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Submitted by R.E. Butler -

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Summary and Conclusions

The history of the Dammarell families on Prince Edward Island has been reviewed.

The main source of information is the story about Robert Dammarell, Agnes Hannaford and their descendants, pages 257-260 of "Freetown Past and Present", published by the Freetown Historical Society in 1985. The authors of the Freetown story were Edith Wirt, granddaughter of Gustavus (1837-1916), and Edna Burns, wife of Robert Edmund Burns, grandson of Robert Wills Dammarell (1842-1930). The author of this review is Robert Ewart Butler, a great grandson of Mary Dammarell (1839-1918)

The review also included the following sources of information.
- Devonshire IGI records, BMD information and census records.
- Prince Edward Island Archives and Records Office, data bases on baptisms, PEI census records and land transfers
- Prince Edward Island Genealogy Society - Computerized Master Names Index- Island Register
- PEI Family Lineages.
- Miscellaneous sources

Most of the collected information is recorded on the Butler Family Tree on Ancestry. These additional sources have provided confirmation that the names and dates in the Freetown story are largely accurate. However, some of the birth locations of the family are not accurate. It appears that Robert and Agnes had 5 children in Devonshire, immigrated to Prince Edward Island between 1847 and 1849, and had 2 children while living on Lot 49.

All the Dammarells mentioned in all these PEI sources appear to have been descendants of 2 families. Most were descendants of Robert and Agnes (Hannaford) Dammarell. There were a few Dammarells on PEI descended from Henry Dammarell, who also came from Devonshire and was very likely a brother of Robert.

History of Robert Dammarell and Family

The following sources document the names, dates and locations in birth, marriage, death and property records.
Robert Dammarell was christened in Stoke Fleming, Devonshire, England, on 30 Nov 1808. His parents were Thomas Dammarell and Elizabeth. Reference: Parish records, IGI Batch C052431. (Parish records were documented by the Anglican church when the event occurred. These are primary records, whereas other IGI records submitted later by LDS members may not be as accurate.) Ralph Noy, a great grandson of Robert Wills Dammarell and Elizabeth Mitchel, has confirmed that Robert was born in 1808 and his parents were Thomas Dammarell and Elizabeth Wills.

Agnes Hannaford was christened in Stoke Fleming, Devonshire, England, on 26 Sept, 1810. Her parents were Gustavus Hannaford and Mary. Reference: Parish records IGI Batch C052431

Robert Dammarell and Agnes Hannaford were married in Stoke Fleming, on 16 Aug, 1836. Reference: Parish records IGI Batch M052431

Five children born in Devonshire and two in Lot 49 on PEI
Gustavus Hannaford Dammarell was christened in Dittisham, Devonshire, England on 18 June 1837. Reference: Parish records IGI Batch C050821

Mary Dammarell was born in Cotterbury, Blackawton, Devonshire, England on 23 July, 1839 Reference: BMD index for July-Aug-Sept, for Kingsbridge, Devon. A birth certificate has been obtained to determine the exact date. A copy is attached to her profile on Ancestry.

There was a Robert Wills Dammarell was born in Devonshire 1, Apr 1842. The BMD index for Kingsbridge, Devon gives the name and date as Apr-May-June 1842. Canadian census records state he was born in England on 1 Apr. This is almost certainly the son of Robert and Agnes because both given names match, and the dates agree with the Freetown story.
Gustavus, Mary and Robert are listed with their parents in the 1841 census of England.

There was a Frederick Dammarell born in Devonshire 8 Apr, 1844. The BMD index for Kingsbridge, Devon gives the name and date as Apr-May-June 1844. Canadian census records state he was born in England on 1 Apr.

There was a James Dammarell born in Devonshire in Oct - Nov - Dec, 1846. He is listed in the BMD index for Kingsbridge, Devon. It is possible he was born in PEI as stated in US census records, but they may not be correct. If birth certificates were obtained from the UK, they would probably confirm that Gustavus, Robert Wills, Frederick and James were all children of Robert Dammarell and Agnes Hannaford.

William John Dammarell was born in Lot 49 on PEI on 31 Oct, 1849.
The following record was obtained from the PEI Public Archives and Record Office.
Child's Full Name William John Dammarell
Birth Date 31 October 1849
Place of Birth Lot 49
Baptismal Date 13 March 1850
Place of Baptism
Officiating Clergy L.C. Jenkins
Father's Name Robert Dammarell
Mother's Name Agnes
Church Name St. Paul's Anglican
Church Location Charlottetown
Record Book Number 2
Record Book Page 285

Elizabeth Anne Dammarell was born on Lot 49 on PEI on 13 Dec, 1853. The following record was obtained from the PEI Public Archives and Record Office.
Child's Full Name Elizabeth Anne Danarck
Birth Date 13 December 1853
Place of Birth Lot 49
Baptismal Date 6 March 1854
Place of Baptism
Officiating Clergy L.C. Jenkins
Father's Name Robert Danarck
Mother's Name Agnes
Church Name St. Paul's Anglican
Church Location Charlottetown
Record Book Number 1
Record Book Page 1
Entry Number
Notes "See William Dammarell."

It seems likely that Danarck was an error in transcription from Dammarell. The Notes "See William Dammarell" is in the Public Archives record, and probably means that someone else also questioned the transcription. This should be checked.

