May 22, 2008:

Hi Al;
 
A new book has appeared on the "Our Roots" website, entitled "Hello Nepean", 
published in 1974 by the Merivale Pioneer Historians and written by Sara B. Craig,
(a descendant of Gervais Craig from County Tyrone). 

The book is searchable at http://www.ourroots.ca/e/toc.aspx?id=12342
 
The book mentions a "Gold Dust" Tierney (official name, James Tierney) who lived on 
the Richmond Road.  He died a very old man but I am not sure who his parents were.  Do 
you have any idea who he was or why he was nicknamed "Gold Dust"?

Here is the story from "Hello Nepean":


Source: Sarah B. Craig, Hello Nepean, page 45.
... Sue


Hi Al;
 
I think I found him.. He was an old bachelor, a son of William Tierney and Bridget Maher
/ Meagher.  He was born in 1846 and "Gold Dust" Tierney (James Tierney) died in July of 1931.  
He was an 'inmate' in the St. Pat's home and had 'strayed away' from the home that night.  
He was struck by an automobile on the Richmond Road near the old Villeneuve Hill and 
died of "old age and his injuries".  He was buried at St. Patrick's (in Fallowfield) on 
July 6, 1931 (notation of "known as 'Gold Dust') in the church registry margin.
 
Apparently the old rumours were that the Tierneys, who had accumulated a bit of wealth, 
stored their gold in barrels, so perhaps this is how the nickname came about....?

He is the only one who fits, as all the other 'old' James died earlier and were married.  
James is mistakenly listed as married in the 1911 census, but that is indeed just a mistake.  
He is living with his brother Thomas Tierney's widow, Mary Elizabeth Burrows, and her 
children.  He just seems to be an old bachelor who, according to the book "Hello Nepean", 
rode his old horse around and was quite a character.  I wish I could find a July 1931 
newspaper of the area which carried his obituary.  If you are ever someplace which might 
have something like this, please remember to look up "Gold Dust" Tierney.
 
... Sue
 August 20, 2009:

Here is a photo of the Tierney Homestead. I'm pretty sure that this stone farm home
was on the west side of Richmond Road, between Bells Corners and the Hope Side Road,
in what is now part of the Bridlewood subdivision.



The photo source is Source: Sarah B. Craig, Hello Nepean, page 46

 
E-mail Sue and Al Lewis


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