Vol. 6 No. 2 - 1991
Some people from Seagoe
by Joan Duquette and Joan McKay
Joan Duquette
My great, great grand-father, Robert Thompson, born c.1783, came from Drumgor, Parish of Seagoe, County Armagh, Northern Ireland to Pontiac City, Province of Quebec, Canada c.1845. Accompanying him were sons - William; Robert; Richard and Thomas; and daughters Mary Ann (married to William Craig) and Elizabeth (Betsy). Daughter Susanna married 16 February 1843 to Edward Boyd, Lisnamintry, Seagoe Parish, stayed in Ireland.
Robert Thompson's wife was Ann Jane or Ann or Marie Becket. She died prior to c.1845. We just recently found out her name which was on the death certificate of her daughter Elizabeth Thompson McKinney McColgan (Joan Duquette's great grandmother). Robert died 14 November 1858 and is buried in St John's Anglican Cemetery Quyon, Province Quebec.
When the Thompsons settled in Onslow Twp., Pontiac City the 1861 census showed their religion as C. of E.
Robert's family:
William, shopman and farmer married (1) Sarah Jane Richards
(2) Hannah Hodgins. Robert, farmer married Margaret Twinam. Richard, farmer married Maria Gilpin.
Elizabeth, married John McKinney * who was a watchmaker.
Joan McKay
Joan McKay's husband's great grandparents were William Craig (son of James) and Mary Ann Thompson (daughter of Robert). William and Mary Ann were married 30 January 1847 at Drumgor, Parish of Seagoe, and they with their three young children and Mary Ann's father, brothers, and sisters came to Canada. Family letters indicate other relatives later came to settle in various areas in Ontario. Among those letters are four from an Ann Craig, obviously William's sister, perhaps wife of William James Craig. The first two were written from Ireland, the third shortly after her arrival in Guelph, Ontario and the last many years later, from Guelph.
* John McKinney's parents Robert and Ann Wilson from Seagoe.
Ann's parents Robert Wilson and Sarah Murphy from Seagoe.
Moyraverty, February 18, 1874
Dear Brother and Sister
l received your kind note from Edward Boyd (*) and was glad to learn from it that you are all well. I have nothing to complain of as regards health, thank God I am well. But alas I am sorry to have to comminicate to you Dolful Intelligence that William James has been very ill for the past two months, which has been a great trial on me and what maid it still worse the neighbours did not come in as the Doctor said it was Fever, so you can see I have been lonly this time but thank God he is getting some what better, times is so very hard here at present on accout of traid being so bad that when sickness comes on the poor they have very hard to come through (Billy Best (or William) the last time I seen James Best he was well so was his Mistress the had four children three sons and one Daughter.
Uncle Josephs James is married and living in Levaghery, Uncle Richard and Aunt Molly is Dead. Uncle Richard is Dead a year past. Aunt Molly is just a month Dead. James is in the place and has Cousin Richards son living with him. John and family is all well and is in pretty good circumstances they have 4 children the oldest Daughter is married and has two children. It is long since I heard from Brother James. But at the time I heard from him the were all well, the last news that came from James he wanted your Address and I did not Know it so when you write to him you can send him your Address. You want to know about your friends one thing I know that I have no Friends here but I have very good Neighbours. If you know any thing about Elizabeth or Joseph Malcomson you can send me word in your next letter as their sister Jane would be glad to hear from them.
I have nothing more to say at present wishing you answer this by Return of post. I remain your sister.
Ann Craig.
This is Brother James Directions:
In care of Gulph post office Canada for James Craig.
When you write to me Direct as follows:
In care of John Macoun Esqr Moyraverty Hall County Armagh, Ireland.
By Lurgan for Ann Craig Moraverty.
February 25th 1875
Dear Brother William
I send those few lines to Let you know We are in good health hoping those few Lines will find you and Mary Ann and family in good health this is the third letter I have sent and I hope you will be so kind as Answer this one and Also to do as you said If it be in your power I hope you Will not forgot As William Would have a great desire to go to America and for What It would take to send for him he would pay you. It in the other side I hope you will do what you can as there is not great prospect hear for any young person tread is not good.
Bill Bests is well and son the son is married and has a family I would have a desire of getting James and Ann Jane (*) likeness if you be so kind as to send me them I and William join in sending our Love to you all John Craig and family is well James Craig and family is well. Jimmy Craig is well Direct to Mr John Macoun Esq. Moyraverty hall for Ann Craig.
No more at present but remains your sister Ann Craig and son to Death.
* James and Ann Jane were the two oldest children of William and Mary Ann Craig.
Letter from Susanna (THOMPSON) BOYD and her husband Edward BOYD to her sister Mary Ann (THOMPSON) CRAIG and her husband William CRAIG.
