Cornelius & Cora
Blanche and Marie, daughters of Bessie (Moynihan) Morning sent me this info:
Cornelius Moynihan married Cora Stephens and they farmed in the York region of Ontario. They had six children, five daughters and one son, born as follows: Bessie (August 10, 1902 - June 2, 1957), Annie, (June 14, 1905 - July 16, 1976), Eric 'Pete' (March 27, 1907 - 1965 ), Ruth (September 3, 1908 - January 15, 1983), Lena (August 27, 1911 -May 3, 1999 ), and Gwen (March 20, 1918 - February 19, 1995). If you click on the space below, you'll see a chart that shows Cornelius, Cora, their children and spouses.
5 comments:
Grandma Moynihan lived in Melvern Ont., now part of Toronto. Melvern was east of Agincourt, a very small community. It had one small general store at the corner and a few houses. In the end Grandma lived in a nursing home in Aurora from, I'm guessing, about l959 until her death. Before that she was in a nursing home near Agincourt for a short time. The name of the nursing home in Aurora escapes me at this moment, but I remember it was on Tyler Street, west of the United Church.
She broke her hip in the late summer of 1960 so didn't get out after that to speak of. I think it was the summer of 1960 because she was trying to walk better for Nan's wedding, but fell and broke her hip. She had had numerous strokes which led to her having to give up her home and go into a nursing home in the first place. I believe that is how the story goes.
Gosh you are really racking my brain, and it's too bad some of this wasn't done when Mom and Aunt Lena were still alive.
I remember going to Grandma M's for summer holidays, but I spent a lot of time at Aunt Annie's which was just a few doors away, because Marilyn and Nan and I were all about the same age.
I also remember Grandma had a big feather tick on her bed and we could virtually hide in it. Going to the market with her in North Toronto -- that was a big event! She sold lots of her tea biscuits and of course her knitting. I remember the very fine knitted large doillies that she had on display. I also remember buying loaves of malt bread, which were a real treat.
Grandma had a huge garden at the back of the house along with my favourite novelity, a pump at the well. I used to love to have to get water. I still have a thing about pumps!!! She had tons of flowers in her garden. Lots of irisses, as I recall.
When Grandma moved out, I went with Aunt Lena and Mom to help clear things out and my job became to watch the bonfire going in the middle of the garden area. Grandma had oodles of dress boxes (which all clothes came in at that time) and I don't think she had ever thrown one away. Boy did I have a fire!!!
Enough of a walk down memory lane for tonight. Hope you enjoy these stories.
My first memories of Gramma and Grampa are of them living on a farm on Wellington Street - between what is now Bayview and Leslie. It is now the Frank Stonach Magna Complex.
I think before that they had lived at Vandorf or near there. The house in Aurora was not large but there was a large kitchen and a porch off it which faced west. Grampa loved to sit on the portch with a pipe (if I recall things right) Gramma would be baking in the kitchen.
They grew a large field of potatoes on the west side of the driveway. I remember helping to pick them, after Uncle Mike had dug them with a horse and plow. We kids would run behind and throw the potatoes into bushel baskets. I have another memory of that porch. One night we were there on short notice. The Morning kids had to stay on the porch for some mysterious reason. A couple of days later I learned that Aunt Lena and Uncle Jim's house had burnt down. They lived south of the Aurora side road on Leslie (I think) I gather the family was distraught - I think they lost everything. I suppose we were there to take food and clothing and what ever else we could do to help. We were all pretty young.
I also remember them living at Melvern and going to stay for holidays. I think Gramma was not well then and we had to help Grampa with chores and food. That was also when I went to the Market and was allowed to take the money and give the change (after it was approved by Gramma. When I was in Grade 10 we had to make a speach about anything we wished. Gramma was living with us at that time and she gave me a huge key (still have it) She said it belonged to the house she and grampa had lived in before the farm in Aurora. It was the house that is now the Toronto Ladies Golf Club house. I presume they worked for the farmer who owned it. She told me all about the house - the key is 8" long and that's how thick the front door was. When I presented my speach I won the class and had to compete with other classes at Aurora High School. I wanted a new outfit. Mom had bought some tartan and I decided one night to make a kilt. I measured my waist then just pinned the pleats down the line of the stripe and sewed them down about 8 - 10 inches. However when T tryed it on I realized my hips were bigger than my waist and it would not fit. When Mom and Dad and Gramma came home I was beside myself. The next day Gramma ripped out all that stitching for me and helped me make the most beautiful kilt. I went on to win and had to speak at the region - where nerves took over. But boy I did love Gramma for that kilt and all the work she did to get me rigged out.
What beautiful stories! Thank you so much for sharing these with us.
I do not recall Grandma trying to walk before our wedding- I'd thought she was bedfast for some time before.
I do know that she was very happy that I was marring a farmer. She gave us the tea pot, cream and sugar from her good dishes for a wedding gift.
I also remember going to market with her and Aunt Annie. Grandma baked for days before she went to market. She made jams jellies and those famous tea biscuits plus pies, tarts cookies and you name it.
Grandma was not the lovey type Grandma-she worked all the time and had a very sharp tongue- her life was her flower beds, gardens and needle work.
I do not recall her ever being at a reunion but then my memory slips so much.
The name of the nursing home in Aurora where Grandma stayed was "Aurora Resthaven" and it is still operating today (only under a different name). I believe people by the name of Watson owned it for years. Grant and I attended the auction sale of her belongings. We purchased her dinning room suite at the sale and we have used it every day that we have been home since 1960! I even have a copy of her sale bill I believe. I will look for it. I have many memories of the sale and the sisters, who were all upset about a horn.
Oh yes: At Malvern, Grandma always had a bottle of brandy in the cellarway -for medicinal purposes only- Marilyn (Watson) Third and I tried it one day, and then put water in to make it look like the same amount in bottle!
Man you are sure making me think and I love it . Many thanks for all your efforts!
Love, Aunt Nan
I was researching in the 1901 Census and came across some information that I found interesting about Con & Cora.They were both employed at the home of Ollie & Margaret Bales. This was before they were married so I am assuming that is how they met.
The web site is www.automatedgenealogy.com/census.
Post a Comment