Bowles of Reach township, Ontario county

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Map of Reach township in 1877

Click on the map for a larger version

Michael Bowles, the son of Michael Bowles of Ballickmoyler, Queens county, Ireland, came to Canada with his sons in 1842 but he is first on record in Canada in the 1851census working as a labourer in Whitby township. He later homesteaded at Reach township Con. 7 Lot 4. His son Robert homesteaded Reach Con. 8 Lot 13 and son Joseph homesteaded Reach Con. 8 Lot 12. Michael Jr. farmed at Reach Con. 9 Lot 11 by 1877. Connor and Coltson's Directory of Ontario County 1869/70 His daughter Lucy and her husband John Lawler followed them from Ireland in 1847 and also settled in Reach township.

Michael's son John had previously emigrated to Quebec City with his Uncle John Bowles but had moved down to Whitby township, right beside Reach township, in 1832/33 so he was already there when his father and half-brothers arrived. See Michael Bowles of Whitby's Family Tree

Note: Michael and son, Joseph, may have first homesteaded in Bosanquet twp., Lambton co. in January 1850.

Michael Bowles b. Sept. 27, 1778 Cathedral, Manchester, England

(his father Michael Sr. was born in Ireland but he had gone to England to work and settled there for a while; the family moved back to Ireland about 1800)

m.(1) ? likely in Ireland but possibly while still in England

1. John Bowles b. July 6, 1806 Ballickmoyler, Queens co., Ireland

For John's family tree see The Michael Bowles of Whitby township's Family Tree

2. Sara Bowles b. Dec. 29, 1807 Ballickmoyler, Queens co., Ireland

Michael's first wife died (possibly after delivering Sara who may also not have lived much longer than her baptism as there are no further references for her)

m.(2) Rebecca Quinn probably in Arles, the closest RC church to Ballickmoyler

(her existence was proposed as a theory in 2005 and her name was predicted to be Rebecca as all 4 of their known children named a daughter Rebecca; Michael having had two wives was only my theory as his first children, John and Sara, were Protestant and the next children, after a 13 year gap, were Catholic; that was confirmed when the baptism of a 5th son, William, to Michael Bowles and a Rebecca Quinn in 1836 was discovered in the Arles RC parish register when it became available online in 2016)

3. Robert Bowles b. Sept. 30, 1820 Queen's co., Ireland

Came to Canada in 1842

Homesteaded in Reach township Con. 8, Lot 13

m. Mary Moran (b. ~ 1825 co. Mayo, Ireland) Nov. 3, 1847 St. Paul's, Toronto RobertBolesMarriage1847

3.1 Ann Bowles b. ~ 1848 Reach twp.

m. Thomas Marning (b. ~ 1846 Canada; William, Mary Delowry)

Jan. 25, 1869 Beaverton, Thorah twp., Ont. co. ref.

3.1.1 William James Marning b. Oct. 16, 1869 Reach twp., Ontario co.

bp. Nov. 5, 1869 St. Joseph R. C. Ch., Beaverton, Thorah twp., Durham

3.1.2 Mary Marning b. Dec. 2, 1871 Manchester, Reach twp., bp. Jan. 14, 1872 St. Joseph's, Beaverton

3.1.3 Margaret Marning b. May 29, 1874 Manchester, Reach, bp. July 18, 1874 St. Joseph's, Beaverton

3.1.4 Ann Marning b. Aug. 9, 1877 Reach twp. bp. Sept. 9, 1877 Sacred Heart R.C. Ch., Uxbridge

3.2 Rebecca Bowles b. June 13, bp. 21, 1850 St. Gregory the Great Church, Oshawa, Ont.

(not with family in 1861 census so possibly died before then)

3.3 Mary Bowles b. Aug. 15, bp. Oct. 4, 1852 St. Gregory the Great Ch., Oshawa (sponsor: Joseph Bowles)

3.4 Robert Bowles b. Feb. 26, 1855 bp. June 7, 1855 St. Gregory the Great Church, Oshawa, Ont. RobertBolesBaptism1855

(unmarried in 1881 Census) (lived 58 Princess St., Toronto; unmarried)

d. May 21, 1934 bur. May 22, 1934 Catholic Cemetery, Whitby

3.6 Margaret Jane Bowles b. Sept. 21, 1859 Reach twp., Ont. (unmarried in 1881 Census)

(note: several family trees online state that this 3.6 Margaret Bowles was married to Francis Breen before 1880; in fact Breen was married to her cousin, 4.6 Margaret Bowles, see below; this correction is thanks to some excellent research submitted to me by Al (ancestry user name agp65))

