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 sixteen.

My great-great grandmother Hannah Dool was, according to the 1901 census, born in January 1823 in Ireland. Her death registration shows that she was born in January 1820. I haven’t yet determined exactly where (although, as with her husband Robert Hunter, the County Antrim/Belfast area seems likely). And I have no additional information about her family – parents or siblings.

I do know she married Robert Hunter sometime around 1840 while 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. Their children at that time 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.

Since last week, I managed to finally locate at least part of the family on the 1861 census. Robert (50) and Hannah (39) are show in Chinguacousy with John (13), Joseph (11) and Alexander (9). I have yet to determine where James, Thomas, Robert and William are. Given that they would be between 16 and 21 at the time, I expect that they might be out working elsewhere.

By 1871, however, all four eldest boys are back home again with their parents in Chinguacousy Township. Robert (55) and Hannah (48) are home with 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 I am aware of that were born to Robert and Hannah, only one (Issac, Jacob’s twin) died in early childhood.

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

Robert passed away on May 29, 1888. Consequently, the 1891 census shows a widowed Hannah (70) with just Hugh (26) and Jacob (24) at home.

In 1901, Jacob (35) is showing as the head of household. His mother, Hannah (77), is living with him.

On October 22, 1908, at 88 years old, Hannah passed away from ‘senile decay’.