The earliest link we can find between Matilda Sutherland (who married Edward’s brother Auguste) and the Burt family is a book of Shakespeare’s Plays & Poems inscribed “M. Sutherland, Xmas 1877, from E.J.B.” In this year Matilda was 27 and Auguste was only 15 and EJB was 18.
In 1877 EJB emigrated to Howard Township, Ontario with his parents, sister Bessie and sister Annie’s family where they are listed in the 1881 census. Although his parents and Bessie returned to England he married and stayed in Canada.
He’s listed with his family on the 1901 census in Hillsdale, Ontario where it states his year of immigration as 1875 (although the year was probably 1877), religion Church of England, occupation Merchant. Interestingly, his brother-in-law George T. Gerrans (sister Annie’s husband) is listed as living with him at that time, occupation Bookkeeper but without George’s family.
5Later lived in Toronto and then Elmvale for many years.
According to grandson George Scott, EJB owned and ran a hotel called “The Pines” on the Nottawasaga River at Wasaga Beach. He also owned a great portion of the surrounding land and he gave each of his five daughters a cottage near the hotel.
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Obituary notice information submitted to the Elmvale Lance by the family at his death in 1940 provides: “Came to Canada at the age of 18. Spent seven years in Hillsdale where he kept a general store. Has been an accountant for the firm Lawson & Wilson, Toronto for 27 years, retiring 3 years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Burt came to live in Elmvale in 1919 and resided here until Jan. 1938. Anglican. Lay reader for years in Toronto & Elmvale. Warden of Wycliffe Church, Elmvale. Mrs. Burt passed away on Dec 26th, 1937. Mr. Burt has made his home since her passing with his daughter Muriel or Mrs. R. F. Player. Cause of death Heart failure. In a weak condition for the past year. The remains were brought to Elmvale on the train Sat. Dec 7th to the home of Mr. & Mrs. H. Gage.”
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