Census bonanza
Census data of Simonds Parish gives information on more
than
10,000 residents, including those residing in the
Poor House
|
| Michael Horgan and his wife Margaret appear in the 1891 census with children John, Kate, Mary, William, Michael, Gerald, Annie and Frank. |
There was one thing that Mum never let me go without - and that was my rubbers and I hated those rubbers. Cliff and I were looking for Blue Irises in the swamp and suddenly my foot slipped and my rubberless shoe was stuck in the mud. I now had a shoe full of muddy water. I had no intention of telling Mum about my misadventure. I rubbed off the mud with dried grass and that night I stuffed the boots with newspapers in the hopes all would be fine by the time I started off to school in the morning. But alas, it was not to be. The toes of my boots curled up and the insoles were hard and twisted.
My usually good natured mother was quite annoyed and snapped at me with, "Your carelessness is going to put us in the Poor House."
It seemed the word "Poor House" cropped up in many conversations and the older folk were afraid of being sent there. I wondered why.
A week or so later, a visitor was telling Dad of the hard time his aunt was having since her new daughter-in-law moved into the home. He then commenced to recite a poem, that went something like this:
"Over the hill to the poor-house I'm trudging my weary way
I am woman of seventy, and only a trifle gray.
My son Charley was pretty good to me, with scarce a word or frown.
Till at last he went a-courtin', and brought a wife from town.
She was somewhat dressy, an' hadn't a pleasant smile
She was quite conceited, and carried a heap o' style.
Over the hill to the poor-house--I can't quite make it clear!
Over the hill to the poor-house--it seems so horrid queer!
Many a step I've taken a-toilin' to and fro,
But this is a sort of journey I never thought I'd go."
This week as I was reading the names of the two hundred residents of the Poor House who were listed on page 66 to 74 of Division 1 of the 1881 Census for Simonds Parish, I thought of the sadness faced by so many who due for the most part to no fault of their own were sent to these institutions. Several widows were listed: Anne Cook - 80; Sarah Lough - 72 year; Clarissa Simmons - 68; Martha McFall - 83; Anastasia O'Tool - 82; Eliza Heron - 81; Hannah Dougherty - 66; Lucy Brown - 75; Mary Sloan - 76; Mary Givan - 82 and Margaret Condon - 65. Children were also here as Charles Nicholson was only three months old, Margaret Nicholson was five years old and I assume their mother was possibly 35 year old Margaret Nicholson. The five Driscoll children ranged in age from 1 to 13 and two Minehan children were 8 and 10. John Crowley was listed as single and 92 years old.
On page 28 to 30 of Division 1 of the 1891 Census of Simonds Parish, there are nearly 60 inmates of the Industrial School listed, ranging in age from age 2 to 19.
In 1891, Michael Horgan, farmer, was enumerated along with his wife Margaret and children John, Kate, Mary, William, Michael, Gerald, Annie and Frank.
All this information and much more can be found on the 10,931 residents of the 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 Census of Simonds Parish, Saint John County in the 392 page book with full name index compiled on these censuses by David Horgan.
By the way, the Parish of Simonds was created in 1839 from Portland Parish and was named for James Simonds who was one of three prominent business men who lived in Saint John prior to the Loyalist arrival in 1783.
Census Records are often the only key we have to connect families and neighbours. Thanks to the painstaking work by David, searching for information on families and persons in Simonds Parish has been made much easier.
The publication on the Census Records of Simonds Parish can be ordered from David Horgan, 90 Cosy Lake Road, Saint John NB, Canada, E2N 1P8. E-mail dghorgan@nbnet.nb.ca. The price is $25.00 plus shipping.
* * *
