Kindred Footprints

Wordless Wednesday ~ Hiscott & Vine

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Asphyxiation by Gas

Mary Louise Hiscott (St. Mark's Anglican Cemetery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario)

From the Hamilton Spectator
HISCOTT (Toronto, Ont.) Feb. 19, 1897 - Miss Mary Hiscott, who with her younger sister, Miss Harriett Hiscott, daughters of Major Hiscott, M.L.A. were found on Wednesday morning in their room at the Grosvener house in an apparently lifeless condition from asphyxiation by gas, died this morning about 3:30 o'clock. There is no improvement in the condition of the other Miss Hiscott.

Note: Thankfully the other Miss Hiscott DID recover from this tragedy...
The Misses Hiscott are my 1st cousins 4x removed

Destination: Thorold, ON

Locks 4, 5 & 6 at Thorold, Photo courtesy Welland Public Library

We set out Monday morning for a day trip to Thorold, Ontario where we were meeting a couple of cousins that I recently discovered and connected with. Thorold is the location where our Irish ancestors finally settled after leaving Ireland in the 19th century. It is located atop the Niagara Escarpment between St. Catharines and Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada. It is where the ships ''climb the mountain'' on the Welland Canal to travel between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, bypassing Niagara Falls. The cousins I met are the great grandchildren of Francis J. Manley who was the youngest brother of my great grandfather, John J. Manley. I love day trips to the Niagara Peninsula because it is where I was born and raised and all of my family roots on both my mother's and father's sides are there.

Photo courtesy of LSImages on Flickr

We started at Lakeview Cemetery which is divided in two sections, the 'old' and the 'new'. When you drive in the main drive you can see the 'new' sections. If you didn't know about the 'old' section it's not likely you would ever find it. There is a small opening in a fence with what looks like a narrow road going off in the distance and ending at a forest, but if you actually take that road it leads you right into the forest which is really the 'old' cemetery. It sits right along the Welland Canal and is the most beautiful hidden gem you've ever seen. This is where most of my paternal family is. I showed them the grave of our Irish Ancestors, Edward and Margaret Manley and from there we walked around and I pointed out everyone else that is there. There are many and they are all very close together.

From there we headed over to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary RC Church. This is the church that so many of our ancestor's attended. The cornerstone was laid in 1876 but it was not consecrated and ready until 1892 in an effort to avoid debt. My ancestors would have attended this church from it's beginning and the last family funeral that was held there was in 2002 when my Aunt Mary passed. One of the original stained glass windows is dedicated to the memory of our 2x great grandmother Margaret (Dixon) Manley. Even though I didn't attend this church I can remember being there many times throughout my life for weddings, baptisms and funerals.

Church photo's courtesy of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

Our next stop was at the Thorold Museum, maintained by the volunteers of the Thorold and Beaverdams Historical Society. The museum isn't open to the public a lot so my new friend Cathy arranged to have Diane from the society meet us there. I've never had a private tour of a museum before. It was awesome. The museum is located in a house called Chestnut Hall that was originally built in 1862 for John McDonagh who had a lumber business. My ancestor Edward Manley worked for Mr. McDonagh for many years according to his obituary in 1903. This building is now a designated 'Heritage' property.

Photo courtesy of the Thorold & Beaverdams Historical Society

The rooms in the house both upstairs and down are filled with local history including household items, linens, quilts, jewelry, tools, license plates and just about every imaginable item you could think of. The walls are covered in photographs and maps. There are books and binders filled with local news articles about people and places and events. It was a family historian's dream come true. I asked if I could move in for a while ;-) We were told that there are a couple of boxes full of beautiful portrait quality photo's in the attic that are unidentified. How I wish we could identify these photos.

We ended the afternoon by gathering at a local watering hole for a drink with Cathy. Since she and my cousins are also cousins, she had some information that she wanted to share with them. It was nice to watch their enthusiasm talking about family history and getting to know each other. It's great to come from an area so rich in history.

Thanks to Cathy, Frank, Marian and Diane for another great road trip!

Ancestor Approved

Another award is making the rounds among the Geneablogging community. Many thanks to Southwest Arkie for passing along the "Ancestor Approved" award to me. I would send it back to you but I know you've already got it. Thanks also to Ancestors Live Here who initiated this award.

My instructions are to list ten things I have learned about any of my ancestors that has surprised, humbled, or enlightened me and to then pass the award along to ten other bloggers whom I feel are doing their ancestors proud so here goes...

1. Surprised to discover that I have a Great Grand Aunt, Mary Flynn who became a Mother Superior (Mother Monica) and founded St. Joseph's Hospital in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

2. Surprised to learn that my paternal surname, Manley was actually Munnelly before my 2x Great Grandparents came to Canada from Ireland.

3. Surprised to uncover the story of my Great Grand Uncle, Hugh Manley who died as a result of injuries he received while performing a heroic act to prevent a boiler explosion in a school full of children and that a High School in Chicago is named in his memory.

