Rev George Blaker

Rev George Blaker
c1822 - 1909

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Pioneers of the Bay of Quinte

WHY I AM INTERESTED IN THIS FAMILY:
George Blaker was born near Belleville, son of a white father and native mother. At the urging of Rod Blaker of Ottawa, a research group has been trying to identify the father of Rev. George Blaker (c 1822 - 1909), a Methodist Missionary. For over a year, research strongly suggested that the father of Rev. George Blaker was a direct descendant of John Bleecker (Blaker, Blacker, Bleeker in the record) who settled at the mouth of the Trent River about 1790. Based on Y DNA tests the research team concludes that Rev George Blaker is the son of Tobias Bleecker, a son of John Bleecker.

I'd like thank Rod Blaker, Aubrey Blaker, Christine Jack, Mae Derrick, Beverley Rittwage, Matt Pinkston, Dave Mowat and Robert Bleecker for their work on this puzzle.

© Randy Saylor, 2010
This is a long web page - so use these links to navigate up and down the page.

  1. Rev George Blaker 1822-1909
  2. Y DNA results - New conclusive evidence; August 2011
  3. Grape Island and Alnwick Township - Mississauga Indian Mission
  4. Blaker Oral tradition
  5. Possible fathers of Rev George Blaker
  6. Census and other personal records
  7. Missionary Records
  8. Children of George and Charlotte Blaker
  9. Loose bits
1. The REV GEORGE BLAKER
Who is the father of George Blaker - that is the question. The 1909 death register of George Blaker says he was born on Grape Island, Bay of Quinte and together with the census records it is estimated he was born about 1822. Grape Island is a small island east off Massassauga Pt, on the south shore of the Bay of Quinte opposite the City of Belleville. At this time there were Mississauga natives (of the Ojibwa group) living along the Bay of Quinte shoreline all the way to Kingston. In 1784 land at the mouths of the Moira and Salmon Rivers were held as a reserve for the Mississauga. The 428 acres at the mouth of the Moira were surrendered in 1816 and the Salmon River reserve was surrendered later.  The Methodist Episcopal Church leased Grape Island in 1826 from the natives and established a native mission there. George would not have been born on Grape Island but he may well have been born nearby on the other Misissauga land on the Bay of Quinte and after 1826, raised on Grape Island. The 1861 and 1881 census state that both George and his wife Charlotte were "half breeds" and had been born to native mothers. The research strongly suggested that Tobias Bleecker was the father of George. George married Charlotte McCue.

Tobias Bleecker (1798-1866), a son of John Bleecker, lived in Belleville and was a witness to the Grape Island indenture in 1826. This fact strongly demonstrates Tobias had a trusted relationship with the Mississauga. Together with the DNA results it is now concluded that Tobias is the father of Rev George Blaker. Tobias does not mention George Blaker in his 1866 will. Robert Bleecker, one of the Y DNA testers, states that within the Bleecker family there is "the story that Tobias had a child or children with a native mother."

In 1836 the Methodists decided to merge the Grape Island and Rice Lake native communities and in 1837, 3600 acres in Alnwick Township were made available to the Grape Island natives and the village of Alderville was built. There is census data for Alnwick from 1840 to 1851 and George Blaker is only there in 1847 "within the Indian band". See the Grape Island and Alnwick Township section near the bottom of this web page. For another account of these affairs see the web page The Coming of the Native Peoples of Alderville [scroll down a bit]. George was in Alnwick in 1847 and in the Lake Superior area by 1852.


2. Y DNA RESULTS
See the results page of the Blaker DNA Project for the Y DNA test results and note the two tests below. Further Blaker and Bleecker testers are most welcome.
  • Test # 154891 is that of Aubrey Blaker, a descendant of Rev. George Blaker (1820 - 1916) likely the son of Tobias Bleecker.
  • Test # 210111 is that of Robert Bleecker, a descendant of John Bleecker Esq (1762 - 1807) via his son Henry  (1805 - 1881).
The two tests are a 35/37 marker match and given the 5 or so generations that separate the two testers we have called this result a match. Fellow researcher Matt Pinkston wrote that "Aubrey and Robert differ on 2 markers only, the DYS 439 and CDY. According to Family Tree DNA, they have a genetic distance of 2, and there is a 97% chance they have a common ancestor in the last 16 generations."

Because this is a Y DNA test, the common ancestor for Aubrey and Robert must be on their direct all male lineage. The Y DNA result, combined with all the research gathered here, points to Tobias Bleecker (1797 - 1866) being the father of Rev. George Bleecker. The common ancestor is John Bleecker Esq. He is the father of Tobias and Henry. Aubrey descends from Tobias and Robert descends from Henry.

