BRIDGET WOLFE (1835-1930) DAUGHTER OF JOHN WOLFE SR. & ANN O'HEARN

     The John Wolfe family left their home in the County of Limerick, Ireland about the time of the Great Famine of 1845-1850.  They were not alone, since approximately one million inhabitants of the stricken country emigrated during this desperate time. The first known family members were John Wolfe, born about 1797, and his wife Ann O’Hearn, born about 1805. (See Appendix D)  Their four youngest sons died before the Wolfes left Ireland. The remaining children were John, Patrick, Bridget, and James Wolfe.  James was blind, and it has been suggested that this may have been the reason the family emigrated to Canada, rather than to the United States, which allowed only the able-bodied to become citizens. The Wolfes travelled to West Luther Township, Wellington County (Ontario), and finally a bit further north to what would soon become Proton Township, Grey County (Ontario). Here, they were among the earliest settlers of the district. They began to carve out a new life for themselves in a foreign country, under harsh conditions.

     The Wolfes had lived in a "great house" along the River Shannon.  From the garden wall, they saw ships sail by on their way to America, the land of Promise, Plenty and Peace. This panorama may have influenced them to seek a more stable future across the Atlantic Ocean when the potato crop failure brought massive hunger, and political and economic turmoil. The crop failure was caused by a blight, phytophthora infestans, that began during unusually wet weather conditions in the summer of 1845. This natural disaster was worsened by local social and economic conditions, and by the inadequate response of the British government to the crisis. The fate of one million others who stayed was death due to starvation and disease. 

     John Wolfe emigrated first and was joined in America two years later by other family members. Bridget and the others boarded the ship, the Georgiana, at Limerick City and arrived at the port of Quebec after forty days at sea.  After one week in Quebec, they travelled to Montreal, then by boat up the St. Lawrence River, and through Lake Ontario to Hamilton. They readied the horses that had arrived on the boat with them, and travelled the road to Guelph in one day. One year after that, Patrick, known as Patsy, followed. Patrick’s journey took seven weeks; when he located the rest of the family, his father was overjoyed and called him the one who fell from heaven. The men found work building the first railway through Upper Canada, the Grand Trunk Railway.  After completion of this project, they journeyed north up the Garafraxa Road to West Luther.  Another tradition indicates that Patrick came to Canada at about twelve years of age with his father, possibly as early as 1844, and that the rest of the family followed later.

     The surveyor, David Gibson, and his gang conducted a survey of the southern part of Proton Township, just north of West Luther, beginning at the end of 1853.  He noted that the area contained a wide variety of timber, including maple and other hardwoods.  Masses of fallen trunks, some up to two feet in diameter, impeded the progress of the survey.  Although Gibson’s report did not mention the presence of any settlers, it is possible that squatters had arrived by this time.  The first land sales for Proton were held in December of 1856.  The buyers were mainly Scottish or Irish.  Though not listed as purchasers at this sale, the Wolfes are said to have been among the earliest settlers in the southeast part of Proton, likely first as squatters.  Most of the others in this new community were also from southern Ireland.

     Pioneering was a job for only the hardiest individuals. There were no roads in the area yet, but blazed trails wound through the bush.  The pioneers carried supplies on their backs from Mount Forest, Fergus, and even Guelph, a distance of forty-five miles.  During the 1850s, land clearing was underway and the air was thick with smoke from the burning of the dense forests.  The 1860s brought crop failure and losses of livestock in the area.  Township of Proton (1857-1982) A Historical Sketch states that the year 1864 was known as the "Starvation Year" because the entire wheat crop was frozen and settlers had to buy bread, corn and meal.  Few deer or birds were seen in the area, since food was so scarce.

