The Delaneys of St. Columban

Memories of St. Columban
by Ken Neil

THE DELANEYS OF ST. COLUMBAN
(O DUBHSLAINTE)

FIRST GENERATION

JOHN DELANEY, MY GR GR GR GRANDFATHER, WAS BORN IN THE PARISH OF DUNKERRIN, IRELAND ABOUT 1794. THIS PARISH COMPRISES BOTH OFFALY AND TIPPERARY COUNTIES. THERE HE MARRIED MARGARET CASEY. SHE WAS BORN APPROXIMATELY 1797. THEY HAD SIX CHILDREN, ALL BORN IN IRELAND: JOHN JR, b. 1825, JAMES (MY GR GR GRANDFATHER) b. 1825, ELIZA, b. 1827, MARY, b. 1828, PATRICK, b. 1827 AND DANIEL b. 1832.  

IN 1846, DURING THE “POTATOE FAMINE”, JOHN, MARY AND THE FAMILY IMMIGRATED TO CANADA. DURING MY RESEARCH OF ST. COLUMBAN I DISCOVERED THAT THERE  WERE CASEY FAMILY MEMBERS FARMING IN THE AREA. IT IS QUITE

LIKELY THAT THEY WERE RELATED TO MARGARET. THANKS TO ST. COLUMBAN HISTORIAN, CLAUDE BOURGUIGNON, I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT ON AUGUST 15, 1829 LAWRENCE DELANEY, A FARMER FROM LAC DES DEUX MONTAGNES, PURCHASED LOT #132 IN ST. COLUMBAN FROM PATRICK BRENNEN. SO WE SEE THAT THE DELANEYS WERE ONE OF THE EARLIER SETTLERS. IT APPEARS THAT LAWRENCE AND HIS WIFE BRIDGIT INNES LIVED ON THIS FARM WHICH CONSISTED OF A LOG HOUSE AND A BARN UNTIL IT WAS SOLD JUNE 20, 1848 TO FRANCIS DONAGHUE. BY THAT TIME LAWRENCE DELANEY HAD PASSED AWAY AND BRIDGIT HAD REMARRIED TO WILLIAM MURCHISON OF GLENGARRY. IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT LAWRENCE WAS RELATED TO JOHN, PERHAPS A BROTHER. SO WE CAN SEE ALL OF THE CONNECTIONS THAT LED MY GR GR GR GRANDFATHER AND HIS FAMILY TO THIS AREA.

AT THIS POINT I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DISCOVER THE REASONS FOR LEAVING IRELAND , THEIR METHOD OF TRAVEL NOR THEIR PORT OF ENTRY.  I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THEY ARRIVED AT THE GROSSE ISLE QUARANTINE STATION TO BE EXAMINED AND PROCESSED. FROM THERE THEY PROBABLY TRAVELLED TO MONTREAL WHERE IN ALL LIKELYHOOD THEY STAYED FOR A WHILE TO GET THEIR BEARINGS AND POSSIBLY EARN SOME MONEY BEFORE MOVING ON.

THE FIRST RECORD THAT I LOCATED WAS THAT OF THE MARRIAGE OF JAMES DELANEY TO BRIDGIT KELLY OF ST. COLUMBAN, OCTOBER 28, 1851.THIS ALSO SHOWED THAT JOHN AND MARGARET  BELONGED TO ST. ANDREW’S PARISH.

I SOON DISCOVERED THAT ST. ANDREW’S WAS IN FACT ST. ANDRE’S, A FRENCH PARISH NEAR CARILLON. THE 1851 CENSUS FOR THAT AREA LISTED JOHN, MARGARET AND THEIR SONS PATRICK AND DANIEL LIVING IN THE VILLIAGE OF ST ANDRE. THE THREE MEN WERE LISTED AS BLACKSMITHS.

IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE WERE MANY IRISH IN THIS AREA. OBVIOUSLY, BY THIS TIME ALL OF THE FARM LAND IN ST. COLUMBAN THAT HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE NEW IRISH IMMIGRANTS BY THE SULSPICIANS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF BISHOP PHELAN HAD BEEN ALLOTTED. AS A RESULT MANY OF THESE PEOPLE MIGRATED THROUGHOUT DEUX MONTAGNES, TERREBONNE, ARGENTEUIL AND OTHER COUNTIES. IN ST. ANDRE WE SEE MANY OF THE SAME FAMILY NAMES AS IN ST. COLUMBAN: BROPHY, FUNCHION, FITZGERALD, KENNA, CASEY, ETC. THESE ARE ALSO COMMON NAMES IN OFFALY AND TIPPERARY COUNTIES IN IRELAND.

ARGENTEUIL WOULD HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY INTERESTING FOR THESE IMMIGRANTS AS THE LAND HERE WAS MUCH MORE SUITABLE FOR FARMING.

NOT EVERYONE COULD FARM THOUGH AND IN THAT RESPECT THERE WERE PLENTY OF LOCAL PROJECTS WHERE MEN COULD GET DECENT PAYING, ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT DANGEROUS JOBS. THERE WAS A RAILWAY BEING BUILT TO OTTAWA. A CANAL AT GRENVILLE WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THE CARRILLON DAM WAS BEING BUILT. LUMBERING WAS A BIG INDUSTRY, BOTH HARVESTING AND PROCESSING. MANUFACTURING OF VARIOUS PRODUCTS WAS STARTING UP ACROSS THE AREA, ESPECIALLY IN  LACHUTE.  AS WE CAN SEE IT WAS A VIBRANT SPHERE OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.  I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE DELANEYS, BEING  BLACKSMITHS,  WOULD HAVE BEEN IN GREAT DEMAND.

IN THE SAME CENSUS ELIZA DELANEY IS SHOWN WITH HER HUSBAND JOHN FITZGERALD AND THEIR CHILDREN LIVING ON THEIR FARM IN THE AREA. ON THE NEXT FARM IS THE RECENTLY MARRIED JAMES DELANEY AND HIS WIFE BRIDGET KELLY.

