The following was a post sent to the IRL-Meath mailing list. It contains information for those doing research in Ontario Canada.
Quote:
Twenty-odd years ago, while attending a conference @ Queen's
University in Kingston, Ontario ... I did some casual research at the
Kingston Public Library ... which opened the door to my McGRATH FAMILY
genealogy.
Although none of my known family were from Kingston ... by unearthing
their first child's 1829 Baptism record, I subsequently learned that
James, had come over (under an alias, with 2 brothers), with the 1st
Peter Robinson Settlers ... in 1823, to Huntley Township, (Ottawa
area); ... Margaret Hartnett, [his wife, the eldest daughter], arrived
with her family and the 2nd Peter Robinson Settlers ... in 1825, to
Emily Township, (Peterborough area). They met, they married, they
pioneered in Marmora, Ontario.
Why was this first child's "Baptism" record in Kingston? The "Sponsor"
was the clue ... Rev. W.P. MacDonald, V.G. I was informed that during
the late spring, summer, early fall, Rev. MacDonald, the Vicar General
for the area, (plus his predecessors and followers), would mount their
horses and travel throughout the countryside and Canadian backwoods,
doing yearly
"clean-up" circuits ... in essence, performing marriage rites,
baptising, and officially bury the dead. Upon returning to home-base,
entries were made in the church records.
I was informed ... at the time of the "recorded baptism" ... July 23,
1829 ... the child could have been any age - !
I was also informed that prior to the Kingston Catholic Church being built
... any earlier church records ... covering what-ever region was
covered in the yearly circuits ... had been kept at "The Forts" ... [Fort
Frontenac (1673) and Fort Henry (l812)] ... but those records had long
since been transfered to St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal for safe
keeping. [Apparently Kingston use to be considered a "Mission"
outpost ... controlled by Montreal, which is why the records went back
to Montreal.]
I mention the above for anyone not familiar with starting the Canadian
portion of their family genealogy in Ontario ... do not limit or
restrict your "initial" research to just one area! Your ancestors may
have started out for a specific destination ... even been allocated land
in a specific area ... or expecting to meet up with other family relatives
... or whatever ... but due to a variety of unexpected circumstances
in Canada's still primitive, pioneering backwoods ... life's plans
often got quickly altered!
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I do NOT live in Kingston! I have never lived in Kingston! I CANNOT
be of further assistance in looking up any other information for you!
[Possibly, by contacting the local branchs of the Ontario Genealogical
Society within that region, they will be able to assist you ... or you
can submit a query thru their newsletters! They have excellent
web-sites!]
Although I only recorded the entries which contained the name McGRATH
... [for the time frame I was initially interested in] ... it is
hoped that these early Church entries ... might be of some interest to
not only other McGraths, but also the numerous other family names mentioned.
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[ The SPELLING in the entries ... is as recorded in the Register ]
'THE FIRST REGISTERS - ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL'
Volume 4
MARRIAGES - (1816 - 1869)
1827
- REDMOND - McGrath
m. Feb 25, Joseph Redmond to Mary MacGrath
wtns. - Richard SAYERS & William CAHILL
1832
- McGragh - CANTER
m. Apr 24, Patrick McGragh, 66th Regt. to Margaret CANTER, remarried.
wtns. - James SHANNON & Catherine MULLINS
1833
- HYNES - SCOTT
m. Apr 30, John HYNES to Margaret SCOTT
wtns. - Patrick KELLY & Bridget MacGrath
- BENSON - HUGHES
m. May 8, Patrick BENSON, widower, to Bridget HUGHES, alias
Widow HUGHES
wtns. - Patrick KELLY & Bridget MacGrath
1835
- ROE - McGrath
m. Apr 26(?), Samuel, son of Samuel ROE & Anne CROSS, to May, dau.
of Thomas McGrath & Rose MARTIN, both now residing in Kingston.
wtns. - James McCULLOUGH & Anne McCAULEY.
NOTE: [could be 16th; note witnesses names - got married next entry?]