     Eventually, the Wolfes occupied several locations in Grey County, and in Wellington County to the south. An early map shows that family members became title holders of a number of lots in the neighborhood.  James Wolfe was located just north of the Grey-Wellington county line on Lot 20 Concession 1 in Proton Township, Grey County on land he had received in the will of his father, John Wolfe Senior. (See Appendix A)  The first Mass in the vicinity was held in a log house at Wolfe’s on Lot 20.  A decendant, Patrick Manion, became the owner of this lot in later years. To the east, John Wolfe was found on Lot 30 Concession 1 Proton Township.  Lot 30 was still referred to as "Wolfe’s" by the Mulhall family who owned it in 1984. In 1904, James Wolfe sold ½ acre of another piece of property, Lot 17 Concession 1, for $40.00 for relocation of the Egerton School, U.S.S. #10, when the school sections were rearranged.  An 1865 directory lists John Wolfe on Lot 21 Concession 3. Until about 1980, there were the remains of a very old log cabin on a riverbank on this lot. Michael J. Wolfe became the owner of Lot 17 Concession 14 in West Luther Township, Wellington County in 1885 after a conveyance from Patrick Wolfe, who had purchased it in Dec 1860. This Patrick was probably Michael’s father.

     Ann Wolfe died on 17 Feb 1872 and her husband, John Wolfe, died on 20 Mar 1886.  A soft headstone with illegible writing, except for the words "erected by his son James Wolfe," marks John’s burial place in St. Patrick’s R.C. Cemetery in Proton Twp.  An engraved bronze plaque has been attached to it in recent times. The broken, but repaired, white gravestone beside it is that of his wife, Ann.  These stones were not listed in a cemetery recording done by the Ontario Genealogical Society in 1983, but there is a Wolfe stone with first name unrecorded in the list that could refer to the eroded, soft stone monument.  Ann Wolfe was probably buried at the old St. Patrick's Cemetery located on Lot 21 Concession 3 and her headstone moved later, since the new church was not built on Lot 24 Concession 3 until 1881.

HEADSTONES OF JOHN WOLFE SR. (LEFT) (ABT 1797-20 MAR 1886) & HIS WIFE ANN O'HEARN (RIGHT) (ABT 1805-17 FEB 1872) St. Patrick's Cemetery Lot 24 Concession 3 Proton Township, Grey County Ontario, Canada

Their children were:

   John Wolfe born in Ireland in about 1834, married Margaret Quinlivan (abt 1837-6 May 1917) and raised a large family in Proton Twp.  He died on 18 May 1903 and was buried at St. Patrick's R.C. Cemetery, Proton Twp.  Children:

• Maria born abt 1857, married Michael Fitzgerald 13 Nov 1882.
• Norah born abt 1859, married Daniel Shea also called O’Shea (1857-1920), died 5 Jun 1947.
• Thomas born abt 1860 in Ont.
• Bridget born abt 1860 in Ont.
• Patrick John born abt 1861 in Ont.
• Mary Ann Jean born on 26 Jul 1863 in Proton Twp.
  
• Margaret born on 10 Jun 1865 in Ont.
• Johanna or Josie born 1867 in Ont.
• Michael Joseph born abt 1870 in Ont.
• Agnes Martha born abt 1870 in Ont.
• Catherine Elizabeth born on 6 Apr 1873 in Ont.
• Rebecca Anne born on 5 Jul 1875 in Ont.
• Ellen Mary Veronica born on 27 Jul 1877 in Ont, called "Nellie," died 1958.
• Simon Peter Martin born on 21 Dec 1879 in Ont.

HEADSTONES OF JOHN WOLFE JR. (ABT 1834-18 MAY 1903) & HIS WIFE MARGARET QUINLIVAN (LEFT) & THEIR DAUGHTER ELLEN ("NELLIE") WOLFE (RIGHT) St. Patrick's Cemetery Lot 24 Concession 3 Proton Township, Grey County Ontario, Canada