Robert Bleecker declares that there is a family story that Tobias Bleecker had a child or children with a native mother. Taken together, this research team concludes that Tobias Bleecker is the father of Rev George Blaker.
3. GRAPE ISLAND and ALNWICK TOWNSHIP
GRAPE ISLAND
In 1827, Grape Island in the Bay of Quinte, across from Belleville, was established as a Methodist Indian Mission for the Mississauga natives living in the Quinte area. The island was leased by the Methodists in 1826 and the Indenture was "signed and sealed and delivered in the presence of Tobias Bleaker and Peter Jones."  Peter Jones was a native Methodist minister (white father - native mother) representing the native side of the bargain and Tobias Bleecker would have been honoured as representing the white man's side of the bargain.

The Rev George Blaker who is the central puzzle of this story is recorded as born on Grape Island on his death register. It is more likely that he was born nearby about 1821 to a white father and native mother and raised on Grape Island. The thrust of this research raises Tobias Bleecker, son of John Bleecker, to be the possible candidate to be the father of George Blaker. Finding Tobias present at the signing of the agreement just strengthens the hypothesis that Tobias is the father.
Source: Mission on Grape Island, Boehme, Richard., 1987, 7th Town Historical Society, page 9, TPL, Canadiana Room, 266.76327 BOE [This booklet is an excellent account of the Mission's history.]
Source: The History of Methodism in Canada, George F Playter, Toronto, 1862, p. 292/3

GRAPE ISLAND INDENTURE 1826
[Below is a transcription and accompanying text as written in Playter's, History of Methodism.]
Grape Island
As the Indians of the Credit were now in a settled state, and enjoying the advantages of' the new life, Mr. Case and certain good men, well wishers of the Indians, considered the case of the natives about Belleville. To promote a settled condition, a singular plan was resorted to, viz,: of leasing two islands in the Bay of Quinte, near Belleville, from the Indians, for the use of the Indians. The lease will describe the objects and conditions:-
 
"THIS INDENTURE, made at Belleville, in the Midland District, of the Province of Upper Canada, the 16th day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and twenty six, between the chiefs, warriors and Indians of the Missassuaga [sic] tribe, of the one part, and John Reynolds, Benjamin Ketcheson, Pennel G. Selden, James Bickford, and William Ross, all of the town of Belleville, on the other part:
 
"Whereas we the said parties of the first part, have been convinced of the great injury which we sustain, and have sustained, from our wandering habits, and the consequent want of education, and religious instruction for ourselves and our children: and whereas the said parties of the second part have been moved by our forlorn situation, to endeavour to enlighten our minds in the knowledge of truth; but finding that all their labours must be in vain, unless we acquire some permanent settlement and habitation, where we may be provided with a place of worship and schools for the use of ourselves and families:
 
"Now this Indenture witnesseth, that in consideration thereof and also in consideration of the sum of five shillings by the said parties of the second part, to us in hand paid, at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt. whereof we hereby acknowledge, have devised, leased, let, and to farm letten , -- and by these presents do devise, lease, let, and to farm let, - all that certain tract of land, situate in the township of Ameliasburgh, in the said district, being composed of a certain island in the Bay of Quinte, near the mouth of Marsh creek, heretofore generally called and known by the name of Logrim's Island, containing by estimation fifty acres of land, be the same more or less: To have and to hold all and singular the said premises, with the appurtenances, for and during, and until the full end and term of nine hundred and ninety nine years, unto the said parties of the second part, their heirs and assigns, upon such trusts, and for such intents and uses, as are hereinafter expressed, i.e.
 
"That they the said parties of the second part, their heirs and assigns, shall suffer and permit us the said parties of the first part, and our heirs, to occupy, possess, and enjoy, all and singular the premises aforesaid, free and clear from any rent and incumbrance; that they themselves shall not, neither shall they suffer or permit any other person or persons to cut clown or destroy the trees or underwood of the said island, except so much as may be required to be cleared away for the purposes of cultivating the soil, or which may reasonably be required for building for ourselves, or for fencing our clearings.
 
"For the consideration, and upon the same terms and conditions expressed, we have leased, and do by these presents lease, unto the said parties of the second part, their heirs and assigns, a certain other Island adjoining the island within described, and which is commonly called and known by the name of Grape island, containing about eleven acres.
"John Sunday, Paul, Yawaseeng,
Wm. Beaver, Jacob Nawquashcum,
John Simpson, John Salt,
Nelson Snake, Isaac Skunk,
Mitchell Snake, Wm. Ross,
Jacob Musquashcum, Potto Skunk,
Joseph Skunk, Jacob Sheepegang,
James Snake.”
"Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of Tobias Bleaker, Peter Jones.”
 
The plan of leasing the Islands to others, and giving possession to the Indians, gave the benevolent community confidence that what was given for the improvement of the intended settlement would be of some lasting benefit. A site being now selected, the Indians of the Chippeway tribe in the Bay of Quinte began to look upon these islands as their home, and benevolent persons concerned themselves about laying the foundation of the new Indian settlement.
 