- McCULLOUGH - McCAULEY
m. Apr 21, James, son of James McCULLOUGH & Sarah BROWNE, to Anne,
dau. of Bernard McCAULEY & Anne KENNY.
wtns. - Mr. SULLIVAN & May McGrath
1836
- COSTOLOE - FAHLEY
m. June 6, James COSTOLOE to Bridget FARLEY
wtns. - Dennis MacDONELL & Mary Magrath
1838
- McGrath - CUNNINGHAM
m. Aug 14, John McGrath, par. of Partean, City of Limerick, to Mary
CUNNINGHAM, par. of Cashel, Co. Longford.
wtns. - Bernard MULLEN & Bridget MULLEN
1843
- DUFF - McGrath
m. May 16, James DUFF, son of Patrick DUFF (dec.), & Christine
HALPIN, orig. from Malbra St., Dublin, to Bridget McGrath, daughter of
Michael McGrath & Anne COYNE, Killiskillen, Co. Meath.
wtns. - Thomas McGrath & Ann MULONE
1845
- ROGERS - McGrath
m. Oct 31, Martin ROGERS, son of Loughlan ROGERS (dec.) & Mary
KANE, of the Twp. of Tyandanaga, to Susan McGrath, daughter of Patrick
McGrath & Susan WALSH, of this town.
wtns. - Patrick McGrath & Ellen McBRIDE
1846
- COSGOVE - COURNEEN
m. Feb 10, James COSGROVE, sone of James Cosgrove & Ann HANLY, pr.
of St. Michael's, City of Limerick, to Sara COURNEEN, daughter of
William COURNEED(?), & Honora CLAREY, of this town.
wtns. - Denis COURNEEN, Michael McGrath, Johanna HAYES
- FOWLER - SHORTELL
m. Aug 3, Michael FOWLER, son of Patrick FOWLER & Alice LESTER, to
Ellen SHORTELL, daughter of Thomas SHORTELL & Bridgett SWIFT (dec.),
of Glenburny.
wtns. - William PATTERSON & Eliza McGrath
- LINN - McQUAID
m. Sept 8, Francis LINN, son of John LINN & Mary McDONELL, par. of
Donoughmore, Co. Tyrone, to Margaret McQUAID, daughter of Owen McQUAID
& Sara McGrath, of the same parish.
wtns. - James KEENAN & Mrs. Bridget ROONY.
1847
- VANESKY - MURPHY
m. June 8, Felix, son of Felix VENESKY & Catharine VOTT, of this
town, to Catharine, dau. of Christopher MURPHY & Mary HACKET, par. of
Morristown, Co. Meath.
wtns. - Patrick REILY & Mary McGrath
1848
- McQUAID - QUINN
m. Feb 22, James McQUAID, son of Owen McQUAID & Sara McGrath, par.
of Killeshal, Co. Tyrone, to Mary QUINN, daughter of Daniel & Mary
KEENAN, par. of Donoughmore, Co. Tyrone.
wtns. - Patrick CAMPBELL & Catharine CAMPBELL
- McGrath - DEWY
m. Nov 13, Michael McGrath, son of Edward McGrath & Mary DOYLE
(dec.), of Camden, to Catharine DEWY, widow of Owen DOYLE of Camden.
wtns. - James BURNS & Mary McGrath
1849
- McGrath - SPOONER
m. Dec 4, Patrick (Catholic), son of Denis McGrath & Bridget
MURPHY, of Storrington, to Ellenor (Protestant), dau. of Simon SPOONER
& Jane PATTEN, also of Storrington.
wtns. - Simon SPOONER, Patrick MURRY, & Ellenor SHANNON
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'CONFIRMATIONS'
1836 - Aug 21 - MacGrath, Peter - 12 yrs.
1849 - Apr 8 - McGrath, Mrs. Ellen - 45 yrs.
1849 - June 14 - McGrath, Ann - 20 yrs.
1852 - June 29 - McGrath, Bridget - 14 yrs.
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'INTERMENTS'
1847 - McGrath, Catharine - int'd Aug 15.
1849 - McGrath, Margaret - int'd June 18 - aged 10 wks. - No Wtns. - entered
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'BAPTISM'
1829
- MacGrath, Patrick
bapt. - May 13, son of Patrick MacGrath & Helen MacEWEN
Godp'ts. - James SHORTEL & Mary HENRY
- McGrath, Catherine
bapt. - Jul. 23, dau. of James McGrath & Margaret HARTNETT
Spons. - Rev. W.P. MacDonald, V.G.
1830
- MaGrath, James
bapt. - May 5, son of Dennis Magrath & Bridget MURPHY
Spons. - Thomas GORMLY & Honora SHADROW
NOTE: [No entries between Feb 1832 & Nov 1834]
1835(?)