BY 1858, JOHN AND MARGARET WERE REGISTERED IN THE CHURCH RECORDS AS BELONGING TO ST. COLUMBAN’S PARISH. IN THE CENSUS OF 1861 THEY ARE LIVING WITH DANIEL, HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THEY'RE MID TO LATE SIXTIES. SOME TIME AFTER THIS JOHN SR., MARGARET, DANIEL AND HIS FAMILY MUST HAVE LEFT ST. COLUMBAN, AS THERE ARE NO RECORDS OF THEM IN THE CENSUS’ OF 1871, 1881 NOR IN 1891.

THE CENSUS OF 1881 DOES SHOW JOHN’S SON JAMES, HIS WIFE BRIDGIT KELLY AND THEIR CHILDREN LIVING ON THEIR FARM, WHICH IS SITUATED ON THE MILLES SIDE OF ST. COLUMBAN. THERE IS NO MENTION OF JOHN OR MARGARET. I HAVE REVIEWED ALL THE CHURCH RECORDS OF BOTH ST COLUMBAN AND ST. ANDRE AND THERE ARE NO RECORDS OF JOHN’S DEATH NOR OF MARGARET’S DEATH. THEY ARE NOT BURIED IN THE ST. COLUMBAN CEMETERY NOR IN THE ST ANDRE CEMETERY.

RECENT RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY MAY HAVE MOVED TO ANOTHER ST. COLUMBAN’S PARISH, IN PERTH, ONTARIO. I HAVE FOUND A JOHN DELANEY AND HIS WIFE MARGARET CASEY BURIED IN THE CEMETERY THERE.  ALSO IN THE CENSUS’  FOR THE AREA WE AGAIN SEE FAMILIAR NAMES : RYAN, BROPHY, KENNA ETC.

 SECOND GENERATION

 JOHN DELANEY JR.  WAS BORN AROUND 1825. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM HIS BIRTH DATE NOR AM I 100% SURE THAT HE IS ACTUALLY JOHN SR.’S SON. I CANNOT FIND ANY DEFINITIVE RECORD LINKING THEM ALTHOUGH CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE WOULD INDICATE THAT HE IS.  I DO KNOW THAT HE CAME FROM IRELAND ON OR BEFORE 1844 AT THE AGE OF NINETEEN OR TWENTY. PERHAPS IT IS HE WHO EMIGRATED FIRST AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY FOLLOWED. I ALSO KNOW THAT HE WAS A BLACKSMITH LIKE JOHN SR.

HE MARRIED MARY BROPHY IN ST. ANDRE’S ON JUNE 2, 1844. SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM BROPHY DECEASED AND MARGERET BERRIGAN.  THESE PEOPLE WERE FAMILY FRIENDS OF THE DELANEYS. IN THE CENSUS OF 1851 JOHN JR. AND MARY ARE LIVING IN ST. ANDRE’S WITH THEIR CHILDREN MICHAEL AGE SEVEN, JOHN AGE FIVE AND MARGARET AGE 3. SHORTLY AFTER THIS TIME MARY DIED.

ON JANUARY 1, 1854 JOHN MARRIED FOR THE SECOND TIME. HIS BRIDE WAS MARGARET MCDONALD, THE UNDER AGE DAUGHTER OF PATRICK MCDONALD, DECEASED, AND MARY KANE, ALSO DECEASED, OF THE VILLAGE OF ST. ANDRE. THE WITNESSES WERE ROSE MCDONALD, LEON POITRAS AND JOHN’S BROTHER PATRICK. ON OCTOBER 20, 1854 THEY HAD A SON JAMES. HE WAS BAPTISED NOVEMBER 16. THE SPONSORS WERE LEON BERTRAND AND MARY FLANNEGAN.

JAMES DELANEY, MY GR. GR. GRANDFATHER WAS BORN SEPTEMBER 10, 1825 IN DUNKERRIN, OFFALY/TIPPERARY COUNTY, IRELAND. HE ARRIVED IN CANADA AROUND 1846 ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY.

IN THE CENSUS OF 1851 JAMES IS LIVING BY HIMSELF ON A SMALL FARM IN ST. ANDRE. 

ON OCTOBER 10, 1851 HE MARRIED BRIDGIT KELLY, DAUGHTER OF PATRICK KELLY AND CATHERINE HEALY OF ST. COLUMBAN. FR. FALVEY  WAS THE PRIEST AND THE SPONSORS WERE JOHN DELANEY AND ROBERT CHARLES DONOVAN. TOGETHER JAMES AND BRIDGET HAD NINE CHILDREN. THE FIRST SIX WERE BORN ON THE FARM IN ST. ANDRE, MARY b. 1852, JAMES JR. b. 1853, CATHERINE b. 1856, MARGARET b. 1857, BRIDGET b. 1860, ELLEN b. 1862 ; AND THE OTHERS IN ST. COLUMBAN, ANN b. 1864,  PATRICK DANIEL b. 1867 AND JOHN b. 1871.

IN THE CENSUS OF 1861, JAMES, BRIDGET AND THEIR FOUR CHILDREN ARE LIVING ON THEIR FARM IN ST ANDRE, IN A ONE STOREY LOG CABIN. ALTHOUGH IT IS A SMALL FARM IT APPEARS THAT JAMES WAS A VERY HARD WORKER AND HE MADE IT SUCCESSFUL. THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THEIR ASSETS ACCORDING TO THE AGRICULTURAL CENSUS:

  • 20 ACRES  - 18 CULTIVATED
  • 14 ACRES IN CROPS
  • 4 ACRES IN PASTURE
  • 2 ACRES WOODED

CASH VALUE OF FARM $ 400.00

CASH VALUE OF EQUIPMENT $ 10.00

  • 8 ACRES OF OATS
  • 50 BUSHELS
  • 1 ACRE OF BUCKWHEAT
  • 10 BUSHELS
  • 1 ACRE OF POTATOES
  • 10 BUSHELS
  • 6 BUSHELS CARROTS
  • 2 TONS OF HAY
  • 2 HEIFERS
  • 2 MILKING COWS
  • 1 HORSE OVER 3 YEARS