The John Reynolds mentioned in the deed was the preacher who located in the time of the war, and now a merchant. Benjamin Ketcheson was a son of Wm. Ketcheson, who lived throe miles east of the Adolphustown chapel, when Losee preached, and whose wife was a member of the first class. Selden and Bickford were local preachers. Wm. Ross was a good man, of benevolent feelings, and very kind to the Indians. His house was open for their prayer meetings, and his table spread for their wants. He gave the ground on which the chapel and parsonage now stand in Belleville. The Indians had great confidence in Wm. Ross, long a class loader, and one was baptized in his name, as the lease shows.
Source: The History of Methodism in Canada, George F Playter, Toronto, 1862, p. 292/3

ALNWICK TOWNSHIP 1840
In 1835 Gov. Colbourne ordered a survey and had about 3500 acres of the first and second concessions set aside as a Indian settlement. The Methodists, under William Case, moved in the Mississauga Indian band from Grape Island in the Bay of Quinte in the period 1836-37. Shortly thereafter, the Methodists built a school and church at Alderville on lot 15, Con 1. The original land grants were given as political favours or to ex- military personnel. These grantees often held the land for a few years and then sold it. They were not required to perform any settlement duties. The census and assessment rolls from 1840 to 1851 are transcribed. George Blaker is listed in the 1847 Alderville Indian Band assessment roll. This is the only roll designated as "Indian band". All the other rolls appear to be of non native people and the names on the 1847 Indian band roll are different from the other rolls. It appears that all other rolls excluded the natives.
Source: Early Records and Sketch of the Inhabitants of Alnwick Township Northumberland County District of Newcastle Canada West, Smith, William D., 2004, TPL, 971.35709 SMI, Canadiana Room, Note: the 1840 to 1850 census and assessment data is fully transcribed in this book by W.D. Smith and are from AO, MS 16, reel 1. The 1851 census is from LAC C-11739.

REV PETER JONES
Peter Jones was a son of  Augustus Jones, the surveyor and a native mother who was the daughter of a Mississauga Chief. He became an influential Methodist minister amongst the native people. His journal is very informative but there is no mention of Tobias Bleecker.
Source: Life and Journals of Kah-ke-wa-quo-na-by, Rev. Peter Jones, 1802-1856. 1860, Publisher:: A. Green, TPL, 921 JONES, Canadiana Room

MISSISSAUGA HISTORY
1. There are a number of web sites with information about the Mississauga natives at this time.
2. Belleville: A Popular History, Gerry Boyce, Dundurn Press, 2008, p. 17

BOOKS
1. "Kingston, Bedford, Grape Island, Alnwick. The Odyssey of the Kingston Mississaugas" - This is a PhD discertation. Brian Stuart Osborne with M. Ripmeester, Historic Kingston, V43, 84-112, 1995.

2. Mission of Grape Island, Richard Boehme, 7th Town Hist. Soc., 1987, TPL, 266.76327BOE. This is an excellent history of the settlement from 1824 to 1837 plus an extensive bibliography.

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4. BLAKER ORAL TRADITION
NATIVE BLAKER STORY
Rod Blaker shares this oral tradition from the native Blaker community of Ontario. This story does not connect with the John Bleecker of Bay of Quinte findings. To date, nothing has been found to support this story in the Quinte area.

"Pursuant to our discussion, this note is simply to have in writing the oral tradition about the ancestry of the name Blaker both amongst the native Blakers as well as certain European descendant Blakers (specifically those living in and around Newcastle). Both native and European Blakers agree that they are interrelated, and that long ago a Blaker came from England; that he had two brothers, one who stayed in England and the other who was a surgeon in India. I have the genealogy of the european Blakers of Newcastle going back to about 1785 in India which is too recent to capture the siblings we need."
Source: email Rod Balker, 25 Jun 2010

BLAKER from ENGLAND STORY (email from Rod Blaker 7 Sep 2010)
"Now there are white Blakers and red Blakers in Canada today, in Ontario, and interestingly they have the same oral tradition in each of the families. 
 
That is, George was the son of one of three brothers, one of whom stayed in England, the second of whom was a surgeon in India, and the third of whom came to Canada and was the father of George.  There are a couple of other Blaker Native people about that time, one Robert and the other Kirkpatrick, and no parentage can be found for them either.
 
The Indian army records have not yet been transcribed, so we are not able to find a surgeon brother at the right time;  our George's father would have been about say 25 or 30 when he first applied for land, in 1790, which meant he would have been about 75 to 85 when he died; so that would take his birthday back to 1755 or 1760.
 
It is possible that he was in the British Army in Canada and or the USA; fought therein, and then was rewarded with land at the time of the American revolution.
 
You can see the India Blakers on Blaker General and it is possible that you might be able to find the appropriate army records in London - I cant recall what they are called, but it looks like he was not an officer with that amount of a land grant, and so you would have to look in the non com ranks. We have one or two Blakers in Quebec, and they look like deserters; we have a William who came in Irons (same idea as Australian convict ships); William may have been smart enough to pull off a bit of a con job, arrived in Canada and declared himself a United Empire Loyalist - shorthand for people who were entitled to land as a result of loyalty to the King in the American revolution.

