Person:Joseph Shinn (1)

Census data: Religion is given as Presbyterian in 1891 and 1901, Lutheran in 1911. The religion of his wife and children is always Presbyterian. He is a casket finisher in 1891 in Amherst N.S, an undertaker in Waterloo in 1901 and 1911. He was born in the United States and came to Canada in either 1887 or 1888, naturalized in 1896 according to the 1901 census.

There is data from a descendant in the LDS Ancestral File that indicates Joseph Kelly Shinn was born in Woodbury, New Jersey. This would most likely link him to an extensive family of Shinns in New Jersey. These are Quakers who first arrived in that area in the 1600s. However, on all Canadian census data it is stated that his father was born in England, which would eliminate the New Jersey Shinns who were in the US for several generations previous. Although no sign has yet been found of Joseph Kelly Shinn on any US documents, his roots seem to be in the St. Louis, Missouri area. There is a family of Shinns there who were born in England, but there is yet no known link of him to those people.

1.   Tombstone Incription, Mount Hope Cemetery.

   Augusta/ beloved wife of Joseph K. Shinn/ 1864-1829/ Joseph K. Shinn 1859-1937

2. ↑ Canada. 1901 Census of Canada. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada).

   1901 census image at Archives Canada

3.   Canada. 1911 Census of Canada. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada).

   1911 census image at Archives Canada

4.   Canada. 1891 Census of Canada. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada).