Re: Thomas Alder, Canada

Hi.I don't think Thomas Gilbert was born in India, although I'm pretty sure his father was.Here is a birth record that matches :

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
about Thomas Gilbert Alder
Name:        Thomas Gilbert Alder
Year of Registration:        1849
Quarter of Registration:        Jan-Feb-Mar
District:        Hertford
County:        Hertfordshire
Volume:        6
Page:        594 (click to see others on page)

This looks like Thomas living with the Parke family in 1851:

1851 England Census
about Thomas Alder
Name:        Thomas Alder
Age:        2
Estimated birth year:        abt 1849
Relation:        Grandson
Gender:        M (Male)
Where born:        Bengeo, Hertfordshire, England
       
Civil Parish:        Bengeo
Ecclesiastical parish:        Rochester
Town:        Bengeo
County/Island:        Hertfordshire
Country:        England
Registration district:        Hertford
Sub-registration district:        Watton
ED, institution, or vessel:        4a
Neighbors:        View others on page
Household schedule number:        203
Household Members:        
Name        Age
John Parke        63b. 1788 Walden, Essex - Wine merchant
Harriett Parke        52 wifeb. 1799 Pattundplace, Middlesex
Charlotte Parke 24 dau b. 1827 Shepherds Bush, Middlesex - Miliner
Sydney Parke        21 son b. 1830 Broxbourne, Hertfordshire - Shipman
Ann Parke        18 dau b. 1833 Ware, Hertfordshire
Frances Alder        3 g-son b. 1848 Guilford, Surrey
Thomas Alder        2 g-son b. 1849 Bengeo, Hertfordshire

All the children were listed as unmarried, so the parents of Frances & Thomas are not there.

Here he is in the 1861 Census:

1861 England Census
about Thomas G Alder
Name:        Thomas G Alder
Age:        12
Estimated birth year:        abt 1849
Relation:        Son
Father's name:        Gilbert D Alder
Mother's name:        Ellen F Alder
Gender:        Male
Where born:        Benger, Hertfordshire, England
[Bengeo, Hertfordshire, England]
Civil Parish:        Bedford St Paul
Ecclesiastical parish:        Holy Trinity
Town:        Bedford
County/Island:        Bedfordshire
Country:        England
Registration district:        Bedford
Sub-registration district:        Bedford and Kempston
ED, institution, or vessel:        8
Neighbors:        View others on page
Household schedule number:        98
Household Members:        
Name        Age
Gilbert D Alder 37 b. 1824 Calcutta British Subjects - Agent for Wine, Spirits & Tobacco
Ellen F Alder        34 wife b. 1827 Broxbourne, Hertfordshire
Thomas G Alder        12 son b. 1849 Benger, Hertfordshire
Louisa E Alder        14 dau b. 1857 Chapmoreston, Hertfordshire
Frances J Alder 13 dau (sic) b. 1848 Guilford, Surrey

In 1871 Thomas is no longer living at home:

1871 England Census
about Gilbert Alder
Name:        Gilbert Alder
Age:        47
Estimated birth year:        abt 1824
Relation:        Head
Spouse's name:        Ellen Alder
Gender:        Male
Where born:        Calcutta, India
Civil Parish:        Romford
Ecclesiastical parish:        St Andrew
Town:        Romford
County/Island:        Essex
Country:        England
Registration district:        Romford
Sub-registration district:        ROMFORD
ED, institution, or vessel:        5
Household schedule number:        15
Household Members:        
Name        Age
Gilbert Alder        47 b. 1824 India, Calcutta (BS) - Mortgage money lender
Ellen Alder        42 wife b. 1829 Broxbourne, Hertfordshire
Frances Alder        20 dau b. 1851 Guildford, Surrey
       
Here is a passenger list record that could be him:

Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
about Thos Alder
Name:        Thos Alder
Gender:        Male
Age:        23
Estimated birth year:        abt 1850
Date of Arrival:        8 Jun 1873
Vessel:        Nyanza
Search Ship Database:        View the 'Nyanza' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival:        Quebec and Montreal, Quebec
Port of Departure:        London, England; Plymouth, England
Roll:        C-4528
He was traveling alone, listed as a "clerk".

Hope this helps. Annie