VALUE $ 20.00

  • 1 PIG

TOTAL VALUE OF LIVESTOCK  $ 55.00

  • 90 LBS. OF BUTTER
  • 1½ BARRELS OF PORK

SOMETIME AFTER ELLEN’S BIRTH JAMES SOLD HIS FARM IN ST. ANDRE. ON MAY 2nd, 1863, BEFORE NOTARY AUGUSTUS MACKAY (#7046) HE PURCHASED LAND IN ST. COLUMBAN FROM JAMES BLANCHFIELD. THERE WERE NO BUILDINGS ON THE SITE. THIS LAND WAS LOCATED ON THE MILLE ISLE SIDE OF ST. COLUMBAN. I VISITED THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE FARM. IT IS SITUATED ON FORTIER STREET JUST OFF OF COTE ST. NICHOLAS. IT IS HILLY AND ROCKY TERRAIN AND MUCH OF IT HAS REVERTED BACK TO FORREST. THERE ARE SOME HOMES THERE AND AT THE END OF THE ROAD THERE IS A SMALL LAKE, QUITE PICTURESQUE. IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THIS WAS ONCE A SUCCESSFUL FARM. I ALSO NOTED THAT ON THE DAY OF MY VISIT, IT  WAS  WARM, WITH A SLIGHT BREEZE, QUITE PLEASANT. WHEN I GOT HOME TO MY SURPRISE MY NECK WAS COVERED WITH BLACK FLY BITES. THIS AFTER ONLY A FEW MOMENTS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I CAN’T IMAGINE THE HARDSHIPS THAT THESE SETTLERS ENDURED. 

THE CENSUS OF 1871 SHOWS JAMES, HIS WIFE BRIDGET AND SEVEN OF HIS CHILDREN; MARY AGE 19, JAMES AGE 18, CATHERINE AGE 15, MARGARET AGE 14, ELLEN AGE 8, ANN AGE 5 AND PATRICK AGE 4. MISSING IS BRIDGET WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN 11 YEARS OLD. I DON’T HAVE ANY OTHER RECORD OF HER SO I WONDER IF SHE MAY HAVE DIED. THE CENSUS SHOWS THE FARM CONSISTING OF 90 ACRES OF LAND, ONE HOUSE, ONE BARN AND ONE PLOUGH. THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF HIS ASSETS ACCORDING TO THE AGRICULTURAL CENSUS:

  • 32 ACRES IMPROVED
  • ¼ ACRE IN GARDEN AND ORCHARD
  • 400 BUSHELS OF OATS
  • 15 BUSHELS BUCKWHEAT
  • 10 BUSHELS CORN
  • 5 ACRES OF POTATOES
  • 700 BUSHELS POTATOES
  • 100 BUSHELS TURNIPS 
  • 25 ACRES OF HAY
  • 40 TONS OR BUNDLES OF HAY
  • 200 LBS. OF MAPLE SUGAR
  • 1 MILKING COW
  • 1 HORNED CATTLE
  • 3 SHEEP
  • 1 SWINE
  • 45 LBS. BUTTER
  • 7 LBS OF WOOL
  • 9 YDS. HOME MADE CLOTH AND FLANNEL
  • 7 CORD OF TAN BARK
  • 15 CORD FIREWOOD

IN THE CENSUS OF 1881 JAMES, BRIDGET AND THEIR CHILDREN ANN AGE 15, PATRICK AGE 14 AND JOHN AGE 12, ARE STILL LIVING ON THE FARM.  I COULD NOT LOCATE THE AGRICULTURAL CENSUS.

IN 1891 THE CENSUS SHOWS JAMES AGE 68 AND BRIDGET AGE 60 STILL ON THE FARM, ALONG WITH PATRICK AGE 22 AND JOHN AGE 20.  ALSO ELLEN AGE 26 AND ANN AGE 24 HAD RETURNED HOME. THE CENSUS ALSO SHOWS THAT ONE OUT OF THREE BUILDINGS ON THE FARM ARE OCCUPIED. INTERESTINGLY IT ALSO SHOWS THAT ALL OF THEM COULD READ AND WRITE EXCEPT BRIDGET.

THE CENSUS OF 1901 SHOWS JAMES, BORN SEPTEMBER 10th, 1825 IN IRELAND (ARRIVING IN CANADA 1846) AGE 75 YEARS, BRIDGET BORN OCTOBER 7th, 1827 AGE 71YEARS AND SON JOHN BORN AUGUST 12th, 1870 AGE 30 YEARS LIVING ON THE FARM. IT ALSO SHOWS HARRY HANLOW BORN NOV 2nd, 1892 AGE 8 YEARS AND EDDIE HANLOW BORN DECEMBER 1st, 1887 AGE 13 YEARS LIVING WITH THEM. THEY ARE THE CHILDREN OF CATHERINE DELANEY ANLOW AND JOHN ANLOW. CATHERINE DIED DECEMBER 31st, 1895. AFTER HER HUSBAND JOHN REMARRIED IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CHILDREN WENT TO LIVE WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS.

LATER WE SEE THAT EDDIE ENLOW  WAS THE GODFATHER TO JOHN JAMES, THE FIRST SON OF JOHN DELANEY AND BRIDGET WILLIAMS, WHO WAS BORN IN 1907.

ON MARCH 24, 1901 THE TITLE TO THE FARM WAS TRANSFERRED TO JOHN DELANEY. THE PAPERWORK WAS DONE BY NOTARY ERNEST PETIT, REGISTER # 23886. AT THE TIME JOHN HAD A RESIDENCE AT 517 CASGRAIN IN MONTREAL.

ON JULY 15, 1908 JOHN SOLD THE FARM TO FANNIE POSTER AND SIMON GALENDY, REGISTER # 27491, FOR $750.00. NOTARY FEES AND EXPENSES WERE $250.00

JAMES DELANEY DIED FEBRUARY 1st, 1902 AND WAS BURIED IN THE ST. COLUMBAN CEMETERY. THE WITNESSES WERE THOMAS WILLIAMS, JAMES ALFRED CAHILL AND MANY OTHERS.

 BRIDGET KELLY DIED IN MONTREAL AND WAS BURIED IN ST. COLUMBAN’S JUNE 1Oth, 1914 AT THE AGE OF NINETY.

