Essex County Midwife - Mary (Brennan) Moynahan

My 2nd great-grandmother Mary (Brennan) Moynahan (1841-1926) was a midwife in Essex county, Ontario according to the oral history passed down to me by my first cousins (twice removed) Bernard Broderick (1916-1992), Evelyn (Lennon) Janice (1916-2009) and Genevieve (Broderick) Wheeler (1908-2003).

Mary (Brennan) Moynahan (on the right) with unidentified woman

In a letter dated the 23rd of April 1985 to her cousin Joe Finn, Evelyn (Lennon) Janice said that she had heard from her other cousin Genevieve (Broderick) Wheeler (in California) who had lived with Jeremiah and Mary (Brennan) Moynahan (and Aunt Nellie Moynahan) for four years (likely following the death of her mother in 1919). Genvieve told Evelyn that, "grandma acted as the local midwife".

Source: Letter from Evelyn (Lennon) Janice to Joseph Finn dated 1985

This blog post describes my search for proof that the stories handed down were true and that 2nd GG Mary (Brennan) Moynahan was an Essex county midwife in the 1800s

Ontario Township Papers For Matthew Moynahan (1770-1860)

Piecing together the story of our ancestors has become increasingly more convenient as many records are digitized and made available online.

The Archives of Ontario's most popular collections have been digitized by Family Search International and made available for free.

Thanks to the Kent Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, when I reviewed the Ontario Township Papers for Sandwich, Ontario, I discovered 23 pages of correspondence dated 1835 to 1848 from my 4th Great Grandfather Matthew Moynahan (1770-1860)

Randy Majors "Ancestor Search" Yields Surprising Results

Randy Majors created an online tool called "Ancestor Search" for genealogists and it is one of the BEST search engines that I regularly use and one that often yields surprising results. 

Today, while using "Ancestor Search", I found another Broderick family history researcher (at Irelandxo) AND an obituary for my 3rd great-grandfather Michael Broderick (1801-1889) for the very first time.

Those two findings inspired this blog post in the hope that this method can help others locate their ancestors as well.

My May 2021 Webinar: "Finding Our Female Ancestors"

In May 2021, I was invited by the Essex Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society to present a webinar entitled "Finding Your Female Ancestors". This one hour presentation is now available on the Essex OGS Ont YouTube channel.

Link to Webinar on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KisqCSGOsZU

Below is a brief outline of my remarks as well as links to the two handouts that I created that include worksheets and links to resources.

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)

52 Ancestors No. 49: Last Will and Testament of Martin Broderick (1831-1915)

I found this interesting newspaper reference to my 2nd great-grandfather Martin Broderick in the 1919 Border Cities Star.

It mentions my great grandfather John Moynahan (1866-1933) and my 2nd great-uncle Detective Leo William Broderick (1879-1920).

John and Leo were executors to my 2nd great-grandfather Martin Broderick's will and had applied to the Ontario Supreme Court for the title to a piece of land in Sandwich West under the "Quieting Titles Act".

Actions under the Quieting Title Act are "to finally resolve competing claims over the same parcel of land." and "offers the most definitive resolution of title problems." (Source: Adverse Possession: Pulling Out All the Stops; N.S. Barristers' Society)

Sandwich West, Essex County, Otario 

1877

The map below shows the location of Martin's 100 acres in Sandwich West township (Essex County, Ontario) in 1877. Note also a J. Broderick and a  P. Broderick in the bottom right of the map photo. This particular triangular area is the present day location of a "ghost road" or a "disputed road" as it has historically been known.

Source: Ontario Historical County Maps Project; Essex County Map (1877)
http://maps.library.utoronto.ca/hgis/countymaps/essex/index.html

Ghost Road ~ Disputed Road

The so-called "Disputed Road runs north south from a point just south of Normandy Street until it reaches the Middle Side Road boundary with Amherstburg. The road is one side of a triangle of land, with the other side being Huron Church Road."

Sandwich West, Essex County, Ontario
Source: http://www.internationalmetropolis.com/2008/03/25/ghost-road/

"Today carved up by the Expressway and shopping plazas, the road terminates at Dougall and picks up again behind the roundhouse centre for a short distance. The line in red shows the original path of the road, overlaid on a current aerial view." (Source: http://www.internationalmetropolis.com/2008/03/25/ghost-road/)

Sandwich West, Essex County, OntarioSource: http://www.internationalmetropolis.com/2008/03/25/ghost-road/

I came across an interesting blog post on the International Metropolis website about an old Ghost Road in the vicinity. http://www.internationalmetropolis.com/2008/03/25/ghost-road/

In the comment section, Alice wrote, 

"I was told that two brothers were fighting over the land a long time ago hense the name of the street “disputed”. Is that the real story? who knows? maybe the Broderick family would know since they were the owners at the time. As far as I know they are still around."

