Saturday, July 11, 2020

Assumption Cemetery - Windsor, Ontario

In the 1956 aerial view of the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario below, the Assumption Cemetery can be seen in the bottom right. This blog post pays homage to the cemetery, its history and to the countless people who, even this year and THIS month (during COVID-19 restrictions and challenges), are working toward preserving this special place for future generations.

Aerial View Of The Ambassador Bridge Showing The Heavy Traffic,
(Assumption Cemetery is on the southeast
corner of Wyandotte Street West and Huron Church Road;
Assumption University is visible north of Wyandotte Street West;)
Source: Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive
Established in 1748, Assumption cemetery is the oldest European (Roman Catholic) cemetery in Ontario. It was relocated to its third and present site in 1859, from what was the Cemetery’s second home, the area now known as Assumption Park.

NB: In an ongoing effort to decolonize my settler ancestor story-telling, I have included information at the end of this post on "The Non-Protection Of Canadian Aboriginal Heritage (Burial Sites And Artifacts)" with additional details on The Sandwich Burial site (AbHs-24, formerly AbHs-2.) which "consists of two documented Native burials... many burials ... under Sandwich Street near the Ambassador Bridge." (Douglas 1964)

The three things about Assumption Cemetery that motivated me to write this post:
  1. Denis Moynahan (1823-1865) Is Buried There. I have no idea if there is a marker for Denis at Assumption cemetery but I do know that he is buried there. He was the Crown Land Agent in 1857; Township Clerk of Sandwich West in 1861; District and County Clerk between 1863-1864 and in charge of Sandwich Infantry No. 1 Co in 1864. He is barely mentioned in any of the history books about Essex county?
  2. Smugglers Crossing the Ambassador Bridge:  My father Ernie Moynahan told me that he had heard stories about how they used to smuggle cigarettes into Canada from Detroit. They would place them in a burlap bag and toss them over the bridge, landing in the cemetery. Once they passed through the custom checkpoint, they would drive to the cemetery and pick up their cigarettes!
  3. Assumption Cemetery Records and Headstones: Cemetery workers, genealogists, the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS), OGS Essex County Branch, and CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project volunteers are owed a debt of gratitude for all of the work that they do preserving cemetery history, records and headstones of this cemetery ESPECIALLY this year amid the COVID-19 closure complications..

Denis Moynahan (1823-1865) Is Buried There

Denis Moynahan was born in Ireland in 1825 and died at forty-two years of age in Windsor Ontario.

Finding records for him has been incredibly difficult because of the time period and because he died quite young. He was the son of James and Mary (O'Keefe) Moynahan (Source: marriage record) and  he married Elizabeth ("Eliza") Fortier (1831-1871) and they had five children: Ellen, Mary Jane, Alice, John and James.

Of the five children, I have learned most about John Fortier Moynahan ( 1863-1950 who eventually founded the firm Moynahan & Duschene in Detroit, Michigan). Sister Alice died at two years of age, sister Mary Jane died in her twenties; sister Ellen, I believe, became a Sister of Charity in Winnipeg, and brother James died at thirty four years of age.
Source: Township of Sandwich; Frederick Neal (Page 104)
In ten short years, Denis taught school, was Crown Land Agent in 1857; Township Clerk of Sandwich West in 1861; District and County Clerk between 1863-1864 and in charge of Sandwich Infantry No. 1 in 1864 and then he was gone at 40 years of age (according to the burial records)

Here is the Assumption Cemetery burial record: 
Ontario French Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1747-1967 Ancestry.com 2007.
Drouin Collection. Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin.
Smugglers Crossing the Ambassador Bridge

When my father Ernie Moynahan told me that he had heard stories about how they used to smuggle cigarettes between Canada from Detroit by placing them in a burlap bag and tossing them over the bridge, and landing in them in Assumption cemetery I wondered if it was ever reported in the papers and it was!

Clipped from
The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
 04 Feb 1948, Wed  •  Page 1
Assumption Cemetery Records and Headstones

Clipped from
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
 14 May 1976, Fri  •  Page 25
Clipped from
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
 14 May 1976, Fri  •  Page 25
The Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) recently surveyed its readers (genealogists) asking them to report on what they were doing to pass the "extra time" during COVID -19 closures and many reported that they were doing ‘cemetery’ work: visiting, photographing and transcribing cemeteries requests. Many people are unaware of the many volunteers who are engaged in cemetery photography, transcriptions and restorations.