MARY DELANEY WAS BORN IN IRELAND ABOUT 1828. SHE MARRIED JOHN MCLAUGLIN WHO WAS A FARMER FROM ST. COLUMBAN. AS USUAL FR. FALVEY PERFORMED THE CEREMONY.

IN 1849 THEY HAD THEIR FIRST CHILD, MICHAEL. MARGARET WAS BORN IN 1851. ELIZABETH WAS BORN FEBRUARY 27,1854 AND THE SPONSORS WERE PATRICK PHELAN AND MARY MCLAUGLIN. ON AUGUST 13,1855 JOHN JR. WAS BORN. HE WAS BAPTISED THE SAME DAY. THE SPONSORS WERE JOHN FUNCHION AND JANE ROURKE. DAVID WAS BORN IN 1857 AND FINALLY PATRICK IN 1860. ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS OF 1861 THEY LIVED IN A ONE-STOREY LOG HOUSE ON THEIR FARM IN ST. COLUMBAN (FILM #C1327 LINE 40).

ELIZA DELANEY WAS BORN IN IRELAND AROUND 1829. ON JULY 18,1848 SHE MARRIED JOHN FITZGERALD A FARMER IN ST. ANDRE’S PARISH. HE WAS BORN IN COUNTY CLAIRE, IRELAND ABOUT 1824. HE WAS THE SON OF JOHN SR. AND ANN MONHIHAN.

IN THE CENSUS OF 1851 THEY ARE LIVING ON THEIR FARM WITH THEIR TWO CHILDREN, ELIZA, AGE 3 AND JAMES AGE 1. JAMES WAS BAPTISED FEBRUARY 4, 1851 AND THE SPONSORS WERE THOMAS FUNCHION AND MARGARET KARRY. ON NOVEMBER 28.1852 JOHN JR. WAS BAPTISED AND THE SPONSORS WERE DANIEL DELANEY, AND CATHERINE FITZGERALD. MARGARET WAS BORN APRIL 16,1854. THE SPONSORS WERE JOHN BROPHY AND MARTHA MCCAFFERTY. EDWARD WAS BORN JUNE 15, 1856, AND BAPTISED NOVEMBER 11. THE SPONSORS WERE JAMES DELANEY AND BRIDGET KELLY.

IN THE CENSUS OF 1861 THEY WERE STILL LIVING ON THEIR FARM WITH THEIR FIVE CHILDREN. THE FOLLOWING DETAILS WERE TAKEN FROM THE AGRICULTURAL CENSUS OF THAT YEAR:

  • 70 ACRES TOTAL
  • 34 ACRES CULTIVATED
  • 24 ACRES UNDER CROPS
  • 10 ACRES PASTURE
  • 36 ACRES WOODED

CASH VALUE OF FARM $400.00

CASH VALUE OF EQUIPMENT $ 100.00

  • 2 ACRES OF PEAS
  • 15 BUSHELS
  • 15 ACRES OF OATS
  • 215 BUSHELS
  • 4 ACRES BUCKWHEAT
  • 16 BUSHELS
  • ½ ACRE POTATOES
  • 100 BUSHELS
  • 100 BUSHELS CARROTS
  • 4 TONS OF HAY
  • 2 HEIFERS
  • 3 MILKING COWS
  • 2 HORSES OVER 3 YEARS

VALUE $ 80.00

  • 3 SHEEP
  • 1 PIG

TOTAL VALUE LIVESTOCK $631.00

  • 300LBS. BUTTER
  • 2 ½ BARRELS PORK

ON APRIL 18,1865 JOHN’S BROTHER THOMAS DIED AT AGE 62 AND WAS BURIED IN ST. ANDRE’S CEMETERY.

ON JUNE 10, 1879 JAMES MARRIED JOANNA O’CONNOR, DAUGHTER OF MOSES AND JOHANNA WALKER OF ST. ANDRE’S PARISH.

ON JUNE 18, 1880 EDWARD MARRIED MARY HELEN BARON DAUGHTER OF JOSEPH BARON AND MARY BLUME OF ST. JOACHIM.

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1881 JOHN JR. MARRIED MARTHA DICKSON OF ST. PHILIPPE. HER PARENTS WERE WILLIAM DICKSON AND JANE CALLAHAN OF ST. JOACHIM.

BY 1881 JOHN AND ELIZA ARE LIVING WITH THEIR SON JOHN JR. ON THEIR FARM IN CHATHAM, ARGENTEUIL COUNTY.

JOHN FITZGERALD DIED MAY 6, 1894 AT THE AGE OF 69. HIS WIFE ELIZABETH DELANEY DIED JANUARY 29, 1896 AT THE AGE OF 67. THE CHURCH RECORD SHOWS HER ORIGINATING FROM COUNTY TIPPERARY, IRELAND.  THEY ARE BURIED IN ST. ANDRE CEMETERY RANGE 12.

THEIR FRIEND JOHN BROPHY PASSED AWAY NOVEMBER 11, 1909 AGE 78 AND HIS WIFE MARY BLANCHFIELD DIED MARCH 5, 1913 AGE 78. THEY ARE ALSO BURIED IN ST. ANDRE’S.

PATRICK DELANEY WAS BORN IN IRELAND ABOUT 1832. HE CAME TO CANADA WITH HIS FAMILY AND IN 1851 HE WAS LIVING WITH HIS PARENTS AND BROTHER DANIEL IN ST ANDRE’S PARISH. HE WAS LISTED AS A BLACKSMITH.

ON JANUARY 1, 1854 HE WAS A WITNESS TO HIS BROTHER JOHN’S MARRIAGE TO MARGARET MCDONALD.

TRAGICALLY 4 MONTHS LATER HE DIED AND WAS BURIED IN THE ST. ANDRE CEMETERY. THE WITNESSES WERE THOMAS FITZGERALD AND MICHAEL THOMEY, THE PRIEST WAS CURE THIBAUDIER.

DANIEL DELANEY WAS ALSO BORN IN IRELAND, ABOUT 1836. HE CAME TO CANADA WITH HIS FAMILY. IN THE CENSUS OF 1851 HE WAS LIVING WITH HIS PARENTS AND BROTHER PATRICK IN THE VILLIAGE OF ST. ANDRE. HE WAS LISTED AS A BLACKSMITH.

