Research Report: Genealogy of Reuben W. Sullivan (b. 1823, Canada)

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Background and Known Information

Reuben W. Sullivan was born around 1823 in Canada (exact location unknown). He later married Elizabeth “Betsy” DeForest (born 1824) and had at least one known child, Charles Walter Sullivan. The goal of this research is to locate key records of Reuben’s life (birth, marriage, death, census, migration) and any family tree links, as well as to identify resources for early-1800s Canadian genealogy. Below is a summary of findings by category, followed by a list of recommended Canadian genealogy resources for further research.

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Marriage of Reuben W. Sullivan and Elizabeth DeForest (1846)

The marriage of Reuben W. Sullivan to Elizabeth “Betsy” DeForest is documented in Washtenaw County, Michigan records. According to an index of marriages in that county, Reuben W. Sullivan married Betsy DeForest on 26 November 1846 in Washtenaw (likely in or near Ann Arbor). This provides a confirmed date and place for their union:

• Record Type: Marriage
• Date: 26 Nov 1846
• Location: Washtenaw Co., Michigan
• Details: Reuben W. Sullivan married Betsy (Elizabeth) DeForest. [1] (https://migenweb.org/washtenaw/washmars5.html)

The marriage record establishes that by 1846, Reuben had moved from Canada to Michigan. (Washtenaw County is where Ann Arbor is located.) No specific ages or parents are listed in the index, but the entry confirms the couple’s names and date. This is the last definitive record of Reuben that the question provider had, and indeed earlier queries noted difficulty finding records beyond this marriage.

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Charles Walter Sullivan – Reuben’s Son

Charles Walter Sullivan, the son of Reuben and Elizabeth, was born in Michigan shortly after the marriage. A FamilySearch family tree entry indicates Charles was born 6 October 1847 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan [2] (https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KCT5-MDY/charles-walter-sullivan-1847-1933). This ties in logically with the marriage the year before. The FamilySearch profile for Charles Walter Sullivan (1847–1933) explicitly states he was the son of “Ruben Sullivan,” confirming the family relationship.

Key details from that profile:

• Birth: 6 Oct 1847, Ann Arbor, Michigan (parents: Reuben “Ruben” Sullivan and Elizabeth)
• Marriage: Charles W. Sullivan married Lydia Ellen Barnes on 23 Mar 1872 in Randolph County, Indiana [3] (https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/42/?name=Reuben_Sullivan)

• Children: Charles and Lydia had a large family (at least 7 sons and 3 daughters)
• Death: 1933 (place not given in snippet, but likely in the region where he last lived)

The above data comes from a user-contributed tree on FamilySearch. While it should be verified against primary records, it provides a roadmap: for example, the Indiana marriage in 1872 can be found in Indiana marriage collections, and Charles’s death (1933) might have an official record or obituary.

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Census Records and Migration for Reuben Sullivan

1850 Census (USA): A search for Reuben/Elizabeth Sullivan in Michigan in 1850 should be conducted. No entry was readily found in Washtenaw County under “Sullivan,” suggesting they may have relocated or could be listed under a misspelled name. This remains a lead to follow up (perhaps searching for 27-year-old Reuben with wife “Elizabeth/Betsy” and son ~3-year-old Charles in Michigan or nearby states).

1860 Census (USA): Charles would be about 12. If Reuben was still alive and with his family, they might appear in the census. One clue is that Charles later married in Indiana (1872), so the family might have moved there during the 1850s. No definitive 1860 listing has been confirmed yet for Reuben, Elizabeth, and Charles together.

Migration to Indiana: Charles’s marriage in Indiana in 1872 indicates the family (or at least Charles) moved out of Michigan. It’s unclear if Reuben himself moved or if Charles relocated alone. No direct record of Reuben in 1870 has yet been found.

