James Parres

Notes:

Source: Word of mouth, Richard H. Jamieson.

James was shanghied onto Col. Custer's Forces in the USA which he deserted and
escaped back to Fort Gary Canada. To avoid capture, his name was changed from
Mathiessen (?) by his father-in-law Richard Salter!

Nov.15, 1994, Jim Parres, my cousin' updated James birth date and the date of his
death. He corrected the spelling of James' origional name as Matthisen. He also
provided the following information; -Woodlawn Cemetery, Cert.#11644 (GR.NO.)
Blk. 91 Lot 15, monument yes, N1/2; 1967 book "Up To Now - A Story Of Dufferin
And Carman" by Mrs. A.Stobart published by Carman Centenial Book Committee
pg.60 Andrew Matthisen; pictures of Headstone 1994 by Jim; The History of the
R.M. of Dufferin in Manitoba 1880-19.. pgs.13,21,35,22,23,74,75; Chapter seven
- "The First Mackinaw Coat" pg.23 "Pioneers of the West"; Henderson's
Directories (917,127 Man.) 1881, 1894, 1895; Patricia J.Smith research Census
1881, 1891.

8 Apr 2020 - https://www.redriverancestry.ca/PARRES-JAMES-1855.php
- James PARRES was born Oct 9, 1855 in Denmark (Surname variations: PARES, PARRIS).
- A Brief History: When the Province of Manitoba was formed in 1870, waves of new settlers came in response to an opportunity to homestead the unbroken prairies. In the absence of roads, the accessible and fertile area near the Missouri Trail became a prime destination for the first homesteaders and for those who followed to provide services to the new communities. The Rural Municipality of Dufferin is thought to have been named for Lord Dufferin, Governor-General of Canada.
- At some time in the early 1870's James PARRES came to Canada and settled on a homestead in the RM of Dufferin, Manitoba.
- Around 1875 James married Henrietta (Letitia) SALTER, daughter of Mary Ann SMITH and Richard Turner SALTER (1819-1911). Daughter Mary Ann was born in 1876.
- On May 5, 1876 Henrietta of the Boyne Settlement claimed Scrip as the wife of James PARRIS.
- Census of 1881 in the RM of North Dufferin:James PARRIS, age 28; wife Letitia, age 27. Children: Mary Ann (age 5), Christopher (4) and Catherine Jane (age 1). Western Land Grants and census reords indicate that James was issued Patent for the NW quarter of 12-6-3-Wpm. This land parcel is located about six miles east of Carman near Homewood (MB).
- On Feb 9, 1883 Henrietta (nee SLATER) PARRES died in Carman.
- In 1888 daughter Mary Ann died in Dufferin at the age of 12.
- Census of 1891 in North Dufferin: James PARRES, age 39, widowed. Children: Chris (age 14) and Katie (age 12). Brother: Marcus, age 26 (born 1865 in Denmark).
- Census of 1901 in Dufferin: James PARRES, widowed, age 45. Son Chris, age 22.
- Census of 1906 near Homewood: James PARES, age 55. With him is son Christopher (age 26) and daughter-in-law Alberta, age 26. Also a son (?) William PARRES, age 18.
- Census of 1916: James PARRES, age 62 and widowed, with son Christopher in North Battleford.
- In 1904 son Christopher married Eliza Alberta MADILL in Balmoral, MB, daughter of Esther Elizabeth BLAKEMAN and Reverend James Cross MADILL (1853-1940).
- In 1905 daughter Catherine married Angus Norman MORRISON, son of Charlotte SMITH and Norman MORRISON (1847-1915). ** MORE ABOUT NORMAN MORRISON.
- Census of 1906 near Homewood: James PARES, age 55. With him is son Christopher (age 26) and daughter-in-law Alberta, age 26. Also a son (?) William PARRES, age 18.
- Census of 1916: James PARRES, age 62 and widowed, with son Christopher in North Battleford.

9 Apr 2020 - My brother provided a phoyocopy (Chapter 6 - Jas Matthiesen page 49) of a book but the Title and Author are unknown.

"After arriving by ship in New York, Jas struckout for the West. He survived a serious train wreck near Milwaukee by hanging on to an iron railing inside a boxcar in which he waw riding and which was derailed.
While investigating gold prospecting oppertunities in North Dakota, Jas and three other Danes stopped at a makeshift bar for refreshments. They were treated to numerous rounds of drinks and in the morning woke up to the realization they had been "press-ganged" into George Armstrong Custer's Army. This was ironic in that they had LEFT Denmark to avoid military duty and wound up in the U. S. Army inadvertently.
It became rather obvious that the sale of repeating rifles "out of the back door" to the Inddians was a health risk. Eventually, the four "new soldiers" decided to escape and make a break for Canada, knowing that full well if they got caught they would be hung as deserters. Ond of them drowned fording a river but three of them managed to elude their pursuers and made it to Canada. Two of them settled near Carman, Manitoba, at Salterville, where they recognized the fertile soil to be very rich. These two would never acknowledge each other in passing on the street for fear that if one got caught, people would point and say "there's his friend."
Jas married Richard John Turner Salter's daughter, Henrietta. Mr. Salter, the local Justice of the Peace, strongly suggested that Jas change his surname on the wedding documents to avoid further detection. He thus became simply, James (Jas) Parres....."

James married Henrietta Salter in cir.1872 in Starbuck (or Starluck),Manitoba,Canada. Henrietta (daughter of Richard John Turner Salter and Maria Ann Smith) was born in 1853 in Starluck,Red River,Manitoba,Canada; was christened on 12 Jan 1854 in Red River,Manitoba,Canada; died on 9 Feb 1883 in Salterville(?)(later Carmen),Manitoba,Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Molly Mary Ann Parres was born in 1876; died in 1888 in Dufferin,Manitoba,Canada.
2. Christ Richard Parres was born on 17 Nov 1877 in Carman,Manitoba,Canada; died on 17 Sep 1971 in Edmonton,Alberta,Canada; was buried in Woodlawn Cemetary,Saskatoon,Saskatchewan,Canada.
3. Catherine Jane Matheson Parres was born on 3 Feb 1878; died on 7 Feb 1955 in New Westminster, British Columbia,Canada.