ON NOVEMBER 11, 1852 DANIEL ALONG WITH CATHERINE FITZGERALD WERE SPONSORS AT THE BAPTISM OF JOHN FITZGERALD JR. THE SON OF JOHN SR. AND ELIZA DELANEY.

ON AUGUST 3,1853 DANIEL WAS A SPONSOR AT THE BAPTISM OF PATRICK, SON OF JOHN FUNCHION AND MARY MCLAUGLIN.

SOMETIME IN THE MID TO LATE 1850’S DANIEL MOVED WITH HIS PARENTS TO ST. COLUMBAN, WHERE HE HAD A HOUSE AND A SMALL PROPERTY OF ONE ACRE WHERE HE COULD GROW VEGETABLES FOR HIS OWN CONSUMPTION. IT WAS LOCATED ALONG WITH THE BLACKSMITH SHOP AT THE CROSSROADS BEHIND WHERE TODAY STANDS THE HOTEL.

ON JUNE 28,1858 HE MARRIED ELONORA (HONORA) RYAN THE UNDERAGE DAUGHTER OF PATRICK RYAN, DECEASED, AND JUDITH KEYES. THE WITNESSES WERE WILLIAM HART AND JOSEPH PHELAN. THE PRIEST WAS FR. FALVEY.

TOGETHER DANIEL AND ELONORA HAD FOUR CHILDREN WHILE LIVING IN ST. COLUMBAN. ELIZABETH WAS BORN MARCH 22,1859 AND WAS BAPTISED THE SAME DAY BY FR. FALVEY. THE SPONSORS WERE MICHAEL PHELAN AND BRIDGET RYAN. SADLY 10 MONTHS LATER ELIZABETH DIED OF MEASLES AND WAS BURIED FEBRUARY 24 IN THE ST. COLUMBAN CEMETERY. PRESENT WERE JOHN DELANEY AND JOHN TRUNCHION.

ON OCTOBER 24, 1858 DANIEL, ALONG WITH MARIAN HART WERE SPONSORS AT THE BAPTISM OF BRIDGET KELLY, THE DAUGHTER OF THIMOTHY KELLY AND MARY KEYES. THE FATHER WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE CEREMONY.  

PATRICK WAS BORN JAN. 1, 1860 AND BAPTISED JAN. 2nd  AT ST COLUMBAN’S. THE SPONSORS WERE ANDREW KEYES AND MARY DELANEY. I BELIEVE THAT MUCH LATER IN LIFE PATRICK MOVED TO MONTREAL AND IS BURIED IN THE COTE DES NEIGES  CEMETERY. THAT IS STILL TO BE VERIFIED.

THE CENSUS OF 1861 SHOWS DANIEL LIVING WITH HIS WIFE HONORA, AGE 24,  MARGARET, AGE 12, WHOM I BELIEVE IS THE DAUGHTER OF JOHN DELANEY JR. AND MARY BROPHY, SON PATRICK, AGE 1 AND DANIEL’S PARENTS, JOHN AGE 67 AND MARGARET AGE 64.  THE CENSUS ALSO SHOWS THEM LIVING IN A ONE STOREY LOG HOUSE ON ONE ACRE OF LAND. THEY HAD ONE COW, ONE SHEEP, ONE PIG AND ONE CARRIAGE FOR HIRE.

JOHN JACK DELANEY WAS BORN DEC. 18, 1862. THE SPONSORS WERE MICHAEL PHELAN, AND JANE ROURKE. JOHN LEFT ST. COLUMBAN  WITH HIS FAMILY AROUND 1866. HE DIED IN DECORAH, WINNESICIEK, IOWA, DATE UNKNOWN.

ANDREW DELANEY WAS BORN APRIL 22,1865. THE SPONSORS WERE JAMES RYAN AND ELLEN BURKE. HE ALSO LEFT ST. COLUMBAN AROUND 1866. HE ENDED UP IN OTTER CREEK, IOWA WERE HE MARRIED ELIZABETH MCDERMOTT. THEY HAD ELEVEN CHILDREN. ANDREW DIED JUNE 18, 1935 IN BERNARD, DUBUQUE, IOWA.

DANIEL AND HIS FAMILY ALONG WITH HIS PARENTS, JOHN SR. AND MARGARET CASEY LEFT ST. COLUMBAN SOME TIME AFTER 1866. I BELIEVE THEY FIRST WENT TO ST. COLUMBAN PARISH IN PERTH, ONTARIO . JOHN AND MARGARET STAYED THERE WHILE DANIEL AND HIS FAMILY MOVED ON TO DUBUQUE AND THEN OTTER CREEK, IOWA.

THERE DANIEL AND ELEANORA (SHOWN IN THE CENSUS AS ANN)  HAD FOUR MORE CHILDREN: JAMES b. 1868, d, ? IN MICHIGAN;  MARY b. JUNE, 1870;  MICHAEL b. 1872 d. ? MICHIGAN AND DANIEL b. 1873  d.? PARIS,  DAVIS, IOWA.

IN 1873 ELEANORA (ANN) DIED, POSSIBLY IN CHILDBIRTH.

ON MAY 15, 1873 IN JACKSON, IOWA DANIEL REMARRIED TO CATHERINE CLIFFORD. SHE WAS BORN ABOUT 1852 IN ILLINOIS. TOGETHER THEY HAD NINE CHILDREN ALL BORN IN JACKSON:  MARGARET b. 1874, MARY b. 1876, UNKNOWN, JOHANNAH b. 1880, ELLEN b. 1882, MICHAEL b. 1885, WILLIAM b. 1885, HARRY b. 1892 AND CHRISTOPHER b. 1895

THIRD GENERATION

(CHILDREN OF JAMES DELANEY AND BRIDGIT KELLY)

MARY DELANEY WAS BORN AUGUST 18,1852 AND BAPTISED AUGUST 20th IN ST. ANDRE. THE SPONSORS WERE JOHN BROPHY AND MARIANNE CORMIER.

