Gatineau Valley History and Genealogy:
Algonquin Nation history and Irish and French Settlers in the Maniwaki area
Kitigan Zibi Anishinàbeg
January 21, 2005:
Since Time Immemorial: "Our Story", by Stephen McGregor,
The Story of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinàbeg,
Kitigan Zibi Education Council, 2004, ISBN 0-9734910-1-9,
Research Team: Sandra Diabo Decontie and James Odjick, 344 pages.
This is a fascinating book describing the history of the Algonquin Nation
in the Ottawa River Valley and it's watershed, mainly in the River Desert
region at Maniwaki. As I read through the book, I'll add some material to
this web site regarding Algonquin history. The web site until now has begun with
the first white settlers in this region, led by Philomen Wright in 1800.
Now, we will be able to push the beginning date back further.
The Algonquin Nation, from time immemorial, inhabited the Ottawa River Valley
Watershed. Pertaining to the scope of this web site, the Algonquin territory
covered the area bounded by Oka (Lake of Two mountains), Maniwaki (where the
Desert River joins the Gatineau River) and the Pembroke area including
Allumettes Island.
The Algonquins were located at all of the rivers which flow into the Ottawa
River such as the Rouge, Petite Nation, Lievre, Gatineau, Black, Colounge and
Dumoine River on the Quebec side.
On the Ontario side, the important tributary rivers were the South Nation,
Rideau, Mississippi, Madawaska and Bonnechere.
This was the traditional area of the Algonquins in the Ottawa Valley.
(More to come regarding Algonquin history).
... Al
_____________________
Beginning in 1848, Father John Regis Deleage O.M.I. oversaw the construction of
a large Catholic Church at South Gloucester, just south of Bytown (Ottawa).
He was young and ambitious and was transferred to a new parish in the Maniwaki,
Quebec area in 1853. There had been Irishmen working in the Maniwaki area, first
in the fur trade and later (from about the 1830's) in the shanties of the square
timber trade. North of Maniwaki, a large provincial park called Parc La Verendrye
exists today. On a canoe trip a few years back a fourth generation resident talked
about how, in the early days, the men working in the logging industry kept in touch
with each other, in order not to get lost in the bush, by shouting. Voices carry
over a very wide range across the big lakes and the sounds of shouting and singing
resounded back and forth through the low hills and valleys. Incidentally, the headwaters
of the Ottawa River (Riviere Grande) are in La Verendrye Park. Travelling west from
above Maniwaki you can reach Lake Temiscaming in Northern Ontario. The Temiscaming area
was about the extent of the timber trade on the Ottawa River and the church records
from there contain many familiar Ottawa Valley names.
A village just east of Maniwaki is called Deleage after Father Deleage.
August 5, 2005: (new picture)
Deleage, Quebec, August 2005
But I digress! Shortly after taking up residence in Maniwaki, Father Deleage "returned
to South Gloucester and interested 17 families in moving to his new parish to populate
a new land".
Source: Michael Daley in 140th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet for St. Mary's,
South Gloucester, 1845-1985 (now called Our Lady of the Visitation).
There were Irish people scattered along the Gatineau River at the time of the Famine.
Martindale Pioneer Cemetery, 1874-1900, from "A Little Memorandum for 1900" by
Father Blondin commemorates the Famine Immigrants. He details how the French-Canadian Clergy
from the Gatineau Valley went to Grosse Isle and co-ordinated the re-union of Famine
immigrants with their friends and relatives already in Canada.
I believe the 17 families who went to Maniwaki from South Gloucester were all young,
a mixture of Irish and French.
I have information on many of the Irish families who attended St. Mary's in the
late 1840's but am not sure of the names of the families who went to Maniwaki /
Gracefield / Kazabazua in the 1850's.
Does anyone have information on these families? Possible surnames include
SULLIVAN O'BRIEN McCAFFERY McDONALD HENRY (was McENERNY?)
CUNNINGHAM PLUNKETT KEANE / KANE / CAIN
My own ancestors were BURNS, SULLIVAN, McGEE, CHRISTOPHER,
BAILEY, DUFFY and others.