4. Humbled to learn that my 2x Great Grandparents were part of the mass exodus from Ireland during the potato famine of the 19th century and the struggles and challenges they faced.

5. Humbled to discover that I have a Great Grand Uncle, Roger Manley/Munnelly who was born and died at the immigration center known as Grosse Ile in Quebec and that his name is listed on the memorial wall with other Irish famine victims.

6. Humbled to have been able to travel to Ireland and visit the ancestral homeland of my 2x Great Grandparents in County Mayo.

7. Enlightened to learn how many Ancestor's I have that arrived in Canada as United Empire Loyalist's (UEL's) during the time of the Revolutionary War and that there might also be Patriot's from the same families.

8. Enlightened to realize that my maternal line, Vine that originated in England is almost all American and that I have cousins all across the United States from this line. Only two out of ten children settled in Canada and of course, I am descended from one of them.

9. Enlightened to learn the occupations of my male ancestors. My paternal ancestors were mainly involved in the construction and dredging projects of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Welland Canal while my maternal ancestors were largely Farmers and Butchers.

10. Enlightened to have discovered the geographic origins of many of my family lines in England. I now have several little English villages to visit spread across the United Kingdom.

I'm passing the ''Ancestor Approved'' Award to these blogs that do a phenomenal job of telling their Ancestors stories...if you're not following them yet, you should be!

More Genealogical Kindness

I have just been blessed with yet another "Random Act of Genealogical Kindness''...

I am completely beside myself at the moment. I sent an email to Cathy today because I remembered that she mentioned seeing my Aunt's engagement notice in a scrapbook at the Thorold Historical Society. I was wondering how I could see it too. I just received this in my inbox. Miss Rita Manley is my dearly missed Aunt Deedee and my Godmother. I've never seen this before. I never knew John because he died just before I was born but as the story goes, there was never two people more in love...

You might recall Cathy is the lady who was the friend of my cousin Jinny that I wrote about here.

Thank you Cathy!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Oakes Garden Theatre

Postcard of the Oakes Garden Theatre c. 1952

Niagara Falls, Ontario

...and it hasn't changed a bit!

Photo courtesy of Historic Niagara Digital Collections, Niagara Falls Public Library

The Children of John & Mary McKenny

The five children of John and Mary (Manley) McKenny are really a mystery. They grew up in Thorold, Ontario at 23 Carleton St. S. and after their parents died they all stayed in the house on Carleton St. None of them married and none of them moved out on their own. All five of the children are buried with their parents in Lakeview Cemetery in Thorold.

Margaret Anne McKenny (1888-1975)

Obituary, St. Catharines Standard, March 19, 1975;
Margaret A. McKenny, 87, formerly of 23 Carleton St. S., died yesterday at Hotel Dieu Hospital after a lengthy illness. Born in Thorold, Miss McKenny lived here all her life. She was a member of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church and had lived at Linhaven Home for the Aged for the past five years. Two brothers, Edward and John, and a sister Frances died before her. She is at the Noble S. Crowe and Son Funeral Home until 9:30 a.m. Friday and then to Holy Rosary Church for funeral mass at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery. Prayers will be said at the funeral home tomorrow at 8 p.m. Visiting hours at the funeral home are today from 7 to 9 p.m. and tomorrow from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Bridget Bertha McKenny (1890-1918)

Obituary, St. Catharines Standard, October 26, 1918;
At St. Catharines General and Marine Hospital on Friday evening, October 25th, 1918 Bertha McKenny, the beloved daughter of John McKenny, Thorold. Funeral private from the funeral apartments of McIntyre & Son. to R.C. Church, Thorold where requiem mass will be chanted. Interment in Lakeview Cemetery.

John Aloysius McKenny (1891 -1971)

Obituary, St. Catharines Standard, September 10, 1971;
John Aloysius McKenny, 79 of 23 Carleton St. S., died yesterday at St. Catharines General Hospital after a short illness. Born in Thorold, Mr. McKenny had lived in Thorold all his life and was employed at the Exolon Co. for 26 years, retiring in 1962. He was a member of Local 582, International Brotherhood of Chemical Workers and of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church. He is survived by one sister, Margaret McKenny, in Linhaven Home for the Aged in St. Catharines. He is at Noble S. Crowe and Son Funeral Home until tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. and then at Our Lady of Perpetual Help for funeral mass at 1 p.m. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery. Prayers will be said in the funeral home today at 8 p.m.

Edward Manley McKenny (1894-1962)

Obituary, St. Catharines Standard, September 14, 1962;
Edward M. McKenny, 68, of 23 Carleton St. S., died suddenly this morning. Mr. McKenny was born and educated in Thorold. He was a veteran of the First World War. For many years he was employed at Martin's Book Store, Front St. Mr. McKenny was a member of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Chuch and belonged to the Holy Name Society. He is survived by two sisters, Margaret and Frances McKenny, and a brother John at home. Mr. McKenny is at the Noble S. Crowe and Son funeral home where prayer will be recited for him Sunday at 7:30 p.m. A requiem high mass will be sung for Mr. McKenny, Monday at 10:30 a.m. in Holy Rosary Church. Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery.

