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 twenty-five.

My great-great-great grandmother, Elizabeth Humphreys, was born around 1820 in, we believe, Lisnarick, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland. I know nothing beyond her early years beyond that.

Elizabeth married Christopher Summerville around 1840 in Ireland.

They emigrated to Canada in 1846, just as the potato famine was taking hold in Ireland. The records of James Allison, Emigrant agent at Montreal, show the family arriving June 19, 1846, on a “List of destitute emigrants forwarded to Montreal per steamer ‘Montreal’.” Christopher and Elizabeth were travelling with their children John (about 5), Annie (about 3) and Jane (under a year). Sadly, little Jane passed away the following month, on July 26, 1846.

By 1851, the family had settled in East Gwillimbury, York County, Ontario. The census shows Christopher (32), Elizabeth (33), John (10), Ann (8), Hugh (3), and Jane (1). Christopher is listed as a labourer and the family is living in a one-story frame house.

In 1861, the family is still in East Gwillimbury, but their house has grown to two stories. Christopher (42) and Elizabeth (43) are living there with Ann (17), Hugh (12), Jane (10), Elizabeth (6), Christopher (4), and Mary (3). Christopher is listed as a labourer while Hugh and Jane are in school.

By 1871, Christopher (50) and Elizabeth (52) are home with Jane (20), Christopher (14) and Mary (13). Christopher is a labourer and Jane is a seamstress. Christopher and Mary are attending school. The census also shows that Elizabeth was illiterate.

In 1881, the family continues to live in East Gwillimbury. Christopher (60) and Elizabeth (59) are home with Christopher (24) and Mary (23). Christopher Sr. continues to be a labourer while Christopher Jr is a carriage maker.

Christopher Jr. passed away in 1884. Mary passed away at the beginning of 1886. Elizabeth herself passed away on November 3, 1886 of a liver abscess. She is buried in the Sharon Burying Ground.