McCanns of Pontiac, Quebec, Canada

[LizzyFaire]

My GGGrandparents

Hello, I am searching for information regarding James MCCANN (b.1815; d. 13 Jul 1883) and his wife Esther GREY or Gray (b. 1816; d. 08 Oct 1898). Both born in Ireland, married in 1839 (perhaps Armagh or Antrim?), both died in Quebec. If anyone has any birth/marriage/immigration/emigration information, I'd be most grateful.

Thanks,
Lizzy

[chinakay]

James was also known as McKenna. Not buried until August 1st...very odd especially during the summer. Interesting.

There are several James McCanns and I couldn't pin down anything else.

Cheers,
China

[LizzyFaire]

Thank you. I'll look at McKenna, too.

[valeriec]

www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/index-e.html

1871, Pontiac, Aldfield, Quebec
McCan, James, age 56
Esther, age 55
Thomas, age 23, b. Ontario
John, 21, b. Quebec
Peter, 17, b. Quebec
Michael, 15, b. Quebec
Francis, 8, b. Quebec
Edward, b. Quebec
All are listed as Catholic

1881 Pontiac, Aldfield
McCann, James, 66
Esther, 66
Thomas, 30, b. Ontario
John, 26, b. Quebec
Peter, 24, b. Quebec
Michael, 21, b. Quebec

1891
McCann, Hester, age 75
Thomas, age 38
John, age 36
Rosa, age 20

If you look at the census information, it would appear that the family was in Ontario/Upper Canada 1848-1851 based on the birth years given for Thomas. John is down as born in Quebec roughly 1855. The family is down as Romas Catholic so there is always a possiblity to find baptisms in the local church if they survived.

I looked for them in the 1851 census that is available at automated genealogy but didn't find anything. I looked for McCan and McCann but alternate spellings are also possible.

Hope this helps in your search.

[Jacquie in Canada]

From the 1861 Canada census in Auldfield, Pontiac, Quebec as McKanna:

James McKana, 46, born Ireland, farmer
Esther McKanna, 40, born Ireland
James McKanna Jr., 20, born Ireland, labourer
Patrick McKanna, 18, born Upper Canada, labourer
Matthew McKanna, 16, born Upper Canada, labourer
Thomas McKanna, 14, born Upper Canada, labourer
John McKanna, 12, born Lower Canada, labourer
Peter McKanna, 10, born Lower Canada, labourer
Michael McKanna, 8, born Lower Canada
Catherine McKenna, 7, born Lower Canada
Ann Toler (cousin of family, adopted), 14, born Ireland
John McKanna, 6, born Lower Canada
William McKanna, 4, born Lower Canada
all Roman Catholic

The family listed after them is also named McKanna:

Patrick McKanna, 40, born Ireland, farmer
Mary McKanna, 40, born Ireland, tailoress
Catherine McKanna, 15, born Upper Canada
Mary McKanna, 13, born Lower Canada
John McKanna, 12, born Lower Canada, labourer
Patrick McKanna, 10, born Lower Canada
James McKanna, 8, born Lower Canada
Hanora McKanna, 6, born Lower Canada
Elen McKanna, 4, born Lower Canada
Nicholas McKanna, 2, born Lower Canada
all Roman Catholic

Jacquie

[LizzyFaire]

Ladies, thanks for all of this information. The different spelling has helped a lot. Now if I can just make the leap across the ocean to the homeland.

[Jacquie in Canada]

In the parish of Quyon there are the following marriages that list James McCann and Esther Gray as parents:

Michael McCann and Eliza Fitzgerald on 26 Sep 1881
Peter McCann and Catherine Hickey on 27 Oct 1885

and a death:

James McCann died 16 Jan 1897 at the age of 56 - it's possible this could be James Jr.

Jacquie

[*Sandra*]

Revisited older thread ............ 2013 - you may of course already have seen this in the meantime

Patrick McCann obituary son of James McCann and Elizabeth Hannaway.

The Ottawa Journal Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
23 Dec 1936, Wed    Page 4

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116795379/the-ottawa-journal/

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

Obituary Peter Hannaway McCann - The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada - 16 Sep 1942, Wed   Page 15

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116798590/the-ottawa-journal/

Sandra