I also have birth records from 1848-1850 (South Gloucester) which include some French
surnames -- people who may have moved to Maniwaki in the 1850's or later.
Thanks for any information.
... Al
Al:
My sister gave me a copy of the history which I referenced in a previous message and the
earliest Sullivan in the Gatineau Valley was Dennis O'Sullivan (next generation dropped
the O') born in Ireland, married to Catherine Skillen, also a native of Ireland. There
is no indication of the location in Ireland for either. Dennis was born in 1816, died
Jan. 20, 1883; Catherine, born 1836, died August, 1911.
... Brice Cruikshank
From Darlene Lannigan, July 2001:
On page 123 of the newly published book, "Une riviere qui vient du nord...Histoire de
Maniwaki et du pays de la Gatineau" by Louis-André Hubert, it states in footnote #56
that Father Régis Déléage in 1853 from Gloucester, Ontario. He is responsible for
bringing the first Irish families to our region & the families are: Milmore, Donohue,
Brady, Ryan, Vanance, Logue, Thompson & Lynche / Lynch. The source of this info is, Jean
Courvoyer, "Dictionnaire des noms propres: le petit Jean).
====================
Hi,
Just thought I would let you know that I responded to your query (above) on the Rootsweb
site regarding the Irish families that Father Deleage enticed to Maniwaki.
I live in Maniwaki, Quebec & have bits & pieces of info on families here. Maybe I
could help you or others searching for their roots here.
As for me, I am researching the Lannigan / Lanigan family. Our branches include Dougherty,
White, Lawless
Darlene Lannigan
=====================
Hi Darlene:
Thanks very much for your e-mail regarding Father Deleage and Maniwaki.
I noticed your posting to Rootsweb a couple of days ago but am a bit behind in my e-mail.
When Father Deleage was having the church at South Gloucester built around 1848,
the land for the church and cemetery was donated by a family named Dougherty. Would this
be one of your ancestors?
Also I noticed a place called "Deleage" just to the east of Maniwaki on the map. Is this
village or settlement still called "Deleage"?
I think there was some resentment in the South Gloucester and Osgoode Township areas
when the 17 families left. This was a lot of parishioners leaving at one time, just
as the new church was being established. There had been a lot of discussion on where
to locate the church and South Gloucester was chosen as the most populated (and therefore
had the most money!).
Also, some families resented the loss of their young people - even though most of the
land here had been taken up by 1850. In the long run it was beneficial to all as some
of the young families were able to get established not too far away and did not have to
go to the U.S. for land.
I know that it led to more people from here settling on the "Quebec side". Some of my
Sullivan, Christopher and Burns ancestors moved to the Danford Lake / Kazabazua area
later on.
It's amazing how the people from different parishes in Nepean, Gloucester, Huntley,
Ottawa, the Pontiac, and Maniwaki / Gracefield area are connected.
Do you mind if I add a copy of your posting to Rootsweb to the Maniwaki page on my
web site? This is interesting material and I'm glad to finally get the names of the families.
Also, I've come across the name Lannigan a few times. Would this have been spelled Landrigan
or Lonergan in the old days?
I'll have a look around my records for them if you think you may be connected. I think some
of them originally settled just to the west of Ottawa as part of the Peter Robinson group
in 1823.
Also, if you'd like to post more material to my web site from the Maniwaki area, please
feel free. I'll add your e-mail address to the Maniwaki page for other researchers to
exchange information with you.
Thanks again for this!!
... Al Lewis
September 10, 2001
See also some cemetery records from the Montcerf Cemetery, north of Maniwaki, transcribed
by Darlene Lannigan.
November 25, 2001
Thanks to Susan Brady for letting us know of her web page regarding the Assumption Parish Cemetery
near Maniwaki.
She's researching the following families: BRADY, BRENNAN, LEBEAU, McCARTHY, THOMPSON and
WHELAN and her cemetery listing includes many other Irish names, as well as English, French,
Scottish and Native Canadians.
See also the Moore Family in the Maniwaki area - a possible McCabe List connection.
Note: There's also a cemetery listing for the pioneer cemetery at Martindale. It contains
some of the same names listed on Susan Bradys' site.