 The pandemic of 2020 calls to mind the many souls buried in Assumption cemetery who died from the pandemic in 1918. 
On Oct. 12, 1918, Miss Irene Graham, 19, a store clerk who had moved to the city from neighbouring Sandwich two days before, died from the "dreaded Spanish influenza".

Clipped from The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
 19 Sep 1998, Sat  •  Page 1
Later, four members of the Basilian order died within weeks of each other and they too are buried in Assumption cemetery.

"Overall, some 50,000 Canadians died of influenza in the winter of 1918-1919. Worldwide the (1918) epidemic claims more than 20 million lives."
Clipped from
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
 19 Sep 1998, Sat  •  Page 5
Most cities in Ontario are still under special measures as part of Phase II in Ontario, Essex county included (as of June 25th with some exceptions)

Assumption Cemetery: Multi-year Project 
  
The latest issue of the Ontario Genealogical Society Essex Branch of (TRAILS Volume 42, Issue 2) featured good news about the Assumption Cemetery and a multi-year project to probe, raise, level, straighten and clean the markers there. 

NOTE: Membership to the OGS is at half price sonce June 1st: https://ogs.on.ca/shop/bundled-membership/
Screenshot: Ontario Genealogical Society Essex Branch of (TRAILS Volume 42, Issue 2)

In 2020, during COVID-19, many cemetery properties were not getting attention that they required (edging, mowing and general maintenance) because the staff that who did the landscaping and restoration were not working due to restrictions.  

The Assumption Cemetery (which pre-dates the required "Perpetual Care"/Care and Maintenance Fund) was once part of the Assumption Church, but the parish passed it on 25 years ago. It now sits under care of  Heavenly Rest Family of Cemeteries which is under the guardianship of the Diocese in London. See the by-laws here: https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/15495/documents/2019/4/Heavenly%20Rest%20By-laws.pdf)

Below are links to the cemetery records (with photographs) at both Find A Grave and CanGen Web Cemetery Projects for the Heavenly Rest Family of Cemeteries which includes:
Maintaining cemeteries under ordinary circumstances (general cleaning, mowing, edging, headstone care and maintenance, vandalism repair, etc etc) is challenging. Imagine the challenges in 2020 with 7 cemeteries and only 8 grounds staff and restrictions on hiring the usual 20 seasonal grounds workers under COVID-19 restrictions.

Clipped from
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
 23 Oct 1991, Wed  •  Page 1
Monument Restoration Assumption Cemetery

The work of restoration is "specialized work, requiring trained professionals to lift (without breaking, checking our records, add stone underneath or mono grid, clean with proper products , level, reinstall. All that without breaking the headstone or your back!" says Patricia Simone

In Patricia's latest update (July 10, 2020), she said that the project "Monument Restoration at Assumption Cemetery." had begun and that "Highlighted areas on the map indicate the areas that have been completed or are being worked on now." There is so much work to be done, Patricia Simone adds, "It won’t all be done this year.... but we are moving in the right direction now!"

Second phase started July 9, 2020, Patricia reported that "First we levelled, raised, straightened 277 markers in the northeast corner. Found over 60 which were overgrown. Now the northeast to southeast side will be completed as well as 20 (or so) Veterans graves and all clergy graves.We have also fixed, repointed and cleaned the Lavin family Mausoleum and the Baby/McKee family Mausoleum.
Photo courtesy of Patricia Simone: Heavenly Rest Cemetery Family of Cemeteries
There was a FaceBook post by dedicated veteran cemetery volunteer Douglas Gammon who was onsite July 9, 2020 at Assumption Cemetery while Tom Klassen and group were doing restoration work. This work was being done during one of Ontario's many heat waves this summer! (Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EssexCountyOGS/?post_id=3024656430965315)
FaceBook Screenshot: Essex OGS: Assumption Restoration Project by Douglas Gammon
Thank you all for doing this work under COVID-19 concerns and in a record heat wave sweeping through Ontario and for sharing phoros and information about the progress online.


 A "Jane's Walk" Through Assumption Cemetery

In May 2019, the  Architectural Conservancy of Ontario Windsor/Essex Branch offered a "Jane's Walk" tour that started at Assumption Church and proceeded to Assumption Cemetery in the shadow of the Ambassador Bridge highlighting the growth of Sandwich from an outpost to an international entry point. 
Photo Source: https://imglore.com/tag/janeswalkwindsor
Patricia Simone was the Guide for the Assumption Cemetery Jane's Walk. The walking was wet and Patricia pointed out the drains from the Ambassador Bridge barrier wall which floods parts of the cemetery.

