Black History Month: Canadian Jubilee Singer Fannie Stewart

Fannie Stewart was one of the female singers in the original group of Canadian Jubilee Singers.

According to a newspaper article in the Freeman (Indianapolis Indiana) in December 1896 Fannie was born in Windsor Ontario.

She was married to W. T. Cary, another member of the group but I have not been able to find a record of their marriage. Nor have I found Fannie after her marriage. 

I believe she is the Fannie Stewart age 8  found in Windsor Ontario in 1861 with parents David and Eliza Stewart, both born in the USA. In all the census records I found for Fannie she is recorded as born in USA but is in WIndsor from the 1861 to the 1891 census.

Census and death records reveal that the woman I believe is Fannie's grandmother was born in Virginia ca1802. Her name was Sarah Ann and she was the widow of Richard Stewart at her death in WIndsor in 1896. Her son David (Fannie's father) was the informant at her death. 

Her husband Richard died at the age of 77 in 1877, also in Windsor. Eliza Stewart (Fannie's mother) was the informant. From the marriage of David & Eliza's daughter we learn that Eliza's maiden name was Robinson. 

So far my research has turned up 3 children for Richard & Sarah Ann Stewart: David, born ca 1830 USA, Henry born ca 1834 and Sarah Ann born ca 1842 in Virginia. It is very likely that all 3  children were born in Virginia but so far I have not found them on the 1850 census. Perhaps they are on slave schedules. 

David & Eliza (Robinson) Stewart's son George died in WIndsor in 1886 at the age of 28. On his death record he is said to have been born in Virginia. Unfortunately that is where the trail ends for my research.