November 28, 2001
Al:
I have to make this quick as it is almost midnight and I have been
burning the midnight oil for some days now trying to get this site up on
the Internet.
Betty Thompson (Daley) is my aunt, my mother's sister. My page because
of its size is a .gif file and thus is not printable. I did notify my uncle
John Brady and he went over to his daughters house to view the listing on the
Internet. I'm hoping to reach as many people as possible before the due
date of December 15, 2001.
Thank you for linking my page to your site.
Keep in Touch
Susan Brady
P.S. One of my ancestors was married to a Fogerty / Fogarty (she is on the list as
well)
September 8, 2002:
Hi there!
I was very interested in your information regarding Maniwaki, Quebec that I
found posted. We have been having difficulty getting any information on my
husband's grandfather who was born in Maniwaki in 1860 and was married there
in 1885. I don't know if you can help or at least direct me as to where I
might be able to find out some information. I would certainly appreciate
any help/advice that you could forward. Thanks a bunch and have a great
weekend.
Joan SEVIGNY
September 15, 2002:
Patrick Kane and his wife Jane
Tipperary to Troy, New York
Hi Al,
Just happened across the article and the mention of the name Kane in the
Quebec area. Perhaps no connection but I have been trying to find out
about my family of Patrick Kane and wife Jane that left Tipperary,
Ireland sometime after 1847. It is thought that they came through Canada.
They are found in Troy, New York in 1855, apparently arriving there
sometime after the 1850 census. Would it be possible that my Kane family
could have spent some time in Quebec as indicated by some of these Irish
families you mention?
Thanks.
Mary
E-mail maryp1213@charter.net
==========================
Mary:
Most of the immigrants who came from Ireland to Canada after the famine years
arrived at either Halifax or Quebec City and left almost immediately for the U.S.
Some of them may be recorded in the records of Quebec City or Montreal - if they
had a child baptized there, for example. They also may have had relatives in Canada.
There was easy movement back (to work and live) then between Upper Canada and
northern New York state.
... Al
October 11, 2002:
Hello all.
My name is Kevin Keeney, my father was Orvil Keeney b. 1934 Maniwaki Quebec.
I saw your post concerning a migration from South Glouchester to Maniwaki and would like
to add some info.
My great-great grandfather was Patrick Keeney b. 1810 d 1894 (Assumption Church Cemetery)
married Catherine Thompson Jan 9 1855 at Our Lady of Visitation Church in South Gloucester.
I am looking for further details of the Keeney line. If you should have any I would
greatly appriciate it.
I still have relatives in town and will be getting in touch with them as well. Thanks.
keeney@ns.sympatico.ca
Korey Keeney
ICQ#:149900928
Current ICQ status:
SMS: (Send an SMS message to my ICQ): +2783142149900928
More ways to contact me: http://wwp.icq.com/149900928
November 10, 2002:
Hi Al:
Just rereading your notes about Duffy lineage. I have a Julia Duffy (Gracefield?)
married to a Micheal Patrick Keeney(arrived from Ireland 1847). May have moved to
Blaine Lake (Sask?)
Kevin Keeney
January 3, 2003:
Hello All:
Most of you don't know me, except for perhaps Darlene, I went to school with Brian.
I was searching the web and found a this site:
www.bytown.net/maniwaki.htm
I would like to add my bit about Father Deleage and the settlers. My great-grandfather
met my great-grandmother on the trip across from Ireland. My great-grandfather was
indentured to a farmer in Osgoode and my great-grandmother was indentured to a doctor
somewhere in or around Ottawa. They married after their respective indentures ended and
both worked for the farmer in Osgoode. My grandfather was born there in 1840. I know that
they moved to Maniwaki about 1846 but I don't know the exact date. Their first farm was
just north of what used to be the Cletus Lynch farm (Darlene: Perhaps you remember his
son, Ray.) on the Des Eaux road. (Darlene: You probably know the road that I am talking
about) They moved to another farm, which still belongs to a cousin of mine, on the big
hill just south of Bois Franc.
