52 Ancestors #42: Trick or Treating .

No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge: "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 post is about Hallowe'en love through the generations.

I love that I have photographs of my grandmother Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan (1902-1992) dressing up for Hallowe'en! It's a family tradition that has been loved through all the generations. My best guess for dating these two photos would be between the mid 1910 to the mid 1920s. That's roughly one hundred years ago!

The practice of Guising at Halloween in North America is first recorded in 1911, where a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario reported children going "guising"  .. According to the Atlantic, trick or treating is a relatively recent phenomenon starting around the 1940s.

Rhea Fern (Coughlin) Moynahan dressed up (wearing a wig) for Hallowe'en

Could this costume be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz?
This photo would have pre-dated the famous Judy Garland movie (1939)
but not the 1900 illustrated book?

Close up of "Dorothy"

Rhea Fern (Coughlin) Moynahan dressed up (wearing a wig) for Hallowe'en II

Above, Rhea (in an earlier photo) is dressed as a maid.

Trick or Treating 70's style

The photo above was taken in the 1970s.

It is me (far left) with my sister and brother

Back of photo says: "

Sergeant Frisk and the two cooler queens - Droopy Pants and Truthful.

 (Clearly Kelly was truthful)

Newspaper clipping of my brother and sister dressed up for Hallowe'en around 1967
"WITCHES AND GOBLINS who want a trick or treat handout this Hallowe'en are welcome at the Lakeshore Fire Halls - firemen have laid in a supply of treats. Shown here from left to right are: Capt. Bristes, Ricky Lang, Lori Lang and John Lang of Elma St. and Kelly and Patrick Moynahan of Melville Ave."

LINKS

Haunted Windsor and Essex County
CBC Digital Archives: The Evolution of Halloween

HALLOWE'EN NEWS

1910

Essex Free Press Oct 28, 1910

1911

Essex Free Press

1912

Essex Free Press

1913

Essex Free Press November 7, 1913

 RHEA COUGHLIN'S PHOTO ALBUM

Photo Album belonging to Rhea Coughlin

Hallowe'en Page

52 Ancestors #41: Coughlin Golden Anniversary 1949

No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge: "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 blog post is dedicated to a wedding celebration, a mother's note of thanks and advice to "Always stick together".

Windsor Star (original) November 26, 1949

"The celebration dinner was held at the home of their son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs Ernest Moynahan of Marentette avenue who will be celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary the same day."

The reception was held at 1025 Hickory road...."Pouring tea will be Mrs. Mary Brick, Mrs. William Boucher and Mrs. Philip Schwemler."

"They were married by the Rev. Father Roan in Our Lady of Help Church on November 27, 1899."

Here are some photos from that day:

William Henry and Elizabeth (Annal) Coughlin

The Coughlin Clan

The Coughlin sisters

The Moynahans

A Note of Thanks 
"Always Stick Together"

Letter to Ernie , Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan and grandchildren thanking them
for the Golden Anniversary celebrations

52 Ancestors #40: My GG Mary (Broderick) Moynahan

No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge: "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 post is about my great grandmother (GG) Mary Anne Elizabeth (Broderick) Moynahan.

.

Pictured left to right: Cindi Moynahan,
great grandmother Mary (Broderick) Moynahan and Lori Moynahan.
539 Campbell Ave. Windsor, Ontario (circa 1959)

I have four great grandmothers:

• Mary Anne Elizabeth Broderick (1869-1960)
• Elizabeth Annal (1884-1953)
• Effie Alberta Tomlin (1885-1947)
• Florence Mary Curd (1886-1915)

Great grandmother Moynahan was the the only GG alive when I was born and I am so grateful that I had a chance to meet her.

Birth certificate

Mary was the daughter of Martin Broderick and Mary Hussey

Mary Broderick on her wedding day 10 May 1898 with John Moynahan

The children of John and Mary

John and Mary

Mary (Broderick) Moynahan

Mary (Broderick) Moynahan

Rear (L to R) Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan, Bernard Moynahan, Mary (Broderick) Moynahan
Front (L to R) Patricia Moynahan, John Moynahan, Ernest Jr Moynahan

I love that she had this photograph taken with her dog!

Windsor Star
December 21, 1960
(Page 8 of 60)

Obituary

Funeral card

LINKS

Mary's Husband John Moynahan

Mary's Father: Martin Broderick

Mary's Mother: Mary (Hussey) Broderick

52 Ancestor's #39: Poughkeepsie Brick Wall (Coughlin and Duffy)

No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge: "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 blog post is devoted to my Poughkeepsie ancestors and the brick wall that I have encountered.

My only evidence that ancestors lived in Poughkeepsie are the documents of my Great Great Grandfather William Henry Coughlin. (1872-1952)

1924 baptismal document from the Church of St. Peter

Part of the challenge of course is the various spelling of the surname Coughlin/Coughlan/Coghlan etc

Naturalization Documents

All of William Henry Coughlin's naturalization documents show Poughkeepsie as his place of birth as well.

1915 Naturalization Inquiry

In 1940 William Henry Coughlin wished "to renew his old Naturalization papers so he may get a passport to visit relatives in the States" (He had been in Canada for 42 years)

1940 Naturalization Documents

I have been unable to locate any records whatsoever regarding William Henry Coughlin's parents: Michael Coughlin and Margaret Duffy or his siblings (not mentioned in his obituary 1952).

Miscellaneous Poughkeepsie Clues

Front of post card

Back of  post card
John Coughlin?

