: Yes .... and anyone researching ancestors who they believe went
: to Ontario, should also search the 1871 and 1901 census indexes
: at www.archives.ca then link to ArchivaNet (searchable
: databases).
: The other provences are not yet indexed at the site.

Denise & Vera...thank you...you've given more to think about. I have found Joseph & family in the 1861, 1871 & 1881 Ont. census. He is listed as 27 in 1861, 33 in 1871 & 48 in 1881. I think he was likely 38 in 1871! Yes, it's driving me nuts that I can't find him before then. This researching from afar certainly has it's drawbacks. Joseph must have been in his early or mid teens when he escaped. I haven't been successful finding Mary McPhail either, I don't have much to go on. So, maybe I should jump over to the MacPhail side as Joseph must have been close to her at some point.

Vera, the two missing children are Alexander who died at 5 yrs of age in 1870 & Gordon. Mary & Gordon both died of measles shortly after his birth in 1886. Life was so different then.