3.7 Christopher Bowles b. Mar. 1, 1862 Reach, Ont. bp. Mar. 23, 1862 St. Joseph's, Beaverton, Thorah twp.

3.8 Joseph Bowles b. Dec. 20, 1866 Reach twp., Ont. bp. Feb. 24, 1867 St. Joseph's, Beaverton, Thorah twp.

Joseph d. Apr. 1, 1876 Reach, Ont. (age 12 in death registry)

3.9 Charles Bowles b. Aug. 8, bp. Sept. 26, 1869 Reach twp., Ont. ref.

m. Margaret Conlin (b. 1878 Reach twp.; Thomas, Mary Lawler) June 22, 1904

3.9.1 Marguerite Bowles b. 1909 d. 1987 bur. Sacred Heart Cemetery, Uxbridge, Durham, Ont.

3.9.2 Frances Bowles b. 1915 d. 1989 bur. Sacred Heart Cemetery, Uxbridge, Durham, Ont.

Charles d. 1947 bur. Sacred Heart Cemetery, Uxbridge, Durham, Ont.

Margaret d. 1951 bur. Sacred Heart Cemetery, Uxbridge, Durham, Ont.

Mary d. Jan. 22, 1900 Reach twp.

Robert d. Dec. 26, 1902 at Lot 4 Con. 7 Reach twp. ref. 019286/02

1861 Census

1871 Census

1881 Census
1891 Census

1901 Census

4. Lucy Bowles b. ~ 1823 Ireland (b. Apr. 25, 1813 in 1901 Census; but only 34 in 1861 Census and only 48 in 1871 Census)

m. James Lalor (Lawler, Lawlor) Feb. 24, 1843 Arles, Queens county, Ireland

4.1 Rebecca Lawler bp. Feb. 1846 Arles, Queens county, Ireland

(family emigrated to Canada about 1847)

4.2 Elizabeth Lawler b. 1848 Ontario

4.3 Lucinda Lawler b. 1850 Ontario (Mar. 27, 1854 in 1901 Census)

m. John Kenefick (b. Nov. 24, 1854 Ont.) ~ 1879

(he was a Cooper; family lived on Edward St. in Newcastle, Ont. in 1881 and 1901 references)

4.3.1 Michael Francis Preuloe Kenefick b. Mar. 26, 1881 Newcastle, Ont.

4.3.2 Mary Olivia Kennefick b. Apr. 3, 1883 Newcastle, Ont.

4.3.2 James Leo Kenefick b. Apr. 13, 1888 Newcastle, Ont.

(served in US Army in WW I; living in Detroit in 1920 with brother Frank, single; lived in Dayton, Ohio after WW I and until WW II)

4.3.3 Edna Kenefick b. Jan. 2, 1894 Ont.

m. George Hearl (lived Bowmanville)

Lucinda (Lucy) d. Jan. 6, 1925 Bowmanville, Durham, Ont. (age 70 on death register)

4.4 Michael Lawler b. 1852 Ontario

4.5 Thomas Lawler b. 1854 Ontario

4.6 Margaret Lawler b. 1858 Ontario (Sept. 13, 1859 on death certificate)

m. Francis (Frank) Breen (b. Oct. 17, 1856 Ont.; Edward, Mary Harrison) (a brick mason)
John Thomas Breen Baptism 1880

4.6.1 John Thomas Breen b. Jan. 29, 1880 Reach twp. bp. Mar. 7, 1880 Sacred Heart church, Uxbridge

m. Florence Julia Stock (b. Mar. 1887 Que.; John, Mary Cooper) Nov. 1, 1904 Toronto, Ont.

(they lived in Detroit)

4.6.1.1 Florence Breen b. Oct. 1907 Ontario

1911 Census Minnie Breen baptism 1882

4.6.2 Minnie Breen b. Dec. 27, 1881 Reach twp. bp. Feb. 12, 1882 Sacred Heart church, Uxbridge

d. Nov. 24, 1926 Toronto, Ont.

(unmarried and living with brother John in Toronto in the 1911 Census) Frank Breen Death Record 1931

Frank d. Feb. 17, 1931 Port Perry, Victoria co., Ont.

bur. Feb. 20, 1931 Mount Hope Cemetery, Toronto

Margaret d. Jan. 18, 1923 St. Michael's Hospital, bur. Jan. 20, 1923 Mount Hope cemetery

4.7 John Lawler b. June 11, bp. June 15, 1862 St. Joseph’s parish, Reach, Ont.

James d. Mar. 5, 1882 Reach, Ontario (age 70)
Lucy (living in 1901 with daughter Lucy)

1861 Census 1871 Census

5. Michael Bowles b. ~ 1825 Laois, Ireland (see son John's baptismal record)

Homesteaded at Reach Con. 7, Lot 4

m. Mary Ann Cuddy (or Cuddahy, Cuddahee, Cody) (b. ~ 1835 Laois, Ireland) Reach R.C. Mission

5.1 John Bowles b. Feb. 1, 1858, Reach twp. bp. Feb. 27, 1858 St. Joseph’s parish

(wit.: Robert and Mary Boles) ref.

m. Johanna Elizabeth O'Brien (b. July 1, 1863 Brock twp.; James, Ellen McDonald)

Jan. 30, 1894 St. Joseph's, Beaverton, Durham co.

