Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901
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In reply to:
Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901
Jacqi Stevens 2/19/04
Jacqui,
This family isn't mine, but a related one, so here are the answers to your questions from a Hunt descendant who is a correspondent of mine:
"As already noted, Mary or Maria Balfe was the oldest child of Patrick Balfe and Margaret Ronan, born 1866 in Kitley township, Leeds Co. Ontario.
Her father, Patrick, was the eldest child and only son of Thomas Balfe and Bridget Britten, born at sea off the coast of Newfoundland July 22, 1842 as his parents were in transit from Ireland to British North America. There is some speculation but no proof that his parents came from Co. Wexford. Patrick died Sept. 23, 1902, age 60, and is buried in St. Philip Neri cemetery at Bellamy Lake, near the small town of Toledo in Leeds and Grenville County North, in eastern Ontario, north of Brockville.
Her mother was Margaret Ronan, daughter of Willian Ronan and Ellen Doyle. She was also born c.1842/3 in Ireland. She died in 1885 and is also buried in St. Philip Neri cemetery at Bellamy Lake, age 42 years.
The surname in census records is spelled a variety of ways, from Balf, to Bolf, to Balph and Bolph, to Baulf and even Bawlf or Bobolph.
Patrick Balfe's mother Brigid Britten Balfe must have died by 1851...as in the census of that year young Patrick is living in the home of Michael Shanks and his wife, Mary Balfe (a sister or cousin perhaps to Patrick's father Thomas?). (Michael Shanks had first appeared in Kitley censuses in 1839. There had been work on the Rideau Canal in the previous 15 years, and it is thought that one of the older Balphs -- a Michael perhaps, or a Nicholas -- had worked on the canal...so it's safe to consider that what brought the Balfes to that area was Rideau Canal work initial, followed by family chain migration.) In 1851, Patrick's younger sister Ann (b.c. 1843/4) was living with widow Mary Burns. Ann must have died in the 1850s, because she disappears from area censuses by 1861.
Patrick's father Thomas Balfe re-married in the mid-1850s, to a Margaret Ann Hunt. They had a family of their own and moved to Minnesota in the 1870s.
In 1861, Patrick Balfe is living with his father Thomas Balfe and new wife Margaret Ann Hunt and their three young children. Strangely, it also appears that the same Patrick is listed in the Michael Shanks household!
Patrick Balfe and Margaret Ronan were married Sept. 10, 1864.
By 1871, Patrick Balfe and wife Margaret and young children Maria, Helen (appears as Ellen in the 1871 census), and Michael were living in Kitley, and Patrick was listed as a farmer. Living on Concession 2, lot 12, with the family then is Mary Balfe Shanks b. 1797 (which raises again the possibility that she was closely related to Patrick's father, Thomas Balfe, who was born )
Look in the 1881 Canadian Census under the name Baulf in Kitley township, Leeds and Grenville North, Ontario and you will see the entire family listed. You can access the Canadian census on-line through the LDS Family Search web-site.
By 1891, Patrick Balfe, widower, and some of his children seem to have moved to the neighbouring town of Smith's Falls, Ontario (across the Rideau River from Kitley township, in Lanark County). He was listed as a labourer in the census, with Nellie, age. 20, Dressmaker, Maggie 15 and Susanna, age 10.
Annie Balfe (b. c. 1873, sister of Mary/Maria) was married Sept. 1900 to James McGillivray, son of Wm. McGillivray and Margaret Rathy, according to St. Philip Neri parish records, Kitley township, Leeds Co.
Son Michael Balfe seems to have married by about then, too, to an Elizabeth O'Meara; their son Mark b. 6 Dec. 1902 was baptized according to St. Philip Neri parish records on 24 Dec. 1902. He was maried at Smith's Falls (St. Francis de Sales most likely) 2/6/1934 to Loretta Boes/Bowes. Another son,Thomas Balfe, was born to Michael Balfe and Elizabeth O'Meara in April 1904. A daughter, Lucy Balfe, was born in July 1906. And a son, Edward, was born in August 1909. All according to St. Philip Neri records.
Hope this helps! You may be able to learn more through searching the Kitley township St. Philip Neri parish records yourself, and/or those of St.Francis de Sales (Smith's Falls), through Canadian census records and the Leeds and Grenville Genealogical Society. http://www.rootsweb.com/~onleedsg/index.htmhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~onleedsg/index.htm"
Anne
More Replies:
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Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901
Jacqi Stevens 2/21/04
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Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901
Anne Burgess 2/21/04
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Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901
Jacqi Stevens 2/21/04
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Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901
Anne Burgess 2/22/04
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Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901
Jane Ward 6/29/04
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Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901
Jacqi Stevens 5/07/05
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Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901
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Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901
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Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901
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Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901
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Re: Mary BALFE fr Canada to Chicago, m TULLY 1901