The only good thing about this problem is that this man WAS the first Blaker in the Canada's; and quite possibly the first or nearly that in the USA."
 
EARLY ARRIVALS in America.
The men below are named in lists of names of men in British Army units stationed in America during the Revolutionary war. No records have been found to link the John and William Blaker below to the Bleecker/Balker family that lived in Albany NY.

  1. John Blaker, 1775 New York, NY
    Source: SMITH, CLIFFORD NEAL. British and German Deserters, Dischargees, and Prisoners of War Who May Have Remained in Canada and the United States, 1774-1783: Parts 1-2. (British-American Genealogical Research, Monograph Number 9, Parts 1-2.) McNeal, AZ: Westland Publications. Part 1, 1988. 24p. Part 2, 1989. p. 9, Extracted from muster rolls in the British Record Office, archival group War Office 12, for the period beginning about 1774 to 1783. Source pub. 8529.30.

  2. John Blaker, 1772-75, Canada,
    Source: SMITH, CLIFFORD NEAL. "Deserters, Dischargees, and Prisoners of War from the British Seventh Regiment of Foot (Fusiliers) during the American Revolution." In National Genealogical Society Quarterly, vol. 67:4 (Dec. 1979), p. 259. Date and place of action cited in muster roll. Musters have been preserved in the Public Record Office, London, under W.O. (War Office) 12, volumes 2474 and 2475. Listees are former British military who remained in North America. Many settled in the Carolinas. Source code, 8570.7

  3. William Blaker, 1774, America
    Source: COLDHAM, PETER WILSON. Bonded Passengers to America. 9 vols. in 3. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1983. Vol. 4. Home Counties, 1655-1775: Surrey, Hertfordshire, Kent, Essex, and Sussex. P. 209, source code, 1217.4

  4. William Blaker, 1774, America
    Source: COLDHAM, PETER WILSON. The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage, 1614-1775. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1988. p 76. Date and port of arrival, or date of sentencing or reprieve for transport and port of arrival. Name of ship, crime convicted of, and other information may also be provided. The remainder of the book will be indexed as source number 1220.12 in PILI 1999 Pa, source code 1220.11


BLAKER WEB SITE
http://www.blaker.org.uk/

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5. POSSIBLE FATHERS OF REV GEORGE BLAKER
We have two very different possibilities as to who is the father of Rev George Blaker in 1822.
  1. The first is the Oral Tradition story in the above section. The problem with the story is that no record in the Quinte area has connected in any way to that story. 
  2. The second possibility comes from the fact that there is only one Blaker/Bleecker in the Quinte area and he is John Blaker/Bleecker who settles in Murray Towmship and dies in 1807. 
Which sons of John Bleecker are possible fathers of George Blaker?
  1. John R Bleecker b 1789: [UNLIKELY] John R was married in 1812, already had a family by 1820 and lived in Trenton.
  2. George Bleecker: [POSSIBLE] George lived in Belleville was married sometime after 1815.
  3. Tobias Bleecker: [POSSIBLE] Tobias lived in Belleville, had children by 1823 and was a witness to the Grape Island indenture so he had a connection with the Mississauga natives making him a distinct possibility.
  4. Gilbert Bleecker: [POSSIBLE] Gilbert was married 7 Dec 1823 and lived in Belleville.
  5. Henry Bleecker: [NO] Henry was born in 1805 and would have been too young to be the father of George.
The research and the Y DNA test results above have forced the conclusion that Tobias Bleecker is the father of Rev George Blaker.

TOBIAS BLEECKER
See this note about Tobias Bleecker on the John Bleecker web page.

FATHERS DEATH
In the 1852 journal, quoted below, of Rev John Pitezel  at Lake Superior, it is recorded that Rev George Blaker said his father died 7 years ago (1845). None of the Bleecker sons died around 1845. However George could be referring to a step father who actually raised him, dying in 1845. If Tobias Bleecker is his birth father, it is assumed Tobias did not stick around to raise George and very possibly another man took over the role of step father and raised George Blaker. It would be his death that is referred to in this record.

"The following account of this camp meeting, with slight additions from my journal, was published in the Christian Advocate and Journal, and in the Missionary Advocate. It is dated Saut Ste. Marie, Michigan, 27th July, 1852" (345)
"Rev. Mr. Blaker, from Garden River, said: 'It is seven years since my father died, who exhorted me, on his death-bed, to serve God. Joseph Skunk was the means of my conversion, five years ago. I will fight my passage through till death.' "(353)
Source: Lights and shades of missionary life containing travels, sketches, incidents and missionary efforts, during nine years spent in the region of Lake Superior, Rev John H Pitezel, 1852. See an 1886 edition on Google Books.

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6. CENSUS AND OTHER PERSONAL RECORDS of George Blaker
The records below are arranged in chronolgical order and are intended to trace the known record of Rev George Blaker (c1822 - 1909). No birth or marriage record has been found.

