Digby clan, moved to Truro and created this 'mess?' Time, patience, and tough research will one day prove me right or wrong.
Feribee (Fanning) was 84, and living with this family in 1871, in Digby. The three unnamed sons could have been daughters listed with estimated birthdates, or this could just have been 'one of those families.' They certainly had ties to the Salvation Army, and may have even adopted some of the children, no idea! New information (5 May 1997) from Gerry Mason (haven@north.nsis.com) shows a Jessie Handspiker/Hanspiker, marrying a William McLeod, in 1875, at age 16, and in Digby, which would explain Jessie not appearing on the 1881 Census in Colchester County, and her being 16 in 1875 is in line with the 1871 Census, showing her as 11. One point though, it she showed her parents as T and M Hanspiker, and didn't list her place of birth. From ALL the info I have on the clan, there are is not one T who married an M and had last name Handspiker, no matter which combination I use. So, it may be the T is actually for Edwin/Edward, and M for Mary Jane or Mary, depending on the theory you wish to follow. Jessie and William had four daughters listed on the 1891 Census of Antigonish County. Really wish I could find a family bible from THIS family! (end of 5May97 entry).
Well, today (18 May 1997) received e-mail from Karen MacLeod, which may help solidify this family.
One thing of note on Edwin (often called Edward) is her possibly different date of death of abt 1896, vice the 1904 here mentioned. Major problems with Mary Jane, if she did, in fact marry Charles Gordon, second. First, she claimed to be 38 in 1904, making her too young to be the mother of any of Edwin's kids, save Alexander (if he's in fact Edwin's). Based on her 2nd marriage date and supposed age, at the time, her b.d. and marr. date to Edwin MATCH!!! Boy, was SHE young! :-)
Census of 1871 shows him as 33 years old. Residing in Digby at that time. Wife Mary Jane (24) Sons Edward (4), Stephen (5), daughters Jessie (11), Ida May (2) Mother Feribee (84) and she's listed as born in NB. There was also a Delemia Wesley age 6, living with the family, at the time. Causes one to wonder if there was an Edwin Bartlett (the Elder) son of Peter and Ferrebee, who had a junior, which is the one in the Census that has confused this whole attempt at sorting out this family. Reference: CV1. He was born on 1 April 1817 at
Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was the son of
Peter Handspiker and
Ferebee Fanning. Edwin Bartlett Handspiker was baptized on 7 February 1818 at
Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada. He died in May 1904 at age 87.