LATER IN LIFE SHE MARRIED JAMES GLEASON. (HIS BROTHER JOHN WAS MARRIED TO MARGARET NEIL) THE DATE WAS APRIL 4, 1879 AND IT TOOK PLACE IN ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH IN MONTREAL. JAMES PARENTS WERE EDWARD GLEASON AND CATHERINE HERBERT. I BELIEVE THAT MARY AND JAMES HAD THREE CHILDREN, JOHN 1886-1941, DOLLY 1888-1956 AND GEORGE,  BIRTH DATE UNKNOWN. GEORGE WAS MY FATHER’S GODFATHER. MARY DIED JULY 2, 1923 AND IS BURIED IN THE GLEASON FAMILY PLOT IN THE COTES DES NIEGES CEMETERY, SECTION M, LOT # 01469.

JAMES DELANEY JR. WAS BORN AND BAPTISED ON NOVEMBER 13, 1853. THE SPONSORS WERE JOHN FITZGERALD AND ELIZA DELANEY. LATER JAMES JR. MOVED TO MONTREAL WHERE, ON APRIL 27, 1880 HE MARRIED ELIZABETH TEES, THE UNDERAGE DAUGHTER OF JOHN TEES AND ANN HARRISON. 

ON JANUARY 1, 1891 ELLEN DELANEY WAS BORN. SHE WAS BAPTISED JANUARY 11. THE GODPARENTS WERE PATRICK DELANEY AND ELLEN DELANEY, AUNT. MARY LORETTE WAS BORN ON AUGUST 3rd, 1893. SHE WAS BAPTISED ON AUGUST 6th, IN ST PATRICK’S CHURCH. THE GODMOTHER WAS ROSE McGRAHAM. ON JUNE 18,1899 JOHN DELANEY WAS BORN. HE WAS BAPTISED JUNE 25th. THE SPONSORS WERE JOHN GLEASON, WAITER AND MATILDA DELANEY, WAITRESS.

CATHERINE DELANEY WAS BORN FEBRUARY 5th, 1856 AND BAPTISED FEBRUARY 11th IN ST. ANDRE’S. THE SPONSORS WERE PATRICK CURRAN AND ROSEANN CURRAN. CURE THIBAUDIER WAS THE PRIEST. LATER IN LIFE SHE MOVED TO MONTREAL AND MARRIED JOHN ANLOW, A HORSEMAN, IN ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH. THE DATE WAS MAY 8, 1876.  JOHN’S PARENTS WERE JOHN SR. AND EMILIA MAGIR. ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1884 THEIR DAUGHTER MARY GERTRUDE WAS BORN. SHE WAS BAPTISED IN ST. PATRICK’S ON SEPTEMBER 14th.THE GODFATHER WAS PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN, OF ST.PATRICK’S AND BRIDGET KELLY DELANEY OF ST. COLUMBAN.

ON DECEMBER 1st, 1887 THEIR SON EDWARD WAS BORN. THEIR SECOND SON HAROLD WAS BORN NOVEMBER 2nd, 1892 WAS BORN.

ON DECEMBER 13, 1895, AT THE AGE OF 39, CATHERINE DIED IN MONTREAL. ON JANUARY 3, 1896 SHE WAS BURIED IN THE ST. COLUMBAN CEMETERY. PRESENT WERE HER HUSBAND JOHN AND HER BROTHERS PATRICK AND JOHN.

JOHN ENLOW LATER REMARRIED TO AZELDA GAGNON. THEY HAD A SON JOHN EDWARD BORN AUGUST 13, 1904 AND A SECOND SON, STEPHEN GERALD ON FEBRUARY 21, 1908.

MARGARET DELANEY, MY GR. GR. GRANDMOTHER, WAS BORN NOVEMBER 26, 1857 AND BAPTISED JANUARY 26, 1858 IN ST. ANDRE’S PARISH. THE SPONSORS WERE JOHN BROPHY, AND ROSEANN CURRAN. SHE MARRIED GEORGE NEIL IN APPROXIMATELY 1883. GEORGE’S FAMILY CAME FROM LONDONDERRY, IRELAND AND WERE ANGLICAN. 

THEY LIVED IN THE ST. LAWRENCE WARD AREA OF MONTREAL WHERE THEY OWNED A GROCERY STORE. TOGETHER THEY HAD ELEVEN CHILDREN: WILLIAM HEBERT b. 1884, GEORGE JAMES b. 1886, MARGARET b. 1888, CAROLINE b. 1890, FREDERICK (MY GRANDFATHER) b. 1891, ANN JANE b. 1892, HERMAN HERBERT b. 1893, PEARL ELLEN b.1895, JAMES HERBERT b.1898, MAUD ELIZABETH b. 1900 AND MABEL b. 1902. ALL THE CHILDREN WERE BROUGHT UP CATHOLIC. MARGARET INSTILLED IN HER CHILDREN THEIR SENSE OF IRISHNESS AND THEIR ST. COLUMBAN ROOTS. MANY OF HER CHILDREN MARRIED INTO FAMILIES THAT CAME FROM ST. COLUMBAN. I ALSO THINK THAT SHE WAS THE PIVITOL COG THAT KEPT THE NEILS AND THE DELANEYS TOGETHER AND WE SEE NEILS AS GODPARENTS TO THE VARIOUS DELANEYS AND VICE VERSA.

 MARGARET DIED JANUARY 10, 1928 AND IS BURIED IN THE FAMILY PLOT IN COTES DES NEIGES CEMETERY, SECTION GA, LOT 00891.

BRIDGET DELANEY WAS BORN APRIL 9, 1860. I DON’T HAVE ANY OTHER RECORD OF HER. SHE DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE 1861 CENSUS, SO IT MAY BE THAT SHE DIED SOMETIME DURING HER FIRST YEAR OF LIFE. WE DO KNOW THAT AROUND THAT TIME THERE WAS AN EPIDEMIC OF SCARLET FEVER.

ELLEN (HELEN) DELANEY WAS BORN JANUARY 7, 1862 AND WAS BAPTISED JANUARY 17. THE SPONSORS WERE DANIEL DELANEY AND MARGARET DELANEY.

