The first leg of an immigrant's journey was from a port in Ireland to Liverpool. The journey took less than a day and the ships had no amenities. Most often they carried cattle, pigs, sheep, and horses along with immigrants. Once they arrived in Liverpool, they had to wait for a ship bound for North America. As many as 60% of all Irish immigrants chose to sail to Canada, primarily because it was was cheaper. Sailing to Canada took about five to six weeks. Margaret was 10 years old. The fact that the entire family survived the crossing is remarkable.
The family first lived in Thorold, in southern Ontario, before moving to Proton Township. It’s possible they met up with previous Phelans who came to the area to work on the Welland Canal. By the 1861 Canada Census the family was farming in Proton Township in Grey County, Ontario.
Margaret marries John Hughes
John and Margaret were married on October 9, 1860 in St. Catherine, Ontario. He was 30 and she was 18. John Hughes was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland in 1830. Paisley was at one time famous for its weaving and textile industries. As a consequence, the Paisley pattern has long symbolic associations with the town. John was a weaver.
The 1871 Canada Census finds them in Proton Township. While John’s birthplace is Scotland, he indicates his parents were born in Ireland.
Hughes family in 1871:
John-40-Weaver
Margaret-28
John Thomas-9
Mary Ann-7
Margaret-5
Edward-3
Margaret's’ brothers Patrick, Michael, Jeremiah and James all appear within 2 pages of the census, which means they lived very close to one another. All are listed as Farmers.
Margaret's father Pierce died in January of 1880 at the age of 81. He is buried at the St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Proton, Ontario.
1881 Canada Census:
John-53-Weaver and Farmer
Margaret-38
John Thomas-19-Farm laborer
Mary Ann-17
Margaret-16
Edward-12
Patrick-6 (my great-grandfather)
Henry-3
Michael-7 months
1891 Canada Census:
John-60-Weaver (parents born in Ireland)
Margaret-48
Edward-23
Pierce-19 (absent in 1881 census)
Patrick-17
Henry-14
Michael-10
Margaret’s mother died in 1892 in Syracuse, New York. She likely lived with one of her children at the time of her death.
John Hughes died of heart and kidney disease in 1899 in Wellington, Ontario.
In 1902, Margaret left Canada to live with her son Henry in Detroit, Michigan. She appears in the 1920 Census as mother to Michael and Harry (Henry?), both single, who are both employed in the Motor Company industry as polishers.
Margaret Phelan Hughes died on Feb 27, 1927, one day after her 85th birthday. She is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. She survived the Great Famine, the Crossing, and immigrant life in a new country. She was married for 39 years and had 8 children, one of which was my great grandfather, Patrick Hughes.
The family first lived in Thorold, in southern Ontario, before moving to Proton Township. It’s possible they met up with previous Phelans who came to the area to work on the Welland Canal. By the 1861 Canada Census the family was farming in Proton Township in Grey County, Ontario.
Margaret marries John Hughes
John and Margaret were married on October 9, 1860 in St. Catherine, Ontario. He was 30 and she was 18. John Hughes was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland in 1830. Paisley was at one time famous for its weaving and textile industries. As a consequence, the Paisley pattern has long symbolic associations with the town. John was a weaver.
The 1871 Canada Census finds them in Proton Township. While John’s birthplace is Scotland, he indicates his parents were born in Ireland.
Hughes family in 1871:
John-40-Weaver
Margaret-28
John Thomas-9
Mary Ann-7
Margaret-5
Edward-3
Margaret's’ brothers Patrick, Michael, Jeremiah and James all appear within 2 pages of the census, which means they lived very close to one another. All are listed as Farmers.
Margaret's father Pierce died in January of 1880 at the age of 81. He is buried at the St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Proton, Ontario.
1881 Canada Census:
John-53-Weaver and Farmer
Margaret-38
John Thomas-19-Farm laborer
Mary Ann-17
Margaret-16
Edward-12
Patrick-6 (my great-grandfather)
Henry-3
Michael-7 months
1891 Canada Census:
John-60-Weaver (parents born in Ireland)
Margaret-48
Edward-23
Pierce-19 (absent in 1881 census)
Patrick-17
Henry-14
Michael-10
Margaret’s mother died in 1892 in Syracuse, New York. She likely lived with one of her children at the time of her death.
John Hughes died of heart and kidney disease in 1899 in Wellington, Ontario.
In 1902, Margaret left Canada to live with her son Henry in Detroit, Michigan. She appears in the 1920 Census as mother to Michael and Harry (Henry?), both single, who are both employed in the Motor Company industry as polishers.
Margaret Phelan Hughes died on Feb 27, 1927, one day after her 85th birthday. She is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. She survived the Great Famine, the Crossing, and immigrant life in a new country. She was married for 39 years and had 8 children, one of which was my great grandfather, Patrick Hughes.
 |
Home of Phelans in Huron County, Ontario. Oddly enough, the Wilson Hunter and Isabella Auld families lived in the same county (East Wawanosh) at the same time. They would not cross paths until two generations later when Zita Catherine Hughes married Leroy Wilson Hunter in 1933 in North Dakota. |
 |
| St.Patrick's Church, Proton Township, Grey, Ontario |