Is mother Mary a Johnson or a Killman and who is the father of these two children?

Adam Killman SHUGG, 48, farmer, Stamford Welland Co, same, s/o John & Catherine SHUGG, married Susan COULTER, 23, Stoversville, Stamford, d/o JAMES & Mary JOHNSON (sic), witn: Jessie DONALD & James H. ROLES? both of Toronto, 26 Sept 1878.

How do I interpret this? Is Susan's father James Coulter or James Johnson? Is her mother's maiden name Johnson or is this her husband's name or even that of a previous husband or are the names James and John mixed up?

I have seen Susan's name written as Susan Johnson Coulter, but is Johnson her maiden name or an honorific from her mother's previous marriage to an unrelated Johnson?

Likewise Susan's death certificate indicates her parents as JOHN (not James) Coulter and Mary Jane Kilman (Killman).


A second child , Sarah Jane Coulter. Marriage indicates:

John MERRITHEW, 26, farmer, Thorold Twp, same, s/o James & Nancy Jane, married Sarah Jane COULTER, 20, Canada, Thorold Twp, d/o James & Mary, witn - Martin UPPER of Thorold & Fanny SPENCER of Stamford, 29 October 1879 at Thorold Twp

Same problem with names here and on her death certificate it indicates her father as ANDREW Coulter and mother Mary JOHNSON.

The mother Mary Killman, Johnson, Coulter next marries a George Kerr/Carr. Susan Coulter appears in the George's father's household in 1871 with a half-sister, while Sarah is lodging with a Mary Upper (nee Pew) with two of her sons. This Upper family has connections with Johnsons and Killmans.

I'm pretty sure this is all one family as I've found more connections that increase the probability, but I wish to stand corrected if this is not so.

Mike Carr