Canadian Records / Early Life:

• Early Canadian Census: The first detailed nominal census of Canada West (Ontario) was in 1851. Reuben was likely already in Michigan.
• Marriage Witness in Ontario (1842): The Caleb Burdick Register (a Methodist record in Elgin County, Ontario) lists a “Reuben SULLIVAN” as a witness to a marriage in Malahide Township, Canada West, on 10 Nov 1842.
• No Civil Birth Records: Ontario began civil registration in 1869. Baptismal or church records, such as the Wesleyan Methodist Baptismal Register, may be useful.

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Family Trees and User-Submitted Records

• Ancestry Trees: Multiple public member trees include “Reuben Sullivan” or “John Reuben Sullivan.” These may offer clues and hypotheses (with caution). [3] (https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/42/?name=Reuben_Sullivan)
• MyHeritage: Similar user-submitted trees and indexes are available.
• Genealogy Forums: A Facebook group post mentions the same couple, confirming this is an area of interest for multiple researchers. [7] (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2579895932152684/posts/2579900842152193/)

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Key Findings Summary

• Canadian Origin: Born 1823. Likely in Elgin County, Ontario. Appears as marriage witness in 1842 in Malahide. [6] (https://elgin.ogs.on.ca/ancestor-indexes/vital-records/caleb-burdick-register/)
• Marriage: Married Elizabeth DeForest in Michigan on 26 Nov 1846. [1] (https://migenweb.org/washtenaw/washmars5.html)
• Child: Charles Walter Sullivan, b. 6 Oct 1847. [2] (https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KCT5-MDY/charles-walter-sullivan-1847-1933)
• Later Life: No confirmed census or death records for Reuben. Further research is recommended in MI/IN cemetery, census, and probate records.
• Elizabeth Sullivan (née DeForest): Died 1895. Her 1880 census entry or death record may hold further clues.

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Canadian Genealogy Resources (Early–Mid 1800s)

Helpful sources for Canadian research on Reuben W. Sullivan’s family include:

• National Censuses: Free via LAC and indexed on FamilySearch/Ancestry.
• Church Records: Wesleyan Methodist Baptismal Register, Drouin Collection, etc.
• Cemetery Indexes: Find A Grave, Canadian Headstones, Canadian Gravemarker Gallery.
• Immigration/Naturalization Indexes: US-Canada Passenger and Immigration Lists Index.
• Local Histories: County-level publications in Ontario, Michigan, Indiana.
• Canadian Genealogy Index: 1600s–1900s searchable on Ancestry.
• Library and Archives Canada: Land petitions and grants searchable online.
• FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage: All provide overlapping coverage.
• YourRoots Canadian Records Directory: [4] (https://yourroots.com/search-record/country/canada)

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Conclusion and Next Steps

While we have confirmed Reuben’s 1846 marriage and Charles’s 1847 birth, his death and later life remain unconfirmed. Key steps:

1. Investigate Elgin County records for Sullivan/DeForest families.
2. Locate Charles W. Sullivan’s death certificate (1933) to confirm father’s origin.
3. Search 1880 census for Elizabeth, and explore probate/death records in MI/IN.
4. Consult Ancestry family tree contributors or genealogy forums for additional clues.

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Sources Cited

1. Washtenaw County, MI Marriage Index [1] (https://migenweb.org/washtenaw/washmars5.html)
2. FamilySearch Family Tree Profile of Charles W. Sullivan [2] (https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KCT5-MDY/charles-walter-sullivan-1847-1933)
3. All Family Trees results for Reuben Sullivan – Ancestry [3] (https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/42/?name=Reuben_Sullivan)
4. YourRoots Canadian Records Directory [4] (https://yourroots.com/search-record/country/canada)
5. Marriages for the Washtenaw Co., MI USGenWeb® website - S-5 [5] (https://migenweb.org/washtenaw/washmars5.html)
6. Caleb Burdick Register [6] (https://elgin.ogs.on.ca/ancestor-indexes/vital-records/caleb-burdick-register/)
7. Facebook genealogy thread [7] (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2579895932152684/posts/2579900842152193/)
8. The Pearl Dragonfly blog [8] (https://thepearldragonfly.wordpress.com/)