Henry Joseph Voisin and Anne Marie (Ditner) Voisin are not listed in the 1871 census of Willoughby Township, Welland County, Ontario. They do appear in the census for 1842, 1851, and 1861. Joseph also appears with his second wife, Elizabeth (Ellesworth) Voisin, in the 1881 census. The fact they are listed at the same place both before and after 1871 implies they were skipped by the census taker in 1871.
They owned 55 acres of land in Concession 2, Lot 14. It so happens the 1871 census has additional schedules that detail agricultural data. The entry for Concession 2, Lot 14 indicates the Voisins should appear on census page 18, line 1. However the family listed there is Thomas and June Hill, both 25, with their son William G., age 3.
Did the Hill family own the Voisin farm by 1871 and later sell it back to them by 1881? Was the Hill family staying with the Voisin family and did the census taker fail to record all members of the household? Or, did the census taker simply skip the Voisin family and ascribe details about the Voisin farm to the Hill family? An 1876 plat map shows a “T. Hill” property not far from the Voisin farm. It also shows “Michael Hill” immediately adjacent to the Voisin farm. So the Hills and Voisins undoubtedly knew each other.
I assume the agricultural details in the 1871 census describe the Voisin farm. The return for real estate and implements is incomplete. No acreage, dwellings or barns are listed. There undoubtedly was at least a house there because the farm was in existence since 1832. It does show they owned 2 cars, wagons or sleds, 2 plows or cultivators, and 1 fanning mill to winnow grain.
In the return for cultivated land, they owned 55 acres situated in Concession 2, Lot 14. Of that, 50 acres were improved, 5 acres were pasture, 7 acres were salt or dyked marsh, and ½ acre was gardens or orchards. They planted wheat on 5 acres and harvested 4 bushels of spring wheat and 4 bushels of fall wheat. They produced 6 bushels of barley, 30 bushels of oats, and 10 bushels of corn. They had ½ acre devoted to potatoes and produced 4 bushels. They also produced 10 cords of fire wood.
In livestock, they had 2 horses, 1 colt or filly, 1 milch (dairy) cow, 1 other horned cattle, 5 sheep, and 3 swine. They sold or slaughtered 2 sheep and 2 swine. They also produced 50 pounds of butter and 20 pounds of wool.