April 25th 1875
My Dear Sister and Brother Mary Ann and William Craig
I take the opportunity of answering your kind and welcon letter which give us all great pleasure of hearing that you are well 1 am ashamed that I have been so long of writing to you but one trouble cane after another that it prevented me of writing to you. Edward and the rest of the family is as well as usual and as for myself 1 am a little better. I have had a poor winter of helth but I thank God I am still alive but I am able to go out about the dood (?) we are all glad to hear that you are in so comfortable a way of doing and glad that you have so fine a family. Edward often thinks of James minds him yet Mickey Macone is alive yet and was talking to Edward about little James a few days ago please when you write send me your picture and Williams and little James as we are often talking about you all write soon and I hope you will not be displeased about me not writing sooner to you Daughter Mary wishes to be remembered to you she is well also her husband and children is well she has 6 children alive and 3 dead we had a very wet winter in this country but a very dry spring the labour is far on and great need of rain now Ann Craig was here a few days ago she has got a letter from her brother James he sayes in it that he will send for her son William if he goes she has a letter away she expects money or the seyling paper in about ten days she says she would like to go along him but she cannot yer our friends in Drumgoor is as well as usaul tell your son James for to send a piece in your next letter I think by this time he will have something to say Dear brother and Sister it is hard to make a living in this country trade keeps low and every thing else keeps high Turf has been one and sixpence a hogshead they are cheaper now there is some talk of the weaving traid rising but we have got none yet Dear Sister I often think of you Though we are far separated from one another but God is near to us all if we never meet in this world 1 hope we will meet in the next where trials and troubles are no more Dear Aunt I hope you will excuse me for my bad writing as it was your neice Marie Boyd wrote this letter to you I would like to see all of my cousins and my Aunts and Uncles as I never seen any of them but If I never see any of you in the world I hope to see you all in the next one Ellen wishes to be remembered to you I have no more to say at present but remains your loving Sister and Brother to death.
Guelph September 26th 187(5?)
Susanna and Edward Boyd.
(Susanna (THOMPSON) BOYD'S daughter Maria Boyd, who wrote the above letter came to Canada before 1890 and lived with her Uncle Richard THOMPSON. Another BOYD daughter, Susanna, was born 1856/1857 at Bleary, Ireland and came to Canada about 1875 to live with her uncle William THOMPSON.
Dear Brother
I take pleasure of riting these few lines hoping they will find you and all well as these leaves me at Present 1 received your letter and was glad to hear from You 1 would like verry well to see you and family but I have not means at present and will expect to see you this winter William is goin to work with a farmer about a mile out of Guelph and James in Dear Brother I had not much money when we left the old country and the cold wheather seems to be comming and I would like if you could help me a little towards getting some clothing this winter and would be verry thankful to you.
James is not at home he is in Alors carpet factory but I have seen him he comes down every two weeks and he does not know that 1 had a letter from you yet and we will let him know this week.
But Margret would like very much to see you and Misses Craig here and wants your pictures the family is all well sends their best respects to you all Thomis Thomson (**) was here at the show an is well an said he would rite down the same week so I can not say much more at present. Please rite soon and let us know how an family is so no more at present I remain you love Sister.
Anne Craig, William Craig.
Please rite soon as I will be looking for a letter.
Guelph February 15th, 1892
Dear William
It has been a long time since I have had any letter from you not since I came back from Dakota, so I have taken this opportunity of writing to you I often thought of going to see you but went to Dakota instead, but 1 did not care for it so came back and have been visiting around ever since. 1 have travelled around a good deal since 1 came to Canada and I would like to see you very much.
How is your son James? Does he live anywhere near you? Your sister-in-law Margaret is here and all the children are well.
Joe still works in the Bell Organ factory and has been so for a great many years.
Willie makes underwear for men and ladies. Margaret has just come in while I am writing this, and says she wants you to write to her and tell her all the particulars.
Have any of you had the la Grippe? It and diptheria have been very bad here for a long time.
Send me word how Mrs Robert Thompson is.
Sam Stephenson was asking me if I got any word from the Old Country. I do not get any. Do you? Tell Helena I want her to write to me. She did not answer my last letter.
What part of the States is your eldest son in? I am thinking of going to see you but thought I would write first. I want you to answer as soon as you receive this and tell me which would be the best way to go, and what time would be the best to start and if you are to change much going. How many have you at home now? The next time I shall write more and I would send you my picture if I had one but Margaret and I will send them the next time I write. If I go Joe's oldest girl would like to go and see you all.
William is in Grandin and keeps a livery stable. He has a wife and had two children but one died. He took up a lot of land but these last few years the crops were bad. I do not know if he still works it or not. He often inquired about you all. Please send me your eldest son's address that lives in the States. Is the church anywhere near you? Are you a Presbyterian or a Methodist? Is it very cold down there?
Sarah and Mr Williamson were down not long ago. They have the place rented and are living on the interest of their money. Write soon.
** Thomas THOMPSON was a brother of Mary Ann Craig. He lived at Colenso, St Vincent Twp., Grey City, Ontario.
Shown below is information taken from some of the tomb stones taken in the St John's Anglican churchyard cemetery in Quyon, Province Quebec.
In Memory of Robert Thompson/Died November 14, 1858 Aged 75 years. A Native of Armagh, Ireland. William Thompson/Died April 7, 1907 Aged 77 years.
His wife Sarah Jane Richards/Died August 6, 1872 Aged 34 years.
Robert Thompson/Died November 14, 1858 aged 76 years. Native of Armagh, Ireland.
In memory of Sarah Jane Richards/Wife of W Thompson
Born February 26, 1838/Died August 9, 1872/Their sons H W Robert/ Born March 20, 1863/Died June 19, 1864.
These pioneers are buried where they worked the land but their thousands of descendants have gone on across the continent and beyond. Their vocations are varied - railroader, lumberman, farmers, doctor, lawyer, timekeeper, miner, store keeper, hotelier, riverman, shantyman, banker and I'm sure con man and worse.
The term "weaver", given as Robert Thompson's vocation in Ireland, must have many tales good and bad behind it. Can anyone tell us more about this family in Ireland?