Apart from incursions from America, the Mapleys/Mableys migrated to Canada
as part of the "Great Migration" of 1815-1850, caused by a number of reasons. Firstly, the Industrial and Agricultural
Revolution in Britain dramatically increased rural unemployment, and towns offered poor conditions and pay. In Canada,
the highre was demand for skilled workers, with higher pay and the offer of cheap land.
Mass unemployment with the end of the Napoleonic Wars also added to the supply of cheap labour, and the depletion of
mines in the South-West England exacerbated the problem. The Corn laws forced the price of bread to rise, creating civil
unrest and a desire for a more affordable life overseas.
The advent of the steamship and scheduled transatlantic routes after 1840 provided cheaper, quicker passage to the New
World. The development of the Canadian railways further stimulated domestic migration after the 1870's, with migrants
moving westwards to farm with the offer of free/cheap land in the prairies. From Manitoba, then Saskatchewan, and then
a new industry of oil in Alberta, economic migration is shown in Censuses as the "Canadian West was won...".
Matthew Mapley (1670-1690?), b. Dorchester, Massachusetts, USA, d. expedition to Quebec.
Matthew was based in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and participated in an expedition
into Canada (then called Acadia) in 1690 to fight the French and their Indian allies.
In 1689 the Massachusetts militia had captured and
plundered Port Royal in Nova Scotia, and as a retaliation the French and Indian forces captured Fort William Henry at
Bristol, Maine in August 1869. Under the command of Sir William Phips of Maine, a fleet of 5 ships sailed from Boston
on 28 April 1690 and re-captured Port Royal, the capital of Acadia. This skirmish is recognised as part of the Second Indian War or King William's
War (1688-1697).
Matthew Mapley was part of a second expedition in 1690 to Quebec, under the command of Capt. John Withington, with
Major Benjamin Church and Phips in overall charge of the raid. Quebec bombarded Phip's fleet, which ultimately withdrew under heavy fire. The
expedition had suffered heavy losses due to smallpox, with 40% killed by the disease, and retreated back to New England.
Mary Melinda Mapley (1856-), b. Woburn, Bedfordshire, England.
Daughter of John and Mary (nee Jeffcoate) Mapley.
She was the aunt of Henry George Mapley, a dressmaker by trade, and emigrated with her husband William
White and son Franklin to Canada.
Henry George Mapley (26/2/1868-11/9/1945), b. Woburn, Bedfordshire, England.
Son of Thomas Walter and Jane (nee Pacey) Mapley.
After emigrating to Toronto, Canada in 1884, he became a member of the North-West Mounted Police based in Yukon Territory
for over 25 years and in 1905 pioneered a month-long 1000 mile dog-sled journey to the Arctic.
His Regiment Number was 2628.
Timothy John Edward Mapley (24/8/1994-), b. Hong Kong
Son of David John and Jacqueline Mary (nee Hauge) Mapley.
He grew up in Connecticut, USA, before moving to Montreal, Canada in 2012-2017 to study at McGill University
Alexander Matthew James Mapley (29/1/1996), b. Norwalk, Connecticut, USA
Son of David John and Jacqueline Mary (nee Hauge) Mapley.
He grew up in Connecticut, USA, before moving to Montreal, Canada in 2014-2018 to study at McGill University
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