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Preamble:
Our initial goal was to index the local birth, marriage, and death entries in the 1832-1899 issues of the Port Hope newspapers, housed, on microfilm, at the Public Library. While the issues begin at 1832, there are considerable gaps. The collection is quite comprehensive, although not complete, from 1870 on.
We then decided to continue with the remaining issues to 1927. Barbara Trumper organized the indices for 1900-1920 and Shirley Horner for 1921-1927.
The issues for 1928-1954, long believed to have been lost, were discovered in late 2011, thanks to Walt Sammis. The indexing of those microfilms is nearly complete, thanks to the additional efforts of Barbara Trumper, Shirley Horner, Allan Mackenzie, and Bill Hubbs.
While awaiting the "missing years", more recent issues (1955-1972) were indexed with just basic information recorded. The Library has the microfilms for most of the ensuing years to the present.
Alison Houston prepared an extensive finder's index of the microfilmed issues available at the Library. For copies of entries, please contact the Port Hope Library.
(1832-1899): 3,893 entries
These entries contain a considerable amount of information, including cross-referencing with the cemetery database (CemSearch).
Note: For some reason, the following Excel databases sometimes don't show all three tabs at the bottom of the page. This can be rectified by scrolling down until the tabs do appear.
Where there were both weekly and daily issues, one or the other was used, as most of the material in the weekly issues tended to be a repeat of the daily entries.
Within the indices periods, anniversaries will appear (ie. a 60th anniversary for an 1850 wedding will appear in the 1900-1920 indices).
(1900-1920): 5,492 entries
The "lost issues" of 1901, 1902, 1905, 1908, and 1909 have been added.
(1921-1930): 3,039 entries
The "lost issues" of 1924 and 1928 have been added, as has 1930.
(1931-1954): 6,143 entries
Currently underway, the indices have been completed for the following years. As many of the entries are for weekly issues, accurate dates were often difficult or impossible to ascertain (eg. "Married Tuesday last...").
- 1931-1951 (1941 & Jul-Dec 1950 are missing)
- 1954
(1955-1972): 6,416 entries
The following years have been completed:
- 1955-1956
- January 1958-December 1962
- September 1966-December 1972
Also indexed are a few original issues (261 entries), housed at the Port Hope Archives. Should you wish copies of these newspaper entries, please contact the Archives.
The following entries were transcribed in full from issues at the Archives which, due to their fragility, are not accessible to the public.
Port Hope Commercial Advertiser - 07 October 1847 (3/1):
- Drowned.--On Wednesday morning last, Mary Ann, daughter of Mr. James Walsh, of this town, aged four years and six months, was taken out of the mill-dam, by N. Waddell, Esq. Medical aide was promptly rendered; but we are sorry to state that life was extinct, when she was found.
Port Hope Watchman - 11 July 1850 (3/1):
- Birth of a daughter to Nathaniel Bate on 09 Jul 1850 at Port Hope.
- Death of Alice Annette (15 months, 10 days), only daughter of James Grant of Port Hope, at Beloit, Wisconsin, on 10 Jun 1850.
Port Hope Watchman - 11 July 1851 (2/6):
- Birth of a daughter to James Grant at Port Hope on 05 Jul 1851.
- Birth of a son to M.F. Whitehead on 09 Jul 1851.
- Marriage of Rev. H.E. Plees, Missionary in the Eastern District, and Catherine, 2nd daughter of Morgan Jellet of Cobourg, at Port Hope on 25 Jun 1851 by Rev. Jonathan Shortt.
- Death of Edward Warren Powers. The obituary reads:
Died, At the residence of his father, in the Township of Hope, on the 7th instant, after a long and painful illness to which he submitted with singular patience and fortitude Edward Warren, eldest son of Samuel S. Powers, Esq., aged 21 years. The early death of this amiable and promising young man, is deeply regretted by a very large circle of relatives and friends. His manners were gentle, winning and unassuming; and his intellect was such as led those who were intimately acquainted with him, to predict that his future career would be one of usefulness and honour. But the angel of death stood over him and he withered, like a flower that is cut down at noonday. He was perfectly conscious for several weeks that his end was approaching, but he was not afraid to die. He departed in the unshaken belief that "this mortal shall put on immortality," and met the icy gaze of the pale King of Terrors with the calm and sublime triumph of a chritian. The lines underneath were handed to him a few hours before he expired, and which he perused with great pleasure. Tiddy, in the concluding stanza, was the pet name of a beautiful and interesting little sister of his that died about twelve years ago.
TO EDWARD
Above this world of care,
Of anguish and despair,
Above earth's night of sorrow,
Above the loftiest star,
Heaven's shining mansions are,
And an immortal morrow!
There no sad mourners weep,
No looks turn hoary,
And brows forever keep
Their gladness and their glory.
There little Tiddy stands
Eager to meet you,
And lifts her angel hands
To clasp and greet you!
T.C.W.
Port Hope Times - 06 Sep 1876 (5/4):
- Death of Frederick Jacobs (10 months), youngest son of T. Hewson, at Port Hope on 04 Sep 1876. (of whooping cough)
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