Jen's Genealogy Pages

Amy Johnson Crow, on her blog No Story Too Small, has challenged her fellow bloggers to post 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. This is week fifteen.

My great-great grandfather Robert Hunter was born around 1821 in Ireland. I haven’t yet determined exactly where in Ireland (although rumour has that it was the County Antrim/Belfast area). I don’t know exactly when he was born, nor who his parents were, nor if he had siblings! Obviously I still have much work to do.

However, I do know he married Hannah Dool sometime around 1840 while they were still in Ireland. They emigrated to Canada shortly thereafter.

The 1851 Canadian census finds Robert (35) and Hannah (29) living in Chinguacousy, Peel County, Ontario. Robert is a weaver. At that time, their children included James (11) and Thomas (9). The census says they were both born in Ireland. Robert (8), William (6), John (4) and Joseph (2) were all born in Canada. This suggests the family emigrated somewhere around 1842.

I have yet to find the family on the 1861 census but by 1871, they have grown in number. They are still in Chinguacousy Township but now at home with Robert (55) and Hannah (48) are James (30), Thomas (28), Robert (26), William (24), John (22), Joseph (19), Alexander (17), Henry (16), Hugh (7) and Jacob (5), along with sisters Mary (14), Jane (11) and Hannah (9). Of the fourteen children born to Robert and Hannah, only one (Issac, Jacob’s twin) died in infancy. Robert is still a weaver but all the boys old enough to be working are listed as labourers, except for Joseph who is a telegraph operator.

By 1881, Robert (60) and Hannah (57) are still in Chinguacousy with William (31), Jane (22), Hannah (19), Hugh (17) and Jacob (15). Robert is now listed as a farmer, as is William.

Robert passed away on May 29, 1888 of Bright’s disease. My understanding is that he is buried in Mayfield United Church cemetery.