All the following come from primary documents (birth records etc.) which can be seen at the Nova Scotia Vital Stat site. It’s a free site maintained by the Nova Scotia Archives. You may need to download a viewer program which is free onsite to see the actual record.
www.novascotiagenealogy.caAlso from Census returns which are available at Library and Archives Canada
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/Pages/census.aspxThe death certificate of James Henry Mason states that he died in Marshy Hope, Pictou Co, He was a widower, age 83 son of William Francis Mason and Mary Hannah Taylor. The informant was his son-in-law, William Baxter.
Birth Records of Guysborough County, Registration Year 1867, Book 1808, page 44, #2
James Henry Mason was born according to the above Oct 12, 1867 in Fisherman’s Harbour to William Mason, fisherman and Mary. These early birth records required the marriage date of the parents (just to make sure there was nothing amiss, I guess). William and Mary were married in Fisherman’s Harbour in 1853. The informant on the birth record is George Taylor, probably the father or brother to Mary.
In the 1871 the Canadian Census of Isaacs Harbour, Guysborough Co (pages44/45) show the family as containing
William Francis Mason age 40, born NS, Irish ethnicity, a fisherman
Mary Mason, age 39
Children Mathilda-18, Mary Jane-age 13, George- age 11, Wentworth-age 9, William-age 7, (looks like) Lyaine – age 7 (female), Henry – age 4.
Also part of the family group was a George age 73, which probably was the George Taylor who registered Henry when he was born. He is a widower and fisherman
Guysborough Co marriage records Registration Year 1898, Book 1814, page 207 #56
James H Mason married first Lucinda Fenton
August 27, 1898 in Country Harbour
James H Mason age 32, bachelor, miner, born Fisherman’s Harbour son of William and Mary J. married Lucinda Fenton, age 47, widow, born Country Harbour, dau of Samuel and Betsy. Her maiden name was
Cook and she was the widow of Stephen Fenton.
1901 Canadian Census –Isaacs Harbour, Guys. Co. NS
In 1901 Henry was head of family as follows
Henry Mason, Head, married, born Oct 7, 1866 age 34
Lucinda Mason, wife, married, born Mar 31, 1848, age52
James H Fenton, stepson, single born Jan 5, 1877, age 24
Lovie Fenton, stepdaughter, single born Jan 5, 1891, age 9
Guysborough County Deaths –Registration Year 1912, Book 7, page 160 #972
Lucinda Mason died July 19, 1912 age 64 at Eight Island Lake, Guysborough Co of heart failure.
Informant was her husband James Henry Mason.
James married second Cassie Belle Jordan Feb 8, 1915 in Antigonish. Information on Marriage Certificate as follows
James Henry Mason, age 45, widower, Baptist, carpenter, residing in Eight Island Lake, born Fisherman’s Harbour, son of William Mason
Cassie Belle Jordan, age 21, spinster, Baptist, residing Eight Island Lake.
The birth certificate of Stella May, born April 13, 1913 can be seen at the Nova Scotia Archives site . It is a delayed registration completed by her father in 1948. On it he attests that although Stella was born before his marriage to her mother, Cassie, she is his daughter and has always carried his name.
It’s really quite poignant-he would have been about 81 at the time and he writes “…I give it straight and honest”
The marriage certificate of Stella May to William Baxter and James Henry’s death certificate can also be viewed at the Nova Scotia Archive site
I have a bit of a theory about the correct given name of James Henry’s mother Mary. Stella’s husband names her as Mary Hannah but he would never have known her. Probably only had heard her name a few times. The only record I can find of Mary’s middle name is where she is referred to as Mary J. I’m wondering if it might have been Mary Johanna Taylor. Anyway that is conjecture. A search of the records of James Henry’s siblings might shed further light on it.
Hope this help
Happy Hunting