BIRTH
His death registration (below) states he was born on Grape Island, Bay of Quinte.
Death Register: dob is recorded as "unknown". Death date 10 April 1909 - 86 = 1823
1861 Census: 1861 - age of 42 = 1819
1871 Census: 1871 - 50 = 1821
1881 Census: 1881 - 61 = 1820
1891 Census: 1891 - 70 = 1821
1901 Census: the census states he was born in 1822
His birth year is taken as 1822.

BMD
The Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada published the Christian Guardian, a weekly newspaper, from 1829 to 1925. Births, marriage and death announcements have been transcribed. No person of the name BLAKER or BLEECKER, or other spelling variation, is named in any of the volumes below.
1. More Notices from Methodist Papers 1830-57 (1986)
2. Death Notices from the Christian Guardian 1836-50 (1982)
3. Death Notices from the Christian Guardian 1851-60 (1984)
4. Obituaries from Ontario's Christian Guardian 1861-70 (1988)
5. Death Notices from the Canada Christian Advocate 1858-72 (1992)
Sources: All above volumes were examined at the United Church Archives, Toronto, and they are transcribed by Donald A McKenzie, published by Hunterdon House, NJ in the years indicated.

1861 CENSUS
George Blaker, 42, Missionary, b. Upper Canada, Weslian Methodist, Half Breed
Charlotte Blaker, 30, Half Breed
John Blaker, 13, Half Breed
Wesley K Blaker, 11, Half Breed
Catherine Blaker, 9, Half Breed
George Blaker, 2, Half Breed
Source: 1861 Census of Canada West, Dist 5, Honble H. B. Co. Post, Michipocoten and adjacent Country within Trading Limits, and Michiocoten Island from Honble H. B. Co. Post at Bachawana Bay, Lake Superior, Algoma District, C-1091, p 64

1871 CENSUS
George Blaker, 50, b. Ont, Wes Meth, Indian, Farmer
Louisa, 36, b. Ont, Wes Meth, Indian
Wesley, 20, b. Ont, Wes Meth, Indian
Victoria, 18, b. Ont, Wes Meth, Indian
Samuel, 10, b. Ont, Wes Meth, Indian
Alice, 6, b. Ont, Wes Meth, Indian
Source: 1871 Cenus of Canada, Alnwick, Northumberland, C-9984, family 58, Ancestry.ca

1881 CENSUS
George Blaker, 61, b. Ont, Meth E, farmer, mother indian women
Charlotte Blaker, 55, Ont, Meth E, mother indian women
Samuel Blaker, 18, Ont, Meth E
Alice Blaker, 16, Ont, Meth E
Source: 1881 Census of Canada, Alnwick, Northumberland West, Ontario, C-13239, p. 27, family 127, Ancestry.ca

1891 CENSUS
George Blaker, 70, Head of Household, b. Ont, parents born Ontario, Methodist, farmer
Mary Blaker, 70, wife, b. Ont, parents born Ont, Methodist
John G Blaker, 37, son, widower, b. Ont
Thomas, 16, grand son
Samuel, 14, grand son
Orma Nellie, 18, grand dau
Source: 1891 Census of Canada, Alnwick, Northumberland, Ontario, T-6357, 127, Ancestry.ca

1891 CENSUS
William Blaker, 55, farmer, methodist, born Ontario, Head
Rachel Blaker, 35, born Ontario, wife
George Blaker, 25, born Ontario, Son
William Blaker, 18, born Ontario, Son   
Eliza Jane Blaker, 14, born Ontario, dau   
Albert Blaker, 8, born Ontario, Son
Source: Northumberland County, Alnwick Tp,  1891 census, Ancestry.ca

1901 CENSUS
George Blaker, 78, head, married, b. 1822, Ont, Misissauga e.b., Methodist
Charlotte, 75, wife, married, b. 1825, Ont
Samuel, 17, b, grand son, b.1883, Ont
Source: 1901 Census of Canada, Alnwick, Northumberland, Ontario, p. 8, family 89, Ancestry.ca

DEATH
George Blaker, died 10 Apr 1909, dob unknown, born Grape Island, Bay of Quinte, age 86, resided Alnwick Indian Reserve, Clergyman, married, parents unknown, certified by Samuel Blaker, Alderville, Ont.
Source: Ontario Civil Death Registers, Alnwick Indian Reserve, Northumberland Co., AO, MS935, 146, #020726, Ancestry.com

DEATH - CHARLOTTE
Charlotte Blaker, 110 years old, died 7 Jan 1915 and is buried at Alnwick Indan Reserve, Peterboro Co., occupation franchised Indian women, widowed, father George McCue, mother ---, died of old age, informer Samuel Blaker, Alderville
Source: Ontario Civil Death Registers, Alnwick Indian Reserve, Northumberland Co., AO, MS935, 211, page 411, #023346, Ancestry.com


