McElroy Family History
I am a great great great grandson of Henry McElroy, who with his wife Joanna Chambers, and their children Patrick, John, Mary, Robert, and Margaret formed one of the original military families that settled in Richmond, Ontario circa 1818. Over the years a great deal of information had been collected about Henry and his many descendants. But with the death of my father, George Eldon McElroy Jr. and my great aunt Kathleen Anna McElroy, much of this information has been forever lost. I would like to collect here what I do know before the remainder is lost.
Recent Additions
- Obituary of Herbert Hood McElroy
This Obituary of Herbert Hood McElroy was published in the Ottawa Citizen, 1956 October 6.
added: 2005 June 05
- Descendants of Edward Rielly and Sarah Bell
This page identifies some of the descendants of Edward Rielly and Sarah Bell. For some background (perhaps a little romanticized) on Edward and Sarah see: The Elopement of Sarah Bell and the History of the Rielly House
added: 2005 April 24
- Family Trees
This is a new section to the McElroy Family History. It collects together all of the family tree pages and slightly restyles them so as to de-emphasize the "McElroy Connection". The intent is to make this section a little friendlier for hosting non-McElroy family trees and thus facilitate the addition of more non-McElroy family trees. The addition of such pages is solicited.
added: 2005 April 24
- Family Photos
This is a new section comprising McElroy family history related photos.
added: 2005 April 24
- Family Tree: Descendants of John Dinsmore and Mary Anne Jackson
This page identifies some of the descendants of John Dinsmore who was the nephew of my great great great grandfather, Henry McElroy. Henry's sister, Mary Ann and her husband, William Dinsmore died young, leaving John and his sister Margaret as orphans. While John never made it to Canada, four of his sons did and his descendants are well represented in Canada, today.
added: 2004 Dec 05
- The Elopement of Sarah Bell and the History of the Rielly House
This article, written by my father, George Eldon McElroy, Jr. relates how Sarah Bell, daughter of Hugh Bell of Bell's Corners eloped with Edward Rielly, the family's coachman. Edward Rielly went on to become the proprietor of the Rielly House, Richmond's main hotel in the 19th century.
added: 2004 Dec 03
Table of Contents
Pages
- History of Richmond, Ontario, Canada
This account of the history of Richmond was written by William McElroy, during the summer of 1923, and given as an address on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the building of St. John's Anglican Church in Richmond, Ontario.
- Henry McElroy and Family
Henry McElroy was one of the original military settlers in Richmond, Ontario. This summary of his life is derived from notes prepared by my father, (since deceased).
- Discharge of Henry McElroy of the 37th Regiment of Foot
This is a transcription of the discharge certificate of Henry McElroy of the 37th Regiment of Foot. May 18, 1819
- McElroy Ancestors in 18th century Drumgooland Parish
In 1965, my father commissioned the Ulster-Scot Historical Society to search for evidence of Henry McElroy's ancestors and family in Drumgooland Parish, County Down, Ireland. The summary of the evidence found is reproduced here.
- The Irish Ancestors of Henry McElroy
Henry McElroy was born at Drumgooland Parish, County Down, Ireland on May 1, 1774. He was the son of William, born circa 1750. We have some knowledge of his family and relatives living in the townlands of Leitrim, Benraw and Leganany in that century. That knowledge is summarized here.
- Family of Eliza Craig of Richmond, Ontario
Henry's son Patrick married Eliza Craig. This page provides some information pertaining to the Craig family.
- Early Days in Richmond by Kathleen A. McElroy
This account of growing up in Richmond, Ontario, around 1900, was prepared by Kathleen Anna McElroy on the occasion of Richmond's Sesquicentennial (1968). Kathleen was the daughter of William, grand daughter of Patrick, and great grand daughter of Henry. She was born in Richmond on March 30, 1894. She died, one day short of her 100th birthday in Ottawa.
- The Elopement of Sarah Bell and the History of the Rielly House
This article, written by my father, George Eldon McElroy, Jr. relates how Sarah Bell, daughter of Hugh Bell of Bell's Corners eloped with Edward Rielly, the family's coachman. Edward Rielly went on to become the proprietor of the Rielly House, Richmond's main hotel in the 19th century.
- Flight Lieut. Victor Henry McElroy, D.F.C.
Victor Henry McElroy (Harry) was the son of William McElroy and Emily Hyacinth Chevers, grandson of Patrick McElroy, and great grandson of Henry McElroy. He was born in Richmond in 1897. He was killed in action over France in 1918. He was jumped by enemy fighters while engaged in tree top level "ground strafe" against German troops and transport. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.) posthumously.