I don't have much more information and, unfortunately, my father's family members have
all passed on. I got as much information as I could from them but as was typical of the
time, their ancestors were for the most part, illiterate and everything was passed on by
word of mouth.
If anyone has anything to add it would be appreciated.
Regards,
Peter Brennan
January 12, 2003:
Subject: Kennedy / Connelly / Robillard
Hi. I am researching the Kennedy, Connelly and Robillard lines from Maniwaki.
Bernard Connelly married Anna Kennedy in Maniwaki Oct 17, 1856. They had the following
children, Cathleen, Bridget, Mary, Ellen, Philip, Bernard Edward, Anne, and possibly
another son Philip. Three of these sisters married three Robillard brothers. I am
trying to trace Bernard Connelly and Anna Kennedy. I also found a Thomas Knox and
Catherine Connelly from the Masham area. Anyone out there searching for these
same people?
I have been to your website many times and Darlene has been a tremendous and
invaluable help to me.
Regards,
Monique Atkinson
January 14, 2002:
(Thanks to Ken Armstrong for the following...)
Hi All;
Here are a couple of families from the 1881 Census with Robillard and Connelly
surnames, It looks like Bridget Connelly, b. 1863 married Jules Robillard, b. 1855,
and they have Bridget's sister Mary Connelly, b. 1864 living with them, and their
Father Barnard Connelly, b. 1834, is a Widower and living with his daughter Catherine
Robillard (nee: Connelly) and his son-in-law, Moses Robillard, b. 1855, I couldn't
find any other Connelly's in the Maniwaki area, I found a few more Robillards,
but they did not fit the dates for the other Connelly sisters.
Census 1881: Place: Egan & Maniwaki, Ottawa County, Quebec, Canada
Source:FHL Film 1375861 NAC C-13225 Dist 97 SubDist QQ Div 1 Page 17, Family 81:
Jules RABBLIARE, Male, Married, Age 26, Origin French Canadian, Born Quebec,
Occ: Farmer, Roman Catholic
Bridget RABBLIARE, Female, Married, Age 18, Origin French Canadian, Born
Quebec, Roman Catholic
Mary CONNELLY, Female, Age 17, Origin Irish, Born Quebec, Roman Catholic
______________
Census 1881: Place: Egan & Maniwaki, Ottawa, Quebec, Canada
Source: FHL Film 1375861 NAC C-13225 Dist 97 SubDist QQ Div 1 Page 20, Family 92:
Moses RABBILIARD Male, Married, Age 26, Origin French Canadian, Born Quebec,
Occ: Farme, Roman Catholic
Catharine RABBILIARD, Female, Married, Age 25, Origin Irish, Born Quebec, Roman Catholic
Joseph RABBILIARD, Male, Age 5, Origin Irish, Born Quebec, Roman Catholic
P. William ROBBILIARD, Male, Age Less than 1, Born: Feb; 2/12, Origin Irish, Born
Quebec, Roman Catholic
Bernard CONNELLY, Male, Widower, Age 47, Origin Irish, Born Ireland, Occ: Farmer,
Roman Catholic
Hope this helps somewhat, by the way, there were quite a few Kennedy's in the Pontiac County
during this time period, Onslow, Chapeau/Allumette Island, even in the Low, Quebec area. etc.
Ken Armstrong
March 7, 2003:
My name is Annette Belanger. My daughter found your web site. I am interested
in any information you can find for me on the following: Melina Massy, Alfred Massey &
Francois Xavier Robillard. Also parents of Melina & parents of Francois.
Melina & Francois were parents of my grandfather, Wilfrid Robillard. Melina died
at a young age & Alfred Massy raised my grandfather. Francois Robillard remarried
& Alfred raised my grandfather Wilfrid Robillard. I believe this must have occured
in the early 1800's. I know my grandfather Wilfrid Robillard was born in Maniwaki,
Que (Nov. 21st, 1895?). I would presume that the family resided in Maniwaki, Que,
& buried there or in Montcerf. My understanding is that my grandfather did not
keep in touch with his father after he remarried. My grandfather had a brother
Joseph Robillard. They moved to Montcerf, Que. & married into the Ethier family.
My grandfather's uncle, Alfred Massy was married but his wife died at a young age.
