If you’re looking for Roman Catholic records in the Ottawa Valley area, you’re almost certain to run into some French entries in the parish registers. But no worries, and please do not panic. Even if you don’t speak a word…
Continue reading →Different Sources, Different Birthplaces In a history of Ottawa published in 1927, A.H.D. Ross wrote that “the first white child born in the Township of March was Patrick Killean, whose father, Denis Killean, was in Captain Monk’s employ, and the…
Continue reading →Francis Moranwas born about 1812 in Co. Leitrim, Ireland, the son of Ambrose Moran and Margaret [maiden name unknown]. He emigrated to Canada about 1833, where he settled at Fitzroy township, Carleton Co. He married 1.) Margaret Behan; and 2.)…
Continue reading →While going through RC parish registers in search of your Catholic ancestors, you may come across the phrase “baptized conditionally” or “baptized sub conditione,” or, in French, “baptisé(e) sous condition.” What did the padre mean, you may wonder, by this seemingly…
Continue reading →Hannie McCarthy, aka Hannie Dinnie (daughter of Denis [Dinnie] McCarthy and Hannah Sullivan) died in hospital last weekend, after a decline in health of several months’ duration. I took this photograph of Hannie in June 2008, at her cottage at…
Continue reading →Sorting through Ryans in Renfrew County is an exercise in patience and perseverance. Ryan is, in Carol McCuaig’s words, “one of the most popular surnames” in the county.1 When one Ryan marries another (let’s hope reasonably distant if not completely…
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