- Family Tree: Descendants of Henry McElroy and Joanna Chambers
This page identifies many of the descendants of Henry McElroy, who, along with his wife Joanna Chambers, and their children Patrick, John, Mary, Robert, and Margaret formed one of the original military families that settled in Richmond, Ontario circa 1820.
- Family Tree: Descendants of Duncan MacDougall and Isabella Brown
This page identifies many of the descendants of Duncan MacDougall and Isabella Brown. Duncan MacDougall was a farmer at Long Point, Quebec while Isabella (or Elizabeth) Brown was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Brown of Goulbourn Township, Ontario. Duncan MacDougall and Isabella Brown are my great great grand parents.
- Family Tree: Descendants of John Dinsmore and Mary Anne Jackson
This page identifies some of the descendants of John Dinsmore who was the nephew of my great great great grandfather, Henry McElroy. Henry's sister, Mary Ann and her husband, William Dinsmore died young, leaving John and his sister Margaret as orphans. See (Letter from John Dinsmore of Rostrevor, County Down, Ireland to Henry McElroy of Richmond, Upper Canada). While John never made it to Canada, four of his sons did and his descendants are well represented in Canada, today.
- Newspaper Stories and Announcements
A collection of newspaper articles, stories and notices -- primarily obituaries -- pertaining to the McElroy family of Richmond, Ontario.
- Announcement of Birth of William McElroy, 1848, Richmond, Ontario
At the time of the birth of William McElroy, Patrick McElroy was on a trip to Quebec. The following day, Eliza Craig (McElroy) wrote him a letter announcing the event. That letter is reproduced here.
- Letter from Anne Rooney to Henry McElroy of Richmond, Upper Canada, 1834
This is a letter to Henry McElroy of Richmond, Upper Canada from Anne Rooney, his sister in Ireland. It is important because it provides evidence relating to Henry's siblings.
- Letter from John Dinsmore of Rostrevor to Henry McElroy, 1844 May 28
This letter from John Dinsmore of Rostrevor, County Down, Ireland to Henry McElroy of Richmond, Upper Canada, dated 1844 May 28, provides an interesting glimpse into the hard life of a servant in 19th century Ireland.
- MacDougall family home in Arnprior, Ontario
A picture of the MacDougall Family Home in Arnprior, Ontario.
Pictures
"Along the Jock River (I); a watercolour painting by William Maurice Merrick McElroy"
"Along the Jock River (II); a watercolour painting by William Maurice Merrick McElroy"
"Letter from Eliza Craig to Patrick McElroy announcing the birth of William McElroy"
"MacDougall family home in Arnprior, Ontario"
"McElroy Store in Richmond, Ontario circa. 1870."
"Portrait of William McElroy by George Eldon McElroy Sr."
"William McElroy watering his horse (and buggy) in the Jock River"
"Picture of Flight Lieut. Victor Henry McElroy, D.F.C."
Galleries
Watercolor Paintings by William Maurice Merrick McElroy
External Pages
- Goulbourn Township Historical Society and Museum
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The mission of The Goulbourn Township Historical Society is to preserve, for public enjoyment and education, the heritage of Goulbourn Township. The artifacts collected and displayed depict the period from 1818, the date of the first land tickets, to the present day.
- The Lindsay Family
-
The posting of the Rev. Peter Lindsay, a Presbyterian Minister, to Richmond was a significant event in McElroy Family History. He arrived accompanied by his sister Margaret serving as his housekeeper. Peter married Patrick McElroy's daughter Ann and Margaret married Patrick's son Henry. Peter Lindsay was subsequently posted to Cumberland. Patrick's daughter Mary, while visiting her sister Ann, met her future husband William Wilson.
Peter Lindsay died in 1912, at 93 years of age. He was at the time, although retired, the oldest Presbyterian minister in Canada.
This site provides genealogical information about the Lindsay family.
- Kelly Dinsmore's Virtual Art Gallery
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Kelly Dinsmore is a descendant of John Dinsmore, nephew of Henry McElroy. This site features Kelly's art work.
Acknowledgements
Charles Chevers-Coppen has kindly provided information about the Chevers Family and several valuable photographs.
Kelly Dinsmore has kindly provided information about the family and Canadian descendants of John Dinsmore, nephew of Henry McElroy.
Donald Macdougall has kindly provided information about the family and descendants of Duncan MacDougall and about the Bangs Family. Donald may be contacted at ay441@ncf.ca with the subject line "Macdougall family history".
Phillip Westerman has kindly provided me with valuable suggestions and copies of several documents he has collected in his search for ancestors in Drumgooland parish. Phillip's ancestor, John Westerman served in Canada with the 8th Regiment of Foot. We have no reason to suppose that he ever crossed paths with Henry.
John Wynne has kindly provided information pertaining to his ancestors in County Down. While it seems possible that his family is related to mine, we have not yet made that link.