Frances Mary McKenny (1898-1970)

Obituary, St. Catharines Standard, July 23, 1970;
Frances Mary McKenny, 72, of 23 Carleton St. South, died yesterday at the Niagara Peninsula Sanatorium after a long illness. Born in Thorold, Miss McKenny had lived there all her life and had worked for many years as a secretary in the N.S. and T. office in St. Catharines. A graduate of Loretto Academy, she was very active in the Hotel Dieu Hospital and St. Catharines General Hospital auxiliaries and a member of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. She is survived by one sister Margaret McKenny and one brother John, both at home. She is at the Noble S. Crowe and Son Funeral Home until 8:30 a.m. Saturday and then at the Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary for mass at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery. Prayers will be said in the funeral home tomorrow at 8 p.m. Visiting hours at the funeral home are today and tomorrow form 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Parents:
John Patrick McKenny (1841-1923)
Mary Manley (1859-1918)

Mother Monica ~ Tombstone Tuesday

Mary Flynn aka Rev. Mother Monica

(1851 - 1931)

St. Andrew's RC Cemetery,

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

I thought my Series on Mother Monica was finished but this past weekend someone did a very generous Random Act of Genealogy Kindness (#RAOGK).

I had contacted a lady in Thunder Bay about doing an edit on a cemetery listing for Mother Monica which she very promptly did and then asked if I would like a photo. She actually made a stop at the cemetery and photographed the grave markers and sent them to me. If you have a research interest in the Thunder Bay, Ontario area check out Jude's Family Research & Local History Site. Thank you so much Jude ;-)

Original Monument c. 1931

New Monument dedicated in 2007

Not sure when this was added

View of all 3

Related Posts:
Mother Monica ~ Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V
Mother Monica ~ Bonus Postcard
Mother Monica ~ Tombstone Tuesday

Mother Monica ~ Bonus Postcard

In the course of researching St. Joseph's Hospital in Port Arthur, ON for my five part series on Mother Monica, I found this postcard for sale on Ebay so of course I had to buy it. The postcard was mailed from Port Arthur, ON in 1915 and represents the hospital after the 1900 and 1905 additions were added. It has a two cent Canadian stamp, cancelled on August 28, 1915. Since Mother Monica was there and running the hospital at this time, it's kind of special ;-)

Related Posts:
Mother Monica ~ Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V
Mother Monica ~ Bonus Postcard
Mother Monica ~ Tombstone Tuesday

Mother Monica ~ Part V

Today St. Joseph's Hospital, founded by Mother Monica is known as the St. Joseph's Care Group and is a fully accredited, multi-million dollar institution employing and caring for a vast number of people. Despite the many changes over the past 125 years the five sisters that made that fateful trip in 1881 have not been forgotten and tributes to Mother Monica as it's Foundress continue to this day. This framed commemoration hangs in the lobby of the hospital now ...

Since her death in 1931, tributes, memorials and monuments to Mother Monica's achievements have continued...

In July of 1934 St. Joseph's Hospital celebrated it's own Golden Jubilee (1884-1934). A memorial statue of St. Joseph was erected on a piece of land between the Hospital and the Convent with a bronze memorial tablet dedicated to Mother Monica affixed to it's base.

On the tablet these words were engraved:

As a testimonial of the fifty years of noble and gracious deeds for stricken humanity completed this year by St. Joseph's General Hospital, Port Arthur. Almost the entire span of fifty years was passed under the energetic leadership of the late Reverend Mother Monica who departed this life January 23rd, 1931

In 2007 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie again honored Mother Monica with a new monument in St. Andrew's cemetery. A new headstone was commissioned and erected and a gathering attended a consecration ceremony. The monument was unveiled and blessed by Bishop Frederick Colli.

I would like to thank and acknowledge the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peterborough and the St. Joseph's Care Group of Thunder Bay for their assistance and generosity in allowing me to get to know Mother Monica and share her story with you. I am justifiably proud and honored to have found this wonderful woman in my family tree.

Constant sources of referral have been;

"As The Tree Grows, Celebrating 100 Years of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Peterborough 1890-1990"; by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peterborough, 1993

"The Spirit, the Lamp, and the Key"; by George Campbell and St. Joseph's General Hospital, 1984

"Responding To Unmet Needs: 125 Years of Care in the Community"; by Peter Raffo and St. Joseph's Care Group, 2009

Related Posts:
Mother Monica ~ Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V
Mother Monica ~ Bonus Postcard
Mother Monica ~ Tombstone Tuesday

Dear Ancestor

Your tombstone stands among the rest;
Neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished, marble stone.
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist
You died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.
I wonder how you lived and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.
~ Author Unknown ~

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