52 Ancestors #38: Mary Brennan: Maidstone Midwife

Until well into this century, most Canadians were born at home and the only professional hand guiding their arrival into the world was the midwife's. This blog post is about my Great Great Grandmother Mary (Brennan) Moynahan who was a midwife in Essex county, Ontario.

Mary was born in Ireland in 1841. When she was twelve years old (1853) she came with her parents John Brennan (1819-1881) and Catherine (Bowler) Brennan (1819-1891) to Canada and they settled in Sandwich South.

L to R: Jeremiah, John, Ellen (Nellie) and Mary (Brennan) Moynahan

Mary Brennan
b: 1841 Ireland
d:21 June 1926
Essex, Ontario

In November 1863, Mary married Jeremiah ("Jerry") Moynahan.

• In the 1871 census, the family (John, Mary and children Ellen and John) lived in Sandwich East
• In the 1881 census the family (John, Mary and children Ellen, John, Margaret and Mary) lived in Sandwich East. (John and Catherine Brennan are in the index as well)

Mary and Jerry had nine children.

Jerry and Mary resided on their farm on Talbot Street ("a mile west of the Cross") from 1863 to 1921 when "with their daughter Nellie they moved to Windsor". 

When Mary lived in Maidstone she was a midwife to many women according to family oral history.

Here is an interesting video link o midwives: Midwife | Historica Canada

In November 1913, Mary and Jerry celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and the family reunion was recorded in the Essex Free Press.

Essex Free Press
Nov 21, 1913

Copy of undated photo of Mary and Jerry Moynahan on their Maidstone farm

On June 21 , 1926 Mary passed away in the morning at her home at 432 Hall Ave. Windsor

St Mary's cemetry
Maidstone, Ontario

Obituary: Mary Moynahan

52 Ancestors #37: William Moynahan's Amputation

52 Ancestors #36: Fire Chief and Ice Dealer James Annal

Obituary
Wallaceburg News 1921

My great grand uncle James Annal was born August 5, 1873 in Pilkington, Ontario son of James Annal and Mary Hess. He was the brother of my great grandmother Elizabeth (Annal) Coughlin

He died January 8 1921 at 48 years of age. The cause of death was pneumonia.

According to his obituary (source: Wallaceburg News):

"His many friends in Wallaceburg were shocked to hear of the sudden death on Saturday last of Jim Annals Jr. at Walkerville, formerly a highly esteemed resident of Wallaceburg.

Jim who was a powerful, vigorous man of 47 years had visited friends in town only the week previous and was then hale and hearty. Very soon after leaving Wallaceburg he contracted pneumonia and passed away three days later.....

Deceased was formerly an ice dealer in Wallaceburg and an ex-fire chief. On many occassions he took charge of rescuing parties in drowning accidents and was tireless and determined in this worthy work and was most sucessful as his endurance and skill was exceptional. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Jas Annals Sr of Walkerville and was born in Pilkington, Ontario. Besides his sorrowing parents and wife (nee Margaret Wright) he leaves a daughter (Nellie) Mrs. Graydon Simpson of Walkerville and the following sisters and brothers: (Elizabeth) Mrs. William Coughlin, of Ford, Ontario, (Mary) Mrs Lawrence Johnston of Sombra, John of Windsor and William of Walkerville. Deceased was a member of I.O.F.."

Annal & Hess Family Photo

James Annal Jr:  Wallaceburg Fire Chief

Wallaceburg's horse-drawn pumper (circa 1902)
Fire Chief George Pierce and Mayor T.B. Dundas on rig
Source: "Gathering At The Forks"

James Annal Jr: Wallaceburg Ice Dealer

1911 Census: Wallaceburg
James Annal is listed as an ice dealer

"Crystal Ice"
Photo credit: Private collection of Graydon Douglas Simpson (son of Nellie Annal)

The Annal-Hess Men

James, Nellie and Margaret Annal
Photo credit: Private collection of Graydon Douglas Simpson
(son of Nellie Annal)

James, Nellie and Margaret Annal

Photo credit: Private collection of Graydon Douglas Simpson 

(son of Nellie Annal)

Nellie Annal

Photo credit: Private collection of Graydon Douglas Simpson 

(son of Nellie Annal)

Wallaceburg News (circa 1917)

Great amateur film on ice harvesting (1919)

(From Wikipedia article on the Ice Trade)

Burial: Riverview Cemetery  Wallaceburg
Chatham-Kent Municipality Ontario,
Canada Plot: 0992, Space 2

LINKS

• A History of Wallaceburg and Vicinity: 1804 to the Present
• Gathering at the Forks - A History of Wallaceburg (full text pdf)
• Settlement on the Sydenham: Town of Wallaceburg
• Tracing Your Roots in Chatham-Kent
• List of Digitized Resources
• Ice Harvesting 1835-1939
• The Challenge of Keeping Food Fresh and Edible

James and Maggie (Wright) Annal as witnesses to
the marriage of Thomas Harris and Ida Saddle

52 Ancestors #35: The O'Connor Sisters

In Fall 2014, we lost two beautiful cousins to cancer. Karen (1950-2014) and Mary (1952-2014) were sisters in the O'Connor family.(Creighton-Moreland family tree).

Above is a beautiful video tribute prepared for Karen's  funeral and featuring photos of Mary and the entire O'Connor clan.

Our cousins were predeceased by their parents Cyril O'Connor & Claire (Creighton) (1930-1995) and their brother Barry O'Connor (1961-2012).

A sketch I made after hearing of my cousin
Barry O'Connor's death in 2012