    Patrick J. Wolfe, was born in Ireland in about 1835, married Mary Dooly, (abt 1838 in County Limerick, Ireland- bet 1900/1910). Mary's mother had died when she was born, and she and her father came to Canada in about 1847, when she was nine years old.  Patrick and Mary were married when she was sixteen. In the 1870s they moved to Hamilton, Ont where good schools were available for their children.  His descendants have told that Patrick loved wide open spaces, however, and wished for a warmer climate and a farm.  In about 1883 he wrote to his son Patrick in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, and was advised to come there to investigate the surrounding area. The family stayed in St. Louis while Patrick searched for land. At Lebanon, Missouri the train broke down, and he found a suitable farm for sale near the edge of the town. The family returned to Canada and set off in wagons with their possessions and livestock. His daughter, Eva Alice, was in charge of the livestock and helped in herding across creeks along the way. At the time of the move, the four oldest children were adults living on their own. Mary Dooly died at Lebanon, Missouri and is buried there.  Patrick died 22 Oct 1921 in Washington Township, Vernon County, Missouri, U.S.A, with burial on 24 Oct 1921 at Lebanon, Missouri. The children were:

• Michael J. born abt 12 Jul 1858, 1st married Margaret Lillis (who first married Mr. Egan), 2nd married Jane Berry (who first married Mr. Taylor), remained in Hamilton where he owned a hotel, died 20 Jan 1932 in Hamilton.
  
• Thomas , unmarried.
• Margaret born on 26 Feb 1862, joined the Catholic Convent Sisters of St. Joseph in Hamilton but left the convent after contracting tuberculosis.  Married Joseph Kenck of Helena, Montana, USA.
• Patrick Joseph born on 3 Feb 1864, lived and died in St. Louis, Missouri, unmarried.
• Bridget M. born on 21 Feb 1866, called Bess, married John Caufield of Lebanon, Missouri, died Jan 1947.
• Mary Ellen born on 15 Mar 1868, married George Zwikstra.
• Ann Elizabeth born on 13 Apr 1870, a twin to Mary Jean, called Elizabeth, married Dr. Byron McLean of St. Louis and later remarried to Burr Carter.
• Mary Jean born on 13 Apr 1870, a twin to Ann Elizabeth, called Jane, married Constant Pfund of St. Louis, remarried to Eugene Akin of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.
• Francis Joseph born on 27 July 1872, died in 1874.
• John born on 1874, died in 1876.
• Eva Alice  born abt 1876, married Andrew W. Curry of Lebanon, Missouri.
  
• Joseph born in 1878, lived in British Columbia, Canada.

    Bridget Wolfe was born on about 25 Dec 1835 in the County of Limerick. She married a neighbor, John Mangan, later called John Manion (abt 1820-9 Dec 1898), patent holder of the north half of Lot 13 Concession 14 of West Luther Twp. It is said that she married him at the age of fifteen years. This should not be surprising because early marriage and large families were common place here, as in Ireland before the famine. Although the tragedy of the famine caused the reconsideration of the practice by survivors who realized that Ireland could not support such a large population, in Canada, a large family (especially sons to help clear the land and erect buildings) was an asset. When aged, Bridget lived with her daughter Julia, and at times attempted to run away to her old farm home. Julia and a friend would have to search for her. She died at Julia’s home at Cedarville, Ont on 21 Nov 1930 (See Appendix B). John and Bridget’s children were:

• Hanora born abt 1855, called Nora.
• Anna Mathilda born 15 Oct 1858, called Annie, married William J. Byrne, lived in San Francisco, Cal., became a widow who owned a fine dressmaking shop and an apartment building there, died on 23 Aug 1949 at San Francisco, buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, Cal. on 26 Aug 1949.
• Bridget born abt 1860.
• John born on 12 Nov 1862 in West Luther Township, married Elizabeth Ellen Stephen (1863-1943) on 18 Aug 1887. Moved to Nanton, Alberta in early 1910 where the family managed a restaurant- "Meals 25 cents J. Manion Prop." and then to Stettler, Alta in abt Dec 1910, homesteaded in the Little Gem district near Hemaruka, Alta in the spring of 1911, died on 18 Feb 1940 at Consort, Alta, buried on 21 Feb 1940 at Youngstown, Alta.
• Michael Joseph born on 28 Jan 1865 Proton Twp, married Elizabeth Cooper (1869-1946), died on 18 Mar 1950, buried on 20 Mar 1950 at Avondale Cemetery, Stratford, Ont.
• Patrick Joseph born on 26 May 1868 in Ont, married Elizabeth McNenny (abt 1877-18 Jul 1957) in 1902, died on 29 June 1932, buried on 1 July 1932 at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Proton Twp.
• Mary Ellen born on 13 Sept 1869 Proton Twp., married Michael T. Brazill.
  
