October 24, 2009:

Hi Al, 
 
I think the builder of the steamship Olive in Smiths Falls must be this William O'Mara whose marriage is below, 
and whose obit is below that  (found on the Web, but it didn't copy too well!).
 
The O'Mearas, from Newry, County Wicklow, Ireland, on the Fitzwilliam Estate, married the Balfes in S. Elmsley/Lombardy, who were from 
Kennystown, etc. I've always thought that the ship builder's father (also William)  likely worked on the Rideau Canal, since he was 
here so early. I put together an FTM file on the family a while back. Also will send you 
some quotes about the Olive from the history of South Elmsley.
 
3495-73 
William O’MARA, 38, widower, ship builder, Kingston, same, s/o William O’MARA & Margaret ROWAN, married Julia O’LOUGHLIN, 30, 
Kingston, same, d/o James O’LOUGHLIN & Catherine MEAGHER, witn: James WALSH & Annie O’LOUGHLIN, both of Kingston, 
23 Oct 1873 at Kingston 
 
 
Death From Asphyxiation.

BROCKVILLE, Ont, May H. — 
Captain William O'Mara, a well-known resident of Smiths Falls, was found dead in his room
at the Albion hotel, death being due to asphyxiation, gas having escaped from a
jet which was not fully turned off. The deceased had sailed the Lakoa for many years.

Among the children of Wm. O'Mara and Mgt. Ronan, Edward O'Meara married Sarah Balfe (d/o Thomas Balfe and Sarah Kenny) and Elizabeth O'Meara 
married Michael Balfe (s/o Thomas Balfe and Sarah Kenny). The Balfes were Fitzwilliam emigres (on the CD), but the O'Maras came earlier.