John d. Jan. 15, 1928 bur. St. Malachy's R.C. Cemetery, Vroomanton, Brock twp., Durham

Johanna d. 1950 bur. St. Malachy's R.C. Cemetery, Vroomanton, Brock twp., Durham

Memorial Stone

5.2 Rebecca Mary Bowles b. June 21, 1860 Reach, Ont. bp. July 2, 1860 St. Joseph's, Beaverton, Durham co. ref.

5.3 Ann Bowles b. ~ 1862 Ont.

5.4 Mary Bowles b. Mar. 25, 1867 Brock twp., bp. Apr. 7, 1867 St. Joseph's, Beaverton, Durham co. ref.

5.5 William Daniel Bowles b. Nov. 17, 1868 Reach twp., bp. Nov. 29, 1868 St. Joseph's, Beaverton, Durham ref.

5.6 Joseph Bowles b. May 19, 1872 Reach twp. ref. # 016122/72 bp. same day at St. Joseph's ref.

Michael d. April 21, 1892 Reach, Ont.

1861 Census

1871 Census

6. Joseph Bowles b. June 15, 1827 Queen's co., Ireland

Came to Canada by 1851 (in 1851 Whitby census working as labourer) probably with father in 1842

Homesteaded at Reach Con. 8, Lot 12 about 1854 map

m. Mary Marning (or Maranan or Mannan) (b. ~ 1832 co. Clare, Ireland) Ontario

6.1 Francis Bowles b. Mar. 1, 1855, bp. June 7, 1855 St. Gregory the Great, Oshawa, Ont. FrancisBowlesBaptism1855

6.2 Rebecca Bowles b. 1856 Ont. (Jan. 1, 1859 in 1911 census but 4 in 1861 census) (unmarried)

d. Apr. 28, 1942 age 86 (Port Perry Star May 7, 1942 p. 4)

6.3 Mary Bowles b. June 16, 1859 Reach, Ont. bp. June 27, 1859 St. Joseph's ch., Beaverton, Thorah twp. ref.

m. John Burke (Thomas, Mary) Jan. 13, 1887 Uxbridge, Ont.

d. < 1951

6.4 William J. Bowles b. Jan. 3, 1862 Reach twp., Ont.

m. Ellen O’Brien (b. July 17, Brock twp. bp. Aug. 4, 1861 St. Joseph's, Beaverton, Ont.; James, Ellen)

Sept. 12, 1888 Vroomanton, Brock twp., Ont. ref. # 008988/88

6.4.1 Francis (Frank) S. Bowles b. Aug. 3, 1889 Ont. ref. # 026177/89

Lived with parents in 1951

d. Feb. 10, 1970 (Port Perry Star, Feb. 12, 1970 p. 12)

6.4.2 Mary M. Bowles b. May 3, 1891 Ont.

Lived with parents in 1951

6.4.3 James W. Bowles b. Dec. 10, 1892 Ont.

Lived Toronto in 1951

6.4.4 Ellen (Helen) Bowles b. Oct. 10, 1894 Ont.

m. Charles Bernard McKinnon (from Detroit) (b. ~ 1896 Cornwall, Ont; Roderick, Sarah McMillan)

June 26, 1923 Port Perry, Ont. (witness: Mary Monica Bowles, Malcolm McKinnon)

6.3.4.1 Calvin McKinnon

6.3.4.2 Eugene McKinnon

6.4.5 Joseph L. Bowles b. Mar. 5, 1896 Ont.

Lived Toronto in 1951

6.3.5.1 Living b. 1945

6.4.6 Martin (Mart) Bowles b. July 9, 1898 Port Perry, Ont. (Bryan in 1901 census?)

Lived with parents in 1951, remained a bachelor

6.4.7 Louis Bowles b. May 1903

(a Pharmacist, in 1947 he founded the Bowles Pharmacy on Kingston Road in Toronto which is today operated by his son Eugene)

m. Esther Marie Robbins (b. Apr. 22, 1902 Warminster, Ont.)

