The Islands: Biographies: Wolfe Island Bio 4

Wolfe Island Biographies 4




The Dawsons of Wolfe Island--
From Irish Emigrants to Politically Connected Canadians

By Pat McAvoy-Costin

In the early 1800�s economic conditions were desperate in Ireland. So desperate, two of my ancestors left everything behind for a chance at a better life in Canada. John B. DAWSON was born about about 1797 in County Kilkenny, Ireland (Southern Ireland) while Mary McCALLUM was born about 1798 in County Antrim, Ireland (Northern Ireland). In the early 1800�s they joined thousands of other Irish emigrants seeking a better life in Canada.

Not much is known about the conditions they left behind in Ireland�but, typically, the Irish lived in poverty under the English landlord system. When the Irish were lucky enough to own their own land, the farms were small and the families were large making emigration a necessity even before the Irish Famine in the 1840�s.

According to the Index of Passengers who emigrated to Canada between 1817 and 1849, the Irish emigrant ships were not the passenger ships we know today�but rather timber ships �bringing lumber and other goods from North America to Great Britain�. To make their return voyages profitable, the same ships (without any additional accommodations for human cargo) became emigrant vessels. Trips between Ireland and Canada could take up to 10 weeks in cramped, crowded and unsanitary conditions�and many died on the journey. So many died, in fact, that these ships were sometimes called �coffin ships�.

After surviving their voyages, not much is known about John and Mary�s early years in Canada. John Dawson may have served in the army. The name �John Dawson� appears on the Old United Empire Loyalists List, Appendix B. They must have been married around 1824 or so. (I need to do further investigation into these early years.)

The first record of the John B. Dawson family on WOLFE ISLAND is reported upon the birth of their son, John DAWSON, who was born February 12, 1826 according to St. Mary�s Catholic Church of Kingston records. At that time, there were about 276 people living on the island. It is believed the Dawsons already had an older son, Patrick.

Five other children were born on the island�Mary (March 25, 1828), Catherine (about 1832), Richard (about 1833), George (born about 1838) and Thomas (born April 04, 1839).

The family prospered on Wolfe Island. The 1851 census lists John B. Dawson�s occupation as that of a 54-year-old �gentleman� running a hotel on the island. The hotel was probably located on Brown�s Bay where the family had five choice waterfront lots. The census lists John and Mary along with five of their seven children as living at home along with two servants and three soldiers, and a few local boarders.

Two of their children were already married by the time of the 1851 census and living with their own young families on the island. Their son, Patrick, was listed as being a laborer who had married Harriet BARRETT, daughter of Isaac BARRETT and Isabell DAVIS (other early island settlers). Their daughter, Catherine, had married Patrick McEVOY (born about 1825), an immigrant Irish blacksmith, around 1849.

As John B. aged, he eventually turned over the running of the hotel to his son, John. In addition to running a hotel, John or his son had one of the three tavern licenses available on Wolfe Island during 1868-1869. The cost for the license was $5.00.

While running the tavern, the Dawson�s establishment was probably a popular Wolfe Island meeting place. They heard all the local news and made connections with their neighbors and friends. The connections probably helped them politically.

In Winston's Cosgrove's book, Wolfe Island Past and Present, it states that one son-- "Thomas Dawson was the first reeve directly elected by the people of Wolfe Island in 1865.� (Not being from Canada, I looked up the definition of �reeve�. According to Webster�s dictionary, a reeve is the elected president of a town council in some parts of Canada.) Thomas also served as Wolfe Island reeve for the years 1867, 1871--1874, and 1897. He was also a lumber merchant and a vessel proprietor.

Eldest son Patrick Dawson was a farmer. He, too, served as Wolfe Island reeve between the years of 1879-1881. Patrick and his wife, Harriet, eventually had eight children born on the island. One of their sons, Daniel (born September 23, 1853), on Wolfe Island was married to Salina J. SPOOR, (daughter of Morey SPOOR and Harriet TURCOTTE). Daniel also served as clerk of Wolfe Island for 29 years according to Cosgrove.

Second son, John, served as the hotel keeper for many years. He married Maria CUNNINGHAM (born in US 1840). They had seven children, all born on Wolfe Island.

Oldest daughter, Mary, married John BAKER (born 1822 in Ireland). They farmed on Wolfe Island for many years and had 5 sons on the island.

Daughter, Catherine, with her husband, Patrick McEVOY, had 13 children on Wolfe Island and farmed for many years. Patrick also continued as a blacksmith.

Son, George, is listed as a Customs House Officer, inspector of licenses and the township clerk. In 1878, he is listed as the owner of several Wolfe Island properties.

His family well connected and established on Wolfe Island, John B. Dawson died July 08, 1882 at Wolfe Island at the age of 85. John B�s beloved wife, Mary, died on September 24, 1873 at Wolfe Island. They are buried together at Old Sacred Heart Cemetery on the island.

In their journey from Ireland to Canada, the Dawson family went from desperate Irish emigrants�to politically connected Wolfe Island Canadians.


Sources (and thanks to):

--1851 Census of Wolfe Island transcriptions
--Index of Passengers who Emigrated to Canada Between 1817 and 1849, The Ontario Genealogical Society, 1999
--Wolfe, Garden and Simcoe Island 19th Century Families by Russ Waller, UE
--Wolfe Island Past and Present by Winston Cosgrove (transcribed by Chris Morrell).
--Index to Baptisms 1833-1910 Sacred Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, Wolfe Island, Frontenac Ontario Canada (transcribed by Chris Morrell)
--St Mary�s Church Records, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, LDS films 1298763, 1298764, 1298765, and 1298766.
--Old Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Cemetery Transcriptions--The Islands: Government: Reeves and Deputy Reeves Copyright (�) 2000, Jennifer Hoeltzel
--Ontario Sessional Papers of 32 Victoria 1868-69, Return of the Number of Tavern Licenses issued in each County, City, Town, or Incorporated Village Courtesy of Marjorie P. Kohli, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 1997
--Canadian County Digital Atlas Project, McGill University


Pat McAvoy-Costin



The Islands: Biographies: Wolfe Island Bio 4
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