ON AUGUST 17, 1891 IN ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH, SHE MARRIED STEPHEN WILLIAM MCISAAC. HIS PARENTS WERE STEPHEN SR. AND MARY ELLEN VALENTINE. HELEN DIED SEPTEMBER 1ST, 1931 AND HER HUSBAND DIED AUGUST 26th, 1911. THEY ARE BOTH BURIED IN THE CDN CEMETERY LOT #02454 SECTION N. BURIED IN THE SAME PLOT IS FLORENCE MARY ENLOW WHO DIED NOVEMBER 11th, 1950.

ANN DELANEY WAS BORN AUGUST 28, 1864 AND WAS BAPTISED THE NEXT DAY IN ST. COLUMBAN’S. THE SPONSORS WERE PATRICK KELLY AND MARGARET KEEGAN. ON JUNE 15,1896 SHE MARRIED JAMES HEALEY, SON OF JOHN HEALEY, DECEASED, AND MARY RYAN. THE WITNESSES WERE MARY GLEASON AND MARY O’CONNOR.

NO OTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.

PATRICK DANIEL DELANEY WAS BORN MAY 02, 1867 IN ST COLUMBAN. HE WAS BAPTISED MAY 3. THE SPONSORS WERE PATRICK O’LEARY AND CATHERINE W. CANNA.

LATER HE MOVED TO MONTREAL WHERE HE WAS MARRIED TO MARY ELLEN FLYNN IN ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH ON AUGUST 31,1896. SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF EDMUND FLYNN AND BRIDGET McCARTHY.  THE WITNESSES WERE THOMAS MURPHY AND HONORA DELANEY OF ST. MARY’S. THEY HAD AT LEAST THREE CHILDREN THAT I CAN CONFIRM.

BRIDGET MAGDELAN IRENE WAS BORN MARCH 11th.1899 AND BAPTISED MARCH 19th. THE SPONSORS WERE PATRICK DELANEY AND CATHERINE DELANEY. BRIDGET DIED OCTOBER 27th, 1950.

ON AUGUST 2Oth, 1900 ELLEN GERTRUDE WAS BORN. THE GODPARENTS WERE MARY DELANEY GLEASON AND JAMES GLEASON.

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN TWO OTHER CHILDREN, GORDON FREDERICK JOSEPH AND MARY. I HAVE YET TO CONFIRM THIS.

JAMES EDMUND TIMOTHY WAS BAPTISED IN ST MICHAEL’S CHURCH ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1906.THE SPONSORS WERE STEPHEN WILLIAM McISAAC AND ELLEN DELANEY. ( LATER ELLEN AND STEPHEN WERE TO MARRY) 

PATRICK DIED NOVEMBER 11, 1943 AND IS BURIED IN THE COTES DES NEIGES CEMETERY, SECTION B, LOT # 02918.

JOHN DELANEY WAS BORN DEC. 1, 1871 AND WAS BAPTISED DEC. 3. HIS SPONSORS WERE PATRICK KELLY AND CATHERINE W. CANNA.

ON APRIL 4th, 1906 HE MARRIED BRIDGET WILLIAMS, DAUGHTER OF THOMAS WILLIAMS AND BRIGIT MCKEVEN, IN ST. COLUMBAN. THE WITNESSES WERE MICHAEL WILLIAMS AND LILLY CASEY (?).

ON MARCH 29,1907 JOHN JAMES DELANEY WAS BORN. HE WAS BAPTISED ON MARCH 31, IN ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH. THE SPONSORS WERE JENNIE NEIL AND EDDIE ENLOW. THE PRIEST WAS JAMES MCCRORY. ON APRIL 15, 1909 DANIEL THOMAS DOUGLAS WAS BORN. HE WAS BAPTISED ON APRIL 25. THE SPONSORS WERE MICHAEL MULLINS AND LILIAN OATS. THE THIRD SON FRANCIS HAROLD JOSEPH WAS BORN ON DECEMBER 22, 1912.

JOHN DIED IN 1935 AND IS BURIED WITH HIS WIFE BRIDGET AND SON FRANCIS IN THE COTES DES NEIGES CEMETERY SECTION GA, LOT # 01678.

FOURTH GENERATION

(CHILDREN OF MARGARET DELANEY AND GEORGE NEIL)

WILLIAM HERBERT NEIL WAS BORN APRIL 29, 1884,AND BAPTISED IN ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH MAY 22,1884. THE GODMOTHER WAS CATHERINE DELANEY ENLOW.

HE WAS MARRIED TO MARY BESSIE MARCOTTE.

WILLIAM DIED MAY 16, 1948 AND IS BURIED IN THE NEIL FAMILY PLOT IN CDN CEMETERY.

GEORGE JAMES NEIL WAS BORN MARCH 19,  1886 AND BAPTISED APRIL 5th.  THE SPONSOR WAS CATHERINE DELANEY ENLOW.

ON APRIL 28, 1926 HE MARRIED NELLIE HANBURY. THE WITNESSES WERE HERMAN NEIL AND WILLIAM JOHN TRACY. THERE WERE TWO CHILDREN , GEORGE AND GRACE AGNES BORN MARCH 13, 1927.

GEORGE DIED JULY 14, 1953 AND IS BURIED IN THE NEIL FAMILY PLOT IN CDN CEMETERY. NELLIE DIED APRIL 13, 1970.

MARGARET MARY NEIL WAS BORN SEPTEMBER 6,1888 AND WAS BAPTISED SEPTEMBER 11TH.  THE SPONSOR WAS MARY DELANEY.  SHE MARRIED JOHN GLEASON JANUARY 11, 1909. THE SPONSORS WERE MARY DELANEY AND ALFRED MONETTE.

THEY HAD THREE CHILDREN: JOHN CAMERON b. march 11, 1910, GEORGE JAMES b. JUNE 22, 1913 AND EARL EDWARD b. FEBRUARY 22, 1919.

MARGARET DIED SEPTEMBER 17, 1957 AND IS BURIED IN THE GLEASON FAMILY PLOT IN CDN CEMETERY, LOT #01469, SECTION M.

CAROLINE (CARRIE) NEIL WAS BORN FEBRUARY 18, 1890 AND BAPTISED ON MARCH 24th. THE SPONSORS WERE CATHERINE DELANEY AND THE PRIEST WAS FR. G.CASEY.

