Joyce;

Boy, you make this really tough. The Canadian census is not indexed like the U.S., in fact, only the 1871 Ontario census has a complete head-of-household index (searchable and online). I just did a quick search for STEIN and using the keyword "African," with no luck. In the 1871 census, they stated country of origin and in most cases, black folks, regardless of where they were born were listed of African origin.

The next online database that may be of help is the CEF, the Canadian Expeditionary Force, those young men who fought in WWI on behalf of Canada. Many of their Papers of Attestation are scanned and viewable online, but they haven't gotten down to the "S's" yet.

I do have a book at home entitled, "Blacks in Canada, 1861" where Barry Noonan has pulled all the blacks from the census of Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, and I'll check these names for a potential match and will let you know next week.

There are other online databases for Nova Scotia, but many of those records are for a period far earlier than the reconstruction period you mentioned.

I'll do what I can and will be in touch.

All the best to you in your search.

- Lisa B. Lee
Oakland, CA

: Seeking information on the African American immigrant family of
: STEINS
: from Water Valley Mississippi. They would be the son and
: granddaughters of Nellie Stein born 1810 in Maryland. Her other
: known children were Anna, Cordelia and Matilda. Her son was said
: to have run away North. I do not know if this was during or
: after
: slavery.
: There were two sisters who may have been his daughters living in
: Canada and married to white Canadians. Esther Alfondas maybe one
: of the sisters' name. They would be about 90 years old. I have a
: photo of one of the sisters with her husband. From the clothing,
: I'd place the date at about 1910-1919. The style was like the
: costumes in the movie Titanic.
: I don't know what provence or town they settled in. There could be
: a link to the Spencer and Shoemaker families. Thanks for any
: assistance.

: Joyce in Arizona