There was no birth and baptism record for James Dammarell in PEI in 1846, so that increases the likelihood that the birth record for James in the UK is for the son of Robert and Agnes. It is therefore likely that the family of Robert and Agnes Dammarell family emigrated from Devonshire to PEI between 1847 and 1849. They probably went first to Lot 49 where William John was born. (The fact that the Dammarells did not go to the USA was also confirmed by Ralph Noy, a descendant of Robert Wills Dammarell and Elizabeth Mitchell)

Residence on Lot 48?:
In 1855 Robert Dammarell made a contribution to the Patriotic fund for widows and orphans of the Crimean war. This is documented in the Royal Gazette, 31 May 1855. The family was listed as living on Lot 48. They could have moved to Lot 48 in 1854 or early 1855, or they could have been on Lot 49, and the 48 was an error.

Residence on Lot 31:
The marriage license for George Larter and Mary Dammarell was given on 24 Dec, 1861 and stated that they were both living on the New Bedeque Rd. The newspaper report of the marriage said they were married 25 Dec, 1861 and both were from New Wiltshire. The Lake map of 1863, attached to Robert Dammarell's profile, shows R. Dammarell at the NW corner of the map, adjacent to the lot owned by William. Large, and 2 lots NW of the lot owned by George Clow.

The website http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mnrrvn/PEI-Lot-31. html provides Information from land records on properties along North Wiltshire Road The following records were listed.

No. 71 Trustees of Wm. Douse to Robert Dammerell - 50 ac. Lib 92 fol 340No. 68 (57) Lease
No. 92 to John Larter (Theo & Mary Moore Est) Led. fol. 522. Deed to John Deacon, Jr. 49 1/2 ac. - A13/64 Thus there is no doubt the Robert Dammarell family lived on Lot 31 in 1861 and 1863, and that George Larter and Mary Dammarell were neighbours before they were married.

Residence on Lot 26:
Robert Dammarell was living on Lot 26 near Freetown when the 1880 Meacham Atlas was prepared. The family history at this time is well documented in "Freetown Past and Present"

History of Henry Dammarell and Family:
There were 7 children of Thomas Dammarell and Elizabeth christened in Stoke Fleming, Devonshire, England, between 1801 and 1814. The eldest was Henry, christened 23 June, 1801. Reference: Parish records, IGI Batch C052431.

Henry Dammarell Family in PEI:
The 1863 Lake map of Prince Edward Island shows Henry Dammarell's Hotel in North Wiltshire, Lot 31 PEI, right across the road from Robert Dammarell. The 1880 Meacham Atlas show Henry Dammarell still at the same location. The 1881 census for Lot 31 PEI lists Henry Demual, widowed, age 80, born England, church of England. It looks to this author that Henry's family name was transcribed incorrectly, and should have been transcribed as Demeral. This is a phonetic variation of Dammarell. There was a family of 6 with surname Duncain living with Henry in 1881. Perhaps they were residents of his hotel.

There is a gravestone #68 for "Henry Dammarall, d Mar 24, 1886, Ae 85" in the North Wiltshire United Church cemetery, which is nearby. It appears that all these records are for the same Henry Dammarell.

There are other Dammarell gravestones in the North Wiltshire United Church cemetery.
67. "Jemima Dammarall, d Jan 11, 1877, Ae 73"
72. "Clow: Catherine, w. of George Clow, Jr., d. Dec 20, 1871, Ae 34. Also their son, Hammons Seymour, d. Apr 30, 1872, Ae 3 yr + 6 mos".
74 "Easter: William S. Easter, d Apr 15, 1914, Ae 81. His w Elizabeth Dammarell, d …Ae 92 Children James D, d Dec 24, 1896, Ae 36 …."
82 "McGilvary: Archibald McGilvary, d June 19, 1905, Ae 66. His w, Mary J. Dammerall, d Aug 13, 1915, Ae 81."

According to "The Descendants of George Clow and Rachel Crouch", George D Clow (1846 - 1912) married Catherine Dammarell (1837 - 20 Dec 1871)

The 1881 census lists William Eastor age 50, Elizabeth age 41, Charles age 20, and several other children. They are located in the census near George Clow in North Wiltshire. So it appears Elizabeth (Dammarell) Easter was born in 1839 or 1840.

Mary J. Dammarell, the wife of Archibald McGilvary was born in 1833 or 1834 if the age on her gravestone is correct.

From these PEI records the family included:
Henry Dammarell born 1801
Jemima born 1804
Mary J born 1833 or 1834
Catherine born 1837
Elizabeth born 1839

Henry Dammarell Family in Devonshire:
The following family was listed in the Devonshire census of 1841.
Name: Henry Dammann [Henry Dammarell]
Age: 35
Estimated birth year: abt 1806
Gender: Male
Where born: Devon, England Civil Parish: Cornworthy
Hundred: Coleridge County/Island: Devon Country:
England Registration district: Totnes Sub-registration district: Harberton
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry Dammann 35
Jamima Dammann 35
James Dammann 8
Ann Dammann 7
Mary Dammann 5
Catharine Dammann 3
Elizabeth Dammann 1
Harriet Drake 25
Thomas Lock 15
Robert Fox 8
John Hunt 70

It is clear from inspecting the image that the original census record gives the family name as Dammarell, and that Dammann is a transcription error.

In 1841 the parents ages were rounded off to the nearest 5 years, and the childrens ages were to be exact. Both Henry's and Jemima's ages have been rounded down.

Cornworthy, Devonshire is within 7 miles of Stoke Fleming, Blackawton and Dittisham where Henry, Robert and Robert Dammarell's family were born.

Since the names and ages of Henry, Jemima, Mary, Catherine and Elizabeth all match, it is almost certain that this is the same family in Cornworthy, Devonshire and North Wiltshire, PEI.

The author has found no information about Henry and Jemima's children James and Ann in PEI.