SHE MARRIED WILLIAM JOHN TRACY SEPTEMBER 16, 1911. TOGETHER THEY HAD TWO CHILDREN: JOHN LEO AND DORIS FRANCIS MARY.

CARRIE DIED MAY 21, 1925 AT THE AGE OF THIRTY-FIVE.

ANN JANE (JENNIE) NEIL WAS BORN MAY 19, 1891 AND BAPTISED JUNE 25th. THE SPONSORS WERE MORTIN GLEASON AND MARY MCMANNUS.

SHE MARRIED PETER PHILIP MAGUIRE ON NOVEMBER 18, 1919. THE SPONSORS WERE LOUIS MAGUIRE AND GEORGE JAMES NEIL.

THEY HAD FOUR CHILDREN: GERALD EDWARD, JOHN RONALD, NEIL JOSEPH b. JULY 25, 1926 AND KATHLEEN.

JENNIE DIED JULY 31, 1961 AND IS BURIED IN THE NEIL FAMILY PLOT.

MAUD ELIZABETH NEIL WAS BORN JANUARY 29, 1900. NO FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE.

FREDERICK NEIL (MY GRANDFATHER) WAS BORN MAY 19,1891. HE WAS BAPTISED NOVEMBER 3, 1919, THE DAY BEFORE HIS MARRIAGE TO SOPHIA MCDONALD.

THEY HAD FOUR CHILDREN: DONALD (MY FATHER) b. DECEMBER 23, 1921, JEAN MARGARET b. JANUARY 19, 1926,  ALLAN b. MAY 7, 1931 AND AUDREY MARY b. JULY 28, 1938.

FRED DIED SEPTEMBER 4, 1965 AND IS BURIED WITH HIS MOTHER MARGARET DELANEY IN THE NEIL FAMILY PLOT IN THE CDN CEMETERY.

SOPHIA DIED DECEMBER 1, 1996, AT THE AGE OF 99, AND IS BURIED THE CDN CEMETERY.

HERMAN HERBERT NEIL WAS BORN OCTOBER 1, 1893. HE ALSO WAS BAPTISED THE DAY BEFORE HIS MARRIAGE TO VIOLET HILLSON. THEY HAD THREE CHILDREN: DOREEN b. FEBRUARY 11, 1933, CLIFFORD GEORGE AND ELENOR.

HE DIED APRIL 19, 1947 AND IS BURIED IN THE NEIL FAMILY PLOT IN CDN CEMETERY.

JAMES HERBERT NEIL WAS BORN MARCH 8, 1898.  HE MARRIED AGNES  ELLEN WILLIAMS AND THEY HAD FOUR CHILDREN: NORMAN JAMES b. DECEMBER 26, 1926, BRUCE OWEN b. MAY 13, 1939, MARY IRIS b. MAY 10, 1933, JOSEPH RUSSEL b. OCTOBER 28, 1934.

HE DIED JUNE 4, 1975.

PEARL ELLEN NEIL WAS BORN JUNE 11, 1895. SHE MARRIED DANIEL WALLACE MCEWEN AND THEY HAD ONE SON  WALLY.

SHE DIED IN 1986 AND IS BURIED IN THE ST AGAPIT CEMETERY IN DEUX MONTAGNES, QUEBEC.

MABEL LILIAN NEIL WAS BORN JANUARY 23, 1902. SHE MARRIED GRANT HUGHES. THERE ARE NO CHILDREN THAT I CAN FIND.

SHE DIED MARCH 11, 1984 AND IS BURIED IN THE ST. AGAPIT CEMETERY IN DEUX MONTAGNES, CLOSE TO HER SISTER PEARL.

FIFTH GENERATION

(CHILDREN OF FREDERICK NEIL AND SOPHIA MCDONALD)

DONALD NEIL (MY FATHER) WAS BORN DECEMBER 23, 1921 AND BAPTISED IN ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH. THE SPONSORS WERE MABEL NEIL AND GEORGE GLEASON.

ON DECEMBER 2, 1944 HE MARRIED IRENE WELLS IN DAGENHAM, ENGLAND. THEY HAD FOUR CHILDREN: KEN , KAREN, DEREK AND DONNA.

DONALD DIED SEPTEMBER 20, 1989 AND IS BURIED IN THE FIELD OF HONOR IN POINTE CLAIRE, QUEBEC.

JEAN MARGARET NEIL WAS BORN JANUARY 19, 1926.SHE MARRIED JOHN THOMPSON AND  TOGETHER THEY  HAD FIVE CHILDREN: LINDA, IRENE, JOAN,  LORNE AND KATHY.

ALLAN NEIL WAS BORN MAY 7,1931.ON FEBRUARY 23, 1952 HE MARRIED PATRICIA PUGH. THEY HAD TWO CHILDREN: MARGARET ANN AND DAVID.

AUDREY NEIL WAS BORN JULY 28,1938. SHE MARRIED RONALD DALLAS ON APRIL 28, 1956.THEY HAD THREE CHILDREN, BRUCE, DARLENE  AND MICHAEL.

SIXTH GENERATION

(CHILDREN OF DONALD NEIL AND IRENE WELLS)

THEY INCLUDE MYSELF KEN, MY SISTERS KAREN AND DONNA AND MY BROTHER DERECK.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THE ABOVE HISTORY IS AN ON GOING PROJECT. FROM THE FIFTH GENERATION DOWN I CONCENTRATED ON THE NEIL/DELANEY CONNECTION. I WOULD LOVE TO EXPAND UPON AND INCLUDE THE LATER DELANEY HISTORY. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION, COMMENTS, CHANGES, CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS OR PERHAPS PHOTOS, I  WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS KENNETH.NEIL@SYMPATICO.CA.

ONE NOTE, ON EARLY RECORDS, INCLUDING THE ONES I FOUND IN IRELAND, THE FAMILY NAME IS SPELT DELANY. LATER RECORDS, INCLUDING THE INSCRIPTION ON MY GR GRANDMOTHER’S HEADSTONE, IT IS SPELT DELANEY.

Also see Memories from Kenneth Neil