Assumption Cemetery: Children's Section: Water Drainage from the drains from the Ambassador Bridge barrier wall: Photo is the property of Debra Honor. Dated May 2019; Windsor Jane's Walk
Clipped from
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
 06 Nov 1979, Tue  •  Page 5
If you are interetsed in learning more about Cemetery Restoration, Tom Klaasen from Memorial Restorations https://memorialrestorations.com/ & Dr. Bruce Warwick from ckcemeteries.ca offer workshops in how to restore & preserve at risk monuments.

Assumption Cemetery History 

The Assumption Parish cemetery has "occupied several locations throughout its 250 year history, the latest of which is still in use..... The earlier cemetery grounds are poorly documented and could not be pinpointed. They exist in the general areas north of Assumption Church in association with Vista Place and Patricia Road. Some parts of these burial areas may be intact where buildings have not been constructed over them" Source: 2005 Windsor City Archaeological Master Plan
An Al Roach article clipped from
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
 14 May 1976, Fri  •  Page 25

Google Maps: Assumption Cemetery
Where to Find Assumption Cemetery Records: 

If you have ancestors buried in Assumption cemetery or suspect that you do, I suggest that you start your search at the CanGenWeb or Find A Grave links below. 

My Denis Moynahan (1823-1865) is NOT found there so I had to search through the Assumption church records (in french and latin). These are available by purchase (Essex OGS, ancestry.ca) or they are avilable for free at Family Search, the Ontario Archives and at the Ontario Historicaal Sociiety webpage all linked below:
    • Baptisms 1761-1885
    • Baptisms, marriages, burials 1760-1910
    • Baptisms, marriages, burials 1767-1771
    • Baptisms, marriages, burials 1772-1808
    • Baptisms, marriages, burials 1808-1820
    • Baptisms, marriages, burials 1820-1838
    • Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1852
    • Baptisms, marriages, burials 1852-1865
    • Baptisms, marriages, burials 1865-1885
    • Baptisms, marriages, burials 1886-1905
    • Baptisms, marriages, burials 1906-1911
    • Confirmations 1801
    • Confirmations 1884-1910
    • Marriages 1760-1767
Family Search: Assumption Cemetery: https://www.familysearch.org/search/image/index?owc=M6VY-QNT%3A221001501%2C221169501%2C221169502%3Fcc%3D1927566
Assumption Parish History
Below, I have added some interetsing photos of the church in the early years that I have in a book that I purchased, "Assumption Prish 1767-1967". The History of Assumption Parish can be found online at https://assumptionparish.ca/about/history/
Source: Book: Assumption Parish 1767-1967: Outline History of Assumption Parish

Source: Book: Assumption Park 1767-1967: Outline History of Assumption Parish

Source: Book: Assumption Park 1767-1967: Outline History of Assumption Parish

Thank You to ALL of the Cemetery Volunteers & Workers
 
Thank you to the countless dedicated individuals, doing all they can in cemeteries (despite COVID-19 and current heat waves) to repair, maintain, photograph, transcribe, and publish news and records . We appreciate everything you do. 

People like me, curious about our family history, have directly benefited from your work.


Branch Essex' David Hutchinson
  Spending a Tuesday morning at Heavenly Rest Cemetery cleaning and photographing headstones
so transcriptions can be made.
 Links: 
Assumption Cemetery, Church 
and Assumption Park:
The Non-Protection Of Aboriginal Heritage  
(Burial Sites And Artifacts)


In an ongoing effort to decolonize my personal settler ancestor story telling, I try to take my stories in a way that can become part of the massive truth telling about Canada’s past and present relationship with the original inhabitants of this land.

I am not a historian but I believe that it is urgent and important for genealogists and family historians to include an indigenous narrative or perspective when telling their stories.

In this case, I want to highlight how sacred burial grounds in the same area as Assumption cemetery, have been found, unearthed and contents removed. I believe that these sacred burial grounds deserve the same dignity and respect that we want for our settler ancestors.

Aboriginal burial grounds are the places where Aboriginal peoples buried their dead, 
often along with personal belongings intended to ensure their owners’ safe passage 
into the spirit world. 

