Hoodless Migration: Canada

1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia

The first Canadian Census was conducted by territory, since Canada was not officially a united country until 1867. In the 1851 census collection, which was the first completed, a Hoodless household is recorded in Hamilton, Ontario.

Robert Hoodless 24, a chair maker and his wife Mary 22 along with Joseph Hoodless 26 and single also a chair maker, live in a one and a half storey frame house on Hughson Street, Hamilton. Two other chair makers live with them – Andrew Sproul and George Love, both young single and English men. They are a group of young craftsmen entrepreneurs trying to make a go of it in the developing downtown area of Hamilton, Ontario.

Robert is the son of John Hoodless and Sarah Clarkson who is documented arriving with his father and brother through Ellis Island on their way to Canada in 1843 as a 15 year old.

Together with his brother Joseph the two cabinetmakers started a successful furniture manufacturing business in Hamilton, J Hoodless & Son, with Joseph’s son John joined them, managing the well known store by 1881. Joseph Hoodless married Irish born Anne McNeil in 1853 in Hamilton and they had five children, of which the eldest, John born in March 1854, went on to marry Adelaide Sophia Hunter – a very well known figure in Canadian history, champion of education for girls and women, founder of the Women’s Institute in Canada. Much has been written about her which I don’t plan to repeat on this site. However I will look at John and Adelaide’s line as it fits into this study here.

Obituary

OBITUARY OF JOSEPH HOODLESS AS FOUND IN THE HAMILTON TIMES, JULY 4, 1895 Mr. Joseph Hoodless Dead—The well known furniture manufacturer passed away today. Shortly after one o’clock this afternoon, Mr. Joseph Hoodless, head of the firm of Hoodless and Son died at his son’s residence, East Hamilton. He had been confined to his bed with heart trouble, complicated with dropsy, for some months, and was a great sufferer. The late Mr. Hoodless was born at Parkhead, Cumberland, England, January 12, 1824. He came to Canada in 1844 and in 1850 he commenced the furniture business in Hamilton, which he successfully enlarged and built up until 1880. The present firm of J. Hoodless and Son was constituted by the admission of his only surviving son, Mr. John Hoodless. In his younger days the deceased took an active interest in all that related to the welfare of the city, and many old citizens will remember him as the Captain of the Hose Company, and Assistant Chief of the Volunteer Fire Department, when this department numbered hundreds of active members. Mr.Hoodless was one of the businessmen, who by their sterling integrity and perserverance have made the provincial reputation that characterizes Hamilton merchants in every line of business. Although a quiet man and most unassuming, he had a large circle of warm friends, who will deeply mourn his death, and none more than his employees, who have lost in him a kind friend, many of those having been associated with him and the firm for a lifetime, and they thoroughly appreciated his great worth. Since the decease of Mrs. Hoodless, which took place suddenly last August, he has resided at Eastcourt with his son, Mr. John Hoodless, and from there the funeral will take place. The deceased was a staunch member of the Church of England, being for many years a prominent member of St.Thomas Church to which he was very much attached. Three children survive him, Mr. John Hoodless, Mrs. George Tuckett of this city, and Mrs. C.H.Porter of Cleveland, Ohio.