• Martin R. born abt 1871, died on 29 Nov 1892 of pleurisy, buried at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Proton Twp.
• Catherine Bridget- born on 7 Oct 1873, married Frank Anthony Stock (1869-1948) in Proton Twp. on 31 Oct 1892, died on 12 Jul 1950 at Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA.
• Thomas Bernard born 26 May 1876 in Ont, married Ethel Maria McNabb (1882-1972) on 1 Aug 1898, moved to a farm about four miles from Davidson, Saskatchewan in 1917, died on 23 Nov 1963 at Davidson, Sask, buried there.
• Margaret Joan born abt 8 Apr 1880, married William Hollis on 16 July 1900 at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church, Proton Twp.
  
• Julia Ann born on 30 Apr 1881 in Ont, married Alexander Kerr (1888-1972), died on 30 Mar 1935 at Cedarville, Ont, buried St. Patrick’s R.C. Cemetery, Proton Twp.
• Agnes May born on 14 May 1883 in Ont, married James Edward Hollis on 26 Nov 1906, died on 30 Mar 1973, buried on 2 Apr 1973 at Avondale Cemetery, Stratford, Ont.
• (Male)

   

HEADSTONE OF JOHN MANION SR. (ABT 1820-9 DEC 1898) & HIS WIFE BRIDGET WOLFE (ABT 25 DEC 1835- 21 NOV 1930) & THEIR SON MARTIN MANION ( ABT 1871- 29 NOV 1892) St. Patrick's Cemetery Lot 24 Concession 3 Proton Township, Grey County Ontario, Canada

     James Wolfe was born in Ireland in about 1841 and was blind.  (See Appendix C)  He married Mary Ellen Enwright who was born in Limerick County, Ireland at St. Mary’s R.C. Church, Mount Forest, Ont on 8 May 1875.  He died on 16 Feb 1914 and was buried at St. Patrick's R.C. Cemetery, Proton Twp.  Their children were:

• Mary A. born abt 1876 in Ont., married John Doyle.
  
• John Francis Joseph born abt 1879 in Ont.
  

   Tragic circumstances in their homeland forced the John Wolfe family to seek opportunity in a foreign land.  Like many other relocated Irish citizens, family members sought work as labourers, then soon began to establish themselves in agriculture in Ontario, the United States and other parts of Canada.  Under primitive conditions, these hardy pioneers forged new enterprises that later evolved into modern North American industries.  As a result of the initiative of their forebears who turned misfortune into opportunity, the descendants of John and Ann Wolfe and their children have lived in greater comfort than they would have without the foresight and courage of their risk-taking ancestors.

This is the last Will and Testament of me, John Wolf Senior of the Township of Proton in the County of Grey in the province of Canada, Farmer of the age of Sixty five years and being of sound mind and memory do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament

made this Twenty seventh day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty four as follows:

I Give, Devise, and Bequeath All my Messuages, Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments, And all my Household Furniture, Ready Money, Securities for Money, Money secured by Life Assurance, Goods and Chattels, and all other my Real and Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever, unto James Wolf my Son (who is blind) (with this exception that Bridget Wolf my daughter receive two dollars, John Wolf and Patrick Wolf each receive one dollar) Land as specified above being situated in the Township of Proton Lot Number twenty in the --- Concession New-Survey admeasurement ninety nine acres be the same more or less --- of the whole at the decease of myself and my Wife Ann Wolf.  His heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, To and for His and their own absolute use and benefit, according to the nature and quality thereof respectively, Subject only to the payment of my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, and the charges of proving and registering this my Will.  And I appoint James Buckley and Martin Ryan Farmers both residing in the Township of Proton in the County of Grey and Province of Canada Executors of this my Will, And hereby revoke all other Wills.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, the day and year above written.