Differences Between Burial Grounds and Cemeteries

Provincial statutes define ‘cemeteries’ as lands or places which were set apart and used for the burial or ‘interment’ of human remains. Aboriginal burial grounds and cemeteries were used for the same purpose. However, they differ in a number of ways from European or Euro-Canadian cemeteries. First of all, they are often significantly older.  

Some Aboriginal burial grounds are thousands of years old, whereas the oldest of the European cemeteries were not established in North America until after European arrival in the 1600s.  
Read More: Non-Protection Fact Sheet http://scow-archive.libraries.coop/library/documents/HeritageSitesFacts.pdf
" The burials identified as coming from Old Sandwich or areas near the Ambassador Bridge (One such burial is registered as AbHs-24.) are more than likely associated with the Huron Village that had been situated in the area now occupied by Assumption Church"
"Sandwich Burial (AbHs-24, formerly AbHs-2)The Sandwich burial site consists of two documented Native burials. The work which consisted of monitoring only, was conducted by Alan Douglas in the spring of 1964. In his manuscript report, Douglas suggested that many burials probably still existed under Sandwich Street near the Ambassador Bridge. Burials were noted at Riverside Drive and on University Avenue at Indian Road. Since no map was included in the report, the exact location of these finds is not clear. These burials were probably associated with the Huron Village and burial grounds. For decades, unregistered burials have been noted in this area of the city"

Colonization resulted in the displacement of sacred burial grounds in the Windsor area 
and the personal belongings intended to ensure their owners' safe passage removed 
and taken into private possession.
Two Examples:
Published accounts of the construction of the Great Western Railway describe finding...“...an Indian burying ground when excavating an embankment in the neighbourhood of  Windsor....In the burying-ground were found a large number of Indian ornaments, consisting of silver pins, brooches, bracelets, amber bead necklaces, etc., also, red stone pipes, copper camp kettles, and a variety of articles usually buried with an Indian... A great many skulls, bones and skeletons have been disinterred” (The Canadian Journal, Sept.1852: 25). 
A 1903 newspaper account describes more Native burials of similar time periods.“While excavating for a new siding near the waterworks one day last week, two skeletons were exhumed...A double handful of wampum beads were found with the bones, and a small triangular bit of blue stone, with a hole bored through it, had been suspended around the man’s neck...It is now in the possession of Trainmaster Doyle, of the Wabash, at St. Thomas. In addition to these things a small spoon of either gold or silver... An old woman living in the neighbourhood said she had heard her grandfather say that the spot where the skeletons were found was in olden days a favourite camping and burying ground of the Indians.” (The Evening Record, 1903)
Clipped from
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
 06 Jun 1964, Sat  •  Page 42
Clipped from
The Windsor Star
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
 06 Jun 1964, Sat  •  Page 42

2005 Windsor City Archaeological Master Plan
"Of the 44 unregistered sites identified within the Windsor area, nine contain the remains of a least a single individual. The majority contain evidence of multiple burials. .... The burials identified as coming from Old Sandwich or areas near the Ambassador Bridge (One such burial is registered as AbHs-24.) are more than likely associated with the Huron Village that had been situated in the area now occupied by Assumption Church"
Source: https://www.citywindsor.ca/residents/planning/Plans-and-Community-Information/Know-Your-Community/Heritage-Planning/Documents/Windsor%20Archaeological%20Master%20Plan.pdf

 See Also:






 
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2 comments:

  1. UnknownOctober 21, 2021 at 2:06 PM

    Hi Cindi, I'm a reporter with CBC Windsor and I'm looking into the Assumption Cemetery. This was such an informative post and I was hoping to speak with you to pick your brain about the area. My email is jennifer.lagrassa@cbc.ca if you'd like to reach out so we can chat further. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CindiOctober 21, 2021 at 3:03 PM

      Hello Jennifer,

      Thanks so much for contacting me through my blog and I am so glad you enjoyed my blog post on the Assumption cemetery.

      Truth be told, that summer, I was in close contact with Patricia Simone, Debra Honor and many others who had their feet on the ground working at Assumption. I live in Ottawa and have roots in the Windsor area.

      I hoped to collect their information, embellish with some of my own research and make a permanent online record of my findings.

      I would be happy to connect you to those great folks doing all the work to preserve the history

      Thanks again for your kind remarks
      Cindi Moynahan-Foreman

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