My last post about the Ogle family was back in 2015, when I wrote Who Was Thomas Ogle? It’s hard to believe nearly a decade has passed since then. Over the years, I’ve continued to research this branch intermittently and have identified additional siblings of my 2nd great-grandfather, Oliver Ogle. However, the story of their parents remains a mystery that I’m still working to unravel.
Breaking through brick walls in genealogy often requires a blend of traditional research, creative thinking, and modern tools. I've decided to revisit the information I "know" and reorganize it to create a more structured research plan, with the goal of breaking through this brick wall in my family tree.
I also want to document my progress here on my blog, hoping that by sharing my process and methods, others can learn from both my successes and setbacks. This will also serve as a record I can reflect on when I finally solve this mystery.
I started by documenting a summary of known facts, along with any assumptions, which I plan to prove or disprove through further research. I then conducted a detailed review of the family group sheet for Oliver and Margaret (Hayes) Ogle and created a chronological timeline of events, from their estimated birth dates to their presumed deaths. I also included their approximate ages at each significant event.
Here is how that summary currently looks, along with any notations for possible further research areas to consider.
Timeline Summary
1825 - Oliver born in England
1829 - Margaret born in Ireland
1842 - Oliver (age 17) and Margaret (age 13) are believed to have married, likely in Haldimand County. Given their young ages, this raises questions about the accuracy of their approximate birth years. Statistically, the average age of marriage during this period was around 26 for males and 20-22 for females. If they were indeed this young at the time of their marriage, it also prompts the question of how they arrived in Canada. Did they travel independently, or were they accompanied by their families or associated groups from their country of origin?
1843 - 1st child, George Henry Ogle born in Haldimand County, Ontario.
1845 - 2nd child, John Ogle born in Haldimand County, Ontario
1848 - 3rd child, Jonathan Ogle born in Haldimand County, Ontario
1850 - 4th child, Ellen or Helen Ogle born in Haldimand County, Ontario
1851 - Oliver and Margaret should be married with three or four children and residing in Haldimand County. However, I have been unable to locate census records of Oliver, his wife, or their children in the 1851 Census for this area.
1851 (August 2) - 5th child, Oliver Ogle born in Seneca Township, Haldimand County, Ontario
1852 - 6th child, Samuel Ogle born in or near Sinclairville, Haldimand County, Ontario
1857 - Oliver is assumed to have died (age 32)
1858 - Margaret is assumed to have died (age 29)
1861 - By the 1861 Census, after the presumed deaths of Oliver and Margaret Ogle, their four youngest children were taken in by two neighboring families. The whereabouts of the two oldest children in 1861 remain unknown. I aim to determine why these specific neighbors took in the younger children and whether these families had any prior connections to Oliver or Margaret.
1862 - Parcel map shows "Estate of Oliver Ogle" - Seneca Township, Conn 3, Lot 8
The lives of Oliver Ogle and his wife, Margaret Hayes, are largely undocumented, with most information derived from assumptions and fragmented records associated with their children. This research aims to piece together their story by addressing the following key questions:
Immigration and Marriage
When did Oliver and Margaret arrive in Canada?
Did they marry in Canada, and are there records to confirm this?
Custody of Minor Children
Were there any official records concerning the custody or guardianship of their minor children following their deaths?
Property and Land Ownership
When did Oliver acquire property in Haldimand County, specifically Lot 8?
What were the details of the original land purchase?
How was the property retained after Oliver’s death, ultimately enabling their fifth child, also named Oliver Ogle, to purchase it outright upon reaching adulthood?
Death and Burial
When and where did Oliver and Margaret die?
Where are they buried?
Community and Connections
Are Oliver and Margaret related to or connected with other families who settled in the same region of Haldimand County?
By exploring these questions, I hope to focus my research more with an aim to construct a clearer picture of Oliver and Margaret’s lives and their place within the larger community.
Wish me luck!
Love & Aloha,
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