Could this be related? I am not at all certain. In fact I doubt that this story has anything to do with Martin Broderick (but possibly J. and/or P. Broderick?). I do find it interesting that property in this small section of Sandwich West is the source of so many historical title challenges.

Source: http://www.internationalmetropolis.com/2008/03/25/ghost-road/

And when we see abandoned places such as this old ghost road, well, you just never know what story it secrets it holds.

Martin Broderick 

(1831-1915)

Source: Detroit Free Press, Page 11
Tuesday, October 11, 1915

Trivia: The 4th Line in Sandwich West was known as the Broderick Road

Source: Amherstburg Echo 1952

Update: My Grandparent's Funeral Cards

On a recent trip to Michigan I had the joy of meeting with cousins and shared more family history stories. I was so excited when cousin Shelly Coughlin MacKinnon gave me some of her prayer cards (see below) that I have added to my original blog page entitled: "My Grandparent's Funeral Cards"

Michigan Moynahan-Coughlin cousin gathering August 2015

In updating this page, I have also added the prayer card for James Annals Jr that I recently received (and wrote about on "Meeting Distant Cousins from the Annal-Hess Clan") from a distant Annal-Hess cousin (from the Private collection of Graydon Douglas Simpson (son of Nellie Annal))

From the private collection of Graydon Douglas Simpson (son of Nellie Annal)

NEW Additions to Alphabetical Listing

A

ANNALS; James Jr. (1873-1921) 

C

COUGHLIN: Lawrence (1916-1992)

H

HARRISON: Bessie (1913-1978)

L

LANGLOIS: Alexander (-1936)

LANGLOIS: Gretta M. (1910-1968)

LEFAIVE: Viola V (1906-1985)

M

MOYNAHAN: John (1934-1987)

R

RIBARSKY: Joan M (1935-1984)

S

SCHOFIELD: Arthur J (1901-1981)
SCHOFIELD: Margaret (1904-1984)

From the private collection of Shelly Coughlin MacKinnon 

From the private collection of Shelly Coughlin MacKinnon 

52 Ancestors No. 24: My Grandparent's Funeral Cards

 I have decided to devote this week's blog post to the huge collection of mass, funeral and prayer cards that were passed down to me from my grandparents Ernest and Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan.

The majority of the cards are from the Marcotte and Janisse Funeral Directors. The others are: The Kennedy Funeral Home (Essex, Ont); Anderson Funeral Service; James H. Hutton Funeral Home; Van Deweghe Funeral Chapel and Windsor Chapel.

Of the seventy-one cards posted below, only nineteen are confirmed Moynahan-Coughlin ancestors. The majority are friends, neighbours, co-workers and acquaintances of my grandparents and I am posting them here for other Ontario and Michigan genealogists and family historians.

If you find a beloved ancestor amongst the cards below, I would love to know. Please leave a comment below.

Alphabetical Listing

A

ANNALS; James Jr. (1873-1921) *UPDATE*
ANNAL; Mary (-1927)

B

BEAUPRE; Leo A. (-1974)
BEDARD; John (1932-1966)
BEDARD; Simon (1896-1967)
BELANGER; Lionel (Priest) (-1961)
BENETEAU; Charles (-1967)
BLAIN; Marie Blanche (-1967)
BOUCHER; Delia (-1961)
BOUCHER; William (-1962)
BOYLE; Francis E. (-1973)
BRAZEAU; Ben (1909-1965)
BRODERICK, Arthur (1904-1968)
BRODERICK, Clara (-1973)
BRODERICK; Sarah (1881-1945)
BROWN; Josephine (1889-1969)

C

CAPLING; Stella(-1964)
CASEY, Edmond (1880-1962)
COLBI; Marvyn (-1965)
COSTI, Maria (1902-1961)
COUGHLIN: Lawrence (1916-1992)  *UPDATE*
COUGHLIN; William H. (1872-1952)
COUGHLIN; William L. (1947-1971)

D

DEAN, Harry (-1961)
DEMARCE; Elizabeth (1898-1968)
DEMARSE; Mary Madeline (1900-1929)
DESJARLAIS; Frank (-1966)
DROUILLARD; Matilda (1899-1973)
DUFOUR; Leo A. (1902-1974)

F

FIELDS; Clarence J. (-1967)
FLANNERY (-1964)
FRANCISCO; Irma (-1971)

G

GIGNAC; Francis A. (-1963)
GRANDCHAMP, Alexanderine (-1962)
GRIMMETT; Edward H. (1897-1967)

H

HARRISON: Bessie (1913-1978) *UPDATE*

I

IVERINA, Anthony (-1976)

K

KELLY; Patrick O. (-1957)
KUCA; John (1896-1967)

L

LACOMBE; George A. (-1967)
LACROIX; Alphonse (1866-1952)
LACROIX; Eugene (-1967)
LAFORET; Marie Louise (-1961)
LAJOIE, Margaret (-1964)