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7. MISSIONARY RECORDS
NEW CREDIT INDIAN MISSION
The Rev Peter Jones and others kept a lengthy baptism, marriage and burials record for the Credit Mission 1807-1885. Some of the early adult baptisms records births in the late 1700's. There are no persons of the name BLAKER or BLEECKER or other close spelling in the register.
Source: New Credit Methodist Indian Mission Fonds,United Church Archives, Fonds 1434,  1776-1887, microfilm 1977.202L

BELLEVILLE METHODIST RECORD
The Smith Creek Methodist Episcopal Circuit included the Belleville area and this volume is both a Quarterly Meeting minute book and a register of baptisms and marriages from 1807-1844. There are no persons of the name BLAKER and, of a similar name, only Gilbert Bleacker is reported as baptised on 2 Jul 1831 in Belleville.
Source: Bridge St United Church (Belleville) fonds, United Church Archives, Fonds 1314, A Stuards Book and Register for Smiths Creek Circuit dated 10 Jan 1807, 1977.095L 1992.141L, microfilm LCM-67

1850's GEORGE BLAKER, MISSIONARY
George Blaker , Wesleyan Methodist Missionary
1854 - Received on trial, Lake Superior
1855 - Lake Superior
1856 - Ordained, Michipicoten [near Wawa, Algoma District]
1857 - Pic [Pic River near modern day Marathon]
1858 - Pic 
1859 - Pic
1860 - Michipicoten
1861 - Located [this means he either quit or moved to a non Wesleyan Conference.]
Source: Cyclopedia of Methodism in Ontario, Rev George Cornish, Toronto, 1881, United Church Archives, Toronto, BX 8251, Vol 1, p. 68

MISSIONARY REPORTS
George Blaker is named and made some annual reports during his time as an "agent" or missionary in the Wesleyan Methodist Indian Missions from 1854 to 1861 on the north shore of Lake Superior.
1853 - George Blaker is not named in any capacity
1854 - George Blaker, Lake Superior North Shore, no report made.
1855 - George Blaker, North Shore, lake Superior, "Three indian families have promised to build houses at the Pic." George reports building his own house 14 feet square. The Hudson Bay provided planks for the floor. [p. xxx]
1856 - George Blaker, Michipicoten, no report.
1857 - George Blaker, Pic, Lake Superior, Hudsons Bay post at Pic  [p xxv]
1858 - George Blaker, Pic, Lake Superior, "the number in society is 33", brother Blaker. [p xix]
1859 - George Blaker "the Pic station on the North Shore of Lake Superior enjoys tokens for good in the faithful hands of a native agent, the Rev G Blaker" [p xv]
1860 - No report
1861 - Pic and Nipigon - two native agents Mr Ashquabe and Mr Blaker. Mr Blaker formed new classes at Ogahonegahmung some distance from Michipicoten. [p xxii]
1862 - Pic and Nipigon "There is no native agent and one is recommended"
Source: Annual Report of the Missionary Society of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, 1833-56 and 1856-68, 2 vol, United Church Archives, Toronto, BV 2550.2 M5 PS, Films 1 and 2.

ALLEN SALT
The Rev Allen Salt, 1818-1911, worked as a teacher at the Alderville Industrial School before entering the Methodist ministry. He was received on trial in 1853, one year before George Blaker. After his ordination in 1854 he served the Rainy River District until 1857. Perhaps he knew George Blaker at Alderville and also during their time out west. There is no mention of George Blaker in Salt's journal of 1854-55.
Source: Allen Salt Fonds, United Church Archives, fonds 3483, Journal 1854-55, microfilm, 1997.044, original at LAC.

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8. CHILDREN OF GEORGE AND CHARLOTTE BLAKER

This lineage below was assembled from the census and BMD information available on Ancestry.ca..
1.  GEORGE BLAKER  was born Abt. 1822 in Belleville area, and died 10 Apr 1909 in Alnwick Tp.  He married CHARLOTTE MCCUE, daughter of GEORGE MCCUE.  She died 07 Jan 1915 in Alnwick Tp.
       
Children of BLAKER and CHARLOTTE MCCUE are:
2.                i.    WILLIAM BLAKER, b. Abt. 1840, Alnwick Tp.
3.               ii.    JOHN G BLAKER, b. Abt. 1848.
                 iii.    GEORGE BLAKER, b. Abt. 1849.
4.              iv.    WESLEY K BLAKER, b. Abt. 1851, Alnwick Indian Village.
                  v.    CATHERINE BLAKER, b. Abt. 1853.
                 vi.    VICTORIA BLAKER, b. Abt. 1853.
                vii.    SAMUEL BLAKER, b. Abt. 1861.
               viii.    ALICE BLAKER, b. Abt. 1865; m.  (1) WESLEY BEAVER, 23 Nov 1889, Northumberland, (2) PETER MCCUE; 20 Jun 1904
 
Generation No. 2
2.  WILLIAM BLAKER  was born Abt. 1840 in Alnwick Tp.  He married (1) MATILDA JANE TOBICO 21 Oct 1861 in Peterborough.  She was born Abt. 1843.  He married (2) RACHAEL ST JOHN 15 Aug 1888. 
       