- McGrath, Bridget
bapt. - Apr 8, b. Apr 7, dau. of Denis McGrath & Bridget MURPHY
Spons. - James SHANNON & Anne MacRILTY
1836
- ROE, George
bapt. - May 15, b. Apr 23, son of Samuel ROE & Mary Magrath
of Kingston
Spons. - Peter HANDLIN & Bridget Magrath
1838
- McGrath, James
bapt. - May 9, b. Apr 17, son of Dennis McGrath & Bridget MURPHY of
Pitzburgh.
Spons. - James DOWLING & Mrs. SHANNON
1841
- McGrath, Michael
bapt. - Feb 10, b. Jan 29, son of John McGrath & Mary CUNNINGHAM.
Spons. - James MULLEN & Mrs. Bridgett MULLEN
1843
- McGrath, Catharine
bapt. - Jan 19, b. Jan 5, dau. of John McGrath & Mary CUNINGHAM
Spons. - Barney MULLENS & Johanna TOOMEY
- MacGrath, Richard
bapt. - June 22, b. June 17, son of Martin McGrath & Bridget WALSH
Spons. - Thomas FENNON & Catharine MURPHY
1843
- MacGrath, Mary Ann
bapt. - Jul 14, parents unknown
Spons. - Mrs. Ellen COLLINS
1844
- DUFFE, Daniel
bapt. - Jan 28, b. Jan 15, son of Dennis DUFFE & Margaret CALLAGHAN.
Spons. - James DUFFY & Bridget McGraph
- DUFF, John
bapt. - Feb 18, b. Feb 12, son of James DUFF & Bridgett McGrath
Spons. - Thomas LYONS & Margaret ULTON
1845
- McGrath, Bridget
bapt. - Sept 23, b. Sept 18, dau. of John McGrath & Mary CUNNINGHAM
Spons. - Susan McGrath
1846
- McGrath, Ellenor
bapt. - Jan 6, b. Dec 26, 1845, dau. of John McGrath &
Margaret HALLIGAN
Spons. - Thomas DONOGHUE & Mrs. Ann DONOGHUE
- McGrath, William
bapt. - Oct 2, b. Sept 21, son of Thomas McGrath & Julia STAPLETON.
Spons. - Thomas READY & Alice BARRETT
- McGrath, Johanna
bapt. - Dec 6, b. Nov 12, dau. of Patrick McGrath & Margaret WOODS.
Spons. - Michael WARD & Mary WARD
1848
- McGrath, Mary
bapt. - Feb 7, b. Jan 23, dau. of John McGrath & Margaret HOLLAGAN,
of the city of Kingston.
Spons. - John FOX & Mary CODY
- McGrath, Mary
bapt. - June 4, b. June 3, dau. of John McGrath & Mary CUNNINGHAM,
of this city.
Spons. - Garret FITZGERALD & Mary HOULAHAN
1849
- McGrath, Margaret
bapt. - Apr 28, b. Apr 23, dau. of Patrick McGrath & Margaret
WOODS, of Kingston.
Spons. - Bartholomy McGrath & Mary McQUAID
- McGrath, Ellen
bapt. - Sept 10, b. Aug 28, dau. of Peter McGrath & Bridget
McDONALD, of Wolf Island.
Spons. - Michael & Ellen McDONALD
1850
- McGrath, Denis
bapt. Nov 15, b. Nov 3, son of Patrick McGrath & Ellen SPOONER, of
Storrington
Spons. - Patrick MADDEN & Ann McGrath, of same place.
1851
- McGrath, Saragh Ann
bapt. - Nov 2, b. Oct 16, dau. of Peter McGrath & Bridget McDONNELL
Spons. - James HAWKINS & Catherine REGAN
1852
- McGrath, John
bapt. - Mar 15, b. Feb 20, son of John McGrath & Johanna BALEY, of
Storrington
Spons. - Bernard KENNEDY & Mary CRAIG
1853
- McGrath, James
bapt. - May 29, b. May 8, son of John McGrath & Johanna (no entry),
farmers at Glenburney.
Spons. - James BURNS & Bridget DALEY
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'1844 Census of the Catholic Population of the Mission of Kingston'
BAGOT STREET
- McGrath, John - wife - 3 children
- Labourer - Irish
- Boys under 7 = 2
Boys over 15 = 1
Girls under 7 = 1
Girls over 15 = 1 Total = 5 Irish born
CLARENCE STREET
- McGrath, John
- Labourer - Irish
Boys over 15 = 1 Total = 1 Irish born
Census of population - 4,271 - taken in the month of May & June of the
year of our Lord, 1844.
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