Info on Conolly (sp?) family - early 1800s?

[philduran]

I am wondering if anyone could offer suggestions as to how to find the family of Alexander Conolly, born (I believe) in County Fermanagh in 1798, who reportedly married Jane Sinclair (b. @ 1800) around 1820; they apparently left for Canada shortly thereafter, but may have had one daughter born in Ireland. They had a son, John, which might possibly have been also the name of Alexander's father, but that is pure speculation.  I'm having little luck at very long distance trying to figure out who Alexander and Jane left behind, and perhaps where they may be buried.  Thank you for any help you might be able to offer!

[oldohiohome]

findagrave says they are buried in Mt Carmel Cemetery, Belwood, Ontario.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/116709917/alexander-connolly

is that them?
If it is, I'd start with the older children first, if I was looking for John & Jane's parents names.

Matilda, b 1819, Ireland
James, 1824, Montreal
Elizabeth, Jan 1829, Rawdon, Quebec
Archibald, 20 Sep 1830, Quebec
Rachel, 1831, Rawdon, Quebec
John, 1834, Joliette, Quebec
Thomas Alexander, 1838, Rawdon, Quebec

Do you know what religion they were? I don't want to guess from the cemetery's name, and I can't find any information about it, in a quick look.

[oldohiohome]

A Mrs Jane Connolly, widow born in Ireland, died 2 July 1881 in West Garafraxa, Wellington County, Ontario. Religion: Methodist, informant: Rev'd J H Watts, of West Garafraxa

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDNT-H5Z

That Jane's 1881 census said she was Methodist.

That set of death records started in 1869, so nothing for Alexander so far.

I don't know if their earlier censuses list their religion as something different. I haven't looked. Methodism was growing in the 1800's and they might have converted from something else.

[Elwyn Soutter]

In 1798, in Ireland, they'd have been Church of Ireland. (Methodism took a long time to become established in Ireland, mainly because their members didn't want to split from the Church of Ireland. It was about 1816 before the first Methodist baptisms and the 1830s before the first marriage. Even then many Methodists continued using the Church of Ireland for baptisms and marriages, right up to the 1870s).

Not all Church of Ireland records from the late 1700s have survived. Many were lost in the 1922 fire. Copies of those that do still exist for Fermanagh are in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. They are not on-line and a personal visit is required to view them.

[oldohiohome]

1851: Leinster County, Quebec
They were Protestant, but there were Wesleyan Methodists on the page
Jane was listed as Jane Sinclaire, 55, a year older than Alexander

http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/1851_pdf/e093/e002305107.pdf

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1871: Garafraxa West, Wellington Centre, Ontario

Jane Connolly, 70, widow, in her son John's household. all Church of England
http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/1871/pdf/4396615_00683.pdf
http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/1871/pdf/4396615_00684.pdf

[oldohiohome]

Freeholders Lists, 1796 - 1802 for Fermanagh
no Sinclair in Fermanagh, 94 elsewhere in the 6 counties currently in NI. Searchable at:
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/search-freeholders-records

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Tithe Applotment Books, 1823 - 1838 in Fermanagh:
Lots of Connollys in 9 parishes, including the 2 where there were Sinclairs

for Sinclair:
parish-of-derryvullan  Sinclair, Dr.    
parish-of-drummully  Sinclair, Jas.   
parish-of-drummully  Sinclair, Wm.   
parish-of-drummully  Sinclair, Wm.   

[oldohiohome]

What is your source for their being born in Co. Fermanagh?

[oldohiohome]

baptism of son James in Church of England in Montreal
Anglican Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal, Records, Droin Collection

page 1 of the book:
"the Protestant Parochial Church of Montreal called and known by the name of Christ Church in the Province of Lower Canada" ... "the rites and ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the United Church of England and Ireland"

James, son of Alexander Connolly, a carpenter, and of Jane Sinclair, his wife, was born on the 29 January 1824 and was privately baptized on the 7 September following by me [signature unreadable]

[philduran]

Thank you so much for the research!  The list of the children (Matilda et al.) are definitely Alexander and Jane's kids; I am descended from John.  I realize now that my initial note was not entirely clear on one point: what I was really hoping to find were the people (info, grave locations) of those Alexander and Jane left behind in Ireland -- that is, Alexander's parents, Jane's parents, etc. I have uncovered a good bit of the Canadian info (and you have added to it! many thanks!), but am really trying to go back a bit further, and there is where I have been stymied.