6.4.7.1 Bernard Bowles b. Nov. 1932 Toronto, ON d. Nov. 1979 Toronto, ON

6.4.7.2 John Louis Bowles b. June 14, 1934 Toronto, ON

m.(1) Living ~ 1962

6.4.7.2.1 Living b. 1963

m. Living July 1986

6.4.7.2.2 Living b. 1966

m.(2) Living 1972

6.4.7.2.3 Living b. 1973

m. Living (b. 1972) Sept. 8, 2001

6.4.7.2.3.1 Living b. 2004

6.4.7.2.4 Living b. 1975

John d. Aug. 16, 2001 Toronto, ON

6.4.7.3 Eugene Bowles b. July 1936 Toronto, ON

m. Alicia Sheldon (b. 1935) July 4, 1959

6.4.7.3.1 Living b. 1967

m. Living July 1992

6.4.7.3.1.1 Living b. 1998

6.4.7.3.1.2 Living b. 1998

6.4.7.3.1.3 Living b. 2004

6.4.7.3.2 Living b. 1968

6.4.7.3.3 Living b. 1970

m. Living Aug. 25, 2001

6.4.7.3.3.1 Living b. 2001

6.4.7.3.3.2 Living b. 2005

6.4.7.3.4 Living b. 1971

m. Living Feb. 2000

6.4.7.3.4.1 Living b. 2004

Alicia d. 1997

Louis d. 1974

Marie d. 1993

Ellen d. Feb. 19, 1951 Port Perry, Ont.

William d. April 14, 1951 Reach, Ont. fun. Apr. 17, Reach, bur. Port Perry, Ont.

1891 Census

1901 Census

6.5 Eliza Bowles b. Sept. 16, 1864 Borelia, Ont.;

bp. Oct. 30, 1864 St. Malachy Church, Brock twp., Ont.

(sponsors: Robert and Mary Bowles)

m. Bernard O’Brien (b. Aug. 2, 1857 Ont.; William, Mary McDonald)

Nov. 8, 1887 Uxbridge, Ont.

(lived Toronto in 1913, Welland in 1951)

6.5.1 Mary Ellen O'Brien b. 1888 m. Thomas Burke

6.5.2 Joseph O'Brien b. July 28, 1891

6.5.3 Catherine O'Brien b. May 28, 1894 m. J. Hennessee (no children)

Eliza d. ~ 1959 Welland, Ont.

6.6 Ellen Bowles b. Mar. 20, 1867 Reach twp., Ont. bp. St. Joseph's, Beaverton

m. Albert Ashton?, Oshawa

d. < 1951

6.7 Catherine Bowles b. Aug. 31, 1870 Reach twp., Ont. bp. St. Joseph's, Beaverton

m. John Lawler (b. Apr. 22, 1874; Michael, Ann Wheman) Nov. 22, 1899 Port Perry, Ont.

(John was a Truckman in Markham in 1901 Census)

6.7.1 Leo G. Lawler b. Sept. 26, 1900 Markham, Ont.

John d. bef. 1951

6.8 unnamed male b. Feb. 11, 1873 Reach twp. ref. # 015432/73 (not in 1881 census)

Mary d. Feb. 10, 1877 Reach twp. (age 48, heart disease) Reach twp. RC church register

Joseph d. May 20, 1913 at Lot 12 Con. 8 Port Perry at age 86 ref. 024814/13

1851 Census

1861 Census

1871 Census

1881 Census

1891 Census

1901 Census

1911 Census

7.0 William Bowles bp. June 4, 1836 Arles, Queen's co.

Michael d. May 19, 1872 Raglan, Whitby twp., Ontario co.

His wife d. before 1851

Still to place in the above:

Mary Bowles m. James Kelly

1. Thomas Kelly b. ~ 1845

m. Frances Glavin (b. Aug. 20, 1856; Pat, Francis Barry) Feb. 7, 1888 St. Peter's Ch., Biddulph twp., Middlesex co.

Thomas d. Dec. 28, 1919 bur. ~ Dec. 31, 1919 St. Peter's cem., Biddulph twp., Middlesex co.

Frances d. Feb. 10, 1925 bur. St. Peter's cem., Biddulph twp., Middlesex co.

Also, the 1901 Census lists a Margaret Bowler, b. Sept. 6, 1834 Ontario with a daughter Ellen Bowler, b. Jan. 29, 1861 Ontario both living in Whitby West. Although the spelling is Bowler, other Bowles listings appear as Bowler occasionally. These probably fit in here somewhere. 1901 census

Thanks to Al (ancestry user name agp65) for sending me most of the original source images on this page and for the family tree correction noted above.