2010 Albuquerque McIlmoyle Family Reunion Apr 29 - May 2

At a relatively small southwest style home in Albuquerque, at least 45 McIlmoyl(e) descendants and families gathered over the four days. This house has been home to 2 generations of the family and, had it not been an 'adobe style' house, I'm positive that the walls would have been bulging. There were attendees from the states of Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas and Washington as well as me from British Columbia, Canada. The meals were wonderful and the company and  conversation couldn't have been more enjoyable. Several generations were represented and all except for me were direct descendants of Hugh Sr (s/o John & Mary) through his son Hugh and his son James who left Ontario for the USA. My ancestry is through Hugh Sr's youngest brother Thomas through his son James Dysart and his son James Thomas who was the one to leave Ontario for British Columbia.

I find it hard to describe how it felt to meet so many wonderful family members. I had no idea there was going to be that many present and know it will take me some time to sort out who everyone was and to whom each one belonged (grin).

As near as I can tell, the primary cousins who deserve a huge vote of thanks for the success of this wonderful event are siblings Berenice, Jim & Charles plus niece Maureen. Thank you all so very much for the opportunity to meet so many new cousins. Many others pitched in with cooking, cleaning and transporting as well as contributing food and drinks.
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Not to be forgotten are the 4-legged family members of which I think there were 5. Most of the time, they seemed to enjoy the attention from so many different people.

JoanMC

ON THIS DAY in 1840

ON THIS DAY in 1840 - 169 years ago, in what is now Cardinal, Edwardsburgh Township, Grenville County, Upper Canada, James Thomas McIlmoyl (JT) was born to James Dysart McIlmoyl and Clarissa McFarland. As JT is my great-grandfather, I thought I would honour him on his birthday by reprinting an article from a newspaper clipping saved by my maternal grandmother and niece of JT's which was published in August of 1930 in recognition of his 90th birthday.

"HONOR PAID BY SAANICH TO PIONEER
J.T. McIlmoyl Created Honorary President of the Saanich Pioneers' Society
Distinguished Gathering Sunday at Saanichton Honored Oldest Living Pioneer

J.T. McIlmoyl, pioneer resident of Victoria and Saanich, was the guest of honor yesterday afternoon at a well attended "at home" held by the Saanich Pioneer Society in the Agricultural Hall, Saanichton, in honor of his ninetieth birthday. The hall was decorted [sic] with sweet peas, golden rod and baskets of ferns.

Alex. Thompson, president of the Saanich Pioneers' Society, tendered vongratulations [sic] to Mr. McIlmoyl, who thanked the society for making him an honorary life member. Recalling the early days, Mr. McIlmoyl expressed appreciation of the friendship of the late William Thompson.

ONE OF THE FOUNDERS

H.E. Tanner, president of the North and South Saanich Agricultural Society, of which society Mr. McIlmoyl was one of the organizers, extended hearty congratulations to Mr. McIlmoyl from the society.

On behalf of the Pioneers' Society Mr. MacDonald presented the guest with a box of cigars, and Mrs. R.E. Nimmo presented a bouquet on behalf of the ladies of the society, after which 'He's a Jolly Good Fellow' was sung.

A letter of congratulations was also received by Mr. McIlmoyl from the South Saanich Women's Institute.

Afternoon tea was served at small tables. A huge birthday cake, with ninety candles on it and handsomely decorated, was presented from the Thompson family, and Mr. McIlmoyl performed the ceremony of cutting the first piece. Tea was poured by Mrs. R.E. Nimmo and Mrs. F. Turgoose. The following ladies assisted in serving: Mrs. R.D. Pope, Mrs. W.D. Michell, Mrs. Wilkerson, Misses Lena Anderson, Doris Michell and Loretta Pope.

Born in Ontario on August 24, 1840, Mr. McIlmoyl came to Victoria across the Isthmus of Panama in 1862. Going to the Cariboo, he spent three years gold mining and on his return farmed in North Saanich for thirty years. In 1870 Mr. McIlmoyl married Miss Mary Ann Simpson, daughter of a pioneer Saanich family.

Of eleven children, ten survive, and the following were present at the reception: J.H., Bert and Fred McIlmoyl, and Mrs. C.A. Post of Victoria, Charles of Patricia Bay, Walter of Sidney, George of Hazelton, Mrs. Emma Morthcott and Mrs. G.T. Edwards of Vancouver.

".

JT is the opening character in the Mc Book where I will attempt to chronicle his active, adventurous and lengthy life which included, in addition to the above, being a member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for 4 years, a school board trustee, a church warden and church treasurer, secretary of the North & South Saanich Agricultural Society, a successful farmer and the Grand Secretary of British Columbia for the Ancient Order of United Workmen for over 35 years. As if that wasn't enough, he became a single father after the death of his wife when his youngest children were only 2, 3(twins) & 5 with the oldest being in their early 20s.

All in all, an amazing man whom I wish I'd been privileged to meet. I'm sure I'll become even more acquainted with him as a person and family member while writing the Book! Happy Birthday JT wherever you are!!!

8-)
JoanMC

John McIlmoyl Sr's Character Reference from 1774

The following was transcribed from the original parchment by my late mother. She was unable to make out all the information about the person who signed it, however at a later date, I found a reference which gave me the likely missing transcription.

I do hereby certifie that the bearer John McIllmoil is a Prottestant of the Established Church and a Parishoner of mine, that he always behaved himself with the utmost Propriety and Educated a Numorous Family in a Christian Manner. Given under my Hand at Portglynone in the Parish of Ahoghill and County of Antrim in Ireland this 15th Day of June 1774. ???? Babington ???? of the Peace

The missing info where the question marks are is: Humph. Babington, Curate, Clerk of the Peace. I was able to fill in these blanks due to the same parish curate having taken the 1766 Religious Census that I have and which Humph. Babington also signed.

So here we have another interestingly different spelling of the name.....

AND....I'm still looking for some info on this week's 'stray', George R. McIlmoyl(e)

8-)
JoanMC

Last Week's Stray & a New One

Thanks so much to cousin Diane for sending me to http://genealogy.mcfadyen.ca which gave me Edward Lawrence's (Ted) parents and grandparents. He was the son of Harry McIlmoyl and Ella Hales and Harry was the son of Thomas McIlmoyl and Margaret Mairs. Thomas' parents were John McIlmoyl and Abigail Nichols with this John (there are so many of them) being a son of Hugh (s/o John & Mary) McIlmoyl and Jane May. Of course once I saw his ancestry, I realized that I actually had info about him from the local Saskatchewan history book "Pioneers and Progress: The History of Southey District", published in 1980! Obviously, I should have taken a third look at the excerpts that I have of this history.

I have to say that I'm really enjoying filling in these blanks in preparation for the book(s) and truly appreciate the cousins who have shared information to enable this.

Now, for this week's stray.....DO YOU KNOW.....who the parents are of George R. McIlmoyle? He married Rosella Albert on 7 March 1904 in Nelson BC? If you have some clues, please share them in the 'Comments' below.

In my next post, I'll transcribe the Character Reference brought to North America by John McIlmoyl when he travelled here with his family from County Antrim in Ireland in June 1774.

8-)
JoanMC