Children of WILLIAM BLAKER and MATILDA TOBICO are:
                   i.    ANN ELIZA BLAKER, b. 04 Jun 1858.
                  ii.    ANN BLAKER, b. Abt. 1860; m. WILLINGTON E W COWE, 04 Mar 1878.
                 iii.    JAMES BLAKER, b. Abt. 1861.
                 iv.    GEORGE BLAKER, b. 15 Sep 1863; m. MARY MONAGUE, 12 Nov 1891, Hastings Co.; b. Abt. 1870.
                  v.    JOHN BLAKER, b. 14 Mar 1867; m. (1) ANN BEAVER, 19 Nov 1890, Alnwick Reserve; m. (2) ROSELLA LOUKES, 07 Apr 1896, Northumberland; b. Abt. 1877.
                 vi.    ELIZABETH BLAKER, b. Abt. 1869.
                vii.    WILLIAM BLAKER, b. Abt. 1873.
               viii.    ELIZA J BLAKER, b. Abt. 1877; m. CHRISTOPHER MARSDEN, 18 Jun 1898, Peterborough.
 
3.  JOHN G BLAKER  was born Abt. 1848.
 
Children of JOHN G BLAKER are:
                   i.    THOMAS5 BLAKER, b. Abt. 1875.
                  ii.    SAMUEL BLAKER, b. Abt. 1877.
                 iii.    ORMA NELLIE BLAKER, b. Abt. 1873.
 
4.  WESLEY K BLAKER  was born Abt. 1851 in Alnwick Indian Village.  He married VICTORIA WHETING 21 Nov 1870 in Chemong Mission House.  She was born Abt. 1852.
       
Children of WESLEY BLAKER and VICTORIA WHETING are:
                   i.    SAMUEL5 BLAKER, b. Abt. 1884; m. ELLA MARSDEN, 01 Jun 1908, Northumberland; b. Abt. 1888.
                  ii.    LEVINA BLAKER, b. 01 Jul 1871, Chemung, ON.

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9. LOOSE BITS
* William Blaker, died 6 July 1872, City of London, Middlesex, ON, 43 years, [thus born abt 1829], servant and pensioner, born Torington?, Church of England
Source: Ontario Civil Death Registers, MS935_5, Ancestry.ca

* William Blaker, Mill Wright, E Methodist, 27, both born Canada West, wife Isabella, 18
Source Citation: Year: 1861; Census Place: Nottawasaga, Simcoe, Canada West; Roll: C-1073; Page: 19

* 17688-23 George BLAKER, 48, engineer, England, West Oxford, s/o John BLAKER (b. England) & Mary WILSON, married Celena LAQUILLE, 45, widow, Toronto, Tilbury, d/o Edward PROBO (b. Canada) & Marion, witn: William B. WILSON & Anna Maude APPLEYARD, both of Woodstock, 17 Oct 1923 at Woodstock

* There is an Alexander Blaker of the Town of York, marrying a Jane Sherbrooke of York Tp., on the 27th April, 1831 in York by a Rev. James Harris, Presbyterian, York. Witnesses: John Sherbrooke and Eliz A Smith
Source 1: The Marriage Register of Upper Canada, Vol 2, part 1, Home District, 1808-36
Source 2: The Marriage Register of Upper Canada, Vol 7, part 1, 1810-48, Dan Walker & Fawne Stratford-Devai
Source 3: Ontario Marriage Notices from the Methodist newspaper, the Christian Guardian, email Christine Jack.

* There is also, according to Ancestry.ca, a deserter from the 7th Regiment of Foot down in the Carolinas, I think; around 1772 - 1774 by the name of John Blaker; and there is a John Blaker in Three Rivers or Trois Rivieres, in Quebec, who marries a French Canadian girl.
Source: email Rod Blaker, 25 June 2010

* John Blaker – a witness to the wedding of Norman Hardman and Kathleen Norris, 14 Jun 1911  Ref. fonds 1316, 77.097L, 1-1 (Rhodes Ave. Presbyterian Church)
Source: Index to the Methodist Vital Statistics for the Metro Toronto Conference held at the United Church Archives

* Clara Elizabeth Blaker born in Belleville 29 Apr 1863 baptised 02 Sep 1864 at Belleville. Parents James Blaker and Elizabeth Blaker
Source: Index to the Wesleyan Methodist Baptismal Register held at the United Church Archives, Reference WMBR Vol 1, page 213

* BLAKER, Jane, f, died 6 Apr 1901, 1 year, Ontario, cause - tuberculosis 6 months, Indian, infm - George Blaker, Alnwick, (Northumberland Co) 019796-01
Source: see Ancestry.ca

CHILDREN - These have not been placed within a family yet.
All these births below come from: The Ontario Vital Statistics Project, Ontario Marriages,  http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~maryc/thisisit.htm