LANGLOIS: Alexander (-1936) *UPDATE*

LANGLOIS: Gretta M. (1910-1968) *UPDATE*

LARSH; Harold (-1969)
LAUZON; Calixte (1890-1969)
LEFAIVE: Viola V (1906-1985) *UPDATE*
LENNON; Edward (-1960)
LESPERANCE; Delima A. (1885-1964)
LUCIER; Lillian (1901-1962)
LYONS; Cora (1888-1974)
LYONS; Francis (1878-1965)
LYONS; Mary Ellen (-1961)

M

MacDONALD; Larry (-1966)
McKROW; Catherine (-1961)
MONFORTON; Bernadette (-1970)
MOYNAHAN; ERNEST (1900-1974)
MOYNAHAN; GERALD (1908-1961)
MOYNAHAN; John (1866-1933)
MOYNAHAN: John (1934-1987) *UPDATE*
MOYNAHAN; Mary Ann (1869-1960)
MYERS; Naploeon (1916-1970)

N

NIEDERREITHER; Rudolph (1904-1967)
NOUVION; Marie E. (1891-1968)
NUNN; Rose May (1911-1961)

O

OGG; Dean (1960-1966)
OUELLETTE; Esdras (1905-1974)

P

PAJOT; Lea (1903-1968)
PAQETTE; Georgina M (-1972)
PERRAULT; Annie Marie (1900-1962)
PERROTT; Mary (1897-1965)

R

REED-LEWIS; Leo E. (Priest) (1921-1962)
RIBARSKY: Joan M (1935-1984) *UPDATE*

S

SCHOFIELD: Arthur J (1901-1981) *UPDATE*
SCHOFIELD: Margaret (1904-1984) *UPDATE*
SHANNON; Thomas (-1960)
SINASAC; Agnes (1894-1962)
SMITH; Orval J. (1893-1968)
STEER; Mary J (1898-1963)

Links

• Ottawa Valley Irish - Funeral Prayer Cards
• Exploring Funeral Home Record, Obits and Memorial Cards
• Prayer, funeral cards can be helpful in genealogy search
• Blog: Funeral Cards and Genealogy
• Catholic Funeral Cards in Genealogical Research 
• Have You Used this Unusual Genealogy Resource? (Funeral cards)

52 Ancestors No. 25: My Mystery "Homestead Veranda" Photograph

This is my twenty-first of 52 blog posts for the 2015 edition of the 52 Ancestors challenge. I have been blogging my family history for the #52Ancestors challenge since it began in 2014.

#52Ancestors asks bloggers to "have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. 

This week's theme is "The Old Homestead" and I have chosen this beautiful mystery photograph that was in my grandmother Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan's photo collection.

I have not yet identified the ancestors in this photo but I feel fairly confident in saying it is a home located somewhere in Essex county, Ontario.

It is not in the best of condition and shows a woman and two young girls sitting on a lovely veranda and a young boy sitting on his bike in what is most likely Windsor or Wallaceburg, Ontario. Or perhaps Detroit?

The mystery woman with two young girls.

A young boy on a bike.

The woman is holding a newspaper on her lap.

This young girl is holdinga doll.

This young girl has a kitten on her lap.

It would be wonderful if any cousins recognized this family and could help me identify these ancestors. Or if there are photography and/or fashion experts who might be able to help me identify a date.

Until then, this is a treasured photograph of a lovely family on the beautiful veranda of their home

Grateful for CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project

I have immense gratitude for the creators of and volunteers at CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project.

On June 25, CanGenWeb published a cemetery update that included cemeteries in Kent and Essex counties in Ontario. Thanks to this update, I found a Kent county Moynahan, Timothy Moynahan's (1848-1925) headstone in Essex county's St Francis Xavier Cemetry:

St Francis Xavier Cemetery

I also located a good number of Moynahans that are not in my ancestry.ca Moynahan family tree!

The Cemetery Project debuted in 2004 as a volunteer project of CanadaGenWeb and currently offers a free and searchable listing of over 18,000 known Canadian cemeteries.

 This volunteer built database offers a variety of information geared towards genealogists:

• Names, locations & histories of cemeteries 
• Links to repositories & genealogy organizations that offer further information and/or assistance 
• Lookup offers, transcripts, indexes, and photos compiled by volunteers.

More Links

• Finding lost Cemeteries, Lost Plots, and Lost Monuments
• Chatham-Kent Cemeteries Restoration / Preservation Project Team.
• CanadaGenWeb Cemetery Project Facebook page
• Unusual Cemetery Terms
• Chatham-Kent Museum Collections
• Tilbury East cemeteries
• Middlesex Ontario Cemeteries
• Essex Ontario Cemeteries
• Kent Ontario Cemeteries

Old Photograph of Thatcher Granite and Marble Monuments in Chatham
Photograph from Chatham-Kent Museum Collections