Descendants of William O'Meara
Generation No. 1
1. WILLIAM1 O'MEARA He married UNKNOWN.
Notes for WILLIAM O'MEARA:
William Mara, aged 64 in 1827, with his wife aged 66, lived at Urelands (Newry), County Wicklow, as undertenant
to the Dowse family, who had 250 acres. Wm. Mara had 2 acres, and one son and one daughter living with them.
They were gone by 1839.
All of the Maras were gone by 1848.
Children of WILLIAM O'MEARA and UNKNOWN are:
2. i. WILLIAM2 O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1796, Co. Wicklow, Ireland; d. 24 May 1887, Township of Elmsley, Ontario, Canada.
3. ii. JAMES O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1795, Co. Wicklow, Ireland; d. 29 Jan 1883, Township of Elmsley.
Generation No. 2
2. WILLIAM2 O'MEARA (WILLIAM1) was born Abt. 1796 in Co. Wicklow, Ireland, and died 24 May 1887 in
Township of Elmsley. He married MARGARET RONAN.
Notes for WILLIAM O'MEARA:
It appears that William Mara, brother of James Mara, was probably living with his father in 1827, while James
Mara, the brother, was on a small plot in the same area.
Ontario death registration: informant Michael O'Meara. "Infirmities of old age - ten days."
Children of WILLIAM O'MEARA and MARGARET RONAN are:
i. WILLIAM3 O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1834, Kitley, ON; d. 11 May 1897, Brockville, ON; m. (1) WINNIFRED MARY
LEONARD, 28 Nov 1871, Kingston, ON; b. Abt. 1848, London, ON; m. (2) JULIA O'LOUGHLIN, 23 Oct
1873, Kingston, ON; b. Abt. 1843.
Notes for WILLIAM O'MEARA:
Witnesses at William's marriage to Winnifred Mary Leonard were James Quigley of Kingston and Isabella
McAuley of Portsmouth.
Ontario death registration: cause of death, asphyxiation from illum'g gas.
Marriage Notes for WILLIAM O'MEARA and JULIA O'LOUGHLIN:
3495-73 William O’MARA, 38, widower, ship builder, Kingston, same, s/o William O’MARA & Margaret
ROWAN, married Julia O’LOUGHLIN, 30, Kingston, same, d/o James O’LOUGHLIN & Catherine
MEAGHER, witn: James WALSH & Annie O’LOUGHLIN, both of Kingston, 23 Oct 1873 at Kingston
ii. ANN O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1836.
iii. MICHAEL O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1839.
4. iv. EDWARD O'MEARA, b. 14 Apr 1841, Ontario.
v. MARGARET O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1844.
vi. JAMES O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1846, Lombardy, ON; m. MARGARET ANN WALSH, 04 Sep 1883, Perth, ON; b.
Abt. 1850, Perth, ON.
Marriage Notes for JAMES O'MEARA and MARGARET WALSH:
Witness to the marriage was Arthur McCann of North Burgess.
5. vii. ELIZABETH O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1848.
2
3. JAMES2 O'MEARA (WILLIAM1) was born Abt. 1795 in Co. Wicklow, Ireland, and died 29 Jan 1883 in Township
of Elmsley. He married CATHERINE DOYLE. She was born in Ireland.
Notes for JAMES O'MEARA:
Ontario death registration; informant: Lewis O'Mara.
James Mara was at Urelands (Newry), Co. Wicklow in 1827; he was 33 and his wife was aged 30. He was a
labourer and had 4 acres. In 1827, they had 3 sons and one daughter living with them, but in 1839, they had 8
sons and one daughter.
James Mara was a herd in 1839.
The Tithe Applotments of 1833-34 show James Mara and James Kenny living in Springfield, part of Urelands.
James Mara had 6 acres 3 rod 2 perch, and James Kenny had 3 acres 38 perch.
William Mara was gone.
Also living at Springfield, part of Urelands at this time were Thomas Kavanagh, Patrick and Mary Beahan, John
Summers, Thomas Byrne, Michael Connors, David Williams, and Patrick Murphy.
Children of JAMES O'MEARA and CATHERINE DOYLE are:
6. i. TIMOTHY3 O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1835, Ireland; d. 30 Apr 1924, Lombardy, ON.
7. ii. LEWIS O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1831, Ireland.
iii. MICHAEL O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1837, Ireland.
iv. PATRICK O'MEARA, b. 03 Jun 1838, Newry, Co. Wicklow, Ireland; m. CATHERINE MCGUIRE, 06 May
1867, Smiths Falls, ON.
Notes for PATRICK O'MEARA:
Baptismal sponsors were Patrick and Mary Connors.
Marriage Notes for PATRICK O'MEARA and CATHERINE MCGUIRE:
Witnesses to the marriage were Edward Mara and Catherine Howley.
8. v. WILLIAM O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1819, Co. Wicklow, Ireland; d. 09 Apr 1899, S. Elmsley.
vi. MARY O'MEARA, b. 16 Sep 1836, Newry, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Notes for MARY O'MEARA:
Baptismal sponsors were Charles Murphy and Bess Whelan.
Generation No. 3
4. EDWARD3 O'MEARA (WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 14 Apr 1841 in Ontario. He married (1) LUCY TETLOCK
24 Feb 1876 in Smiths Falls, ON, daughter of HENRY TETLOCK and ELIZABETH MOORE. She was born Abt. 1852
in Lombardy, ON. He married (2) SARAH BALFE 04 Feb 1880 in Smiths Falls, ON, daughter of THOMAS BALFE
and SARAH KENNY. She was born 15 Nov 1848.
Notes for EDWARD O'MEARA:
Baptized at St. Francis Xavier Church, Brockville. Sponsors were Thomas Hall and Elizabeth O'Meara.
Marriage Notes for EDWARD O'MEARA and LUCY TETLOCK:
Witnesses to the marriage were Michael McCarty and Catherine Mara.
Notes for SARAH BALFE:
Baptismal sponsors were Michael Franks [Shanks?] and Mary Balf.
Child of EDWARD O'MEARA and LUCY TETLOCK is:
i. ELIZABETH ANN4 O'MEARA, b. 08 Dec 1876.
Children of EDWARD O'MEARA and SARAH BALFE are:
3
ii. MARGARET T.4 O'MEARA, b. 09 Jan 1880, Ontario.
iii. THOMAS W. O'MEARA, b. 10 Apr 1882, Ontario.
iv. SARAH O'MEARA, b. 08 Feb 1884, Ontario.
v. ANNA S. O'MEARA, b. 02 Sep 1886, Ontario.
vi. EDWARD J. O'MEARA, b. 18 Jul 1888, Ontario.
vii. ROSELLA L. O'MEARA, b. 21 Jan 1890, Ontario.
viii. MICHAEL O'MEARA, b. 10 Mar 1893, Ontario.
5. ELIZABETH3 O'MEARA (WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born Abt. 1848. She married MICHAEL BALFE 16 Nov 1898
in Smiths Falls, ON, son of THOMAS BALFE and SARAH KENNY. He was born 30 Jul 1852 in Ontario.
Notes for MICHAEL BALFE:
Baptismal record, St. Francis de Sales Church, Smiths Falls:
August 24, 1854 (?) Baptized Michael, born 30 July same year, legitimate son of Thos. Bolf and Sarah Kenney.
Sponsors: Patrick Synnott and Bridget Murphy.
Children of ELIZABETH O'MEARA and MICHAEL BALFE are:
i. EVELYN4 BALFE.
ii. MARK BALFE.
iii. THOMAS HUGH BALFE.
6. TIMOTHY3 O'MEARA (JAMES2, WILLIAM1) was born Abt. 1835 in Ireland, and died 30 Apr 1924 in Lombardy,
ON. He married JULIA BOLGER 25 Jan 1859 in St. Philip Neri Church, Toledo, daughter of PATRICK BULGER and
CATHERINE CARNEY.
Notes for TIMOTHY O'MEARA:
Ontario death certificate; informant: Robert Anderson, son-in-law.
Marriage Notes for TIMOTHY O'MEARA and JULIA BOLGER:
Witnesses to the marriage were Daniel Bulger and Ann O'Mare.
Children of TIMOTHY O'MEARA and JULIA BOLGER are:
i. MARGARET4 O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1868, Lombardy, ON; m. JOHN LEWIS EDWARDS; b. Abt. 1868.
ii. CATHERINE O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1862.
iii. MICHAEL O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1863.
iv. DAVID O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1869.
v. JULIANNE O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1873.
vi. HELEN O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1875.
vii. ANNA O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1876.
viii. AGNES O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1878.
ix. MARY O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1880.
7. LEWIS3 O'MEARA (JAMES2, WILLIAM1) was born Abt. 1831 in Ireland. He married MARY ANN SMITH.
Children of LEWIS O'MEARA and MARY SMITH are:
i. JAMES4 O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1849, Canada West.
ii. CATHERINE O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1856, Township of Elmsley; m. MICHAEL MCCARTHY; b. Abt. 1856, Perth,
ON.
iii. ELLEN O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1853, Ontario.
iv. PATRICK O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1855, Ontario.
v. WILLIAM O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1859, Ontario.
vi. MARY ANN O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1854, Kitley, ON; m. CORNELIUS MURPHY, 19 Jun 1873, Newboro, ON; b.
Abt. 1847, S. Elmsley, ON.
Marriage Notes for MARY O'MEARA and CORNELIUS MURPHY:
Witnesses to the marriage were Nancy Hutton and F.L. Stephenson.
8. WILLIAM3 O'MEARA (JAMES2, WILLIAM1) was born Abt. 1819 in Co. Wicklow, Ireland, and died 09 Apr 1899
4
in S. Elmsley. He married MARY HALL, daughter of THOMAS HALL and ELLEN. She was born Abt. 1829 in
Ireland.
Notes for WILLIAM O'MEARA:
Ontario death registration; informant James Carroll.
Children of WILLIAM O'MEARA and MARY HALL are:
i. ELEANOR4 O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1846, Canada.
ii. JAMES O'MEARA, b. Abt. 1848, Canada.
iii. THOMAS O'MEARA, b. 21 Aug 1851, Ontario.
Notes for THOMAS O'MEARA:
Baptismal records from St. Francis de Sales Church, Smiths Falls:
7 Sept 1851, baptism of Thomas, born 21 August, s/o Wm. O'Meara and Mary Hall. Sponsors: George Jordan
and Mary Fox.


