The English influx to the Prairies occurred in two phases. Ontario and Quebec migrants of English descent travelled overland in carts from the 1870s long before the railways were constructed. Substantial numbers also came at this time from the Eastern Townships of Quebec and from the Maritime Provinces.

Growing mechanization in England and rising imports of cheap food from abroad caused many English families to look increasingly to Canada to better their prospects. However, while the prairies were crying out for men with agricultural skills to operate ploughs and plant crops, the arrivals from England were destitute urban workers. They generally headed for the towns and cities in the Prairie Provinces, leaving the labourers of other nations to fill the region’s agricultural job vacancies. By mid-1920's Saskatchewan had more Ontario-born residents than Manitoba and Alberta combined, the majority having English origins.

The first Mabley on record is Alford Mabley, who migrated from a farming family in Manitoba. After serving in Europe during WW1, he settled Saskatchewan, although he and his family later moved further west to Alberta.

Go to Saskatchewan Censuses 1916-1921 ==>

1st. Saskatchewan Generation

Alford Garfield Mabley (24/1/1882 - 21/11/1956), Farmer, m. Bessie (1896 - 1969) in x
Alford was born in Manitoba, and after serving overseas in WW1 he settled in Humboldt county to farm.
Eventually the whole family migrated further west to Alberta.

• Albert LLoyd Mabley (1919 - 1988) ==> Alberta
• Helen Mabley (1918 - )