Regarding Venie Young's relationship with Ellen Franklin, there is an obituary for an Ellen (Griffen) (Franklin) Young which indicates that she was his wife but there is no record of a marriage and Sylvenus's will indicates that she was a "housekeeper." The Death Reg. for Ellen Young who died at Port Bruce 7 April 1918 is #14904. It appears obvious however that there was a common-law marriage in effect.

She is not named in father's will in 1886.

There is also in Port Bruce an H. N. [Horatio Nelson] Franklin, 49, with wife Ellen, 36, and sons John, 24, Roy, 7, and Maville K. 5. William Crozier is 55. Or wife of John Franklin, stepsons George and John.

Ellen (Griffin) Franklin (OVS gives Ellen Young died at Port Bruce, 7 April 1918, age 73 years, 10 months, 1 day, born at Malahide Township, daughter of Edward Griffin. "found Dead in Bed., buried at Dunboyne, #014994)
Laura (McQuiggan)(Franklin) Shinglar who inherited Ellen's house and also cooked for the girls at Camp Orendaga was first the wife of LeRoy Franklin. (He was a fisherman and died at Port Bruce, 17 January, 1918, age 43 years, 10 months, 7 days, son of Nathaniel Franklin, OVS # 014897), and was buried at Dunboyne. After he died she married a Shinglar. Sylvenus deeded his house to Ellen before he died in 1912. The Elgin 1877 Atlas gives a Wm. Shingler living on Conc. 5 Lot 27 of Malahide. Malahide vital statistics indicates that LeRoy Franklin, son of Nelson and Ellen Griffen Franklin age 28, born at Port Bruce, married March 1901. There is an Elgin County Probate for a Catherine Griffen, issued 26 November 1889 referencing her will of 5 April 1889 at Malahide township. She bequeaths "the sum of one hundred dollars to my daughter Ellen Young wife of Venus Young of Port Bruce, Fisherman." It is believed that they were never actually married. Catherine gave $500 to her daughter Emma Johnson wife of John Johnson of Chicago, Painter, $500 to her daughter Roxey Esseltine wife of James Esseltine of Dereham, yeoman, $400 in addition to the $100 already given to her son Mahlon Griffin, living with her at Malahide Township, $500 to her daughter, Ecelona Eakins wife of Robert Eakins of Malahide, $300 to grandson George Franklin son of the late Nelson Franklin when he reaches 25

Instrument #1781 General Register, is probate record in the Surrogate Court of the County of Elgin in the goods of Catherine Griffin, deceased, issued 26 Nov. 1889. It is her last will and Testament.
"I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred dollars to my daughter Ellen Young wife of Enos [Venis?] Young of Port Bruce, Fisherman, to have and to hold to her executors administrators and assigns to and for her and their sole and separate and only use absolutely forever.
I give and bequeath the sum of five hundred dollars to my daughter Emma Johnson wife of John Johnson of Chicago, Painter....I give and bequeath the sum of five hundred dollars to my daughter Roxy Esseltine wife of James Esseltine of Dereham, yeoman...I give four hundred dollars to my son Mahlon Griffin now living with me...I give $500 to my dau. Ecelona Eakins wife of Robert Eakins of Malahide...I give $300 to my grandson George Franklin son of the late Nelson Franklin at the age of 25.

St. Thomas Daily Times, 8 Apr 1918, p. 14, c. 2
"Mother of St. Thomas Man Dies in Her Sleep
Mrs. Ellen Young Found Dead Sunday Morning in Her Home at Port Bruce.
Port Bruce, April 8 (Special) -Mrs. Ellen Young, a well-known resident of Port Bruce, was found dead in her bed on Sunday morning. Mrs. Young who had been living alone, had passed away in her sleep during the night.
The deceased, who was in her 74th year, was twice married her first husband being John Franklin. Two sons, George of Port Bruce, and John, of St. Thomas, survive.
The funeral will take place Tuesday morning from her late residence to Dunboyne Cemetery. (Transcribed by Bruce C. Johnson Jr., July 1991, Port Bruce, Ontario)

(No g.s. at Dunboyne for her. She was common law wife of Sylvenus Young of Port Bruce. They were never married. He bequethed property to her as "my beloved housekeeper Ellen Franklin."