... Anne Burgess

more from Anne ...
Here is an excerpt from SMITHS FALLS: A Social History of the Men and Women in a Rideau Canal 
Community, 1794-1994, by Glenn J. Lockwood, page 428:



The parents of William, the shipbuilder, were living in Kitley in 1851 (attached). They had clearly moved around because at the time of his marriage,
Wm. the shipbuilder gave his birthplace as Kingston.
 
South Elmsley in the Making 1783-1983. Township of South Elmsley, 1984, by James R. Kennedy,  says (p.57):
 
 "The O'Maras, later O'Mearas, appeared in the township after 1850. William O'Mara, apparently a resident of Upper Canada for some years, took up 
 land east of the Breen family near Lombardy in the third concession."
 
This was the area where a number of Canal workers settled, not too far from Poonamalie Lock.

also, from the same book, Page 250:
 
"The earliest [cheese] factory in South Elmsley was started by Michael and John O'Mara who farmed on the north side of the Lombardy road 
around the village. During the early 1870s, they set up a cheese factory at Lombardy. It was a patrons' organization that involved milk being 
delivered from 500 to 600 cows..."
 
"The cheese manufactured at Lombardy generally went out of the township for sale...The cheese was sent to Montreal by way of the Rideau 
from Rideau Ferry. Boxes of cheese were taken to the wharf at the ferry and were picked up by Adam Foster's steamship Olive. When the Canadian 
National Railway was put through South Elmsley in 1913, cheese was shipped from the Lombardy station to Smiths Falls by the patrons and 
then by C.P.R. to Montreal."
 
Page 512:
 
"The people of the east end of the township even took part in the fun on the Rideau. In the 1890s the residents of the townline and 
Highway 29 communities held their annual excursion on the steamer Olive on the first Saturday in August. In 1898, this excursion had 
about eighty farmers and their families on board when they went to Portland and Grindstone Island." (in the Big Rideau Lake, opposite
Murphy's Point Provincial Park).
 
... Anne

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