Alfred lived with my grandfather until Alfred's death. The uncle died in 1957 at the
age of 85. On the McConnery history I noticed the names Huguette Robillard &
Gilles Lafrance (Huguett's son). Would Huguette be a half sister to Wilfrid Robillard?
I am sorry I have no other information and I am hoping you can help me. It would be
sincerely appreciated. Thank you so much.
Please reply to: nickybel@ntl.sympatico.ca
I am looking forward to hearing from you and really, really appreciate your help.
Monique Belanger
March 11, 2003:
Annette,
I do not have any info for a Melina or Alfred Massy or Massé /Massie /Massi.
I do however have a file on the Robillard family (see attachment) & on page 149 ,
100 ans Ste-Philomene, Montcerf-Lytton 1892-1992, I have a Lydya Ethier who
married Wilfrid Robillard and a Josephine Ethier who married Joseph Robillard,
however,no other info is provided except that I can conclude that the girls' parents
were Xavier Ethier & Marie Lacroix.
Darlene
April 14, 2003:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Hi my name is Leif Squires and I would like to know if there is a way to find out some
information on my Grandfather. His name was Joseph Moise Robillard, born in Maniwaki,
Quebec on December 24, 1919. I think his Father might have been Moise Robillard and his
Mother was Catherine Connoly / Connolly.
The reason I would like to know more about him is I recently found he was possibility
part Indian. Any info on my grandfather would help my search for him and his family.
Please email me at the following email address. leif@roadrunner.nf.net
Leif Squires
May 3, 2003:
PLUNKETT and McCAFFERY
Hi Al,
I noticed that your post looking for information on some of the old families of the
Maniwaki, Gracefied Kazabazua area, was from quite a while ago. Are you still looking
for information on them? If so my mother was one of the Plunketts from Farellton, and
my great grandmother was a McCaffery from either Low or Venosta (I'd have to ask my
grandmother). What sort of information are you looking for? Anyway I'm not far from
Farellton or Low so I could look anything up if need be.
Abe Plunkett-Latimer
May 13, 2003:
hi,i just found your site. I need some help on finding a Percy Beaudry from Maniwaki,
he would of been born about oct 04,1900 & died in Ottawa 1973..he was married to
Sarah Mcquillan born june 27,1909 & died 1972 in Ottawa. These 2 are my grand-parents,
and they seem to have NO PASS!!! thank-you so much Sandra Beaudry sandra5400@rogers.com
May 21, 2003:
MORIN, LANOUE, LACROIX and ROBITAILLE
I am looking for the family names of Morin, Lanoue, Lacroix, and Robitaille.
It is my understanding that they all lived in the Maniwaki, Gracefied, Montcerf area.
any help you gould give would be great......thanks virginia [jenny] [morin] webb
E-mail :jenny@mail.odyssey.net
September 21, 2003:
Hi Al:
I am doing a search for the Robitaille family of Maniwaki.
I have Joseph Robitaille b. c.1860, and just a photo of his wife
(but no name). They had a son, Charles Sr. who was married to Clarisse Seguin,
they had a son Charles Jr. married to Aldene St. Amour.
My email is: lackierjdl@yahoo.ca
Regards
Ron Lackie
September 24, 2003:
Hi Al,
Since there is such a demand for the above mentioned families, I have decided to
forward what I have already prepared. Please feel free to put it on your website.
I do not believe that there is any info that has to be removed since most date back
to the 1800s.
Darlene Lannigan
March 1, 2004:
Lisa Beauchamp is researching the John Hickey family of the Martindale / Low area.
March 10, 2004:
The McClaren Lumber Mills in the Gatineau Valley
Thanks to Michele Duffy Martin for the following:
See also our page on the lumber industry.
Key word for search engine: lumbering
Hi,
I have just read through the emails about the Irish/French families in Maniwaki and
thought I would add some information that may help. My parents grew up in the
Ottawa-Hull area and I heard a lot of stories growing up about Jimmy McClaren
and the loggers up north. My mother knew the McClaren family and my grandfather
hunted up there all the time.
Follow the rivers. The Lievre is a good one. The mills were always along the rivers.