Signed, Sealed, Published, and Declared
by the said John Wolf Senior     John Wolfe
Farmer  of  the  Township  of  Proton
as and for his last Will and  Testament, in the presence of us, who both present together at the same time, in his presence, at his request, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses.

Robert Montgomery  Farmer of Township Proton
John Johnston  Farmer of Township Proton

Mrs. John Manion
On Friday evening, November 21, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alex Kerr, Cedarville, there passed away one of the very oldest residents of these parts in the person of Mrs. John Manion.  She had reached the great age of almost 95 years.  Her maiden name was Bridget Wolfe.

On the following Monday her body was laid to rest in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Proton.  The beautiful floral tributes and spiritual offerings showed the love and esteem in which she was held by her children and neighbors.  Requiem High Mass was offered by the Rev. Father Callahan.  The pallbearers were six grandsons: Vincent Hollis, Damascus; Martin and Lawrence Manion, West Luther; Uriah Manion, Minto; Phillip Hollis, Stratford and Glen Stock, Detroit.

Mrs. Manion was the mother of fourteen children.  Four predeceased her.  The living are as follows: Mrs. Anna Byrne, San Francisco; Mrs. Ed Hollis, Stratford; Michael, Stratford; Mrs. Michael Brazill and Mrs. Frank Stock, Detroit; John of Alberta; Thomas of Saskatchewan; Patrick of West Luther; Mrs. Wm. Hollis of Coburg; and Mrs. Alex Kerr of Cedarville.  There are 52 grandchildren and about 60 great grandchildren.  Following is a story of her life as told by her to one of her grandchildren.

A HARDY PIONEER

I was born in the County Limerick, Ireland in the year 1835.  We lived in a great house along the River Shannon.  From the garden wall we could sit and watch ships pass out bound for the Land of Promise, Plenty, and Peace, America.  The sea used to fascinate me and the tides were always a source of wonder.  I had seven brothers, four of them died before we left and the three remaining, the oldest, came to America with us.  I was the only girl.

My father came to America two years before my brothers and me.  The Georgiana, the boat we sailed on, left the city of Limerick and landed at Quebec forty days later.  A year later my older brother came here and was seven weeks on the Atlantic.  We were giving up all hopes of ever seeing him again.  When my father saw him coming down the road he did not recognize him.  He said to mother, "there is a green horn coming.  I'll bet he has news of Patsy, my lost son, for me."  When he saw it was Patsy he called him the one who fell from heaven.

We remained in Quebec a week and then went to Montreal and from there by boat to Hamilton.  At Hamilton, we secured the horses which had come on the boat with us.  We then drove to Guelph in one day.  The roads there were good at the time.  Our men helped to build the first railroad through Upper Canada for the G.T. Railway Company.  From Guelph we moved up to West Luther as soon as the railroad was finished.

Our neighbors were scarce at that time.  I had fourteen children and I raised all of them in a cradle that looked like a sap trough.  I have walked to Guelph several times, a distance of forty-five miles with no road, but the trees were chopped to mark the way for the travellers.  Those were the good old days.

There was a man.  I think a brother of Nell and Nora.*  At any rate he was known as blind Jimmie Wolf.  I never knew him but heard lots of stories of how he could get around the country with his dog.  A son of one of the early village storekeepers told me that Mr. Wolf and his dog would come the several miles to the store in late afternoon and have supper with the family whom he knew, then in the evening all the old lads of the village would congregate at the store, smoke and swap yarns and generally have a good old conflab till early hours of the morning.  The storekeep's son said he used to try to hang around to listen to them.  He said one night they were talked out and Mr. Wolf thought he should be getting home and everyone started feeling sorry for him having to go home in the dark but he said, "Devil the bit of difference it makes to me if its daylight or dark.  It’s dark anyway!"  And away he went with his faithful dog.

*Actually an uncle of Nell and Nora