12509-76 Thomas PORT, 26, widower, yeoman, Snake Island, Georgina Island, s/o James & Hannah, married Mary JOHNSON, 28, widow, Alnwick, same, d/o George & Charlotte BLAKER, witn: William SPENCER of New Credit & James PORT of Georgina Island, 8 May 1876 at B. C. Parsonage, Sutton

013377 04 Ephriam MARSDEN, 24, farmer, Alnwick, Alnwick Reserve, s/o Robert MARSDEN & Margaret SMOKE, married Rose PETERS, 21, Georgina Island, Alnwick Reserve, d/o Thomas POST & Mary BLAKER, witn. Alfred SIMPSON & Elizabeth MARSDEN of Peterborough, Oct. 1 1904 [reg'd in Alnwick twp]

12273-98 Thomas BLAKER, 20, farmer, Mud Lake, Alnwick, s/o Joshua & Margaret, married Sophia TAYLOR, 21, Mud Lake, Smith twp., d/o John & Mary, witn: Annie & Grant POTTER of Peterborough, 4 June 1898 at Peterborough

014419-06 James BIGWIND, 21, Alnwick twp, Alnwick reserve, laborer, s/o Abner BIGWIND & Mary WILKINS, married Mesia TAYLOR, 18, Smith twp, Alnwick reserve, d/o William TAYLOR & Mary J. YELLOWHEAD, witn. Samuel T. BLAKER & Alice SMOKE both of Alnwick, Feb. 19 1906 at Alnwick

014420-06 Samuel T. BLAKER, 26, Alnwick Reserve, same, laborer, s/o Samuel BLAKER & Hanna BIGWIND, married Ann MITCHELL, 24, Oso twp, Alnwick reserve, d/o Joseph MITCHELL & Mary ANTOINE, witn. Margaret DUPRAU & Agnew SHIPPEGAW both of Alnwick, Aug. 30 1906 at Roseneath Alnwick (also 14413-06)

014217-05 - Thomas BLAKER, 28, widower, laborer, Alnwick Res., Chemung Indian Village, s/o Joshua BLAKER & Maria STORM, married Eva BRUIN, 23, Smith, Chemung Indian Village, d/o Joshua J. BRUIN & blank, witn D. WHETUNG & Soillia? JACOBS of Chemung Indian Village, 26 Apr 1905 at Bridgenorth in Peterborough Co [reg'd in Alnwick]

18557-27 Bert William MONAGUE, 21, labourer, Christian Island Simcoe Co., same, s/o James MONAGUE (b. Canada) & Lucy McGREGOR, married Maria BLAKER, 19, Curve Lake, same, d/o George BLAKER (b. Canada) & Eva BROWN, witn: Dow TAYLOR Jr. of Curve lake & James MONAGUE of Christian Island on Oct. 10, 1927 at Peterboro

19578-27 Walter BLAKER, 21, hunter & farmer (Indian), Alderville Reserve near Peterborough, same, s/o Thomas BLAKER (b. Indian Reserve) & Eva blank, married Susan JOSEPH, 18, Pickerel - last Christian Islands, same, d/o Angus JOSEPH (b. Indian Reserve) & Maggie ISAAC, witn: Jessie B. BAILEY & Gordon H. BAILEY both of Penetang, 6 Sept 1927 at Penetang

#007531-80 (Durham Co.) Charles Blaker CHRYSLER, 70, widower, government officer, Williamsburg - Ont., Kingston - Ont., s/o John & Ann CHRYSLER; married Eunice J. MARSH, 51, widow, Wellington - New York - US, Port Hope Ont., d/o David & Theresa BACKUS , witn: S. & M. ROSE & H. SMITH, all of Port Hope; 28 Dec. 1880 at Port Hope.

008458-93 Robert POLLOCK, 26, laborer, Alderville, same, s/o Robert & Ann POLLOCK, married Elizabeth FISHER, 20, Alderville, same, d/o Charles & Charlotte FISHER, witn; James BLAKER & Charlotte FISHER of Alderville. Jan 18, 1893 at Alderville

009485-78, (Prince Edward), Wesley WEESE, 29, Farmer, Ameliasburgh, Ameliasburgh, s/o William WEESE & Mary Jane WEESE, married Harriet BRYANT, 16, Ameliasburgh, Ameliasburgh, d/o Samuel BRYANT & Susannah BLAKER, witn - Joseph BRYANT & Malvina PARLIAMENT, 09 Oct 1878 at Ameliasburgh

019899-10 Frank. H. WEEKS, 26, blank, Orillia, electrician, s/o Frank A. WEEKS & Mary E. BLAKER, married Margaret D. JOHNSTON, 27, blank, Midland, d/o John JOHNSTON & Emiline BURNETT, witn; Austin F. JOHNSTON of Orillia & Frank A. WEEKS of Midland. 15 June, 1910 at Midland.

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