The logs were "pushed" down these rivers and the families often followed the men working
the logs. McClaren kept great records and was know for being very good to his men.
He often lent them money. He was responsible for much of the early electric and phone
service and blazed many of the first roads.
Many of the men ended up working the mills. Many small towns along these rivers had
small mills originally. Gatineau, Hull and Buckingham still have mills, although
they have changed hands many times. I remember E. B. Eddy in Hull.
Regards,
Michele Duffy Martin
jmarti35@columbus.rr.com
April 10, 2004:
Susan Sirois is researching her Aboriginal ancestors in the River Desert
area near Maniwaki. The names are Cecile McDougal / McDougall and John M. Dale.
May 14, 2004:
Inez Allen is researching the John Kelly family who came from
County Carlow to Low, Quebec.
June 9, 2004:
Sean McConnery has transcribed the records of St. Famille d'Aumond Cemetery near Maniwaki.
January 25, 2005:
Hi Al,
just a line to say hello, I have been reading up on your latest addition [MANIWAKI ]
I can relate to a number of those articles , and am able to fill in some information.
Michael and Betty Daley
E-mail: mbdaley@magma.ca
August 4, 2005:
The Gatineau River at Maniwaki, August 2005
See also a picture of the Chateau Logue at Maniwaki.
September 17, 2005:
Greg Lowell is researching his LOWELL and HAYES ancestors in the Martindale area.
November 3, 2005:
Charles Canie and Sophie Lavallee
Hi there:
I was most interested to find your site and especially when Darlene Lannigan said
that she lived in Maniwaki. I have been trying to find information on my great
grandfather and great grandmother, Charles Canie and Sophie Lavallee. My great
grandfather was born in Gracefield in 1860 but Charles and Sophie married in 1885 in
Maniwaki and that is where my grandfather was also born.
There is a family story that my great grandfather was born in Ireland and he and
his brother Frederique were quite young when they came to Canada. For some reason
which I do not know, the two boys were raised by the nuns and apparently the spelling
of the last name was changed from Kenny to Canie. The brother Frederique was
supposed to have been adopted to an American family and my great grandfather went
out on his own at an early age.
I have since come across the obituary from my great grandfather and in it says that
he was born in Gracefield. I am trying to find out if that is true or whether he
indeed did come from Ireland like the story claims.
I really would like to find out the real story and see if I can indeed find Charles
Canie Sr.'s mother and father names so that I can continue on my quest. I have been
searching for about 8 years now.
Any help would be most appreciated.
Janice Canie
E-mail fastflo@telus.net
March 30, 2006:
Can anyone tell me about the Lanigan family who lived in Maniwaki during the
early 1900's. Their homestead was on an Island on the river reachable by boat or barge.
My ancestor's name was Martin Joseph Lanigan. We had a Reunion in Maniwaki in the
summer of 1990.
Thanks Robert Lanigan
____________________
Hello I'm Dorothy Armstrong formerly Lanigan from Sault Ste Marie ONT. My ancestor
was Martin Joseph Lanigan born 1907. He lived in Maniwaki then married my mother Mary Carroll
and lived in Sault Ste. Marie Ont.
... Dorothy Armstrong
February 5, 2008:
Jane Garouette is researching her ancestor, Robert Farrell, who settled in
the Gatineau Valley, (Chelsea area) in the 1830's
March 16, 2008
Darlene Demell is researching her ancestor Mary Roy (Marie-Celina Roy) who married
Ignace Laroche in 1893.
March 20, 2008:
Michèle Ethier is researching her Ethier ancestors in the Maniwaki area.
E-mail Darlene Lannigan, Susan Brady, Joan Sevigny, Brice Cruikshank, Kevin Keeney, Peter Brennan, Monique Atkinson, Ken Armstrong, Monique Belanger, Leif Squires, Abe Plunkett-Latimer, Sandra Beaudry, Jenny Webb, Ron Lackie, Michael Daley, Janice Canie, Robert Lanigan, Dorothy Armstrong, Darlene Demell and Al Lewis
Back to Bytown or Bust - History and Genealogy in the Ottawa, Canada area